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School of Electronic War

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 200411495449
Story by Lance Cpl. Cullen J. Tiernan

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (Nov. 4, 2004) -- Soaring over enemy positions EA-6B Prowlers, from Marine Tactical Electronic Squadron 4, intercept, identify and locate sources of radiated electromagnetic energy for the purpose of immediate threat recognition. Prowlers give commanders on the ground vital intelligence and are a crucial part of the Marine Corps' war machine.

Electronic warfare is critical to the success of military operations. Electronic warfare is military action involving the use of electromagnetic or directed energy to control the electromagnetic spectrum or to attack the enemy.

"Prowlers provide electronic attack, surveillance in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force," said Maj. Shane Conrad, VMAQ-4's executive officer. "We recently flew two Prowlers to the Weapons Training Instruction course in Yuma, Ariz. There, we integrate the EA-6B with the rest of the MAGTF's aerial components. We go out there and teach a lot of young aviators, who mostly fly hornets and harriers, what we do and how we all integrate with one another."

An international group of military aviators, more than 180 aviators are enrolled in WTI.
These NATO pilots come from all different parts of the American, British, French and Australian military to learn exactly what electronic warfare has to offer.

"This gives us a chance to get ahead, to get an idea of what it will be like working together in a combat zone," said Conrad. "During the month-long school, we introduced emerging tactics specific to today's battlefield."

VMAQ-4's contributions to WTI broaden the spectrum of knowledge of its many students. Their prowlers, and instructors, allowed the many different pilots to get a lesson in the art of electronic warfare.

"The main objective of having prowlers at WTI is to bring electronic warfare to MAGTF theater," said Capt. Brent Crews, an EA-6B instructor at Yuma. "During the WTI, everything from ground combat to air combat to service support and command all work together and get a real sense of what it will be like in a real combat zone."

The aviators who attend WTI have proven themselves tactically efficient and able to both master their role and learn how the armed forces all work together to keep the world safe. The prowlers work together with Army elements, Air Force F-15s and F-16s, Navy T-3s and coalition planes.

"Marines at WTI were able to employ the Prowler's gear at an operational tempo," said Crews. The crews used ALQ-99 jamming pods, which jam enemy radar and communications, and ALE-43 Bulk Chaff Pods, which, were able to drop enough electronic energy to screen enemy radar which allowed them to conduct a helio-borne assault."

The ability to support a helio-borne assault is an example of the vital role electronic warfare plays in modern warfare. Prowler crews are able to work together with helicopter crews from H-56 Sea Stallions, H-46 Sea Knights and AH-1 Cobras.

"The Marines at WTI practice the same tactics they will see when they deploy," said Crews. "With respect to jamming enemy communication, the joint training they receive here is invaluable."

Prowlers played an important role on today's battle field. Their presence at WTI has sharpened the magnitude of Prowlers in the MAGTF, and the role of electronic warfare in America's coalition.