Photo By Sgt. Joshua Young | William E. Taylor, the program executive officer for Land Systems Marine Corps...... read more read more
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Marine Air Support Squadron 3 is conducting an initial operation test and fielding Phase I of the Common Aviation Command and Control System.
The CAC2S is replacing the legacy system, which is the current structure for Marine Corps operations. With the existing organization, each unit has their own computer programs, equipment and training. The new system is designed to consolidate everything into one unified system.
“Sometimes the legacy system takes a lot of effort to get working,” said Cpl. Brandon Spencer, an air support operations non-commissioned officer with MASS-3. “What we are doing here is making things easier and giving Marines better tools to do things.”
The combination of various systems and equipment into one will mean faster, more efficient communication and collaboration between units.
“The legacy systems are really a collection of pieces of equipment and none of them are integrated,” said Col. Ray Masinsin, the CAC2S deputy program manager within the Marine Corps’ Program Executive Office Land Systems. “Each one does a specific task or mission. What we’ve done with CAC2S is we integrated those pieces of equipment into one suite of equipment that is common and executes all the missions.”
All units within the Marine Corps will eventually use the same program and equipment. Training Marines will be less complicated because they will be trained to do their specific job on the common equipment instead of specialized gear.
“It’ll cut down on time and everyone will know how to use the system so we are on the same page,” Spencer said. “Everyone will be working together instead of separately.”
Air strike or mission support coordination will be faster because of the CAC2S. There will be less down time as information is passed due to the differences in programs and information.
“It will expedite getting to targets and getting people out of the combat zone if they are injured or getting things like supplies to them.” Spencer said. “We can also transfer data through the new system, so when we get a medical evacuation, instead of me typing it out and sending it to the other agencies which can take a really long time, I can just plot it on my little map and share it through the networks that we have now and it will appear on their computer.”
Marines on the ground will be given a more detailed insight into conducting operations. They will be able to almost immediately receive detailed information on targets, buildings and missions.
“We’ve tried to reduce the footprint of the system as well as bring in new capabilities for the Marines here,” said Navy Capt. Pat Costello, the CAC2S program manager within the Marine Corps’ Program Executive Office for Land Systems. “This will bring in the link-air picture and fuse that with the ground picture to present the Marine an integrated picture with all the air and ground information on their display.”
Marine commanders will receive more detailed information about a mission or situation much quicker.
“We have integrated the air and ground situation by combining them,” Masinsin said. “Forward commanders will have better situational awareness of their surroundings so they are more efficient combat wise, and effective because they will be able to project their combat power at a decisive place and time based on that situational awareness.”
An additional benefit of the CAC2S is that eventually all units will be using the same type of equipment. With the legacy system each unit has their own specific equipment, which can make it difficult to borrow or trade parts to repair damaged equipment.
“With the old system, we were the only ones who had our specific system, so we couldn’t go to another unit to get a part if something breaks down,” said Sgt. John Montgomery, a tactical data systems administrator with MASS-3. “It could take days or months. Now we could go to the unit next door and get a part because they are using the same system. It is more accessible because more units will have it.”
Marines going through training, who would typically be going into jobs using the legacy system, are now trained with the CAC2S to ensure a smooth transition.
“We ran their instructors through the curriculum,” Costello said. “They are now capable of processing and teaching new Marines on it for maintenance and operation.”
CAC2S is broken into two phases. The first phase is a baseline capability for simple and practical application. The second phase will involve all of the technical features. MASS-3 was the first unit to operate the new system.
“Today is the formalized recognition of Phase I fielding,” Masinsin said. “This is the first operational unit to receive it. The schools received equipment so the new Marines coming through will already be trained on it.”
Phase I is more about integrating something fast and straightforward as a first step, according to Costello.
“Phase II brings in more technically complex aspects which is real time radar and intelligence data. It will develop a common suite of equipment across all three command and control agencies,” Costello said.
Phase II is scheduled to start an initial operation test in 2015 and fielded in 2016.
| Date Taken: | 02.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.21.2012 16:27 |
| Story ID: | 84126 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 130 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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