NECC Demonstrates Latest Technology During Exercise

By Chief (Sel) Mass Communication Specialist Johnny I. Michael, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) utilized their specialized capabilities to help successfully demonstrate the newest technologies featured during Trident Warrior 2011 (TW11) in locations across the Hampton Roads area, July 18-22.

Termed a fleet experimentation, TW11 is the ninth iteration of the event that put more than 60 new technologies through their paces on shore nodes, at sea, and in the air during the week. U.S. Fleet Forces Command directed TW11, which was sponsored this year by U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) and U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F).

The scope of this year's experiment required the coordination of seven ships, 12 aircraft, many supporting surface craft and more than 12,000 military and civilian personnel from six nations. Assisting C2F in keeping the battlespace under control, however, was the domain of NECC.

Located on the northern shore of Fort Monroe, the tented Tactical Operations Center (TOC) acted as the brain for the expeditionary portion of the C2F experimentation, collecting myriad data streams, and collating them into a dynamic, real-time picture. The Sailors of Marine Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4 set up and ran the TOC, which was not only instrumental in supporting the experimentation, but featured new technologies as well.

"NECC is sponsoring a technology called Joint Expeditionary Command and Control Communications (JEC3), and that is the main thrust of what the TOC is all about," said Eric Alegre, the NECC N9 Test and Experimentation lead. "We're also experimenting with Expeditionary Warfare Decision System (EWDS), which is essentially a set of sonar buoys that provides JEC3 a sub-surface picture of the battle space."

MSRON 4 was just one of many NECC units supporting TW11. Utilizing the Adaptive Force Package (AFP) concept, NECC tailored the deployment of its assets to match specific TW11 objectives, maintaining effectiveness while reducing operational footprint. In the case of MSRON 4, this meant that instead of deploying the unit as a whole, only a fraction of the personnel and equipment were utilized.

"Now we can ask the question of what is really needed out in the field instead of simply sending the whole package in every situation," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Redel, MSRON 4's communications officer. "We're working at the user level to determine what we need to accomplish our mission. This new technology allows us to be adaptive."

Fellow NECC units Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2, Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, Expeditionary Training Group (ETG) and Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command (MCASTC), provided personnel in support of the Deployable Joint Command and Control (DJC2) system. DJC2 provides a lightweight communications package that is deployable anywhere in the world by a very small team via military or commercial aircraft. The Seabees of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 kept DJC2, and its supporting staff, cool during the record-shattering summer heat by providing tents and generators.

While MSRON 4 controlled the data coming out of TW11, RIVRON 3 played King Neptune in the waterways of Hampton Roads, acting as the Experiment Control Authority and Adaptive Force Package commander for NECC forces. Additionally, RIVRON 3 provided Riverine craft to act as an opposing force (OPFOR) to the Unmanned Surface Vehicles testing Autonomous Maritime Navigation technology.

"TW11 was a great experience for all of the participating expeditionary forces," said RIVRON 3 Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Eddie Yandoc. "It presented opportunities to work side-by-side with units that normally do not work together, increasing familiarization and streamlining communications and command and control."

Beneath the waves, NECC's EOD units played several vital roles. Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 provided the Area Search Platoon, supporting the unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The UUVs were part of the aforementioned EWDS experiment, providing crucial sub-surface data. EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6 divers worked with the RIVRON 3 riverine patrol boats (PBRs) as OPFOR, approaching Navy vessels as seaborne saboteurs. Watchstanders aboard the moored USNS Del Monte (TAK-5049) attempted to identify the approaching swimmers and PBRs by utilizing the experimental Skeleton Key technology. Skeleton Key is an optical suite of systems that promises to assist in detecting seaborne threats.

"We provided swimmers and divers in the water for the crew to identify from the deck of the ship using the Skeleton Key technology," said EODMU 6 Operations Officer, Lt. Braden Weldy. "This isn't something we typically do, but were able to accommodate for the purposes of the experiment."

Chief of Staff, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Capt. Rudy Laco points to the overall success of TW11 as a testament to the unique capabilities NECC brings to the Navy combat team.

"Trident Warrior provides a great opportunity to validate emerging, bleeding-edge technologies and utilize the experimentation process to enhance capabilities across the expeditionary force," said Laco. "Our men and women in NECC were a big part of this success, and I couldn't be prouder of the motivation and professionalism of active and reserve Sailors, and Navy civilians. We're the best at what we do, and the success of Trident Warrior demonstrated, once again, the adaptive and responsive nature of our expeditionary forces."