MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- During exercise Project Convergence 22 (PC22), which ran from October 3 to November 9, the 452D Air Mobility wing provided support to the exercise and the evaluation of battle management command and control capabilities, which will help in the development of the Department of Defense's Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept.
Project Convergence is a command joint force (CJF) experiment led by Army Futures Command that aims to develop capabilities for combat operations against rival adversaries. PC22 was carried out at Camp Pendleton, Camp Pendleton, Fort Irwin, and March Air Reserve Base.
During PC22's exercise at March Air Reserve Base, California, 452D Contingency Response Mission Area Lead, Maj. Leanne Babcock stated, "We provide that power projection platform for an experimental system that Air Combat Command might use once PC22 is complete, and all the data is presented. The Contingency Response Squadron (CRS) is bolting on and playing in the scenario, "deploying" to a location and utilizing the hub and spoke concept. Our teams will provide the airfield battlespace watch that you need."
One of the focuses of PC22 will be evaluating two prototypes of the Tactical Operations Center Light or TOC-L. The TOC-L system functions as a mobile battle management asset, making it possible to carry out operations in all battlefield environments.
Babcock went on to say, "It's a pretty big deal that we are the only Air Force Reserve Command CRS unit to participate in Project Convergence. As citizen airmen, we get to experiment with our new force posture and essentially show our capability in a total force environment."
Project Convergence allows military decision-makers to comprehend where we are with technology, find the shortfalls, and guide future decisions. The TOC-L concept is distinct from current Air Force and joint C2 systems due to its size in personnel and equipment and that it combines current and emerging technology.
"We're creating a baseline for the other CR personnel in AFRC and attempting to codify that in a total force continuum with our active duty counterparts and the contingency response wing," Babcock said. "It's been a very enriching experience working with Army Futures Command and even with our coalition partners. It creates a culture of innovation and integration."
The TOC-L systems conducted a variety of C2 mission sets throughout the exercise, including coordination with members of the tactical air control party, or TACP; they also tracked both live aircraft and simulated threats. Integrated air and missile defense with the Patriot Missile System of the United States Army; and the Aegis Weapon System of the US Navy. To provide C2 across the battlefield, TOC-L teams also collaborated with the Multi-Function Air Operations Center of the United States Marine Corps.
"We have to learn how to operate together so that interoperability between our location here at March and any other areas where a contingency response force is located is seamless," said Babcock. "Whether it's a response element or contingency response team, it comes into play because we take all of those different mission areas, and we can bring them underneath us when we form that joint operation center. We always want to leave something better than when we got there, so when we get ready to leave the location after we establish that the airfield is safe, we can fly aircraft in and out without any issues. Then we pick up, and we take off, and we go to the next location for the next mission."