Operational Working Group

1. Operational Working Group Exercise Specifications Conference (ESC) 23rd – 27th September 2013 Zagreb, Croatia Co-Chairs LTC Petar Vrategov LTC Ana Hajdić

2. Introductions Operational Working Group

3. ESC Operational WG Objectives Review Operational Working Group responsibilities and tasks Finalize draft EXSPEC and submit to Steering Group for approval Review Overall SEESIM Objectives Review the Exercise Training Audience (TA) Discuss EXCON design Discuss concept for TA Seminars and Workshops

4. ESC Operational WG Objectives Review and discuss initial National Scenarios and Training Objectives Discuss Training Objectives Development Process Review SEESIM 12 Lessons Learned and Recommendations Discuss MEL/MIL Development Process Review Exercise Planning and Execution dates

5. ESC Operational WG Objectives Discuss Manning Document (present a proposed draft for update at the IPC) Develop POA&M Determine Operational Working Group Objectives for the IPC Identify and discuss any remaining Operational Issues Draft Operational Working Group minutes

6. Operational Working Group Composition Co-chaired by Croatia and Bulgaria At least one representative from each participating nation, HQ SEEBRIG, supporting organizations, observer nations, and IO/NGO with appropriate civil-military experience in emergency response activities

7. Operational Working Group Responsibilities Identify issues and provide recommendations to the Steering Group regarding operational aspects of the Exercise design Provide a report of discussions and issues requiring Steering Group guidance Provide direction and operational Exercise requirements to the Technical Working Group Coordinate the development of national training objectives

8. Operational Working Group Specified Tasks Identify the Exercise participants and training audience at the national level Design the Exercise (scenario, scripted events, operational database requirements, Exercise Control (EXCON) organization, academic/training requirements, floor plan, etc.) Develop the SEESIM 14 Exercise Specification (EXSPEC) Develop and manage the Exercise Manning Document

9. Operational Working Group Specified Tasks (cont) Produce the Information Management Plan and Collection Management Plan (CMP) Produce the Exercise Control Plan and Exercise Control Training Plan Develop the Exercise floor plans Produce the After-Action Review (AAR) and Final Exercise Report (FER) Compile Lessons Learned (LL) Develop and manage a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) to facilitate coordination throughout the Exercise planning process

10. Operational Working Group Specified Tasks (cont) Recommend, as appropriate, additional planners and/or participants for consideration by the Steering Group Send unresolved issues to the Steering Group for resolution Provide Operational Working Group input to all Conference Minutes

11. Promote: Strategic Communications Information Management and subsequent Response Operations Regional Information Sharing Solutions to Transnational Issues Consequence Management Counterterrorism Counter-proliferation Border and Energy Security Cyber Defense Capabilities Protection of Critical Infrastructure Overall SEESIM Objectives

12. Exercise Objectives To enhance interoperability and coordination of Crisis Response Operations in multinational environment Standardize and improve national and regional processes and procedures in emergency response; improve interoperability among the SEDM nations and South Eastern Europe Brigade Headquarters (SEEBRIG HQ) Encourage development of national simulation capabilities and interconnecting them in order to operate in multinational environment through common communication network.

13. Exercise Objectives To enhance the mutual understanding and trust between the participating countries To practice and improve information management and flow procedures between and within the Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs), as well as standardization and interoperability for process and procedures Serve as a focal point for facilitating the integration of SEDM initiatives Provide a training environment to promote SEDM and NATO objectives of transparency, confidence-building and good neighborliness

14. “A series of coordinated cyber attacks against the governments of South Eastern Europe followed by biological and/or chemical terrorist attacks on severalcountries with transnational impact. A large natural disaster also occurs. These events result in a breakdown of communications and widespread destruction and loss of life. This prompts a comprehensive civilian, military, and political approach by relevant Government and Nongovernment Organizations in the participating nations in performing essential tasks and exercising the responsibilities necessary to respond to national and regional emergencies… SEESIM 14 Broad Scenario

15. …These tasks promote: Counterterrorism; Counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; Transnational and regional cooperation in South-Eastern Europe; Border and energy security; Protection of critical infrastructure; Cyber defence capabilities; Emergency response capacities; Disaster Relief Operations; Coordinated, effective responses to transnational threats; Consequence management; Intelligence and Information sharing, collaboration and interoperability; Global communications and Realistic national training objectives.” SEESIM 14 Broad Scenario (cont.)

