Table Of ContentAllied Interoperab ility Handbook
CJOS COE
Handbook
10/21/2011
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The Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of
Excellence (CJOS COE) was established in 2006 to provide a
focal point for Joint Maritime Expeditionary Operations expertise
for allied nations. With 13 nations represented, CJOS COE is the
only Centre of Excellence in the United States and is one of 16
accredited Centers worldwide, representing a collective wealth of
international experience and expertise.
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Combined Joint Operations from the Sea
Centre of Excellence
Allied Interoperability Handbook
A Tool to Enhance and Measure
Interoperability
Among NATO Allied/Coalitions and US Navy
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE 5
HOW TO USE GUIDE 8
PART I - COALITION INTEGRATION INTO US NAVY EXERCISES 11
ANNEX 1: PRE- DEPLOYMENT CHECKLIST 31
ANNEX 2: USFFC SUBORDINATE COMMANDS 33
ANNEX 3: CSG/ESG COMPOSITION 34
ANNEX 4: FRTP-TRAINING INITIATIVE 35
ANNEX 5: LOGISTICS GUIDE 36
ANNEX 6: COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE 48
PART II - INTEROPERABILITY HANDBOOK 54
ANNEX 1: COALITION INTEROPERABILITY SURVEY RESULTS 58
ANNEX 2: INTEROPERABILITY CHECKLIST 63
ANNEX 3: INTEROPERABILITY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 80
ANNEX 4: LESSONS LEARNED DATA BASE 83
ANNEX 5: INTEROPERABILITY SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 141
PART III – INTEROPERABILITY METRICS-EVALUATING
ALLIED/COALITION USN INTEROPERABILITY 160
ANNEX 1: PREPAREDENESS ASSESSMENT SHEETS 173
ANNEX 2: PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SHEETS 210
ANNEX 3: LESSONS LEARNED ASSESSMENT SHEETS 215
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PREFACE
1. "No matter how large or small your navy or coast guard may be, we all
face similar internal constraints like shrinking budgets, aging equipment, and
populations that may not be attracted to military service. Our level of cooperation
and coordination must intensify in order to adapt to our shared challenges and
constraints. We have no choice in this matter, because I am convinced that
nobody - no nation today - can go it alone, especially in the maritime domain.”
(USN CNO ADMIRAL Michael Mullen 17th International Sea Power Symposium,
21 Sept. 2005, Newport, R.I.)
2. This quote reveals clearly that we need navies to work together efficiently
in order to fulfill Joint missions. This can only be achieved through effective
interoperability.
3. The Coalition arena is a challenging environment in which to operate. The
sometimes ad hoc manner in which Nations come together makes standardizing
doctrine, policy, or operating procedures difficult. As a result the most
burdensome challenge facing Coalitions is interoperability. This can encompass
a plethora of incompatibility issues - doctrine, policy, tactics, language, culture,
automated weapons and information systems... the list continues. Complicating
these issues are politically sensitive matters such as those that preclude one
Nation from working or sharing information directly with another Nation, or
sensitive material handling and releasability concerns.
4. Lack of interoperability permeates all levels of Command and Control. It
can slow the speed of Command and detract from building unity of effort and
purpose. Working outside a common operating environment can lead to
misunderstanding of missions, missed opportunity for decisive military action, or
in extremis “blue on blue” engagement.
5. Based on the above it was decided that Naval Interoperability would
become one of the core tasks of The Combined Joint Operations from the Sea
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Centre of Excellence (CJOS COE) Program of Work (POW). Thus the Centre
was tasked by the Steering Committee (SC) to develop the following documents:
a. The Coalition Playbook. Its purpose was to provide guidance and
advice regarding the integration of Allied/Coalition ships into USN
sponsored exercises by discussing, in an easy to use guide format, the
following topics:
i. The role of CJOS COE and USN Commands (US Fleet
Forces Command – Commander Strike Force Fleet Atlantic, etc.).
ii. The general scheme of maneuver.
iii. The exercise events (Initial Planning Conference etc.).
iv. The planning process.
v. The use of Multilateral Agreements.
vi. Carrier Air Ops Specifics and Amphibious Training Specifics
vii. Information exchange in the USN.
viii. Financial issues and deployment checklists.
b. The Allied Interoperability Handbook. Its purpose was to be used by
NATO Allied/Coalition Navies to overcome the most common
interoperability problems. In that framework CJOS COE formed a working
group aimed at studying interoperability between NATO Allied/Coalition
ships involved in exercises taking place off the east coast of the United
States. Over the past year, that group conducted surveys and interviews
with personnel from Allied/Coalition ships as well as USN ships. The
surveys and interviews revealed several interoperability challenges and
concerns. Based on the aforementioned research CJOS COE developed
the Handbook that included the following documentation:
i. An “Interoperability Survey Questionnaire,” used as the
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primary tool to uncover any interoperability issues.
