USA–Thailand Combined Communications and Information Board 25-2 – Comprehensive Study Notes

Agenda and Administrative Overview

• Event Name: USA–Thailand Combined Communications and Information Board (CCIB) 25-2

• Classification: Slides marked “UNCLASSIFIED / For Official Discussion” once de-classified dates and caveats are met.

• Event Purpose (BLUF – Bottom Line Up Front): To synchronize U.S.-Thai C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) cooperation, with emphasis on Link-16 modernization, CISMOA progress, Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) integration, and electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO).

• Primary Location: Pollock Theater, Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC), Oahu, Hawaiʻi.

• Primary Dates: 30\text{–}31\;\text{July}\;2025

• Travel Window for Thai Delegation: 27\;\text{July}\;–\;03\;Aug\;2025

• Distinguished Visitor (DV): Major General Suraphol Pholpoul, Director of Plans & Communications Operations J6, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTArF).

Key U.S. Participants and Roles

Key Thai Delegation (19 PAX)

(19\;\text{PAX}=18\;\text{military}+1\;\text{dependent})

1. Maj Gen Suraphol Pholpoul – RTArF J6 Director.

2. Gp Capt Itthikorn Kasetsoontorn – Dir., Technical Affairs Div., J6.

3. Col Todsapon Chulakarangka – Dir., Policy & Plans Div., J6.

4. Gp Capt Patiwat Klansupa – Dep. Dir., Technical Affairs Div., J6.

5. Maj Theeraphat Rueanmoon – Policy Officer, J6.

6. Gp Capt Chareon Watanasrimongkol – Dep. Dir., Ops Policy & Plans.

7. Col Tanapat Patasema – Dep. Dir., Office of Operations.

8. Col Rungsidol Dummanee – Dir., Plans & Projects Div., J3.

9. Col Numphol Paiboonthitipornchai – Ops Officer, Director-ate of Ops.
   …(remaining officers follow similar combat-support specialties).

• Thai Liaison Officer (LNO) to INDOPACOM: CAPT Yuttana Sangma.

Detailed Event Timeline

27 July

• Thai delegation arrives on flight NH806 – ETA 08{:}45.

• Lodging: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (check-in 15{:}00).

28 July – Recovery Day

• Jet-lag mitigation, no official events.

29 July – Relationship-Building Day

• U.S.–Thai Golf Engagement at Klipper Course (USN/USMC) – exact tee-off TBD.

30 July – Kick-Off

• Opening Remarks (tentative).

• Office Call with MARFORPAC / senior INDOPACOM leadership 13{:}00\text{–}13{:}30.

• JEMSOC Site Visit & Brief 13{:}30\text{–}14{:}30; introduction to Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, tools & de-confliction processes.

31 July – Plenary & Cultural Events

• Plenary Sessions & Closing Remarks 09{:}00\text{–}12{:}30.

• Cultural Tour: Fort DeRussy U.S. Army Museum, 14{:}00\text{–}16{:}00.

• Evening Social at The Deck (Ala Moana) 17{:}00\text{–}20{:}00 (tentative).

1 Aug – Independent Site Visits

• Delegates self-select tech labs (NIWC PAC), 3rd MDTF TOC, COMPACFLT N6, or commercial integrators.

2 Aug – Main Departure Wave

• 13\;\text{PAX}\; depart flight NH183 – ETD 11{:}35.

3 Aug – Remainder Departure

• 6\;\text{PAX} depart same flight profile.

Operational & Strategic Objectives

1. Link-16 Modernization Plan

   • Goal: Shift RTArF from MIDS-LVT(1) to MIDS-JTRS; enable Restricted Network (RN) extension and Time Slot Reallocation (TSR).

   • Supports INDOPACOM Line of Effort 3 (LOE 3): “Interoperable, Resilient C2”.

2. CISMOA Status Update

   • Assess compliance gaps in COMSEC keying, GPS PPS dissemination, and crypto-fill procedures.

3. MDTF Operations 101

   • Share Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTP) for integrated fires, cyber-electromagnetic activities (CEMA), and space support.

4. JEMSOC Operations 101

   • Thai introduction to spectrum‐man-agement tools (JEMS, SPARTAN), de-confliction, and “EMSO Kill-Web” concepts.

5. CENTRIXS-CMFP Proof of Principle (PoP)

   • Progress check on cross-domain guard enabling Thai Navy to pull ISR products over Coalition Maritime Forces Pacific enclave.

