New Command Helps Overseas Commanders

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 16, 2009 - The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, just a year into existence, is going a long way to quickly provide command and control capabilities to joint headquarters commanders around the world, its commander says. Navy Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter Jr. assumed command of the JECC last summer. The organization, which stood up Oct. 1, 2008, is a subordinate of U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.

"The JECC brings a highly skilled team that rapidly increases command and control capability at the operational level of a newly formed joint headquarters and allows time to develop a permanent manning solution to meet that enduring requirement," Carter said yesterday during a telephone interview with reporters.

The Suffolk, Va.,-based JECC, Carter said, provides joint task force commanders with communications, public affairs, intelligence, operations, plans, knowledge management/information superiority and logistics.

The capabilities are provided by four organizations: the Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla.; the Joint Public Affairs Support Element, Suffolk, Va.; the Intelligence-Quick Reaction Team, Norfolk, Va.; and the Joint Deployable Team based at the Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Va.

The deployable team provides expertise in operations, plans, knowledge management and logistics, Carter explained. The Joint Warfighting Center, he said, works hand-in-glove with the JECC.

JECC deployments, Carter said, are envisioned not to exceed 120 days.

"We do not view ourselves as a permanent manning solution," he said, "but rather (as) a bridging solution until the joint manning requirements can be met by the service components or by the combatant commanders."

As one of its first tasks, the enabling command sent its public affairs assets to Kabul in support of U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

Last spring, the command deployed its communications personnel aboard the Navy hospital ship USS Comfort to support Continuing Promise 2009, an annual humanitarian mission that visited several Central and South American countries.

Joint Enabling Capabilities Command is in demand, Carter said, because of its ability to deliver speedy, efficient service worldwide.

"Speed plus capability does equal efficiency and effectiveness -- and that's what we strive for," he said.

The Joint Deployable Team left for Afghanistan in August to support the standup of the International Security Assistance Force's Joint Command, a three-star intermediate NATO headquarters commanded by Army Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez in Kabul.

"The JECC capabilities in the areas of operations, plans and knowledge management were specifically requested by Lieutenant General Rodriguez to act as a bridging mechanism," Carter said, until the new international command reaches full operational capability.