31st MEU trains with high-tech operations center

[USMCRET6391]

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan (Apr. 21, 2006) -- Whether it's evacuating American citizens from a country torn by anarchy, fighting terrorists house to house in the Middle East, or providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of a natural disaster, a Marine Expeditionary Unit's operations center is the hub of command and control for any of the missions assigned to any of the Marine Corps' seven MEUs.

The 31st MEU is preparing to upgrade its operational capabilities with the latest in mobile operations technology. Its personnel finished up their training here April 21 with a new mobile operation center scheduled to become part of the MEU's inventory later this month.

The system, known as the Unit Operation Center, will expedite the setup in the field, improving the MEU's war-fighting capabilities, according to Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation, one of the UOC developers.

The UOC is an organized arrangement of intelligence, information and communications systems which allow the entire command element staff to collect, process, share and view information digitally, which will also replace their current system of voice communications, said Edgar Carrillo, a UOC training specialist with the corporation. The expeditionary system features a generator, non-secure and secure Internet protocol router network connectivity, voice over Internet protocol communication, network servers, laptop workstations, large screen displays and other computer components.

"It improves how a COC (combat operations center) operates by giving commanders the ability to use resources more efficiently," added Carrillo.

"The whole purpose behind this is that it basically integrates the radio operators, data network operators and the rest of the command element together, so they can work more effectively together," said Cpl. Jonathan Tomek, a tactical data-networking specialist with the MEU. "It does a very good job at centralizing everything."

"During the five days of the course, we tore down the tents, put them together and received classes on operating generators, data components, radio components, and how everything ties together," said Tomek, a Chicago native.

Prior to using the UOC, it would take approximately three hours to set up the COC and have the system running. Now the new system can be set up in about forty minutes.

It's a very capable operation center that will provide portable and modular command and control capabilities, meaning it can be scaled for units sized anywhere from battalion through the Marine expeditionary force levels, according to Master Gunnery Sgt. Harry Bush, the MEU's operations chief.

The greatest aspect about the operation center, according to many of the Marines training with the UOC, is that it is simple, efficient and compact.

"It's extremely user friendly, with simple instructions that are broken down (in an easy step by step manner)," said Tomek. "This system is also modular so it will let us drop the non-essential gear. Everything we need is packed in a trailer, so all we have to do is plug and play."
-30-