Technology Delivers Agility For Combat Commanders

Signal, Dec 2006 by Munichiello, Dave

The first employment of an EoIP solution outside of internal JCSE testing was the SC^sup 2^IP architecture used during Bright Star, a joint coalition training exercise conducted in Egypt in May 2006. During this exercise, JCSE operators proved the SC^sup 2^IP concept by providing seamless communications support to U.S. dignitaries at a joint visitors bureau. The application of this new technology not only highlighted the success of the JCSE's system but also underscored the interoperability and versatility of SC^sup 2^IP's design. The ability to interoperate with legacy circuit-switching equipment, other IP solutions, strategic infrastructure and coalition-specific networks has become the hallmark of the SC^sup 2^IP communications capability.

The Defense Department's requirement for SC^sup 2^IP was demonstrated almost immediately following Joint Staff certification of the system. In April 2006, the secretary of defense signed the Defense Support to Civil Authorities execution order, specifically calling on the unique capabilities of the JCSE SC^sup 2^IP. This execution order tasks SC^sup 2^IP and the team that operates it to deploy rapidly via commercial aircraft and to provide secure/nonsecure voice, data and video teleconference connectivity as well as commercial voice and Internet access for up to 60 personnel. The system functions as an earlyentry C^sup 2^ node assisting civilian agencies during national emergencies. JCSE personnel remain on standby around the clock to support the tasking. This near-immediate operational requirement for SC^sup 2^IP validated months of work by the JCSE and postured the innovation as the primary system responsible for rapid enablement of C^sup 2^ communications during a manmade or natural disaster in the U.S. Northern, Southern and Pacific commands' areas of responsibility.

The JCSE partnered with DISA and the combatant commands to install SC^sup 2^IP's corresponding reachback architecture into teleports worldwide and to tie deployed EoIP packages into the circuit-based DISN. This reach-back architecture offers global coverage from four locations: the Wahiawa Teleport, Hawaii; the Lago Patria Teleport, Italy; the Northwest Teleport, Virginia; and Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar.

The Central Command reach-back architecture extends to three coalition networks in addition to DISN services, allowing the JCSE to provide communications to coalition partners as well as U.S. forces. This system, currently called the Teleport GIG Entry Suite-C, will coexist with the teleport's Internet protocol resources until next year when the Teleport Program Office will use the JCSE's architecture as the model for its Teleport Internet Protocol Generation III architecture in accordance with DISA's GIG Convergence Master Plan, the fiscal year 2006-2011 Strategic Planning Guidance and the fiscal year 2004 National Military Strategy.

SC^sup 2^IP packages currently are in high demand by combatant commands and other organizations worldwide. The Central Command holds the reins of one SC^sup 2^IP slated as a quick reaction force communications provider. Collocated with the Central Command's forward headquarters, this SC^sup 2^IP is on alert posture and ready to establish nearimmediate C^sup 2^ anywhere in the area of responsibility.