Focus On Better Use Of Airspace

Members of the Multinational Corps-Iraq held an Airspace Interoperability Synchronization Conference May 30th, in an attempt to better use the airspace over Iraq.

As members of the MNC-I joint fires and effects cell, air and missile defense team service members are responsible for executing  airspace command and control, as well as air and missile defense within the Iraq theater of operations. It is also the nerve center for all Army air and missile defense data link communications in Iraq. Its coordination and integration with the Air Force Control and Reporting Center at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, the Marine Tactical Air Operations Center at Al Assad, Iraq, and theater air defense airspace management systems is critical for successful airspace management and conflict resolution.

The face-to-face conference was held to discuss and assess the current procedures, and determine how to conduct operations more smoothly.

"It's not very often that you have an opportunity to bring all these different players together and it's important because we have been over here for quite a few years now and this gives us the opportunity to really gage where we are in airspace command and control and air and missile defense and find ways to make our processes more efficient and more effective," said Army Lt. Col. James Houlahan, the MNC-I air and missile defense cell chief. 

The goal for the two-day conference was to continue to improve joint tactics, techniques and procedures while fostering and encouraging teamwork among the services, and developing personal relationships focused on integrating assets and capabilities to form strong joint alliances.

"Nothing substitutes being able to sit at a table and being able to trade ideas with the other people who are doing the same job you are doing on a daily basis," said Maj. Richard Ramsey, a joint interface control officer at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). "Ultimately this will make things run even more efficiently out there in the theater."

FMI: http://www.afcent.af.mil/units/caoc/index.asp