The Signature
6
J
oin t Ta
a ctica t S l Grou n d
By 1st Sgt. Steve Segin, 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Y
ou may not need Camouflage uniforms in space, but you will need them to operate the U.S. Army’s newest space based early missile warning facility. Soldiers from A Detachment, 1st Space Company, 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade cut the ribbon on a new Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) facility last week. After more than two decades in Germany, JTAGS moved to NASSIG in 2018. “JTAGS Europe was stationed at Kelley Barracks, Germany from 1997 to 2018,” said CPT Dustin Mondloch, commander of A Detachment. “In an effort to take advantage of new technology, JTAGS re-stationed to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy at the end of 2018.” As one of the first lines of air defense, JTAGS provide in-theater and strategic missile warning to the U.S. military, our allies and partners. JTAGS operators process direct down-link data from a number
n o ti
Rib
of Overhead Persistent Infrared, or OPIR satellites, then disseminate missile warning or special event messages to warfighters in support of regional combatant commanders over multiple theater communication systems. The re-stationing was necessary to better utilize the OPIR satellite systems JTAGS use to conduct their mission. “This move was necessary to better leverage our satellites, “said Mondloch “Our new facility on NASSIG ensures JTAGS-Europe remains a viable and operationally effective in-theater missile warning producer well into the foreseeable future.” The new facility utilizes the JTAGS Block II system which has enhanced capabilities to detect and report OPIR events. The facility was officially dedicated during a small ceremony February 6th, 2020. Col. Eric Little, Commander of 1st Space Brigade was on NASSIG for the dedication
