TWO Mar - Marine Corps Association II.pdf · Aviation Weapons Center Weapons ... from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One ... functions led to rapid proficiency and enhanced

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS1ST AIR NAVAL GUNFIRE LIAISON COMPANY

I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCEMARINE FORCES PACIFIC

BOX 555331CAMP PENDLETON, CA 92055-5331

1000TWO11 Mar 14

From: Officer in Charge, Supporting Arms Liaison Team BravoTo: Commanding Officer, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company

Subj: AFTER ACTION REPORT REGARDING THE USE OF SAMSUNG TABLET AND KILSWITCHSOFTWARE SUITE IN A TACTICAL ENVIRONMENT

1. Summary: Supporting Arms Liaison Team Bravo (SALT B), 1st Air NavalGunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistanin order to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom, Georgian DeploymentProgram (GDP) Rotation Eight (ROTO-8), from 23 March to 18 October, 2013 insupport of the 42nd Light Infantry Battalion (42GEO) from the Republic ofGeorgia. SALT B was introduced to, and extensively employed both seven andten inch variants of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 tablet with the "KILSWITCH"software suite as a tool for the planning and execution of tactical exercisesand combat operations. KILSWITCH was developed by a U.S Navy softwareengineer team called Digital Precision Strike Suite (DPSS) within the NavalAviation Weapons Center Weapons Development (NAWC WD) program office at NavalAir Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, California. SALT B consisted of 17Marines and 2 Sailors, all of whom became familiar with the Samsung tabletand associated KILSWITCH software. The use of Tablet became an importantforce multiplier for SALT B and greatly assisted in facilitating overallmission success.

2. Topic: Role of Tablets in a combat environment

Discussion: Tablets were utilized by SALT B during the entirety of thedeployment as an expeditious means to plan and assist with the execution ofcompany and battalion level operations encompassing coordination withadjacent and supporting units, battle tracking, target location, targetcorrelation, Close Air Support (CAS), surface to surface indirect fires, FireSupport Coordination Measure (FSCM) development, Helicopter Landing Zone(HLZ) management and Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)operations. Duringexecution phases, tablets were utilized both in the COC, where SALT staffoften used them to brief the battalion commanding officer, as well as whileon patrol "outside the wire".

The tablet offers an organic GPS capability which proved extremely effectivewhen a visual depiction of one's own position was required. The GPS functiondisplays the user's current position overlaid on the displayed map or GriddedReference Graphic (GRG). It also displays direction of travel and provides aroute tracking function, again overlaid on whatever map graphic the user hasdisplayed at the time. As hybrid patrols, those that had both mounted anddismounted elements, often covered multiple GRG sectors, having a man-portable piece of equipment serving as a moving map negated the requirementto maintain multiple hard copy GRGs and maps, reducing wasted time andimproving overall situational awareness.



AFTER ACTION REPORT REGARDING THE USE OF SAMSUNG TABLET AND KILSWITCHSOFTWARE SUITE IN A TACTICAL ENVIRONMENT

Coordination with aircrew also in possession of tablets and in support ofSALT B was streamlined as all players used and were familiar with the sameversion of KILSWITCH and updated map data and GRGs. The ability tocollectively jump to a specific building on a tablet GRG yielded incrediblyexpeditious SA of all players, thus saving time and fuel which would normallybe wasted conducting target correlation while sifting through paper maps andGRGs.

In addition to the aforementioned attributes, KILSWITCH software offers manytools including a CAS nine-line tool, view shed (depicts line of sight on themap), ruler function and many other applications which assist with bothplanning and execution.

Recommendation: Based on the functionality of KILSWITCH software for bothANGLICO Marines/Sailors in TOCs/COCs and on patrol, it is recommended thatthe distribution to SALTs and tactical use of the Tablets with KILSWITCHsoftware be sustained and formalized through the open purchase process for1st ANGLICO. This tool is critical to maximizing the effectiveness of amodern, effective ANGLICO Marine or Sailor.

3. Topic: Portability of the Samsung tablet

Discussion: SALT B carried both seven and ten inch Samsung Galaxy 2 tabletsduring combat operations. Though both sizes provide the same capabilities,the ten inch tablet was used primarily in the COC. The seven inch variantwas used both in the COC and while on patrol. While conducting mountedpatrols, the seven inch tablet was used in the turret to assist theJFO/JTAC/FAC with target location, coordination with aviation assets, andoverall situational awareness. A second seven inch tablet was also usedinside the vehicle by the ANGLICO Marine facilitating patrol command andcontrol from the position adjacent to the twin AN/VRC-110 radio mounts.While dismounted, the seven inch tablet could easily fit in a Marine Patterncamouflage utility trouser cargo pocket, or in body armor mounted tacticaldump pouch for easier access. Some Marines have designed custom pouchesdesigned to affix the tablet to body armor with a flip-down capabilitysimilar to the one provided with the Black Diamond MTS kit, now a USMCprogram of record.