6. ART VII: FMS ➜ FMF Funding Transfer

   • Decision to migrate outstanding Foreign Military Sales case dollars to more flexible Foreign Military Financing for faster procurement of Link-16 terminals.

7. GCCS-J Thailand

   • Hardware procurement schedule; gateway node in Bangkok; interface with APIIN (ASEAN-Pacific Information and Intelligence Network).

JDN / COMSEC Action Tracker

Connection to Broader Exercise & Engagement Calendar

• CCIB 25-1: 4\text{–}6\;Feb\;2025 (Bangkok) – Link-16 planning kickoff; DISA standards update.

• THAI-TAC WG: 1\text{–}4\;Apr\;2025 – J2-led Military Modernization Working Group; Cyber 5-Year Plan drafted.

• CCIB 25-2 (current brief) completes trilogy, turning plans into executable funding lines.

Strategic Context: Free & Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)

• U.S.–Thai cooperation nested under Admiral’s “Hard Goal #14: Strengthen Theater Alliances & Partnerships”.

• Reinforces the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) communication architecture by ensuring Thai pathways mirror Japanese, Australian, and Indian Link-16 upgrades.

• Deterrence Logic: A unified JDN / Link-16 network creates a common operational picture (COP), thereby raising the cost of aggression in the South China Sea and adjacent straits.

Ethical, Philosophical & Practical Implications

1. Data Sovereignty vs. Interoperability – CISMOA negotiations highlight tension between national encryption custodianship and coalition accessibility.

2. Dual-Use Technologies – AI/EMSO tools can bolster civilian disaster response (HADR) yet also carry offensive potential; necessitates transparent ROE (Rules of Engagement).

3. Cultural Diplomacy – Golf day and museum tour serve as strategic trust-building, underscoring Clausewitz’s notion that war is a continuation of politics by other means; here, politics is advanced by informal ties.

4. Resource Allocation Ethics – Decision to shift \$\text{M’s} from FMS to FMF weighs speed against Thai obligation to pay counter-funding; careful to avoid perception of dependency.

Quantitative & Statistical References

• Delegation Size: 19\;\text{PAX} (Thai) vs. \sim10\;\text{core U.S.}\;\text{briefers}.

• Event Cadence: 3\;\text{major CCIBs} / 1\;\text{FY}.

• EMSO Course Quote: \$1.2\;\text{M} (NIWC PAC).

• Link-16 Terminal Unit Cost (MIDS-JTRS): \$340{,}000 each (FY-25 GSA schedule).

• Flight Times: Arrival 08{:}45; Departures 11{:}35.

Outstanding Decisions Needed (Before 31 Jul 2025)

1. Final confirmation of opening / closing remarks senior speaker (MARFORPAC vs. INDOPACOM DCJ6).

2. Approval of Office Call roster (30 Jul).

3. Evening Social funding source (Official Representation Funds vs. unit morale funds).

4. Signature on ART VII FMS➔FMF memorandum – deadline 15\;Aug\;2025 to meet FY-25 spend plan.

5. Allocation of bandwidth for Link-16 RN extension – Spectrum Management Authority sign-off.

Glossary of Acronyms

• APIIN – ASEAN-Pacific Information and Intelligence Network.

• ART VII – Article VII of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, allows funding reallocation.

• CCIB – Combined Communications and Information Board.

• CENTRIXS-CMFP – Combined Maritime Forces Pacific coalition network enclave.

• CISMOA – Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement.

• COMSEC – Communications Security.

• DV – Distinguished Visitor.

• EMSO – Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations.

• FMS / FMF – Foreign Military Sales / Foreign Military Financing.

• GCCS-J – Global Command and Control System – Joint.

• JDN – Joint Data Network (also used as “Joint Discussion Note” tracker).

• JEMSOC – Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center.

• JTRS – Joint Tactical Radio System.

• MIDS-LVT / MIDS-JTRS – Multifunctional Information Distribution System, Low-Volume Terminal / JTRS variant.

• MDTF – Multi-Domain Task Force (U.S. Army).

• NIWC PAC – Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific.

• P&A – Price & Availability.

• PoP – Proof of Principle.

• RTArF / RTAF – Royal Thai Armed Forces / Royal Thai Air Force.

• SWT – Secure Wireline Terminal.

These notes synthesize all slide content, provide context, and enumerate tasks, making them a self-contained reference for exam preparation on U.S.–Thai C4I cooperation and the CCIB process.