Naval Combat Information Center (CIC) Operations

Operation Officer Duties

• Responsible to the Commanding Officer (CO) for all aspects of the Operations Department.
• Manages the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of combat and operational information.
• Conducts surface and air searches.
• Executes electronic warfare.
• Collects, displays, analyzes, and disseminates intelligence information.
• Prepares operational plans (OPLANS) and training schedules.
• Collects, interprets, and disseminates meteorological information.

CIC Basic Information Flow Functions

• Gathering involves collecting information from various sources.
• Processing eliminates nonessential information by sorting, inspecting, appraising, and correlating data to convert it into useful information.
• Display uses tactical and strategic plots, status boards, and other means such as summary plots, NTDS consoles, and large screen displays to present information.
• Evaluation weighs all available factors and information to make sound operational decisions.
• Dissemination distributes collected, processed, displayed, and evaluated information to relevant stations throughout the ship in a clear and concise manner.
• Control and assist in evolutions like sea and anchor detail and beach landings by offering recommendations and specific information.
• Exercises direct control of operations like EMCON, aircraft, small craft, own ship maneuvers during ASW, other assigned vessels, and weapon/countermeasure employment.
• Provides assistance and coordination with internal or external agencies during operations like navigation, ASW, anti-air, anti-surface, missile defense, target indication, shore bombardment, SAR, tactical deception, and tactical maneuvers.

General Duties of CIC Watch Stations

• Tactical Action Officer (TAO) represents the CO on tactical employment and defense matters, requiring comprehensive awareness of the tactical situation.
• CIC Watch Officer (CICWO) coordinates all CIC functions, surface and tactical information, makes recommendations to the TAO and conn, and oversees information collection and display.

Naval Messages

• General Operations (OPGEN) conveys general information, instructions, and policy applicable to all warfare types.
• Operational Order (OPORD) is issued by a commander for coordinated execution of an operation in the immediate future, effective from the date and time signed.
• Operational Plan (OPLAN) is a complete plan prepared well in advance for conducting military operations over a considerable time and area.
• Operational Task (OPTASK) is the execution of the plan.

Information Purpose

• OPREP-3 Pinnacle reports severe incidents like those involving foreign nationals (especially deaths), high medial level interest incidents, severe oil spills, armed attacks on U.S. or allied personnel/territories, or nuclear detonations.
• OPREP-3 Navy Blue reports minor but newsworthy incidents involving foreign nationals, less severe oil spills, collisions or groundings, Navy nuclear reactor power plant incidents, or nuclear weapon incidents falling short of accidents.
• Unit Situation Report (SITREP) details minor incidents the CO wants to communicate to the chain of command, such as on-base fights, bomb threats, or onboard casualties.

Navigational Plot Requirements

• CIC maintains a navigational plot when near land for functions like shore bombardment and amphibious operations.
• The plot warns the bridge of impending danger.
• Supplies radar information to the navigator and conning officer promptly.
• Facilitates identification of enemy targets.
• Provides gun ranges and bearings for indirect fire shore bombardment.
• Assists in directing boat waves during landing operations.
• Navigates the ship from radar formation.
• Assists in making landfalls and identifying land masses.
• Aids landing ships and craft on beach approach and aids in search and rescue.

Factors Affecting Radar Operations

• Atmospheric conditions can increase or decrease returns, causing abnormal radar ranges.
• Sea return is energy reflected off waves, detected as target echoes.
• Weather: Hot air improves radar speed and range, fog can show on radar, and storms may clutter the radarscope.
• Height of antenna and target: Higher antenna and target heights increase detection range; high-flying aircraft are detected at greater ranges than ships.

CIC Operational Relationships

• Pilot House: CIC keeps the conn advised of the tactical situation, assisting with electronic navigation but not relieving the navigator.
• Communications Watch Officer
• Weapons Stations: CIC enables rapid target acquisition so that weapons crews can engage at maximum range.
• Lookouts: They back up and verify electronic sensors.

Emission Control (EMCON)

• EMCON is the policy of radiating only essential electronic equipment to maintain security and enable undetected movement.
• The ability to operate under conditions of electronic silence for extended periods.

Definitions

• Electronic Support (ES) searches for, locates, intercepts, and identifies radiated electromagnetic energy sources for tactical purposes.
• Electronic Attack (EA) uses equipment, devices, and tactics to degrade, disrupt, and reduce an enemy’s effective use of its electronic systems through jamming and deception.
• Electronic Protect (EP) actions are taken to ensure the friendly, effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum and to reduce the effects of an enemy’s EA, like EMCON.

Message Precedence

• Flash (Z): Process time of 10 minutes or less.
• Immediate (O): 30 minutes.
• Priority (P): 3 hours.
• Routine (R): 6 hours.

