work

A Tactical Operations Center (TOC), broken down to its core, is all about information and knowledge management.  Think back to when you were a First Sergeant (1SG) at the company level, and the Battalion Commander (BC) came to your company area; where was the first place he wanted to go? The TOC nine times out of ten because in a brief few minutes, the BC can see everything going on from the mission and planning to where your company security is placed and ensure that security is nested within the overall security of the BN.  The TOC or Command Post (CP) is the headquarters where the commander and staff perform their activities of information and knowledge management (Department of the Army, 2017).

BN TOC will contain much of the same information as the company but on a much larger scale with more people (staff sections) from S1 through at least S6 all crammed into a couple or a few expandable tents. Hence, it is crucial only to have who is absolutely necessary in the TOC at all times. The BN TOC is a very hectic place as information is flowing in and out constantly. The staff sections within the TOC are there to control Current Operations (CUOPS), conduct analysis and plans for Future Operations (FUOPS) (Department of the Army (2014). The S1 section is getting and sending reports like red 1 for personnel status, a Green 2 for sensitive items status, and a Yellow report containing various logistical statuses like water, fuel, ammo, and food or MRE consumption. As a BN CSM, these items are my need to know when I walk into my TOC to quickly make sure we are providing the necessary logistics to the force. 

References

Department of the Army (2017). Command Post Organization and Operations (ATP 6-0.5) Retrieved from https://armypubs.army.mil/doctrin/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/atp6_0_5.pdf 

Department of the Army (2014). Commander and Staff Organization and Operations (FM 6-0) Retrieved from https://armypubs.army.mil/doctrin/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm6_0.pdf