Fort Bragg, N.C. – Whenever we have almost 2000 U.S. Army and British paratroopers simultaneously dropped out of the sky from C-130s and C-17s to support an exercise, it demands extensive planning, coordination, and communication from all echelons within the 82nd Airborne Division.

The Combined Joint Operational Access Exercise (JOAX) 15-01 was a bilateral training event held here at Fort Bragg, N.C., that took place April 13-20, 2015. It was a massive operational exercise that helped us to increase collaboration between U.S. Army and British Army Soldiers, U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Royal Air Force Airmen and U.S. Marines.

During the recent JOAX load masters prepared cargo and passenger placement, riggers packed up parachutes, and our intelligence analysts provided critical intelligence to commanders so they could make operational decisions to support the exercise objectives.

Intelligence analysts utilized the Distributed Common Ground System — Army (DCGS-A) from multiple locations during this joint exercise. They successfully provided intelligence reports derived, updated and shared using the system architecture DCGS-A provides. This exercise was just one of many the 82nd Airborne Division has recently completed.

We used DCGS-A in Judicious Response, a joint exercise in conjunction with United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and we also participate in a “Warfighter” exercises twice a year to maintain and improve unit readiness.

Exercises like JOAX, Judicious Response and Warfighters help prepare intelligence analysts to train the way they fight. They are learning how to use DCGS-A to pull data, build intelligence reports and upload those reports to the shared database which enables intelligence analysts at each echelon to utilize that intelligence. The information sharing is important not only within the Army but also during this JOAX exercise working with the Marines and British counterparts.

The preparation for these exercises is extensive. The exercise intelligence planners like Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Mack, Imagery Officer in Charge, 82nd Airborne Division, not only have to align tasks to the exercise mission objectives but they also have to determine which elements of DCGS-A should be utilized when and at which echelon all based on Army doctrine.

These exercises bring additional complexity with required interoperability with joint and international partners just like we would be required to do in theater. Exercises like JOAX force our intelligence analysts to practice in a simulated operational environment. We practice Decisive Action, Counter Insurgency and hybrid threats so we can be prepared for any operation we are tasked to support.

Intelligence in each of these environments is based on the overall goal to implement the four foundations of Unified Land Operation to achieve an end state that would allow the host nation to provide a viable defense for its citizens. Intelligence supports the operation so every task, intelligence report and communication we conduct has a deliberate purpose aligned to mission command.

The ability analysts have to obtain raw data and video from unmanned aerial systems and satellites helps them to better understand the enemy position and situation so they can determine potential routes, patterns and methods. Utilizing DCGS-A, analysts have been “practicing” the way they will implement DCGS-A once deployed into real-world situations. They build commander’s briefings with fused intelligence products using DCGS-A.

“We have been able to determine the most effective way to use DCGS-A and which elements of the DCGS-A enterprise will be needed in each area. Sometimes this depends on if a unit is focused on geospatial, human, signal or counter intelligence for any specific task. We use the servers, Tactical Ground Intelligence Station, plus many other elements of the DCGS program,” Maj. Jimmy Salazar, 82nd Airborne Division Analysis and Control Element (ACE) chief explained.
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are scheduled to deploy this summer to U.S. Central Command in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Intelligence analysts are planning to use DCGS-A to provide timely and accurate information to commanders in that deployed environment.

“DCGS-A can support all military intelligence disciplines in a way we can trust. We have the ability to visualize the raw data and full motion video feeds then analyze, manipulate and update it as needed,” Mack explained. “Our analysts can deploy with experience using DCGS-A and the knowledge that it works to support the tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination of intelligence.”

“DCGS can be tailorable to the needs of the Warfighter. Picturing DCGS as a strategy is how we put our proficiency portion of the campaign plan into action. So in other words, while training we don’t restrict ourselves to the rigidity of buttonology while coaching analysts to meet our intent. We start with instilling in analysts that they must first define requirements or what they want out of their data acquisition, then based on those requirements we train what will satisfy each particular requirement. DCGS-A allows us to query not only our databases but also the Intelligence Community enterprise for the required data.” Chief Warrant Officer Nick Rife, Intelligence Analyst, 82nd Airborne Division explained.

Our training strategy has been adopted by U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) intelligence leadership as the standard for the rest of the Army divisions to emulate. The overall intent is to develop a training strategy which effectively develops a Soldier’s competency and readiness within their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS 35F) using their designated weapon system (DCGS-A).

We built a modular training plan known as DCGS-U. It was constructed to specifically address proficiencies required of our Division but we’ve had attendees from units across Bragg. Additionally the brigades of the 82d send Soldiers to participate in our training regularly.

The objective of the DCGS-U glide path is to prepare analysts for advanced DCGS training offered at the Foundry platform and also to enforce positive practices for analysts participating in our myriad training events throughout the year. Ultimately once an analyst attends the DCGS-U glide path and graduates from All Source Production Course (ASPC), that analyst may be considered a DCGS subject matter expert at his or her unit given enough sustainment training opportunities.

We also conduct quarterly capstone training exercises which include all intelligence disciplines and Soldiers from multiple echelons including XVIII Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division and our Foundry training platform all participate in these events. The first week of these training events typically cover system setup of all DCGS-A integrated systems and Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE) as defined in our Field Manual describing Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB). The capstone training objectives include improvement and an increased understanding in fusing the intelligence disciplines together in order to complete commander briefings using DCGS-A capabilities.

Our recent exercises and training have prepared us for our upcoming deployment. We’re going to utilize the capabilities we have seen successfully support our intelligence mission found in DCGS-A. Some elements of the program we’re use more than others but we’ve been able to tailor the system and use it to help support our mission. DCGS-A is the backbone of the way we conduct intelligence operations but the way we’ve had positive results implementing the program is by diligent training and proficiency on the system. Just like any other part of military operations including improving your targeting accuracy, parachuting into an operation or choosing the safest route for our convoys we have to practice the way we fight the intelligence war.