The Joint Deployable Analysis Team (JDAT) is part of the J6 Directorate of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, which advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and ...
.
JDAT Mission
JDAT conducts field analysis of
command and control (C2) information systems and procedures producing decision-quality data to improve Joint C2 integration and interoperability.
About
Located at
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso, Florida, Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Florida, Okaloosa County.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test ...
,
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
, JDAT is made up of members from all four Services,
Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...
civilian employees and contractor support. JDAT employs
scientific method
The scientific method is an Empirical evidence, empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has been referred to while doing science since at least the 17th century. Historically, it was developed through the centuries from the ancient and ...
s to research, investigate, test, assess, and evaluate current and emergent Joint
C2 information systems and associated procedures. These activities:
* measure capabilities and limitations,
* identify shortfalls and root cause,
* recommend and verify solutions,
* and validate joint capabilities.
The resulting empirical outcomes influence joint capability development in areas such as:
* Policy
* Joint doctrine
* Tactics, techniques and procedures
* integration of capabilities
* digital interoperability.
JDAT provides decision-quality data and cogent solutions to customers and stakeholders responsible for improving Joint
C2 information systems integration and interoperability to inform acquisition decisions and ensure that services and agencies field interdependent and interoperable systems. JDAT validates
DOTMLPF
DOTMLPF (pronounced "Dot-MiL-P-F") stands for doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities. It is used by the US Department of Defense and was defined in the Joint Capabilities Integration D ...
requirements.
The emphasis of JDAT assessment efforts is the evaluation of
C2 Information Systems and Procedures to provide services and agencies (such as the
Joint Requirements Oversight Council
Part of the United States Department of Defense acquisition process, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) reviews programs designated as JROC interest and supports the acquisition review process in accordance with law (). The JROC accomp ...
) findings and recommendations based on quantifiable data in order to improve Joint
C2 integration and interoperability. JDAT collects and analyzes data and provides observations, findings, conclusions, and recommendations to identify policy, Joint doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP); and material solutions and products that promote capability improvement. Evaluations range from small, single-focus events to large, multi-event/venue exercises.
In 2012, JDAT along with the
Missile Defense Agency
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is a component of the Federal government of the United States, United States government's United States Department of Defense, Department of Defense responsible for developing a comprehensive Missile defense, defe ...
and various support services' program managers, developed a demonstration to improve the joint tactical air picture improving the data sharing of both friendly and threat air and missile defense information.
For the 2013 Bold Quest coalition demonstration, JDAT led the test plan design, execution control, and emplaced the necessary infrastructure to connect the numerous geographic sites across seven states.
In 2015, JDAT participated in Bold Quest 15.2 (a Joint and Multinational capability assessment event) to optimize U.S. and coalition fire support system
machine-to-machine (digital) interoperability from tactical to operational; target acquisition to prosecution.
JDAT occasionally displays data from
Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA) to support analysis in Joint Mission Environment Test Capability (JMETC) events.
JDAT History
JDAT was transitioned out of the
United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)
Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) in June 2011.
JFIIT (2005-2011)
On February 24, 2005, JFIIT was formed from the capabilities of two organizations with a new direction and a new mission. JFIIT was tasked with improving the integration,
interoperability
Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems. While the term was initially defined for information technology or systems engineering services to allow for information exchange, a broader de ...
and effectiveness of Joint fires.
USJFCOM established JFIIT to provide assistance to Joint force commanders and Service headquarters in planning, coordinating and executing Joint fires at the tactical level. JFIIT took a holistic approach to improving Joint fires by providing solutions that produce effective target acquisition, command and control, and interoperable firing systems, thereby reducing fratricide and collateral damage.
Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) developed by JFIIT have worked in
theater
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communi ...
and have been adopted by the military. JFIIT enhanced joint
close air support
Close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires ...
(CAS) training for
aircrews,
Joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs), and
Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) improving new technologies like digitally aided CAS by improving their combat effectiveness while reducing the potential of
fratricide
Fratricide (; – the assimilated root of 'to kill, cut down') is the act of killing one's own brother.
It can either be done directly or via the use of either a hired or an indoctrinated intermediary (an assassin). The victim need not be ...
and
collateral damage
"Collateral damage" is a term for any incidental and undesired death, injury or other damage inflicted, especially on civilians, as the result of an activity. Originally coined to describe military operations, it is now also used in non-milit ...
