NORTHCOM Domestic Contingency Plans

(I’ve been writing about NORTHCOM and the various contingency plans relating to Coronavirus in Newsweek and have tried to make sense of the different plans, in nitty-gritty, beyond articles. Here are my notes.)

 

U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Operations Plans

William M. Arkin, 22 April 2020.

In the wake of 9/11, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) was established on October 1, 2002 “to provide command and control of Department of Defense (DOD) homeland defense efforts and to coordinate defense support of civil authorities.” As such, NORTHCOM is the lead domestic combatant command for coronavirus, carrying out its normal and enhanced homeland defense missions and responding to “requests for assistance” from FEMA to provide civil support.

A combatant command for America, a single chain of command, one entity. NORTHCOM has settled in to a certain routine over two decades, starting with defending America’s skies and the National Capital Region, then in building up an expansive weapons of mass destruction response and “consequence management” apparatus, and then, after Katrina, an all-hazards and national response framework military counterpart to the non-military world, no hurricane, earthquake, wildfire or pandemic outside of its mission set.

If there’s any entity that should have been ready for coronavirus, its NORTHCOM. That proposition will undoubtedly be closely examined as commissions and blue ribbon panels go to work when it’s all over. Who said what to whom when will no doubt be exhaustively examined. It’s obviously way too early to say much, but one thing can be said with assurance: after Donald Trump is long gone, NORTHCOM will still be there.

That’s when all of the exceptions will be uncovered, that NORTHCOM is the singular command except. Except for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands territories, where U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has identical homeland defense responsibilities. Except for counter-terrorism, where U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is the lead. Except for nuclear deterrence, obviously under STRATCOM. Except for the counter-everything missions under U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Except for those responsibilities that the State hold to themselves. Except for those operations that the Navy and the other services have doggedly retained. And except for all that is not under the military’s direct control – continuity of government, WMD domestic response, and even national mobilization – where other organizations such as the FBI and the White House Military Office have both public and non-public responsibilities. And then there’s the defense of virtual and exo-atmospheric space, now under U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and the new U.S. Space Force.

There are so many exceptions and it is such a patchwork not only because bureaucracies furiously guard their turf but also because it’s the United States, where what is federal and what is state continues to be hotly contested, as well as what is military and what is civilian. Then comes the question as to whether an organization with so many different missions – from air defense to dealing with a pandemic – can adequately prepare for any of them. This will undoubtedly raise the issue of national security versus public health, about 9/11 versus coronavirus, about domestic need versus the wages of perpetual war.

I’ve been endeavoring to keep an eye on all of this for two decades, not only because of a Reagen-era fascination with continuity but also because the many exceptions rub up against the Constitution and the laws of our land. It’s not just that matters of emergency and extraordinary powers are sexy to study and write about, it is also that the secrecy surrounding so many of these missions – and the exceptions – confuses those outside the system, stymies good government, and undermines public confidence.

With coronavirus, NORTHCOM is out there working furiously to carry out its many missions, implementing at least five different operations plans simultaneously. Implementing might be too strong of a word, because even though these plans run in the hundreds of pages, most are thrown out the window almost as soon as they are taken off the shelf, useful in laying out how things should be organized but otherwise too rigid – or fanciful – to apply to the real world. Or so I say.

That why laying out what those operations plans are is so important, so that we can study them closer, to understand planning, forecasting, organization, mission and implementation. My assertion is that surely we can do better. And in the case of domestic operations plans, surely we can be more transparent as well. Is there any reason you can imagine that the pandemic response plan shouldn’t be public? Or the plan for Defense Support of Civil Authorities? And though we justify those plans, even some recounted below that are highly classified and even compartmented because they deal with special operations forces or weapons of mass destruction, even there I would argue that there needs to be greater transparency, that in order for NORTHCOM and the military overall to do its job in the United States, the Congress and Judiciary, the States, the local community and the public needs to have as much confidence as we can provide them that the military is operating lawfully, and that it knows what it’s doing.

The 19 plans described below are what I can piece together as the current and active operations plans of NORTHCOM. I say operations plans broadly, for all of them are actually CONPLANs, which is not an abbreviation for contingency plan but officially an “operation plans in concept format”.  Because of the exceptions I described above, INDOPACOM has parallel plans that deal with Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, not under the authority of NORTHCOM. And the first two plans listed, in the Joint Chief of Staff “Zero-series” are thought to be NORTHCOM plans but probably still reside within the purview of the JCS. The rest of the plans are all in the 3000-series, allocated to NORTHCOM.

CONPLAN 0300, Counter-Terrorism Special Operations Support to Civil Agencies in the event of a domestic incident (entire title classified) (Power Geyser)

• Federal response to a terrorist event.
• Implements the JCS charter for the counterterrorism (CT) joint task force, known as the National Mission Force.
• Includes Joint Service EOD “Special Mission” support and specific weapons of mass destruction render safe support capabilities within the NCR.
• Department of Defense provides military assistance to the lead federal agency and/or Federal Response Plan Emergency Support Function primary agencies during all aspects of a terrorist incident upon approval by the Secretary of Defense.
• Often referred to as CJCS CONPLAN 0300; it unclear if it is solely a NORTHCOM plan or if NORTHCOM has a supporting CONPLAN 0300 to implement a JCS plan in the Continental United States and Alaska only.
• Operating under the provisions of Presidential Decision Directive (PDD)-39, US Government Policy on Counterterrorism, 21 June 1995.
• Compartmented plan classified Secret/Alternative Compensatory Control Measures (with the compartment Focal Point, referring to sensitive special operations).

Revisions

• CJCS CONPLAN 0300-14, 2014.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0300-04/NORTHCOM Draft CONPLAN 0300-04.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0300-00, 1 December 2000.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0300-97, 14 January 1997.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0300-96, 1996.

CONPLAN 0400, Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (Granite Shadow)

• Special operations countering weapons of mass destruction “national plan”; formerly called the “counter proliferation” plan.
• As dictated by PDD-39, a robust DOD plan, outlining the process by which agencies submit requests for DOD support in domestic terrorism related events, and the command and control structure that would be applied in domestic military employment in order to rapidly remove and destroy WMD in the hands of terrorists, when ordered to do so. Builds on the guidance contained in the PDD-39 Domestic Guidelines concerning DOD support to DOJ/FBI – the lead federal agency – during a WMD terrorist incident.
• Domestic DOD assistance includes threat assessment, Domestic Emergency Support Team deployment, technical advice, operational support, tactical operations, support for civil disturbances, and custody, transportation and disposal of a WMD device.
• Requires geographic combatant commands to create a Joint Task Force Command and Control Organization for consequence management within their areas of responsibility. The five-theater CINC CONPLANs were initially approved in August 1999.
• Often referred to as CJCS CONPLAN 0400; it unclear if it is solely a NORTHCOM plan or if NORTHCOM has a supporting CONPLAN 0400 to implement a JCS plan in the Continental United States and Alaska only.
• Operating under the provisions of Presidential Decision Directive (PDD)-39, US Government Policy on Counterterrorism, 21 June 1995 and the FBI WMD Incident Contingency Plan.
• Compartmented plan classified Secret/Alternative Compensatory Control Measures (with the compartment Focal Point, referring to sensitive special operations). Previously Top Secret.

Revisions

• CJCS Instruction 3125.01B, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) for Domestic Consequence Management (CM) Operations in response to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High-Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Incident, 19 August 2009 cancelled Annex T, Appendix 2, Military Assistance to Foreign Consequence Management Operations, upon reversion of regional combatant command responsibilities for CONPLAN 0400 duties in their areas of responsibility.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0400, Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, September 2003.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0400-00, Draft, 2002.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0400-00, Countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, September 2001.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0400-97, 3 January 1997.
• CJCS CONPLAN 0400-96, Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, 31 May 1996.

CONPLAN 3310, NORTHCOM/NORAD, Aerospace Warning, Aerospace Control and Maritime Warning for North America

• Bi-National U.S.-Canada Plan. According to the Government of Canada: “Respond in times of crisis or to unauthorized airborne activities. The NORAD Contingency Plan (CONPLAN) is a binational plan that outlines flexible warning response options to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat threats to North America, for both Canadian and American assets. … Processes and procedures in response to unauthorized civilian aircraft activity, in and within the approaches to North America are explicitly articulated in NORAD CONPLAN 3310 and are executed under Operation NOBLE EAGLE.”
• Definitions
  • Aerospace Warning: Detect, validate, characterize, assess and warn of attacks against North America, whether by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles.
  • Aerospace Control: Detect and respond to unauthorized and unwanted air activity approaching or operating within North American airspace.
  • Maritime Warning: Process, assess and disseminate intelligence/information to warn of maritime threats or attacks against North America.
• The Guidance for Employment of the Force (GEF) and Joint Strategic Campaign Plan (JSCP) provides limited guidance for NORAD CONPLAN 3310. It is the product of U.S. and Canadian negotiations and agreement.
• See Terms of Reference, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), 21 February 2007 and Canada–United States Basic Defense Document (BDD), 8 July 2006.
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) Campaign Plan 2525-02, Operation Noble Eagle (Campaign Plan for Homeland Security), 1 October 2002.
• Replaced CDRUSELEMNORAD CONPLAN 3349-02, 15 January 1998, a U.S. only plan.

Revisions

• Plan undergoing substantial revision in FY 2019-2020.
• CONPLAN 3310-17, 18 January 2017.
• CONPLAN 3310-12, 2012.
• CONPLAN 3310-07, Aerospace Defense & Maritime Warning, 5 March 2007.
• CONPLAN 3310-07, 23 January 2007.
• CONPLAN 3310-02, Combined US-Canada Aerospace Sovereignty and Aerospace Defense, 21 April 2004.
• CINCNORAD CONPLAN 3310-96 (Change 2), Air Sovereignty and Aerospace Defense of North America, 1 January 2000.
• CINCNORAD CONPLAN 3310-96 (as amended), 24 September 1999.

CONPLAN 3400, Homeland Defense

• The Secretary of Defense approved Guidance for Employment of the Force (GEF) establishes “Homeland Defense” as NORTHCOM’s top priority.
• Includes support for national Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government, and protection of Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP).
• Generates the Granite Shadow OPLAN within the United States (CONPLAN 0400 or the specific Granite Shadow plan).
• Replaced CONPLAN 2002-05, Homeland Defense, last revision 29 July 2005. This was a legacy NORTHCOM (and early JFCOM) plan.
• Replaced NORTHCOM CONPLAN 3900, December 2002.
• Replaced NORTHCOM/EUCOM (and earlier JFCOM) CONPLAN 2222-98, Protection of the Area of Responsibility (AOR) Air-Sea Lines of Communication (ASLOC), 1 March 2001.
• Replaced JFCOM Draft Campaign Plan 2525-01 (Draft), Operations to Support Civil Authorities in Securing the Homeland, 22 October 2001.

