RIMPAC 2000: Exercise “Strong Angel”
http://www.quasar.org/memes/intellimedcom/RIMPAC2000-Strong-Angel-brief.htm
http://www.quasar.org/memes/intellimedcom/currentplanforrimpac.htm
“Strong Angel” an experiment in Civil-Military Operations for Humanitarian Assistance
Project Strong Angel is a humanitarian focused extension to the RIMPAC 2000
Naval exercise conducted jointly by the Pacific Rim countries. (see links above)
The Strong Angel project is bringing focus, energy and resources to the development of new knowledge for refining advanced applications of emerging technologies to meet the requirements of developing a globally deployable, intelligently configurable medical communication matrix
“methods and metrics for mapping the medical matrix”
This is a world class adventure/learning experience in Interventional Informatics and Distributed Medical Intelligence
The major opportunities of this project come from the development of an “open”
Civil-Military Operations Center -CMOC This has been made possible by LCDR Eric Rasmussen, Fleet Surgeon for Third Fleet who has taken a personal and professional risk in allowing the participation of non-military medical communications teams in what has to date been a purely military event. Ie RIMPAC
“To our knowledge, no exercise effort like this has ever taken place. There will be much to develop, much to learn, and probably a remarkable degree of helpful hindsight afterwards.”
The great opportunity here is to conduct experiments that test new biomedical technologies and communications systems in applications that can dramatically enhance our ability to collaborate and, effectively respond to humanitarian needs created from emerging disasters.
((It is expected that the lessons learned from Project Strong Angel will be utilized in the follow on project, in the fall of 2000, where, during the Humanitarian “Mission to the Americas”, the MERCY naval hospital ship will be deployed to the west coast of Central America to 3 ports devastated by hurricane Mitch.))
http://www.quasar.org/memes/intellimedcom/mercy12-99a.html
The Strong Angel Project will help define technical capabilities that must be provided by an intelligent medical communication matrix in order to support a variety of biomedical applications. such as health care, biomedical research, public health monitoring, and health education.
One of the intended outcomes of this open exercise will be to catalyze partnerships with governmental and private sector organizations for the purpose of developing an operational global emergency response capability.
Thus there will be an extensive experimental component to Strong Angel.
dedicated to the trials of information management in an austere environment.
These experiments run the gamut from high-bandwidth video-teleconference support, to the interviewing of refugees for war-crimes documentation using digital transcription, to solar powered computer systems.
Testing of an intelligent medical communication matrix
A medical communication matrix, comprised by a heterogeneous array of networked and “roaming” communication assets, biosensors and distributed knowledge resources with intermittent connectivity and various bandwidths and protocols will be configured and systematically tested.
Applications such as provision of health care in a humanitarian crisis, transmitting reliable biomedical sensor data, public health monitoring, health education and medical knowledge on demand services will be tested in an environment designed to provide a realistic measure for determining the actual usability, reliability and operational functionality needed to support such a variety of biomedical communications applications which will be needed to effectively respond to real world needs.
Some of the intended outcomes-
Study the impact of new infrastructure, services and applications in the design and implementation of an operational global emergency response capability.
Promote experimentation with the next generation of medical communications technologies, in ways that will allow us to examine the demands for technical characteristics such as bandwidth, quality of service, security, and access; and recommend an appropriate strategy for implementing these capabilities in future instantiations
Coordinate adoption of agreed working standards and common practices among participating institutions to ensure end-to-end quality of service and interoperability
Refine experiments to test enhanced delivery of services (e.g., health care, environmental monitoring) by taking advantage of "virtual proximity" created by an advanced communications infrastructure.
We intend to refine our ability to test experimental protocols which can facilitate development, adoption, deployment, and operation of an affordable communications infrastructure, capable of supporting differentiated Quality of Service (QoS) based on applications requirements of effectively responding to an emerging humanitarian crisis in a wide variety of regionally specific constraints.
The following teams have been selected to test the experimental technologies:
(1) DARPA: TIDES Portal
(a) Allen Sears, review by Lee Kollmorgen
(2) DARPA: Lincoln Labs Two-Way translation
(a) Cliff Weinstein, review by Lee Kollmorgen
(3) DARPA: Joint Logistics Collaboration Center
(a) Eric Rasmussen and Bran Ferren, review by Mark Adkins
(4) DARPA One-Way Translation for refugee interviews
(a) Ace Sarich and Marine Acoustics, review by Lee Kollmorgen
(5) DARPA: Interactive Drama - WMD:
(a) Lee Kollmorgen, review by COL Annie Sobel
(6) DARPA: Afloat CMOC:
(a) Eric Rasmussen, review by COL Annie Sobel
(7) DARPA: Strong Angel DVD documentation:
(a) Gerard Gibbons, review by Bob Younger
(8) COE-DMHA: CENTAUR Information Management:
(a) Enzo Bolletino, review by COL Annie Sobel
(9) East Carolina University: Telemedicine Practice Suite and Remote Bridge
(a) David Balch at, review by Dave Warner MD
(10) Unconventional Concepts: RIMS email paging system:
(a) Mike Hopmeier, review by NPS
(11) Solar power for computers and lights:
(a) Eric Rasmussen, review by NPS
.
