ICC: Coming soon to a base near you

  • Published
  • By Capt. Nathan D. Broshear
  • 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) --  When a crisis happens on base, wing leaders and representatives from various support agencies often will huddle in the wing command post. Operating from this nerve center, they direct emergency services, assess situations and come up with solutions during crises. But the days of the traditional command post, survival recovery center, wing operations center and battle staff are coming to end as bases transition to the new Installation Control Center, or ICC, concept.

The ICC is a standardized alignment of functions, processes and positions that will be familiar to Airmen deployed to forward operating locations. The ICC mirrors the “warfighting Air Force.”

“The ICC is more than just a physical location on an installation,” said Lt. Col. Calvin Romrell, ICC project officer at the 705th Training Squadron. “The ICC is the set of processes and information flow that connect all installation activities. This is how our bases are structured in an expeditionary environment so it only makes sense to use these same setups at our home stations.”

Like traditional command posts, the ICC acts as the central command and control node for all Air Force installations, fixed and expeditionary, regardless of mission or major command. Unlike traditional command posts, the ICC is a standardized alignment of functions, not necessarily in the same facility. Bases can choose to implement the ICC structure immediately at the discretion of the installation commander and parent command.

“The ICC harnesses the capabilities of experienced operations, maintenance, mission support and medical oversight personnel into a cohesive team,” Colonel Romrell said. “The ICC provides the installation commander a single, consolidated command and control center to monitor and execute the installation’s missions. Whether it’s supporting a tenant unit, bed-down, sustainment, redeployment or joint environments, the ICC has the flexibility to adapt and react decisively.”

Another key benefit of the ICC is the ability to support the National Incident Management System and the Emergency Management Program. Under the ICC concept, an emergency operations center will replace the survival recovery center that normally serves to get bases operational after a disaster. In addition to the horizontal integration of critical information throughout an installation, the ICC will provide vertical integration to the new warfighter headquarters organization.

“The ICC must be ... tailorable to fit the requirements of each unique installation location and mission,” Colonel Romrell said. “The enabling concept is being developed to satisfy these requirements and to give commanders guidance, such as regulations and procedures, to help smooth in the transition.”

The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and the 505th Command and Control Wing here are the lead organizations producing the ICC baseline documentation, Air Force instructions, tactic techniques and training recommendations.

So far, the ICC concept is proving successful as a “key enabler” during operations. Airmen at Dyess AFB, Texas, tested the ICC concept during their operational readiness inspection in March. The ICC was one of the main reasons cited for the wing receiving an “outstanding” rating.

The concept has also matured through experimentation in fixed and expeditionary environments. Combat and mobility operations have also validated the strength of the new command and control integration.

“The ICC has proven its value to commanders in experiments, inspections and operational contingencies. It allows commanders to be free from being stuck in battle staff and allows them to be out working issues,” Colonel Romrell said.

Further refining of the ICC systems will take place during Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008. Installations worldwide are expected to implement the ICC concept soon after.