As the Armed Services move to a more digital battlefield, communications has quickly risen as one of the most critical components to a unit. The Coast Guard is also entering a period of substantial change in the deployment of our Port Security Units. This requires additional alignment with Department of Defense structure, doctrine and use of technology, particularly with the wide range of communication and information systems deployed within the Deployable Specialized Forces. In the face of such changes to the mission sets, the Coast Guard must reassess its communications requirements and ensure that all members within the DSF are proficient in the use of these various systems; we must also determine if additional systems are required to ensure mission execution. This can be accomplished through the development of a comprehensive, robust, flexible architectural framework for its Tactical Communications System and associated training. Specialized training is essential in providing support to commanders, as well as providing the network to support the sensor-to-shooter technology. With this in mind, Port Security Unit 311 hosted the Coast Guard’s first Port Security Unit Tactical Communications College November 12-18 at Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach. Members at PSUs receive initial training from SMTC through the Expeditionary Operations Course. Both Waterside Security and Shoreside Security have additional training opportunities to improve their readiness. To address the critical need for fundamental communications training, we formulated the College to bolster technical competency for the whole community. Knowing the importance of maintaining communication competencies, the training event received support from multiple invested units, including Pacific Area (PAC-3DSF, PAC-63), the Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center, Pacific (MIFC-PAC), the National Geospatial Agency (NGA) Warfighters, and the Atlantic Area Communications Command. “Communications is a critical component for the safe and effective execution of any mission,” said Cmdr. Patrick Hanley, the commanding officer of PSU 311. As our challenges continue to evolve, advancing proficiency, sharing best practices, and identifying opportunities to enhance capabilities will play a vital role in ensuring our readiness to operate in a variety of environments and with our joint partners.” More than 30 students representing seven of the Coast Guard’s eight PSUs convened at Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach where they received classroom, hands-on, and live operational experience on tactical communications. Over 30 hours of principal classroom instruction was provided by L3 Harris Communications on radios, secure data transfer processes, establishing a tactical operation center, mission planning software, and satellite communications. This equipment is not only used throughout the PSU community, but also within the wider DoD, providing critical interoperability in both joint and combined maritime deployment settings. “It was a pleasure working, training, and interacting with such a group of motivated professionals,” said Scott Russell, one of the College’s instructors from L3 Harris Communications. “It was definitely a week of ‘drinking from a fire hose.’ Because of the group’s eagerness, we were able to accomplish the amount of training that we did." PSU 311 hosts comms college Story and photos by Lts. Eric Hudson, Port Security Unit 311 and Adam Jaffe, Port Security Unit 308 RESERVIST MAGAZINE AROUND THE RESERVE Members from Port Security Unit 311 hosted a PSU tactical communications college Nov. 12-18 at Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach. 8 ReseRvist . Issue 1 • 2023 CELEBRATING CELEBRATING 70 70 YEARS OF THE RESERVIST YEARS OF THE RESERVIST
