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Joint fires team helps Army improves force protection training

U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) has helped the Army's Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) Program and the National Training Center to improve base defense systems in the training environment the Army's brigade combat teams use to prepare to go overseas

By Casey Bain
JFIIT, USJFCOM

(NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FT. IRWIN, Calif. - May. 13, 2008) -- With assistance from the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) Program Office, located in Huntsville, Ala., and the Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.-based U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT), the National Training Center (NTC) here has made significant progress in improving force protection training for Army brigade combat teams (BCTs) as they prepare for eventual deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to senior leaders at NTC.

JFIIT, in support of the C-RAM Program Office, is working to improve the integration of the Integrated Base Defense System of System (IBDSoS) into existing joint fires and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to increase the force protection of U.S. and coalition forward operating bases (FOB)

"We realized the need to enhance base defense training as an important part of the BCT's experience when they train here, said Army Lt. Col. Charles Evans, deputy commander, Operations Group, NTC. "Being able to replicate the force protection resources that an Army BCT will have in theater and provide a training environment that stresses their force protection capabilities will greatly enhance the BCT's ability to perform their force protection mission once in country."

Part of this enhanced force protection capability, the Integrated Base Defense System of Systems (IBDSoS), integrates multiple systems and sensors to improve situational awareness and provides an audible warning of a potential attack on a FOB.

"IBDSoS provides the warfighter with an integrated set of capabilities that is designed to protect against and defeat perimeter threats that our forces face in today's contemporary operational environment," said Kirk Ruppel, CAS, and senior IBDSoS trainer at NTC. "IBDSoS is an integral part of. C-RAM and provides the ground commander with additional capabilities to defeat the insurgent threat and preserve his combat power."

The C-RAM Program Office has been providing IBDSoS support here since Feb. 2006, and with assistance from JFIIT, plans on leveraging current IBDSoS capabilities to enhance joint fires and joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (JISR) integration to fully maximize base defense training at this and other combat training centers.

"I've learned more from this NTC rotation than any I've ever experienced," said Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Green, battle captain, base defense operation center (BDOC), 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, Colo. "The IBDSoS training has been exceptional. The increase in situational awareness we've received while using this system allows us to see real-time what is going on around our perimeter, and warn friendly personnel of a possible attack, and helps us to more efficiently defeat the threat…simply put, IBDSoS helps us save lives."

One of the BDOC officer in charge (OIC) from Ft. Carson completely agreed. "Our ability to integrate joint assets with our own fires capabilities cuts down on the time to gain a positive identification on a threat and allows us to respond appropriately," said Army 2nd Lt. Monty Edwards, BDOC OIC. "Our ability to provide an increased level of safety and security to friendly personnel on our forward operating base (FOB) has been significantly enhanced by integrating and leveraging IBDSoS within our base defense operations."

"Fully integrating joint fires and JISR assets into IBDSoS training at NTC will help prepare units for what they'll experience in theater," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Chris Olson, C-RAM project lead at JFIIT. "When you fully incorporate all the joint assets into IBDSoS training, you'll improve the ability to provide early warning to personnel located on our FOBs and give our forces time to take appropriate actions and defeat this type of irregular warfare threat."

IBDSoS training is another opportunity for BCTs to receive realistic and rigorous training that prepares them for their next mission. "NTC provides great training and good coaching to exceptional soldiers within the brigade support battalions that are assigned base defense responsibilities," said Ruppel. "The goal of IBDSoS is to increase the force protection capabilities on FOBs to help improve their base defenses, and allows the commander to focus most of their time and effort outside the FOB on the tactical mission they are assigned."