16. National Training Objectives Promote national and international / regional preparedness and cooperation between civil and military emergency planning officials from relevant Government and Nongovernment Organizations (Training Audience) in an effort to mitigate effects of terrorist activities, transnational threats or natural disasters; increase national capabilities to respond to such events or activities Specific National Training Objectives are developed in accordance with the approved Broad Scenario

17. Questions ?

18. Lessons Learned and and Recommendations from SEESIM 12 LTC Ana Hajdić LTC Petar Vrategov

19. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Source of SEESIM 12 Recommendations • National Lessons Learned • FER – US Joint Staff J7 (20 NOV 2012)

20. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Training Audience • Improve English language skills of the EOC (TA) • Design future SEESIM exercises to include participation of live units or role players to provide realism to EOC participants • Include NGO representation in the EOC • Information Management • Build page on the Exercise Portal for use by AAR personnel (OCP) • Documents used by the EOCs need to be written in email form, not as attachments to an email • Clarify message templates to clearly identify how each message type is used

21. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Exercise Design • Identify and resolve any issues with maps early in the exercise planning process • Minimize exercise responsibilities of the Site Manager and AAR Analyst during DVD activities • Consider the use of a Public Information workshop to enhance training experience for the Training Audience • Daily operational rhythm is too intensive • Reduce Exercise duration (4 days)

22. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Exercise Design • Use of JTLS model is irrelevant to EOCs, so why is it used? • SEESIM should include a Post-Exercise Discussion (PXD) to evaluate improvements for the next exercise • EOCs haven’t had sufficient PCs to effectively communicate with other EOCs • Reduce the duration of the planning conferences (IPC, MPC, FCC) down to three days and the EX duration (4 days) • Reduce the number of personnel taking part in the working groups

23. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Exercise Design • Consideration distributing the simulation to EXCON Forward • Conduct a Training Objective Workshop (TOW) prior to MEL/MIL development to ensure each inject is linked to a specific training objective • Training Objective Workshop (TOW) should be used

24. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Scenario and MEL/MIL • Continue the use automated exercise management tool for MEL/MIL development and exercise execution (JEMM) • Sustain use of automated tool to manage the exercise • Use of JEMM improves design, monitoring and control of the exercise • Expand use of JEMM as MEL/MIL management tool • Integrate JEMM with e-mail client for automatic injection of MEL/MIL

25. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Scenario and MEL/MIL • The scenarios should be unified into one common scenario for all countries • Too many different scenarios in each nation resulted in an incoherent overall scenario • Reduce number of incidents in each country and focus on one or two regional incidents • Change concept of scenario to 3-4 major events across the region • Design the exercise to allow for multiple countries to be affected by a common consequence management threat

26. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Scenario and MEL/MIL • Use a single integrated scenario for all countries instead of 12 pieces of isolated scenarios • A more elaborate scenario or an integrated scenario for all countries and SEEBRIG could be a solution for better coordination of all participants • The Design of the SEESIM 12 scenario should have a common regional incident (disaster, terror attack, etc) which primarily affects the Host Nation, leading to regional cooperation • Eliminate Counter-Proliferation as an exercise theme or specifically develop incidents and injects to address this threat

27. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Scenario and MEL/MIL • Number of main events should be reduced to allow EOCs more time to cooperate with other EOCs • Scenario and MEL/MIL should be finalized well before the exercise • Decrease the number of injects to give EOCs time for strategic thinking and planning • Use the scenario disaster as the “Event” during the MEL/MIL build process instead of the nation

28. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Scenario and MEL/MIL • Develop quantified indicators to assess the level of regional objectives achievement • Scenario and MEL/MIL should be set up to reflect SOPs for EOCs • The flow of information was overwhelming and should be adapted to the capacity of each EOC • Develop a coordinated cyber threat that will enable a regional response to a coordinated cyber attack • Employ the use of local journalists to increase the training value

29. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Miscellaneous • Begin the White Cell meeting 30 minutes prior to stoppage of exercise play instead on one hour prior • Identify AAR personnel early in the planning process to ensure they are familiar with the scenario and national focus areas • International organizations participating in SEESIM should provide a summary fact sheet for all the EOCs • Existing data about SEEBRIG units needs to be updated to represent current capabilities • Place one international telephone and a separate fax in each room to facilitate discussions with national EOCs

30. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Miscellaneous • Synchronize national SOPs with other agencies and institutions • Improve national SOPs to facilitate quick integration of new personnel into the EOC • Update national SOPs to include collaboration with international organizations and to improveinteroperability among national agencies • Improve the existing legal framework (law enforcement, IOT enhance cooperation between national ministries, related agencies, IOs and NGOs during emergencies • Ministry of Interior has responsibility for disaster management, not Ministry of Defense

31. SEESIM 12 Recommendations Highlights: • Refine and test plans and SOPs for emergency response to national or regional disasters. • Further develop, refine and publish information management techniques and procedures to ensure contact with regional information sharing. • Further enhance cooperation and coordination among national ministries, related agencies, as well as NGOs in case of civil-military emergency response. • EOC’s SOPs should be reviewed and updated on the basis of SEESIM 12 lessons learned to ensure better mission accomplishment in future

32. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • The C2 procedure replicated in the exercise are sometimes not perfectly adherent to the (ie Rome) EOC C2 procedures. • Use of VTC communications also amongst national EOCs could facilitate the exchange of information and coordination activity. • Additional focus on Workshops and Seminars during the exercise planning to increase mutual understanding and experience sharing (this will give further value to SEESIM activity.

33. SEESIM 12 Recommendations • Role of media in crisis situation (pay more attention to media events • IOs (law enforcement) NATO, EU elements inside EXCON. • Improve English language skills of the EOC personnel. • Emergency communications (both communication management and information management) • Improve understanding of EOC staffs in the region to shorten time to provide assistance.

