Communication security

Leave your satellite behind: Marine Corps comms reach improved efficiency

Marines are connecting more easily to one another in the field thanks to a recent upgrade to the Combat Operations Center software suite.

The COC release 6.0.4 and accompanying Marine expeditionary force hardware include mechanisms to enhance communications capabilities even in the absence of satellite links. Deployment began in February, and its impact is now being felt in 208 systems from expeditionary forces down all the way to the battalion level.

“If there is a vehicle out there, you can stay in communication with them as long as you have power. You can maintain voice communication” even without a satellite connection, said Maj. Jon Mohler, COC team lead.

The new capability derives from the implementation of the Wide Area Voice Environment. The WAVE software collaborates with the COC Tactical Radio over Internet Protocol Inter-Communications System, or TRICS, to enable COC users to access tactical radio networks directly from their client laptops.