AC Summer 08 WIN-T Online - United States Army Signal Center of ...

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support the Intel community by providing connectivity for tactical SCIFs. In addition, BCBL(G) is investigating and assessing pertinent WIN-T-related technologies including 802.11, 802.16, Combat Net Radio-over-IP, tactical cellular networks and Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Devices. The BCBL(G) also supports the Special Operations and Joint communities in addressing current capability gaps. In FY07 the BCBL(G) assessed a U.S. Army, Special Operations Command iDirect-based network and optimized the network performance of their remote Super High Frequency “fly-away” packages to meet their command and control requirements. Early in FY08 the BCBL(G) evaluated a commercially available ruggedized deployable cellular communications system that could operate with National Security Agency approved Type 1 secured cellular devices to meet a current U.S. Marine Corps C2 capability gap in theater. Mr. White retired from active duty with more than 21 years of service. He has been a Department of the Army civilian at the Fort Gordon Battle Lab since 1995 and is currently the NSC-T technical director. ACRONYM QUICKSCAN AMEDD – Army Medical Department AONS – Architecture, Operations, Networks, and Space ATM – Asynchronous Transfer Mode BCBL(G) – Battle Command Battle Lab (Gordon) BSN – Brigade Subscriber Node CDID – Capability Development Integration Directorate CERDEC – CECOM Research and Development Command CSH – Combat Support Hospital CTC – Combat Training Center DSN – Defense Switched Network DTP – Detailed Technical Procedure FCS – Future Combat System FY – fiscal year 56 Summer 2008 Theater Tactical Sig Bde concept now a reality By 2LT Jon Reiss, CPT Joseph Kachmar, and MAJ Rob Fago The 11th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., deployed in October 2007 as the first non-organic signal brigade to support a deployed corps headquarters. The 11th initially supported the III Corps from Fort Hood, Texas, who was executing the mission of the Multi-National Corps- Iraq. In February 2008, XVIII Airborne Corps from Fort Bragg, N.C., replaced III Corps. Dubbed “Task Force Thunderbird”, the 11th Signal Brigade headquarters combined with the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Manheim, Germany, and the 63rd ESB from Fort Gordon, Ga., to provide critical communications support for the MNC-I commander and corps operations in Iraq. The TTSB and its subordinate ESBs are part of the Army’s transformational signal support construct to the warfighters. The TTSB mission is to provide battle command, funding, manning, logistics and administrative support, as well as training and readiness oversight for the ESBs. The brigade headquarters also provides augmentation to the corps G6 for NetOps and engineering when the corps is functioning as a Joint Task Force. The Corps G6 and the TTSB commander have different but complementing missions; both are important and neither can fail. They draw from the corps’ mission and commanders’ intent. “If everyone is heading in the same direction, it does not matter who drives the train” comments COL John Hildebrand, the TF Thunderbird commander. The TTSB commander focuses on training, personnel, and equipment readiness of the ESBs’ modular Joint Network Transport Capability teams. The TTSB staff is masters of employing and maneuvering ESBs across the battle space, but are primary subject matter experts on the technical aspects of JNTC and various other ESB assemblages. Because the ESBs are fielded with the same JNTC equipment as the brigade combat teams, the staff is often called upon to assist fellow communicators within the divisional battle space. The TTSB commander has a full multi-disciplined staff, so he is able to conduct mission planning, synchronize movements of forces, conduct reliefs in place, schedule reset of equipment, and move equipment around the battle space. Using additional non-JNTC equipment specifically fielded to the ESB, like the AN/TSC-156B (Phoenix), the staff is able to enhance the services greatly provided to battlefield commanders and can extend the network to an increased number of customers. These are just a few of the missions that the corps G6 is not manned or equipped to complete. CNOSC -- XVIII Airborne Corps G6 and TF Thunderbird S3 Engineering Section The corps G6 and his staff’s primary focus remains on ensuring the corps commander can communicate with his staff, division commanders, and BCT commanders. As a staff section, they assist in all aspects of corps and division staff planning and the orders process with an emphasis on identifying emerging communications require
