Army begins to establish formal EW specialty

[CommunityEditor]

Dedicated electronic warfare specialties will be established for commissioned officers, warrant officers and enlisted soldiers as part of an ongoing effort to make EW a core competency for the active and reserve components.

Under plans now being developed, an electronic warfare structure will be established throughout the force, from service component commands down to battalion level, according to a worldwide directive recently issued by the Army.

A key to creating the new EW structure will be the establishment of a commissioned officer functional area (FA 29) and a qualification course for officers who will pursue careers in the new specialty.

Once the course is developed at Fort Sill, Okla., the Army will establish military occupational specialties for warrant officers and enlisted soldiers.

Pilots for the new course will begin this month and in June for selected captains and majors of the active component, National Guard and Army Reserve.

The curriculum for the 10-week course will contain EW training beyond that offered in the Additional Skill Identifier 1J course, officials said.

Officers who successfully complete the course can request a career field transfer once the FA 29 specialty is formally established. In the interim, they will hold the ASI 1J designation.

Officers who are interested in attending a pilot course should consult All Army Activities (ALARACT) Message 181634Z Dec, issued by the office of the G-3 (DAMO-AOC).


Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/army_NewSpecialty_010509w/

[smarg]

The Navy and the Air Force already Jointly provide this skill set.

Is this like the Army getting their own cargo planes? WTF???

Since the Navy and Air Force already provide Infantry bodies to the Army ("In-Lieu-Of"), maybe if they expand this capability we can save money by disbanding the Army.

Great idea, Jeeves. :D

[MADAMESINCERE]

The Navy and the Air Force already Jointly provide this skill set.

Is this like the Army getting their own cargo planes? WTF???

Since the Navy and Air Force already provide Infantry bodies to the Army ("In-Lieu-Of"), maybe if they expand this capability we can save money by disbanding the Army.

Great idea, Jeeves. :D

I seriously doubt the majority of the airman that do in-lieu-of taskings are doing infantry work. Try again...

[ELINT6]

This is shades of a distant past.

For those of you old enough to remember the US Army did Electonic Warfare (EW) -- first under the Signal Corps, then the Army Security Agency (ASA), and finally in Military Intelligence.

I remember a 1SG that had worked on the AN/MLQ-29 a VT fuze popper with the Signal Corps before converting to ASA. I had the opportunity to work with a reserve ASA company which was equipped with the AN/MLQ-29 in the late-1970's. Also at that time I was an Instructor for the old ASI 5M EW Officer course, and worked with SG-886's and 'expendable' jammers at Fort Ord, California in the ASA Tactical Support Element (ATSE) for the 7th Infantry Division.

Up until I retired in the 1989 we used systems like the AN/TLQ-15 (HF), AN/TLQ-17 (HF/VHF), AN/MLQ-34 (VHF), and a couple of other systems for EW operations.

Is it me or are we reinventing the wheel?