Revisions

• Plan undergoing substantial revision in FY 2019-2020.
• CONPLAN 3400-15, 8 January 2015.
• CONPLAN 3400-12, 2012.
• CONPLAN 3400-08 Revision 1, 2010; contained a more detailed concept of operations for the maritime homeland defense mission.
• CONPLAN 3400-08, 2 December 2008.
• CONPLAN 3400-05, November 2005.

CONPLAN 3405, Department of Defense Nuclear Weapon Incident Response

• Includes NORTHCOM’s theater geographic responsibilities for nuclear weapon recovery operations, the status of this CONPLAN is unclear, nor what it’s distinction with from COPLANs is.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3405-12.

CONPLAN 3407, Defense Support to Prevent a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High-Yield Explosives (CBRNE) Attack in the Homeland

• AKA CBRN “Prevent Plan”.
• Supports USG law enforcement agencies in preventing WMD (to include biologicals) entry into the US and search for WMD when cued by intelligence.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3407-12, Defense Support to Prevent a CBRNE Attack in the Homeland (“CBRNE Prevent”), 29 March 2012.
• CONPLAN 3407-11.

CONPLAN 3475, Regional Campaign for the War on Terrorism (WOT)

• Sub-plan of SOCOM’s CONPLAN 7500, the Global Campaign Plan for the War on Terrorism, now officially called the Global Campaign Plan for Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs).
• Includes counter-narcoterrorism and counter-drug (CN/CD) operations to address the threat of illicit trafficking to North America.
• Replaced JFCOM FUNCPLAN 2707-00, Military Activities in Support of Counterdrug Operations.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3476-08.

CONPLAN 3500, Defense Support of Civil Authorities for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Explosives (CBRNE) Consequence Management (CM) Operations

• The first key assumption is, “There will be little or no warning before a CBRN incident.”
• Includes Very Important Persons Protection Support Activity (VIPPSA), EOD support provided in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service. VIPPSA support can be provided for the President of the United States, the Vice President, cabinet members, foreign dignitaries, and others as directed by the Department of State.
• Incorporated and replaced JCS (and later NORTHCOM) CONPLAN 0500-03, Military Assistance to Domestic Consequence Management Operations in Response to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High-Yield Explosive Situation or Event, 11 February 2002.

Revisions

• Plan undergoing substantial revision in FY 2019-2020.
• CONPLAN 3500-14, Civil Support, 30 September 2014.
• CONPLAN 3500-14, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Response, 17 July 2014.
• CONPLAN 3500-11, CBRN Response, 17 August 2011. As a result of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), the Secretary of Defense directed DOD to restructure the original CCMRF to increase its ability to respond more rapidly to an incident in the homeland with more robust critical lifesaving capability to assist the Federal response in reducing the impact of a CBRN incident.
• CONPLAN 3500-08, Military Assistance to Domestic Consequence Management Operations in Response to a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or High-Yield Explosive Situation (U), 29 December 2008.
• CONPLAN 3500-08, CBRNE Consequence Management Operations, 22 October 2008
• CONPLAN 3500-08, CBRNE Consequence Management Operations, Draft, February 2008.
• CONPLAN 3500-07, 2007. JTF-CS anticipates, plans and integrates NORTHCOM Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) Consequence Management operations and when directed, establishes command and control of DOD forces for a CBRNE incident to assist local authorities in saving lives, preventing injury, and providing temporary critical life support.
• CONPLAN 0500 for CBRNE-CM, 1 February 2007. When directed by the Secretary of Defense, Commander NORTHCOM conducts consequence management (CM) in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, to support Civil Authorities in response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) situations.
• CONPLAN 3500-06, Defense Support of Civil Authorities for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosives Consequence Management Operations, 10 October 2006.

CONPLAN 3501, Defense Support of Civil Authorities

• Develops an overarching complex catastrophe branch plan concept of operations that identifies initial actions to be taken by NORTHCOM and subordinate elements. This concept of operations is supported by a series of what NORTHCOM calls “playbooks” that identify the key elements of the federal military response to various types of complex catastrophes. These playbooks include a southern California earthquake, the Cascadia subduction zone earthquake, an Alaska earthquake, an East Coast/Gulf Coast major hurricane, and a major emergency in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Compatible with the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Describes DOD support to civil authorities during natural disasters and civil emergencies other than armed attack on the nation.
• Contains a six-phase plan for DSCA operations: Phase 0, Shape; Phase 1, Anticipate; Phase 2, Respond; Phase 3, Operate; Phase 4, Stabilize; Phase 5, Transition.
• Outlines NORTHCOM’s responsibilities and intentions for Phases 0-5, in order to “save lives, reduce human suffering, and mitigate great property damage;” directs service components to develop supporting plans.
• Appendix 20 to Annex C, NORTHCOM CONPLAN 3501, Wildland Firefighting Operations, 24 April 2008.
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) CONPLAN 2501, Defense Support of Civil Authorities.
• Replaced JFCOM Draft Campaign Plan 2525-01 (Draft), Operations to Support Civil Authorities in Securing the Homeland, 22 October 2001.
• Replaced JFCOM (and earlier REDCOM) FUNCPLAN 2501-97, Military Support to Civil Authorities (MSCA) in Responding to Natural or Man-made Disasters, 2 February 1998
• Replaced SOUTHCOM FUNCPLAN 6175-98, Domestic Support Operations, 1 July 1998.

Revisions

• Plan undergoing substantial revision in FY 2020-2021, including a new prioritized list for developing approximately 30 additional playbooks and regional support plans.
• CONPLAN 3501-09 approved by JFLCC (ARNORTH) CDR 4 May 2009.
• CONPLAN 3501-08, 16 December 2008 (1st 9-month review, approved by SECDEF. Includes 6 Phases and new NORTHCOM structure.
• CONPLAN 3501-08, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), 16 May 2008.
• Secretary of Defense Memorandum, NORTHCOM CONPLAN 3501, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, April 2007.
• NORTHCOM CONPLAN 3501-05, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, 11 April 2006.
• NORTHCOM CONPLAN 3501-05, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, Draft, 22 March 2006.
• CDRUSNORTHCOM, Civil Support Concept of Employment (CONEMP), 20 August 2004.

CONPLAN 3502, Civil Disturbance Operations

• The JSCP directs CDRUSNORTHCOM to conduct necessary planning and coordination to prepare DOD forces to assist civil authorities in response to civil disturbances, when directed by the President and Secretary of Defense. US domestic civil disturbances include riots, acts of violence, insurrections, unlawful obstructions or assemblages, group acts of violence, and disorders prejudicial to public law and order. Initial responsibility for the civil disturbance response rests with state and local authorities. This plan is implemented when the President determines that a civil disturbance situation exceeds either the capabilities or willingness of the state and local authorities to restore law and order
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) FUNCPLAN 2502, Civil Disturbance Plan (Garden Plot), 25 June 2001.
• FUNCPLAN 2502 (in 2001) replaced the earlier “Garden Plot” CONPLAN, U.S. Department of Defense Civil Disturbance Plan, 15 February 1991.
• Replaced NORTHCOM FUNCPLAN 2707, Support to Law Enforcement for Transnational Threats

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3502, Civil Disturbance Operations, 31 July 2009.
• CONPLAN 3502, Defense Support of Civil Authorities for Civil Disturbance Operations (CDO), 23 January 2007.

CONPLAN 3505, Nuclear Weapons Accident Response Plan (NARP)

• NORTHCOM CONPLAN for response to an accident involving U.S. nuclear weapons in Department of Defense (DOD) custody in the USNORTHCOM-designated Operational Area, in accordance with guidance, policy and direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and the Secretary of Defense.
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) FUNCPLAN 2505, Nuclear Weapon Accident Response Plan.
• Supplements Air Force and Navy nuclear weapons accident/indent plans (these are the only military services that possess nuclear warheads)
  • AFSPC Plan 10- 1, ICBM Radiological Accident/Incident Response and Recovery Plan, 15 October 2004.
  • ACC Plan 32- 1, CONUS Radiological Accident/Incident Response and Recovery Plan, 11 September 2002.
  • Commander, Navy Region Southeast Instruction 3440.15, Regional Nuclear Weapon Accident Response Plan, 13 April 2005.
  • Commander, Navy Region Northwest Instruction 3440.1D, Nuclear Weapon Accident/Incident Response Plan, 31 January 2001.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3505-08, USNORTHCOM Nuclear Weapons Accident Response Plan (NC-NARP), 4 April 2008.

CONPLAN 3551, Concept Plan to Synchronize DOD Pandemic Influenza Planning

• DOD Global Response to Pandemic Influenza; CONPLAN 3351 directs “planning and synchronization of DOD’s global response to a potential pandemic.”
• “The potential impact of pandemic influenza (Pl) on military operations is significant. Throughout a pandemic, United States (US) military forces must remain dominant across the full spectrum of military operations, preserving combat capabilities in order to protect US interests at home and abroad. The Department of Defense {DOD) Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza (DIP) directs DOD to prepare for, detect, respond to and contain the effect of a pandemic on military forces, DOD civilians, DOD contractors, dependents and beneficiaries.”
• Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan Fiscal Year 2006, 1 September 2006 directed CDRUSNORTHCOM to prepare a concept plan (CONPLAN) to synchronize worldwide planning to mitigate and contain the effects of an influenza pandemic.
• Replaced NORTHCOM CONPLAN 2591, Pandemic Influenza (FOUO with two Secret Annexes).

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3560, Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Disease Response, NORTHCOM Branch Plan 3560, Draft, 6 January 2017. This new plan seemingly never went beyond the draft stage.
• DOD GCP PI&ID 3551-13, Department of Defense Global Campaign Plan for Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Disease, 14 March 2014.
• NORTHCOM/DOD GCP-PI&ID-3551-13, 15 October 2013.
• CONPLAN 3551-09, Concept Plan to Synchronize DOD Pandemic Influenza Planning, 13 August 2009.
• CONPLAN 3551-07, DOD Global Pandemic Influenza Concept Plan, 1 October 2007.
• CONPLAN 3551-07, Concept Plan to Synchronize DOD Pandemic Influenza Planning, 26 September 2007.
• DOD Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza, August 2006.
• DOD Influenza Pandemic Preparation and Response Health Policy Guidance, 25 January 2006.
• DOD Guidance for Preparation and Response to an Influenza Pandemic caused by the Bird Flu (Avian Influenza), 21 September 2004.

