Staff Summaries

 

Assistant Operations Officer (Battle Captain)

​

The assistant operations officer has overall responsibility for the tactical operations center (TOC).  The TOC is responsible for coordinating, planning, and re-sourcing assets for platoon, company, and battalion level operations.  The TOC is responsible for tracking all elements inside the battalion’s area of operations.  The TOC is responsible for producing the daily FRAGO; which synchronizes all administrative and operational activities daily for the battalion.  The TOC is also responsible for generating the daily Green-1 SITREP which provides the brigade commander an overall assessment of the battalion’s daily operations, a look at future operations, and any pertinent administrative data.  The TOC is responsible for producing the daily synch matrix.  The synch matrix provides the battalion commander, and the company commanders an overview of all company operations each day, as well as all additional assets the battalion has allocated (i.e. air weapons team, dog teams, fixed wing, tactical psyop team, etc.).  The TOC is responsible for generating concept of operation briefs for brigade directed missions.  The majority of brigade directed missions are VIP escort missions throughout the Charger, and other battalion’s area of operations.  The concept of operation briefs give the company commander executing the operation a detailed plan of how to implement the brigade directed operation.  The TOC is also responsible for compiling and running the daily morning battle update brief.  The battle update brief provides the battalion commander and the rest of the staff a view of what each staff section is doing daily, as well as bringing any issues to the commander’s attention.  The TOC is responsible for creating operations summaries and event summaries after any major significant activity or company level operation.  These summaries provide the battalion and brigade commander a detailed overview of each significant event, or operation.  The TOC is responsible for generating serious incident reports for any non battle injury or loss of sensitive item.  The TOC is responsible for production of the weekly commander update brief.  The commander update brief is from the battalion commander to the brigade commander and highlights the previous week’s operations, upcoming operations and any pertinent administrative data. 

 

The Soldiers of the Charger tactical operations center saved countless lives by coordinating air medevacs, air weapons teams, fire missions, and countless other assets requested by units operating in the area of operations.  For over 8 months the 1-12 CAV TOC tracked the largest and most dangerous battalion battle space in MND-N.  They have also manned and provided maintenance for armored vehicles for the command team.  The soldiers of the S3 worked as a forward TAC on over 25 battalion level operations providing elements on the ground the same level of command and control as if they were back on the FOB.  The soldiers of the Charger tactical operations center have worked long and hard to ensure any element operating in the Charger AO had every asset available when they needed it. 

​

Lessons Learned

​

Introduction and employment of precision guided munitions (GMLRS and Excalibur) in support of 1-12 CAV operations

 

These precision guided munitions are highly effective against any stationery target in an urban environment. They drastically reduce collateral damage, and, unlike conventional munitions, require minimal round expenditure to achieve effects on target. When used in conjunction with the PSS-SOF software, you can achieve a high level of accuracy with these PGMs, making them the ideal option for neutralizing AIF attacking from buildings, or areas in which collateral damage is an issue.

 

It is important for the ground commander requesting these types of munitions to be as accurate as possible when reporting to the Fires & Effects Coordination Cell (FECC) with the location of the target. In addition, it is important to report his desired effects on target, so that the FSO/FSNCO can implement the proper methods of fire and control. Crosstalk between the requesting ground commander and the FSO/FSNCO is necessary also to confirm target description and location. The grid is then mensurated at the Battalion level, and the fire mission is forwarded to Brigade to be executed. The ground commander must allow for about 8-10 minutes before he can expect rounds on target (TOF, air clearance).

 

All platoon/patrol leaders should be familiar with basic call for fire procedures. Also, patrols should be equipped with the most accurate target-locating devices available (G/VLLD, LLDR, LRAS, etc.). Company commanders should properly employ their fire support teams, who are responsible for being the subject matter experts in calls for fire and the capabilities and limitations of all fire support assets available to the Battalion.