505th CCW supports U.S., Australian TALISMAN SABER 09 exercise Published July 28, 2009 By Noel Getlin 505th Command and Control Wing HURLBURT FIELD -- Members of the 505th Command and Control Wing weren't visible in Australia during the combined U.S., Australian military exercise TALISMAN SABER 09. But 88 Wing members played a major role supporting the large-scale exercise and most did it from here. "We're like the man behind the curtain in the 'The Wizard of Oz,'" said several exercise controllers in the 505th Combat Training Squadron. They may be hidden, but they direct major events behind the scenes. For most exercise controllers and technicians in the Wing, the exercise was just another day at the office -- here. "This is what we do," Lt. Col. Michael Taylor, operations officer, 505th Combat Training Squadron said of exercise support, adding that it was the tenth exercise they've supported this year. "We provide the training environment for others." TALISMAN SABER is month-long exercise held every two years that strengthens the close military relationship between the United States and Australia. The combined warfighter exercise provides an opportunity for both countries to train joint and coalition forces in operational and tactical interoperability. The 505th CTS squadron supported the large-scale live, virtual and constructive exercise by providing constructive or computer-generated entities in the exercise. One of the United States' main training objectives was to certify the staff of the Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force, under U.S. Pacific Command, to run a Joint Task Force headquarters. To meet the training audience requirements, the controllers had to produce and play all other entities that weren't virtual or live. They did that by manning the exercise 24/7, working 12-hour shifts through July. "Our job is to keep the scenario going and on track," said exercise controller Steve Walsh. But those in the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, couldn't tell the difference. They saw all aircraft as live. "We fly all U.S. Air Force blue and red aircraft," Eric Smith, senior controller, 505th CTS, said referring to allied and enemy aircraft. In addition to aircraft, they also had cells flying electronic warfare Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Special Operation Forces, and personnel recovery missions, all utilizing the Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM). The AFFOR cell worked on the Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) used by the CAOC to plan, manage and execute air tasking orders. It is a real system as opposed to a simulator. The AFFOR cell is nicknamed the "beans, bombs and bullets cell" because they monitor logistics, support and other service issues for deployed units, which includes armament, aircraft parts, fuel and storage. "For instance, someone is low on bombs for B-52s," said AFFOR controller Nancy Warren. "We put out daily reports to let them know when they're running low on something. It can be a big deal if armament isn't tracked because if we need missiles, they can't always be manufactured quickly. It could take a year." The Reports cell run by Lici Coleman also uses the TBMCS. She pretended to be all the units tasked by AOC, tracked missions and followed flights. Then she fed back the data so exercise participants could monitor mission status. Because AWSIM is a U.S.-only system and TBMCS is open to coalition forces, it presented a security issue. Because of this, information usually automatically updated machine-to-machine had to be put input manually, which presented one of the greater challenges in this exercise. The 505th CTS Models and Simulation Flight worked to make sure that the AWSIM program that connected to the joint, live, constructive federation, or group of models. "When the controllers come in, they log into our servers to participate in the exercise," said Todd Nussbaum, simulator system analyst. "Most of our work is done prior to the exercise - set up, testing and installing software." The 505th Communications Squadron also set up ahead of time, but they also stayed busy throughout the exercise. In addition to staffing the help desk for the exercise 24/7 to ensure controllers were able to use their systems and maintain constant communications, they also set up networks for both U.S. and coalition forces. "The 505th CS planned and set up a network architecture interfacing with PACOM and JFCOM units so the 505th CTS controllers could perform their mission," said Roger McIntosh, 505th CS, communications plans lead. "We also configured the modeling and simulation and command and control systems required for testing prior to event start." Australian software engineer David Meleng, who was working for the Joint Combined Training Capability for Australian Defense Force, was also here serving as liaison officer for the exercise constructive entities. He said he was impressed with the job the 505th CCW has done with the exercise. "They are extremely professional and capable," Mr. Meleng said of Wing workers. "For these guys to put this kind of exercise together with communications all over the world is impressive." When asked what the most challenging aspect of the exercise was for him, he had a quick answer. "The acronyms," he said.
