Army space support to a BCD: a critical enabler.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Securing the high ground starts at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) is a specialized major command within the United States Army. The SMDC is an organization composed of five components:
SMDC Server Management Daughter Card SMDC St. Mary's Duluth Clinic (Duluth, MN) SMDC Shielded Mild Detonating Cord )/Army Forces Strategic Command (ARSTRAT ARSTRAT Army Forces Strategic Command ARSTRAT Army Strategic Command (US Army Space and Missile Defense Command) )." --U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Missile defence is an air defence system, weapon program, or technology involved in the detection, tracking, interception and destruction of attacking missiles. Originally conceived as a defence against nuclear-armed ICBMs, its application has broadened to include shorter-ranged Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's vision statement In November 2008, the 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment An Army liaison provided by the Army component or force commander to the air operations center (AOC) and/or to the component designated by the joint force commander to plan, coordinate, and deconflict air operations. commander at al Udeid Air Base Al Udeid Air Base is a military base 25 miles west of Doha, Qatar. It houses coalition personnel and assets. It is the home of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF. , Qatar, approached the 1st Space Brigade commander In the United States Army, the commanding officer of a brigade is a Brigade Commander. The position is usually held by a colonel, although a lieutenant colonel can be selected for brigade command in lieu of an available colonel. from U.S. Army Space and Missile Command Missile Command is a 1980 arcade game by Atari Inc. that was also licensed to Sega for European release. The plot of Missile Command is simple: the player's six cities are being attacked by an endless hail of ballistic missiles, some of them even splitting like to discuss integrating Army space capabilities into the battlefield coordination detachment. The 1st Space Brigade commander offered the battlefield coordination detachment commander a small U.S. Army space team--an Army space coordination element--to augment the battlefield coordination detachment in its deployment to the U.S. Central Command combined air operations center See: tactical air control center. . This offer came at the perfect time. A reserve officer, without space experience, had been shouldering the space mission in the battlefield coordination detachment, but was redeploying. The detachment did not have any organic space expertise, yet its mission is integrating and coordinating with the combined forces A military force composed of elements of two or more allied nations. See also force(s). air component commander, ensuring that the land component receives all necessary support, including space. The combined forces air component commander is also the space coordinating authority A commander or individual assigned responsibility forcoordinating specific functions or activities involving forces oftwo or more Military Departments, two or more joint force components, or two or more forces of the same Service. for U.S. Central Command. To exercise that authority, he has the director of space forces and 23 other space officers spread throughout the combined air operations center, ensuring that space capabilities are integrated with Army and land component operations. The battlefield coordination detachment needed space expertise. The first deployment of an army space coordination element to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility materialized from this initial discussion in February 2009. This article describes the battlefield coordination detachment's responsibilities, discusses the organization and functions of an Army space coordination element and demonstrates the critical need for Army space operations as a key enabler within the battlefield coordination detachment structure. Current space forces in U.S. Central Command. Before describing the Army space coordination element within the battlefield coordination detachment and combined air operations center, it is important to understand space forces in theater. The current fight is the first war in which space is integrated at all levels of command. Only a few years ago, the Army created Functional Area 40 Space Operations Officers. Today, these officers are organic to fires brigade, division and corps staffs. Fires brigades are authorized one functional area 40 officer; division and corps staffs have two. These space operations officers serve in space support elements and provide expertise in space systems and integration in the staffing process. The Army's space experts have current operational experience and the technical expertise to use space-based products as combat multipliers. In addition to space support elements, Army space support teams deploy from 1st Space Brigade, Peterson Air Force Base Peterson Air Force Base (Peterson AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Peterson AFB is home to US Northern Command, NORAD, Air Force Space Command, Army Space Command, the 21st Space Wing (host unit) , Colo. Army space support teams have six Soldiers--a team of space experts with a communications and information technology suite, allowing it to produce space-related products including Global Positioning System/navigation accuracy predictions, satellite location predictions (i.e. when a red surveillance satellite is overhead), and space-related geospatial/ imagery products. These Army space support teams augment key space support elements and provide enhanced space operations to the war fighter. Army space support teams operate in Iraq and Afghanistan at the division and corps levels. Space operations officers, both Army and U.S. Air Force, are fielded across the area of responsibility on the staffs of various task forces, joint/combined commands and other agencies. A key enabler in the space fight, the Army Central Command space support element ensures our space forces are manned properly and resourced for current operations. It also integrates new space capabilities and programs into the theater. However, the center of gravity for space operations in theater is the director of space forces and his staff. The director of space forces is the senior space advisor to the U.S. Air Forces Central commander. The director executes space coordinating authority on the commander's behalf and advises him on space employment. The director's staff reviews potential space capabilities for theater feasibility and integrates new capabilities that are operationally relevant. He represents the commander to outside organizations regarding space issues and monitors the status of space forces within the theater, including space cadre (company) CADRE - The US software