Signal Support to Theater Operations by Department of the Army - HTML preview

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Note. A scenario contained in Appendix A depicts the mobilization and projection of US and coalition forces.

SECTION II - THE MODULAR ARMY AND JOINT NETWORKS

MODULARITY

1-20. Joint requirements developed a new mindset of expeditionary warfare, which calls for different combat and support structures that will rapidly deploy into austere theaters with little or no advance materiel buildup. The concept of  a  modular  design  will  enable  these  support  structures  to  conduct operations on arrival with other services, multinational forces, or SOF in a joint theater. They are designed to employ communications and automation interoperability.

1-21. This presents a significant change to the Army's post-Cold War organizations. Army Forces began to change in order to be more flexible and responsive. These modular organizations meet the JFC's requirements while reducing organizational turbulence, inefficiency, and slow response times. The Army became more brigade-centric, often disassembling  existing unit  structures  to  design  purpose-built, permanent combat teams. The focus was on developing modular organizations that could provide a mix of land combat power more easily organized for any combination of Army missions as part of a joint campaign. The redesign produced units that-

Operate as part of a joint or mulitnational force as the rule, not the exception.

Are expeditionary in nature, being lighter and more strategically deployable forces.

Reduce their physical and logistical footprint by increasing reliance on reachback logistics and intelligence support.

Are more mobile and lethal with an increased area of control and influence, using smaller tactical formations.

Enable commanders to see first, understand first, and act first, placing IS as an element of combat power.

Are information and network enabled by leveraging IT at all possible levels.

THE MODULAR ARMY CORPS AND DIVISION

1-22. The most  significant  advantage of modularization is greater strategic, operational,  and  tactical flexibility. The numbered ASCC, corps, and division will serve as the following:

A theater's operational, strategic, and tactical C2.

A land force and joint support element.

C2 for a brigade combat team (BCT) or sustainment brigade, which serves as the primary tactical and support elements in a theater

1-23. While conventional thinking is to view these echelons as linear improvements to the original division and corps, they are not. Both higher echelons will be complementary, modular entities designed to employ task-organized forces within integrated joint campaigns.

1-24. The modular numbered Army is organized and equipped primarily as an ASCC for a geographic combatant commander (GCC) or combatant command and serves as the senior Army headquarters (HQ) for a theater. It is a regionally focused, but globally networked, headquarters that consolidated most functions that were performed by the traditional Army and corps levels into a single operational echelon. The ASCC is responsible for-

Administrative control (ADCON) of all Army serviced assigned forces and installations in the

GCC's area of responsibility (AOR).

Integrating Army Forces into the execution of theater security cooperation plans.

Providing Army support to joint forces, interagency elements, and multinational forces as directed by the GCC.

Support to Army, joint, and multinational forces deployed to diverse JOAs.

1-25. The ASCC modular design provides enough capability to execute theater entry and initial phases of a campaign, while providing a flexible platform for Army and joint augmentation as the theater develops. It provides ADCON of all Army personnel, units, and facilities in the AOR. The ASCC is also responsible for providing continuous Army support to joint, interagency, and multinational elements as directed by the GCC, regardless of whether it is also controlling land forces in a major operation.

1-26. The ASCC will command and control a diverse construct of Army subordinate commands and separate functional elements which provide the theater an assigned mix of regionally focused, supporting resources and capabilities to include the following:

Theater sustainment command.

Signal Command (Theater) (SC[T]) or Theater Signal Brigade.

Theater medical command.

Theater Intelligence Brigade (TIB).

Civil affairs brigade.

Battlefield surveillance brigade.

Theater Fires Brigade.

Theater MP Command

1-27. An ARFOR commander in a JOA exercises operational control (OPCON) to supporting subordinate units and attachments in the form of brigades, battalions, and elements that were drawn from a "force pool." These units and attachments would provide additional reinforcement through a combination of modular command, control, and support to that JOA and joint  task force (JTF). The actual  size, composition, and designation are adjusted to the demands of the GCC or ASCC. Refer to Figure 1-2.

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Figure 1-2. Asee support to JTF and theater forces

1-28. The ASCC may also provide the resources needed for corps or division to stand up as an ARFOR, joint force land component commander (JFLCC), or a JTF HQ. The divisions have self-contained headquarters with deployable command posts supported by division signal companies (DSC), security, and sustainment units. As a completely modular entity, it may command a tailored mix of forces determined by the ASCC and in coordination with the GCC. Refer to Figure 1-3.

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Figure 1-3. Division force structure

JOINT NETWORKS

1-29. The networking of all Joint Force elements creates capabilities for unparalleled information sharing and collaboration, adaptive organizations, and a greater unity of effort via synchronization and integration of force elements at the lowest levels.

1-30. Modular  Army signal organizations  are  designed  to be interoperable with all other services to include the network capabilities within the joint information and communication systems (formally known as