ments. The G6 directs the TTSB to provide communications support across the corps battle space from the BCT level and below to division or corps separate units. Finally, the corps G6, with support from the TTSB NetOps section, conducts NetOps of the tactical network via the Corps Network Operations and Security Center. During OIF 07- 09, the 11th TTSB and the 18th Airborne Corps worked very closely to execute missions in the CNOSC; each organization contributing its strengths. Task Force Thunderbird contributed its engineering section and 18th Airborne Corps G6 contributed the director, senior network technician, operations officer, and watch officers. “This close relationship was not an accident. We worked very closely with COL Hildebrand and developed a relationship before we ever deployed,” stated COL Campbell Cantelou, the 18th Airborne Corps G6. “We sent our CNOSC Director, LTC Kurt Schosek, with them when they deployed three months ahead of us.” Schosek and the 18th Airborne Corps Senior Network Technician, CW4 Curtis Newkirk deployed as part of Task Force Thunderbird and assumed leadership positions in the CNOSC. “We had a short handed crew before the 18th Airborne Corps arrived to fill out the gaps in the CNOSC. Thunderbirds really pulled together and completed the CNOSC mission,” said CW4 Curtis Newkirk, “When our Soldiers arrived three months later we had the complete team we needed for extended operations.” “We knew that the first three months were going to be tough, we had lieutenants and Sergeants First Class doing jobs normally filled by senior captains,” according to MAJ Glenn Robertson, the Task Force Thunderbird Network Engineer Officer. Even before the 18th Airborne Corps arrived, Soldiers from both organizations had worked together to prepare for their assignments using the MNC-I portal. Hildebrand and Cantelou agreed, “Most of the leaders in both of our organizations are veterans and have been in Iraq before. Personalities mean a lot – the G6 and the Signal commander need to be in synch.” Supporting the corps and division commanders is too important of a mission to let personal agendas or pet projects get in the way. Another important aspect that both leaders agree upon is the setting of priorities. The G6 sets the corps’ network priorities, one of which is a responsive NetOps that clearly understands the impacts of network modifications on the BCTs and their warfighting operations. Both the Task Force Thunderbird commander and the corps G6 work for the corps commander making them equally responsible and accountable for corps’ network. “NetOpsand the assets that support the corps network must be responsive to the corps commander,” stated Schosek. “Once you take the accountability piece out of the hands of signal officers who work for the corps commander, NetOps becomes disjointed and ineffective.” The CNOSC with its TTSB engineering section and the corps G6 operations section bring the experience and depth to provide a CNOSC capable of directing the entire corps network. This combined effort and relationship with liaison representatives from coalition and subordinate divisions can direct all communications efforts in the ITO. There is no need to create an ad hoc pick-up team of experts via Joint Manning Document requests. Only Soldiers and government representatives accountable and responsible to the corps commander should be involved in the conduct of NetOps for the corps tactical network. The teamwork of the corps G6 and the TTSB provide the right balance of both network monitoring and brigade level command to the ESBs. Some proposed that the G6 could direct the employment of ESBs Army Communicator 57
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U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CENTER AND FORT GO
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CSM’s Comments WIN-T is about Sol
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unmanned aerial vehicle. This will
Page 8 and 9: the day, it will be the Soldier who
Page 10 and 11: Army and Marine Corps may next lead
Page 12 and 13: Tactical Command Posts. The TCN pro
Page 14 and 15: that is command post centric, at-th
Page 16 and 17: others developing tactical network
Page 18 and 19: WIN-T to evolve with By Josh Davids
Page 20 and 21: netic Pulse Emanation Standard) and
Page 22 and 23: Two different types of SOTM termina
Page 24 and 25: Figure 4. SOTM throughput with and
Page 26 and 27: ability. Although much work remains
Page 28 and 29: subnet (Membership count per subnet
Page 30 and 31: ACRONYM QUICKSCAN ATH - At-the-Halt
Page 32 and 33: WIN-T Networking Waveforms Unpreced
Page 34 and 35: further minimizing satellite transp
Page 36 and 37: question, ‘When is WIN-T coming,
Page 38 and 39: nological Innovations of the Year i
Page 40 and 41: support an exercise,” Crippen sai
Page 42 and 43: Executive Office for Command, Contr
Page 44 and 45: Maintenance Engineering Evaluation
Page 46 and 47: ACRONYM QUICKSCAN 3ID - 3rd Infantr
Page 48 and 49: WIN-T Increment 1 Operational Test
Page 50 and 51: WIN-T Increment 2 By Kenneth Hutchi
Page 52 and 53: These test events will be used to p
Page 54 and 55: ACRONYM QUICKSCAN AFCEA - Armed For
Page 56 and 57: PRT network fielding and training t
Page 60 and 61: IGFC M6 visiting Baghdad Signal Uni
Page 62 and 63: LandWarNet NetOps Architecture sign
Page 64 and 65: Figure 2 allows Division Brigade Co
Page 66 and 67: Figure 2. link to an RHN. APCs will
Page 68 and 69: Expeditionary Signal Battalion stru
Page 70 and 71: the desired WIN-T capabilities are
Page 72 and 73: What is a Unit University? A Unit U
Page 74 and 75: ACRONYM QUICKSCAN ABCS - Army Battl
Page 76 and 77: Network Centric Waveform (NCW) �
Page 78 and 79: MAJ Mann is assignmed as the JTRS S
Page 80 and 81: Circuit check News and trends of in
Page 82 and 83: 2LT Luke Nabozny, B/50th Sig Bn, pa
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