The unit then contacts a central information resource, articulates its requirement and depends on the resource to research and provide an answer. The deployed staff must understand the issue fully to form an effective query. The best resource may not be available electronically. The staff must have several technologies for reachback to different resources. The deployed staff must be able to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the information received.
Data comes in widely varying formats, media and file types.
Other units may need the same information and should have access to it. The deployed staff must be able to articulate the urgency of its requirement, especially since other agencies may be seeking similar information from the same resource. Many deployed units, streamlined to improve their deployability, may lack the expertise, resources and access to ensure their reachback efforts resolve these challenging issues. The creation of a nonde-ployed organization to provide reachback support to the deployed force will resolve these issues and provide added value to the reachback effort. The reachback center.