ii. An “Interoperability Lessons Learned database” which listed
the Lessons Learned from the surveys and interviews conducted on
board the Coalition/Allied ships.
iii An “Interoperability Survey Results paper” that incorporated
those areas noted as successful or noted in need of further
attention and could be used as a benchmark for future operations
among Allied Navies.
iv. An “Interoperability Checklist” which was the distillate of all
the above documents and was to be considered as a user friendly
interoperability guide that approached interoperability issues from a
functional area perspective (planning, operations, communications,
etc.).
c.. The “Interoperability Metrics” which was a tool used to further
enhance and promote the interoperability, and a tool establishing best
practices in the interoperability arena. CJOS COE created a system
measuring Interoperability and the effectiveness of the Allied
Interoperability Handbook. The tool was dealing with the “Evaluation of
Allied/Coalition USN Interoperability” that outlined how CJOS COE would
formalize efforts to continue improving the “Allied Interoperability
Handbook” by assessing the following three aspects:
i. Adherence to the Checklist – It measured how well CJOS
COE, the visiting ships, the host navy, and USN Strike Groups
followed the checklist for each visiting ship. This was a measure of
preparedness; it quantified efforts made to address known
interoperability challenges.
ii. Demonstrated Interoperability – It evaluated the
interoperability of visiting ships with their host Strike Groups during
execution. Clear, objective standards were applied to evaluate how
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early in an event the interoperability challenges were initially
overcome, as well as recording how well interoperability efforts were
maintained throughout the exercise. These were measures of
effectiveness of the units.
iii. Lessons Learned Again – It analyzed interoperability LL from
each ship to identify reoccurring issues and determined which
could be prevented through adherence to the checklist. This was
another measure of effectiveness of the units but it also provided
feedback on the effectiveness of the checklist.
6. Finally, to further facilitate the cooperation and collaboration among NATO
Allied/Coalition ships and USN ships, it was decided to merge the 3 different
interoperability products ( the Common Playbook, the Interoperability Handbook,
and the Interoperability Metrics) into one document under the name “ALLIED
INTEROPERABILITY HANDBOOK” that will eventually become the ultimate
guide and tool for interoperability on the East Coast.
How to Use Guide
7. The following 10 steps are provided to make the handbook more user-
friendly:
Step 1: Study the Coalition Playbook in order to understand how USN works
and plans. (PART 1 of this Handbook).
Step 2: Follow the Pre-deployment checklist (ANNEX 1).
Step 3: Study the USFFC SUBORDINATE COMMANDS (ANNEX 2) and Carrier
Strike Group /Expeditionary Strike Group Composition (ANNEX 3) and follow the
training program (ANNEX 4).
Step 4: Study the Interoperability Handbook (PART 2) which contains the
Coalition Interoperability Survey results (ANNEX 1) which can create the first
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impression on what are the areas that need further attention in terms of
Interoperability.
Step 5: Follow the Interoperability Checklist (ANNEX 2) and Schedule of Events
(ANNEX 3) that will guide you safely in your preparations and to aid you in
avoiding interoperability issues.
Step 6: Study and take into consideration the Lessons Learned Data Base
(ANNEX 4).
Step 7: Study and disseminate the Survey Questionnaire to the appropriate
personnel (ANNEX 5) in order to be completed during the collaboration to
ensure all major interoperability issues are easily captured.
Step 8: Study the Evaluation Interoperability paper (PART 3) which clearly
defines what has to be done so interoperability can be measured.
Step 9: Fill out the “Other Entities Commands Preparedness Sheet” prior to the
start of an interoperability exercise. (ANNEX 1).
Step 10: Fill out the “Lessons Learned/Identified Assessment Sheet” (ANNEX 3)
accordingly.
Conclusion
8. Many different projects addressed the issue of interoperability in the past.
In their efforts they managed to reduce some interoperability issues but
unfortunately other problems came up or some of the previous remained and the
past Lessons Learned were sometimes forgotten on the shelves.
9. CJOS COE proposes a new tool, the “Allied Interoperability Handbook”, a
user friendly tool and a living document continuously updated through real life
surveys and interviews.
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10. CJOS COE believes that this handbook will facilitate interoperability
between Coalition forces. The “Allied Interoperability Handbook” will be there for
use by any Navy, at any time.
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Description:10/21/2011. Allied Interoperability Handbook Based on the above it was
decided that Naval Interoperability would become one of the core tasks ..
Reference to the U.S. Universal Naval Task List provides an expeditious means
for foreign
