ARRC JOURNAL
Implementing FMN on ARRCADE FUSION 17
As a result of risk reduction work on EX STEADFAST COBALT 17 5, an FMN construct was implemented on EX ARRCADE FUSION 17. In addition to 3 UK Division, a Canadian Divisional Headquarters located in St Mawgan( Cornwall) and a Danish Division with subordinate LOCONS in Denmark shared services with the ARRC 6. Each Division participated using their own FMN confirmed MNEs and MNXs. The network diagram to the right shows how the multinational divisions were integrated into the exercise network.
The FMN laydown for Exercise ARRCade Fusion 17
Spiral Development
The development of FMN is through the implementation of‘ spirals’ rather than a“ Big bang” approach. Through the implementation of these spirals, more and more services will become interoperable. It is anticipated that a spiral will be declared operational every 2 years. Within each spiral, services are defined as follows:
a. Human to Human Services. These are services such as voice, VTC, E-Mail, Chat and web services. They enable individuals to exchange information.
b. Functional Services. Functional Services are tools which provide Situational Awareness or support specialist activities such as planning, logistics, intelligence and medical.
c. Enabling Services. These are nonuser facing services which enable the deployed network to function effectively. Examples include domain naming, network time distribution and directory synchronisation.
Compliance and Confirmation
Nations can confirm compliance with FMN spirals at a number of Confirmation exercises. Compliance is linked to the level of ambition agreed when the nation became an affiliate. Nations wishing to take an NRF or JC2C 7 role on the Long Term Rotation Plan must be in compliance with the latest agreed spirals. Confirmation of technical compliance takes place during the annual STEADFAST COBALT exercise. This is a precursor to the TRIDENT exercises where the Staff are evaluated in their command process.
Conclusions
The success of the FMN initiative will depend largely upon the engagement of nations. The governance structure enables nations to engage and the implementation of different affiliate levels is designed to be inclusive. Spiral development ensures that services are only included into the framework once they have been thoroughly evaluated and tested. The formal confirmation activities provide an opportunity to assess the level of compliance across the Alliance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lt Col Martin Bever is currently SO1 Capability Development in the G6 Branch at HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
7 Joint Command and Control Capability.
46 ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS