Task Force 46

[HM1529]

Anybody familiar with where you might find comms related to TF 46 training activities?

I know the existing state national guard CBRNE elements here in PA operate on the state trunked system (and have used UHF (380-420) also).

Just curious if anyone's come across comms specific to this national task force element?

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/08/05/guard-soldiers-who-take-on-simulated-chem-bio-and-nuke-attacks-now-add-hypersonic-threats/

 

[DeeEx]

A long, long time ago I was one of the founding fathers of a program known as CERFP, which I think later evolved into something known as a Civil Support Team, at least in Massachusetts. I was a senior NCO in the army national guard at the time.

I have no idea of the status of those efforts today as I left service 15 years ago, but it sounds like what we used to do, albeit with an urban focus.

That said, we primarily used radios that were organic to the (military) units involved. Looking back, there was very little radio communication beyond discussion of moving casualties from parts of the hot zone.

We literally were starting from nothing but our own experience, and writing the SOP as we went along...choosing equipment based on what was in the system plus COTS, etc. I never got to see the project come to complete readiness before I left, but we did do several large-scale drills. FEMA VHF HTs were used at at least one such exercise. At another there was a cache of UHF HTs that I want to say was from the air guard side of the house. Other than that I don’t recall seeing much, but it’s been a while.

 

[HM1529]

A long, long time ago I was one of the founding fathers of a program known as CERFP, which I think later evolved into something known as a Civil Support Team, at least in Massachusetts. I was a senior NCO in the army national guard at the time.

I have no idea of the status of those efforts today as I left service 15 years ago, but it sounds like what we used to do, albeit with an urban focus.

That said, we primarily used radios that were organic to the (military) units involved. Looking back, there was very little radio communication beyond discussion of moving casualties from parts of the hot zone.

We literally were starting from nothing but our own experience, and writing the SOP as we went along...choosing equipment based on what was in the system plus COTS, etc. I never got to see the project come to complete readiness before I left, but we did do several large-scale drills. FEMA VHF HTs were used at at least one such exercise. At another there was a cache of UHF HTs that I want to say was from the air guard side of the house. Other than that I don’t recall seeing much, but it’s been a while.

There was a very large-scale ex a number of years back at FTIG and Harrisburg here in PA. It was called Vigilant Guard and involved CST and CERFP elements from a few states. While my opportunity to monitor was very brief, I did get hits on UHF (380-400 range) P25 simplex. I'll be checking that range again the next time training comes to the area.

Nowadays, you have CST, CERFP, HRF, CBRN units, and CBRN/CS task forces. I still don't quite get how the different elements build on each other or who is gonna get called for exactly what type scenario.

 

[ecps92]

my experience is that you need to be near-by to hear them.
Low power HT's , maybe if needed an on-site Repeater and lots of hand signals.

Yes, 380-420, depending on the unit, some were still Analog PL, where-as other had begun using P25 [CLR/ENC]

Anybody familiar with where you might find comms related to TF 46 training activities?

I know the existing state national guard CBRNE elements here in PA operate on the state trunked system (and have used UHF (380-420) also).

Just curious if anyone's come across comms specific to this national task force element?

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/08/05/guard-soldiers-who-take-on-simulated-chem-bio-and-nuke-attacks-now-add-hypersonic-threats/