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The Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, a subordinate joint command of U.S. Transportation Command, places a significant focus on employability and total force training to successfully execute its mission of rapidly establishing joint force headquarters and bridging joint operational requirements. 

The JECC hosted an internal training event, named Exercise Midway to coincide with the 70^th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, from June 2 to 9 at Fort Story, Va.  Exercise Midway brought together over 120 active duty and Reserve component members from each of the JECC’s subordinate commands – the Joint Communications Support Element, the Joint Public Affairs Support Element and the Joint Planning Support Element – to provide fundamental training on the critical skills required of JECC members when deployed.  

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Richard Surowiec, a JPSE member and the officer in charge of executing Exercise Midway, explained how this event was intended to meet specific JECC training objectives. 

“This is a once in a year opportunity to bring both active duty and reserve component members from the JECC’s three subordinate commands to build esprit de corps in the shared challenges of training in a simulated austere environment,” he said. “We provided the training teams with a complex scenario to further challenge each JECC capability and to hone our skills.”

Exercise Midway merged active duty and Reserve Component personnel in a unique, training environment that simulated the various dynamics of a real-world mission.  The JECC relies heavily on its Reserve Component members who train to the same standards as active duty personnel.  This total force concept creates a strong, cohesive unit that builds upon each other’s areas of expertise to bring even greater value to the joint force commander. 

 U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas Savidge, the JECC J9 Reserve Forces Director, commented on the importance of an event that brings together the active duty and Reserve component to train as one unit. 

“Exercise Midway provided a great opportunity to build trust and confidence in one another and brought all JECC members together as a cohesive unit,” he explained.  “The common bond of shared differences is good for teambuilding as the active duty and reserve component members train together."

Exercise Midway also concentrated on building integration between each of the JECC’s subordinate commands.  JCSE, JPASE and JPSE provide distinct capabilities in joint communications, public affairs and operational planning, respectively, and this training event offered an opportunity for each element to demonstrate their unique knowledge and learn how their counterpart’s skill sets could be employed during crisis or contingency operations.

Mr. Nick Balice, the JPASE Operations Chief, spoke of how Exercise Midway honed skill sets and provided a chance to learn more about the capabilities of the JECC’s other subordinate commands. 

“Exercise Midway offered JPASE an opportunity to practice the skills that have proven critical for all JPASE deployments,” he explained. “Our participation offered the opportunity to train alongside JPSE and JCSE personnel and share knowledge and experiences from the different functional areas.”

The Commander, JECC, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Scott Stearney, spoke of the benefit of these training events and  mentioned that the command is planning similar internal exercises in the future.

“This training exercise has provided lots of great learning and offered an opportunity for the JECC to raise the bar in what we do best, integrate across all elements and build upon the facets of our organization that allows us to be agile and flexible,” he stated. “We will continue to execute these exercises across our readiness cycle to maintain this high degree of employability standards for real-world missions.”

Collective training events like Exercise Midway are an opportune way to bring a unique group of Service members together and allow them to tap into each other’s strengths to execute the mission. Integration of the JECC’s subordinate commands coupled with the synchronized training of both active duty and Reserve component personnel will lead to increased effectiveness as the JECC is requested to support future operations.  

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