engineering vendor which merged with Bachman Information Systems to form Cayenne Software in July 1996. from the different agencies within the national intelligence community. The director of space forces staff also organizes and prioritizes all space support requests. The space support request process is similar to the joint tactical air strike request process. Any U.S. Central Command space-related problems are identified, tracked, and resolved. The director of space forces synchronizes all space-related support across the theater. He coordinates and plans the daily theater space operations throughout the area of operations An operational area defined by the joint force commander for land and naval forces. Areas of operation do not typically encompass the entire operational area of the joint force commander, but should be large enough for component commanders to accomplish their missions and protect their . He and his staff are supported by other Air Force space operations officers embedded Inserted into. See embedded system. throughout the divisions of the combined air operations center. In short, the director of space forces is the space integrator for the U.S. Central Command area of operations and the combined forces air component commander's proponent One who offers or proposes. A proponent is a person who comes forward with an a item or an idea. A proponent supports an issue or advocates a cause, such as a proponent of a will. PROPONENT, eccl. law. on space matters. Battlefield coordination detachment. The 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment is the ground component commander's representative to the air component commander in Central Command's combined air operations center. It coordinates all preplanned and immediate joint tactical air strike request. The detachment also exchanges operational and intelligence data between ground forces and the combined air operations center--including monitoring and interpreting current ground operations to enhance situational awareness Situation awareness or situational awareness [1] (SA) is the mental representation and understanding of objects, events, people, system states, interactions, environmental conditions, and other situation-specific factors affecting human performance in within the combined air operations center. The detachment provides the ground force's view of the enemy situation to the combined forces air component commander and combined air operations center staff. It provides ground liaison detachments with information for pilot mission briefs in support of ground operations. The battlefield coordination detachment also facilitates current air tasking order A method used to task and disseminate to components, subordinate units, and command and control agencies projected sorties, capabilities and/or forces to targets and specific missions. Normally provides specific instructions to include call signs, targets, controlling agencies, etc. execution, coordinates U.S. Army aviation and Army missile fires in the air tasking order and airspace control order An order implementing the airspace control plan that provides the details of the approved requests for airspace coordinating measures. It is published either as part of the air tasking order or as a separate document. Also called ACO. , and coordinates intra-theater airlifts. The current battlefield coordination detachment organization has a headquarters element with six different sections--operations, intelligence, plans, airspace, airlift and air defense. Each section corresponds to a division within the combined air operations center for a total of 40 Soldiers. However, this unit structure can change to meet the land component commander's and combined forces air component commander's mission requirements. The staff includes experienced operators from various mission area backgrounds with vast operational experience. However, space expertise is traditionally not organic to a battlefield coordination detachment's organizational structure  This article has no lead section.To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, one should be written. . Army space coordination element. The Army space coordination element is an emerging concept, placing space expertise within the battlefield coordination detachment. The Army space coordination element facilitates land component forces enhanced battlespace situational awareness and the advantages of time and accuracy when detecting and deterring an adversary's technical capabilities. Leveraging space assets, the Army space coordination element gives the ground commander a superior view of the battlespace to gain and maintain the operational advantage by ensuring that space effects are focused on the land component's needs. The Army space coordination element concept was integrated in several past joint exercises. Its placement within the theater force structure, its number of Soldiers and its capabilities were refined. The size and type of Army space coordination element force structure is flexible, depending on the nature of space operations in a theater. For this current deployment, its force structure includes one Functional Area 40 Space Operations Officer and two space-experienced NCOs--one trained in satellite communications and another trained in intelligence. The Army space coordination element is in the most advantageous position to fuse relevant data in a timely manner because of its close relationship with Army space forces in the theater and the office of the director of space forces, residing in the combined air operations center. A deployable Army space coordination element--working for the battlefield coordination detachment--supports land component requirements, provides operational perspective and prioritizes space capabilities. The Army space coordination element is the space forces' service advocate to the space coordinating authority through the director of space forces office. The Army space coordination element works closely with the U.S. Army Central Command space support element. The end state is timely space support to our operational Army space forces, who support the land component commander's intent A concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired end state that serves as the initial impetus for the planning process. It may also include the commander's assessmentof the adversary commander's intent and an assessment of where and how much risk is acceptable during for the integration of space effects in his operations. Integration. The battlefield coordination detachment works with different sections in the combined air operations center that integrate effects and operations. The Army space coordination element ties into in the different sections/cells in coordination with the director of space forces--not separately. This working relationship becomes synergistic and provides more rapid and precise space effects to the land component commander. Through the Army space