March 3, 2004

JPEN Shares Antiterrorism Information Across Nation

U.S. Northern Command’s arsenal for deterring, preventing and defeating terrorism now includes an information sharing system with the capability of immediate dissemination of antiterrorism and force protection information.Known as the Joint Protection Enterprise Network (JPEN), the system allows authorized subscribers to immediately share

March 1, 2004

New SEA Ready for Challenges

Marine Corps Sgt. Major D. Scott Frye has a message for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) enlisted force: “You have one guy working for you.”This was a constant theme throughout his first enlisted call Jan. 27. The new senior enlisted adviser (SEA) made sure even the most junior in rank knew

Feb. 27, 2004

UDO4 Ups Ante for Future Exercises

The size, complexity, quality of decisions, and the ability to communicate effectively with the multiple agencies involved in “Unified Defense ‘04” have raised the bar for future U.S. Northern Command exercises, said officials at Peterson AFB. “We’ve raised the ante. Expectations will be even higher for our next exercise,” said Army Lt. Col. Tim

Feb. 19, 2004

NORAD, USNORTHCOM Simulate Scenarios, Respond In Real Time

A major hurricane, a nuclear accident, and a nuclear detonation (all simulated, all occurring in Texas) are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg facing U.S. Northern Command forces during exercise “Unified Defense ’04.”The simulated events also include aircraft hijackings, threats from a fictitious country testing its strategic capabilities, and

Feb. 11, 2004

Exercise Unified Defense 04 Announced

This month, the United States Northern Command will conduct Unified Defense 04, a major exercise designed to allow the command, Fifth Army, Joint Task Force Alaska and associated units to practice the Homeland Defense and Military Support to Civil Authorities missions. The exercise will run from February 19-25.Unified Defense 04 will involve the

Jan. 29, 2004

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Stand Ready for Super Bowl

The men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) are taking appropriate actions to deter and defeat any possible threats against Sunday’s Super Bowl, according to Mike Perini, NORAD and USNORTHCOM director of public affairs.“The NORAD and USNORTHCOM staffs have reviewed

Dec. 22, 2003

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Prepared to Engage Threats

The Department of Homeland Security raised the U.S. terror threat level from yellow (elevated) to orange (high) Sunday, warning of possible terrorist strikes more devastating than 9/11 attacks. ”As a result of the warning, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, and U.S. Northern Command are taking appropriate action to protect

Dec. 11, 2003

Four-Year Plan Becomes 31-Year Career

Like so many people who enlist in the military, Kevin Estrem was going to do his four years and get out.One of only two in his high school graduating class to join the military, the 18 year-old left his hometown of about 1,500 people Oct. 25, 1972, for Air Force Basic Military Training.“Four years max and I’m home,” thought the Kenyon, Minn.,

Nov. 3, 2003

Northern Command Firefight Mission Complete

The weather finally cooperated with firefighting efforts in southern California. So much so, that on Saturday, Nov. 1, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) released all federalized military units that assisted with fighting the wildland fires. Air Force Lt. Col. Roberto Garza, spokesman for the U.S. Northern Command, said, “the snow and rain

Oct. 29, 2003

Northern Command Sending 14 Aircraft to Battle California Fires

United States Northern Command is sending all eight of the Department of Defense’s C-130 aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, and six CH-53 helicopters with fire suppression buckets to support the wildland firefighting effort.While homeland defense is the primary mission of the command established as a result

Oct. 27, 2003

Northern Command Assists California Firefighting Effort

U.S. Northern Command is joining the effort to battle 11 wildland fires that have burned more than 230,000 acres in Southern California and has depleted the state’s firefighting resources.While homeland defense is the primary mission of the command established as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials noted that U.S. Northern Command

Oct. 3, 2003

NORTHCOM Chief Says U.S. Better Prepared Against Terror

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2003 -- "The United States is better prepared to face terrorist threats today and the U.S.Northern Command will continue to improve U.S. capabilities," the head of that unified command said today.During an interview in the Pentagon, Air Force Gen. Ralph Eberhart said Northern Command brings a focus on planning and training to

Sept. 30, 2003

Government, military, industry leaders unite to talk homeland defense

“No one knows how long this war is going to last. No one knows what resources will ultimately be required, but we do know that transnational terrorism will be defeated and Americans will once again be able to live unhurt in peace.” These were the words Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale used to summarize his keynote

Sept. 23, 2003

It’s Been a Good Year

It’s been a very good year for the recently promoted MSG Mark Lawson. Lawson, the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) Combined Intelligence and Fusion Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., was selected as the U.S. Strategic Command’s senior noncommissioned officer of the year; reassigned to the

Sept. 16, 2003

U.S. Northern Command prepares for Hurricane Isabel recovery operations

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- U.S. Northern Command is working closely with Department of Defense officials to anticipate what military resources may be requested for recovery operations following the onslaught of Hurricane Isabel.The dangerous storm expected to make landfall somewhere between North Carolina and New Jersey as early as