Photo By Staff Sgt. Kenneth Holston | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Luis Capella, 337th Air Control Squadron pilot...... read more read more
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DOHA, Qatar - As a siren sounds, the computer message, “Simulation; Ballistic Missile launch has been detected” follow. For the controllers in the Regional Air Operations Center monitoring their computer screens, it’s time to go to work.
Armed forces members from 12 different nations have come together here to participate in Exercise Eagle Resolve 2013, an annual multilateral exercise designed to enhance regional cooperative defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations and U.S. Central Command.
Though this scenario sounds like the latest military video game, for the controllers manning their stations in the RAOC this simulation may someday translate to reality, where one wrong move could be costly.
It is in the RAOC that armed forces members from participating nations work together, manning computer platforms and reacting to scenarios such as tactical ballistic missile attacks, chemical, biological, radiological threats and enemy aircraft.
But how are such intricate scenarios established and put in place for the exercise audience to react to?
That’s where Susi Draper, simulation lead planner, and her team come in. During the command post exercise portion of Eagle Resolve 2013, which took place from April 23-25, Draper and her team were essential to testing the skills and communication between the exercise participants.
“We generate the virtual environment,” said Draper, who is from the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “This includes friendly and enemy aircraft tracks, TBMs and cruise missiles. Once we have those objects created we project them to the exercise audience in the RAOC.”
As the simulated threats go live, controllers stationed at computers have to work together so they can react quickly and make decisions as to how they are going to defend against the threats, continued Draper.
Draper, who refers to her team as hard working training aides, create and project threats and play a major role in ensuring the threats are realistic and authentic for the controllers defending against them.
The importance of creating such authentic threats is huge. By creating realistic scenarios, it allows adequate training for the exercise audience who may one day be in the hot seat for real.
One of the main focus points throughout this particular training exercise has been building partnerships.
"Not only are the controllers in the RAOC faced with reacting to scenarios, but they must do so while overcoming challenges like language barriers," explained Maj. Merrick Green, integrated air missile defense observer and controller for the exercise.
Green recalled working with armed forces members from allied nations during actual real world events.
“We have worked together in a real-world situations before at other air operations centers,” said Green. “So the scenarios that we are working through here could really happen, which is why training such as this is so critical.”
Another challenge faced by some was learning how to use the U.S. operating systems.
“It’s the second day of system familiarization which gives those of us who haven’t worked with this particular system before a chance to learn it and prepare for different scenarios that will take place throughout the exercise,” said Staff Lt. Khalid Alkhayaren, Qatar armed forces, RAOC director.“We have several military members from different countries here so we are working together to learn how to use the systems.”
“Everyone in here has been doing extremely well,” added Green. “The Qatari controllers are excited to learn on a system that they have never seen before; they are professional at what they do, they picked it up easily and have had success with it.”
As scenarios are carried out, the number-one goal for those participating is to sustain sufficient training in order to be prepared for anything the enemy may throw at them.
“Actions taken in the RAOC is how we see ourselves defending from the enemy,” concluded Green.
| Date Taken: | 04.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2013 02:52 |
| Story ID: | 105989 |
| Location: | DOHA, QA |
| Web Views: | 180 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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