Airman 1st Class Robert Stroh, 89th Communications Squadron radio operator, performs radio checks inside the 89 CS Centralized Network Control Station during the Armed Forces Day Military⁄Amateur Cross Band Communications Test. Airman Stroh was one of several radio operators who demonstrated his skills conducting voice checks with calling stations during the two-day event.
Before the days of cell phones, internet and satellite communication, there was high frequency radio communication. While non-radio personnel may not fully appreciate the technology, amateur ‘‘hams” and military radio operators know that when all else fails, amateur radio, and its military counterpart, work.”
Last weekend, the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard co-sponsored their annual two-day event, The Armed Forces Day Military⁄Amateur Cross Band Communications Test, marking the event’s 59th anniversary. Fifteen military facilities participated in this event, including the Andrews’ High Frequency Centralized Network Control Station, which had 16 Team Andrews radio operators from the 89th Communications Squadron on air for 12 hours conducting voice checks with calling stations.
‘‘These tests give amateur radio operators – and people listening on short-wave radios – the opportunity to demonstrate their radio skills and receive recognition from the Department of Defense for making contact with one of the participating stations,” said Airman 1st Class Robert Stroh, 89 CS radio operator and event organizer.
‘‘This year we received 262 radio checks from coast to coast and as far away as Belgium, Germany and Switzerland,” Airman Stroh said.
For Andrews, the event gave the base worldwide exposure.
‘‘The event gives civilian operators a chance to contact Andrews and improve our image across the world,” Airman Stroh explained. ‘‘This year, amateur operators who made contact with Andrews will receive a card which indicates the time and frequency, along with a message thanking them for participating.”
The yearly event allows amateur and military radio operators the opportunity to test their radios to ensure they are in working order.
‘‘The test gives amateur operators the chance to interact with the military and, while it might seem just like fun, it is a good test in the event of an actual emergency of the communication capabilities between civilian and military radio operators,” he said.
‘‘High frequency radio has proven it can play a vital communication role in the event of a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina, a terrorist attack on our nation, or even in a situation as extreme as a nuclear attack, all of which may cripple our communications grid, making it virtually impossible to use cell phones, land lines and satellites,” said Col. David Geuting, 89th Airlift Support Group commander. ‘‘HF communication was even set up as a precaution during the Presidential Inauguration because of the massive amount of people that came to D.C.”
For more information, visit the National Association for Amateur Radio at http:⁄⁄www.arrl.org. Information on the military radio system can be found at http:⁄⁄www.netcom.army.mil⁄mars⁄.
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