CONPLAN 3591, Theater Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza and Infectious Diseases

• USNORTHCOM Response to Pandemic Influenza; a supporting plan to CONPLAN 3351, focuses on support to the “national effort in response to a potential pandemic resulting from human-to-human transmission of an influenza virus.”
• The plan addresses Force Health Protection (FHP) and civil support operations in the USNORTHCOM AO, as well as support to foreign humanitarian assistance (FHA) operations in the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility (AOR).

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3591-09, USNORTHCOM Response to Pandemic Influenza, 13 August 2009.
• CONPLAN 3591, NORTHCOM Response to Pandemic Influenza, 17 December 2007.
• CONPLAN 3591-07, Pandemic Influenza. 25 July 2007.
• CJCS PLANORD 141224Z NOV 05 (14 November 2005) directs NORTHCOM to conduct execution-level planning for response to PI.

CONPLAN 3600, Emergency Preparedness in the National Capital Region (NCR)

• All hazard NCR emergency preparedness, readiness for mass casualty incidents in the National Capital Region (NCR) by air or ground; support for National Security Special Events (NSSE) and high risks events.
• Provide a mechanism to coordinate delivery of assistance, develop pre-scripted RFAs to ensure that JFHQ-NCR serves as the single point of entry to get USNORTHCOM support to the Pentagon in crisis management situations; sets the conditions under which JFHQ-NCR transitions to JTF-NCR and has OPCON of forces serving in the NCR.
• Supporting plan JFHQ-NCR OPLAN 3600, Emergency Preparedness in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Replaced NORTHCOM CONPLAN 2400, the legacy NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) NCR CONPLAN.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3600-08, Emergency Preparedness in the National Capital Region, 7 November 2008.
• CONPLAN 2400, Emergency Preparedness in the NCR, January 2007. Post 9/11 revisions that integrate operations in the NCR under a single combatant commander; synchronizes DOD activities and existing federal, state, tribal and local emergency preparedness efforts.

CONPLAN 3601, Continuity of Operations

• Status unknown; believed to be the Headquarters U.S. Northern Command and NORAD continuity of operations plan, not a national plan, applicable only internally to NORTHCOM and NORAD.

CONPLAN 3729, International Disaster Response

• AKA International Disaster Relief
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) CONPLAN 2707, Caribbean Mass Migration.
• Replaced NORTHCOM FUNCPLAN 2500-93, Military Support to the Department of State and Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations, 15 June 2001.
• Replaced NORTHCOM (and earlier JFCOM) 2503, Military Support to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) during a Mass Immigration into the United States (“Legacy Freedom”), 30 November 1997.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3729-12, 2012.

CONPLAN 3768, Repatriation Operations

• AKA Non-combatant Evacuation Operation/Repatriation (NEO/REPAT)
• Replaced JFCOM CONPLAN 2100-98, Non-combatant Evacuation Operations, 1 February 2002.

CONPLAN 3800, Mobile Consolidated Command Center Operations

• Status unknown.
• Implements NORTHCOM MCCC CONOPS/CONEX.
• Replaced USSPACECOM CONPLAN 3800-00, 12 April 2000.
• Replaced (or supplemented) CJCS OPORD 2-98, Survivable Mobile Command Center Operations (SMCC Operations), J-3A 02592-97, 1 March 1998.

CAMPLAN 3900, Strategic Communication

•  Campaign plan, status unknown.

Revisions

• CONPLAN 3900-02, December 2002.

Pivot to Asia? Must be the IEDs and need for Nano UAVs

Here’s a list of Army research and development projects from a document I obtained — dated November 2013 — covering the next five years.  I was surprised, well not really, that so many are just continuations of what is already being done in Afghanistan, but not surprised how much is to tame the information monster.  Don’t see much though that reflects any kind of commitment to some future big war.

The list (I didn’t correct for spelling or amplify; some items are inscrutable):

3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared-Engine (3GF-E)

Acoustic Hailing Device

ACRO PET (London Larado) addition for Nitrate, Chlorate, and Urea explosives

Active Protection Systems

Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System

Air Vigilance

Airborne Counter-Explosive Reconnaissance and Targeting System

Airborne Electronic Attack

Airborne Recon Low-Multifunction Medium Altitude Recon & Surv

AirRobot AR150 with Dual IR cameras

American Innovations-Home Made Explosive Bulk Precursor Detection Kit

AMT, Sentinel XD CDS (Advanced Mesh Network)

AN/PSS-14 Cache Detection

Argonaut 200

Assured PNT

ATACMS Unitary Increment 0 Product Improvement

ATIRCM

Automated Surveillance Security Platform

Automated Wide Area Surveillance

Autonomous Mine Detection System

Avatar II Tactical Robot

Axton SMART AT-32S 8-watt IR floodlight.

Bam Stick

Beagle – Handheld NQR

BETSS-C – Force Protection (FP) Suite

BFT2 Manpack

Biometric Automated Toolset (BAT) 4.0 SP6

BiStatic

Bistatic Surveillance System

Black Granite Integrated Sensor Suite

Black Kite

Blue Devil

BlueSky Mast Portable Modular Mast

Bobcat T110 with QinetiQ Robotic Kit with TARDEC roller

Bobcat with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Mobile Deployment System (MDS)

Boston Dynamics 30 lb robot with six paddles for rough terrain or swim

BuckEye – Geospatial Data Collection

C5ISR Aerial Layer

Catamount

Cerberus Lite

Checkpoint Explosive Detection System Gen 2

CI and HUMIT Requirements-Reporting Operations Management Environment

CISCO Identity Service Engine

Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosives Squad Screening

Combat Service Support Very Small Aperture Terminal

Combat Survivor Evader Locator (SEP)

Command Post of the Future

Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station

Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) UMR – JERRV

Common Sensor Payload

Company Intelligence Support Team

Constant Hawk – Afghanistan

Constant Hawk – Iraq

Container Weapon System (CWS) with CROWS II, Javelin, and SEK remote SA Computer

COP camera system with CROWS I camera parts and new cables, GPS, and tripod

Copperhead

CORAL-SD II passive, non-intrusive, thermal detection system

Counter – Unmmanned Aircraft Sytems

Counter Radio Control Electronic Warfare – Crew Vehicle Reactive Jammer

Counter Radio Control Electronic Warfare – DUKE

Counter Shooter System with Highly Accurate Immediate Responses / Iron Curtain

Counter-Concealment Sensors

Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Automated Reporting a Collection System

Covert Thermal Camera System

CREW 3.1

CREW Stryker FoV

Crew Vehicle Reactive Jammer (CVRJ) Fixed Site

Crosshairs Enhanced

Cryptographic Equipment and Services

CVRJ Platform Integration Buffalo

DCGS-A Edge Node (DEN)

Deep Sea Set

Department of Defense ABIS

Desert Owl

Dismount Blue Force Tracker

Dismounted Soldier Autonomy Tools

Dismounted Standoff Explosive Hazard Detection-Handheld Small Sized Detector

Dismounted Standoff Explosive Hazard Neutralization – Remote Initiator

Distributed Commom Ground Station-Army (DSGS-A) Cloud

Distributed Common Ground System – Army Increment 1 DSB 1.0

Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) Increment 1 Release 2

Duke V2 EA

Duke V3 Fixed Site

DUKE V3 Platform Integration Husky

Electromagnetic Pulse

Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

Electronic Protection System on MRAP

Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS)

Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Digital

Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Optical

Evaluation of each additional candidate Nano Unmanned Air System (NUAS)

Expendable Unattended Ground Sensor

Eyeball Remote Camera System

Eyedrive throwable UAV

Fido Handheld Sniffer

Forensic Operator Advanced Kit

FORGE (Zero Base) Li-Ion

FOTOD-Screening Obscuration Device-Visual (restricted terrain)

GaRD Mobile System

GDC4S Intelligence Low Overhead Driver

GEMSIS

General Fund Enterprise Business System-Sensitive Activities

Georgia Tech (GTRI) Integration of Boston Dynamics Sand Flea Hopping Robot

Glasswave

Global Broadcast Service

Global Visualization Information System

Gray Eagle

Green Laser Interdiction System (GLIS)

Griffin

Groundhog

Guardrail/Common Sensor

Gunfire Detection System

GunSHOT Detection (GSD)

Gunshot Detection Simulation Training System

GyroCam RG-31

Hand Held Precision Targeting Device

Handheld Laser Marker

Handheld Minefield Detection System

Handheld Optical Augmentation

Harris Fusion Network Communication Server

Harris-Aerial C4ISR Payload Suite

Heterogeneous Airborne Reconnaissance Team

Homemade Explosive Characterization

Hostile Fire Detection System Warfighter in the Loop Design Study and Demo

Hostile Fire Indicator

HTV HEMTT CVRJ

Hunter Upgrade

Husky MK III with OEF SPARK

Husky Mounted Detection System

Improvements to Remote Monitoring System (RMS) Direction Finder.

individual Counter RCIED Electronic Warfare

Individual Gunshot Detection (IGD)

Integrated Blast Effects Sensor Suite (I-BESS).

Integrated Broadcast Service

Integrated Sensor Improvement

Integrated Sensor Tower Long Range

Integration of CROSSHAIRS 2.0 and CROWS II gun in static mount

Intelligence – Central Security Service – Project G

Intelligence Warfighter Function

Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer

Intelligence-Special Access Programs

IRobot Warrior robot with XADS StunStrike Xap Disrupter

Israeli Namer Feasibility Assessment

Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System

Joint Crew 3.3 Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device

Joint Direct Support Airborne ISR

Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) Target Location Designation System (TLDS)

Joint Personnel Identification System, Version 2

Joint USFK Portal and Integrated Threat Recognition (JUPITR)

Joint Warning and Reporting Network

Kaplan

Keyhole

Kratos NeuralStar

L-3 CyTerra lightweight mine detector

L3GDS Hawkeye III Lite CoCP

Launched Electrode Stun Device

Lethal Miniature Aerial Munition System (LMAMS) managed by PM CCWS

Light Guard

LightGuard Mercury

Linguist Geometry-Realtime Adversarial Intelligence and Decision Making

Live Aerial ISR Link (LAIL)

Long Range Acoustic Device 360X

Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System

Longbranch

LONGWALK

Low, Slow Airborne Threat Response

Machine- Foreign Language Translation System

Magneto Inductive-Remote Activation Munition System

Man Portable Detection System

Marathon Robotic Human Type Target (RHTT) System.

