Guard Program Trains Warfighters for Emerging Battlefield Threats

Twenty years ago, it was improvised explosive devices; today, it's unmanned aircraft systems. In the future, it could be something completely different.

Whatever the latest battlefield threat is, the Army National Guard Training Support Branch's Emerging Threat Replication Program helps train service members to defeat it.

At Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, the team trains Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers, as well as all units that come to them and those at the point of need.

"Our mission really is to integrate threat-based training into collective and individual unit training plans to improve and sustain readiness in preparation for mobilization," said Jared Reed, site lead for the Emerging Threat Replication Program. "Our big push right now is counter-UAS; that's the emerging threat."

The training prepares squad- through company-level elements for rotations at combat training centers, culminating training exercises and both stateside and overseas mobilizations.

In addition to UAS employment and counter-UAS tactics, the program provides immersive live, virtual and gaming-simulation training covering explosive hazards and counter-improvised threats, explosive ordnance disposal, and cyber and electromagnetic activities. It also includes warfighting functions, such as tactical command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, fires and sustainment.

By providing realistic aerial-threat instruction, both in the classroom and in the field, the program ensures service members can effectively integrate counter-UAS technologies on the modern battlefield.

Previously known as the Asymmetric Threat Training Support Program, the emerging threat team continually monitors how warfare is changing and integrates new tactics, techniques and procedures into training.

"It started out as counter-IED," said Troy Heffner, the program's UAS employment and counter-UAS lead. "That used to be our big push during the global war on terror, and now UAS is the biggest emerging threat."

Heffner said that, given the rapid proliferation of UAS and their use domestically and across the globe, there is a significant focus on building UAS employment and counter-UAS capabilities.

"In addition to required pre-mobilization tasks, a lot of it has transitioned into strictly counter-UAS," Reed said. "That's basically what every unit is asking for. It's become a pretty big deal, not just here, but across the Army."

However, Heffner noted that, like other emerging threats, the UAS space changes and evolves rapidly.

"By the time you go through the process to purchase a piece of equipment, it can already be outdated, so keeping up with the material side is extremely difficult," he said. "What we try to focus on more is the on-the-ground tactical 'how do I react to that UAS?'"

He added that the team is focused on tactics, techniques and procedures and how soldiers react to drone threats.

Looking forward, Heffner said unmanned ground vehicles and UAS platforms for cyber and electromagnetic activities are additional emerging threats that they are integrating into training.