The 560th BCD: Small Unit, Big Mission

Photo By Maj. William Carraway | Brigadier General Tom Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard, presents a challenge coin to Maj. Steven Kobayashi for his leadership during Exercise Austere Challenge in Germany.  

ELLENWOOD, GA, UNITED STATES

02.25.2017

Story by Capt. William Carraway 

Georgia National Guard

The 560th Battlefield Coordination Detachment is less than nine-months old, but already its Soldiers are traveling the globe and performing a vital mission.

“We work at the strategic level, either with a joint task force or combatant command,” said Col. David Casey, commander of the 560th BCD. We are the interface between land and air.”

The mission of the 560th BCD is to serve as a liaison between the land component commander and air component commander to ensure coordination and information exchange. The BCD “speaks” the language of Army and Air Force and ensures unity of effort. Part of the role of the BCD is to evaluate the capabilities or effects needed and determine what resources can be applied to achieve them.

“The ground unit requests support, we make sure they get it,” said Major Steven Kobayashi, an intelligence officer with the 560th BCD.
The mission of the 560th BCD is complex and its organization reflects the multifaceted nature of its role in the joint environment. In addition to headquarters, plans and operations sections, the BCD has dedicated personnel who ensure airspace clearance, air defense, and coordination of airlift assets.

The 560th BCD was formed in May, 2016 in the wake of Army-wide restructuring and is assigned to the Georgia Army National Guard's 78th Troop Command. Its commander, Col. David Casey is a veteran of 30 years’ service in the Georgia Army National Guard. He noted that the creation of the 560th BCD is beneficial for Georgia Guardsmen.

“This mission offers the opportunity for Soldiers to experience annual training overseas,” said Casey. “It also provides career progression for Soldiers in field artillery and other career fields.”

In February, personnel from the 560th BCD participated in Exercise Austere Challenge, a joint command post exercise, involving thousands of participants in multiple European nations. Travelling to Germany, the Guardsmen integrated with the 19th BCD, an Active Army unit, and began to work with systems and personnel of all military branches.

“When we arrived, the 19th BCD oriented us to their mission and the exercise scenario,” said Kobayashi. “We were able to see how the 19th BCD does business and learn from them.” Kobayashi also noted the exercise provided the opportunity to learn best practices, procedures and techniques that could be brought back to Georgia.

Shortly after returning from Germany, the 560th BCD held its first field-grade promotion ceremony for Maj. Matthew Osucha. Following the ceremony, Major Kobayashi was presented with a coin by Brig. Gen. Tom Carden, commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. Kobayashi was recommended for the award for his leadership during Austere Challenge. Carden congratulated Kobayashi and the 560th BCD for a successful exercise.

“When I look at the talent we have in this room it is indicative of the organization that we have built in the Georgia National Guard,” said Carden.

With a European overseas training mission complete and a future exercise opportunity in Korea, the 560th BCD is living up to Col. Casey’s prediction of providing challenging training in an international environment. General Carden also predicts a bright future for the unit.

“The BCD is a small unit with a huge mission,” said Carden. “There only seven BCDs in all the Army components. This unit provides great developmental opportunity.”

• Date Taken: 02.25.2017
• Date Posted: 02.27.2017 10:25
• Story ID: 224999
• Location: ELLENWOOD, GA, US