ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center
SOURCE: AFCEA/Signal Online
01April2011 10:04amEST
GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: The U.S. Army National Guard is continuing down a path blazed by other institutions to create counter-improvised explosive device training lanes around the country. Citizen soldiers will use the locations to improve their tactics against the oft-fatal threats, and partners also can take advantage of the ranges to upgrade their skills. The goal is to increase the number of rehearsals warfighters participate in while requiring less time away from home and less money outlay for travel.
Work on the effort initially began in 2009 when the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) funded dozens of counter-IED (C-IED) Home Station Training Lanes across the country, including nine for the National Guard. These facilities are designed to prepare troops for C-IED actions in theater without requiring them to travel to one of the few previously established training sites. After that initial joint funding, the U.S. Army funded another nine lanes using Overseas Contingency Operations funds and with consultation from JIEDDO. Finally, state-level guard offices began self-developing six sites, sometimes with some monetary assistance from the bureau. The bureau also provided minimal funding for certain locations with Army funding.
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Brown, ARNG, noncommissioned officer in charge of the National Guard Bureau’s Asymmetric Warfare Cell, explains that the internal strategy of his organization is to attempt to place C-IED training capabilities at each of the 28 locations where the guard’s brigade combat teams (BCTs) are located. Currently, 24 locations are funded. (read full report)
