Interoperability Challenges In a Combined Environment

1. Interoperability Challenges In a Combined Environment Colonel Dan BirrenkottUnited States Forces Korea J6 November 2010

2. Interoperability ?? We must work together !!

3. AGENDA • Definition • USFK Commander’s Priorities • Challenges • Solutions • Future System Considerations • Summary

4. Interoperability Definition - Ability of a system (as a weapons system) to work with or use the parts or equipment of another system (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interoperability).

5. Priority #1: Be Prepared to Fight and Win This has been the number one priority for U.S. forces in Korea for more than 58 years and for the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command since its establishment in 1978. It represents a non-negotiable contract with the Korean people -- one we’ve upheld for 60 years. It remains our number one priority until all threats to the security of the Republic of Korea come to an end. To maintain our preparedness, ROK and U.S. Service-members improve their warfighting skills through tough, realistic training and theater-level exercises that leverage both ROK and U.S. training facilities and ranges. The command conducts two annual exercises, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle and Ulchi Freedom Guardian. While continuing to train to defeat the North Korea conventional threat, we will update our training program, so we can deter and defeat North Korean provocations, and together with our ROK Allies, effectively provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the region. Another area of focus is combined warfighting, which is particularly important in an alliance environment. The ROK and U.S. forces area combined, joint team ready to fight together with a clear understanding of each other’s capabilities and roles. Bilateral planning ensures that all of our efforts are synchronized. The U.S. and ROK forces “go together,” fighting a seamless battle, and leveraging each other’s capabilities to respond with decisive force to all North Korean threats. Our envisioned endstate is a Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia at peace and enjoying an ever increasing degree of prosperity.

6. Priority #2: Strengthen the Alliance The ROK U.S. Alliance is one of the most important in the world and is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. Because of its significance, the command focuses on ensuring that the Alliance remains strong. One way we fulfill this priority is by better synchronizing U.S. transformation efforts with ROK defense reform. Delaying OPCON transition to late 2015 ensures that we will have the right plans; the right organizations; the right capabilities and systems; the right exercises; and the right force structure and alignment to enable the Alliance to grow ever stronger. The new schedule also ensures that USFK Transformation and ROK Defense Reform stay synchronized and maintain a high degree of readiness. The coordination centers and cells that we are building, resourcing and exercising under OPCON transition strengthen the Alliance by ensuring seamless coordination and execution. Of course, training alongside our ROK counterparts everyday in the spirit of trust and friendship builds the strong relationships that, in the long run, make our Alliance unbeatable. Just as important as our relationships with our colleagues in the ROK Armed Forces are our interactions with the Korean people. Our Good Neighbor Program provides the means by which we reach out and engage with Korean civic leaders, businesses, municipal government, and schools. We work closely with all parts of Korean society to ensure that we understand their concerns as well as identifying opportunities where we can work together. We also work to make sure that our Service-members understand Korean culture and history -- training that continues throughout their tours.

7. Priority #3: Improve Quality of Life for the USFK Community The command’s third priority is to improve the quality of life of Service-members, DoD Civilians, and Family members. Our goal is that Korea becomes the station of choice throughout DoD. Tour normalization is the most important initiative improving quality of life. By making all accompanied tours three years long and unaccompanied two, we provide an environment that support building strong families. There are benefits that accrue to strengthening the alliance as well. Longer tours mean soldiers that are better trained across the full spectrum of conflict, and therefore, are more agile and better prepared to accomplish the combined ROK-U.S. Alliance goals. To make tour normalization a reality, we have embarked on large-scale force relocation and construction programs. The end state of these programs is that all U.S. Forces are located in two enduring hubs south of the Han River and that every Service-member, DoD Civilian, and Family member is living in modern, spacious quarters served by world-class installations and infrastructure. The three command priorities have allowed USFK to focus its initiatives and efforts towards accomplishing the mission, building an unbeatable Alliance with the ROK, and taking care of our Service-member, Civilians, and Families. Thanks to the efforts of everyone in USFK, we make significant progress toward the command’s goals everyday, and as a result, keep the Republic of Korea free and prosperous.

8. Challenges • Cultural Differences • Language • Policy • $$$ • Requirement Definition • Multiple Networks • DSAWG Process • Deploying Forces

9. Cultural Differences “Different cultures and cultural backgrounds between a highly diverse staff base brings with it obstacles, challenges and difficulties. These cross cultural differences then follow on through to high level areas such as management styles, corporate culture, marketing, HR and PR.” … Neil Payne

10. Language • Need for translation • Translation for technical concepts • Meetings take longer • Different font for all applications • Common terms of reference • No common standard (message format) • Automated translation tools limited • Collaboration tools more challenging to use

11. Policy • National Polices and Agencies • Military Policies • Service Component Policies • Local Policies • Fiscal Policies • Security Policies • Exponentially more difficult between nations

12. $$$ • Budget Cycles differ for each country • Fiscal Year vs Calendar Year • Different currencies • Variable exchange rates • US POM Cycle 2 years in advance • Cost Sharing Agreements needed

13. Defining Operational Requirement • IT investments must support an operational requirement • In a combined environment, the sponsor of an operational need is not always evident • Various Commanders in Korea: • United Nations Command (UNC) • Combined Forces Command (CFC) • Republic of Korea, Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS) • United States Forces Korea (USFK) • Service Component Commands • Sending States

14. Multiple Networks • An operational capability, can potentially be used on a wide variety of networks • Each network potentially has its own challenges, policies and approval process • USFK Networks in Korea Include: Commercial Internet, Military Unclassified, Secret releasable to Korea, Secret • 24 different Designated Approving Authorities

15. DSAWG • Defense Information Assurance Security Accreditation Working Group (DSAWG) • The DSAWG is the first accreditation review level for managing risk to the Department of Defense (DoD) Global Information Grid (GIG). • This community jury for evaluating risk to the DoD GIG is composed of military services, federal agencies, and government organizations.

16. Deploying Forces The forces that work together daily have learned to work together using various tools and systems to accomplish the mission. In time of increased responsibility additional sending states and reinforcements will need to be added in to the existing architecture.

17. Solutions • Information Sharing • Collaboration Tools • Leveraging COTS • Integrated COP • Program Initiation

18. Collaboration Tools • Various collaboration tools are used in command posts today • The Army Battle Command Systems suite is a great example of 12 integrated systems • Some specific collaboration tools such as ‘Click to Meet’ or ‘Defense Connect Online’ allow users to see and translate text, often more efficiently than voice communications

19. Leveraging COTS • Leveraging Commercial ‘off the shelf’ technology provides an increased chance of achieving interoperability between nations

20. Integrated COP • An integrated Common Operating Picture (COP) has been critical to interoperability success in the Korean Theater of Operations. • A COP fosters better situational awareness and communication • Timely and accurate COP information is critical for a commander to make decisions

21. Program Initiation Any nation that develops a technological solution for the military should design it with interoperability and combined/coalition operations in mind from the very beginning

22. Future System Considerations • Plan with plenty of lead-time • Security Approvals can take 6-12 months • Leveraging Web-enabled applications can streamline the security approval process • Web applications can reduce the costs of client server methods of synchronization

23. Summary • Interoperability Challenges must not impede progress • Through close negotiation and cooperation we will accomplish our mission

24. Questions ?