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Information Sharing, HLS/HLD Featured in June Demonstration

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060612-14
Release Date: 6/12/2006 5:28:00 PM

By Michael A. Brown Sr., Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Joint Management Office

HAMPTON, Va. (NNS) -- A Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Staff Information Sharing and Homeland Security/Homeland Defense (HLS/HLD) demonstration will conduct operations June 12-22 at sites around the globe.

The Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) is an annual event that features Interoperability Trials (IT) focused on selected core objectives defined by combatant commanders. ITs that are approved for participation are required to provide a new capability or to improve on an existing capability in support of the demonstration’s prioritized objectives.

"Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration, known as CWID, emphasizes information sharing between the Department of Defense and coaliton forces, as well as with our Homeland Security/Homeland Defense partners," said Rear Adm. Richard Gallagher, director of the European Plans and Operations Center and the director of Operations, or J3, at Headquarters, U.S. European Command, this year's host combatant command.

"This year we examine a range of technologies enhancing our ability to share and improving our situational awareness, collaboration, decision-making, and command and control responsibilites," he said. "The accompanying concept of operations and tactics, techniques and procedures to implement solutions quickly also are emphasized this year."

The demonstration tests and evaluates technologies and capabilities for exchanging information among agencies, services and this year’s host combatant commander, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM). Through CWID, U.S. combatant commands and the international community investigate communications and coordination solutions, focusing on targeted objectives to enhance coalition interoperability. Coalition interoperability seeks solutions that can be applied to the operational community, and enables a standard procedure for information sharing between coalition partners.

CWID offers a challenging scenario that examines trial capabilities. The scenario has two parts: one for the Combined Task Force (CTF) and one for HLS/HLD. For the CTF portion, CWID provides a framework that facilitates participation of ITs through a full range of military operations conducted by U.S. and coalition forces. CTF operations are set in a notional context in fictitious countries. For the HLS/HLD portion of the scenario, federal, state and local agencies respond to terrorist attacks within the United States. These fictitious attacks are tied to the conventional U.S.-led CTF operations on another continent.

The demonstration runs over the Combined Federated Battle Laboratories Network classified network and the DISN-LES unclassified network. The events-driven network has an architecture that enables controlled and protected communications as prescribed by operational requirements and national security policies.

U.S. Northern Command, Colorado Springs, Colo., manages the HLS/HLD portion of the demonstration. The command uses CWID as a proving ground for emerging technology application through the entire spectrum of first responders.

Assessments will be published in a formal report later in 2006.

The host site is USEUCOM, Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. U.S. operational sites include HLS/HLD in Colorado Springs, Colo.; the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard Bureau at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Va.; the U.S. Navy at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego; and the U.S. Air Force at Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.

The global network includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and many NATO nations, also with demonstration sites and visitor access. There are more than 20 international participants at more than 20 sites around the world.

For related news, visit the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/jwid/.