“The Star Shield was used for two primary purposes,” said 1st Lt. David Grove, a communications officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. “One, in a static command-and-control node mostly for our combat operations centers and forward combat operations centers. We’ve also employed it on the move, utilizing mounts made for vehicles.”
According to the unit, Star Shield reduced the logistical burden and significantly accelerated the establishment of communications during field operations. “There’s a lot less logistics required to set up the Star Shield,” Grove said, adding, “Before, with military systems, you had to give between 90 days and sometimes 120 days’ notice to request the frequencies. Not having to do that gives units a lot more flexibility in terms of communications planning.”
Star Shield is a government-designed satellite service built on the Starlink architecture and adapted for secure communications, Earth observation and hosted payloads. Operating in low Earth orbit, it supports high-speed broadband connectivity, space-domain awareness and alternative positioning, navigation and timing services.
Lance Cpl. Jhi’Shon Fair, a satellite transmission systems operator with CLB-6, CLR-2, 2nd MLG, observed the system’s impact during a simulated mass-casualty event. “It allowed us to communicate,” Fair said, explaining that Star Shield enabled the transmission of grid locations between tactical systems and allowed medical teams to prepare for incoming casualties.
Grove also highlighted Star Shield’s contribution to modernisation at battalion level command and control. “This year has been an incredibly great year for Combat Logistics Battalion 6 with new command and control technology pushed to the battalion level,” he said, adding, “The Star Shield is a great piece of gear, and having this at the battalion level greatly increases the effectiveness of the operating forces.”
Throughout the exercise, Star Shield demonstrated rapid setup, automated satellite acquisition and high data throughput, supporting uninterrupted command and control in both static and mobile nodes. Exercise Freezing Winds is part of a regular series in northern Europe aimed at improving interoperability between U.S. forces, the Finnish Defence Forces and NATO allies through combined amphibious operations in the Baltic Sea region.
