Protecting our Troops in Dangerous Times

The large number of U.S. troops operating in geographically remote locations results in a variety of communication problems for the United States Military. Communicating to personnel quickly and effectively in times of emergency can be particularly difficult.

Fortunately several technological advances and improved communications techniques have helped to alleviate some of the challenges in recent years which in turn have helped to increase safety for the troops.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) recently addressed the communication challenge facing their large, widespread force. The AFRC has over 76,000 personnel dispersed across 13 bases and 27 tenant locations in the United States. Reaching and mobilizing a force of this size in times of emergency is a daunting task.

Three main communications scenarios plagued the AFRC when it came to reaching their personnel:
- emergency alerting
- personnel recall
- personnel accountability

The Command needed to be able to alert all of its personnel in times of emergency and mobilize them to action, while also ensuring all personnel received the alerts and were accounted for.

The AFRC chose network-centric emergency alerting system provider AtHoc to address its emergency communications issues. AtHoc was able to assist the AFRC with its three main challenges.

The emergency notification system transformed AFRC’s existing IP network into an emergency notification system by providing a centrally deployed system that integrated desktop alerting with telephony, mobile phones, SMS and email to ensure all personnel are reached in a timely manner. As all notification methods are managed through a central web-based console, the alerts are standardized and streamlined. The system also requires users responses to alerts to ensure personnel acknowledge and respond to the emergency message.

The AtHoc solution works for AFRC on both the small and large scale based upon the situation. For example, an operator at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas can alert all personnel on base with necessary information related to an emergency weather situation. Similarly, an operator at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia can, through the same system, trigger alerts to all personnel across the entire AFRC command.

The AFRC is now able to rapidly reach out to its personnel by ensuring they are notified in times of emergency. These added safety measures, aided by improved communications technology, ensure the troops are able to respond quickly and effectively in order to keep themselves and the civilian public safe.