|
GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan (March 12, 2008) - With the growth
of Afghan national security forces since the establishment of
democracy in Afghanistan, the need for consolidated information and
authority has become essential.
One way in which consolidated information and authority is
disseminated, is through joint regional coordination centers.
The coordination centers are comprised of about 20 military and
police personnel who disseminate information and guidance to
members of smaller tactical elements. Such institutions require
planning and management of units to happen in real-time 24 hours a
day.
Joint regional coordination centers are an example of the
movement and management of information and personnel through
tactical operations center-style operations. Of the six JRCCs in
place in Afghanistan, the center for the eastern region, consisting
of Paktya, Paktika, Khost and Ghazni provinces, is nearly fully
operational.
"One of the main goals is to get all these provinces supplied
with the same capabilities," said Army Capt. Todd A. Book, mentor
to Joint Regional Coordination Center East. Book is a member of
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
82nd Airborne Division. "We need to get everyone operating with the
same technology to allow fluid information exchange," he said.
JRCC East communicates with provincial coordination centers and
the National Coordination Center, so compatible equipment and
programs across the board are important, Book said.
Along with technology comes training. The two-man mentor team
provides help where it is needed, and one place where it is focused
during these early stages is computer fundamentals.
"We teach the senior (Afghan) noncommissioned officers and
officers so they can train the others," said Army Sgt. 1st Class
Eric R. Lasica, also a JRCC mentor with 508th Special Troops
Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team. "We have programs on the
computer to help with typing. You have to start with the basics and
work your way up."
Along with computer training, Book and Lasica teach classes on
map reading and filling out and distributing reports. "We want to
get them at the same dissemination of information and information
flow capabilities we have," Book said. "Along with that, we have to
maintain a consistency throughout the whole country, because the
information flow doesn't stop here."
Because information is being moved through the joint regional
coordination centers from the national level and provincial levels,
the need for accurate and expedient communications is paramount,
Lasica said.
"We have two of the provinces up on all communication
capabilities -- very similar to what we would have in our own
(tactical operations center)," Book said. "We are still working
with contractors to get the other two provinces on the same
track.
"We still have radio communication, but we need to get Internet
capabilities to help with reports and real-time information
exchange."
There is still a lot to be done, but Book said he has seen
dramatic improvements and growth in his two months of
mentorship.
"We're working on mentoring these guys to build capability and
capacity," Lasica said. "It is a slow process, but these guys have
made leaps and bounds in the last couple months."
|
