Photo By Staff Sgt. Avery Cunningham | U.S. Army Spc. Samantha Pebley, human resources specialist, 86th Infantry Brigade...... read more read more
FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The cavalry is traditionally the eyes and ears, the infantry is the arms and legs, and operating their movement is the brain of the brigade, the TOC. From the Tactical Operations Center, operations personnel coordinate with the boots on the ground to provide support, information and guidance.
The 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) TOC is the center of activity during the Multi-Echelon Integrated Brigade Training during annual training at Fort Drum, N.Y. in June, 2015.
Each section in the TOC supports operations in an effort to accomplish the mission. During the exercise, the TOC consists of Fires, Aviation, Intelligence, Personnel, Logistics, Law and Operations sections. Each section is equally vital to operations.
Intelligence is one of the vital organs to operations.
“It involves looking at the battle," said Army Staff Sgt. Henry Peterman, an intelligence analyst with the 86th IBCT (MTN). "Not in the next 24 or 36 hours. But looking at the battle instantaneous and giving an intelligence estimate based on what we currently believe the estimate is.”
As an intelligence analyst, Peterman advises operations and the commanding officers and non-commissioned officers.
“I advise them as to the best course of action to respond as to what that situation may need,” said Peterman.
Intelligence provides necessary information for making decisions.
"It’s important because it helps make future decisions for battlefield operations. It also helps in management of all our assets on the battlefield," said Peterman.
Another important organ to the TOC's body is aviation. Aviation maintains air defenses, monitors the area and manages aviation.
“We’re here helping to support the brigade by managing aviation operations,” said Army Maj. Doran Metzger, the brigade aviation officer.
Aviation is there to support the Soldiers in the fight.
“It's important that the Soldiers on the ground, who are conducting operations, have the ability to utilize all of the assets available to them and the aviation asset is one important piece," said Metzger. "So we help to facilitate that here at the brigade headquarters. They need close air support, reconnaissance. We’re here to support the Soldiers fighting the battle."
While Aviation assists with important support, so do the other sections. Artillery, or Fires, is another support element in the TOC.
“We are in charge of all the Fires for the brigade, so if someone needs any artillery support, air support, anything like that, they need to contact us," said Army Sgt. Scott Washburn, a Fires AFATDS noncommissioned officer. "I provide the data to the field artillery battalion to provide counter fire or direct support, general support for troops on the ground."
The Fires Section has a sophisticated computer system, Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), which assists in detecting artillery firing, generating missions and tracking where units are.
"It provides a lot of checks and balances," said Washburn "It provides a lot of accurate gun data to our fire support network we have."
Units digitally update the system constantly said Washburn. It is linked to radar, so it can pinpoint exactly where a mortar is.
"It helps to mitigate friendly fire," said Washburn. "It also allows us a rapid response in case there is an enemy attack."
AFATDS keeps Soldiers fighting by protecting them, but it's important that all Soldiers are accounted for. Other sections in the TOC also account for Soldiers.
The Personnel Section at the TOC keeps track of Soldiers. Even in a training environment it is important for everyone to be accounted for, so that no one gets lost or injured.
"We track people on the battlefield, and when they get wounded or killed we are responsible for replacing them," said Army Maj. James J. Armstrong, an S1 officer.
Additionally, the Personnel Section deals with emergency messages that need to be delivered to Soldiers.
"We also take care of the Red Cross messages," said Army Spc. Samantha Pebley, a human resources specialist. "So if something goes on back home, and they need to get a message up to us; they send it through Red Cross and it gets to us, and we help get it back down where it needs to be."
Legal or accountability under the law is just as important as personnel accountability.
The section that deals with law, the Judge Advocate General's Corps, gives legal advice to commanders.
"The JAG office provides advice to the commander, and we’re involved in the TOC in terms of operational law, and we are also involved administratively, UCMJ actions, investigations and we provide advice on the rules of engagement," said Army Lt. Col. John J. Coughlin, staff judge advocate, 86th IBCT (MTN).
The JAG office's goal is to maintain law and order.
"It's important to make sure the commander complies with operational law and the rules of engagement," said Coughlin.
The sections provide additional support to Operations by sharing the workload. They all work together to advise the command and improve the unit. Each section is an important organ in the body, and without one of them, the body fails.
Supporting the troops in the fight, making one another better and working together as one makes the Army the strong force it is today.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.02.2015 13:26 |
| Story ID: | 168946 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 538 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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