505th CCW supports U.S., Australian TALISMAN SABER 09 exercise Published July 28, 2009 By Noel Getlin 505th Command and Control Wing HURLBURT FIELD -- Members of the 505th Command and Control Wing weren't visible in Australia during the combined U.S., Australian military exercise TALISMAN SABER 09. But 88 Wing members played a major role supporting the large-scale exercise and most did it from here. "We're like the man behind the curtain in the 'The Wizard of Oz,'" said several exercise controllers in the 505th Combat Training Squadron. They may be hidden, but they direct major events behind the scenes. For most exercise controllers and technicians in the Wing, the exercise was just another day at the office -- here. "This is what we do," Lt. Col. Michael Taylor, operations officer, 505th Combat Training Squadron said of exercise support, adding that it was the tenth exercise they've supported this year. "We provide the training environment for others." TALISMAN SABER is month-long exercise held every two years that strengthens the close military relationship between the United States and Australia. The combined warfighter exercise provides an opportunity for both countries to train joint and coalition forces in operational and tactical interoperability. The 505th CTS squadron supported the large-scale live, virtual and constructive exercise by providing constructive or computer-generated entities in the exercise. One of the United States' main training objectives was to certify the staff of the Commanding General III Marine Expeditionary Force, under U.S. Pacific Command, to run a Joint Task Force headquarters. To meet the training audience requirements, the controllers had to produce and play all other entities that weren't virtual or live. They did that by manning the exercise 24/7, working 12-hour shifts through July. "Our job is to keep the scenario going and on track," said exercise controller Steve Walsh. But those in the Combined Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, couldn't tell the difference. They saw all aircraft as live. "We fly all U.S. Air Force blue and red aircraft," Eric Smith, senior controller, 505th CTS, said referring to allied and enemy aircraft. In addition to aircraft, they also had cells flying electronic warfare Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Special Operation Forces, and personnel recovery missions, all utilizing the Air Warfare Simulation (AWSIM). The AFFOR cell worked on the Theater Battle Management Core Systems (TBMCS) used by the CAOC to plan, manage and execute air tasking orders. It is a real system as opposed to a simulator. The AFFOR cell is nicknamed the "beans, bombs and bullets cell" because they monitor logistics, support and other service issues for deployed units, which includes armament, aircraft parts, fuel and storage. "For instance, someone is low on bombs for B-52s," said AFFOR controller Nancy Warren. "We put out daily reports to let them know when they're running low on something. It can be a big deal if armament isn't tracked because if we need missiles, they can't always be manufactured quickly. It could take a year." The Reports cell run by Lici Coleman also uses the TBMCS. She pretended to be all the units tasked by AOC, tracked missions and followed flights. Then she fed back the data so exercise participants could monitor mission status. Because AWSIM is a U.S.-only system and TBMCS is open to coalition forces, it presented a security issue. Because of this, information usually automatically updated machine-to-machine had to be put input manually, which presented one of the greater challenges in this exercise. The 505th CTS Models and Simulation Flight worked to make sure that the AWSIM program that connected to the joint, live, constructive federation, or group of models. "When the controllers come in, they log into our servers to participate in the exercise," said Todd Nussbaum, simulator system analyst. "Most of our work is done prior to the exercise - set up, testing and installing software." The 505th Communications Squadron also set up ahead of time, but they also stayed busy throughout the exercise. In addition to staffing the help desk for the exercise 24/7 to ensure controllers were able to use their systems and maintain constant communications, they also set up networks for both U.S. and coalition forces. "The 505th CS planned and set up a network architecture interfacing with PACOM and JFCOM units so the 505th CTS controllers could perform their mission," said Roger McIntosh, 505th CS, communications plans lead. "We also configured the modeling and simulation and command and control systems required for testing prior to event start." Australian software engineer David Meleng, who was working for the Joint Combined Training Capability for Australian Defense Force, was also here serving as liaison officer for the exercise constructive entities. He said he was impressed with the job the 505th CCW has done with the exercise. "They are extremely professional and capable," Mr. Meleng said of Wing workers. "For these guys to put this kind of exercise together with communications all over the world is impressive." When asked what the most challenging aspect of the exercise was for him, he had a quick answer. "The acronyms," he said.