U.S. Marines Train to Detect and Track Enemy Signals in Contested Electromagnetic Environments.

On February 26, 2026, U.S. Marines took part in the Advanced Radio Frequency Intelligence Operators Course 26-1 at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Mississippi, in training led by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command and sponsored by U.S. Central Command.

Reported by the U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on April 13, 2026, the course reflects the Marine Corps’ continued effort to strengthen signals intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities for operational forces. As near-peer environments place growing pressure on units to detect and understand hostile activity across the electromagnetic spectrum, ARFIOC has become an important tool for improving battlefield awareness and combat efficiency.

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U.S. Marines completed a 28 day advanced course at Camp Shelby to sharpen their ability to detect, track, and geolocate enemy signals in contested electromagnetic environments, strengthening battlefield intelligence and electronic warfare readiness (Picture Source: U.S. Marines Corps)

ARFIOC is a 28-day course designed to build proficiency in the use of modern technologies to sense, track, and identify enemy systems in contested operational settings. The program expands on foundational signals intelligence training by providing intermediate to advanced instruction in electromagnetic spectrum awareness, radio frequency theory, signal identification, signal characterization, and advanced geolocation techniques. Its purpose is not limited to technical instruction, but extends to preparing Marines to operate with confidence in complex electromagnetic environments where rapid detection and analysis can directly influence tactical outcomes.

The course follows a progressive structure that begins with foundational instruction, moves through individual skills development and advanced operator training, and culminates in a complex live radio frequency scenario known as the Culminating Exercise, or CULEX. Throughout this progression, Marines work in a layered electromagnetic environment designed to replicate pacing threat conditions and expose them to realistic tactical and operational challenges. This training model reflects the growing importance of the spectrum as a space where survivability, targeting, maneuver, and decision-making are increasingly shaped.

Training events include multi-domain reconnaissance and surveillance, signal reconnaissance target development, static and mobile SIGINT operations, and contingency response drills such as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel missions in contested conditions. These scenarios require distributed teams to detect, analyze, and geolocate signals while adapting to changing conditions in the field. According to Master Gunnery Sgt. Rafael Alcala, the ARFIOC course director, the program is intended to sharpen skills that directly affect operational readiness by helping Marines provide commanders with timely and relevant intelligence in contested electromagnetic environments.

ARFIOC also mirrors the technical demands of modern operations by incorporating both digital and analog signal sets, frequency-agile communications, high-frequency targeting, and advanced direction-finding techniques. Written and practical evaluations are used to measure student progression and refine the program of instruction. Beyond immediate training value, the course also serves as a platform for testing emerging technologies and helping define future SIGINT training requirements, giving it a broader role in the evolution of Marine Corps readiness.

The course has deeper institutional roots within the Marine Corps. Originally developed during the 2015 Marine Corps SIGINT Strategy Working Group to address gaps identified during pre-deployment cycles, ARFIOC has been hosted by MARCENT since Fiscal Year 2017. In Fiscal Year 2026, U.S. Central Command adopted it as a training platform for deploying SIGINT units, reinforcing its operational relevance across the joint force. Student feedback from ARFIOC 26-1 also highlighted the realism of the program, with participants describing it as a demanding experience that required constant adaptation rather than routine execution.

With ARFIOC 26-1 complete and the next iteration tentatively planned for fall 2026, course leadership is continuing to refine the curriculum based on student performance and operational feedback. The effort underscores a broader shift in military preparedness, where mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum is becoming as important as mobility, firepower, and situational awareness. By training Marines to sense, track, and identify enemy systems under realistic conditions, ARFIOC is helping turn signals intelligence expertise into practical combat capability for future operations.