41 SOUTHCOM, Dogface Soldiers become space enablers

By MSG Krishna M. Gamble, 3rd Infantry Division Public AffairsJuly 10, 2014

Space Enablers
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From the ranks of private to lieutenant colonel and a wide array of military occupational specialties including a dentist, 41 Soldiers representing Southern Command and the 3rd Infantry Division are now formally known as space enablers.

Fort Stewart hosted the first Army Space Cadre Basic Course for which Soldiers earned the 3Y identifier called "Space Enabler". The ASCBC provides a basic knowledge of space capabilities and how they enable the warfighter. This course focused on space capabilities, limitations and vulnerabilities in the context of full spectrum operations said Capt. Nathaniel Balough, 3rd ID Space and Special Programs Chief.

"Students learned the fundamental knowledge of space capabilities, space systems and space organizations to better understand their role within the Joint and Army space community," Balough said.

Directly supporting the 3rd ID's core task to provide trained and ready space missile defense forces, the skills sets learned in this two week training help Soldiers enhance planning, integration, control and coordination of Army forces and capabilities to the lowest command element.

"The Army is the leading user of space within our military and that's why it is important to learn about all the space capabilities in order to paint a better picture of the battlefield for our brigade commander, staff and subordinate units," said Capt. Luis A Prieto, Air Defense Coordination and Airspace Management Officer, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID.

Prieto, a native of Dalton, Georgia, was selected to attend the course. He said air defense artillery is closely related to space when it comes to providing early warning to the maneuver units and intercepting missiles.

"Space is a combat multiplier, [and] this class broadened my way of thinking," he said. "It will assist me in educating the brigade staff on the space capabilities available in order to facilitate future operations.

"I would recommend this course to all [intelligence] and [operations] personnel in order to enhance their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [standard operating procedures."

"I [volunteered] to go to the course because learning about space will help me [function] better as a frequency manager, and also help me to quickly identify communication problems," said Orangeburg, South Carolina native Staff Sgt. Roger Whaley.

Whaley, a spectrum manager for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, has been in the Army 14 years.

"This [Army Space Program] is designed to save lives."

These 41 Soldiers were awarded the skill identifier, but to earn the space badge, Soldiers must successfully complete appropriate space-related training, and attain the required Army space cadre experience. The three levels of the space badge, basic senior and master, can be awarded to active Army, Army Reserve and National Guard.

The next class for the ASCBC is scheduled for December.