Sgt. Kirk Welborn, left, electronic warfare NCO; Sgt. Bernice Laubach, signal support systems specialist; and Staff Sgt. Alex Arroyo, multichannel transmission systems operator-maintainer; assemble a dismounted counter-improvised explosive device system while representing the 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion during the inaugural 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Cyber Electromagnetic Activities competition. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
By Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Electronic warfare teams from each battalion, excluding one overseas for training, competed in the inaugural 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) competition.
The winning team from 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Reg., consisted of Staff Sgt. Kristopher R. Acuna and Sgt. Raheim E. Allen, both electronic warfare NCOs; and Spc. Michael D. Restivo, signal support systems specialist.
Six three-person teams participated in the competition consisting of 10 common core and CEMA-centric tasks May 16-18, 2017.
The purpose of the event was to help identify each battalion’s CEMA capability level in preparation for future missions or deployments that could take 2nd IBCT to combat operations worldwide.
Sgt. Joshua Butler, left, electronic warfare NCO, and Spc. Kareem Staples, computer/detection systems repairer, 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, simulate command and control of an airborne electronic attack asset while competing in the Cyber Electromagnetic Activities competition. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
Each three-person team consisted of one or two school-trained electronic warfare Soldiers with the remainder of the team being Soldiers working outside their standard duties.
“The biggest reason for conducting a CEMA competition was to promote morale and increase proficiency within our field,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Cruz, electronic warfare technician, 2nd IBCT. “Additionally, the event provided non-CEMA Soldiers an opportunity to learn about the systems, processes and, most importantly, how CEMA effects can enable or hinder operations.”
The 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion electronic warfare team lead, Sgt. Kirk Welborn, explained some benefits of the competition.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase the knowledge that we’ve gained through our collaborative training efforts with the other battalion electronic warfare teams,” said Welborn. “We need to stay current with not only our electronic warfare skills, but how to be able to work utilizing S-6 (communications section), S-2 (intelligence section) to deconflict anything that would take away from the mission.”
Welborn said he felt the competition went beyond being the best team.
Col. Matthew Cody, center, commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, praises Cyber Electromagnetic Activities competition winning team from 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, in front of brigade and battalion leadership. The team consisted of, from third from right, Staff Sgt. Kristopher R. Acuna and Sgt. Raheim E. Allen, both electronic warfare NCOs; and Spc. Michael D. Restivo, signal support systems specialist. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
“It’s not just about winning, it’s about showing the brigade commander and division higher that 2nd Brigade is staying current with electronic warfare skills and will be fully operational when we go downrange,” said Welborn.
The brigade electronic warfare technician explained how vital CEMA is to the modern-day battlefield.
Cruz said non-lethal effects are a huge part of the battlefield. With technology utilized in every aspect of military conflict, it is important for the Soldiers who possess technical roles to maintain proficiency. Whether it is in a counterinsurgency mission or fighting a war against a near peer nation, CEMA Soldiers are relied upon to support an operation through an environment not visible to the naked eye (other than the visible spectrum). CEMA Soldiers wage war in space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum. This battle is conducted without the knowledge of most Soldiers but is essential for success in current and future conflicts.
The 2nd IBCT CEMA team created the competition in order to counter several obstacles they face in a garrison environment.
“In my professional opinion, the Army needs to look at restructuring CEMA manning through consolidation,” said Cruz. “It is extremely difficult to maintain proficiency outside of a deployed environment due to lack of training opportunities to employ live CEMA assets and organic equipment.”
Staff Sgt. Henry King II, left, and Sgt. Anthony Ronco, both electronic warfare NCOs with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, configure parameters in a spectrum analyzer while competing in the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Cyber Electromagnetic Activities competition. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Micah VanDyke)
The brigade CEMA team had several stations at the counter-improvised explosive device (IED) training facility, now known as the Global Threat Mitigation Program (GTMP) facility.
“It’s important (for Soldiers) to better themselves here in garrison in order to prepare themselves for combat,” said Scott Swanson, counter-IED trainer, GTMP, U.S. Army Forces Command Home Station Training, Fort Carson. “This is one brigade that’s come through making it a competition. I’d like to see more of the electronic warfares from on-post attend similar events like this.”
Welborn summed up the role of the CEMA Soldier: “In order to compare what we do to others, think of the enemy operating at night. We’re the ones that are going to turn their lights out.”