GRECIAN FIREBOLT 2001 STRIKES AT FT. DIX, NJ: Delaware National Guard

Staff Sgts. Danny McLaren, 51st Signal Squadron, Aberdeen, Scotland, and Samantha Wilkie, Signals Squadron, 5-2 2nd Squadron, both of the 32nd Signal Regiment, were chosen from soldiers of The British Army's volunteers to participate in an exchange program with the 280th during Grecian Firebolt this year. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Deborah Welch)

FORT DIX, N.J. -- Integrating Air Force, Army, active and reserve component units during annual training exercises has become increasingly common, due to the U.S. Army’s focus on its "Total Force Concept."

During Grecian Firebolt 2001, the "Total Force Concept" has risen to a new level for the 280th Signal Battalion, Wilmington, Del.Staff Sgts. Danny McLaren, 51st Signal Squadron, Aberdeen, Scotland, and Samantha Wilkie, Signals Squadron, 5-2 2nd Squadron, both of 32nd Signal Regiment, were chosen from soldiers of The British Army’s volunteers to participate in an exchange program with the 280th this year.

In terms of Signal operations, the British Territorial Army (TA) is quite different in a few ways from the U. S. Army’s, according to both McLaren and Wilkie.

Staff Sgt. Danny McLaren of the British Army's 51st Signal Squadron, 32nd Signal Regiment is crosss-training with soldiers of the 280th Signal Batallion stationed at Seaford, Delaware. Staff Sgt. McLaren is splicing WF16 wire for current communications operations. (US Army photo by Sgt. Kyran V. Adams)
"We very seldom use cable," said McLaren. "Our exercise wouldn’t have such a large plot. It would be spread out, so we’re not able to lay lines. Instead, we would use small portable radios."

Wilkie agreed that the amount of cables and number of phones used here is astonishing in comparison to her squadron. "We just don’t put singular phones in every tent," said Wilkie. "We use data mainly – for moving email."

In addition, both Wilkie and McLaren said that the equipment itself is very different.The British Army uses a National Communications Radio System (NCRS) that evolved from a post-nuclear war system. Designed so that it would not fail after a nuclear war, their system was strictly a home defense unit.

Recently, it has developed into mobile communications that can deploy. "Our unit has the latest NCRS, which is similar to (the U.S.’s) communications shelter that is mounted on a HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle)," said McLaren.

"But the U.S. has a more secure network, since the majority of the squadron’s voice messages (in Scotland) are not classified," said McLaren.

"Communications are generally non-restrictive. Basically, if we want it to be secure, we encrypt it," said Wilkie.

The regiment to which McLaren and Wilkie belong is also characterized by some striking distinctions, in contrast to our Army National Guard. For instance, "Someone might sign on for three years, but if they don’t like it they can leave," according to McLaren. However, the soldiers do have an incentive to attend their drill weekends.

"We receive a lump sum called a bounty payment, if we complete all our training, including weapons test, NBC, first aid and fitness training," said McLaren. "After we complete our two week camp, we then can receive the lump sum payment."

Furthermore, according to Wilkie, being a regular attendee has other benefits, such as being chosen to participate in this exchange program.

"I was chosen because of my good commitment: I’m a long time soldier of 14 years, have passed all of my qualifications and am a regular attendee. I was one of the top choices," said Wilkie.

Wilkie and McLaren also explained that to be a regular attendee in the British Army is a bit different from the U.S. Army National Guard, in that they often train three or four weekends in a row.

"Being chosen for the exchange program was very competitive both in the British Army and on the U.S. side," said McLaren.

McLaren and Wilkie both have counterparts who will travel to Scotland for two weeks training at the end of August and who are serving as their sponsors during this AT.

"Staff Sgt.'s Catherine Waddler and Desmond Kilgoe are first rate. They know their job and they know it well," said Wilkie. "We look forward to hosting them in them in the same way they hosted us."

Waddler and Kilgoe will bring the "Total Force Concept" full circle when they train on British "Signals" during their stay in Scotland as participants in the exchange program.