Personnel assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., were recently deployed here to provide joint-support-force command and control operations for Operation Tomodachi.
The primary support responsibility for the JCSE members sent here is to operate the Deployable Joint Command and Control system currently being used by the JSF and U.S. Forces Japan during relief operations.
The DJC2 system is a communications asset designed to support the JSF command and control in collaboration with functionality across all JSF operations, said Marine Corps Maj. Eugene Burrell, the officer in charge of the DJC2.
“The system being used for operations here is the core configuration; it is specifically designed to support up to 60 users,” he said. “A variety of services are available to users who utilize this system and include, but are not limited to, satellite communications, Secret Internet Protocol Router Network and Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network access, Defense Switched Network, video teleconference and internet capabilities.”
The JCSE members who forward deployed with the DJC2 system took responsibility for its set-up, maintenance and operation, he said.
“It took our team approximately 72 hours once notified of this tasking to forward deploy and have the system set up and fully operating,” said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Roland Palmer, the DJC2 staff NCO in charge.
“There are 36 members from two JCSE detachments currently assigned to support Pacific Command operations here with this system. We have combined personnel from various branches of the military as well as Department of Defense civilian and contract employees,” added Gunnery Sergeant Palmer.
In addition to being used here, the system was utilized during relief operations following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.
“We provided the necessary capabilities in these devastated environments where they would have otherwise been unable to communicate quickly and effectively during relief operations,” Burrell said.
Like many of the Airmen assigned here who have teamed together to assist with the Japanese relief efforts, Major Burrell feels a sense of pride in being part of this mission.
“When I initially saw the pictures and videos of the tragedy and devastation that occurred over here, my heart went out to the Japanese people affected by this,” he said. “When I was asked to come out here, I knew that we were going to be helping so many people.
“We have a wonderful group of personnel here who put a lot of work into installing, operating and maintaining the DJC2 system,” Major Burrell said. “They’ve done a phenomenal job, and the credit should go to them for every single day that they’ve put in the support needed for our success out here. It really has been a team effort.”
