Recently The New York Guard (State Defense Force) participated in the Empire Challenge 2023, a communications exercise aimed at training radio operators and testing their equipment for potential statewide emergencies. Hosted by the New York Naval Militia (US Navy & US Marine Corps Reserve Personnel), the event saw the involvement of communication teams from all four branches of the New York Military Forces, including the New York Army National Guard, the New York Guard, and the New York Naval Militia. Other agencies such as the Civil Air Patrol, and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services were also involved. Led by the New York Guard’s G6 Signal Officer, Warrant Officer 1 Richard Martino, 19 service members were deployed across five state locations, with the Fort Hamilton team overseeing Network Control. During the exercise, an airborne repeater, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, enhanced communication capabilities between ground stations, and emphasized the importance of preparedness and collaboration during crises.
Commanding General of The New York Guard, Brigadier General Peter Riley, stressed the necessity of building and maintaining partnerships through consistent training, drawing lessons from past events like September 11. A notable incident during the exercise was the discovery that the Buffalo communication site was non-operational, prompting its relocation to Syracuse. This experience, combined with the use of an airborne repeater to facilitate communications, underlined the value of real-time problem solving and adaptability. Despite some challenges, Empire Challenge was deemed a success, with New York Naval Militia Captain Donald McKnight lauding the New York Guard’s contribution and expressing eagerness for future collaborations.
New York Guard Commo teams participated in Empire Challenge, a communications exercise at locations across the State of New York. They were joined by elements of the New York Naval Militia, New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, Department of Homeland Security Empire State and the Civil Air Patrol.
Here is a more detailed article covering the exercise:
New York Guard Commo Teams Join Operation Empire Challenge 2023
by 1LT Edward Shevlin
Brooklyn, New York – The New York Guard participated in Empire Challenge 2023, from October 3rd – 5th. Empire Challenge is a communications exercise designed to train radio operators (RADOS) and to also test the equipment that they would be using during statewide emergencies.
With the New York Naval Militia serving as the host organization, Empire Challenge 2023 included communication (commo) teams from all four branches of the New York Military Forces, New York Army National Guard, New York Guard, the New York Naval Militia, as well as the Civil Air Patrol and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
Led by the New York Guard’s G6 Signal Officer, Warrant Officer 1 Richard Martino, nineteen service members from various New York Guard units, deployed to five locations across the state, Camp Smith Training Site, Hancock Field in Syracuse, the 1st Marine Corps District Base in Garden City, the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, and Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.
The commo team located at Fort Hamilton had the distinction of serving as Network (NET) Control since Joint Task Force (JTF) Empire Shield maintains their Tactical Operations Center (TOC) on post. The proximity of the Empire Challenge communications team to the JTF TOC helped to ensure that interoperability between the two was maintained.
On Wednesday, October 4th, the New York Guard Commander, Brigadier General Peter Riley, visited Fort Hamilton to observe operations in both the TOC and at the communications trailer. “We have a long standing relationship with the Naval Militia, we have always worked well together, and I’m sure that we will continue to do so.” Riley continued, “We learned a lot of lessons from Nine-Eleven. We learned that when disaster hits it is too late to exchange business cards. That is why it is imperative that we build and maintain relationships with our partners through regular training.”
As part of their unique duties, the Fort Hamilton Team, under the call sign November 3 Yankee (N3Y), opened the NET each day. Immediately upon opening the Net on Tuesday, October 4th, it became apparent that the Buffalo location was inoperable. Upon reaching this determination, the Buffalo communications team was relocated to Syracuse to continue the mission.
New York Guard G6 Signal Officer, WO1 Richard Martino had this to say, “This exercise, Empire Challenge, is very important to the New York Military Forces as we renew our interoperability with our Civil Support Organization (CSO) counterparts. We are training for a worst day scenario, not a bad day. We need to be able to communicate when there is no infrastructure left.”
As communications continued on Wednesday, October 4th, the second day of Empire Challenge, a unique capability came into play. The Civil Air Patrol flew an airborne repeater aboard a C172 aircraft in the vicinity of New York City. Ground-based radio stations were then able to bounce their signals off the repeater which sent them to Syracuse. The airborne repeater worked perfectly and high-frequency (HF) communications between all stations were loud and clear.
Operating out of a Naval Militia communications trailer on Fort Hamilton, the New York Guard Net Control Team of Staff Sergeants Hershenfeld and Sciortino served as Radio Operator and Net Logger and took time to train Naval Militia personnel in these essential skills.
“The New York Guard contribution to this mission was spectacular and I look forward to future missions with them.” said New York Naval Militia Captain Donald McKnight.
Empire Challenge exposed both strengths and weaknesses inherent in the Military Emergency Radio Network (MERN) system. On one hand the training that service members have been receiving has been top rate. On the other hand, much of the equipment that the radio operators were expected to use had not been properly maintained. Uncovering this fact during a training event is preferable to doing so when an emergency response is underway.
Staff Sergeant Leonardo Sciortino of the New York Guard communications team spoke about the exercise,” We successfully integrated with the other components of the DMNA forces and provided meaningful support to the exercise that otherwise may not have been as successful.” Sciortino continued, “The experience we gained in this exercise will be very important and useful for us in future operations.”
Source: New York Guard