Maritime Domain Awareness Joint Integrating Concept

Medium Altitude Reconnaissance Surveillance System

Micro Tactical Ground Robot (MTGR)

Micro Unmanned Aircraft System

Mine & IED Detection – Minehound, Vallon VMR2

Mini-EOD Robot

Mobile Unmanned Tactical Transport

Monocle

Motion activated camera with video storage and RF to portable Interrogation Set

Motion activated camera with video storage and RF to Route Clearance Vehicle

Multi-Function Electronic Warfare

Multiple Intelligence Sensor V4

Narcissus Counter Surveillance Systems

Networked EW, Remotely Operated (NERO)

One System Remote Video Terminal

One Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems

PackBot 510 Engineer

PackBot 510 Upgrades

PackBot 510 with FASTAC

Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter and Wi-Fi only Apple iPod Touch for control

Pearls of Wisdom

Persistent Surveillance Systems – Tethered

Phanton IR

Picatinny Optical Detection System

Polaris Diesel Ranger with QinetiQ Tactical Robotic Controller (TRC) and roller

Prioria Maveric lightweight, portable unmanned aircraft system (S-UAS)..

Prophet Enhanced

Prox Dynamics Nano Unmanned Air System (UAS).

Puma AE RQ-20A with MicroLink thin film solar cells on wing

PUMA DDL upgrades to PUMA DDL launcher, battery and 9 DB GCS antenna.

PUMA modules Micro Laser Marker (uLM) and Tactical Compact Comm Relay (TCCR)

RAID Mobile Tower

Rapid Attack Identification, Detection and Reporting System

Rapid Deployment Integrated Surveillance Systems

Rapid Reaction Tunnel Detection (R2TD)

Rapidly Elevated Aerostat Platform (REAP) Model XL R3500B

Rapiscan Eagle T1000

Raptor X

Raven GPU

RC-50/60 Modular Robotic Control System

RCV Buffalo Duke V3

Relevant ISR to the Edge 3G

RG-31 Medium Mine Protective Vehicle (MMPV)

Ringtail Common Tactical Vision

RoadHawk

Roadmaster

ROAMER Net

Robot upgrades

Robotic Bobcat with a Laser Vibrometry Imaging and Detection System (LVIDS)

Robotic Deployment System 2 on RG31A2

Robotic Pointman – Mini Flail

Route Clearance Interrogation System (RCIS) Type I

Route Clearance Interrogation System (RCIS) Type II

Route Clearance Mounted Detection & Marking

Route Clearance Mounted Explosive Hazards Survivability and Force Protection

Route Clearance Optic System

Route Clearance Vehicles Panther

Route Clearance Vehicles-Mine Protection Clearance Vehicle

Route Clearance Vehicles-Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection

Rucksack Portable UAS Pop

Rucksack Portable Unmanned Aircraft System

Sand Dog

Sapphire Detection System

Sarnoff fused color and thermal image camera

Saturn Arch

SCI Technologies TOCNET-G3

Semi-Autonomous Tactical Squad Robot

Sense Through The Wall (STTW)

SENTINEL Enhanced Target Range Acq & Class

Sentinel Hawk

Serval

Shop Equipment, Contact Maintenance System

Sickle Stick 2.0

Silicis 26-foot ISR balloon for robotic flight or tethered aerostat

SKYLARK I – Long Endurance (LE) UAS

Slingshot

Small Robot Standardization Effort

Small Tactical Multi- Payload Aerostatic System

Small Unit Support-IED Defeat (SUSI)

Small Unit Unmanned Aircraft System

Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) XM1216E1

Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle IBCT Increment 1

SOCOM Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) Version 1.1

SOFCOAST MAKO ISR Manpack Balloon

Sparrow Sentry System for Vehicles – Portable

Speckles Unmanned Aircraft System

Speech to Speech Smart Phone

Spring

Standoff Suicide Bomber Detection System

Stingray

Strider

Subterranean Operations

Suite of Integrated Infrared Countermeasures

Supersonic Pulse-jet IED eXcavator

Sweat GUTR

Symphony CREW

Sync-Think Eye-Tracking Rapid-Attention Computation (Eye-TRAC) with 850 IR LED

Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator Payloads (SAR/GMTI)

Tactical – SIGINT Payload

Tactical Assured GPS Reference System

Tactical Reconnaissance And Counter-concealment Enabled Radar

Tactical UAS

Tactical Unmanned Ground System

Tactical Unmanned Ground System (TUGS IBCT Inc 2)

Talon 3B Engineer

TALON IV Engineer

TARIAN

Team Stove

Terrapin

TH-HYTEC

Threat Detection Fire Control System (Crosshairs 2)

Thru The Wall Radar

Towed Artillery Digitization Fire Control System

Trojan NexGEN

TROJAN SPIRIT LITE

Trojan SWARM

TUAS Shadow Simple Key Loader

Unattended Transient Acoustic MASINT System

Unmanned Aircraft System Class I

Unmanned Aircraft System Class I (UAS CL1 IBCT Inc 2)

Unmanned Aircraft System Live Training System

Unmanned Cargo/Logistic Resupply

Urban Unattended Ground Sensors IBCT Increment 1

URSUS

VADER (Vehicle and Dismount Exploitation Radar)

Vanguard

Vector Sensor

Vehicle 360 deg fused thermal and visual camera to auto track up to 10 objects

Vehicle Observation Sensor System (VOSS) on the Medium Mine Protection Vehicle

Vehicle Optics Sensor System on the MRAP BAE RG-33L

Vigilant Pursuit

Viper Strike

Warlock-DUKE V2

Warlock-Duke V3

Weaponized Reconnaissance Against Insurgents by Targeting HELLFIRE

Whistler

Wideband Remote Monitoring Sensor: AN/FSQ-234(v)1

Wolfhound

Wolverine System

Zebra Imaging Tactical Digital Holograms (TDH)

Zion Bobcat

NSA Code Names Revealed

The list below current NSA (and NSA-contractor) programs (as of March 13, 2012) involved in all aspects of signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection, processing, analysis, dissemination, and storage.  Some are purely administrative programs, some are tools and databases associated with social network analysis, metadata analysis, and target research.  The current focus of NSA’s work seems to be the telecommunications infrastructure to include wireless, optical, electrical, and converged networks.

Current intelligence lingo associated with these programs include:

• Dial Number Recognition (DNR)
• Digital Network Intelligence (DNI)
• Geospatial Metadata Analysis (GMA)
• SIGINT Geospatial Analysis (SGA)
• SIGINT Terminal Guidance (STG)

The Programs

AGILEVIEW:  DNI tool

AGILITY: DNI tool

AIRGAP/COZEN

AIGHANDLER: Geolocation analysis

ANCHORY/MAUI: DNI

ARCANAPUP

ARTEMIS:  Geospatial analysis

ASSOCIATION

AUTOSOURCE

BEAMER

BELLVIEW

BLACKPEARL

CADENCE/GAMUT: Collection mission system for tasking

CHALKFUN

CINEPLEX

CLOUD

COASTLINE

COMMONVIEW

CONTRAOCTAVE

CONVERGENCE

COURIERSKILL:  Collection mission system

CREEK

CREST

CROSSBONES

CPE (Content Preparation Environment):  Reporting tool

CULTWEAVE: SIGINT database

CYBERTRANS

DISHFIRE: DNI

DOUBLEARROW

DRAGONFLY:  Geolocation analysis

Enhanced WEALTHYCLUSTER (EWC)

ETHEREAL: DNI

FASCIA

FASTSCOPE

FOREMAN

GAMUT/UTT

GISTQUEUE

GJALLER:  Geospatial analysis

GLAVE

GLOBALREACH

GOLDMINER

GOLDPOINT

GOSSAMER:  Geospatial analysis

GROWLER: Geospatial analysis

HERCULES:  CIA terrorism database

HIGHTIDE/SKYWRITER:  Desktop dashboard

HOMEBASE

INFOSHARE

JOLLYROGER

KINGFISH:  Geospatial analysis

LIQUIDFIRE

MAINWAY: DNI signals navigation database

MARINA: Database

MASTERLINK: Tasking source

MASTERSHAKE

MAUI/ANCHORY

MESSIAH

METTLESOME: Collection mission system

NEWHORIZONS

NIGHTSURF

NORMALRUN/CHEWSTICK/FALLENORACLE

NUCLEON

OCTAVE: DNI/DNR tool for tasking

PATHMASTER/MAILORDER

PINWALE: DNI database

PANOPTICON

PRESENTER

PROTON:  SIGINT database

RAVENWING

RENOIR:  Visualization tool

ROADBED

SCORPIOFORE/CPE

SHARKFINN

SKOPE:  SIGINT analytical toolkit

SKYWRITER: DNI reporting tool

SNAPE

SPOTBEAM

STINGRAY:  Geospatial analysis

SURREY

TAPERLAY

TAROTCARD

TEMPTRESS: Geolocation analysis

TRACFIN

TRAILMAPPER

TREASUREMAP: DNI visualization tool

TRICKLER

TUNINGFORK/SEEKER: DNI

TURMOIL:  Collection mission system

TUSKATTIRE

TWISTEDPATH

UIS/PINWALE: DNI

UTT: DNR tool for tasking

WEALTHYCLUSTER: Collection mission system

WIRESHARK

WITCHHUNT: Geolocation analysis

XKEYSCORE: DNI collection mission system

YELLOWSTONE/SPLITGLASS

Code Names II

[Originally posted March 10, 2012, this is a list of Code Names that do not appear in the first edition of Code Names (2005).  This is a work in progress and more are being added over time.]

Accordian:  1.  NSA produced cryptographic device related to nuclear weapons command and control.
2.  Nuclear weapons subcritical experiment conducted at the Nevada Test Site.  Accordian will be followed up by Accordian Prime.

Added Force:  Joint rehearsal exercise (JRX) 4-06, September 2006.

Advance Trec:  Joint rehearsal exercise (JRX) 2-06, March 2006.

Barnstorm: Navy submarine emergency procedure.

Blue Action: Spanish led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) air/ground interdiction event in Spain, May 2005..

