SALT LAKE CITY – The 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) Operational Command Post (OCP) trained at the Mission Training Complex at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from June 13-25, 2019, in order to exercise their role as a deployable medical command and control unit.
For this scenario based exercise, the members of the 807th MC(DS) OCP were assessed on how well they performed the command and control tasks of a general officer level staff while executing the role of Joint Task Force-Medical (JTF-MED) for Joint Task Force-19 under the Coalition Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC) in the European theater.
“The OCP at its most recent exercise, clearly demonstrated the utility of a divisional headquarters operating in a foreign area and as leadership of a coalition medical force,” said, Col. Steven Severyn, OCP Chief of Staff.
The overall significance of a medical OCP is how it functions outside of the main command post (MCP).
Lt. Col. Brian Friedland, the OCP JTF-MED Operations Chief for the exercise, described the OCP as a division-level command deployable element that can be placed forward in support of combat operations, to exercise command and control of subordinate medical units in a theater, while maintaining reach back capability for resourcing.
As an Army Reserve unit, the 807th MC(DS) follows the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s Training and Readiness Guidance to produce ‘cohesive and proficient units-of-action that can mobilize and deploy rapidly to support combat operations in a fully contested theater of operations.’
The OCP is designed for this. Its structure allows for rapid deployment as a separate division level element and provides command and control in an alternate location. It develops a different mission statement from the main command post, tailored to that specific deployment.
807th MC(DS) Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Brig. Gen. W. Scott Lynn, commanded the OCP in San Antonio. As the JTF-MED leader, his mission statement was, ‘JTF-MED provides seamless Health Service Support and Force Health Protection for forces within the Joint Operations Area in order to promote, improve, conserve, and restore the mental and physical well-being of the force.’
When the OCP returns from mobilizations, it rolls back into the division structure under the command of Brig. Gen. Joe Heck, the 807th MC(DS) Commanding General.
Heck said, "Our command provides the best trained, most ready, highly capable Warrior Medics, Medical Teams, and Medical Units in support of trans-regional, multi-functional, multi-domain, and globally integrated operations.”
“This includes the finest Deputy Commanding Generals in the Army Reserve,” said Heck, “Brig. Gen. Lynn did an outstanding job in his role as the JTF-MED and the OCP Commander last June and we expect great things in his future."
The Medical Readiness and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and the contractors associated with the MTC provided the simulated joint environment, fulfilled the roles of other military branch personnel, country officials, and non-governmental agency members as typical in the European theater. Additionally, they provided feedback and training validation.
Other teams supported the event contributing in the overall success of the OCP training and in preparation for their own future OCP missions.
The 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support), a multicomponent Army unit consisting of active, active guard reserve (AGR), and reserve soldiers took advantage of the opportunity to train for future roles as an OCP and filled positions within the 807th MC(DS) OCP.
Subordinate units, the 176th and 139th Medical Brigades participated in a concurrent exercise, ‘Pioneer Medic’, at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. They performed brigade level missions under the command and control of the OCP and responded to the same simulated battle scenarios.
This event was significant as a validation exercise in anticipation of a multi-component overseas exercise in 2020. The 807th MC(DS) will showcase the Army Reserve’s unique ability to quickly deploy a medical command and control element while integrating smoothly with active component forces.