Session 1:      Enabling Expeditionary Capabilities in a CONUS Based Army

(This session is being presented to Track 1 and Track 6 concurrently)

Speaker:  BG Brian Donahue

In an era of Persistent Conflict, our Nation will expect the Army to deploy modular forces with little or no notice from geographically dispersed locations.  Our ability to respond globally depends on expeditionary capabilities; much of it is network dependant and must be enabled from our initial notice, deployment, fight upon arrival and win, all within austere environments. To ensure expeditionary connectivity from fort to foxhole, the Army must organize its tactical and operational linkages with the robust strategic linkages to better enable both, at the halt and on the move, network capabilities.  This construct will integrate our links into the Global Information Grid, and can seamlessly integrate into the Theater Information Grids.

Organizing a Network Service Construct is critical to the LandWarNet.  This construct will provide economies and efficiencies of centralized network services, significant improvements in Computer Network Defense posture, and key enabling linkages to expeditionary forces. 

Session 2:      Garrison Operations

Speaker:  Mr. Christopher Poulsen, Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Chief Information Officer (CIO)

The Garrison Operations track will provide a background of how Garrisons enable Continental United States (CONUS) based Expeditionary Forces to conduct operations and training using installations as docking stations.  Discussions will also include the roles/responsibilities of how the new transformed Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Chief Information Office will provide IT Governance and Operations expertise for Commanders, Soldiers, and Families that yield common levels of IT support, ubiquitous system and data availability, and efficient, secure, managed network and system access on all Army installations required to support an Expeditionary Army in an Era of Persistent Conflict.  This track will also include a discussion on the Single Directorate of Information Management (DOIM) implementation, DOIM staffing model, and how common levels of support (CLS) supports the needs of the expeditionary Army. 

Wednesday, 20 August 2008

Session 3: FORSCOM G6 Initiatives Supporting Transformed Expeditionary Forces

Speakers: COL Darrell D. Fountain, Chief, FORSCOM G6 Tactical C4 Division, Headquarters, US Army Forces Command

As the transformed Army continues to mature, we are adapting our institutions and organizational culture to best serve that force.  In this session FORSCOM will discuss those initiatives to support our embedded signal forces, S6/G6s and their staff.  These initiatives include efforts to facilitate training on deployable force networks in the Generating Force (GF) environment to allow FORSCOM maneuver forces to adopt a “train as you fight” strategy.  This provides communications leaders a training environment to sustain soldiers’ automated Command and Control, data network operations, and maintenance and defense skills to promote combat readiness.  Additionally, will discuss components of our G6/S6 engagement strategy that help embedded signal forces take advantage of the latest tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) will be highlighted.

Session 4:    Employing the Fixed Regional Hub Node (FRHN)

Speaker: Mr. Charlie Fulford NETCOM/9th Signal Command (Army)

The FRHNs are Joint Network Node - Network (JNN-N) compatible earth terminals that have been installed inside fixed facilities with the ability to extend pre-provisioned Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) and satellite services to support short notice deployments. There are currently two FRHN's that are operational, one in ARCENT and the other in USAEUR, with three others programmed to be installed and operational by FY 11 which will result in near-worldwide satellite communications coverage in support of deployed Soldiers and Joint Forces. FRHN's are a critical Warfighter enabler within the larger Network Service Center concept that integrates the connectivity for NetOps and data services, and application hosting and storage enterprise service providers such as Army Processing Centers (APC's) that enhances communications and services supporting the Warfighter. A brief overview of FRHN capabilities will be followed by a more detailed discussion of the operations and control of the operational FRHN’s, to include service request procedures, mission planning and engineering, and operational roles and responsibilities.

Session 5:      Establishment of CONUS based Signal Command

Speaker:  COL Mike Kell, ACoS G3, 7th Signal Command (Theater)

The 7th Signal Command (Theater) (7th SC (T)) has been created to address specific capability gaps. The CONUS LandWarNet (LWN) operational base lacks the command and control capabilities and the structure to support CONUS based information-enabled expeditionary operations.  This session will discuss the 7th SC (T) operational constructs and implementation status, with cadre in Jul 08 and IOC in Jan 09.  The 7th SC (T) will be part of NETCOM's global force structure and be under the operational control of FORSCOM, with the Commander also serving as the FORSCOM G6.  The discussion will address how the Command will execute its mission to provide a secure CONUS LWN that enables Battle Command in the operating and generating forces across all phase’s operations. 

Thursday, 21 August 2008

Session 6:      Training a Transforming Regiment

Speaker:  Dan LaChance, Network Enterprise Technology Command /9th Signal Command (Army) (NETCOM/9th SC(A))

This session will be a discussion of the transformation of Army Training Doctrine and its impact on Signal formations and operational readiness.  An overview of Core Mission and Core Mission Essential Tasks List (CMETL) development and implementation for Signal Brigades and above; discussion of Training Oversight for Active and Reserve Signal forces; development of Signal Combined Arms Training Strategies; pursuing Mobile Training Team (MTT) opportunities for MOS conversion training; and assessment of JNN / Phoenix Commercial Satellite (COMSAT) sustainment training program’s success in supporting the force will be included.