Blue Dart:  Anti-terrorism threat-warning program designed to rapidly disseminate threat information in a simple, easy to understand format.  All services, combatant commands, components, defense agencies and DOD activities are responsible for establishing procedures to disseminate Blue Dart warnings.  A Blue Dart warning must contain all of the following elements:
• Specific TIMING of a threat: specific near-time frame within the next 72 hours.
• Specific TARGET of a threat: exact unit, activity or location
• Specific TYPE or MEANS of threat: explosive/VBIED, bombing, small arms/drive-by, sniper, assassination, etc.
Originates with Navy Anti-terrorisim Alert Center (NAVATAC) reporting established in 1997.

Bow Warrior: Joint rehearsal exercise (JRX) 1-06, November 2005.

Brave Hero:  Joint rehearsal exercise (JRX) 3-06,  June 2006.

Bridge Troll:  Joint rehearsal exercise (JRX) 4-05, September 2005, with NSA involvement.

Bright Star (additional information):  Bright Star 03 was cancelled due to ongoing operations in Iraq.  It is the most expensive exercise in the Middle East, using almost 20 percent of the total Air Force JCS exercise program funding, and many in the military believe that the cost greatly exceeds the training value.  It has also been a “cash cow” for host Egypt.  CENTCOM is now attempting to realign Bright Star to a global war on terrorism scenario or focus and is envisioning the next Bright Star to be centered around a lighter, more lethal exercise force package.

Brown Dog: Air Force Information Warfare Center project, 2004-2005.

Buggy Ride (additional information):  STRATCOM plan related to emergency evacuation of bomber and tanker aircraft in a nuclear alert under OPLAN 8044.  See also Dakota.

Cheetah: Air Force Information Warfare Center project, 2004-2005.

Cirrus Blue: Air Force Information Warfare Center TENCAP related project, 2004-2005.

Cirrus Orange: Air Force Information Warfare Center TENCAP related project, 2004-2005.

Code Silver: Air Force Surgeon General initiated tabletop exercise program centering on biological warfare defense medical consequence planning, preparation, and capabilities at the installation level, initiated in 2003.

Comet: Air Force Information Warfare Center project, 2004-2005.

Coronet Dance: Air Force deployment, 2004.

Creek Bridge: USAFE nuclear weapons related project, 2004.

Dakota (Dakota Force):  Non-alert survival launch force consisting of bombers and tankers, generated during during a nuclear alert under OPLAN 8044.  Dakota aircraft are sent airborne or moved to dispersal bases for protection. See also Buggy Ride.

Deep Sabre 05:  Singapore led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) maritime/ground interdiction event in South China Sea, 15-18 August 2005.

Diablo Canyon: FEMA full-scale radiological response exercise, San Clemente, CA, 15 January 2005.

Diligent Endeavor:  Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) sponsored interagency nuclear weapons accident FTX in preparation for Diligent Warrior 04, 17-18 February 2004, Washington, DC.  See also Diligent Warrior.

Diligent Thunder: Army and Air Force related testing project, 2005.

Diligent Warrior 04: Office of Secretary of Defense directed, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) sponsored and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) supported national-level, nuclear weapons accident full-scale exercise (FSX),  Malmstrom AFB, MT, 13-16 September 2002.

Dingo King: National level domestic US nuclear weapons and special operations exercise, 22-26 August 2005.

Distant Thunder:  Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) internal WMD command post exercise (CPX) to examine agency response capabilities under CONPLAN 0100, 18 February 2004, Washington, DC.

Dynamic Quarantine: Air Force Information Warfare Center project, 2004-2005.

Eagle Scout:  Air Force commercial satellite imagery program.  The FY 2005 Appropriation report 108-622, dated 20 July 2004, included a Congressional add of $1,500,000 to this program. No FY 2006 funding was requested.

Elder Prince:  National level inter-service military working group related to operations security (OPSEC) and counter-terrorism.

Electric Eel: Air Force research and development project, 2004-2005.

Emerald (additional information): Counter-narcotics related intelligence program.

Exmoor: Air Force Information Warfare Center project, 2004-2005.

Falcon Nest: Air Force research and development project, 2004-2005.

Falcon Talon: Air Force research and development project, 2004-2005.

Firefly:  NSA produced cryptographic device related to nuclear weapons command and control.

Fishwrap: Air Force research and development project, 2004-2005.

Gallant Journey 05:  Classified intelligence or special operations exercise, March 2005, with DIA, NAS and CIA/OMA involvement.

Gauged Strength:  DOD sponsored WMD-related interagency domestic response exercise, June 1998.  The FBI participated in the “Gauged Strength” exercise in Norfolk, Va. and established interagency organizations, such as a
Joint Operations Center and a Joint Information and Intelligence Support
Element. State and local participation was limited by DOD classification
requirements.  Likely a JSOC exercise.

Global Lightning: STRATCOM nuclear weapons exercise that rehearses operations during a tran-/post-attack nuclear environment, including reconstitution, redirection and targeting of STRATCOM forces, 19-28 October 2005.

Global Storm: STRATCOM nuclear weapons exercise, 8-12 August 2005.

Global Thunder 06: STRATCOM nuclear weapons exercise, 11-15 April 2005.

Grace (Project Grace): Foreign acquired MiG-29 live fire training and testing project.

Gridlock:  National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)-led Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) designed to provide an enhanced capability for kill-chain compression in time sensitive targeting by reducing the timeline needed to produce highly accurate target coordinates using imagery from sensors.

Gypsy Charlie:  B-1 test series associated with satellite guided weapon employment in a degraded GPS environment.

Ibis Dawn II: Foreign material exploitation project, 2004-2005.

Ibis Munin: Foreign material exploitation project, 2004-2005.

Keesee:  Cryptographic key generation (KOK-13) device or system, anticipated for funding in the FY 2007 budget.

Last Mile:  STRATCOM command and control network upgrades.

Layman Teacher 05: Classified intelligence or special operations exercise, March 2005, with DIA and NRO involvement.

Limit Mustang:  Navy Concept of Operations for OPLAN 5077 Weapons System. (added April 9, 2012)

Loyal Guardian:  OPLAN published in July 2001 dealing with Army force protection.  (added April 9, 2012).

Medley: NSA produced cryptographic device related to nuclear weapons command and control.

Minerva:  Joint Information Operations Center (JIOC) information operations search engine that provides an indexed format of available intelligence related to information warfare (foreign adversary influence networks, decision making processes, information infrastructure and cultural considerations for information operations planning).  Minerva  provides hotlinks to IO-related information available on both the JWICS and the SIPRNET.

Neptune Shield: Coast Guard Operations Order (ORDER).

NINFA 2005:  Portuguese led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) maritime/ground interdiction event in Eastern Mediterranean, 8-15 Apr 2005.

Noble Eagle (Operation Noble Eagle): Overall name for domestic military operations in response to 9/11, including surveillance and interceptor flights by NORAD and coastal patrols by the Coast Guard.  Noble Eagle is the domestic counterpart to Operation Enduring Freedom, which is officially the overall name for the (overseas) war on terrorism.

North Star (Project North Star):  Organization that respond to the needs of, and requests from, the Joint Coordination Group (JCG), a border (U.S. and Canada) law enforcement coalition. The  primary emphasis is on counterdrug activities along the U.S. and Canadian border.

Olsina:  U.S.-German-Czech Republic NATO PfP peacekeeping training exercise, Boletice training area in the Czech Republic, 12-20 September 1995.

Omaha (Task Force Omaha): Informal name for Task Force 626 (formerly TF 121) special operations activity in Iraq, 2004.

Outlaw Bandit: Navy ship board passive countermeasure system.

PatentHammer: National tactical integration SIGINT project (Project 168, JMIP, FY 2006 budget)

Pegasus: Army intelligence Trojan Classic SIGINT system.

Phantom Point: Ft. Hood, Texas deployment procedures.

Phoenix (additional information): AMC transport assistance to Middle East operations in 2003-2004.

• Phoenix Alkali (additional information): FY 2004 exercise
• Phoenix Birch 
• Phoenix Calvin 
• Phoenix Court 
• Phoenix Maple
• Phoenix Master
• Phoenix Nitrate
• Phoenix Poplar 
• Phoenix Rack 
• Phoenix Shell 
• Phoenix Sphinx

Phoenix Cedar: Contingency deployments, presumably to Jordan, beginning in December 1998 in support of Desert Fox.

Pontiff: Foreign materiel exploitation project, 2004-2005.

Power Geyser: Presidential-related contingency plan for continuity of government operations during an emergency, specifically a weapons of mass destruction incident, and thought to be involving the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) under JCS CONPLAN 0300.

Pluto New Horizons: Nuclear weapons accident or incident response related mission slated to be implemented in January 2006.

Project 9GH (additional information): As of 7 January 2005, this Project Code was revised and is no longer in support of OEF.

Project 9GL:  EUCOM counter-terrorism operations in a classified country.  See also Project 9GI/9GK

Quick Saber:  OPLAN 5027 (Korean peninsula) response option (RO).

Saltpit: Informal name (aka “The Pit”) for a military interrogation facility for terrorism high value targets, presumably in Afghanistan.

Scorpion:  Joint US-Jordanian CIA/DOD detention facility, located in Jordan.

Sensor Chief: Air Force intelligence foreign material exploitation support, 2004-2005.

Sensor Ego:  Former Air Force intelligence foreign material exploitation support, 2004-2005.

Sensor Shelby: Air Force intelligence foreign material exploitation support, 2004-2005.

Sensor Robin: Air Force intelligence foreign material exploitation support, 2004-2005.

Ship Rider:  Procedure relating to the one-time or short duration installation of a communications security (COMSEC) cryptographic device during an operation or training exercise with a foreign government entity that does not have secure communications with the U.S.

Silent Watch: Navy submarine periscope mounted ESM upgrade, part of the Integrated Submarine Imaging System (ISIS), installed aboard attack submarines (SSNs) and new cruise missile submarines (SSGNs).

Silver Fox:  Small (22 lbs.) tactical UAV, originally deployed with four hour endurance, an off-the-shelf design able to carry infrared, black and white and color cameras and be controlled from a “pocket PC” like device.  Used for surveillance relating to convoy escort and Navy special operations.  Through 2004, 18 Silver Foxes had been deployed to CENTCOM.

Site 6250: CJTF-180/CTF-82 base in Afghanistan or an adjoining country.

Site 6251: Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) base in the CENTCOM region.

Steadfast Response: FEMA sponsored Region V interagency continuity of operations (COOP) exercise, 5 February 2004, Chicago, IL.