34. SEESIM 12 Recommendations Improve: • Emergency management structure • Definition of jurisdictions – avoid overlapping of jurisdictions • SOPs to improve interoperability among agencies • Improve national interagency cooperation – better understanding of procedures and actions of other agencies • Designate specific jurisdictions to avoid overlapping responsibilities • Role of media in crisis situation (EOC) • Include representatives from other relevant agencies

35. SEESIM 12 Recommendations Improve: • Situational awareness requires improvement. • More attention on media events. • Activities in response to cyber attacks should be coordinated more thoroughly. • attention on media events. • answer to international institutions requests. • assure that all the agencies involved in the exercise are familiar with the resources that they have in order to engage and deal with the situation.

36. Questions ?

37. MPFSEE SEESIM 14 Exercise Design EXCON MAINCROATIA VTC, VoIP, Web, Email

38. EOC EXCON Forward Site Manager AAR Analyst Role Players Other EOCs SEESIM 14 Exercise Design EXCON Main Remote Site Exercise Director EXCON Director Operations Control Scenario Manager AAR Manager Information Manager Coordination RFIs Guidance Coordination Coordination Information RFIs Coordination JCATS Information TRAINING AUDIENCE National Response Cell Liaison Officer MEL/MIL Tracker JCATS Operator MEL/MIL Injects International Response Cell (Role Players) Messages & Coordination Messages & Coordination

39. Exercise Director Deputy Exercise Director Visitor Observers Bureau (VOB) Public Information Center (PIC) Personnel located in Croatia Personnel located in Croatia and remote sites EXCON Director EXCON Admin Operations Group Technical Group Operations Officer Technical Coordinator Information Manager Systems Technicians (One per Exercise site, plus EXCON Main techs) Scenario Manager (One per Exercise site, plus EXCON Main techs) Comm Technicians MEL/MIL Trackers (One per Exercise site, all located in Croatia) VTC Bridge Operator (One per Exercise site, alllocated in Croatia) Liaison Officers VTC Operators (One per Exercise site) After Action Review Mgr JCATS Tech Controller AAR Analysts Database Manager (One per Exercise site) International Organizations Sr Model Controller (TBD) (One per Exercise site, alllocated in Croatia) Site Mgrs / Role Players JCATS Operators SEESIM 14 Exercise Design

40. Manning Document EXCON Operational Personnel – includes all Response Cells Technical Personnel Determine required billets at IPC Provide names at FCC Training Audience Personnel in Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and SEEBRIG HQ Determine required billets at IPC Provide names at FCC

41. EXCON Purpose Ensure that training takes place by using injects to drive the Training Audience in the direction we want them to go Provide an environment that increases realism and enhances the training experience Coordinate activities of all control elements to ensure a consistent and coherent picture is presented to the Training Audience Capture Observations and lessons to improve future planning and training

42. EXCON Main EXCON Main provides the central focus for consolidation of information, coordination of events, and overall direction for the exercise EXCON Main will be located in Zagreb, Croatia

43. EXCON Forward EXCON Forward will be located in each country or organization which has an operational Emergency Operations Center (EOC) EXCON Forward is the critical control link with the Training Audience EXCON Forward feedback to EXCON Main will determine the effectiveness of the overall regional training EXCON Forward generally consists of a Site Manager, AAR Analyst, Site Technicians (VTC Operator, Systems, Communications), and other Role Players required

44. EXCON Training Technical Training for remote site technicians will be conducted 4 - 5 September 2014 Training for Site Managers and AAR Analysts will be conducted 9 - 11 September 2014 Training for MEL/MIL trackers will be conducted TBD Training for JCATS Operators will be conducted 18 - 19 September 2014 Training for EXCON Main personnel will be conducted 22 September 2014

45. EXCON Training Training for EXCON Forward personnel will be conducted by the Site Manager prior to STARTEX Site Managers will receive EXCON Training three weeks prior to STARTEX A Training Package will be provided to each Site Manager for use in training of remote site EXCON personnel

46. EXCON Training Topics Exercise Overview Exercise Design EXCON Overview and Organization EXCON Key Billets and Responsibilities Scenario and MEL/MIL Inject Process JCATS Model Overview (TBD) Information Management White Cell Procedures AAR Process Distinguished Visitor’s Day(DVD)

47. Training Audience (TA) Training Training for the Training Audience (EOCs) will be in the form: Workshops and Seminars Exercise specific training

48. Previous Training Workshops Croatia Crisis Management Civil Emergency Planning Greece Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense Response To Terrorism Serbia Disaster Management Seminar Turkey Humanitarian Relief Operations in Disasters Cyber Terrorism Border Security Control Defence Against Terrorism

49. Training Audience (TA) Training Exercise specific training for the Training Audience will be conducted by each Site Manager A Training Package will be provided to each Site Manager during Site Manager Training for use in training of their EOC Exercise specific training includes: Exercise Overview and Objectives Scenario Overview Exercise Design Information Management Execution Schedule

50. Questions ?