[Scan-DC] FYI: Army Ft. Meade Comms Test...

[Dorset, Thomas]

Army exercise puts comm to test
BY Margaret A.T. Reed
June 13, 2003

As part of its continued efforts in the war on terrorism, the Army is =
testing its
latest communication technology to ensure that secure connections are =
always
available, whether on the battlefield or at home.
The exercise, known as Grecian Firebolt 2003, is being held at Fort =
Meade, Md.,
June 9-20. It is the world's largest peacetime communications exercise =
and it is
designed to test new communication initiatives and systems against =
realistic
scenarios.
The Army hopes that this exercise will ensure it is able "to provide a =
seamless
network all across the board," said Maj. Gen. George Bowman, commander =
of the
311th Theater Signal Command. The exercise also enables the Army to test =
whether
its systems are interoperable with other agencies, such as the Homeland =
Security
Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 The Army is conducting testing using the Defense Collaborative

Tool Suite to communicate with federal agencies. DCTS is a set of =
commercial
products intended to enable geographically separated users to chat, =
conduct
videoconferences and share documents, slides and applications online.

The importance of effective and secure communications to the Army's =
ability to
function is evidenced by the $1.4 million in funding given to the =
Grecian Firebolt
program, more than any other Reserve exercise. The money has allowed the =
base to
purchase the latest technology in order to keep up with the needs of =
active
military around the world.

The specific goals of the Grecian Firebolt exercise are to employ new =
systems,
train users in new capabilities, operate at multiple command-and-staff =
levels, and
apply modern information assurance processes.

Specifically, one improvement made to communications is the creation of =
a layered
approach to information assurance. In the past, one security checkpoint =
cleared
access to a broad range of information. The layered approach protects =
information
by placing checkpoints at each layer as data is passed from one location =
to
another.

Testing these objectives is not simply the responsibility of the 311th =
Theater
Signal Command.  The reserve unit coordinates its exercise with units =
from across
the globe to ensure that, if called upon, different bases will be able =
to work in
concert with one another to establish secure connections for the army to =
use.

"We are taking the lessons learned from the field and then refocusing on =
what
skill sets our soldiers need to have to support the commanders in the =
field,"
Bowman said.


http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2003/0609/web-firebolt-06-13-03.asp


73,

Tom
WB4J
(Scanning with my THF6A)