Stocktake: U.S.-U.K. nuclear weapons related technical exchange program administered under the authority of the Joint Atomic Information Exchange Group (JAIEG).

Swift Deflector: Ft. Carson, CO related OPLAN. (added April 9, 2012)

Talon (Threat and Local Observation Notice):  Formated suspicious activity reporting done in accordance with Deputy SECDEF directive issued 2 May 2003 via the Joint Protection Enterprise Network (JPEN).

Tasmanian Devil?:  NSA-related global war on terrorism related special access program

Venom x?:  Office of the Secretary of Defense global war on terrorism related special access program?

Vigilant Warrior: OPLAN 5027 (Korean peninsula) response option.

Vital Archer 05: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed NORTHCOM and presumably Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) classified command post exercise (CPX) focused on sensitive special operations and homeland defense in the US.  The exercise employs the NORTHCOM battle staff and Compartmented Planning and Operations Cell (CPOC) focused on implementation of sensitive CONPLANs.

Wasatch Rings:  Multi-agency WMD field training domestic exercise cosponsored by the FBI and the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command in preparation for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Watchkeeper: Air Force ultra-wideband (UWB) unattended ground sensor perimeter defense demonstration.

White Angel II:  B-2 bomber testing and evaluation program, complete 2003-2004.

Another Kind of Revolving Door

[Originally published February 8, 2012; updated continuously]

I saw a press release from Accenture yesterday announcing its newly formed Federal Advisory Board.  It’s the round-up of the usual suspects, including recently retired former vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright, former Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn, and the ubiquitous Michael Chertoff.

These “advisory boards” — sometimes called strategic advisory boards or technical advisory boards — are not to be confused with Boards of Directors, where the board member has some stake in (mostly) public companies and fiduciary responsibility.  These are pure and simple informal ways for companies — mostly private — to buy credibility, names, advice, and hidden lobbying.

I’ve noticed these boards springing up all around since doing research for Top Secret America.  Is it just me or do I see Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, former Secretaries of Homeland Security everywhere?   Or people like Arthur Money, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for C3I, who I have to mention, because, well, I do see money.

The problem with this unregulated ethical loophole is also that players in budget battles and even policies regarding contracting itself clandestinely represent the interests of companies while provide media commentary and even supposedly impartial government advice.  Take Jacques S. Gansler, for example, professor and former Under Secretary of defense and advisory board habitue, and admittedly one of the smartest people on the issue of contracting and business practices.  The Gansler Commission Report on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations is enormously influential.

My quick perusal of federal contractor advisory boards that include at least one former  government official or retired flag officer of the military include:

• Accuvant
• American Defense Systems, Inc.
• Applied Energetics, Inc.
• AtHoc, Inc.
• Auriga Microwave
• Avrio Technology Group, LLC
• Buzz Analytics
• CakeBoxx Technologies:  Announced May 29, 2012 that Vice Adm. Alan S. Thompson (USN Ret.) had joined their advisory board. (added June 2, 2012).
• Civitas Group
• Centrifuge Systems, Inc.
• Cubic Defense Applications, Inc.
• Decision Sciences
• Defense Strategies Institute
• DesktopAlert
• Digital Reasoning
• DLH (Defense Logistics Health)
• DSA Inc. (Data Systems Analysts, Inc.)
• Dynamic Aviation
• Four Start Group
• GardaWorld, the Global Risk Consulting Group and subsidiary of Garda World Security Corporation:  Announced March 7, 2012 that it was appointing retired U.S. Navy Admiral Eric T. Olson to its International Advisory Board.  (added March 7, 2012)
• Glimmerglass Networks
• ICF International
• ICx Technologies Inc.
• Ideal Innovations, Inc.
• Iridium Communications Inc.
• Liquid Robotics
• LITMUS, LLC
• Luna Innovations
• LynuxWorks
• McLane Advanced Technologies (MAT) (added 28 February 2012)
• MetroStar Systems
• M.I.C. Industries, Inc.
• Mutualink, Inc.:  Announced May 17, 2012, that former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge joined their advisory board, comprised already of Gen. Wesley K. Clark (USA, ret.) and Gen. Barry McCaffrey (USA, ret.). (added May 21, 2012)
• NuWave Solutions:  Announced April 26, 2012, that Lt. Gen. Tom Griffith (U.S. Air Force, Ret.) would chair the company’s new advisory board.  (added 27 April 2012).
• Paramount Defenses
• Powerwave Technologies
• RE2, Inc.:  Announced March 21, 2012, that Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch (U.S. Army, Ret,) joined the Company as a consultant and member of the RE2 Advisory Board to provide guidance regarding robotic defense technologies, market strategy, leadership, and organizational development. (added 21 March 2012)
• RedXDefense
• Ridge Global
• Right Hemisphere
• SA-TECH
• Safe Ports
• Scientific Systems (SSCI)
• SCRA:  Announced March 8, 2012 that its Strategic Advisory Group was formed in 2010. (added March 8, 2012)
• SI Organization, Inc.
• Sigmatech Inc.
• Southern Air Holdings, Inc.:  Announced April 4, 2012 that Lt. Gen. Vern M. “Rusty” Findley II (USAF, ret.) joined the company as a Department of Defense (DOD) and business development Board Advisor.  In this role, General Findley will advise Southern Air’s senior management team and Board of Directors on matters related to DOD operations, programs and issues and represent the company with other federal agencies and offices in Washington, DC. (added April 4, 2012)
• The Spectrum Group
• Sypris Electronics LLC
• Systems Engineering Research Center
• TASC, Inc.
• Trace Systems
• Training & Security Group International, Inc. (TSGI, Inc.)
• Triumphant
• TSG Solutions
• US Investigations Services, LLC (USIS)
• US Space LLC
• V1 Analytical Solutions:  Announced May 21, 2012 that it was adding Adm. Eric T. Olson (USN, ret.), the former SOCOM commander, to its Board of Advisors. (added May 22, 2012)
• VCOM3D, Inc.
• VT Group
• Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems Ltd.

A (Big) Slice of American Foreign Policy

[Originally written January 31, 2012:  I do love lists and I was looking at some budget documents today, and decided to make a list of the military exercise held last year (2011) and planned for this year (2012).  I didn’t want to spend much time and would be happy to take corrections and amplifications.   I’m just interested in getting it out there in case others want to do some investigating.]

