Published: July 25, 2006
Tactical Operations Center Crucial For Mission Success
By Staff Sgt. Nikki Prodromos, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TIKRIT, Iraq (Jul 24, 2006)- The Tactical Operations Center, or 'TOC,' is the "nerve center" in the anatomy of any successful military unit.
Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division's Tactical Operation Center are monitoring and processing the daily flow of information to ensure the successfully completion of all of the Brigades missions.
U.S. Army photo: Staff Sgt. Nikki Prodromos, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
TOC's, such as the one at the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, have a very big job tracking seven combat battalions and two support battalions, a total of approximately 3,700 boots on the ground, spread over miles of terrain in the Salah Ah Din Province in Northern Iraq.
On any given day there are dozens of computers whirring, imagery flashing, and phones ringing. Like a human brain, the TOC receives countless pieces of information on all aspects of operations from troop movements, aviation assets, supply movements, intelligence, even the weather. They are required to analyze them, process them, and send out directives or additional information to help the brigade carry out its mission.
The TOC houses representatives from every component in the combat team, including the chaplain. There are also roles unique to the TOC, including the Battle Captain and Battle Non-Commissioned Officer who track all of the information coming into and leaving the TOC. One of the four Battle Non-Commissioned Officers in the 3rd BCT TOC, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bueno of Clarksville, Tenn., said being in the TOC is a unique experience.
"It's a lot different when you're in the TOC. When you're on the ground, all you see is trees and stuff, but up here we get the whole picture," said Bueno.
Bueno said about four months ago they received word from the 101st Airborne Division that a High Value Target, or HVT, was in their area of operations. The TOC kicked into high gear orchestrating a complex series of events which ended with a Quick Reaction Force and squad size element being sent to the suspect's location.
When the QRF and the squad arrived at the location, they had a hard time finding the house. With a little guidance and constant communication with the TOC's sections the Soldiers were able to find the house, capture their target, and return to base.
"Everyone was involved in it that day, right down to the RTO [Radio Telephone Operator]...It turned out pretty good, and we ended up catching the guys," said Bueno.
With the creation of the new Brigade Combat Team concept, which brings together selected units from all over the force based on the needs of the mission, the personnel involved in the missions have usually not worked together before a deployment as was the case with the 3rd BCT.
"We didn't really get together until about three months prior to deployment.... a lot of key players weren't here, so getting them to work as a very effective team in a short period of time is a great success .... we have a lot of incredibly smart people in there," said 3rd BCT's Operations Sergeant Major, Sgt. Maj. Kevin Martin of Pittsburgh, Penn.
In the Army, sometimes holding a staff position can be perceived as a less attractive job than being on the frontlines, especially in a unit with as much combat legacy as the Rakkasans.
"Sometimes it's a thankless job, it's not sexy, and you're not kicking in doors, but the whole staff is critical in everything that happens or fails to happen here," said Martin.
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