Task force Marines place first in innovation challenge > United States Marine Corps Flagship > News Display

Three communications Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Southern Command developed a solution to limited radio frequency range capability that won them first place in 4th Marine Logistics Group’s Innovation Challenge on Sept. 9.

This innovation challenge asked Marines and Sailors, of all ranks, to bring their new ideas and solutions to current capabilities gaps to MLG leadership.

For Sgt. Raul Sanchez, Sgt. Adan Hernandez, and Sgt. Dayne Daylong, the capability gap was the limitations of the radio frequency range of vehicle-mounted radios, and they were determined to solve it.

“It is more cost efficient, longer range, and has a significant reduction in electronic signature through a directional, low-powered antenna,” said Sanchez. “The SPMAGTF-SC is no longer reliant upon vehicular assets for over-the-horizon VHF and is now able to have the command operation center communicate up to 18 miles away, keeping in touch with the Marines and Sailors at training areas all over.”

“We may not have been the highest ranking individuals on the panel, but we were able to prove our communications problem and solution effectively,” said Sanchez.

The team received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for their work, presented by Brig. Gen. Karl Pierson, the commanding general of 4th MLG, at Camp Lejeune on Sept. 15.

The task force serves as the crisis response force assigned to U.S. Southern Command and is prepared and postured to deploy to the Latin American and the Caribbean region to work alongside partner nation militaries, enhancing combined crisis response efforts.