1-4 Infantry moves operations center to the field

By Sgt. Brianne M. Roudebush, U.S. Army National GuardFebruary 4, 2016

TOC this way
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment (Opposing Forces) work in the tactical operations center during Exercise Allied Spirit IV, a multinational training exercise held at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Training Command in Hohenfels ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tracking the Battle
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Timothy McGowan and 1st Lt. Benjamin Kemp, both with 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, receive an update from troops in the field while at the tactical operations center (TOC), during Allied Spirit IV in Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Feb... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Right There
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Joris Lopez and Staff Sgt. Jacob Segler, both with 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, point out locations on a map in the tactical operations center during Exercise Allied Spirit IV, a multinational training exercise held at Joint Multi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HOHENFELS, Germany -- Inside a brick building in the middle of a simulated town set, hidden from view by a black curtain, a small room is bustling with activity. Maps cover the walls; laptops, phones and radios cover the tables.

This is the tactical operations center run by opposing forces during Allied Spirit IV, a multinational training exercise held at the U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center, here , Jan. 10-Feb. 6.

During the exercise, OPFOR challenge the Blue Forces (BLUFOR), which are the friendly forces played by the training units.

"We wanted to be competitive so that [BLUFOR] could potentially identify or target us," said Maj. Ryan Liebhaber, the battalion executive officer. "It's more realistic for both sides -- we are under the stress of a field environment, and it's better training for BLUFOR."

Liebhaber said it also gives his unit experience setting up a mobile operations center.

It took a small team just a few hours to set the whole thing up. They had the radio networks up within the standard time, followed by full internet connectivity shortly thereafter.

"We have less capabilities out here," Liebhaber said. "For the competitive aspect, we are more susceptible to the elements, indirect fire, and to BLUFOR's scouts and intel."

Outside the building, communication antennas and other typical command post elements require camouflage and clever concealment to avoid the attention of the BLUFOR.

Inside, the biggest obstacle the Soldiers face in the field operations center are slow internet speeds. This forces the unit to have to come up with new ways to solve the problems they are used to dealing with in a more robust environment.

"We're not used to dealing with the limited bandwidth we have out here," said Capt. Jonathan Sims, the battalion signal officer.

Sims said that overall, it is a good opportunity and learning experience for the staff. The battalion plans to continue setting up a tactical operations center in the field during future training exercises.

"For our first time, this has been a success," Sims said.

Related Links:

JMRC

Allied Spirit IV