Spectrum analyzer operations course begins April 15

Published April 15, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Greg Washburn
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The new spectrum analyzer operations course in the 333rd Training Squadron begins today and continues through April 21, according to Master Sgt. Mathew Cook, instructor.

The spectrum operations technician analyzes user requirements and requests frequencies to support ground, air, and space systems and coordinates radio, radar, land and other electromagnetic radiating or receiving requirements, according to the Air Force Web site.

"There's a limited amount of spectrum available for use, and everybody wants some," Sergeant Cook explained.

The course teaches radio direction finding techniques for use by coalition forces in theater and peacetime operations at the home station. These techniques equip the spectrum manager to isolate and identify radio interference which can negatively impact mission operations. When aircraft fly, they are in contact with ground and other air platforms through several different radio links. These links are passing voice communications, and a variety of different types of data including location and position information, target information, and even real-time video imagery. Management of the radio frequency spectrum is essential to the success of today's wireless, and networked, coalition force.

An initial-skills follow-on course, the spectrum operations course is specifically for joint service members in the rank of staff sergeant and above for Air Force students, and E-6 and above for other service students.

The course will enable new frequency managers, or "freqs," to not only understand the complex frequency environment, but provides hand-on training to analyze the electromagnetic environment and work towards eliminating interference issues, said Sergeant Cook. Additionally, the new course satisfies the joint urgent operational needs statement suggesting that frequency managers in the field perform basic interference mitigation with radio direction finding practices without having to bring in outside agencies to track the source, Sergeant Cook noted.

The spectrum operations career field has become more mainstream due to increased interest and concern for wireless communications devices, radio frequency spectrum occupancy and the increase in interference issues of both military and civilian communication systems.

Common examples of civilian wireless technology includes the dramatic increase in wireless home networking and broadband smart phones like the BlackBerry, Droid, or iPhone.

In today's world, as more and more military and civilian technology goes wireless, the importance of frequency management is increasing rapidly, Sergeant Cook pointed out. It's a small career field, with only 103 frequency managers currently in the Air Force and 132 authorizations.

Senior leaders from all military branches are familiar with the demands upon the frequency spectrum. Recently the Air Force chief of staff directed a FY10 Air Force Lessons Learned with spectrum management as a core focus area, and how the Air Force can contribute in this area to the joint and coalition communities.

Spectrum analyzer operations course begins today