From the time of the ancient Mayans and Aztecs to the great Roman empires to the modern warfare in Iraq military communication holds the key to victory. Communicating with your allies and knowing where your enemies are is one of the most crucial parts in war. They say "knowing is half the battle."

Military communication has evolved throughout the ages from flaming arrows to sending messages on the leg of a pigeon to modern tact-com communication devices. The major breakthrough in military communication came with the discovery of satellite communication. This system of communication used satellites as a tool to communicate with each other. The technology advanced with time and as time passed the technology became the central nerve system of the military.

Satellite communication became a vital part of the United States army since the space age in 1946. This is when the army achieved radar communication with the moon. In 1954 the navy started to experiment communication using the moon as a reflector. By the end of the decade the United States Navy was able to establish an operational communication link between Washington D.C and Hawaii. With the expansion of the United States space program during the 60s, the DOD (Department of Defense) began to experiment with satellite communication for the United States military. The experiments grew quite rapidly and the military quickly realized the need for proper satellite communication with the front lines of battle and the strategic planning divisions.

As the technology expanded many countries also started to extensively develop the technology for military use. This caused many countries to spy and tap on the communication of other countries. This brought on many complications, especially on how to communicate without the other party knowing the information. Direct contact with the front lines was taped and alternate methods of communication were sought after. This was done by filtering or encrypting the communication or by simply talking in code.

In the early 1960s there was quite a debate about the question whether military and civilian communication satellites should be separated or remain the same. Aerospace participated in the 1964 congressional hearing which resulted in the decision to have a separate military satellite system. This would stand up to the security requirements and supply the specific need of military communication. The government did use commercial satellites for military purposes for a reasonable price, but this was only done for minor communication needs.

With the advances in satellite communication, military use of this type of communication expanded from just having a conversation with HQ (Head Quarters) and transferring information to using satellites as a weapon system. Laser guided missiles were fitted with satellite communication chips which guided the missile within a couple of feet of the target. Tactical communication within the team of soldiers was made easy with satellite communication. Field agents could contact their superiors from anywhere on the globe for instructions and to provide information on new developments in the field. Satellite tracking systems could track a person within a couple of feet of their location. Advances in technology brought forward the capability of video recording an area. Video recording can now be used to identify a license plate on a car from a satellite which is orbiting the earth thousands of feet above the ground.

The military has always been a testing ground for new technology. Satellite communication advanced beyond the imagination of its implementers within a couple of years of implementing the system. Now satellite communication has become a vital part of military and civilian communication.