Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry Hiramaya
by Jason W. Cronin
SSGN
Deployed and Special Forces Ready
In 2006, the Joint Command and Control for War on Terror Activities (JC2WTA) Joint Test (JT) was chartered to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that enable an embarked commander to command & control (C2) special operations forces (SOF) from an SSGN. The TTP developed by the JC2WTA were refined and fully tested during the project’s final field test onboard USS Ohio (SSGN726). The field test was conducted during Exercises KEY RESOLVE / FOAL EAGLE (KR/FE 08), in February-March 2008. KR/FE 08 was an operational-level U.S./ Republic of Korea (ROK) training event held peninsula-wide to ensure operational readiness in the Korean theater. These exercises demonstrated U.S. resolve to support the ROK against external aggression while improving combat readiness and joint/combined interoperability. 4 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 U N D E R S E A WA R F A R E
KR/FE 08 provided a realistic backdrop for demonstrating the viability of a SOF Commander and his battle staff operating aboard an SSGN. These exercises tested the abilities of a trained Combined/ Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) and a Naval Special Warfare Task Group (NSWTG) to exercise operational and tactical control from Ohio. Brig. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas, Commander, Special Operations Command Korea (COMSOCKOR), along with his battle staff, embarked aboard Ohio for over a week. His experienced staff of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and ROK Liaison Officers (LNOs) exercised both joint and coalition missions during KR/FE 08. In addition to Ohio’s regular crew complement, over 100 additional riders showcased the SSGN’s ability to support an embarked CJSOTF battle staff, Naval Special
Warfare Task Group battle staff, a Navy SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Detachment, and an Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) team. By all accounts, the exercise was a resounding success. Numerous issues regarding the integration of submarine operations with SOF operations came to light during the course of the KR/FE 08. Capt. Gardner Howe, Commodore, Naval Special Warfare Group THREE (NSWG-3) commented from a SOF Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) perspective that, “...I want all the antennas up and communicating unless I have to go down. Historically, the previous operating mind-set would be everything down unless I have to go up.” Ohio’s commanding officer, Capt. Andy Hale, reiterated the stealth versus communications paradigm stating, “I’ve had to
