USJFCOM: Countdown to deployment


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Countdown to deployment

U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Public Affairs followed members of the USJFCOM Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) as they prepared to deploy in August to assist in establishing an intermediate joint headquarters for Afghanistan’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul. The deployment is the command’s first major operational use of the Ready JEC package (RJP), a team of operators and planners with specific skills who are ready to deploy and are trained to establish a joint task force headquarters (JTF HQ).

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By MC2 (AW) Nikki Carter
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(SUFFOLK, Va. - Sept. 11, 2009) -- Editor’s Note: U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Public Affairs followed members of the USJFCOM Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) as they prepared to deploy to assist in establishing an intermediate joint headquarters for Afghanistan’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul.

The deployment is the command’s first major operational use of the Ready JEC package (RJP), a team of operators and planners with specific skills who are ready to deploy and are trained to establish a joint task force headquarters (JTF HQ).

Day 1:

1:04 p.m. -- The team assembled at the Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC) in Suffolk, Va., and is greeted by JECC Chief of Staff, Army Col. Mark Dewhurst.

“We are the bridging strategy of establishing a joint headquarters in theater or wherever we may be needed around the world,” Dewhurst said. “A mission like this one is exactly what the JECC was designed to do.”

The RJP personnel completed the Joint Enabling Capabilities (JEC) Planner’s Course (PC) and participated in joint exercises at the operational level.

(August 23, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas Savidge briefs the U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Ready JEC team during their preparations to deploy to Afghanistan. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

1:17 p.m. --The team receives a mission brief and theater-specific briefs for medical, health and environmental guidelines and family readiness support plans.

“Most already have [their affairs in order] but this is a crosscheck to ensure that they’re deployable,” Dewhurst said. “Within the 72-hour process there will be some additional training specific for the theater where they are deploying.”

Dewhurst explained that the RJP brings together personnel from the functional areas of operations, plans, knowledge management/information superiority and logistics to form a Joint Deployable Team. The personnel on this team were selected specifically for this mission.

Army Maj. Michael Beane, a member of the RJP, focused on the job ahead in Afghanistan.

“Our job is to get this headquarters functioning before all the bodies are in place, so there is no lag time between the start of the mission and achieving an initial operating capability,” Beane said.

(August 23, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) U.S. Army Maj. Michael Beane reviews his deployment records with Keith Smith during the U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Ready JEC team's initial deployment processing. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

3:09 p.m. – After the briefings, service members go through different stations set up to verify what must be completed before deploying and assist in getting their records up-to-date.

There are sections for medical and dental, legal, family separation, and other services.

Even with the deployment’s rapid nature this is what the RJP prepares for as part of its day-to-day routine, said Army Maj. Larry Smedley, a RJP member. “We pre-loaded a lot of the deployment requirements, so the steps we go through are just a validation to make sure everything is still current.”

Navy Cmdr. Martin Jolly, a member of the RJP, said the goal of the first day’s pre-deployment preparation is having their records checked to ensure the team is ready to deploy.

“The briefings we received today were very helpful, a lot of us are reservists and we haven’t had access to a lot of the classified information that has been briefed today,” said Air Force Maj. Chad Dutton, a member of the RJP.

Navy Capt. Tom Savidge, officer-in-charge for the deployment’s main body, said this deployment “is the gemstone of what [the JECC] trains for.”

Savidge said while this was not a short-notice deployment, the JECC performed an N-Hour sequence drill, designed to expedite the deployment process and validate the RJP’s ability to deploy within hours. This marked the first time the RJP performed the N-Hour sequence in full with an endstate of validating the short-notice deployment process for the RJP.

The main body conducted the N-hour sequence focused on, “specifically intense preparation. It’s very rigid, it’s scheduled and we conduct this N-hour sequence to rapidly step us through our preparation process,” said ???

Army Maj. Timothy Wright said this mission is unique because of the difficulties experienced in Afghanistan over the past few years. He said the JEC PC enables us to work with those of other nations, which is particularly significant for this deployment since the RJP will be working with multinational forces under ISAF.

“Hopefully [the training received during the JEC PC] will ease any of the difficulties of working across the lines of operation through different services and allow us to work more efficiently with coalition and other militaries as we go forward,” Wright said.

