Joint Forces Command Conducts JNTC Exercise
January 16, 2004

The Department of Defense announced today that U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) will conduct the first joint national training capability horizontal training exercise from Jan. 18-30, 2004. This exercise is the first of many planned JNTC exercises, which will pull together service training sites, systems, and exercises to meet the needs of combatant commanders to fight in a joint environment. This and future exercises will lead to initial operational capability of JNTC by October 2004. The joint training will build on the Services’ training exercises to provide a common picture that includes all exercise data from across the military-whether live, virtual (manned simulators) or constructive (computer simulations).

The exercise will integrate a U.S. Army National Training Center rotation at Fort Irwin, Calif.; a U.S. Air Force air warrior exercise conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; a U.S. Marine Corps combined arms exercise conducted at Marine Corps Air/Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, Calif; and a U.S. Navy surface launched attack missile exercise conducted from ships in port at San Diego, Calif. Special operations forces will also participate in the exercise. This exercise will link participants from 16 different sites across the nation including simulators and simulations from 12 locations.

This USJFCOM supported exercise will make a significant contribution to improving joint training by enhancing the military’s ability to operate jointly at the tactical level-to train as we fight.

USJFCOM will host a media day during the exercise at the Joint Training and Simulation Center in Suffolk, Va. For more information on this exercise and the media day, contact Capt. Michael Armistead at (757) 686-7193.