coordination element, the battlefield coordination detachment can support the director of space forces, combat operations division-space and combined theater electronic warfare Noun 1. electronic warfare - military action involving the use of electromagnetic energy to determine or exploit or reduce or prevent hostile use of the electromagnetic spectrum EW military action, action - a military engagement; "he saw action in Korea" coordination cell efforts to integrate space capabilities. Space professionals are embedded within the combat operations division-space of the combined air operations center, who work with current operations--especially time sensitive operations, including theater missile A missile, which may be a ballistic missile, a cruise missile, or an air-to-surface missile (not including short-range, non-nuclear, direct fire missiles, bombs, or rockets such as Maverick or wire-guided missiles), whose target is within a given theater of operation. Also called TM. defense, battlespace characterization, personnel recovery/ combat search and rescue A specific task performed by rescue forces to effect the recovery of distressed personnel during war or military operations other than war. Also called CSAR. See also search and rescue. , and satellite communications/Global Positioning System electromagnetic interference See EMI. . The Army space coordination element, involved with all these efforts, provides critical two-way communications Two-way communication is a form of transmission in which both parties involved transmit information. Common forms of two-way communication are:
The combined theater electronic warfare coordination cell is another combined air operations center cell that is tied directly to space. It coordinates, synchronizes and integrates electronic warfare planning, operations and testing in support of U.S. Central Command and its component commands. This cell ensures control of the electromagnetic spectrum electromagnetic spectrum Total range of frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The spectrum ranges from waves of long wavelength (low frequency) to those of short wavelength (high frequency); it comprises, in order of increasing frequency (or decreasing for the U.S. and its Coalition partners and denies the same to our enemies. Due to Coalition forces' heavy reliance on and use of the electromagnetic spectrum, there are many areas where the Army space coordination element and combined theater electronic warfare coordination cell work closely together. Blue-on-blue interference, both satellite communications and Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning System: see navigation satellite. Global Positioning System (GPS) Precise satellite-based navigation and location system originally developed for U.S. military use. , deconfliction of electronic warfare with friendly satellite communications and the adversary's use of satellite communications are areas where integration of both units is critical to success. The combined theater electronic warfare coordination cell focuses on mostly terrestrial and airborne electromagnetic operations--friendly or potentially enemy--and complements the Army space coordination element's work with our space-based electronic warfare capabilities. A capabilities integrator. The Army space coordination element integrates closely with national agencies to bring current capabilities and initiatives to the fight. Close coordination with the director of space forces allows this integration. Through the Army space coordination element, the battlefield coordination detachment--working with the deputy director for military support--introduces current technology to the fight and forwards new requirements from the theater to the director for military support office. Using national capabilities--developed to fight a Cold War enemy--in new and unique ways helps the ground commander fight successfully in an asymmetric warfare Asymmetric warfare originally referred to war between two or more actors or groups whose relative power differs significantly. Contemporary military thinkers tend to broaden this to include asymmetry of strategy or tactics; today "asymmetric warfare" can describe a military environment. The space support element and Army space support teams from various commands collect, prioritize and forward requirements through the Army space coordination element to the director of space forces to meet the commander's intent. Also, the U.S Army Central Command space support elements support the Army space coordination element and ensure the space coordinating authority includes Army space equities in support concepts. Because it is embedded with the battlefield coordination detachment, the Army space coordination element raises issues and concerns from the ground component's perspective through its respective space professionals. This critical linkage and support rapidly mitigates operational issues for ground commanders with our national and other space-based assets. A critical enabler. FM 3-14.10 Space Brigade Operations lists the Army space coordination element's tasks (see the figure). These tasks center on the Army space coordination element's important role in creating a synergistic relationship between the land and air component commanders. The Army space coordination element already has had success integrating space in counter-improvised explosive device operations. Key information was forwarded to land components rapidly ensuring situational awareness in this difficult mission. The Army space coordination element was integral to the quick identification and resolution of electromagnetic interference, ensuring the sustainment of critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance may refer to:
Future operations will continue to focus on bringing technology to bear on counter-improvised explosive device and counterinsurgency coun·ter·in·sur·gen·cy n. Political and military strategy or action intended to oppose and forcefully suppress insurgency. coun operations. Army space coordination element efforts also will concentrate on increasing satellite communications capabilities in theater and reducing satellite-related interference. Other future mission areas include improving nontraditional use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets for force protection with the increasing the availability and use of commercial imagery, shareable with our Coalition partners. While space professionals from different Services contribute daily to saving lives by their innovative use of available assets and capabilities, Army space personnel use their unique experiences to bridge technical gaps, ensuring the space effects' operational value is understood and used at all levels. As this first Army Space coordination element integrates into the space fight, its lessons learned from this war can improve knowledge for increased integration for future fights. This is a distinct advantage to the Army