(August 23, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) U.S. Navy Cmdr. Charles Smith retrieves his mobility bag in preparation to deploy with the U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Ready JEC team. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

The JEC PC is an in-house JECC course conducted to ensure USJFCOM JECC personnel have a baseline understanding of JTF operations and the joint operation planning process. The course provides training grounded in joint doctrine with an overview of JTF operations and organization, an understanding of how strategic guidance shapes JTF planning, joint planning at the operational level, and incorporation of all elements of national power in accomplishing a mission.

After completion of their briefs and checking off the various stations, personnel completed computer-based training if needed or continued with personal preparations.

Day 2:
1 p.m. – RJP members spend their mornings at their respective services’ medical facilities receiving inoculations and completing any last-minute medical requirements. They report back to JWFC after lunch.

1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. -- The team receives briefings on remote e-mail procedures, transferring data into theater and remote computer portal access that will allow them to reach back to the U.S. and the JECC to share information, lessons learned and obtain assistance as necessary.

Day 3:

(August 25, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) Members of the U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Ready JEC team discuss their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan with the commanders already in theater via a video tele-conference system. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

8 a.m.-- Main body members of the RJP speak to the advanced party RJP members already in theater via video teleconference (VTC) and receive information on how to ease their arrival and transition into Afghanistan.

Through VTC, Army Col. Carl Giles, advance party team lead and mission officer-in-charge, said the operating environment for the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) is extremely collaborative. He said the organization’s small size allows access to anyone who can provide energy to resolve a problem and that initiative is welcomed to the team.

“There is a tremendous effort and emphasis on partnership with NATO and the Afghans,” Giles said.

Once arriving in theater, the advanced party shaped the mission at IJC headquarters before the main team arrived in Afghanistan, he said.

“Upon arrival [of the main body], there will be work assignments waiting for every member of the team, enabling an immediate contribution across a wide range of IJC lines of operation,” Giles said.

Beane said the VTC with the advanced party was helpful in gaining an understanding of the mission.

“What I liked best is that there is a clear end state in mind as to what needs to be accomplished to complete the mission,” Beane said. “It let us know what we are walking into as far as expectations and [Giles] laid out three complete mission sets he sees our element performing.”

Beane said while in Afghanistan his job will be to consolidate information flow throughout the headquarters to ensure all sections are communicating in accordance with the commander’s mission requirements and mission.

“It’s kind of complex, but we will be using a portal to share information. We will also incorporate ourselves with each staff section to make sure everyone is communicating with each other throughout the headquarters,” he said.

(August 25, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas Savidge listens to a video tele-conference with commanders in Afghanistan in preparation for the U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) to deploy its Ready JEC team to the region. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

Savidge said the VTC was “probably the most important part of the N-Hour sequence.”

He said the real time information from the people in Kabul who have “gained a feel for the situation there” and can pass that information back to the main body was very valuable.

“The briefs we received today focused on our employability and doing our job when we get to the IJC,” Savidge said.

1 p.m. --The RJP is given a threat brief.

1:30 p.m.—RJP members pre-sign for their weapons and are released to tend to any last minute business before deploying.

Day 4:

6:30 a.m. --The RJP musters outside the JWFC and loads their baggage into the back of a truck.

(August 26, 2009 - Suffolk, Va) U.S. Navy Capt. Walter Carter, the commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC) speaks with the Ready JECC team immediately before they deploy to Afghanistan. (DoD photo by: Staff Sgt. Joe Laws, USAF) (Released by USJFCOM Public Affairs Office)

6:44 a.m. -- Navy Capt. Walter E. Carter, commander, JECC, gives the RJP some final words of encouragement.

“You’re going to go out there and be a part of an initiative that is very substantial. As you go out there, make sure you are bringing value to the fight everyday. Make what you do count,” Carter said.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Steele, a RJP member said he was a “little bit anxious and a little bit scared, but if you aren’t scared you aren’t in the fight.” He said he was prepared and looked forward to the challenges he will face during this deployment.

7:17 a.m. -- The RJP boards the bus and makes their way to the airport for the flight to Afghanistan.

The team arrived in theater Aug. 29 and began assisting in the establishment of the IJC. The team will return later this year.