A database processing application for the Direct Air Support Center

Abstract

The Marine Air Command and Control System execution of Direct Air Support is based on the concept of centralized command and decentralized control. It is completed manually using standardized procedures and controls to ensure responsiveness in higher dynamic situations. This thesis investigates the issues in developing and implementing an automated database application for receiving, processing, disseminating, and recording information as it pertains to the Air Tasking Order within the Direct Air Support Center. A relational database is proposed using Entity-Relationship modeling. A simple prototype of the system is implemented in dBASE IV to demonstrate proof of concept. The major benefits of the database approach is that databases are dynamic and can evolve with changing needs.