OPERATION OF THE COMBAT OPERATION CENTER Once you know the units within your area of operations, who you are OPCON to, and have established a communication network, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) instruction for the Combat Operation Center should be prepared. All key personnel involved with the operations of the COC

should be involved. Special consideration must be given to message handling procedures, situation boards, unit journal, fire support coordinator, and staff briefings.

NOTE: The following paragraphs contain a typical SOP for the Combat Operation Center. The one you may be tasked to design maybe different but should contain the same basic topics.

INCOMING MESSAGES All incoming radio traffic will be written down on authorized message pads with an original plus two copies (fig. 1-11).

A guide for handling messages is as follows: 

FLASH: Not fixed. Handle as fast as humanly possible; objective is less than 10 minutes.

IMMEDIATE: 30 minutes-1 hour. 

PRIORITY: 1-3 hours.

. ROUTINE: 3-4 hours or start of business on the following day.

The message is passed to the communication chief who checks the message for form at, spelling, and legibility. After checking the message, the communication chief passes the message with all copies to the COC watch officer. The COC watch officer assigns the action as appropriate and indicates the action section on the message, such as FSC and S-2. The watch officer gives the original to the journal clerk for logging, gives one copy to the action section, and places one copy on the reading board.

Incoming messages received by runner or field telephone are handled in the same manner as incoming radio messages, except they are delivered to the COC watch officer without routing through the communication chief.

OUTGOING MESSAGES The originating staff sections, such as FSC and S-2, prepare an original and two copies of each message prepared. All copies are passed to the COC watch officer. The COC watch officer reviews the message, signs the releasing block, and passes one copy to the journal clerk for logging. The COC watch officer then gives the original plus one copy to the communication chief. The communication chief passes one copy to the communicator. After transmission, the communicator returns this copy with the time of transmission indicated back to the communication chief. The communication chief returns a copy to the originator. The COC watch officer gets the original with the time of transmission noted. The original is then placed on the outgoing reading board after the journal clerk logs the time of transmission.

SITUATION BOARDS Each cognizant staff section, such as Ops and INTEL, is responsible for maintaining current situation maps and other tactical information aids. Close monitoring of the developing tactical situation is required to ensure that request for support or information are provided expeditiously. The COC watch officer should ensure that any information requiring the updates of maps or charts is forwarded to the staff sections rapidly.

Figure 1-11.- COC message handling routing. UNIT JOURNAL FIRE SUPPORT COORDINATOR The unit journal provides a summary of activities This activity is included in the COC only when the that is used by commanders and oncoming duty battalions are using their mortars or providing liaison personnel to determine the current tactical situation. with higher commands for supporting arms. The FSC It covers a 24-hour period beginning at 0001 local maintains maps, charts, and target lists for use during the defense. time. The journal clerk prepares the journal under the direction of the COC watch officer. All items will be STAFF BRIEFINGS entered in a brief, accurate form. Periodic reports, The operations officer (S-3) coordinates briefings such as SITREPs, will be referenced only. that present the current tactical situation to the battalion commander. The order for this staff brief is Intel (S-2), communication chief (S-3), and FSC.

SUMMARY To be proficient while performing duties related to COC operations, you must see the "Big Picture." Part of the "Big Picture" is to know about the MAGTF organization. There are three types of MAGTFs: Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Marine Expeditionary Force-Forward (MEF-F), and Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). All MAGTFs contain four elements: Command Element, Ground Element, Aviation Element, and Combat Service Support Element. Seabees can be attached to any type of MAGTF as a separate

task organization or to any element within the MAGTF.

Seabees play a vital role in rear area security. They are expected to know the organization in the rear area from the rear area operations commander (RAOC) to the base facility commander (BF). The rear area is broken down into clusters called base facilities. Seabees must know how to command, control, and defend the area assigned to them within the base facility.

It is important that you understand your duties as well as all of the other duties in the COC. Training is the key. A well-thought-out communication plan and standard operating procedures within the COC will help to eliminate the "fog of war." As our motto states: "we do more then just build; we can defend what we build."