. JFIIT participation in the digitally aided close air support (DACAS) change control board (CCB) ensured services work together to adopt or procure similar systems, technologies, capabilities, and methodologies to obtain ‘interoperability’ between service-specific weapon systems and platforms that enable successful employment of DACAS.
With the 2011 Exercise Spartan Resolve, JFIIT, the 505th Operations Squadron Joint Integration Team from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev and the
MCTOG team provided the training audience with a combat-like experience that will pay important dividends to the entire unit."
In 2009, JFIIT tested cell phones and netbooks enabling dismounted soldiers to have effective
battlespace
Battlespace or battle-space is a term used to signify a military strategy which integrates multiple armed forces for the military theater (warfare), theatre of operations, including aerial warfare, air, information warfare, information, ground w ...
situational awareness
Situational awareness or situation awareness, often abbreviated as SA is the understanding of an environment, its elements, and how it changes with respect to time or other factors. It is also defined as the perception of the elements in the envi ...
. Utilizing the
Santa Rosa Island Range Complex, JFIIT, the
46th Test Wing, and multiple military units including
coalition
A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political, military, or economic spaces.
Formation
According to ''A G ...
forces participated in a combat identification and air-to-ground targeting demonstration.
In 2007, JFIIT participated in a nine nation coalition operation exercise, Bold Quest, to 'solve the enduring problem of combat ID'. Assessment results were provided to each nation to determine what equipment could be fielded in the future to enhance coalition combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide. The countries that participated in this event included: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and NATO.
JFIIT's team was formed from the Joint Combat Identification Evaluation Team (JCIET) and the Joint Close Air Support Joint Test Team (JCAS JTT).
JCIET (2000-2005)
JCIET became a joint activity under
USJFCOM in October 2000 and evolved into an annual event that was the nation's primary means to analyze how the military identifies friendly and enemy targets on the battlefield.
JCIET assessed issues associated with combat identification and finding doctrinal, technological, and procedural solutions to reduce the incidence of fratricide. JCIET coordinated joint exercises in which multiple Service platforms are tested for performance in detection, tracking, and identification of airborne threats. The data collection and evaluation from these exercises aided in determining how to address the advanced
cruise missile
A cruise missile is an unmanned self-propelled guided missile that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift for most of its flight path. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large payload over long distances with high precision. Modern cru ...
threat.
ASCIET (1995-1999)
The All Service Combat Identification Team (ASCIET), the forerunner of JCIET, was established in 1994. In September 1995, ASCIET 95, a live, joint evaluation was held in the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
near
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport ( ) is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States, and its co-county seat. It had a population of 72,926 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Mississippi, second-most populous ...
to improve combat identification and thereby minimize fratricide among the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. In 1999, ASCIET brought all four branches of the U.S. military to
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a United States Army post in the U.S. state of Georgia. It lies primarily in Liberty and Bryan counties, but also extends into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties. The nearby city of Hinesville, along with ...
in southeast Georgia for a two-week exercise in friendly fire prevention. ASCIET was outgrowth of the Joint Air Defense Operations/Joint Engagement Zone (JADO/JEZ) Joint Test and Evaluation (JT&E) Joint Test Force under the direction of the Joint Staff strategic plans and programs.
JCAS JTT (1997-2005)
JCAS JTT was tasked by the
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is a headquarters-level staff of the United States Department of Defense. It is the principal civilian staff element of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out au ...
to improve the operational effectiveness of joint U.S. close air support. At this time, distinguishing between neutral and hostile aircraft was probably the hardest combat ID challenge. In 2001, before the current taken-for-granted GPS tracking, the JCAS team instrumented every player in a training event at the
Fort Irwin National Training Center and
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center to provide the simulated battle in real time for analysis. The analysis team can see where everyone was at all times during the battle, assisting with the evaluation.
See also
*
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is a headquarters-level staff of the United States Department of Defense. It is the principal civilian staff element of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out au ...
*
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, which advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and ...
*
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is the presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The chairman is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the United States Armed Forces Chairman: appointment; gra ...
*
Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, ...
*
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso, Florida, Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Florida, Okaloosa County.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test ...
*
Identification of friend or foe (
IFF
In logic and related fields such as mathematics and philosophy, "if and only if" (often shortened as "iff") is paraphrased by the biconditional, a logical connective between statements. The biconditional is true in two cases, where either both ...
)
*
C4ISR
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joint Fires Integration And Interoperability Team (Jfiit)
Joint Chiefs of Staff