Definitions

• "MINIMIZE": Reduces voice and record traffic in a specific communication area for efficient handling of essential traffic.
• Essential Elements of Friendly Information (EEFI): Specific information items which, if revealed, would degrade military operations security.
• "BEADWINDOW": A real-time procedure alerting circuit operators to an unauthorized disclosure. The only proper response is "Roger Out".
• "GINGERBREAD": A term advising net participants of a possible intruder on the radio net.

Communications Security (COMSEC)

• COMSEC protects information transmitted through telecommunications systems to prevent unauthorized access, ensures authenticity, and maintains data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• The COMSEC manager is responsible for the security and management of an organization's communications security (COMSEC) resources. This includes receiving, transferring, and destroying COMSEC material.

Definitions

• Clearance: Required prior to access to classified information, based on a national agency check or background investigation.
• Classification: Material is classified as UNCLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, or TOP SECRET.
• Access: Permission to knowledge of or possession of material, granted only to persons requiring it in the interest of national security.
• Need to know: Access to classified information is granted only when necessary to perform official duties.
• Compromise: Disclosure of classified information to an unauthorized person, either knowingly, willfully, or accidentally.
• Suspected Compromise: Believed material has been compromised but cannot definitely prove.
• Confirmed Compromise- definite proof material is compromised. Example: lost material.
• Restricted Area: Designated areas to restrict access and control movement where classified material is stored or used.

Security Classification Categories and Colors

• SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information): Classified information about intelligence sources; identified by the color yellow.
• Top Secret: Requires the highest degree of protection; compromised material could cause exceptionally grave damage; identified by the color orange.
• Secret: Requires substantial protection; compromised material could cause serious damage; identified by the color red.
• Confidential: Requires protection; compromised material could cause damage or embarrassment; identified by the color blue.
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI): Sensitive information that does not meet classification criteria but requires safeguarding; identified by the color purple.

Controlled Information

• NOFORN: Information is not releasable to foreign nationals.
• EVEY: Information can be shared with the “Five Eyes” US, UK, CAN, AUS and NZ.
• PII: Personally identifiable information.

Compromise Responsibility

• Individuals aware of a loss, compromise, or suspected compromise of classified information must immediately notify their security manager or commanding officer.
• If impractical, notify the nearest NCIS field office or readily available command.

Emergency Action Plan

• This plan outlines procedures and responsibilities for protecting classified information during emergencies.
• It balances personnel safety with the protection of classified materials.
• The assigned roles and responsibilities, specific actions to take in an emergency, instructions for immediate actions to take and actions to take after an evacuation or shelter situation.
• Executed by the most senior person present.
• Implemented to safeguard classified and cryptographic material.
• Implemented to prevent the inadvertent loss, compromise, or destruction of classified material.

Casualty Reports (CASREP)

• Initial CASREP: Identifies the casualty's status, parts, and assistance needed for repairs.
• Update CASREP: Provides current status and changes to previously submitted information.
• Correction CASREP: Submitted when equipment is repaired and returned to operational condition.
• Cancellation CASREP: Submitted upon commencement of overhaul or scheduled availability, but only if the item will be repaired during the availability, while unrepairable damages have to be followed up on.

Casuality Categories

• Category 2: Indicates a significant equipment malfunction that degrades operational capability but doesn't immediately prevent mission completion.
• Category 3: Indicates a significant equipment casualty that causes a major degradation in mission capability but doesn't completely prevent fulfilling primary mission areas.
• Category 4: Indicates a major equipment casualty that significantly degrades a ship's ability to perform its primary mission.

Defense Readiness Reporting System - Navy (DRRS-N)

• Contains detailed information about a naval unit's readiness status, including personnel levels, equipment serviceability, supply inventory, training status, and mission capability.

Naval Messages

• Logistics Request (LOGREQ): Notifies logistics requirements of the ship during in-port periods.
• Movement Report (MOVREP): Submitted every 12 hours via message to track vessels for operational/emergency use.

Training

• Planning Board for Training (PB4T): Develops and maintains an ongoing unit training program, reporting to the CO.
• Long Range Training Plan (LRTP): Includes the Annual Employment Schedule, ship-wide evaluations, examinations, certifications, GMT, medical and safety training, inspections, required exercises, schools, and other training requirements.
• Short Range Training Plan (SRTP): Anticipates how much training can be accomplished, encompassing quarterly, monthly, and weekly plans.

This quiz covers the roles, responsibilities, and functions within a Naval Combat Information Center (CIC). It addresses information flow, evaluation, display, and the importance of planning. It also covers roles such as the Operation Officer and sources of combat information.