FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- The Global Response Force mission has recently risen higher into the forefront of military priorities in the wake of the Iraq withdrawal and drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. There has always been a contingency response force in place to react when threats or disasters occur somewhere on the world stage. Whether those myriad threats impact American lives or interests abroad or other countries become afflicted by the ruthless forces of nature or hostile combatants, the 82nd Airborne Division has always been on call to get in quickly and restore order or peace. With more than 10 years of rotating deployments, the capability was hamstrung by the devotion of resources to the Global War on Terror. After a final deployment to Iraq that concluded in December, 2011, the division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, or "Falcon Brigade," was turned toward their next responsibility: the GRF mission.
In October, 2012, the Falcons conducted a parachute assault into Fort Polk, La. for the first ever Decisive Action Training Environment at the Joint Readiness Training Center. DATE was a dramatic change from the counterinsurgency training that had been the norm for nearly a decade for deploying BCTs. It offered the Paratroopers an intense, challenging and austere environment in which they met a complex enemy. Unlike the typical training for the GWOT, the Falcons first clashed with conventional military forces while mitigating an insurgency that had developed within the borders of an allied nation. Once the hostile invasion had been repelled, the enemy then reformed into a guerrilla menace. This new training focus was instrumental in preparing the brigade for the unknown possibilities of the GRF.
Last week, the Falcons completed their second Joint Operational Access Exercise since becoming the ground component for contingency response. The JOAX on Fort Bragg is how the airborne Army and Air Force validate their capabilities together in a joint operations environment. Driven by lessons learned from JRTC and last February's JOAX, the brigade seized the opportunity to test their newest innovations in equipment, logistics and training developed from prior forcible entry exercises. These were innovations the organization created to jump in and win the fight in situations where the only thing they have is what can be carried in their rucksacks or flown onto an airstrip that's been secured within hours of the air assault.
IADS and the Military Decision Making Process
Upon notification of an order, the next step in any military operation is planning. This becomes a challenging endeavor when a situation only allows a few days to prepare for missions on the other side of the world. The task can become only more difficult as information is moved to higher or lower security classification levels or shared with subordinate units. A process to streamline communications had to be created to ensure that the Paratroopers conducting an assault with little notification had the best possible guidance from their commanders.
The new Installation as a Docking Station system was employed to accomplish command control in the most efficient and cost effective method possible. In the past, garrison and tactical networks were separate and this resulted in a time consuming process to share information. In some cases, subordinate units could have difficulty accessing valuable information. The IADS allows division and subordinate units to work the Military Decision Making Process on a secure computer network of communication that will follow them out of the doors of the aircraft. Commanders and planners can share information at multiple levels in a time and money-saving fashion and take the products generated into the battle with them. For JOAX 13-03, the Falcon Brigade capitalized on this technology.
"We had digital continuity throughout the planning process," said Col. Patrick J. Hynes, commander of the 2nd BCT. "It was a huge step forward and the importance of this can't be overstated."
"Fighting from the harness"
One deficiency became apparent early on in the Falcon's assumption of the GRF. Paratroopers had rucksacks attached to their harnesses with their ammunition, water and first aid equipment secured inside and strapped tightly shut under the webbing harness necessary for safe lowering during static line jumping. The obvious disadvantage to the Paratrooper was the time it took to get on the ground, de-rig their equipment and dig around inside their rucksacks in order to be ready to engage the enemy. Precious moments could be lost while trying to retrieve and don their Tactical Assault Panel: the troop's carrying equipment for bullets and bandages.
The division began working with the Advanced Airborne School on Fort Bragg to engineer the best and safest way for Paratroopers to be able to wear their TAPs underneath the parachute harness. With a successful operation in this configuration, the Falcon command team expressed their desire to move forward with this advancement.
"Jumping with TAPs rigged under the harness minimizes the time Paratroopers are vulnerable once they hit the ground," said Lt. Col. Brandon Tegtmeier, commander of the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. "It also alleviates issues with the jumper's load."
