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Show ,i IFautnnn- - u Thursday, January 12, 1984 n : V. " ' , " y :? : - - xLi'.'v - '.s '',. 1 &'' &ij Mm df d d ,yj r-- - . yi & I ' ' v.l , !? ii -- 1"'' V V8 V -- V s' ' ' yy. V ' ' ' ' - : SB ' r - 4 .mm. - " ", ; . mvr'.' - ,' ,,k'. ' &i, & "' v . ' f; . ii !. f THE HAWK INFLATABLE DECOY is tested at the Armys Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greely, Alaska, to determine Its durability in sub zero temperatures. (U.S. Army Photo) J . j Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC) j? , , VI . This unique TECOWl installation supports all ot DARCORi This is the first of a two- -' part section on the U.S. Armys CRTC. The last half of this story will be told in the next issue of The Sampler. they are testing for the U.S. Army. The NCOs make up the crew which tests two HAWK inflatable decoys in an arctic environment. The HAWK decoy system, nicknamed the Paul Powell SFC and Jr. "rubber duck is a balloonby Phil Hale like facsimile of the improved HAWK missle system. If Nestled into the Alaskan spotted by an enemy the desouth80 miles countryside coy is designed to appear as east of Fairbanks and 175 real thing. miles south of the Arctic (the well these decoys perCircle lies Ft. Greeley, home form in cold weather and how of the U.S. Army Cold soldiers will perform when Regions Test Center (CRTC putting them up and taking for short). them down under such a A vital member of the US condition is the task assigned and Test Evaluation to the three men. Army Command (TECOM) team of . ' Although the complete installations dedicated to the HAWK decoy system has nine configurations, CRTC is thorough and accurate testand of evaluation items ing testing only two of them US the the launcher and the Improduced by Army and Readiness Development proved Continuous Wave AcCommand (DARCOM), quisition Radar (ICWAR). CRTC as one might expect is Anchoring the decoys to used to test the items under the tough arctic ground the coldest extremes they proved to be a challenge for will ever likely see in use by the team. soldiers of the United States "We use an arctic stake to armed forces. hold it in place, said test' The post is in the center of NCO Bagley, a Georgia a large valley formed by the native. "Once the top layer Brooks Mountain Range on of ice is broken it goes in the north and the Alaskan pretty easily but I was hit by Mountain range on the south. a pin flying out of the hole Its location accounts for the during one of the first sustained cold and helps to emplacements." funnel Siberian cold fronts into the area. The terrain and weather are typical of arctic conditions and add to the challenge of conducting veys in support of tests. The sur- variety ofterrain at CRTC encompasses all types found in north country and arctic regions to include secondary roads, cross country trails, river crossings, muskey bogs, dense taiga, peat bogs and lots of snow. It's usually about 12 de- grees Fahrenheit when Jim Brassell, SSgt Robert Bagley and SSgt Kevin Eldridge go to work. The three report to the Beales Test Support Complex at the U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greeley, Alaska, to set up and inflate the "rubber duck "Although temperatures usually vary from 12 F to 20 F during emplacements and take downs, Bagley said, "We have tested it at minus 20 F. "We do have wind stipulations on the testing that require us to stop a test for anything over 30 knots, with gusts up to 40 knots, added test NCO Eldridge, an Indiana native. "Cold temperatures and winds are the reason for the selection of Fort Greeley for the tests, Bagley said. "We have to know juist how many emplacements we can get out of one decoy. We are testing the equipment for its reliability, and flexibility in the cold and wind and how well it will stand up. j J skis on GuUcana Glacier, 80 miles from the U.S. Army's Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greely, Alnglrn g jlliy photo) ' never skied before they got here. About 260 military and 24 civilian employees are assigned permanently to CRTC to conduct tests, develop test plans, prepare test sites, prepare reports, and operate the center. A permanent cadre of 230 enlisted military is supplemented by temporary duty assignment (TDY) personnel, varying in number each winter from 30 to 200, depending on the seasonal "Our best results so far have been with the launcher but our final report will give a good description of both decoys, Bagley added. "It's a good system and if the personnel operating it take care of it I think it will last a long time, Brassell said. "If you've got a good officer in charge insuring proper transportation and unpacking, I believe it will be a good system. "I think that once fielded, dsit will only take a crew about a week to become pronon-commission- ed i"-.