5th Signal Command finds first joint European network operations drill to be a 'dragon' - Signal Units

MANNHEIM, Germany -- 5th Signal Command here conducted Exercise Dragon Impact 03-1 Oct. 28-Nov. 1, 2002, in conjunction with U.S. European Command's theater network-operations drill.

The exercise trained the Army Network-Operations and Security Center-Europe and subordinate network-operations security centers and network-service centers on all aspects of EUCOM J-6 and 5th Signal Command tactics, techniques and procedures for netops.

"My intent was for 5th Signal Command to conduct a world-class exercise to train our NOSCs and NSCs on our TTPs for providing netops support to our customers," said BG Marilyn Quagliotti, 5th Signal Command's commander. "At the end of the exercise, our NOSC and NSC personnel better understood our procedures, and we identified TTPs that were missing or needed refinement. We also participated in the EUCOM theater netops drill to train ANOSC-EUR and to evaluate the new EUCOM TTP for netops. Now we have a much better understanding on how to operate the theater's communications networks as the theater information grid."

Dragon Impact's participating organizations--in addition to 5th Signal Command and ANOSC-EUR--included the EUCOM J-6's (Joint Staff Directorate for Command, Control, Communications and Computers) Theater Command, Control, Communications and Computer Coordination Center; Defense Information Systems Agency-Europe Regional Network Operations and Security Center; U.S. Air Force in the Europe NOSC; and commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Europe N-6 (Navy C4 department) and Naval Computers and Telecommunications Area Master Station, European and central area of operation.

The joint exercise-control group located at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany, injected 38 netops events into one of the component NOSCs. The NOSC then evaluated and reported to the TCCC, which provided guidance and direction to the NOSCs as required. Each NOSC reacted in each area of netops, network management, information assurance and information-dissemination management, using netops events tailored to each battalion's particular mission. Scenarios were tailored so they supported both the EUCOM netops drill and Dragon Impact training objectives.

The 2d Signal Brigade's five battalion NOSCs and NSCs participated in the exercise from their home-station locations. COL Herb Newman, 2d Signal Brigade's commander, served as the senior observer/controller for the exercise.

"Dragon Impact's laser-like focus on enhanced readiness and improved capability to support warfighters and other communications-network customers exercised TTPs at all levels," said Newman. "Exercise participants departed better trained and ready to execute their global responsibilities."

The 7th Signal Brigade provided a tactical NOSC, and 509th Signal Battalion in Vincenza, Italy, used its NOSC and NSCs to participate in the exercise from its home-station location.

CPT Veronica Ko, assistant S-3 for operations at 2d Signal Brigade, said that the collective team members who served as external O/Cs-from far-flung places such as Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Huachuca, Ariz; 1st Signal Brigade, Korea; U.S. Army Signal Center and School, Fort Gordon, Ga.; and Communications-Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J.--vigorously tested and evaluated 5th Signal Command's newly developed netops structure and supporting documentation. Not only did the external O/Cs help 5th Signal Command, they helped the Signal Regiment transform for the future, she said.

There were also 11 internal O/ Cs from within 5th Signal Command units.

"The drill really flexed our internal and external reporting procedures and validated our priorities on who our critical customers are," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Owen, senior O/C for the Navy N-6. "When cascading system-casualties start to progressively impact missions, getting priority service restored is our top goal. I was really impressed with our sailors' response to this evolution, and we learned a lot about our own capabilities as well as how the other components work together."

"The Army and 5th Signal Command have done a great job creating their TTPs for netops and exercising netops within the Army," said Air Force MAJ Darryl Neal, EUCOM J-6's lead action officer for the drill. "EUCOM realized we need to do the same at theater level and designed the netops drill to exercise netops of the TIG. When we were done, the TCCC and our component netops centers had a much better understanding of how we'll operate the TIG in the future."

Mr. Johnson is 5th Signal Command's public-affairs officer and command historian.

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