Special Operations Command and Control Element (SOCCE) Preliminary Analysis of Equipment and Personnel Requirements for the Digitized Battlefield

Abstract

When Army special operations forces (SOF) operate in conjunction with or close to conventional Army forces, a special operations command and control element (SOCCE) is established to synchronize operations and harmonize actions between the SOF and conventional force elements. A SOCCE is usually co-located with an Army corps tactical operations center (TOC). On the emerging digitized battlefield, the corps TOC will be equipped with the Army Tactical Command and Control System (ATCCS) to provide a seamless flow of tactical information to commanders, corps, and below. A SOCCE will also require an ATCCS capability in order to exchange information with the conventional force and successfully perform its mission. A preliminary mission and task analysis was conducted to assist in identifying initial equipment and personnel requirements for a digitized SOCCE employing ATCCS. The outcome of the analysis indicates that if assumptions regarding SOF message format compatibility with ATCCS software are met, the SOCCE will be able to operate with two maneuver control systems (MCS), which is the integration component of ATCCS. The analysis also indicates that, in addition to the existing operations center, the SOCCE will require a signal center to link the operations center with other headquarters within the electronic battlefield command and control architecture. Personnel augmentation will be necessary to fully staff the SOCCE operations center S2 (intelligence) and S3 (operations) functions for 24-hour operations. Recommendations are that the equipment and personnel requirements identified by this analysis be verified during field training exercises and by simulation and modeling, a van or vehicular mounted shelter configuration be considered to house a SOCCE, and documentation be initiated to establish requirements for a system acquisition program.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA363814

Entities

People

  • Frank J. Malkin
  • Stephen Graybill

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Combat Support
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Local Area Networks
  • Logistics
  • Message Systems
  • Military Research
  • Network Protocols
  • Operations Security
  • Radio Equipment
  • Situational Awareness
  • Special Forces
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Microelectronics