Combined Air Operations Center Photo by JO3(SW/AW) Kristine DeHoux, USN
	Combined Air Operations Center Photo by JO3(SW/AW) Kristine DeHoux, USN
	Operating from tents at Pearl Harbor Naval Station, members of the Combined Air Operations Center coordinated the flight schedule for more than 100 aircraft from seven participating nations during RIMPAC 2004. Photo by JO3(SW/AW) Kristine DeHoux, USN
	A U.S. Navy diving team is hoisted aboard the U.S. Navy’s High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) after deploying an unmanned underwater vehicle during clearance training. Photo by PH2 Richard J. Brunson, USN
	A U.S. Navy diver surfaces after placing mock explosives during underwater demolition training. Photo by PH1 David A. Levy, USN
	An Australian Navy diver searches for mock mines using an ANQS/2A handheld sonar device. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence photo by Royal Australian Navy ABCD Barr
	A U.S. sailor aboard the USS Dubuque (LPD 8) retrieves the AN/AQS-24 mine locator during a mine-countermeasure exercise event. Photo by PH2 Bradley J. Sapp, USN

RIMPAC 2004 Challenges Coordinators
RIMPAC 2004 coordinators began planning the largest military exercise in the Pacific two years before a participating ship set sail for Hawaii. Synchronizing the efforts of seven nations and 18,000 troops is a formidable task, according to Royal Australian Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Tietzel, RIMPAC coordinator. “The biggest challenge is getting everyone here,” he said.

Once RIMPAC participants and all the elements were in place, coordinators switched their focus to overcoming communication obstacles among foreign militaries operating as a coalition force. Planners then turned to specific exercises: landing 2,000 U.S. Marines ashore, evacuating civilians during a humanitarian mission, conducting anti-submarine warfare, and orchestrating live-fire exercises. “Safety is paramount,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tietzel.

The exercise scenario involved the coalition forces (Blue), who defended the attacked country (Green) from the attacking country(Orange) forces. Country Purple remained neutral until tensions heightened and Purple joined the fight. “At that point, we’re in an all-out war to help country Green maintain its independence,” said U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Marcus Hewett. As the scenario unfolded, military officials from Ecuador, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, and Thailand observed the exercise events. “This is a great opportunity for us to show the world we are fighting the Global War on Terrorism,” said Lt. Col. Hewett.

Combined Air Operations Center
The task of the Combined Forces Air Component Command (CFACC) was to keep the skies safe while accomplishing the mission. The task was done by the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) staff and led by the CFACC Commander, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Derwood Curtis, and Deputy CFACC Commander, Canadian Air Force Col. Chris Henneberry. The CAOC, manned by 150 Australian, Canadian, United Kingdom, and U.S. personnel, coordinated the hectic flight schedule for more than 100 aircraft from the seven participating nations.

The CAOC, located on the U.S. Navy’s Pearl Harbor Naval Station, comprised a series of tents and mobile structures containing command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence equipment. One tent provided enough space for the four cells — strategy, targeting, master air attack plans, and combat operations — to operate effectively. The close working environment inside the tent helped build trust and camaraderie with coalition partners. The face-to-face communications was very effective in problem solving.

With the help of the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS), the CAOC maintained air safety. The system provided all participating nations a way to deliver protected information, communicate effectively, and share information electronically via e-mail and “chat” capabilities.

According to Col. Henneberry, who also participated in RIMPAC 2002, CENTRIXS significantly improved communications. CENTRIXS enabled all the exercise coalition partners to communicate using the same real-time network and chat rooms. This gave all partners access to the Theater Battle Management Core System used for air tasking orders (ATOs).

From planning through execution, the CAOC developed ATOs detailing each mission flown by every aircraft from about 40 ships and various shore facilities. “This entire operation works to develop a plan that meets the Combined Force Air Component Commander’s objectives and, in turn, supports the overall Commander Combined Task Force objectives through the execution of the daily ATO and Air Control Order,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Stu Hinrichs, CAOC Deputy Director.

Two ATO coordinators marshal each ATO through the four-day cycle during which the CAOC cells build specifications to meet mission objectives. Beginning with the strategy cell, the ATO then moves to the guidance apportionment and targeting cell, then the master air attack plan cell, and finally to ATO production, after which the ATO goes to the operations cell for command and control of all air activity.

“ We must network with an extensive and dispersed force to ensure all concerned have a voice in the process and have situational awareness of the plan,” said Capt. Hinrichs. “The extensive network of communication is critical to the process so people can insert information as feedback, and we have the opportunity to be responsive in real time to change the ATO as necessary and retransmit.” Posted to the coalition Web site, the ATOs included direction for airspace management. The CAOC combat operations cell directed and modified the ATO on a contingency basis.

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