Tactical Operations Center Tracks Troops

Defend America News ^ | Staff Sgt. Nikki Prodromos

[SandRat]

Tactical Operations Center Tracks Troops
Soldiers process countless pieces of information to ensure ‘boots on the ground’ units can accomplish mission.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nikki Prodromos 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment TIKRIT, Iraq, July 24, 2006 -- The tactical operations center, or “TOC,” is the “nerve center” in the anatomy of any successful military unit. Tactical operations centers, such as the one at the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, have a very big job tracking seven combat battalions and two support battalions, a total of approximately 3,700 boots on the ground, spread over miles of terrain in the Salah Ah Din Province in northern Iraq. On any given day there are dozens of computers whirring, imagery flashing, and phones ringing. Like a human brain, the TOC receives countless pieces of information on all aspects of operations from troop movements, aviation assets, supply movements, intelligence, even the weather. They are required to analyze them, process them, and send out directives or additional information to help the brigade carry out its mission. ‘Sometimes it’s a thankless job, it’s not sexy, and you’re not kicking in doors, but the whole staff is critical in everything that happens or fails to happen here.’ Sgt. Maj. Kevin Martin, 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s operations sergeant major. The TOC houses representatives from every component in the combat team, including the chaplain. There are also roles unique to the TOC, including the battle captain and battle non-commissioned officer who track all of the information coming into and leaving the TOC. One of the four battle non-commissioned officers in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bueno of Clarksville, Tenn., said being in the TOC is a unique experience. “It’s a lot different when you’re in the TOC. When you’re on the ground, all you see is trees and stuff, but up here we get the whole picture,” said Bueno. Bueno said about four months ago they received word from the 101st Airborne Division that a high-value target was in their area of operations. The TOC kicked into high gear orchestrating a complex series of events, which ended with a quick reaction force and squad-size element being sent to the suspect’s location. When the QRF and the squad arrived at the location, they had a hard time finding the house. With a little guidance and constant communication with the TOC’s sections the soldiers were able to find the house, capture their target, and return to base.	Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division’s Tactical Operation Center monitor and process the daily flow of information to ensure the successful completion of the brigade’s missions. U.S. Army photo “Everyone was involved in it that day, right down to the RTO (radio telephone operator)…It turned out pretty good, and we ended up catching the guys,” said Bueno. With the creation of the new brigade combat team concept, which brings together selected units from all over the force based on the needs of the mission, the personnel involved in the missions have usually not worked together before a deployment. “We didn’t really get together until about three months prior to deployment…. a lot of key players weren’t here, so getting them to work as a very effective team in a short period of time is a great success …. we have a lot of incredibly smart people in there,” said Sgt. Maj. Kevin Martin of Pittsburgh, Pa., 3rd Brigade Combat Team’s operations sergeant major, In the Army, sometimes holding a staff position can be perceived as a less attractive job than being on the frontlines, especially in a unit with as much combat legacy as the Rakkasans. “Sometimes it’s a thankless job, it’s not sexy, and you’re not kicking in doors, but the whole staff is critical in everything that happens or fails to happen here,” said Martin.

[SandRat]

Doing the "TOC" ROCK!!!

[jjm2111]

BARF. I'm told they have really cool status boards complete with color coding. The Army Acronym Sergeant (ASS) will be creating a whole 'nother op order in order to mystify Al Qaeda with our creative acronyms and new buzzwords. A four hundred page powerpoint presentation will be printed (because the LTC wants it in hard copy) in color. I'm glad the blackhawks can fly in color ink cartridges. At the daily staff meeting, a Major will stand at attention and inform the Colonel that 4,206 vehicles were inspected today w/ no bombs found.

This is no offense to you. Believe me. Command and Control also is important, but IMO the military puts way too much stock in shit like this. It's a puff piece article.

[shield]

bttt

[ASA Vet]

MI Ping

[ASA Vet]

Ya gotta see the really really cool stuff at EAC.

[Lazamataz]

Believe me. Command and Control also is important, but IMO the military puts way too much stock in shit like this. It's a puff piece article.

Without stuff like this, modern armies are a lot less effective.

This is a force multiplier.

[NY Attitude]

From the title I would have thought that the troops had GPS implants.

[jjm2111]

This is a force multiplier.

I hope this is the normal Laz humor.

[Lazamataz]

Nossir. I am dead serious.

I got a private freepmail from someone intimately involved in a new and probably classified battle-intelligence system. He revealed no details, but he let me know that in experience and theory both, such a system is a very strong force multiplier.

And think: The term "The Fog of War" has been coined to describe the very problem these intelligence systems are meant to solve. If there wasn't a problem in combat, with real-time intelligence, the term wouldn't have been coined to express the frustration all combat leaders have faced.

[Wolverine]

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks.

[jjm2111]

"force multiplier" - more buzzwordese from REMF central. But, the whizbang stuff can help. I'm only half serious about REMF central.

From my experience and from discussions w/ other service members though the extra technology's pitfalls is that it causes micromanagement by TOC. It's not the fault of the technology but poor leadership.

[jjm2111]

LOL!