Troops from the Virginia Defense Force recently held a communications exercise during their recent Inactive Duty Training weekend. They tested out their newest radio equipment which during a emergency or natural disaster will allow National Guard units to communicate with one another if cell phone & internet systems go offline.

Virginia Defense Force personnel assigned to the Warrenton-based Echo Company, 11th Signal Battalion, 1st Regiment conduct a communication exercise March 5, 2022, in Warrenton, Virginia. VDF personnel used multiple systems in their Mobile Communication Platforms including high frequency radio and the Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System to communicate by voice with elements in Fairfax, Richmond and Lynchburg, as well as sending and receiving email messages over HF radio. The VDF MCP is a 7 1/2 feet by 16 feet trailer equipped with multiple radio systems for voice and data communications providing the capability to communicate across a variety of radio spectrums with emergency response and public safety organizations

Virginia Defense Force personnel assigned to the Warrenton-based Echo Company, 11th Signal Battalion, 1st Regiment conduct training on the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability with the Virginia National Guard’s J6 Joint Communication Section March 5, 2022, at the VNG Headquarters at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. As part of the training, Cpl. (Va.) Douglas Rumburg, Spc. (Va.) Jason Chan and Spc. (Va.) Ginger Gutting deployed and verified satellite connectivity required for the system to operate properly and also conducted function checks on the laptop computers included in the system. The JISCC provides an array of communications options including wireless and wired internet connectivity, radio connections for multiple frequencies, uplink to satellites, telephone service and many more communications capabilities.

Source: Virginia Defense Force