Marines Improve Operational Situational Awareness and Command Capabilities

Marines Improve Operational Situational Awareness and Command Capabilities

120112-N-KD852-138 ARABIAN SEA (Jan. 12, 2012) Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) position themselves on the flight deck after fast roping out of a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island is on its first operational deployment conducting operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of the Navy's Maritime Strategy. Makin Island is the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship and the only U.S. Navy ship with a hybrid electric propulsion system. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill/Released)

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Several Marine Corps ground vehicles will be getting an upgrade, thanks to a Marine Corps program called Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P). According to the Marines’ site, the program will give commanders better command, control and situational awareness than ever.

Capt. Jamie Claflin, JBC-P project officer at MCSC (Marine Corps System Command): “JBC-P is the Marine Corps’ primary command, control and situational awareness tool for the battalion and below. It allows the commander to see friendly forces in his area of responsibility in real time and data that is reported into the common operating picture”.

Commonly referred to as Blue Force Tracker by Marines, JBC-P is a family of systems that include Joint Capability Release software systems.

From an operational perspective, the Army manages a 24/7 Network Operations Center that provides visibility of the Blue Force Tracking network across the services. This partnership provides tactical and operational forces the ability to communicate with and see each other as they execute critical missions. It also leverages each service’s contracts to take advantage of cost savings.

More upgrades are on the horizon for JBC-P. Beginning in fiscal year 2018, the program’s team will begin fielding JBC-P Increment II to additional Marine Corps platforms, including the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, Logistics Vehicle System Replacement, Assault Amphibious Vehicle, Light Armored Vehicle and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

“For Marines, it comes down to the situational awareness piece and—whether you’re a vehicle commander, unit commander or convoy commander—being able to see who is around you,” Claflin said. “Just as important, JBC-P is also another means of communicating back and forth. At the end of the day, most Marine Corps vehicles will have those capabilities.”

The JBC-P team at MCSC is part of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Command, Control and Communications program office. MC3 develops command and control systems; counter-improvised explosive device and Force Protection systems; tactical communication systems; and networking and satellite communications for the Marine Corps.