Advanced Joint Operations Center (JOC)

Training
Course Description: An interactive and in-depth overview of approximately 40 hours designed
for the Joint Force Headquarters-State (JFHQs-State) / Joint Task Force (JTF) Joint Operations
Center (JOC) staffs, centered on the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) for the effective
organization for and execution of the JFHQ-State JOCs’ core operational competencies. This
“operator’s course” focuses on the roles and responsibilities of each of the core JOC operational
staff positions, including, the J3, J33, J333 (Battle Captain), Operations Officers, and
Operations NCOs. A majority of the instruction is hands-on with practical application being the
rule.

Prerequisites: Students are required to have an AKO username and password, and register
for or possess a Joint Information Exchange Environment (JIEE), and Defense Connect Online
account. Students are also encouraged to complete the following on-line FEMA Courses: IS
100, 200, 700 & 800.B.

Target Audience: All personnel who will work in the JOC in any capacity; who will be
supporting the JOC from a JTF; or who will be a Liaison Officer (LNO) to the State Emergency
Operations Center (EOC), County EOC, JOC, JTF, EMAC State, or Mission Partner.

Course Objectives: At the completion of this Program of Instruction students will:

1. Understand the basic civil emergency management and the National Guard Defense
Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) architecture and concept of operations, from the
federal level to the local level, and the roles and mission of the JOC and JFHQs’ Battle
Staff.
2. Identify best practices for effectively managing internal/external information and
communications during all aspects of an operation.
3. Identify and utilize tools, tactics, techniques and procedures to maintain and promote
individual and collective situational awareness of the internal and external operational
environment.
4. Know how to effectively assign and track military missions, tasks, requests for
information and resources, originating from internal and external sources.
5. Understand how and why to maintain historical documentation and forensic data.

Course Overview:
Day 1
Introductions and Administrative matters
The course begins with an introduction followed by Instructors and Students introducing
themselves and discussing their backgrounds, experiences and expectations of the course.
Administrative matters will be addressed to include the training schedule, local area orientation
and ground rules for the class.

Federal, State and National Guard Emergency Response Overview

ƒ National Response Framework (NRF) and National Incident Management System
(NIMS) overview
ƒ USNORTHCOM and NGB JoCC Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) overview
ƒ State DSCA and Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) overview
ƒ Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) overview
Team Building Exercise
One of two interactive team-building exercises will be used to teach students the importance
of forming and working together as a successful team. They are afforded the opportunity to
develop a decision making process and utilize that process to prioritize items/actions.

JFHQs/JOC Organization, Staff Duties and Responsibilities

ƒ J2 Contribution to Domestic Operations
ƒ Legal Framework and Continuity of Operations (COOP)

Day 2
JFHQs/JOC Organization, Staff Duties and Responsibilities (Continued)
ƒ JFHQs-State/JTF Joint Staff roles and responsibilities
ƒ National Guard Adaptive Battle Staff (ABS) introduction
ƒ JOC Organization, Mission and Core Competencies Introduction

Information Management
This block of instruction focuses on the core competency of Information Management. By
providing a review of and discussion on the Battle Rhythm and its associated activities
/components, the JOC Operators will gain a comprehensive understanding of their roles and
actions in managing JOC operations and in coordinating with the JOC Staff, JFHQs/JTF and
Interagency Staffs to facilitate effective and efficient information flow management and
distribution. The Battle Rhythm instruction includes both lecture and practical application on
briefing development and content, reporting and reports generation/publication, communications
systems and collaborative tools, planning meetings and JOC interaction, and
teleconference/video-teleconference execution.

