Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Alan Robertson | 190718-N-SL179-0002 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 18, 2019) - Operations Specialist 3rd Class...... read more read more
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War fighting is an evolving process. Sailors and Marines must be ready to combat threats at any given moment and it is critical that all communication systems are at the peak of operational performance and capability if or when faced with threats or the enemy.
The Deploying Group Systems Integration Team (DGSIT) knows just how critical it is to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps communications systems are ready to go when the stress of combat arises.
How they do this, by testing the cross-platforms interoperability between the Marine and Navy’s command, control, communications, computers, collaboration and intelligence (C5I) systems work in a controlled stressed environment.
For ships and Sailors of the Bataan’s Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which also includes the amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21), amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and Marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the testing of information systems began during the Amphibious Squadron/MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) exercise July 8 to 19.
More than 50 DGSIT subject matter experts embarked with Bataan’s ARG and the 26th MEU during the two week PMINT. Planning to embark a group of highly experienced information specialists starts months before the training exercises begin with the C5I systems operational test. This initial testing of systems identifies compatibility and connectivity information issues six months before the ARG’s basic phase of deployment training.
“Each group is unique,” said Mike Caldwell, DGSIT program manager. “Each carrier strike group, each amphibious ready group, each MEU, are modernized and equipped in a unique way. It’s our job to look at the unique environment, unique structure of that particular group and tailor a team to look at those systems, evaluate and report the outcomes of our interoperability testing and convey to the commanders where they may have issues that need to be resolved.”
PMINT is the perfect opportunity to resolve most interoperability and connectivity issues; testing radios, data links, and verifying that computer systems are able to talk to each other across all ships in the ARG and the MEU is key to success. If DGSIT can’t fix issues while onboard, they push corrective actions to perspective program managers to resolve before the unit moves onto more advanced training and certifications.
“Many issues we find on the spot and can be fixed,” explained Caldwell. “Typically we resolve 50 or 60 percent of issues while embarked, and another 30 to 40 percent using the resolution process after we get back to the office. In the end, between our analysis of the teams, units, program offices and DGSIT we resolve over 90 percent of all of the issues across the group before they go onto advanced training and deployment.”
In addition to testing and resolving C5I information system problems; DGSIT is also providing mentoring and training to the Sailors and Marines operating those systems. Caldwell mentions that it’s a byproduct of what they do while embarked. What it really is doing is increasing the war fighting capability of Sailors and Marines.
“DSGIT is another source of help to figure out system issues,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Rucker, Bataan’s information systems officer. “And not just figure it out this one time, but provides the kind of training, documentation and experience that will hopefully allow us address similar issues while we are on deployment.”
Rucker went on to say that because of the fast pace advancement in technological systems, DSGIT helps fill in training gaps for Sailors and Marines that aren’t always able to get it due to operational requirements, which can sometimes decrease a unit’s effectiveness.
“Their training and experience will allow us to be a lot more resilient and much better prepared to execute our mission on deployment in the face of system failures or even in an attack if we find ourselves in that situation; because we have this body of knowledge that we may not have gotten otherwise,” noted Rucker .
Information warfare is a growing front of war fighting and DGSIT is doing their part to ensure our nation’s Navy and Marine Corps team are lethal warfighters.
“With DGSIT helping us out, it is giving us a pretty good shot in getting ourselves into a position, in getting our gear working as designed and really enhancing our capability across our mission areas,” said Rucker.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2019 14:17 |
| Story ID: | 332097 |
| Location: | ATLANTIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 218 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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