Creating an "air picture" on the drop zone
During an airborne operation, the assaulting troops are very vulnerable to threats and confusion in the airspace. Normally a BCT commander would have to wait for landing aircraft to bring in their Tactical Airspace Integration System, a truck with a shelter containing the tools necessary for Army airspace command and control. Due to the expense and size of the Humvee and the delicate nature of the electronics inside, it is not possible to air drop one of these systems. In order to provide their commander with a real time picture of the skies above them, the Brigade Aviation Element and the communications section for the 2nd BCT took a creative, problem-solving approach.
By designing a cable to power the TAIS by radio batteries, the BAE could take the essential components in their rucksacks when they jump into any location. Within minutes, they can receive data from an AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar employed behind them in a secure area and inform the commander about what's happening within his air space. The Army was already seeking a solution but it would likely be one that would cost large amounts of money.
"It's saving the Army a lot of money by using systems that are already in place so that we don't have to buy any more," said Staff Sgt. Kelvin Maldonado, an aviation operations specialist assigned to the aviation element for 2nd BCT. "By using the same systems we have, the same equipment we've purchased and the same contracting we already did, we're saving millions of dollars."
"We have the equipment and we're just using it in a different manner than it was intended to address a shortfall," he added.
"FUG 6"
In order to provide the command team with mobility and communication assets immediately upon landing during an airborne assault, the noncommissioned officers from the operations section retrofitted two commercial 6x4 utility vehicles to create a mobile command post. One variant can be sling loaded and another can be air dropped.
Dubbed the Falcon Utility Gator 6, or "FUG 6," each vehicle is equipped with four radios and tactical satellite capabilities, said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Mortimer, a motor transport operator assigned to the brigade operations section.
A power inversion kit provides power for additional electronics to save batteries for actual foot movements, said Mortimer.
FUG 6 also allows for additional support and quicker, more versatile movement due to its smaller size, he added.
Record-setting air land
In addition to testing and using new equipment during the assault, Falcon Paratroopers set records in speed of operations. Hours after the BCT had secured the area, C-17 Globemasters landed on Mackall Army Airfield and hastily began unloading Falcon Brigade equipment. The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters were pushed off of the ramp and employed as quickly as possible so that the brigade commander could attain better control of the skies.
"That was extraordinarily well done," said Hynes. "Those aircraft were off the back of the C-17s and in the air in 16 minutes."
The forward area arming and refuel point (FAARP) for the helicopters was also quickly assembled to support the BCT ground mission. A fuel truck was air landed and petroleum supply specialists from the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, immediately went to work setting up the refuel point. Within 20 minutes of moving the truck off of the aircraft, the FAARP was set up and ready to fuel the birds.
"We execute flawlessly every single time," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Chandler, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the FAARP.
The Falcon Brigade also tested the process of air landing an RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle and its launching ramp. Paratroopers of the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion set up the launch and recovery site and then established connection with a Shadow already in the air, taking control of the UAV remotely due to airspace restrictions over the airfield. With a successful air land and flight, they moved to an already established site for the duration of the JOAX.
The operators have three hours from when they hit the ground to establish a launch and recovery site and have an aircraft ready to launch from the rails," said Sgt. Ian Willey, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator assigned to 2nd BSTB.
The Falcon Brigade surpassed that standard by doing all this in two and a half hours.
Shadow tasks achieved
The UAV played a major role in validating Falcon capabilities. Throughout the JOAX, the Shadow sent live video feed of the battle space to the command and staff teams on the ground, aiding them in making crucial decisions during multiple events.
"We provide that first look for commanders on the ground," said Staff Sgt. Quentin Sheley, a UAV operator from 2nd BSTB. "They can then have an understanding of the area of operation that they'll be working in, as well as what the enemy situation is ahead of time."
