USARPAC's CCP demonstrates real-world capabilities during Autumn Laulima

By Staff Sgt. Cashmere JeffersonNovember 18, 2011

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, U.S. Army Pacific commander talks to the Soldiers of the Contingency Command Post during the Autumn Laulima exercise Nov. 10 at Fort Shafter Flats, Hawaii. Wiercinski lets the team know that their efforts are invaluabl... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Pacific commander Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski checks the capabilities of the Contingency Command Post network stations phone by calling the mother of Maj. Kenneth Frye, assigned to USARPAC CCP during the Autumn Laulima exercise Nov. 10 a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii --U.S. Army Pacific's Contingency Command Post demonstrated its flexible capability to Lt. Gen. Francis J. Wiercinski, USARPAC commander, during the deployment readiness training exercise Autumn Laulima, Nov. 10 on Fort Shafter Flats.

In April 2011, USARPAC certified the theater-army Contingency Command Post, the final step in a process that began in 2009.

Sgt. Michael E. Saiz, 396th Signal Company, 311th Signal Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, said he is a part of a four-man SIPRNet, NIPRNet, Access Point (SNAP) team responsible for setting up initial communications within the first 48 hours of arrival.

"I am assigned to deployment assessment team and under SNAP we set up data and voice communications along with internet connections, NIPRNet and SIPRNet, capable of supporting up to two brigade-size elements," said Saiz.

The CCP provides streamlined execution of theater-army expeditionary capability. It consists of a 96-person cell representing, not duplicating, the major staff functions of the theater army headquarters.

The CCP is composed of two sub-elements, DAT A and DAT B with personnel cross functionally arranged with engineers, medical personnel, logistics, aviation, and civil affairs expertise as part of Force Package 1, said Lt. Col. Brian E. Howell, team leader of the DAT teams.

"The CCP maintains a readiness posture to be prepared to deploy here in 24 hours," said Howell. "Our team executed at deployment sequence where we went through the entire process of alerting our Soldiers, ensuring all personnel are deployable through the Soldier Readiness Process, marshalling and readying our equipment and were able to deploy to the field, fully operational within the 24-hour time goal."

In addition, the CCP is capable of 24-hour operations for 30 days without additional augmentation. The teams can conduct low/non-kinetic operations, such as noncombatant evacuations, humanitarian assistance, consequence management, peace operation or theater security cooperation.

"This exercise validates the concepts of DAT team A and DAT team B and the capabilities they bring to the USARPAC command," said Col. Tom G. Kunk, officer in charge of the CCP.

"We are able to deploy within 24 hours to any area of operation within the Pacific region to do an initial assessment for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and any small scale contingencies," said Kunk. "We are also able to give real time feedback of what is truly transpiring on the ground and what assets might be needed to improve the conditions on the area.

What the CCP offers the USARPAC commander is options, assessments, command and control and it can be tailored depending on the mission, said Howell.

"Our Soldiers did an excellent job, showing great flexibility and expertise throughout this mission," said Howell.

All theaters require the ability to react quickly to regional contingencies with minimal friction, regardless of concurrent operations in other theaters or force-wide distribution of resources. As the U.S. national strategy elevates the importance of assistance and response, the CCP's flexible mission capability, small size and ease of deployment will prove invaluable.

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