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Sailors and Marines Descend on Baumholder, Germany for Combined Endeavor 2003

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030520-11

Release Date: 5/20/2003 2:30:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Dave Hecht, CNE Det 413 and Capt. Chris Miller, NR, Naval Information Bureau 1118th, Fort Carson, Colo.

LAGER AULENBACH, Germany (NNS) -- The home of the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, landlocked Baumholder, Germany, has become the Navy's and Marine Corps' newest port. Sailors and Marines have converged on the town as Combined Endeavor (CE) 2003 is in full swing. A yearly U.S. European Command sponsored exercise, CE-03 involves more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel from almost 40 NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

"I'm a technician, and this is a candy story," said Senior Chief Electronics Technician Shawn Spencer of the NATO Deployable Communications Battalion. "All the new products are here, and there's plenty of toys to get your hands on."

The goal of the exercise is to create compatibility and interoperability between the participating nation's high frequency radio and computer information systems. A 17-day exercise, CE-03 is in its ninth year, its fifth here in Baumholder where the nations test, resolve and document interoperability of C4 equipment systems.

"In addition, CE-03 builds experience and knowledge in Communications Information System (CIS) planning among the nations that participate," says Army Lt. Col. Jim Hogle, U.S European Command exercise director. "Together, we develop interoperability solutions that coalitions can use in future combined humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief operations."

"The way that these countries come together and make it work ... I think it's wonderful," said Spencer. "It gives you real hope for the world."

Among the participating nations are Albania, Croatia, Spain, the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Hungary, Russia, Uzbekistan, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Just a couple of years ago, Lance Cpl. J.D. Sharp was a high school student among the tall corn fields of Bowling Green, Ohio. Today, the Camp Pendleton, N.C.,-based Marine is in Germany demonstrating his "real-time" battlefield computer mapping system to senior officers from nations across Europe.

"I feel a little out of place," said the 21-year old. Regardless of feeling overwhelmed, Sharp recognizes that "Combined Endeavor is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Spending 20 hours in airports and planes, Sharp is just one member of the team from Marine Corp Systems Command(MARCORSYSCOM). They are here not only demonstrating their technology, but also to support another detachment from Marine Forces Europe (MARFOREUR) based out of Stuttgart, Germany.

"There is a NATO version," said Maj. David Murphy of the battlefield mapping system, "but ours is more advanced."

And while most Americans would think the U.S. Armed Forces have the best equipment money can buy, Lance Cpl. Earl Almdale of MARFOREUR would gladly swap his gear with the team from The Netherlands. "They have a 42-inch plasma screen in their tent."

The Navy is represented at Combined Endeavor by personnel from NATO, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Reservists from South Carolina, Ohio, New York and Virginia.

"This just might be one of the best kept secrets in the Navy," said Capt. Chris Miller, officer-in-charge, CE-03 Combined Information Bureau. "This is one of those rare opportunities to work with media from not only the United States, but media from around the world."

Naval Reservist Lt. Cmdr. Dan Druckenmiller from the Mobile Mine Assembly Unit (MOMAU) 7, Naval Reserve Center, Greenville, S.C., is the ranking officer on a hilltop manned by 12 Sailors, experts in the field of High Frequency [H.F.] radio communications.

"If you really want to talk to everyone, H.F. is the only mode that is out there for everyone to use" Druckenmiller said.

Overshadowing rows of tents and flags waving in the wind, the Navy's 50-foot long, experimental radio antenna is proving the power of H.F. At night, when atmospheric conditions are best, voices from as far away as the United States and Canada come in crystal clear from across the Atlantic Ocean. "We're the long-range leg of this exercise" said Druckenmiller. "No one else is trying to reach as far."

Combined Endeavor concludes May 22, but Sailors and Marines here are already calling the exercise a success. "To date, we haven't seen an obstacle we couldn't overcome" said Marine Maj. David Murphy.