Can you hear me now? The JCEOI-another facet of spectrum management

CHIPS, Fall, 2004

The spectrum manager's role in JCEOI development presents an interesting dichotomy in joint operations because the most widely used communications control document is created by some of the junior-most servicemen and women. Generally, spectrum managers are E-6s and E-7s, well trained and knowledgeable, with specialized training in spectrum management, including JCEOI development.

Automated capability for creating the JCEOI

There are two automated tools that are widely used by spectrum managers to create JCEOIs. The oldest is the Revised Battlefield Electronics Communications Equipment Operating Instructions System (RBECS). The newest is the Joint Automated Communication System (JACS). While both programs are capable of compiling and generating JCEOIs, both programs fall short of providing all single-channel radio information used in today's joint operations.

Neither the RBECS nor the JACS program is capable of supporting advanced communications equipment such as Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS). EPLRS is a synchronous Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system that provides the basic tactical functions of identification, position location and navigation information automatically to a centralized Net Control System or Land Mobile Radio (LMR) trunking. LMR trunking allows automatic sharing of a small number of radio frequencies (channels) between large numbers of radio users' information.

Because of the deficiencies in RBECS and JACS and other factors, the Military Communications Electronics Board (MCEB) authorized the development of a new JCEOI program in early 2004.

Military operations with international partners and continued joint service deployments have made the modernization of communication tools a priority. Expanded use of sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and sophisticated weapons systems, which are all spectrum-dependent, require more precise communication planning and operational implementation. Our spectrum managers--those who prepare the JCEOIs and those who execute those plans in the field--are working hard to ensure our ability to communicate and recognize friend from foe.

For more information, contact the DON Spectrum Team at DONSPECTRUMTEAM@navy.mil.

Table 1.

JCEOI Individual Time Period
Information

Time Period   Day of the Month

     1           1/11/21/31
     2            2/12/22
     3            3/13/23
     4            4/14/24
   Etc.             Etc.

Table 2.

Call Sign   Time Period

  Unit      01    02    03    04    05    Etc.

  Radio     Z2M   X7M   F5H   Q0N   F0Y
Battalion

Table 3.

Frequency                        Time Period

  Unit        01       02        03       04        05     Etc.

Radio BN    4.6710   10.5150   9.0890   10.2580   8.7015
 Command

Although JCEOIs can be formatted in many different ways, a
standard JCEOI assignment looks like the tables above. This
JCEOI for Radio Battalion assigns the call sign "Zulu Two
Mike" for time period 01 (used on the 1st, 11th, etc., day
of the month). Additionally, the frequency for Radio Battalion
is 4.6710 MHz (a HF assignment) for time period 01. The use of
changing call signs and frequencies with encryption, provides
a high degree of secure operations.