FOG HORN

T-11

The U.S. Army has issued safety warnings that amount to a delay in the deployment of the T-11. It appears the U.S. Army lacks confidence in the published wind drift offset factors calculated by the U.S. Air Force. The restriction seems to be centered around ground marker release system or GMRS and verbally initiated release systems or VIRS. Windrift is factored in drop zone computations. Safety issues are not structural but an error in offset factors could adversely influence drop zone calculations resulting in a potentially hazardous situation.

For additional details see Army Times.

In the realm of survival knives Randall’s Adventure Training and Equipment Group has produced some extraordinary products. Their design philosophy is an extension of their experience in Survival, Escape and Evasion Training.

The ROWEN manufactured Junglas® fills every conceivable need from clearing brush to skinning. It is a massive blade that you can baton mercilessly without fear of breaking the point or edge. The sheath is brilliantly conceived with PAL webbing, which facilitates the attachment or other pouches – GPS or Survival to name a few. Great knife.

ESEE Junglas

ESEE Junglass Sheath with PAL Webbing - Love it!

Before, I start into the software definable radio and the standards surrounding the SDR project, I’d like to clean up some loose ends.

Legacy radios, meaning radios that do not operate in the digital domain modulate the radio frequency carrier using A.M. and F.M. there are some r.f. modulation schemes that involve phase changes of the r.f carrier; however, the majority rely on modulating the r.f carrier’s amplitude or modulating its frequency.

When we enter the digital radio era, we convert the analog input (i.e. the human voice) to a digital signal using something like PCM previously discussed. We can then manipulate the digital stream applying algorithms to compress the data stream. We then modulate the carrier frequency with a digital stream representing voice, data or video information. Because we are dealing with a stream of pulses we have to concern ourselves with ways to modulate the carrier frequency so that pulse width, pulse amplitude and pulse repetition rate can be successfully retrieved at the receiving end. For that reason virtually all digital radios use combinations of frequency modulation and phase modulation schemes or amplitude modulation and phase modulation. Phase shifting, involves shifting the r.f carrier along the time domain which is represented on the x-axis of a Cartesian coordinate. We don’t alter the frequency we change its phase.

In my last three posts dealing with JTRS I presented relatively complex technical details about radio communications using some simplistic language. However, if you understood the concepts, you now have a better understanding that the average citizen.

All future posts will be strictly JTRS relevant.

Critical to the SOF mission is the depth and breath of training and 80 percent of SOF’s work is non kinetic. SOF’s success revolves around its people and how well prepared they are to execute that mission.

In the training business, we use a hackneyed cliché’ that “repetition is the mother of learning.” Wether developing muscle memory or cognitive skills, frequency and intensity of training are critical to cementing the concepts, procedures and techniques in the operators mind, so that situational responses are organic and consistent. The emergence and continuing development of simulation tools improves the training experience by orders of magnitude.

Systems Technology, Inc.  based in Hawthorne, Ca demonstrated this year at SOFIC  their latest version of PARASIM®, its virtual reality parachute simulator. Of course, I couldn’t help but try it.

I had a jump partner from one of the SFGs to my right. We began the jump at 10,000 feet and were instructed to deploy the canopy at 5,500 feet. My partner held his free fall until 3,500 feet; I opened my chute at a little over 5,200 feet. I felt a tug and tilted my head up to make sure the chute had opened. I made a right turn and was now moving up wind, movement relative to the ground was steady but I was slightly off target. I maneuvered making a series of turns; finally turning base then final. I was on the ground!

The trainee is strapped into her pack. She then slips on the goggles, which provide her with an aerial and ground view, as well as any peripheral details such as what her partner is doing.

Using the black leg straps the trainee is elevated and placed into a horizontal position in preparation for the free fall. At altitude, the free fall begins. When she reaches 5,500 feet, or any altitude stipulated, she deploys the canopy and verifies that there are no entangled suspension lines and the canopy if filled with air. The trainee then uses her brake lines to maneuver and control the fall.

Developers at Systems Technology, Inc have done an amazing job. Using PARASIM®, the trainer can simulate weather conditions, day or night, static or free fall as well as any conceivable emergency situation a trainee could encounter. Simulation, no matter how well implemented can never replace the actual event, but this is as close as you get given current technology. The only thing missing is the wind in your face.

The benefits are quite obvious: more frequent and flexible training, safer training environment and significant cost savings. Check it out!