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Communications Key to Talisman Saber 2007

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070615-06
Release Date: 6/15/2007 10:39:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ESSEX (NNS) -- A wave of new technologies is proving to be a keystone for Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07), the military exercise held between the United States and Australia now in the force integration and training (FIT) phase from June 10-18.

“Communication is the essence of C4I,” said Information Specialist 1st Class (SW) Anthony D. Pierce, referring to Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, who set up an all-encompassing nerve center aboard USS Essex (LHD 2), to facilitate the most effective communication stream for command and control.

Voice, data and video can all be transmitted from the sea-going platform using technologies once unheard of and once thought impossible to use, that now allow operational commanders the ability to almost literally reach out and touch their assets.

A suite of technologies —- e-mail, military instant messaging and voice over Internet protocol —- are being implemented and are helping make Exercise TS07 a success, according to senior naval leaders from the United States and Australia.

“We’ve flattened the information grid,” said Cmdr. Cedric Pringle, Expeditionary Strike Group 7 deputy chief of staff. “Appropriate info can flow up and down the chain much quicker than ever before. For this exercise, we’re using those tools in a combined setting, so that our Australian allies have the same access to that information flow as we do.”

Australians that are part of the staff of Commander Australian Amphibious Task Group (COMAUSATG) embarked Essex to facilitate integration elements with the Royal Australian Navy ships involved. The Australian counterparts, as they work to engage Australian naval assets from a flag plot space on Essex, are grateful to have integrating technologies at their fingertips.

“It gives us a direct connection to our ships, so that we can get the feedback we need in order to put out key information or maneuvering directives through official channels,” said Australian Navy officer Lt. Cmdr. Scott Walker, operations officer for COMAUSATG. “We’re able to use these systems to achieve very quick response from our other sea counterparts, even though we are miles and miles away from each other.”

Exercise TS07 involves 32,000 military members from both nations that will feature crisis-action planning and execution of contingency response operations in land, sea and air maneuvers.

For the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group command and control element, the exercise involves a combined strike group of 13 ships, plus a number of Marine elements under embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and soldiers from the Australian Army.

Exercise TS07 began in May with a computer-simulated command post exercise. The exercise is currently in the FIT phase, which will lead up to the official start of the field training exercise, in which the combined force will land units ashore.

The FIT phase has featured a continuous set of planning, understanding communications capabilities, and developing relationships with counterparts.

The impact is seen visibly, as U.S. and Australian forces work side-by-side, using systems that allow them to work in tandem.

“Having a combined communication system really facilitates ally integration,” said Lt. Bernie Billingsley, CTF 76 intelligence operations officer. “It smoothes out the processes and expedites planning and operations.”

One of the strongest keys to making this interoperability a success is the CENTRIX (Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange) system. With CENTRIX, allies are able to share information through a secure network system. Rather than rely on static documents created before an exercise, members of both forces can view updates and changes as they happen and adjust movements accordingly.

In this way, combined forces members remain on the same page at all times, and then are able to direct ships and units with that information using the technologies that have come about, like e-mail and chat.

With a complex array of tasking ahead to reach mission accomplishment, senior leaders know that communications is the most vital component to meeting the objective.

For Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, and the exercise’s deputy commander, Combined Force Maritime Component Command (DCFMCC), her evening “fire-side chats,” conducted over ship-to-ship phones not too long ago, is now made possible through a special Navy Internet-based chat room, where she can have a forum and give guidance to commanding officers in the battle group.

“We are very fortunate to have this type of integrative technology accessible to us ... all of the credit goes to the communications Sailors that work to ensure we have C4I up and running,” said Pottenger. “Though the technology has greatly bridged the gap in certain areas, I still am very much encouraged that our two forces continue to build relations face-to-face whenever possible. There is no substitute for working issues side by side, arriving at common solutions with such a close friend and ally.”