The Shadow provided footage of the 1-325 AIR's air assault mission and it provided 2nd Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment with artillery-fire corrections. The video feed showed the observers what coordinate adjustments were needed to bring rounds on target. This digital call for fire was executed successfully five times during the 72-hour JOAX.
To accomplish this, the aircraft was also used as a "re-trans platform" for line-of-site radio transmissions. Using the communications relay package onboard the aircraft, secure transmissions were completed between two different sites, free of obstructions on the ground.
It's hard to do a digital call for fire with the UAV, but the BCT has everything needed to accomplish a good call for fire and adjust mission when the UAV operator is accompanied by a forward observer, said Hynes.
"We were very successful with it," he said.
Combat Automated Information System Interface links units together
The Falcon Brigade developed a method of sending secret information over a system normally only used to pass unclassified logistical data between companies and their higher headquarters. By using encryption devices with the wireless Combat Automated Information System Interface, secure internet transmissions could occur. Thanks to the CAISI's long range, this could alleviate the time and leg work normally required for sharing secret information.
Although new systems will ultimately give the brigade and its subordinate units this capability, the Falcons are moving forward with concepts to meet this need now, said Warrant Officer Calvin Delaware, the architect behind the concept.
DCGS-A and TIGR System interoperability
Two intelligence systems exist to aid the war fighters in providing a picture of the situation to their staff and commanding officers. One is the Tactical Ground Reporting System, a multimedia reporting system for troops on the ground to submit to their battalions. The other is the Distributed Common Ground System-Army which accomplishes a similar purpose but stores information on a much larger and far reaching scale.
These two systems operate separately and require a large amount of effort and the support of field service representatives to get to work together. For this JOAX, interoperability was achieved, allowing the DCGS-A to collect reports from the TIGR systems.
The infantryman can make a report on the smaller, more compact and portable TIGR system and then send it to higher levels through the DCGS-A, which is a large stack of servers, said Staff Sgt. Justin Hendrix, military intelligence systems maintainer/integrator assigned to 2nd BCT.
"Our analysts can pull information from anywhere, anytime and give the brigade commander what he needs," he said.
Noncombatant Evacuation Operation
If people are in danger from a major natural disaster or threat of conflict, the Falcon Brigade has trained numerous times on how to conduct a noncombatant evacuation operation. This operation will allow the BCT to repatriate American citizens overseas caught in a dangerous situation. Paratroopers must be prepared to provide supplies and transportation to a safe haven for a potentially large number of civilians.
"We are worried more nowadays about a group of people trying to harm diplomats overseas in order to instill fear in Americans abroad and stateside," said Maj. Rudi Lusa, a civil affairs officer for the 2nd BCT. "The GRF trains to be ready at short notice to deploy a security force to secure diplomats abroad should a threat present itself."
For this purpose, 1-325th AIR Paratroopers conducted an airborne assault into a mock town and transported out more than 40 people role-playing as civilians caught in a hostile situation. From there, the noncombatants were taken to another site where 2nd BSTB provided NEO kits of essential supplies and assisted the Department of State in processing, medically screening and holding until aircraft became available to carry them out.
"Our ability to quickly perform an airborne assault and establish an airhead capable of evacuating noncombatants is a valuable asset to the Army," said 1st Lt. Stuart Wetzel, the officer in charge of the NEO.
A broad range of tasks accomplished in just 72 hours
The Falcon Brigade took to the field with a long list of objectives to validate the innovations and training that are essential to the capabilities of the GRF ready-brigade. Thanks to the hard work of the organization's Paratroopers, the next brigade to shoulder the contingency mission will benefit from and further build on those developments. They are innovations that can save lives and money, and ensure mission accomplishment with limited resources.
The effects that the brigade achieved throughout the JOAX resulted in a lot of high-payoff tasks that can be done at low cost, Hynes said.
The commander pointed out how far the Falcons had come in their capabilities from last year.
"We've made some huge progress," he said. "Because of the foundations that we built, we are now making progress at an even faster rate."
Social Sharing