Battle Group Poland U.S., U.K. and Romanian soldiers conduct a physical fitness test during the battle group’s first multinational Spur Ride at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 1-2, 2017. Per cavalry tradition, soldiers must complete a series of gruelling mental and physical tests to earn the honor to wear silver spurs. The historic event helped strengthen the bond between the NATO allies and improved their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Jimmy Golden/Released)

 

Manoj Singh, Transport Advisor Planning Commission of the Government of India and Asian Institute of Transport Development Chairman, K.L.Thapar chat with the International Transport Forum's Mary Crass at the Opening Plenary: From Here to Seamlessness - Defining the Roadmap for 21st Century Transport in Leipzig,Germany on 2 May 2012.

   

Philippine Marines raise their thumb to signal their weapons are clear after performing squad fire and maneuver training events May 8, 2014, at Crow Valley, Philippines, during Balikatan 2014. The Philippine Marines rushed across a field while U.S. Marines supplied machine gun supporting fire. The bilateral training increased the Philippine and U.S. Marines capabilities for combined operations. Balikatan is an annual training exercise that strengthens the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military in their commitment to regional security and stability, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman, Jr./Released)

A Spanish engineer (in tan camouflage) looks for simulated explosives with Soldiers of the 1st platoon of U.S. Army Europe's 541st Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, during exercise Interdict 2012 in Spain, Oct. 29. The exercise hosted by the Spanish engineers was designed to foster and enhance interoperability and skills among engineer units practicing counter-improvised explosive device operations based on several IED events during a route clearance scenario. (Photo by Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto)

 

Battle Group Poland U.S. Soldiers put weapons together blind folded during the battle group’s first multinational Spur Ride at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 1-2, 2017. Per cavalry tradition, soldiers must complete a series of gruelling mental and physical tests to earn the honor to wear silver spurs. The historic event helped strengthen the bond between the NATO allies and improved their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Jimmy Golden/Released)

 

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 14, 2016) Sailors remove chock and chains from a MH-60S Helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, attached to the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), on the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73). Bonhomme Richard is the flagship for the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group (BHR ESG) and is participating in interoperability drills between the Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) and BHR ESG. The drills are meant to enhance readiness of cruiser-destroyer ships to rapidly integrate with an amphibious task force to provide increased capability for amphibious operations in support of crisis response or disaster relief. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Gerald Dudley Reynolds/Released)

MUANG KOM, Kingdom of Thailand – U.S. Marines hold an assault position with Royal Thai Marine counterparts during a bilateral combined arms live fire exercise Feb. 15 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The training provided the opportunity for the Royal Thai and U.S. to implement techniques and procedures learned throughout the week including maneuvering under fire, conducting small arms, artillery and machine gun fire. Cobra Gold is an annual Royal Thai and U.S. co-hosted multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and increase interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald K. Peacock/Released)

150615-M-OM669-005 POLAND (June 15, 2015) U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173d Airborne Brigade inserted into Poland via a British Royal Navy Lynx Mk-8 and conducted a personnel extraction, June 15. The mission is one of the exercise scenarios for BALTOPS 2015, an annually reoccurring multinational exercise designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, as well as demonstrate resolve of allied and partner forces to defend the Baltic region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Sarah E. Burns/Released)

170807-N-KB401-261 THE MINCH, Scotland (Aug. 7, 2017) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), the Royal Navy Duke-class frigate HMS Westminster (F237), and the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate Helge Ingstad (F313) transit the Minch, Scotland, during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 7. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)

Soldiers from Company E, 2d Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, prepare for sling load operations with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, during Southern Strike 2023 at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, April 20, 2023. Southern Strike 2023 promotes interoperability between special forces, conventional ground forces, and air assets in order to ensure the U.S. military stays relevant and ready to respond to a peer-to-peer, large-scale combat operation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Taylor Cleveland)

Battle Group Poland U.S. Soldiers are marching for a pass and review near Bemowo Piskie Training Area June 5. Saber Strike17 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces exercise conducted annually to enhance the NATO alliance throughout the Baltic region and Poland. This year's exercise includes integrated and synchronized deterrence-oriented training designed to improve interoperability and readiness of the 20 participating nations’ militaries.(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kevin Wang/Released)

Minister of Defense for the Slovak Republic Martin Glvac (right center) gives an interview to local reporters while posing for pictures in an M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle after Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment arrive in the Slovak Republic during the second leg of the Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 14, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conduct a vehicle convoy through local Czech Republic farmland during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 13, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), that was set up to dedicate itself to the improvement of Healthcare had it's annual Global Healthcare Conference in February 2019.

 

HIMSS19 was used as a platform to perform everything Health Information & Technology related, be it a display of your innovative products & solutions, learning about the untapped potentials by the HIMSS19 Speakers or be it connecting and collaborating with colleagues from all over the world in a variety of networking events.

 

Three of the striking edges of the event were:

 

1) Interoperability Showcase

2) Data Analytics

3) Patient Engagement in Healthcare

 

The HIMSS Interoperability Showcase made us realize one thing: Interoperability is regarded as the best solution to transform Healthcare meanwhile Data Analytics in Healthcare has taken the crown of being the most resourceful subject matter and lastly, Patient Engagment and Security has been an important matter of concern that if done right will have a significant impact on the quality of patient satisfication.

 

The HIMSS Insights we've given in the video is just a fraction of what we've learned at the Global Conference.

 

If you're planning on attending the HIMSS 2020 event you need to go prepared, take a look at how we prepared ourselves before attending HIMSS19: www.osplabs.com/insights/7-smart-lessons-you-need-to-lear...

210225-N-GW139-1115

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Feb. 25, 2021) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Mariah Duran hands out refreshments on the mission deck of the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) in Cape Town, South Africa, Feb. 25, 2021. Hershel “Woody” Williams is operating in U.S. Sixth Fleet to conduct interoperability training and build strategic partnerships with their African partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Coffer/Released)

 

A Soldier from the Hungarian Defense Forces watches as Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conducted a deliberate water crossing in their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles using a bypass bridging site during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

170807-N-KB401-482 THE MINCH, Scotland (Aug. 7, 2017) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, patrols while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) transits the Minch, Scotland, during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 7. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)

170808-N-OX430-144 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 8, 2017) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, and a Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 are parked on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 8. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released)

Concrete steps

Calculate total

Integrated oversight

 

Soldiers from Company E, 2d Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, prepare for sling load operations with a CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, during Southern Strike 2023 at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, April 20, 2023. Southern Strike 2023 promotes interoperability between special forces, conventional ground forces, and air assets in order to ensure the U.S. military stays relevant and ready to respond to a peer-to-peer, large-scale combat operation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Taylor Cleveland)

Sgt. Kalvin McElroy, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and an infantryman assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, coaches a Soldier as he engages targets during a joint, combined unknown distance live-fire range with the U.S. Marines and the Italian Army. Eager Lion was a two-weeklong multinational exercise with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in order to exchange military expertise and improve interoperability among partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Leah R. Kilpatrick, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 1st Cavalry Division (released)

Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, United Nations Commander, Combined Forces Commander, and United States Forces Korea commander; and Gen. Leem Ho Young, Combined Forces Command deputy commander, welcome Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) participants to South Korea, Mar. 17, 2017. PALS brings together senior leaders of allied and partner nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to focus on maritime/amphibious operations interoperability. PALS 2017 is being hosted by the ROK Marine Corps, and is the first iteration to be hosted outside of the United States. U.S. Army photo by SFC Sean K. Harp

 

Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, United Nations Commander, Combined Forces Commander, and United States Forces Korea commander; Gen. Leem Ho Young, Combined Forces Command deputy commander; and Gen. Lee Sun-jin, Gen. Lee, Sun-Jin, Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, attended the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) welcome dinner in Seongnam, South Korea, Apr. 1, 2017. PALS brings together senior leaders of allied and partner nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to focus on maritime/amphibious operations interoperability. PALS 2017 is being hosted by the ROK Marine Corps, and is the first iteration to be hosted outside of the United States. U.S. Army photo by SFC Sean K. Harp

