JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii — The 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment hosted Australian Maj. Gen. Richard Burr, USARPAC deputy general of operations, for an overview briefing of the BCD and the Air and Space Operations Center on Joint Base Pearl Harbor April 29, 2013.
This briefing allowed Burr to understand the capabilities of the BCD and how they support air operations in the Pacific. Col. Jon Howerton, 5th BCD commander, discussed the overall BCD mission and their value to the Pacific.
The visit events included a 5th BCD operations update, an office call with Air Force Maj. Gen. Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy, director of operations, plans, requirements and programs, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, and a 613th AOC Orientation.
Sgt. Maj. William Moore, 5th BCD gave insight on the briefing to Burr, “The briefing offered some history, the functions typically occurring within the 613th Air Operations Center [AOC], the operational environment, as well as a look at the BCD community.”
Burr took the opportunity to ask important questions about the unit in order to make key decisions as the deputy operations for USARPAC. He expressed his interest in the alignment of the BCD with sister services and partner nations.
Burr also emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with our partners through the most up to date digital systems.
Burr allowed time during the briefings to take questions from the members of the BCD and gave unique perspective from a military organization outside of the U.S.