The ten inch tablet afforded a larger screen size which offered the abilityto quickly show considerations for target engagement to commanders. Inseconds, one could depict friendly location, target location, collateralhazards adjacent to the target, ranges and final attack headings for CASengagements. Though the tablet was the easiest means of preparing a detailedsituation update for commanders, fire supporters were still required torefine target location and base deconfliction considerations for approval onother systems. With that said, the tablet was in most cases the first pieceof equipment utilized in the engagement process.

Recommendation: Based on the ease of portability and the negligible weight,tablets proved to be a critical tool during combat operations, whether in theCOC/TOC or on patrol. It is recommended that the distribution to SALTs andtactical use of the tablets be sustained and formalized through an openpurchase process for 1st ANGLICO.

Inherently ruggedized nature and cost.


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Discussion: The "Defender" series of weatherproof plastic cases,manufactured by Otter Box, was utilized for all seven inch tablets andimproved the survivability of the equipment. These cases kept the tabletsafe from scratches to the display face, microscopic dust particles andimpacts caused by the aggressive nature of combat operations, to includedrops to the ground and from the turret inside Mine Resistant ArmoredVehicles (MRAP). The Defender Series Otter Box cases can be easily removedto facilitate cleaning and access to the SD card. During the course of anentire deployment, only one tablet was destroyed. The damage was caused by acomplex attack on the Combat Outpost (COP) in which a Suicide Vehicle BorneImprovised Explosive Device (SVBIED) detonated, destroying the COC. Thistablet did not have a protective covering and was crushed by flying debris.Though the tablet was destroyed, the cost for its replacement would have beenrelatively insignificant. A new seven inch tablet costs approximately $200and a ten inch tablet costs roughly $450. The protective Otter Box DefenderSeries cases vary in price depending on tablet type and size, but usuallycost between fifty and seventy dollars. Employment of the tablet with aprotective case yields an extremely low cost to capability ratio. In theevent that a tablet is damaged or destroyed, replacement is easy.

Recommendation: Based on the low cost, rugged nature, ease of replacementfor the tablet and associated protective cases, it is recommended that thedistribution to SALTs and tactical use of the tablets be sustained andformalized through an open purchase process for 1st ANGLICO.

5. Topic: Training and support

Discussion: SALT B leadership received training for Precision Fires ImageViewer (PFIV-A), the predecessor to KILSWITCH, on Samsung tablets during thePre-deployment Training Plan (PTP) , and quickly became intimately familiarwith its functionality. Employment of the system continued through thedeployment. The initial training for the SALT was conducted by a SubjectMatter Expert (SME) from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One(MAWTS-1) during a period of instruction which lasted six hours. Thesoftware was immediately noted as being extremely simple to use and it wasfound that powering on the system and spending time cycling through itsfunctions led to rapid proficiency and enhanced understanding of itscapabilities. Since this initial training, it has never proved difficult tohave any questions about either software or hardware concerns answeredquickly by KILSWITCH SMEs. While the SALT was deployed, fire supporters onthe ground and MAGTF aviation crews all received KILSWITCH software updatesfrom Regimental Combat Team Seven, and subsequently the Regional CommandSouthwest air shop, simultaneously providing for a seamless transition andcontinued coordination based on identical products. SMEs in CONUS couldalways be reached at any time via email or a phone call and they ensured thatthose employing the system were always well supported. SMEs have requestedsystem recommendations from those who often utilize the system, and arealways open to new ideas and concepts. Open discussion of the operatingsystem has led to the application of new ideas on system upgrades with rapidturnaround. In summary, the system is extremely intuitive and requiresminimal formal training.

Recommendation: Recommend that the distribution to SALTs and tactical use oftablets and KILSWITCH software suite be sustained and formalized through anopen purchase process for 1st ANGLICO.


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6. Point of contact for this after action report is Captain Thomas Daggettat thomas.dag [email protected].

T. W. Daggett


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Documents

TWO Mar - Marine Corps Association II.pdf · Aviation Weapons Center Weapons ... from Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One ... functions led to rapid proficiency and enhanced