JDAT was transitioned out of the
United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM)
Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) in June 2011.
JFIIT (2005-2011) On February 24, 2005, JFIIT was formed from the capabilities of two organizations with a new direction and a new mission. JFIIT was tasked with improving the integration,
interoperability and effectiveness of Joint fires.
USJFCOM established JFIIT to provide assistance to Joint force commanders and Service headquarters in planning, coordinating and executing Joint fires at the tactical level. JFIIT took a holistic approach to improving Joint fires by providing solutions that produce effective target acquisition, command and control, and interoperable firing systems, thereby reducing fratricide and collateral damage. Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) developed by JFIIT have worked in
theater and have been adopted by the military. JFIIT enhanced joint
close air support (CAS) training for
aircrews,
Joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs), and
Joint Fires Observers (JFOs) improving new technologies like digitally aided CAS by improving their combat effectiveness while reducing the potential of
fratricide and
collateral damage. JFIIT participation in the digitally aided close air support (DACAS) change control board (CCB) ensured services work together to adopt or procure similar systems, technologies, capabilities, and methodologies to obtain ‘interoperability’ between service-specific weapon systems and platforms that enable successful employment of DACAS. With the 2011 Exercise Spartan Resolve, JFIIT, the 505th Operations Squadron Joint Integration Team from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev and the
MCTOG team provided the training audience with a combat-like experience that will pay important dividends to the entire unit." In 2009, JFIIT tested cell phones and netbooks enabling dismounted soldiers to have effective
battlespace situational awareness. Utilizing the
Santa Rosa Island Range Complex, JFIIT, the
46th Test Wing, and multiple military units including
coalition forces participated in a combat identification and air-to-ground targeting demonstration. In 2007, JFIIT participated in a nine nation coalition operation exercise, Bold Quest, to 'solve the enduring problem of combat ID'. Assessment results were provided to each nation to determine what equipment could be fielded in the future to enhance coalition combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide. The countries that participated in this event included: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and NATO. JFIIT's team was formed from the Joint Combat Identification Evaluation Team (JCIET) and the Joint Close Air Support Joint Test Team (JCAS JTT).
JCIET (2000-2005) JCIET became a joint activity under
USJFCOM in October 2000 and evolved into an annual event that was the nation's primary means to analyze how the military identifies friendly and enemy targets on the battlefield. JCIET assessed issues associated with combat identification and finding doctrinal, technological, and procedural solutions to reduce the incidence of fratricide. JCIET coordinated joint exercises in which multiple Service platforms are tested for performance in detection, tracking, and identification of airborne threats. The data collection and evaluation from these exercises aided in determining how to address the advanced
cruise missile threat.
ASCIET (1995-1999) The All Service Combat Identification Team (ASCIET), the forerunner of JCIET, was established in 1994. In September 1995, ASCIET 95, a live, joint evaluation was held in the
Gulf of Mexico near
Gulfport, Mississippi to improve combat identification and thereby minimize fratricide among the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. In 1999, ASCIET brought all four branches of the U.S. military to
Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia for a two-week exercise in friendly fire prevention. ASCIET was outgrowth of the Joint Air Defense Operations/Joint Engagement Zone (JADO/JEZ) Joint Test and Evaluation (JT&E) Joint Test Force under the direction of the Joint Staff strategic plans and programs.
JCAS JTT (1997-2005) JCAS JTT was tasked by the
Office of the Secretary of Defense to improve the operational effectiveness of joint U.S. close air support. At this time, distinguishing between neutral and hostile aircraft was probably the hardest combat ID challenge. In 2001, before the current taken-for-granted GPS tracking, the JCAS team instrumented every player in a training event at the
Fort Irwin National Training Center and
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center to provide the simulated battle in real time for analysis. The analysis team can see where everyone was at all times during the battle, assisting with the evaluation. ==See also==