AFCEA International Chapter News
CAMP PENDLETON CHAPTER CHAPTER - Jun 25, 2014

Tactical Communications Within First Marine Division

Col. Charles Dowling, USMC, assistant chief of staff G-6, First Marine Division, was the guest speaker at the chapter's June luncheon. During his presentation, Col. Dowling spoke of the superb performance put forth by the communicators of the division during Operation Enduring Freedom 12-1. He provided his vision of the future of tactical communications within the division and spoke of the need to transition back to a maneuver-type mindset after many years of operating in a static environment within operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and to include integration of support wide area network (SWAN) terminals, adaptive networking wideband waveform 2(ANW2) and Network on the Move into that maneuver mindset. During his discussion with attendees, Col. Dowling acknowledged the assistance received from the supporting establishments in the areas of acquiring more bandwidth for division exercises and ANW2 training. His vision of the road ahead for the First Marine Division includes the need to train to the autonomous Command Post scenario where the Division Forward and the Division Main operate as separate entities and the pros and cons of operating in this capability. The division has to be prepared to work in a satellite and/or bandwidth denied or degraded environment and how to provision bandwidth just as fires are provisioned between elements. Col. Dowling also spoke about the fact that the First Marine Division has already began executing provisions of Expeditionary Force 21 (EF-21) and how the division supports the mission sets of EF 21 with its organic communications assets. However, there is the need for smaller equipment suites that can be operated by fewer personnel. He stressed the role of leadership within communications buildup and maintenance; supervision is critical at every level even in the technical military specialties. The chapter also completed presentation of 2014 Senior Scholarship in June when Chapter President Maj. Mark Witzel, USMC (Ret.), presented Jeanette Gillie with her scholarship at High Tech High North County. The chapter handed out a total of $12,000 in scholarships to seniors from the 12 North County high schools, who will be pursuing college degrees in the areas of science and technology. The chapter wishes all recipients the best as they move on to university studies.

Event Photographs:

Col. Charles Dowling, USMC, assistant chief of staff G-6, First Marine Division, the guest speaker at the June luncheon, discusses the road ahead for
Col. Charles Dowling, USMC, assistant chief of staff G-6, First Marine Division, the guest speaker at the June luncheon, discusses the road ahead for "Tactical Communications within the First Marine Division in a Post-OEF Environment."
Chapter President Maj. Mark Witzel, USMC (Ret.), and Col. Dowling greet each other following the June luncheon.
Chapter President Maj. Mark Witzel, USMC (Ret.), and Col. Dowling greet each other following the June luncheon.

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