Photo By Spc. Jazz Burney | U.S. Army Sgt. Stephanie Spurs, a Houston native, is now a logistics non-commissioned...... read more read more
CAMP MIKE SPANN, Afghanistan - In combat operations, having and managing assets on the battlefield can be a deciding factor in the success or failure of a mission. This is a reality soldiers working inside the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s joint operations center work to provide 24 hours a day.
“The brigade [joint operations center] is not ran by one person, this is a team,” said U.S. Army Capt. Ben Girard, a Decatur, Ill., native, now the brigade’s day shift battle captain.
Composed of joint service members including U.S. Navy and Air Force, the joint operations center, or JOC, provides rapid response, supporting troops conducting combat missions.
Instead of an assault rifle or pistol, these service members fight with systems including a computer program known as Command Post of the Future.
“[Command Post of the Future] is a tool to facilitate the collection and sharing of information to create a common operating picture,” said Maj. William Higgins, a Mifflinville, Penn., native, now the 170th Infantry Brigade chief of operations.
The team also functions as advisers to the brigade’s subordinate units’ individual job specialties, more commonly known as shops. There are roughly 10 shops that provide information ranging from personnel statistics, intelligence reports, medical evacuation capabilities and aerial fire support.
The experience level of soldiers working in the JOC varies from seat to seat. For some, this is their first combat deployment. The majority, however, uses previous combat experience as a point of reference to both mentor and provide assets to their comrades on the battlefield.
“We used to go out everyday for like 10 hours, patrolling in my first deployment. Now that I’m here I remember what it was like and can better provide whatever is needed for soldiers to accomplish their mission,” said Sgt. Antonio Perez, a Houston native, now the brigade battle non-commissioned officer.
The team credits their success to constant internal communication throughout the day. It is common to hear conversations of a soldier’s upbringings, previous deployment memories, that day’s physical training workout, to the latest sports highlights. All is open game for these soldiers who work out of the “big plywood room,” Girard said.
To speed up their reaction time to battlefield activity, soldiers rehearse collecting and communicating information around the stadium-seating inspired operations center.
“We pride ourselves on having never missed a medevac request,” said Girard.
To better inform the brigade commander about the battalions, there are soldiers who serve as liaison officers. These liaisons keep in close contact with the battalions and collect information to produce an accurate picture of their units’ operations.
Earlier this year, field artillerymen fought through an increase of insurgent activity, which resulted in the lives of three soldiers taken in combat.
“[Troops-in-contact situations] are hard because we see the information as it’s happening. We look for [identification numbers], to see if it’s one of the soldiers we may know,” said Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Anderson, a Cochran, Ga., native, now the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery liaison officer.
In times of enemy fire or roadside bomb attacks, this team remains professional to ensure that a bad situation doesn’t turn worse.
“Those are my soldiers, they’re like my family. Just like anything I’m protecting my family by giving them what they need when they need it most,” said Anderson.
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2011 23:30 |
| Story ID: | 80459 |
| Location: | CAMP MIKE SPANN, AF |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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