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Handheld Tablet Improves Situational Awareness For Marines
by U.S. Marine Corps Matt Gonzales, Systems Command
October
30, 2019
During Island Marauder 2019 in September, Marines demonstrated
the effectiveness of several Marine Corps Systems Command
technologies ... including a handheld system that helps the
warfighter navigate on the battlefield.
The Marine Air-Ground
Task Force Common Handheld is a tablet-based communication system
that enhances situational awareness on the battlefield. The device
enables dismounted Marines to leverage commercial smart devices to
plot and share locations.
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A U.S. Marine with Marine
Rotational Force-Europe 18.1 uses a Marine Air Ground Task
Force (MAGTF) Common Handheld to direct machine gun fire
during a platoon-supported attack range at Giskas, Norway on
August 7, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gloria
Lepko)
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The device includes pre-installed tactical applications to
eliminate the need to juggle multiple technologies for various
capabilities, lightening the load for the warfighter.
“MCH is
essentially an interactive tactical mapping program with a GPS
navigation software and a chat functionality,” said Maj. Richard
Beeson, MCH project officer at MCSC. “The technology feeds the
battalion’s current operational picture with real-time friendly
force positions and allows this battlespace awareness to be shared
down to the squad-leader level.”
The tablet feeds the
information into Networking On-the-Move, while simultaneously
transmitting it to the Combat Operations Center, where command
leaders can use the information to make critical battlefield
decisions.
Through MCH, commanders can disseminate orders,
graphics and digital data, providing Marines the ability to
visualize the commander’s intent and scheme of maneuver.
“It
helps Marines to share enemy locations in real-time in an easily
understood digital, moving map format,” added Beeson.
MCH
enables warfighters to pass messages to one another in
real-time—similar to text messaging—allowing the commander to make
faster, more effective, decisions. It also assists the warfighter in
deciphering whether an explosion was caused by enemy or friendly
fire.
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U.S. Marines with Marine
Rotational Force-Europe 18.1 relay information through the
Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Common Handheld during
a platoon-supported attack range at Giskas, Norway on August
7, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Gloria Lepko)
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“MCH is a Command and Control situational awareness system that
gives the squad leader and platoon commander a better understanding
of the battlefield to make tactical decisions,” said Justin
Meidinger, an engineer for MCH. “This system helps them have a
better idea of what is going on around them.”
Earlier this
year, the Corps fielded an early release version of the system to
Marines. In fiscal year 2020, the warfighter will receive an updated
version of the MCH that allows Marines to communicate with one
another through several additional joint communication systems.
At Island Marauder 2019, Marines demonstrated the effectiveness
and interoperability of MCH by linking it with other satellite
technologies. The risk-assessment evaluation is intended to reduce
miscommunication among Marines who use communication technologies.
Beeson raved about the benefits of MCH and how the system supports
the warfighter.
“MCH allows for communication, collaboration
and coordinating among units,” said Beeson. “It helps everyone to be
on same page. MCH increases the digital lethality of Marine infantry
squads while reducing the risk of friendly fire.”
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