Military (and National Security) Exercises 2011-2012

• Able Warrior 11
• African Endeavor 12: AFRICOM Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) integration exercise.  African Endeavor 11
• African Lion 12:  AFRICOM.  African Lion 11.
• Agile Spirit 12:  Black Sea International Force
• Alam Halfa: U.S.-New Zealand, NZ-sponsored land forces exercise,  central North Island at Linton and Napier, April 26-May 6, 2012.   The new exercise series, according to the New Zealand Herald, builds on the Wellington Declaration signed by the two countries in November 2010.  The U.S. banned joint military training after the ANZUS alliance collapsed in 1984. The ban was lifted in 2009.  (added April 10, 2012)
• Amalgam Dart 11: NORAD
• Amalgam Mako 12:  NORAD sponsored U.S.-Canada maritime security exercise, Nova Scotia and Connecticut, May 2012, coinciding with Ardent Sentry 2012.  (added April 30, 2012)
• Anatolian Falcon 12:  EUCOM U.S.-Turkey two week air training exercise and deployment, Konya AB, Turkey; starting 28 February 2012.  U.S. F-16 aircraft deployed from Germany.  (added February 29, 2012; updated March 8, 2012)
• Angkor Sentinel: PACOM U.S.-Cambodia bilateral exercise initiated July 2010.   Angkor Sentinel 12, March 13-23, 2012, took place between the United States Army Pacific and the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces and focused on explosive ordnance disposal and peace-keeping skills, featuring training by the Asia Pacific Counter Improvised Explosive Device Fusion Center based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.  (updated March 27, 2012)
• Angoran Resolve 11
• Arctic Edge
• Arctic Gator: January 2012
• Arctic Zephyr
• Ardent Sentry 12: NORTHCOM/NORAD CPX and various field training events, May 2-9, 2012.  For the first time, in May 2012, NORTHCOM and the Mexican military will conduct ARDENT SENTRY 12, a combined Defense Support of Civil Authorities exercise “designed around mutually-agreed objectives,” according to official releases, supposedly a hurricane scenario, but obviously with another agenda.  (updated March 17, 2012; April 30, 2012)
• Arrcade Fusion 11: EUCOM
• Artemis Polaris 12: NORTHCOM sponsored Arctic-related table-top exercise, held at NDU in Washington DC, February 21, 2012.  (added April 20, 2012).
• Artemis Scorch 12:  NORTHCOM sponsored Army North held interagency CBRNE table-top exercise, Colorado Springs, Colorado, February 14-16, 2012.  The scenario included a nuclear device detonated in downtown Chicago. (added April 20, 2012)
• Atlantic Strike
• Atlas Accord 12: AFRICOM Mali-based medical exercise conducted in Mopti, Mali, 7-15 February 2012 despite the cancellation of Flintlock 12.  The annual-joint-aerial-delivery exercise, hosted by U.S. Army Africa, brings together Army personnel with militaries in Africa to enhance air drop capabilities and ensure effective delivery of military resupply materials and humanitarian aid. (updated February 11, 2012)
• Atlas Drop 11: AFRICOM
• Atlas Vision
• Austere Challenge 11
• Balikatan 12:  PACOM U.S.-Philippines CPX, April 16-27, 2012, to be held mainly in Palawan, which faces the South China Sea and lies about 510 miles (820 kilometers) southwest of Manila.  This is the 28th Balikatan exercise in the series. (updated March 8, 2012)
• Baltops 12: EUCOM.  Baltic Operation 2012 (BALTOPS 12), May 2012, focusing on interoperability.  Participants include Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the United States. (updated May 17, 2012)
• Beverly Bulldog 12-01: Osan, South Korea exercise series designed to test the base’s response during a wartime contingency.
• Beyond the Horizon Caribbean 11: SOUTHCOM
• Beyond the Horizon CENTAM: SOUTHCOM
• Blue Flag 11
• Bold Alligator12: Amphibious training exercise
• Bright Star
• BSRF-12:  CENTCOM
• CARAT Brunei:  U.S.-Brunei maritime and amphibious forces exercise, announced by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in Brunei, April 6, 2012.  (added April 10, 2012)
• Capital Shield 12:  Interagency emergency management exercise conducted at Ft, McNair, District of Columbia, and Lorton, Virginia.
• Citadel Gate 12:  Washington DC-based continuity of operations exercise, with hurricane scenario,  April 16 – 27, 2012.  (added April 20, 2012).
• Cobra Gold 12:  PACOM sponsored Thailand-based 10 day combat exercise, February 2012, held at at a military base in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand’s Northeast.  Seventeen nations participating, including combat personnel from Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the United States.  Other countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, France, Italy, Nepal, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Vietnam are part of the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT); while Brunei, China and Laos sent observers. (updated February 11, 2012)
• Cold Response 2012:  Norwegian sponsored biennial multinational invitational exercise focused on rehearsing mid-intensity operations in winter condition.  The US participant, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, draws Marine Corps’ equipment stored in Norway.  The exercise also involves 16,000 troops from 15 other nations, as well as distinguished visitors from Sweden, Japan, and South Korea.  (added March 20, 2012)
• Combined Endeavor 12:  EUCOM in Slovak Republic.  Combined Endeavor 11.
• Command Post Exercise (CPX) for Peacekeeping Operations – Americas 2012 (PKO-A 12): Santiago, Chile from April 30-May 11, 2012. (added April 7, 2012)
• Continuing Promise (CP):  The Continuing Promise mission is to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian civic assistance, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support, subject matter expert exchange and disaster relief to nine partner nations in Central and South America and the Caribbean.  (added April 29, 2012)
• Cooperative Archer 11: EUCOM
• Cooperative Lancer: EUCOM sponsored, hosted by Macedonia combined field training (FTX) and command post exercise (CPX) series.  Designed to test the integration of NATO forces and certain “Partnership for Peace” country defense assets. This is an effort to train NATO partner countries in Crisis Response Operations during scenarios that involve preventing the destabilization of an emerging country. (updated April 17, 2012; thanks to JB)
• Cooperative Longbow: EUCOM
• Cooperative Resolve 11: EUCOM
• Cope Angel:  Annual bilateral search and rescue exercise between the USAF and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
• Cope North 12-1:  PACOM Guam-based trilateral (US, Japan, Australia) exercise, Andersen AFB, February 11-24, 2012, designed to enhance air operations between the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self Defense Force, and the Royal Australian Air Force.  Cope North 12-1 marked the first trilateral iteration of the exercise. (updated February 11, 2012; updated April 5, 2012)
• Cope South: PACAF sponsored U.S.-Bangladesh tactical air exercise, Kurmitola Air Base, April 22-26, 2012.  The airlift-focused exercise involved the Kentucky Air National Guard.   (added April 30, 2012)
• Cope Taufan 12:  PACAF sponsored U.S.-Malaysia biennial air training exercise, April 2-, 2012, in Penang.  The 67th Fighter Squadron from Kadena AB, Japan flew F-15 Eagles against RMAF MiG-29 Fulcrums, F/A-18 Hornets and Hawk 208 aircraft during Cope Taufan.  The exercise is also an opportunity for the 13th Air Force to conduct subject matter exchanges with Malaysian counterparts on subjects as diverse as counter-terrorism and engineering.  (added April 7, 2012)
• Cope Tiger 12:  PACOM Thailand-based trilateral (U.S., Thailand, Singapore) air training exercise, March 12-23, 2012.  Cope Tiger aims to enhance readiness and combined interoperability between U.S. Forces, allies and partners within the Pacific region. More than 1,600 Airmen and civilians participated in this year’s engagement, including approximately 430 U.S. service members and civilians.  The exercise concluded with a combined exercise parachute jump, the largest in its 18-year history.  (added March 20, 2012; updated April 2, 2012)
• Cutlass Express: AFRICOM
• Cyber Storm:  DHS-led, full-scale, cyber security exercise, between international, Federal and State governments, and private sector organizations to exercise their response, coordination, and recovery mechanisms in reaction to simulated cyber events.  The first Cyber Storm exercise was held February 6-10, 2006.  (added March 28, 2012)
• Cyber Flag:
• DANEX NOCO 12:  Merger of German Northern Coast and the Danish DANEX exercises.
• DOD Interoperability Communications Exercise (DICE): March 2012
• Eager Lion 12: Irregular Warfare themed exercise focused on using the “Whole of Government Approach” in Jordan, 7-28 May 2012.
• Eager Light 11
• Eager Lion:  CENTCOM sponsored U.S.-Jordan bilateral exercise involving 19 nations, including Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, Egypt, France, Italy, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Spain, Romania, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.   Reports that Turkey was a participant in the exercise seem to have been erroneous.  Eager Lion 12 is being held May 7-27, 2012.  Includes extensive special operations exchanges and training; as well as an amphibious operations by the 24th MEU.  Eager Lion 11 was held from June 11-30, 2011.   (updated March 7, 2012; May 9, 2012; May 18, 2012)
• Eagle Resolve 11
• Early Victor 11
• Earnest Leader 11
• Eastern Accord
• Eastern Action 11
• Eastern Castle 11
• Eastern Eagle 11
• Eastern Piper
• Eastern Valor 11
• Eastern Viper 11
• Ellipse Charlie 11
• Ellipse Echo 11
• Emerald Warrior
• Environmental Thunder:  DOE NNSA-FBI sponsored WMD domestic table top exercise, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, NC, May 2012. The participating federal agencies included NNSA, FBI, EPA and NIEHS and were joined for the exercise by the Durham County Sheriff’s Office; Durham Health, Emergency Management, and Fire Departments; and the Parkwood Volunteer Fire Department.  State officials from the North Carolina Emergency Management, Public Health, Emergency Medical Services and Highway Patrol also participated, as did the North Carolina National Guard, and Raleigh and Durham city officials. Part of the Silent Thunder series. (added May 11, 2012)
• Falcon Virgo 12-08:  NORAD air exercise over Washington DC, May 23, 2012 (added May 22, 2012).
• Flexible Leader 11
• Flintlock: AFRICOM special operations forces annual exercise.  Exercise Flintlock 12 in Mali was officially postponed in February 2012 because the Malian  military was busy fighting “rebels,” but three U.S. military personnel were killed in a car crash on April 20, 2012, supposedly in Mali under the cover of a special operations training mission.  (updated April 20, 2012)
• Forging Sabre 11
• Friendship One 11
• Frisian Flag:  Dutch-sponsored air training exercise, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, April 18, 2012.  (added April 20, 2012)
• Frontier Sentinel 12: NORTHCOM  U.S.-Canada.
• Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarian 11:  SOUTHCOM
• Fuerzas Commando 11: SOUTHCOM
• Fused Response 12: SOUTHCOM U.S.-Guyana special operations exercise, March 1-10, 2012. (added March 7, 2012)
• Garuda Shield:  PACOM U.S.-Indonesia (added April 3, 2012)
• Global Lightning 11: STRATCOM
• Global Thunder 11: STRATCOM
• Gold Eagle 11:
• Golden Coyote 12:  South Dakota sponsored multinational training exericse, June 9-23, 2012, in its 28th year.  Includes contingents Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Suriname.  (added June 19, 2012)
• GOMEX Quickdraw:  Tri-lateral exercise between U.S., Mexico, and Canadian Forces in support of the North American Maritime Security Initiative.
• Garuda Shield: U.S.-Indonesia.  Garuda Shield 11 was a USARPAC and TNI Sponsored Bilateral Exercise HCA ENCAP & CPX mission held in Bagor, Indonesia.
• Gobi Wolf (Gobi Chuun)
• Green Flag – West:  Exercises take place 10 times a year. Aircraft and crews fly from Nellis AFB, Nev., in support of ground combat training at Fort Irwin (Barstow), Calif.
• GridEx 2011:  Government-sponsored North American Electric
  Reliability Corporation run electrical power disruption exercise.  (added March 29, 2012)
• Immediate Response 12:  EUCOM multinational military exercise, sponsored by U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Air Force, and the Croatian Land Forces, May 26-June 9, 2012, located at training area “Eugen Kvaternik”, Slunj, one of the largest military installations in Croatia.”   The 700 participants come from Albania, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Slovenia.  Macedonia and Serbia sent observers to the exercise.  (updated May 28, 2012).
• Inferno Creek 11
• Initial Link 12:  CENTCOM U.S.-Bahrain biennial exercise, underway since 1988.  Initial Link 12, held at Shaikh Isa airbase in April 2012, involves ten nations — Bahrain, the United States, plus Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan — and is the largest to be held since 1988.  (added April 9, 2012)
• Inspired Gambit
• Inspired Venture 11
• Integrated Advance 11:  SOUTHCOM
