MCTOG, joint partners prep Marine combat team

  • Published
  • By Casey Bain
  • JFIIT, USJFCOM
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --  U.S. Joint Forces Command's joint fires experts joined Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and other joint enablers here during a mission rehearsal exercise to prepare Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team-8 for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Exercise Spartan Resolve, led by MCTOG with support from USJFCOM's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team and the Air Force's 505th Operations Squadron's Joint Integration Team, included academic instruction, a command post exercise, and a live fire event.

"The training exercise focused on integrating joint, coalition, and interagency partners in a live, virtual, and constructive environment replicating conditions commanders and staffs will experience once deployed," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. James Szepesy, MCTOG's aviation integration lead. "The JFIIT, 505th, and MCTOG team provided the training audience with a combat-like experience that will pay important dividends to the entire unit."

The 505th Operations Squadron's JIT, from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., provided MCTOG with a fully functional Theater Battle Management Core System replicating the capabilities the Marines will have when deployed to Afghanistan.

"Our air tasking order technicians ensured Marine ground forces are familiar with the complex computer systems that will help them to properly request Air Force airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets," said Air Force Lt. Col. Denny Lewis, 505th Operations Squadron, JIT. "This capability will also enable the Marines to monitor the real-time execution of these assets in support of their ground mission."

The JIT also provided remotely piloted aircraft mission intelligence coordinators to help train the RCT-8 staff on important tactics, techniques, and procedures for employing RPAs like the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper.

"Our goal was to ensure the regimental staff understood the capabilities and limitations of assets like the Predator and Reaper that will be at their disposal while they're in Afghanistan," said Lisa Jalbert, RPA MIC, 505th Operations Squadron, JIT. "These important assets will provide the overwatch and extra set of eyes for the ground commander while they conduct their combat mission."

Part of JFIIT's mission during this exercise was to enhance the RCT-8 staff's ability to employ and integrate joint fires assets similar to what they will have in theater.

"Our primary purpose was to help MCTOG provide a joint experience for the training audience that replicates current theater operations and improve the unit's ability to leverage its joint fires capabilities," said Craig Berryman, JFIIT senior analyst. "This was the deploying unit's best opportunity to receive this type of mission-essential training before they're in combat."

According to JFIIT leadership, supporting Spartan Resolve and MCTOG is an important part of the organization's mission to improve the integration and interoperability of joint fires at the tactical level.

"MCTOG does an excellent job of integrating joint assets to replicate a near-real-world environment," said Army Lt. Col. Alfonso Plummer, JFIIT's exercise lead. "Our mission was to help integrate joint fire enablers to improve the unit's targeting process, and reinforce vital TTP that will shorten the unit's learning curve once in country as well as enhance their combat effectiveness and ultimately save lives."

According to exercise participants, MCTOG's using TBMCS provided them with an important opportunity to learn how to leverage a system that's available to units in Afghanistan.

"The ability to train with systems like TBMCS is an important part of what we need before we deploy," said Army Lt. Col. Dean Hagadorn, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), air future operations planner. "This is the system we will be using in theater to get our aviation requirements on the air tasking order and we can't afford to wait until we're deployed to figure it out."

"This has been excellent training and allowed all of us, regardless of the uniform we're wearing, to work with this system and learn how we can use it properly so we can more effectively accomplish our mission," said Marine Corps Maj. Mike Swingler, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, air officer. "It's a critical part of the foundation we need before we deploy."