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CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (March 13, 2008) - U.S. Army Central
recently took a big step towards being full-spectrum operations
capable. Lucky Strike, a computer-assisted, command post exercise
began with an alert on Feb. 22 and the first contingent of Soldiers
from Fort McPherson, Ga., landed in Kuwait on Feb. 26.
According to Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy, deputy commanding general,
USARCENT, the purpose of Lucky Strike was to build upon and
continue to foster an already-capable staff team's collective
capabilities towards full-spectrum operations.
"This exercise will allow USARCENT to exercise full-spectrum
operations to respond anywhere across USARCENT's AOR," stated
Hardy.
After Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace assumed command of USARCENT in
December, the Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George Casey gave
Lovelace a clear direction for the headquarters and this exercise
is part of USARCENT's movement in that direction.
"We have a specified task from the chief of staff of the Army to
transform this headquarters into a full-spectrum operations
capable, command and control, war-fighting headquarters,
forward-deployed, by this summer," Lovelace said. "In order to do
that, you have to be able to assess how well you can do those
command and control functions. Lucky Strike is a great exercise
that affords us those opportunities to assess where we are. It
allows us to stretch ourselves out, challenge our leaders, and
assess the disposition and viability of our battle rhythm."
This Lucky Strike exercise was USARCENT's first big step to
becoming a full-spectrum operations capable command able to deploy
and operate as a joint task force war fighting headquarters when
directed.
The training exercise demonstrated USARCENT's ability to quickly
establish a forward-deployed warfighting command headquarters,
known as the Early Entry Command Post, starting with the most
essential elements. In previous Lucky Strike exercises, the EECP
was quickly set up and communications were established with
scenario-based higher command elements.
This exercise was different. The Main Command Post was activated
at USARCENT headquarters at Fort McPherson until the EECP could be
set up and begin functioning forward. Once the EECP was set up, it
established communications with the MCP and assumed its role as the
forward command post on the ground, while the MCP assumed its role
as the command's overall information conduit and crisis action
planning cell.
Connecting the EECP to the MCP, and synchronizing and exercising
efforts through scenario events, greatly increased the USARCENT
team's ability to tackle real world events from humanitarian relief
to major combat operations.
While the MCP took control of operations, the EECP was able to
concentrate exclusively on forward operations on the ground.
"As the exercise progressed the command accomplished two key
events," said Col. Mike Simmons, chief of Operations for USARCENT's
MCP. "First, the main command post took complete control of
operations and operated continuously during the exercises, a
capability that had never been done before. Second, during the
course of the exercise, the command identified a number of
deficiencies that will be used to design a training plan to enable
us to become full-spectrum operations certified."
The Lucky Strike exercise gave the commanding general an
understanding and appreciation of the deployable headquarters and
our capabilities, said Maj. Edwin R. Corona, USARCENT Headquarters
and Headquarters Company commander.
An important part of establishing a deployed headquarters is its
communications and intelligence capability on the ground.
The first thing the Soldiers did upon arrival at Camp Buehring
was set up the intelligence and signal sections. As the most
essential elements of a deployable headquarters these sections are
set up first and built upon. Each section operates from an M934
expandable van which houses all the equipment necessary to perform
that section's specific function, said Corona.
The intelligence section's mission is to provide communications
to the garrison command as well as troops on the ground, said Staff
Sgt. Devin Pandy, the 513th Military
Intelligence Detachment (Forward) Joint Mobile Integrated
Communication System noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
The capabilities provided by the intelligence section allow the
commander quick access to real-time information via video
teleconference.
"[The commander] needs to know what's going on and needs to know
who the players are," said Pandy.
The signal section provides data communication to the commander
and his staff to assist in making accurate and timely decisions
necessary to assist the warfighter, said Montgomery, Ala., native
Maj. Marion Dortch Jr., USARCENT C6 command information management
officer.
"We provide the communications backbone that is necessary for
voice communication and data communication," said Dortch.
The exercise, which ended March 7, is just one of a series of
training exercises USARCENT will use to become full-spectrum
operations capable.
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