Kessel Run’s C2IMERA used during multinational exercise > Air Force > Article Display
The Air Force recently used a Kessel Run application during Cope North 22, a multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, large force employment, and aerial combat training exercise Feb. 2-18.
The exercise was composed of fighter aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conducting aerial refueling, close air support, and counter-air missions. These training missions concluded with a large force employment exercise designed to enhance readiness and interoperability among the three countries, according to a press release.
C2IMERA, which stands for Command and Control Incident Management Emergency Response Application, is an application focused on reporting, planning, force generation, emergency management and command and control monitoring and execution. The capability is developed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Detachment 12, also known as Kessel Run, which is a software development and acquisitions unit.
Kessel Run’s role was made possible with support from Pacific Air Forces who directed the application’s use throughout the exercise.
“It helped because we had senior leadership’s backing,” said Gwenn Haden, Kessel Run’s C2IMERA Team operations engagement lead. “[Brig. Gen. Jeremy T. Sloane, 36th Wing commander] was onboard; having his backing really helped our team.”
A team from Kessel Run flew to Guam and trained various personnel on how to use the application a week prior to the start of the exercise. The training focused on each unit’s specific needs.
“There was a high value with our team being there; It allowed us to work one on one with the users,” Haden said. “It really showcased C2IMERA’s capabilities when everyone was putting their data into a single source. That allowed the units to use the application collaboratively and in real time.”
The application uses a common operating picture and dashboarding capabilities as communication tools, which consolidates and shares information for leaders, and boasts multiple features to provide C2 capabilities. These tools are customizable and optimized based on the individual needs of the installation and focus on updating and communicating data in real time to give commanders a constant picture of their installations, environment, assets and personnel.
Airmen used the application during the exercise to track everything from aircraft movement to individual personnel’s medical status and movement in real time. The capabilities C2IMERA provided enhanced the Agile Combat Employment environment by providing leadership constant situational awareness on their aircraft, personnel, fuels, communications status, and more, at the forward operating locations, according to Haden.
“For airfield management, we used it for aircraft accountability, arrivals and departures, tail-number tracking, we also used it for the common operating picture,” said Staff Sgt. Rebekah Kowalczyk, 36th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield operations. “Before we had this, we had Excel documents, PowerPoints, and Word documents that we would use on the share-drive. We also are able to use it on the airfield for real-time updates, rather than having to come into the office with the updated information.”
The exercise was composed of fighter aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force conducting aerial refueling, close air support, and counter-air missions. These training missions concluded with a large force employment exercise designed to enhance readiness and interoperability among the three countries, according to a press release.
C2IMERA, which stands for Command and Control Incident Management Emergency Response Application, is an application focused on reporting, planning, force generation, emergency management and command and control monitoring and execution. The capability is developed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Detachment 12, also known as Kessel Run, which is a software development and acquisitions unit.
Kessel Run’s role was made possible with support from Pacific Air Forces who directed the application’s use throughout the exercise.
“It helped because we had senior leadership’s backing,” said Gwenn Haden, Kessel Run’s C2IMERA Team operations engagement lead. “[Brig. Gen. Jeremy T. Sloane, 36th Wing commander] was onboard; having his backing really helped our team.”
A team from Kessel Run flew to Guam and trained various personnel on how to use the application a week prior to the start of the exercise. The training focused on each unit’s specific needs.
“There was a high value with our team being there; It allowed us to work one on one with the users,” Haden said. “It really showcased C2IMERA’s capabilities when everyone was putting their data into a single source. That allowed the units to use the application collaboratively and in real time.”
The application uses a common operating picture and dashboarding capabilities as communication tools, which consolidates and shares information for leaders, and boasts multiple features to provide C2 capabilities. These tools are customizable and optimized based on the individual needs of the installation and focus on updating and communicating data in real time to give commanders a constant picture of their installations, environment, assets and personnel.
Airmen used the application during the exercise to track everything from aircraft movement to individual personnel’s medical status and movement in real time. The capabilities C2IMERA provided enhanced the Agile Combat Employment environment by providing leadership constant situational awareness on their aircraft, personnel, fuels, communications status, and more, at the forward operating locations, according to Haden.
“For airfield management, we used it for aircraft accountability, arrivals and departures, tail-number tracking, we also used it for the common operating picture,” said Staff Sgt. Rebekah Kowalczyk, 36th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield operations. “Before we had this, we had Excel documents, PowerPoints, and Word documents that we would use on the share-drive. We also are able to use it on the airfield for real-time updates, rather than having to come into the office with the updated information.”
Last year, Kessel Run’s C2IMERA was used in support of the Noncombatant Evacuation Operation in Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge. The application used during Cope North 22 showcases the advances Kessel Run’s applications are making toward modernizing the Air Force and delivering enhanced capabilities.
“We would not be able to achieve these milestones without the support of our users,” said Col. Brian Beachkofski, Kessel Run commander. “We are committed in our efforts to deliver capabilities that meet our Airmen’s needs.”
