MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Tents, razor wire and realistic scenarios, usually encountered by Marines in Afghanistan, help bring the atmosphere of a deployed environment to the backyards of communication squadrons aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
The Marine Air Command and Control Systems Training Exercise, commonly dubbed MISTEX, is an assessment of the capabilities of squadrons throughout Marine Air Control Group 28.
“Our primary goal is to provide communications to support the TAOC or tactical air operations center,” said 2nd Lt. Jamie Foss, site officer in charge with Company A, Wire Platoon, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28. “We provide data, telephone switching and single channel radio services in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.”
“This exercise allows all of the squadrons of MACG-28 to exercise command and control,” said Capt. Angela Nelson, commander of Company A, MWCS-28. “It’s a big deal for MWCS-28 because we tie all the units together by enabling C2 through our various communication systems.”
Across Cherry Point and throughout the area, multiple sites have been established for the MISTEX. Each site plays a different role in testing and applying the communications squadron’s various capabilities in supporting the Marine air control group.
“This operation involves a number of different squadrons in the air control group,” said Foss. “The purpose of this training is to prepare the units for follow-on exercises,”
This training will last two weeks and will cover a variety of missions related to deployed environments.
“Though our units are not preparing for a deployment, anytime we get to turn our gear on and support users it helps us prepare for going forward and any contingency operations that may arise,” said Nelson. “This exercise is a building block approach for weapons and tactics instructor exercises and future deployments.”
The MISTEX is held twice a year and involves all units under MACG-28.
“Right now the Marines are working hard and everything is on track,” said Foss. “We’re planning on being set up to provide services by the end of the week.”