Unique USARCENT Battlefield Coordination Detachment Plays Crucial Role in CENTCOM Joint Readiness

Photo By Sgt. Amber Cobena | U.S. Army 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment (BCD) official party toured and talked logistics with their CENTCOM partners, while receiving a private air show by the F-16 Viper Demo team, at Shaw AFB, SC, Dec. 12, 2021. 4th BCD is headquartered at an air operations center, where they lead and support operational functions between the Land and Air components throughout their theater. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Amber Cobena)  

SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

01.02.2022

Story by Spc. Amber Cobena 

U.S. Army Central   

A U.S. Army Battlefield Coordination Detachment (BCD) serves as a senior Army liaison element, typically headquartered at an air operations center, responsible for leading and supporting specific operational functions between the Land and Air components throughout a theater. Its leaders provide guidance for joint task forces, subordinates and service components to improve readiness and interoperability across the domains of the battlefield.

There are five BCDs in the Army and each one is designed to support a specific area of responsibility. The 4th BCD, headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., supports U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) efforts across the U.S. Central Command theater.

Part of the BCD’s mission is to communicate its respective Army commander’s intent as well as the unit’s logistical and operational needs across the theater. This includes sharing troop tactics, techniques and procedures from land operations with Air Force counterparts, as they share air operations, focusing on weather and any aviation technology from reapers to jets. Though they are separate branches and separate capabilities, they train and work together to understand and complete the overarching mission in a unified manner.

USARCENT's 4th BCD command team, Col. Thomas Caldwell and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Murchison, and their Soldiers at locations across CENTCOM, constantly engage with their joint and partner counterparts to achieve this interoperability. They recently received an orientation from joint partners on Shaw AFB from the U.S. Air Force Central (USAFCENT) and 20th Operations Group, 25th Operations Support Squadron (OSS), to include tours with the aircraft and crew.

During the relationship-building event, the leaders discussed battle rhythms with Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Liz Fetherston, the Command Chief of 20th Fighter Wing, while a Viper team conducted a flight demonstration of the aircraft and pilots capabilities. Tech Sgt. Ryan Hutchison, the Viper demonstration NCOIC, shared the inside of an F-16 jet and explained the necessary coordination the pilots with ground operations. The Army leaders also toured the unit's operations center to discuss planning processes, discussed weather operations with the 20th Operations Group, and spent some time with U.S. Space Force and AFCENT intel analysts, sensor operators, and reaper pilots to learn more about the crucial mission and capabilities they bring to the CENTCOM battlefield.

Engagements like this strengthen cohesion and interoperability and play a huge role in the BCD accomplishing its mission of synchronizing joint efforts to provide the most effective and unified support to the CENTCOM mission.

• Date Taken: 01.02.2022
• Date Posted: 01.12.2022 06:42
• Story ID: 412553
• Location: SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, US