  

Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Combat Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Main Body arrive at Nuernberg Airport, Germany, Nov. 10, 2015. The battalion supports Operation Atlantic Resolve, which is an U.S. Army Europe-led land force assurance training to enhance multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach/released)

Allied Spirit IV trains multinational Soldiers in interoperability tactics such as react to contact, as shown by Spc. Javonte Smith, a member of 2nd Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe, who fires from his turret Jan. 24 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels Training Area (JMRC HTA), Germany. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza)

  

SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, Queensland, Australia (July 10, 2011) – Australian cooks at the Camp Growl dining facility in Shoalwater Bay Training Area form an assembly line to produce “hot packs,” meals-to-go, during Talisman Sabre 2011 July 10, 2011. The Camp Growl dining facility provides meals for approximately 1,500 U.S. and Australian troops. Almost 800 of those meals are sent as hot packs to the field. TS11 is a biennial combined training exercise designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defence Force/U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. It reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Marcus Fichtl/Released)

Eager Lion was a two-weeklong multinational exercise with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in order to exchange military expertise and improve interoperability among partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Leah R. Kilpatrick, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 1st Cavalry Division (released)

Eager Lion was a two-weeklong multinational exercise with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in order to exchange military expertise and improve interoperability among partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Leah R. Kilpatrick, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 1st Cavalry Division (released)

An engineer noncommissioned officer from 10th Special Forces Group teaches to Battle Group Poland U.S. combat engineers on how to set in a charge to cut a metal beam during Battle Group Poland’s live demolition training during Battle Group Poland’s live demolition training during Saber Strike 17 near Bemowo Piskie Training Area June 7. Saber Strike 17 is a U.S. Army Europe-led multinational combined forces exercise conducted annually to enhance the NATO alliance throughout the Baltic region and Poland. This year’s exercise includes integrated and synchronized deterrence-oriented training designed to improve interoperability and readiness of the 20 participating nations’ militaries. (U.S. Army Spc. Kevin Wang/Released)

U.S. Army Pfc. Emily Houdershieldt, a visual information specialist assigned to Training Support Activity Europe, 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, takes photos of a Slovenian soldier during Exercise Allied Spirit IV at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Jan. 25, 2016. Exercise Allied Spirit includes more than 2,400 participants from seven NATO nations, and exercises tactical interoperability and tests secure communications within alliance members and partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach/released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michael Keller, air crewman, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Rein), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, looks out of a UH-1Y Huey while participating in a close air support mission during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and ROK forces by performing a full spectrum of amphibious operations while showcasing sea-based power projection in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Katelyn Hunter/Released).

Soldiers from the Hungarian Defense Forces test a temporary bypass bridge built to cross over the Danube River using one of their tracked vehicles during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march conducted by Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

170808-N-OX430-001 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 8, 2017) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) transit alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 8. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released)

170807-N-KB401-282 THE MINCH, Scotland (Aug. 7, 2017) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, patrols while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) transit the Minch, Scotland, during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 7. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)

A Paratrooper from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, leaps from the 34-foot tower at the Advanced Airborne School on Fort Bragg, N.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Last week, the 3RCR began to arrive on Fort Bragg to participate in the 82nd Airborne Division's Combined Joint Operational Access Exercise 16-01, beginning later this month. The 82nd Abn. Div. is leading a multinational effort to develop an interoperability program with other nations' airborne forces, often their most elite and highly trained military units, to operate together quickly and effectively in future operations. (82nd Airborne Division photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Hull)

Troopers from the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and German National Guard Soldiers from the Regional Security and Support Company, Saxony conduct interoperability training on Range 11 in Oberlausitz, Germany June 2, 2016. This training was conducted during 2nd Cavalry Regiments "Dragoon Ride 2016" which focuses on acknowledging and strengthening the relationship between the United States and its NATO allies.(Photos by U.S. Army Spc. Sarah-Jane Guest)

