MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- More than 30 Marines with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 are preparing to exhibit their communication capabilities with efficiency and ability during an upcoming deployment to Grafenwöhr, Germany, in support of Exercise Combined Endeavor in mid-September.
Combined Endeavor is the largest command, control, communications and computers interoperability event in the world. MWCS-28 Marines will be partnering with approximately 1,400 communication professionals from more than 40 NATO and Partnership for Peace countries to conduct a series of operationally focused interoperability tests.
Partnership for Peace is a program of practical bilateral cooperation between individual Euro-Atlantic countries and NATO. It allows partners to build individual relationships with NATO, choosing their own priorities for cooperation.
“The exercise brings together the bilateral ties of 40 nations to ensure that our communication with our ally partners is still successful and that we can understand each other in future crises,” said Gunnery Sgt. Damian Dobbs, MWCS-28 communications chief.
Equipment plays a major role in ensuring Combined Endeavor is successfully carried out.
MWCS-28 has spent the last several months assessing equipment that will be needed for the upcoming exercise. One key piece of gear is the PRC-117 radio.
The PRC-117 multi-band multi-mission radio is a man-portable device that covers a large frequency and allows communication squadron 28 to transmit voice and data traffic during the exercise to all partnering nations.
MWCS-28 Marines intend to build strong relationships with all personnel involved in Combined Endeavor, said Lance Cpl. Brandon D. Davenport, a generator mechanic for MWCS-28.
By the end of this exercise, all of the nations will be confident in communication interoperability among NATO and Partnership for Peace countries, said Dobbs.
MWCS-28 was named the top communications unit in the Marine Corps April 18 when it earned the Lt. Col. Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes a communications or information technology unit within the operational forces that has distinguished itself by making outstanding contributions to the development or advancement of concepts, doctrine, technology, or procedures.