Military

(1) Initiative is the ability to set the terms of battle by action. Commanders must seize and preserve the initiative. This generates an offensive spirit in the conduct of all operations.

(2) Depth refers to time, space, and resources. Commanders need to use the entire depth of the battlefield to strike the enemy. Depth of resources provides the commander great flexibility over large areas. These resources include the integration of ground and air operations.

(3) Agility means to act faster than the enemy. Commanders must learn of critical events as they occur and act swiftly to avoid enemy strength and exploit enemy weaknesses. This must be done repeatedly.

(4) Synchronization means achieving maximum combat power. Commanders must waste no effort, initially or as an operation develops. Operations must be synchronized with other services and allies.

(1) When the Army operates on a large land mass, the scope of combat forces, support services, and duration of involvement are increased significantly. Extended operations also introduce requirements for Navy and Air Force support, as well as an expanded administrative and logistical base. Each service usually provides its own support services and command structure to ensure the best possible support of its tactical commanders. The Army headquarters which provides this support is the theater Army (TA). The TA headquarters and its assigned units generally operate in the area to the rear of the corps boundary called the communications zone (COMMZ). The COMMZ can extend to the water's edge in a large land mass, across a major water body to another land mass, or even to the continental United States (CONUS).

(2) FM 100-16 provides a detailed discussion of support operations in EAC. It is the source of concepts and doctrine for EAC communications-electronics (C-E) TA operations and relates the C-E role to the command and control requirements of theater.

(3) FM 11-23 describes the Army's overall telecommunications system for command and control. The system is called the Army Automation Communications (AUTOCOMM) Network. The AUTOCOMM provides tactical, strategic, general support, and theater subnets. The theater subnet is called the Theater Communications System (Army) (TCS(A)). The TACSAT Company is employed in the TCS(A).

(4) Traditionally, the concepts and doctrine for a theater have been focused on Europe, with its combined and joint command structures. This thinking has led to heavy reliance on C-E support from the commercial services and facilities which exist in industrially developed central Europe. Communications plans and forces have become very dependent on such host nation support (HNS). Future United States (U.S.) military commitments could require the Army to operate in a variety of geographical environments.

(5) Vietnam and other recent experiences demonstrated the tremendous resources required to support ground combat in undeveloped regions. Multichannel radio played a major role in providing communications to dispersed units. Tropospheric scatter and satellite radio proved themselves important to theater command and control. Today's tactical satellite radio systems greatly enhance the flexibility and capacity of the theater communications. They can be moved and put into operation more rapidly than their predecessors. Their area of coverage is greater than other multichannel radio system.

(1) The TCS(A) provides both command and area communications. It consists primarily of command and area links in a nodal configuration called the Army Command and Area Communications System (ACACS).

(2) The ACACS provides service to the TA in the COMMZ on a common-user, geographical basis. TA headquarters is supported by the Signal Command Operations Battalion (Theater) (FM 11-28) and will access the ACACS through at least two area signal nodes. Major functional headquarters will be interconnected with TA headquarters through the ACACS. This procedure is accomplished through an extension node provided from the supporting major area node. The major area nodes and extension nodes are provided by the Signal Telecommunications Battalion (Area). The area nodal portion of the ACACS also provides C-E services to other units assigned to or transiting through the COMMZ.

(3) Figure 1-1 shows a representative ACACS found in the TCS(A). The ACACS can provide the high volume telephone, radio, and record copy services required by larger headquarters. Tactical satellite radio may be employed in either the command or the area portions of the communications sytems. It can connect the TCS(A) to the strategic or tactical subnets of the AUTOCOMM network. The ACACS is required to interface with the Defense Communications System (DCS) in at least two locations. The corps area signal system will also interface with ACACS. See FM 11-23 for a more complete description of the services provided by the TCS(A).

(1) The TCC(A), which is designed on a building block principle, is a USAISC unit under the operational control of the TA commander. It provides communications for U.S. Army units throughout the COMMZ. The TCC( A) may be directed to provide C-E support to other U.S. and non-U.S. units, to include combined headquarters, and to provide some or all of the strategic networks in the theater. It also is responsible for supply and maintenance support for TCC(A) unique C-E, air traffic control (ATC) and navigational aids (NAVAIDS) equipment.

(2) Figure 1-2 shows a typical TCC( A). The types and number of building block units assigned can be changed to meet the C-E requirements. C-E requirements almost always exceed available resources. If a major conflict should occur, available resources will be severely taxed by current force restrictions. Very important, also, is the fact that our major opponents have made known their intention of disrupting the Army's support areas. C-E units will be primary targets of this threat and must be prepared to combat it effectively. A future war will not be fought only at the front; it will cover the breadth and depth of the entire theater in a simultaneous or nearly simultaneous series of actions.

(3) All these factors emphasize the need for detailed planning at each level within the TCC(A). Thorough planning and frequent practice is the only way to prepare for the surprises which occur in wartime. FM 11-23 provides detailed concepts and doctrine for the TCC(A). Generally, one TACSAT Company is assigned to a TCC(A). The TACSAT Company is an essential element in the theater subnet.