Securing and Protecting Infrastructure in Intermountain Fly-over Country

SELF | April 6, 2004 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Securing and Protecting infrastructure in Intermountain Fly-over Country

The following is a pictorial description of a typical late-winter/early-spring security and control maintenance/trouble shooting and repair trip to critical regional infrastructure and communication facilities in the intermountain region. These types of activities are ongoing to protect and maintain the infrastructure that benifits our republic.

The specific nature of the work, the location of the facilities and the identifiying marks on the facilities and equipment have been left intentionally vague. It is hoped that the presentation will help others understand and appreciate the type of ongoing work being conducted across the nation to secure our infrastructure, irrespective of what may be occurring in other areas domestically.

The helo pickup and flying outbound over the foothills

Into the beautiful Intemountain Ranges of the Rocky Mountains

Primary work assignment socked-in, diverting to secondary site, a mountaintop comm station.

Approaching the secondary assignment, and, after landing, yours truly ready to work.

A communications station in the top of the Rocky Mountains.

Winter access to the comm station & a cozy but cold place to complete maintenance and check security systems.

Beautiful view from the top as we prepared to depart once more for the primary assignment.

Back in-route to a now cleared up primary assignment.

On the ground at a remote regional infrastructure site and ready to go to work.

Water storage filling under April ice and the facility housing the control and security systems.

Work now complete and departing the area, climbing out over the nearby ranges.

More beautiful mountain canyon and valley scenery on the return trip.

Approaching our base facilty and landing there, back at our home-20.

In addition to the tremendous and difficult work being performed by our military forces in the War on Terror, there are tens thousands of public servants in many agencies working to maintain, secure and protect critical infrastructure and the populace right here at home. Many of them are veterans who have carried their service to their country and the attendant oaths to bear true faith and allegiance to the constitution and to protect and defend it forward into their post military life where they continue to serve.

On this particular trip I was priveleged to work with a couple of them.

[Jeff Head]

After 911, I looked for specific jobs and service I could perform to serve my country. Military recruiters (of course) said I was too old at 45.

My DOD contractor contacts who might have gotten me onboard working on systems for upcoming or ongoing military operations were old and no longer active.

I ultimately was able to find a position using my technical background and love for the outdoors working security issues for intermountain regional infrastructure operated by the federal government, designing, setting-up, maintaining, trouble shooting and repairing those types of systems.

This trip was in conjunction with those activities and I thought folks here would be interested.

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[Jeff Head]

FYI...in case there was some interest.

Jeff
Author of The Dragon's Fury Series
A techno-thriller series about America and the next World War

[Jeff Head]

FYI my friend, you may find this of interest.

[GeronL]

!!!

Thanks, that is interesting!!

BTW- where can I learn more about special forces?? Just to help me with my story??

[GeronL]

Next time you should have an Apache with you as an escort =o)

[Quix]

FOR SURE, INTERESTED!

THANKS.

I Love the Rocky Mountain region. NM Four Corners area is not quite in the mountains but they aren't too far off!

[Jeff Head]

There are numerous places on the internet (do a google search on US SPecial Forces)...there are also many Freepers who were in the Special Forces with a wealth of knowledge.

With them, you will have to develop your own relationships with them for them to open up to and help you in your efforts. That takes time and it takes effort coming to understand and respect their motivations, their commitment and their experiences. Luckily, I was blessed to come from a family who has been involved in the defense of liberty and our Republic since the Revolutionary war, right up to my own father who served in combat in WW II in the Pacific, and that helped greatly.

[GeronL]

Well, I cannot stay awake. I will check on this thread tomorrow night. I still need to find certain things to help the story along. fas.org is good for a lot of things.

[Jeff Head]

Cortez, Monticello, Mesa Verdes, Durango, Pagosa Springs...yep, you have some beautiful scenery and wonderful country in the very near vicinty.

[GeronL]

Luckily, I was blessed to come from a family who has been involved in the defense of liberty and our Republic since the Revolutionary war, right up to my own father who served in combat in WW II in the Pacific, and that helped greatly.

That sounds like a book right there... =o)

Thanks. Good night. I am too sleepy.

[Jeff Head]

FAS does have some good info...but theyappraoch if from a very anti-military perspective IMHO. Glean the good info, but juts be aware of their stance.

The Army Technology Projects Site is also good.

Read Travis McGees Enemies Foreign and Domestic to get a flavor as well.

[Quix]

True, true!

If you ever have any UFO experiences, please let us know--even if by FREEPMAIL.

[GeronL]

bump

[Eastbound]

Good report, Jeff. Thanks for the ping.

[Travis McGee]

Wow! Just the vistas and scenery would make it worth doing! And the photo ops! You should be able to sell some of these pics, don't you think? High res screensavers, calenders, etc?

[Jack Black]

Thanks. Great post, Jeff. Great job you and the team are doing, too.

[meadsjn]

Just awesome!

[cyn]

What gorgeous scenery, Jeff! Thanks for the ping. Makes me wish I wasn't such a baby when it comes to the cold (those years up in Ohio were enough for me, even though it was a pretty area).

"In addition to the tremendous and difficult work being performed by our military forces in the War on Terror, there are tens thousands of public servants in many agencies working to maintain, secure and protect critical infrastructure and the populace right here at home."

My prayers are with all you who are working to prevent any incidents. I'm happy for you, and happy for us/U.S. that you're on guard for us, and know you are such an asset there. So this was just one aspect of your ongoing job?

btw, I woke up because of these concerns.

[JohnHuang2]

Jeff Head MEGA PING!