Day 3
Situational Awareness
This block of instruction focuses on the core competency of Situational Awareness. It is
designed to provide an overview of the collaborative tools and management of Situational
Awareness, tactics, techniques and procedures used for the development, maintenance and
sharing of the Common Operating Picture (COP), Commander’s Critical Information
Requirements (CCIR) and other Situational Awareness products through a series of Practical
Exercises and classroom interaction. The instruction will also identify some of the common
problems encountered in maintaining Situational Awareness, and best practices from recent
DSCA events and JFHQ-State JOCs. This block of instruction will focus on how to best
leverage the following collaborative tools to develop an effective COP:
ƒ Joint Information Exchange Environment (JIEE)
This block of instruction focuses on an overview and best practices of the JIEE and how it
supports the daily operations of the States’ and NGB JOCs by providing an integrated, web-
based database for sharing of critical information internal & external to the JOC. The JIEE
supports the accomplishment of all JOC core competencies.
ƒ DCO Connect Online (DCO) (https://www.dco.dod.mil)
The DCO block of instruction focuses on an overview and best practices of the multiple uses
of DCO within the JOC. Students will be shown how DCO can provide web conferencing,
instant messaging, connect meetings with screen-sharing, white-boarding, integrated VoIP, and
multi-person video assistance with information dissemination and shared situational awareness.
ƒ Instant Messaging
This block of instruction focuses on an overview and best practices of how instant
messaging capabilities can be used to stream line information sharing between multiple users
via text conferencing.
ƒ ARC/GIS Explorer
This block of instruction will familiarize the JOC leadership on how the GIS viewer can be
used in both plans and JOC operations. Students will be shown how GIS technology is used to
collect, store, analyze, and share geospatial information needed by agencies to plan and
support operations and recover disaster-affected communities.

Mission Management
This block of instruction focuses on the core competency Mission Management, arguably
the JOC’s “main effort”. Students will learn the processes, procedures, techniques and tools
employed by the JOC to receive, analyze, assign and track internal and external request for
assistance/information, the effort which results in Soldiers and Airmen providing the right
support at the right time and place essential for mission success. Because the JOC is the direct
link and conduit between the State Emergency Operations Center and interagency mission
partners and the military units providing direct support to the citizens, timely and accurate
Mission Management is vital to mission success. Processes, tools, techniques and procedures
proven effective in Mission Management are shared, discussed and practiced in the instruction.

Day 4
Historical Documentation
This block of instruction focuses on the core competency of maintaining Historical
Documentation. Students will learn how and why to safeguard and organize data from previous
and future operations. Information from past operations serves an evidentiary purpose to draw
a snapshot of what actually occurred, when, why, how and on what authority and is important
for lessons learned, After-Action Reports, audits, inquiries and other requirements. This history
is achieved through strength reports, orders, journal and tracker entries, operations and
fragmentary orders, briefings, JIEE or other types or sources of information/documentation
developed and/or gathered by the JOC during an operation.

Putting it all together, JOC Exercise (JOCEX)

The JOCEX is designed to review all the knowledge and information that has been shared
throughout the week. It enables the students to apply lessons learned in response to a
simulated "event." The JOC will become "operational" and students will be assigned key
positions on the JOC staff with opportunities to practice and test operational tactics, techniques
and procedures relative to all JOC core competencies. The instructors will serve as the “white
cell” and role play interagency mission partners and the JFHQ’s leadership.

Day 5
Putting it all together, JOC Exercise (JOCEX), continued from previous day

After Action Review (AAR)/Graduation

Following a review of the student’s performance during the JOCEX, students will complete
both a facilitated and a written AAR of the course and provide valuable feedback that will lead to
better and more relevant training in the future.

All students will receive a printed student manual and a CD containing all course material
and dozens of “Best Practice” examples of JOC SOPs, tools, briefs, etc… for their individual use
and future reference.
 Finally, graduation with award of a Certificate of Training from the Joint Interagency Training
and Education Center (JITEC) and travel to home station concludes the training.

Through Advanced JOC Training, the JOC “Team” develops an appreciation of their role as
the key instrument for the Adjutant General and/or JTF Commander to successfully “Command
and Control” a National Guard response in an increasingly complex joint, interagency
environment.