• Internal Look 12:  CENTCOM computer-assisted command post exercise, held February 2012, according to The New York Times, positing an Israeli attack on Iran scenario.  See my Blog on Internal Look. (updated March 21, 2012)
• Iron Cobra
• Iron Fist 12:  PACOM bilateral amphibious training event between U.S. and Japanese forces, January 23-February 15, 2012, the seventh annual. Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) conducted beach and flight operations off the coast of San Clemente Island, with elements from 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. (updated April 5, 2012)
• Island Thunder:  DOE NNSA-FBI sponsored weapons of mass destruction domestic crisis management table top exercise, part of the Silent Thunder series, held in Hawaii, 29 March 2012. (added May 11, 2012).
• Jackal Stone 11: special operations
• JLOTS: TRANSCOM
• Joint Dawn/MRX-12: Army’s Expeditionary Contracting Command exercise, Jan. 19 – Feb. 3, 2012 at Fort Bliss, TX.  Annual forum and exercise to train military and deployable civilian contracting officers in warrior and contracting specific tasks. (added February 11, 2012)
• Joint Exercise India 11
• Joint Exercise Indonesia
• Judicious Response 11: AFRICOM
• Juniper Cobra: U.S.-Israel
• Juniper Stallion 11: U.S.-Israel
• Keen Edge 12: U.S.-Japan.
• Keen Sword 11
• Keris Strike: U.S.-Malaysia.  Keris Strike 11 was a USARPAC and Malaysian Army Sponsored Bilateral Brigade Level Peacekeeping Operations Command Post Exercise and MEDCAP Mission held in Melaka, Malaysia
• Key Resolve/Foal Eagle: PACOM U.S.-South Korea high level decision making exercise, February 27-March 9, 2012; Foal Eagle, a division-sized and lower exercise coincides and extends from March 1-April 30.  (updated March 9, 2012)
• Khaan Quest: U.S.-Mongolia.  Mongolia Armed Forces and US Marine Forces Pacific sponsored Peace Keeping Operations orientated combined exercise, consisting of an FTX and CPX.
• Kiwi Flag:  New Zealand-sponsored multinational exercise, March 26-April 4, 2012, based at Whenuapai Airport. RNZAF C-130 Hercules and B200 King Air aircraft will be joined by similar size transport aircraft from other countries for the exercise, which will involve low-level flying and takeoffs and landings at “unfamiliar airfields.” (added March 25, 2012; thanks to JW)
• Lasting Calm:  Army North (ARNORTH) sponsored Army Soldier Systems Center, Natick, Massachusetts based annual anti-terrorism and force protection exercise, May 10, 2012.  Participants include Natick Police, Natick Fire, the Massachusetts Commonwealth Fusion Center, DHS, FBI, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiological Control Unit, and the ARNORTH Defense Coordinating Element. (added May 9, 2012)
• Lightning Rescue
• Lion Effort 2012:  Swedish-sponsored multinational exercise for users of the Saab Gripen, based at Ronneby air base in southern Sweden. Involves aircraft from Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa, and personnel from Thailand.  (added March 25, 2012; thanks JW)
• Malabar:  U.S.-India annual naval exercise.  The 15th Malabar exercise is scheduled for April 7-16 in the Bay of Bengal, and includes the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and its escorts the USS Harley and USS Bunker Hill. (added April 5, 2012)
• Maple Flag
• Med Accord Central
• Med Accord South
• Med Accord West
• MEDCAP
• MEDFLAG: AFRICOM
• MEDLITE: AFRICOM
• MEDREACH: AFRICOM
• MEDRETE:  Army Africa’s Medical Readiness and Training Exercise (MEDRETE) program; 2012 planned for the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania.
• Native Fury 12
• Natural Fire 11
• NEA 2012:  PACOM U.S.-Vietnam naval exchange activities, April 23-25, 2012.  Includes non-combatant events and skills exchanges in areas such as diving medicine, navigation, and firefighting. Ship visits, band concerts, community service events, and U.S.-Vietnamese navy sporting events.  U.S. units participating in the naval exchange activities include the 7th Fleet’s flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19); the guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90); the rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50); sailors from Task Force 73; and a Mobile Diving and Salvage Detachment.  (added April 24, 2012)
• Neon Falcon 11
• New Horizons Belize
• New Horizons Haiti 11
• New Horizons Peru 12: Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) exercise, focusing on medical readiness training (MEDRETE) and engineering construction projects that will benefit communities in Peru and provide training for United States troops.  Construction projects normally include schools, clinics, community centers, water wells, and other quality of life enhancement facilities.  Medical readiness exercise activities consist of doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinarians and other healthcare professionals providing general and specialized health services.  Projects and activities for New Horizons are scheduled June – August 2012 for the Pisco, Chincha and Huancavelica regions of Peru.  (udpated April 29, 2012)
• Noble Dina 12: Sixth Fleet sponsored U.S.-Israel classified  submarine and anti-submarine warfare exercise, held in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, March 26-April 5, 2012.  The first Noble Dina is believed to have taken place in 1999 and included a port visit to Israel by the nuclear power attack submarine USS Miami.   Noble Dina 03, held in Jan 2003, included a visit by the USS Deyo (DD 989) to Haifa, the first U.S. combat ship to reportedly dock there in 10 years. The exercise was executed as part of preparations to defend Israel in Operation Iraqi Freedom. (added March 29, 2012)
• Noble Mariner 2012:  NATO maritime exercise, September-October 2012, scheduled for Toulon, France; mission rehearsal to prepare the next NATO Response Force (NRF) rotation.  (added March 25, 2012; thanks JW)
• Noble Shirley: Marine Forces Europe (MARFOREUR)
• Northern Accord
• Northern Challenge 11
• Northern Edge 11
• Obangame Express 12:  AFRICOM, sponsored by Nigeria and held in the Gulf of Guinea, commencing 27 February 2012.  Participating include the United States, Belgium, Spain, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Benin, Sao Tome & Principe and Togo. (updated February 29, 2012)
• Pacific Angel 12-2:  PACAF sponsored U.S.-Laos medical and humanitarian exercise, April 2012.  (added April 25, 2012)
• Pacific Partnership 12:  PACOM U.S.-Indonesia disaster relief
  exercise.  Held throughout the North Maluku province in Summer 2010.  (updated April 3, 2012)
• Pacific Quickdraw:   Development of procedures to improve coincidental operation, coordination, and communication between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
• PANAMAX 11
• Peace Shield 1:  U.S.-Qatar military exercise, May 2012.  (added May 31, 2012).
• PHIBLEX 12
• Phoenix Express 11: AFRICOM multilateral exercise with North African nations, supported by European partners, focusing on maritime security, domain awareness, information sharing and interoperability.
• PKO Americas: SOUTHCOM
• Prairie Eagle 12:   Strategic National Stockpile exercise, May 14, 2012, delivering simulated vaccines via a Wyoming ANG C-130 Hercules in conjunction with the Wyoming Department of Health, Wyoming Department of Homeland Security and the Wyoming Highway Patrol.  (added May 22, 2012).
• Rapid Trident:  Rapid Trident 11 was held 25 July to 5 August 2011 at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center (IPSC) in Yavoriv, Ukraine.
• Red Dragon 12:  June 2012. (added June 8, 2012).
• Red Flag:  Nellis AFB, Nevada based realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies.  Red Flag 12-4, July 16-27, 2012, includes participants from the UAE (F-16s) and Colombia (KFIRs).  (updated June 19, 2012).
• Regional Cooperation 11
• Regional Response 11
• Resilient Constellation:  National level exercise series focused on private sector partnership with the federal government in critical infrastructure protection.  (added March 27, 2012)
• Resolute Sentinel 11
• RIMPAC 12:  Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest multi-national maritime exercise, conducted biennially in even years in Hawaii.
• Ryukyu Warrior 12: Okinawa based disaster response exercise.
• Saber Guardian
• Saber Strike 12:  Baltic area.  Includes Latvia.
• Saharan Express: AFRICOM Naval Forces Africa scheduled and conducted, multilateral combined maritime exercises with West and North African nations, supported by European partners, focusing on maritime security, domain awareness. Saharan Express 2012 (SE-12), 23–30 April 2012, will include a target vessel in vicinity of Dakar, Senegal to facilitate boarding exercises along the coastline of Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania. The vessel will be used as boarding platform to participate in maritime law enforcement and boarding scenarios. (updated March 23, 2012)
• SALVEX 12:  U.S.-India bilateral salvage exchange (SALVEX) off the coast of Hawaii February 7-13, 2012.  The purpose of SALVEX 12, according to the Pacific Fleet, is to enhance U.S. and Indian bilateral diving and salvage capability in the littoral environment to improve maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response capability.  (added April 5, 2012)
• Schriever Wargame 2012 International Game:  Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) futures experimentation wargame series, Nellis AFB, Nevada, April 19-25, 2012 to study counter-piracy operations around the Horn of Africa 11 years into the future.  The event includes participants from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and NATO commands. (added April 20, 2012; thanks to Defense Daily).
• Sea Breeze 11
• Secure Grid 2011:  DOE, DHS, and DOD sponsored electrical power infrastructure disruption exercise. (added March 29, 2012)
• Sentry Aloha 12:  Hawaii-based National Guard sponsored air combat training exercise, March 2-8, 2012, involving F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor aircraft of the Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon air national guards.  China oriented? (added April 7, 2012)
• Shared Accord:  AFRICOM.  Shared Accord 11.
• Shared Horizons 11
• Shared Resilience
• Shared Response 11
• SIFOREX 12:  Silent Force Exercise, advanced Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) bilateral exercise hosted and administered by the Peruvian Navy with participation of the USN.
• Silent Warrior 11
• Silver Eagle 11
• Silver Scimitar 12
• Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 12:  Navy sponsored U.S. based force protection exercise, March 19-24, 2012 (added March 8, 2012)
• Southern Accord
• Steadfast Indicator 11
• Steppe Eagle 11
• Southern Warrior: AFRICOM
• Talisman Saber 11: U.S.-Australia warfighting exercise.
• Terminal Fury 11
• Tempest Express 11:  Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• Tiger Balm: PACOM
• Tradewinds 12:  SOUTHCOM.  Tradewinds 11
• Trident Warrior 12
• Trojan Footprint 11
• Tropic Twilight 11:  New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) sponsored HADR Exercise in Tokelau designed to exercise and validate NZ Whole of Government response to natural disaster in the Pacific.
• Turbo CADS 11:  TRANSCOM
• Turbo Challenge: TRANSCOM
• Turbo Distribution: TRANSCOM
• Ulchi Freedom Guardian 11:  Annual ROK-US Military and ROK Government, simulation driven, command transformation-oriented CPX.  Its purpose is to test and validate ROK and U.S. separate and complementary national warfighting
• Unified Endeavor 12-1 / 12-2:  EUCOM MCTP/MRX, January 16-February 3 (updated February 12, 2012)
• Unified Quest 12 (added February 6, 2012)
• Unitas Atlantic
• Unitas Pacific 12
• US-Mexico COMEX (Communications Exercise)
• Vibrant Response:  NORTHCOM JTF-CS sponsored mission rehearsal for the Defense, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High-Yield Explosive and Response Force (DCRF) mission, which is assigned in FY 2012 to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Ft. Polk, LA.  (updated April 3, 2012)
• Vigilant Eagle 11:  NORAD (U.S.-Canada)-Russian air exercise, August 2011.  Each side practiced tracking, intercepting, and passing control for monitoring and escorting a live-fly, simulated hijacked aircraft into the other’s airspace.  (added March 9, 2012)
• Vigilant Guard:  Each year, the National Guard conducts four regional VG exercises to help military first-responders unify their
  efforts to support civilian authorities. The NGB is also
  building a special VG exercise to support the 54 States
  and Territories in preparing for larger scale or real world
  events.
• Vigilant Shield 11
• Virtual Flag 11
• West African Training Cruise (WATC): AFRICOM.  WATC 11
• Western Accord: AFRICOM Peacekeeping Operations in sub-Saharan Africa. Implements the reinforcement of African Peacekeeping Capacity Concept.  Western Accord 11.
• Yama Sakura 12:  U.S.-Japan, January-February 2012.  The Korean Herald reported that USFK personnel belonging to the 8th Army took part in the exercise in Japan for the first time ever.  (updated February 6, 2012)
• Yudh Abhyas: U.S.-India bilateral exercise, February 2012.  Previous exercise took place in October 2009.