Marine witnesses critical changes in occupational field making operations more efficient

Photo By Lt. Col. Kurt Stahl | Sgt. Joseph Stone, an aviation operations specialist with Headquarters Squadron 36, Marine Aircraft Group 36, in the MAG-36 Command Operations Center takes calls, Oct. 20, 2008, and processes information passed as Lance Cpl. Kevin Babauta, an aviation operations specialist with HQS-36 works on flight schedules during this year's Talon Vision. Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, which enhance military interoperability and improve communities through humanitarian assistance and civil action projects. The exercises are currently taking place from Oct. 15-27.  

10.24.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affiars

CLARK AIR BASE, Republic of the Philippines — Set up near the airfield here is an ordinary looking military tent which belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 36, but inside it's anything but ordinary. The tent contains not only the latest in command operations center technology but an exemplary sergeant to help run it during this year's Talon Vision exercise.

Sgt. Joseph Stone, an aviation operations specialist with Headquarters Squadron 36, MAG-36, is the point man for leading junior Marines whose jobs are receiving, processing and disseminating the large volume of information going through the COC on a daily basis, said Master Sgt. Michael Fray, the operations chief for MAG-36.

The COC serves as command and control, the central hub between squadrons. It receives and processes data on just about any type of operation taking place during the exercise from medical and dental civil action projects, flight information, weather conditions, all the way to the commander's travel plan of the day, and it's Stone's job to make sure these processes keep functioning.

Stone uses computer databases to maintain updated information for all of the squadrons and units in the group to see, and he utilizes a messaging system, similar to online instant messengers, which allows the squadrons to communicate crucial messages live with immediate feedback.

Stone, who joined the Marine Corps in 1998 at the age of 19, says he enjoys his job so much that he can't fathom ever moving to another field.

In the past 10 years, he's witnessed such an advancement in technology that now Marines are able to get information processed and disseminated in half the time it took before, according to Stone. And he's looking forward to seeing what types of advances will be made in the next 10 years.

Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, which enhance military interoperability and improve communities through humanitarian assistance and civil action projects. The exercises are currently taking place from Oct. 15-27, 2008.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2008
• Date Posted: 10.24.2008 21:05
• Story ID: 25512