Soldiers of the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, unfold the first tent during the brigade's tactical operations center "jump forward" from Smith Barracks in Baumholder to Coleman Army Airfield Oct. 14. The exercise was desi...

Soldiers of the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, set up tents during the brigade's tactical operations center "jump forward" from Smith Barracks in Baumholder to Coleman Army Airfield Oct. 14. The exercise was designed to m...

Soldiers of the 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command established a field command post here Oct. 14 in order to maintain and improve readiness. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michael O'Brien 16th Sustainment Brigade Public Af...

COLEMAN ARMY AIRFIELD, Germany - Nearly 200 "Knight's Brigade" Soldiers simulated command and control operations in an "austere environment" during an exercise dubbed "TOC Shock" by participating personnel Oct. 14-16 at Coleman Army Airfield, located just outside Mannheim.

The16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers established and operated a tactical operations center before tearing it down and concluding the exercise.

Key leaders described the event as an opportunity to practice skills brigade Soldiers might use in support of missions directed by U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Africa Command.

"Exercises like this help the 16th Sustainment Bde. provide forward coverage to USAREUR, AFRICOM and the incoming Brigade Combat Teams that are on rotation," said Headquarter and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. John Taylor. "We practice setting up our TOC to be mobile so we can provide more assistance to our NATO allies."

The brigade commander, Col. Michelle M.T. Letcher, gave the unit a short time to plan and prepare; but the subordinate units exercised their capability to deploy the TOC quickly to a forward and expeditionary base of operations.

"We set up a TOC outside our home base so that when we're called to go on mission during a 'Freedom Shock,' we're ready to go," said the HHC commander, Capt. Sean McSherry. "After this week, everyone will know their roles and responsibilities a little more and we can execute mission command in expeditionary mode."

The brigade deployed its TOC in support of "U.S. Army Europe Unified Land Operations" while building the brigade's capacity to react and deploy quickly to an escalating tactical environment in Europe. The exercise also demonstrated the Soldiers' ability to provide additional oversight as needed for the 3rd Infantry Division European Activity Set equipment draw. Elements from the brigade support operations section collaborated closely with the 405th Army Field Service Brigade on the command and control of this mission.

"We're making sure we can have our mission command readiness up and are able to communicate with our rear headquarters back in Baumholder," said Maj. Bob Trembaly, 16th Sustainment Brigade's operations officer. "We need to have expeditionary capabilities and move in a contingent manner and we're practicing that here."

"TOC Shock" allowed the brigade to improve its readiness and demonstrated its ability for mission command readiness to enable a "Strong Europe."