Soldiers of the Hungarian Defense Forces stood watch as Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, conducted a deliberate water crossing in their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles using a bypass bridging site during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

ITU session on ICTs and Conformance & Interoperability (C&I)

 

©ITU/E.Skvortsova

U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to Special Operations Command Europe, board a U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft during a combined U.S. and German monthly airborne jump, at Stuttgart Army Airfield, March 11, 2020. Monthly jumps at SOCEUR are designed to assess the readiness of paratroopers, maintain currency and to promote interoperability with participating allies and partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort)

Lithuanian army opposing forces faced a fierce defense as they attacked Camp West from Kittensee Village at Hohenfels Training Area Sept. 6. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)

McEntire Joint National Guard Base, home of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing, co-hosts nighttime arming and refueling training during Exercise Agile Lion, Jan. 14, 2020. Multi-functional Airmen and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., execute integrated combat turns during the exercise. This training simulates mobile command and control which enables joint interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Stephen Hudson, 169th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

1st Lt. Kevin Sandlin, troop commander assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, gives an interview to members of the Romanian media about the interoperability training that has taken place, while participating in a multinational combined arms demonstration during an Exercise Wind Spring Distinguished Visitor's event at Smardan Training Area, Romania, Apr. 18, 2015. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate interoperability between NATO Allies, while also allowing members of the Romanian government, along with British military leadership, to watch as the units worked and trained together in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve-South. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)

ITU session on ICTs and Conformance & Interoperability (C&I)

 

©ITU/E.Skvortsova

MUANG KOM, Kingdom of Thailand – A U.S. Marine utilizes his Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) with fellow U.S. Marines and Royal Thai Marine counterparts during a bilateral combined arms live fire exercise Feb. 15 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. The training provided the opportunity for the Royal Thai and U.S. to implement techniques and procedures learned throughout the week including maneuvering under fire and conducting small arms, artillery and machine gun fire. Cobra Gold is an annual Royal Thai and U.S. co-hosted multinational exercise designed to advance security throughout the Asia-Pacific region and increase interoperability with participating nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald K. Peacock/Released)

Battle Group Poland U.S., U.K. and Romanian soldiers start to ruck march to the lanes during the battle group’s first multinational Spur Ride at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 1-2, 2017. Per cavalry tradition, soldiers must complete a series of gruelling mental and physical tests to earn the honor to wear silver spurs. The historic event helped strengthen the bond between the NATO allies and improved their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Jimmy Golden/Released)

 

At the International Transport Forum 2010 on "Transport and Innovation - Unleashing the Potential" on 28 May 2010 in Leipzig, Germany.

U.S. Army Africa photo by David Ruderman

 

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.

 

The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.

 

The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”

 

The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.

 

“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.

 

Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.

 

“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.

 

African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.

 

“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.

 

U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.

 

“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.

 

He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.

 

“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.

 

“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.

 

“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.

 

He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.

 

“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.

 

Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.

 

Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.

 

“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.

 

He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.

 

“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.

 

“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.

 

“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.

 

“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”

 

The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.

 

“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.

 

“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.

 

Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.

 

“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.

 

“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.

 

“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.

 

“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.

 

“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?

 

“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.

 

Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.

 

“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.

 

Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.

 

“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”

 

“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.

 

“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.

 

“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”

 

The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.

 

“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.

 

“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.

 

“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.

 

Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.

 

“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.

 

“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.

 

“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.

 

“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.

 

“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.

 

Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.

 

“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.

 

“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.

 

“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.

 

“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.

 

Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.

 

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

 

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

 

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

 

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464, Detachment A, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a logistic resupply mission in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the U.S.S. Sacagawea during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and ROK forces by performing a full spectrum of amphibious operations while showcasing sea-based power projection in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Chief Warrant Officer Clinton Runyon, MCIPAC Combat Camera/Released).