Experience incorporating a force-projected brigade into a divisional tactical internet

This paper details the experiences of the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) integrating a CONUS-based, force-projected brigade and South Korean Armored Brigade into the division´s tactical internet. During Foal Eagle 1997 (FE97), a brigade from the 1st CAV Division deployed to Korea and joined the 2ID for FE97 in some of Korea´s most difficult terrain for communications. Additionally, 5th Republic of Korea Armored Brigade (RAB) also joined the Division. While the integration of a new unit into the division´s communications and information architecture is always difficult, this difficulty was further compounded by a revolutionary divisional information management system. During 1997, the division´s G6 staff and signal battalion completely reengineered the division´s communications and information infrastructure to meet increasing demand for tactical data information systems. Key among these innovations were the dynamic assignment of bandwidth as required and the introduction of the tactical internet, which revolutionized how the division managed tactical information. While these efforts greatly enhanced the ability of the division to synchronize the efforts of divisional units, it also significantly complicated the rapid integration of a new US brigade and a Korean brigade into the division´s information architecture. This integration process was further complicated by the need to operate within a Korean Corps with a completely dissimilar communications and automation infrastructure. This paper details the lessons learned integrating a force-projected brigade as well as providing the benefits of a tactical internet to a coalition lower and higher headquarters using a dissimilar communications and automation architecture