Burning Operations Planned for Military Training Lands in Interior
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FREE an edition of ALASKAthe POST The Interior Military News Connection Vol. 12, No. 15 Fort Wainwright, Alaska April 23, 2021 176th Wing prepares mobile rescue operations center for ARCTIC ACE David Bedard critical for Joint All-Doman 176th Wing Public Affairs Command and Control, which provides a common Alaska Air National operating picture for all Guardsmen of 176th Com- U.S. forces operating in an munications Flight, 210th expeditionary area of oper- Rescue Squadron, 211th ations. Rescue Squadron, and “The standard issues 176th Operations Support moving away from the Squadron Intelligence base are maintaining the partnered with associated communications chain, contractors March 22 to and that entails everything validate the rapid employ- from daily status reports ment of a mobile rescue op- to information relay for a erations center tailor made mission,” he said. “In res- for Agile Combat Employ- cue, we’re used to dealing ment training in Alaska with this challenge. This is and operations throughout something we have seen for the Indo-Pacific Command years in a combat situation area of operations. where we may have to move The MROC is a com- helicopters and HC-130s mand-and-control suite forward to get closer to comprising radios, com- facilitate quicker rescue.” puters, amplifiers, and Sain said the rapid move antennas that is specially during ARCTIC ACE will packaged to rapidly de- Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Preston Fernandez, a radio frequency transmission systems pose unique challenges ploy in order to establish technician with 176th Communications Flight, installs a satellite communications antenna March for wing support agencies combat search and rescue 22, 2021, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The SATCOM antenna is part of the 176th who will have to balance operations at remote and Wing’s Mobile Rescue Operations Center, a rapidly deployable command-and-control suite that agility with sustainability often-austere airfields. supports rescue operations. (Photo by David Bedard, 176th Wing Public Affairs) to see through the training Wing members huddled operation. on the loading dock of “The theory behind Agile can transmit line-of-sight he said. “It’s going to be Hayden said 176th Wing JBER’s Hangar 18 where Communications is to be or over satellite communi- for a small amount of time, isn’t tackling ACE alone they rapidly put together able to go anywhere and cations, supporting voice but it’s long enough to and continues to work with the MROC’s components set up an expeditionary and data communications. where you still want main- mission partners to refine and demonstrated it could communications system,” Sain said the MROC will tenance operations and agile tactics and tech- ably perform all necessary he said. “We can load this deploy to Western Alaska in other support functions like niques. mission functions. equipment on an HC-130[J April where it will serve as [personnel] services, civil “Everyone’s key phrase Alaska Air National Combat King II], potential- the communications back- engineers, and the logis- lately is total force integra- Guard Tech. Sgt. Dustin ly an HH-60[G Pave Hawk], bone for simulated CSAR tics readiness squadron to tion,” he said. “We have a Hayden, 176th Commu- take it to the middle of operations during exercise get equipment in and out, great relationship with the nications Flight Agile nowhere, and bring in data ARCTIC ACE. fuels, everything else that (regular Air Force’s) 673d Communications Systems and voice communications.” “We’re setting up a supports the operations Communications Squadron, supervisor, said the hall- Alaska Air National forward location that isn’t location.” and they have a similar sys- mark of the MROC is its Guard Maj. Allan Sain, going to be a full-fledged Sain said in addition tem, so we work together capability despite fitting in 210th Rescue Squadron base that we can maintain to voice communications, on setting these systems up a lightweight package. HH-60 pilot, said the radios for an extended duration,” data communications are and configuring them.” Burning operations planned for military training lands in Interior Alaska to reduce wildfire threat Personnel could start ignitions as early as Thursday Beth Ipsen Bureau of Land Management Results from a recent tenant survey show that overall Alaska Fire Service Public customer satisfaction is improving, senior Army housing Affairs officials said, as the service continues to improve on-base living conditions. Privatized housing at Fort Hamilton in The Bureau of Land Man- Brooklyn, New York, can be seen in this photo. (Courtesy agement Alaska Fire Service photo by Fort Hamilton Family Homes) and U.S. Army Alaska will soon implement multiple at- prescribed fires on military ed Ser- Recent survey results show training lands in Interior by vices Alaska. Burning could