JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska –
The communications team at the Alaska Wing, Civil Air Patrol, is working to expand High Frequency radio capabilities throughout the state to be more effective partners during local, state, regional, and national emergencies or operations.
Recently, Maj. Gen. Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner of the Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs, expressed full support for the Wing’s HF expansion during a phone call with CAP Lt. Michele Bremer, the Wing’s project officer for the task. The Alaska CAP Wing is administratively aligned under the DMVA.
Saxe said that Alaska is a major topic of discussion within U.S. Northern Command and among other National Guard adjutants general, as Alaska’s strategic location and role in homeland defense is widely acknowledged. Additionally, Saxe, said Alaska’s forces must be prepared to assist with a range of disasters affecting entire regions of the state. As a result, he said, the Alaska’s communications capability is paramount. “
HF radio is the key means of communication in emergencies, and we need to build out Alaska’s capability in every identified city, town, and organized village. My goal is solid testing and full deployment of radios and operators by March 2026,” said Saxe.
He said CAP is poised to be a leader in HF radio expansion across the DMVA with its units across the state. Saxe would like the Alaska Wing to integrate with the AKNG Joint Staff for future communications tests and exercises to include the annual NORTHCOM exercise, Vigilant Guard.
Alaska Wing Commander, Col. Derk MacPherson said, “We are excited to work closely with Maj. Gen. Saxe’s team and ready to serve.”
Bremer said the Wing’s goal is to have enough radios and trained operators to communicate during a major disaster. She said national-level CAP has authorized the Alaska Wing six radios for each of the 17 squadrons. The Wing has already fielded 25 with the rest coming once operators are identified. She said the Wing could procure more once the first set of radios get up and running.
The Wing recently conducted a communications exercise, using four of the new HF radios. During the test, they spoke to stations as far away as Arizona, Colorado, Alabama, and New Hampshire, confirming the radios’ tremendous range and versatility. “
Our goal is to have one at each squadron and the others at people’s homes, because in an emergency, who knows if a CAP communicator can get to the squadron radio,” she said. “We already have a small cadre of experienced radio operators who participate in frequent national and state communications exercises. We want to expand exponentially.”
Bremer pointed out that with the right training and equipment, HF radio systems can go beyond basic voice capability and allow for transmission of data. However, Saxe said based on real-world experience, the most logical first step for Alaska is to build expertise and redundancy with HF voice communications. “
During the 2018 earthquake that damaged communication infrastructure, phones, computers, and land lines were all non-functional for an extended time and that could last even longer in more severe disasters. Let’s expand [HF] voice competency first,” he said.
Bremer pointed out that in addition to the HF hardware, other budgetary requirements include alternative power sources and travel costs for training in remote areas of the state. Saxe acknowledged the cost factor and encouraged the Wing to keep him updated on resource requirements, suggesting the DMVA could look into federal and state grants as needed.
Alaska CAP’s communication team has contacted squadron commanders to identify enthusiastic members who want to learn HF radio communications as an emergency management service. For more information, contact Lt. Col. Bryan Emerson at bryan.emerson@akwg.cap.gov