Issue Brief #
April 24, 2007
Making Up for Lost Time
The Army is stepping up to fill a critical gap in EW Training
U.S. ground forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to face a myriad of challenges from insurgents who effectively use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other asymmetric warfare tactics and technologies. It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 IED attacks per month and IEDs now account for approximately 70 percent of U.S. combat casualties in Iraq. Over the last several years, Congress and the Department of Defense have poured huge amounts of money into force protection and counter-IED equipment, but we remain fighting an uphill battle. A main reason for this is that our ground forces, especially the Army, lack comprehensive electronic warfare (EW) training, which enables our forces to effectively operate in the domain – the electromagnetic spectrum – that is critical for asymmetric warfare.
Recognizing the need for greater electronic command and control to protect our ground forces, the U.S. Army is now in the process of developing EW as a core warfighting capability to not only counter IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan, but prepare for future combat against asymmetric threats. The development of Army EW is challenging, primarily because the Army is starting from scratch. For years, the U.S. Army neglected EW programs and training. Viewed properly as a force protection capability and enabler through the Vietnam War, EW expertise slowly declined over the next 30 years. In fact, by Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), EW expertise in the Army Staff was left to one contractor in Army G8; hardly the level of expertise necessary to effectively counter this new asymmetric threat.
In January of 2006, the Army took a major step in the right direction by beginning to send soldiers bound for Iraq and Afghanistan to EW training at NAS Whidbey Island, the center for Navy EW training. The purpose was to use the Navy as a model to begin filling Army ranks with trained electronic warfare officers (EWOs). By May, under the direction of the Vice Chief of Staff, the Army officially established its EW Division to develop its own complex and integrated EW Military Occupational Skill (MOS) training program, which will ultimately relieve the Navy from its current EW ground support mission by 2009.
The mission of the Department of the Army Electronic Warfare Division is to establish EW as a core warfighting capability within the Army and to create an enduring competency that is commensurate with that of other services. A core warfighting capability means that every soldier – from private to general officer – must have an education in electronic warfare. To date, the Army has trained more than two hundred joint service personnel through tactical and operational EW courses at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona, and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Army soldiers are now being recognized with an Army-approved EW Additional Skill Identifier (ASI), which is beginning to form the foundation for manning future rotations.
The benefits of an Army well-trained through the ranks in EW go beyond successfully accomplishing current missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Future adversaries will certainly use lessons learned from these conflicts to employ effective use of asymmetric warfare tactics and technology to keep us off-balance; thus, impeding, if not preventing, us from accomplishing our mission. We must be prepared for this, and Army EW training is a very important component of this preparation.
One of the EW Working Group’s initiatives for the 110th Congress is to strengthen EW training throughout the Services. It’s not only important for each Service to provide EW training, but each Service must be able to integrate its EW capabilities synergistically in a joint environment. In other words, it’s not just about combining capabilities and operating effectively with each other. It’s about operating together to produce an effect greater than any individual Service can produce, or simply the sum of Service EW capabilities.
While it took three years in Iraq and Afghanistan to realize the need and subsequent shortfall in EW, the Army EW Division has made great strides over the past year. Taking into account from where they started, it is very encouraging to see their dedication and progress. However, it is very difficult to start essentially from scratch. It requires changes in strategic vision, doctrine, training development, force structure, operational concepts, let alone new testing of EW devices technology, and most importantly, funding.
The Army has clearly been doing the right thing and trying to make up for lost time. To sustain this progress, Army leaders must be held accountable for decisions that impact EW training and development, and Congress must exercise its oversight authority -- not to force the Army, but rather partner with it. The EW Working Group will continue to help educate Members of Congress and staff about Army EW and highlight its progress and requirements. We look forward to the next couple of years when we can begin to count the number of lives saved from IED attacks, instead of lives lost.
Joseph R. Pitts
Member of Congress
Co-Chairman Electronic Warfare Working Group
Electronic Warfare Working Group
Congressman Joe Pitts, Founder and Co-Chairman
420 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202 225-2411 phone 
202 225-2013 fax