begin US- will housing satisfaction on the rise as early as Thursday, start- ARAK be ing with woody debris piles to reduce followed Thomas Brading officials an idea of how to and dead grass within the wildfire to reduce Army News Service improve family quality Donnelly Training Area East risk with- the risk of of life on installations, located on both sides of the in training COVID-19 Results from a recent he said. The survey also Richardson Highway south areas and to exposure tenant survey show that offers a snapshot of how of Delta Junction. As condi- make the area and transmis- overall customer sat- families gauge recent tions allow, prescribed burn- more accessible sion among our isfaction is improving, changes. ing in the Donnelly Training to firefighting personnel and the senior Army housing of- At a glance, it seems Area near Delta Junction, forces. communities we ficials said, as the service “people are pleased the Yukon Training Area While smoke from work in. continues to improve on- with the changes made near Eielson Air Force Base, prescribed fires may be The annual pre- base living conditions. last year,” said Shenise and on Fort Wainwright visible from various points scribed burning is planned For the first time, this Foster, housing systems land near Fairbanks may in the surrounding commu- at the following locations: year’s Tenant Satisfac- and privatized housing continue throughout the nities, their potential impact • DTA: Several locations tion Survey was stan- program manager, who spring. on the public is considered between 25 miles west and dardized across all mili- added transparency Prescribed burns are fires at all stages of prescribed 15 miles south of Delta tary branches following between housing officials that are intentionally set fire planning. BLM AFS and Junction a change in the National and residents has been under controlled conditions USARAK work closely with • YTA: Several locations Defense Authorization the most striking im- to reduce dry and dead grass the Alaska Department of between 5 miles north and Act to help paint a clear- provement. and lower the risk of wild- Environmental Conserva- 20 miles east of Eielson Air er picture of the state of Foster credited sev- fires that could impact near- tion Division of Air Quality Force Base military housing. eral recent changes. by communities, resources, and the National Weather • FWA: Small Arms Com- Over 85,000 Army Last year, the Army facilities, and military Service to mitigate poten- plex, immediately southeast households took part in launched a hotline to training. Removing hazard- tial impacts. There are also of Fairbanks the anonymous ques- help residents voice their ous fuels during the spring, procedures in place to halt The exact timing of later tionnaire, an increase concerns and unveiled when conditions are moder- ignitions if weather condi- prescribed burning will from previous years, said a government-owned ated, allows for the greatest tions, such as wind direc- depend on the snow melt- Kevin Drescher, Army smartphone app to help degree of control and the tion, become unfavorable. ing and weather conditions. Family Housing inven- schedule and monitor lowest risk for negative Guidelines established by Subsequent press releases tory program manager, work orders, among impacts, such as smoke. The the Centers for Disease Con- specific to each area will adding it had an array of other changes. woody debris piles were cre- trol and the Alaska Depart- provide more precise esti- positive results. ment of Health and Human mates of the time frames. The results provide See SURVEY on page 2 WEEKEND WEATHER IN BRIEF Friday Saturday Sunday The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently established a permanent presence on the ground in Africa to oversee key U.S. Africa Command projects here. Read more on page 6. Sunny. High: 60F. Sunny. High: 62F. Sunny. High: 59F. 2 NEWS April 23, 2021 Nutrition Corner: Exploring new grains Stuck in a rut with White rice and pasta and textures even the pick- in protein similar to quinoa. to purchase a small serving grains? Many people get both undergo processing iest eaters will like them. Buckwheat is not actually size to test the flavor and used to cooking meals using before hitting the grocery Some alternative grains related to wheat despite texture before committing the classics like pasta or shelves. The processing are: amaranth, kamut, its name. The high fiber to a large bag. These new rice. When it comes to din- strips away nutrients and freekeh, buckwheat and content of buckwheat can grains can be cooked in ner, most Americans choose fiber to create a different quinoa. help lower cholesterol levels the morning as an alter- a refined grain to add with flavor and texture than Although the names in the body. Most people native to oatmeal, tossed their meat and veggies, like whole grains. This is why can sound quite odd, these have heard of quinoa; it is in to soups or salads in the white rice or pasta.