space coordination element deployment with its close ties to the 1st Space Brigade as it supports the 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment commander. This knowledge and experience aids in the continuity of support to the theater and ensures current space operations are used to train new Army space support teams and Army space coordination element teams for future deploy-ments, increasing their readiness and reducing the learning curve upon arrival. General C. Robert Kehler Lieutenant General Claude Robert "Bob" Kehler is Deputy Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. As second in command, he is charged with ensuring the command meets responsibilities for global command and control of strategic forces and remains , Commander, Air Force Space Command, posed this question and response, "What's the big difference between 25 years ago and today? I would tell you, in my opinion, that space today is embedded in combat operations." Space support to the Warfighter is a key combat multiplier in the current fight. The 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment's Army space coordination element, the US Army's latest space element in the theater, supports all U.S. Army space forces within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Those space forces support the war fighters, making their missions safer and more effective. This Army space coordination element's deployment is the paradigm for future battlefield coordination detachment and combined air operations center space operations--with an eye toward full integration of an Army space coordination element as an organic part of a battlefield coordination detachment's organizational construct. Army space coordination element tasks * Provide Army space representation and support to the space coordinating authority. * Act as principal Army advocate to the space coordinating authority and the Joint Warfighting Space Expeditionary Force An armed force organized to accomplish a specific objective in a foreign country. expeditionary force n → cuerpo expedicionario expeditionary force n → corps m . * Assist the space support elements, supporting the ground component commanders, in ensuring the Army space equities are recognized and incorporated into the space coordinating authority concept of space operations and execution support. * Assist in the joint space planning process and the development of space priorities. * Coordinate space In mathematics, specifically in linear algebra, the coordinate space, Fn, is the prototypical example of an n-dimensional vector space over a field F. It can be defined as the product space of F over a finite index set. operations with the battlefield coordination detachment. * Support the space coordinating authority when directed and in coordination with other Service components. By COL Kevin M. Felix, FA, MAJ Christopher M. Crawford, FA40, and MAJ Jeffrey T. Lakey, FA40 Colonel Kevin M. Felix, Field Artillery, is the Commander, 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment, al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Assigned to U.S. Army Central, his unit serves as an integrator of all air component support to ground component commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has served on the Joint Staff, J5, Middle East Regional, and as Executive Assistant to the Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.; Deputy Commander, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee and is home to the 101st Airborne Division. The fort is named in honor of BG William Bowen Campbell, the last Whig Governor of Tennessee. , Ky.; and Commander, 2nd Battalion, 320th FA, 1st Brigade Combat Team The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branched maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. , 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was selected as a Senior Army Fellow with the Department of State, is a trained Foreign Area Officer, is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and has an MA in International Relations international relations, study of the relations among states and other political and economic units in the international system. Particular areas of study within the field of international relations include diplomacy and diplomatic history, international law, from the University of Geneva The University of Geneva (Université de Genève) is a university in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded by John Calvin in 1559. Initially a theological seminary, it also taught law. , Switzerland. Major Christopher M. Crawford is an Army Space Operations Officer (Functional Area 40) assigned to the 1st Space Brigade at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. , Colo. He was the first Officer-in-Charge of the Army Space Coordination Element for the 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment/ Combined Air Operations Center. He served as the 1st Space Brigade Plans Chief, 1st Space Battalion Army Space Support Team Leader and G3 Current Operations Officer for U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command-US Army Strategic Command, Redstone Arsenal Redstone Arsenal, U.S. rocket research and development center, 38,781 acres (15,694 hectares), N Ala., W of Huntsville; est. 1941. One of the state's largest industrial enterprises, it includes the Army Missile Command, responsible for the army's rocket and guided , Ala. He has a Master's of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. Major Jeffrey Lakey is an Army Space Operations Officer (Functional Area 40) assigned to the 1st Space Brigade at Peterson Air Force Base. He is the current Officer-in-Charge of the Army Space Coordination Element for the 4th Battlefield Coordination Detachment/ Combined Air Operations Center. He served as the 1st Space Brigade Current Operations Chief for U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command-US Army Strategic Command. In the U.S. Air Force, he was a Personnel and Manpower Officer and served as Chief of Personnel and Manpower, Joint Functional Component Command for Space The Joint Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC SPACE) is a component of US Strategic Command. The Command was established on July 19, 2006, and activated on September 12, 2006[1], under the command of Major General William L. Shelton. , Vandenberg Air Force Base Vandenberg Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 3,456 acres (1,399 hectares), SW Calif., near Lompoc; chief Pacific coast launch site for military satellites. , Calif.; Acting Chief of Personnel, Manpower and Resources, 14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB AFB abbr. acid-fast bacillus AFB Acid-fast bacillus, also 1. Aflatoxin B 2. Aorto-femoral bypass ; and Military Personnel Flight Commander, 374th Mission Support Squadron, Yokota Air Base Yokota Air Base (横田空軍基地 Yokota Kūgun Kichi , Japan. |
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