-1 : i ) 1 I workload. ficient with it, Brassell said. "Once you get the hang of it it's easy to set up. I think I could put it up by myself in about 20 minutes if I had to. He added, T think it will take a good crew about nine minutes to get it into action. . Other soldiers at the CRTC. are skiing as much as 23 kilo-- . meters a day in temperatures as low as minus 53 degrees Fahrenheit during a technical feasibility test of skis. "Specifically we are looking at reducing the weight of the skis, studying their dura-- . bility, and whether or not they can hold up in temperatures in the C3 (below minus 50F) category said Art Trantham, an Army civilian equipment specialist working in the center's Combat Support System Test Division. "Generally we get pretty good soldiers but here, Trantham said. ''They are usually among the besra unit commander has In most cases he selects which of his troops will be assigned up here for a testing mission. The ski test team is composed of 20 soldiers from throughout the United States, most of whom have " ' f. ' ' vj j t - officer in charge of the ski team and a graduate of i the Army's Northern Warfare Training Center's Instructor Qualification Course. Earls has already served one tour in Alaska J PFC JOHN MAXON, Fort Hood, Tx., carries a full rucksack during a portion of a technical feasibility test of skis at the If Armys Cold Regions Test Center, Fort Greely, Alaska. J (U.S. Army Photo) with the 172nd Brigade. According to Earls, it takes about two weeks of training, R R R R R R R R R R R R R MV - mg of tests which is being one week of cross country and one week of downhill to bring the test team to the level of an accredited Army skier. "Of our test team we've got commercially manufactured skis being tested at CRTC for the U.S. Army natick Labora- tories, Natick, Mass., according to Trantham. "The Army is looking for other manufacturers in an attempt to get away from a sole source manufacturer for the skis, he said. "We may find a better ski than we are using now. "As with all our tests, the . demonstrated by the team this winter helps the center keep TDY requirements to the minimum. "We're looking for a tent that will be reduced 25 percent in weight without losing durabiity, while improving heat retention and blackout capability, said Art Trantham, an Army civilian equip- five with previous ski experience and 15 with no experience, he said. Most of the ski tests being conducted at CRTC are in the ment specialist with the center's Combat Support System Test Division. Other tests being per- formed ion the tents include wind loading, snow loading and water repellance. To insure that the soldier in combat can count on his equipment to work is the reason that soldiers at CRTC are erecting, testing, striking and rugged professionals, are several thousand lakes and the glacier fed Delta River. The ski team also is responsible for the testing of tents for the Army. The "piggyback- five-and-ten-m- readying tents for transport in arctic conditions. . The number of times that - . areas nearest the coldest subpost in the U.S. Army - Bolio Lake. Within a ten mile radius of Bolio Lake which is billed as the home of the soldiers testing, them come from throughout FORCSOM (U.S. Army Forces Command). Trantham said. "We find that some of them started skiing as early as the age of six but that most have an we work with the tents each day depends on the weather, said SFC Leonard Earls, the . NCOIC officer in charge) of the tests. "We just have to wait for the right conditions. Usually when the temperature is at its coldest, the sol-- . diers move out from the subpost and begin their routine of erecting and striking the tents. Other days will be devoted to the testing of heat retention, snow loading and water repellancy. (non-commission- . v ed To be continued in the January 26 issue of The Sampler. V GLCM members receive honors . During a recent Commander's Call, the following Air Force personnel were recognized for their distinctive accomplishments. From left to right: Capt. Erman, who received Meritiorious Service Medal; SRA Hardy, who received Air Force Commendation and Air Force Good Conduct Medal; LtCol. Hessler, GLCM Deputy Test Director who received Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); SSgt. Krumnow, who received' Air Force Commendation Medal; SMSgt. Morey, who received Meritorious Service Medal; TSgL New, who received Air Force Commendation Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster); TSgt. Wooldridge, who received Air Force Commendation Medal; Capt. Zakrzewkski, who received Joint Service Commendation Medal; SSgt. Blackburn; who received Air Force Achievement Medal; Capt. Hughes, who received Air Force Commendation Medal (Second Oak Leaf Cluster); and SSgt. Myer who received Air Force Commendation Medal. These awards were presented to test team personnel by Lt. Col. Livingston, the Cruise Missile Test Team Test Director, extreme left, and Maj. Komreich, Det 2 USAFTAWC Commander, on the extreme right. . v.. ' jJ jyjj -- - -- ri j . - . V. . 1.: f'i "i ' r 'nk O;;- j L 4 - r. -- w-. ' J ., - - ... '" r-- - ; 7;':., : ir i never been assigned to Alaska before .aSFC Jack Earls is theiL There are seven sets of I : y ' .41 , V4 . ' - j ! |