There is a special effort to understand chemical and biological response capabilities for information management and develop a portal to resources not previously available,
These experiments are to test information management tools with particular attention to epidemiology in refugee camps, and in evaluating our ability to invoke an appropriate response.
-Real-world contingency (minor management and major stabilization)
-Health services (screen, baseline, emergency care, routine care, surveillance, vaccinations)
While it is the case that the experimental aspects and participants have been, for the most part determined … WE ARE OPEN TO ANY INTELLIGENT DISCUSSIONS WITH QUALIFIED CONTRIBUTORS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE
QUERIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO
Dave Warner MD
Dir. Medical Intelligence
davew@well.com
Questions regarding any component of the exercise can be directed to the Officer Conducting the Exercise (OCE), -LCDR Eric Rasmussen, Fleet Surgeon for Third Fleet
who has taken a personal and professional risk in allowing the participation of non-military medical communications teams in what has to date been a purely military event. Ie RIMPAC
Further considerations
Determine Process for working with civilian IO/NGO staff
Identify tasks to be performed
Identify UN/IO agencies skilled in those tasks
Filter those unwilling to participate
Establish mentors
Decline all resources except Red Cross shelter (USMC to provide)
Identify how we would have initial contact to collaborate with them
Identify what role each collaborative agency should have
Identify what physical resources each agency should bring
Identify what staffing should be present afloat
Identify what staffing should be present ashore
Identify logistics and communications needs for the staff ashore
Exercise the Refugee camp Security Plan
Force Protection
Refugee Policing
NCIS & USMC roles and responsibilities
Interactions with host nation security forces
Exercise EOD Threat Reduction Plan
land mine management
mine field identification
mine clearing
Identify how we 'blend' into the UNHCR organization
Uniforms vs. no uniforms
armed or not armed
Coordinate, Cooperate, Collaborate
Exercise the full spectrum of the CMOC operations capabilities:
stress communications systems
stress civil and military bandwidth capabilities and capacities
Identify the How's and necessary protocols for bringing UNHCR, IGOs and NGOs aboard
Transition the CMOC ashore.
Response to Complex HA/DR Incident to provide support
Identify mechanism for receiving initial request for support
Identify definition of complexity and the type of support expected for each major category of incident
Identify the timeline and initial step to prepare for the response
Establish a Civil Military Response Plan for:
Refugee Care
Emergency Medical
ROEs
PAO efforts
Determine if there are Standard 'Tools' available for support of Refugee Care
Employ InfoLink [ICRC software for locating separated families]
Establish refugee health standards
Build to UNHCR camp construction standards
Field kitchen requirements for 350
Sanitation options
Tools for daily regimen within a camp
Potable water supply requirements and methods
lighting requirements
power requirements
medical screening requirements
Exercise Civil Military Logistics Capabilities:
Sea based versus Air support effectiveness and efficiencies
Pro's & Con's and Capabilities of C-5, C130, C12
Joint communication test and timeliness
Exercise Combined Cooperation with Coalition Forces:
Establish Communications requirements
Establish level of support and capabilities
Determine timeline for responses
Exercise Joint and Combined Medical Civil Military Response:
Identify Communications requirements and capabilities
Identify care capacities and capabilities
Identify logistic support response and timeliness
Exercise Civil Military Communications Plan
Identify key participants: UN Sections, Joint, Coalition Forces, NGOs, IOs
Determine lowest technology level
Determine optimized communications technology
Exercise PAO response to complex situation:
Identify best methods to publicize our humanitarian intent
Exercise legal aspects of a complex emergency
Determine distinct ROE's
Establish Legal aspect of our presence, capabilities and responsibilities
Identify combined military participation options
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF GENERAL INFORMATION
Media collaboration
PAO
Reuters
Discovery Channel
UP/AP
Navy Times
Disney ABC
CNN
NPR
Participants
US Military
Navy (C3F)
USMC (CSSG-3)
TRANSCOM
Air National Guard
Army
Naval Postgraduate School
International Organizations
IFRC (American Red Cross)
InterAction
UN Agencies
OCHA (now in East Timor)
UNHCR (currently operating in 40 countries)
WFP (currently operating in 80 countries)
UNICEF (currently operating in 130 countries)
Foreign military
US
Australia
Canada
Civilians
Univ of Hawaii - Hilo
COE
Tripler
Boy Scouts
Girl Scouts
Navy Reserve (CBRE, camp security problem)
Sea Cadets
Explorers
Communication
General sequence
Needs assessment and immediate response
Water quantity, quality, distribution
Food provisioning
Shelter
Security
Communications
Logistics and supply
Transportation
Transport protection
Storage
Registration and screening
Medical evaluation
Social services, education, and recreation
Site recovery
Legal
Care of the civilians
Site responsibility
Permissions
Environmental
International Law
Medical
Link with Fire and Rescue
Ensure radio contact
Grade road for ambulance access
Get precise coordinates for Air-Evac
Get forms for UN landmine injury reporting
Get refugee medical reporting forms
Get CENTAUR installed for real-world
Recreation
IFRC
Games
Disney
Frisbees
Dances
Stories
Astronomy lectures
Geology lectures
Concerts