|
Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Tuesday, May 6, 2003
Local Modern Study Club tours scoring site
The Modern Study Club members and their guests carpooled at the West
Park Baptist Church parking lot on April 9, for a Public Affairs Program
field trip to tour the Pecos Electronic Scoring Site of AHNTECH (Innovation
Through Technology), which is approximately 25 miles south/southwest of
Pecos. Margie Williamson, Chairman of the Public Affairs Department, was
in charge and Shirley Shaffer assisted.
The thought-quote for the program was "From the Sand Rises the
Phoenix" Egyptian Mythology Pecos Electronic Scoring Site Motto.
Club members and their guests were divided into three groups following
their registration and a briefing by William W. Kilby II, site manager.
Kilby, assisted by electronics technican III Robert "Tex" Taylor, served
as tour guides and gave most interesting and informative narratives.
Tourers learned the Pecos ESS was moved to it's present location, the
"Lone Star Site," and began operation in January 2002, after 30 years as
the "La Junta Bomber Plot" out of La Juna, Colo. The move was made because
the B-I bomber training base, (Dyess Air Force) in Abilene needed a "backyard"
site to train it's B-1 students in the art of electronics combat. Thus began
the "Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (RBTI). The "Lone Star Site,"
is in the vicinity of the IR-178 military training route, which has been
used by bomber crews for low-level flight training for more than 40 years.
The Pecos ESS is under the control of the 7th Operational Support
Squadron at Dyess AFB.
Those in attendance also learned the site provides crucial Electronics
Combat Training for B-1 and B-52 air crews. There are three Electronic Combat
systems operating at the Pecos ESS. The AN/MST-TIA, Multiple Threat Emitter
System (MUTES) can produce over 200 threat signals, from 19 transmitters,
to simulate hostile threats; such as, surface to air missiles, anti-aircraft
artillery, airborne intercept and naval threats. This threat training enables
the aircrews to practice their electronic countermeasures to these threats.
So, in essence, the site helps provide the aircrews with the skills needed
to prevent getting shot down.
Tourers also hear about the AN/MSR-T4 Threat Reaction Analysis Indicator
System (TRAINS) is a receiver designed to capture, record, and analyze Electronic
Counter Measures (ECM) employed by the tracked aircraft in response to threat
signals from the MUTES. The data is stored and later used to debrief aircrews
when they land. They are told what they did right and what they did wrong
based on the data furnished.
Guides told of the AN/MST-TIV Mini-Mutes is smaller, remotely controlled
version of the MUTES. A typical pedestal has four to five transmitters.
There are five pedestals located in West Texas. One is located about 20
miles southeast of Pecos; another is 35 miles south of Alpine. There are
also pedestals near the towns of Imperial, Girvin, and Bakersfield. All
pedestals are controlled, via phone line or cell phone, from the Master
Control Group located at the main site.
Visitors were told that within its first year of operation, this site
was instrumental in preparing our Military Combat Air Crews for a combat
environment before being deployed to war being waged in the Middle East;
ie; Afghanistan and Iraq. During Operations "Enduring Freedom" and "Iraqi
Freedom," B-1 and B-52 Aircrews have had their successes as a result of training
received at the RBTI sites. The Realistic Bomber Training Initiative improves
training by using more realistic terrain with threat emitter sites in closer
proximity to bomber bases.
Those making the tour were left with this thought "Whether we agree
to the politics of the wars or not, our parents, children, friends and relatives
are placed in harms way. The job of the Pecos ESS is to help them stay alive."
Club members and their guests journeyed to Balmorhea for a dutch-treat
luncheon at the Bear's Den Restaurant and then gathered in the home of Al
and Nan Cate in Verhalen for dessert.
Following this gathering, a business meeting for club members was held
in the Cate home. President Joyce Morton presided and conducted opening
ceremonies with Juracy Ray leading the Club Collect and Shirley Shaffer
leading the pledges to the United States of America Flag and the Texas Flag
as those in attendance repeated all in unison.
Catherine Travland read the minutes of the previous meeting in the absence
of Secretary Paula Fuller and a statement of club finances was presented
by Margie Williamson in the absence of Treasurer Pearl Gustafson.
During new business the club voted to help finance a trip to the ten-day
2003 National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine for Amanda Lara, daughter
of Deana and Carlos Lara of Pecos. This forum is noted for being an extraordinary
program that inspires our nation's most promising future physicians.
The Annual Spring Convention of the Western District of the Texas Federation
of Women's Clubs was discussed and traveling arrangements were made for
study club members who will be attending.
Roll call was answered by telling about something learned on the tour
today.
A special thank you was given to Nan and Al Cate for hosting the dessert
time and the business meeting in their lovely Verhalen home.
Deadlines for OC Experience are set
Deadlines for the May sessions of OC Experience are approaching.
Students new to Odessa College may register for OC Experience, a combined
information and registration program that offers academic counseling, financial
aid information and other assistance. The OC Experience also offers students
the opportunity to register early for the summer and fall semesters.
Students must register in advance for the OC Experience session of their
choice.
May sessions will be at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 8; at 9 a.m., Monday, May
19; and at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 22.
Reservation deadlines are at 4 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday,
May 1 for the May 8 session; Monday, May 12 for the May 19 session; Thursday,
May 15 for the May 22 session.
To register for an OC Experience session, contact the Student Development
Center at 335-6433, or go by Room 204 in the Student Union Building and
complete a registration form.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 2003 by Pecos Enterprise
|
