Army integrates tactical vehicles for fall assessments

Photo By Vanessa Flores | While inside a command post, in blue projector lighting, a group of Soldiers receive new equipment training from Jim Clarke of CERDEC, their training will help them complete their missions during NIE 16.1/AWA.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

08.04.2015

Story by Vanessa Flores 

ASA(ALT) System of Systems Integration Directorate Public Affairs

FORT BLISS, Texas -- Imagine large Army tactical vehicles as far as the eye can see -- that is the current state of the Integration Motor Pool at Fort Bliss, Texas.

As preparation continues for this fall's Network Integration Evaluation 16.1/Army Warfighter Assessment, or NIE 16.1/AWA, hundreds of vehicles including Strykers, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and command post vehicles are receiving installations of the Army's latest tactical communications systems.

Following this initial proof of concept NIE 16.1/AWA, the Army's new AWA events will be held on an annual basis each fall to assess innovative capabilities and concepts in an experimental, operational environment. In tandem, NIEs will still be conducted during the spring to formally test and evaluate systems for fielding decisions.

Leading up to each exercise, stakeholders from across the country send in the vehicles and systems that will participate in the AWA. It is up to the engineers, technicians and Soldiers from the Capability Package Directorate, or CPD, to integrate communications equipment onto the platforms and make sure they are properly functioning for the assessments.

With the NIEs now joined by the AWA events, which emphasize joint and multinational participation, the scope of organizations involved has broadened -- leading to a new challenge for CPD.

"Normally, for an NIE event, you are dealing with the test brigade and those organizations that are bringing in a program of record," said Col. Terrece Harris, director of CPD, which is part of the Army's System of Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate. "But for this AWA you have units participating at the corps, division and brigade levels; the involvement of coalition partners and the coalition network; and elements of the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Division will be here as well. So the scope has increased greatly."

With more participants involved, the vehicle count increased by 10 percent for this assessment over previous events. Any increase of vehicles into the motor pool is significant, due to the maintenance, manpower and space that each Army tactical vehicle consumes.

In addition to the fleet vehicles, there are command post vehicles and command post tents that also need to be equipped prior to the start of AWA. The command post capabilities are being taken to the next level, involving more systems than ever before.

"We are building mobile command posts that allow mission command on the move," said Maj. Wayne Gendron, trail boss for CPD. "This will provide units at all echelons the ability to improve command and control operations on the battlefield during expeditionary operations."

CPD integration and planning efforts for the AWA have been ongoing for just under a year, with about two extra months of planning as compared to regular NIEs. Initial planning for AWA 17.1 in the fall of 2016 has already begun, with the Army making official decisions on the vehicle and network designs. CPD must then communicate these decisions to all of the stakeholders who will contribute equipment to the integrated network.

"Our planning involves a lot more action officer work up front," Harris explained. "We help stakeholders who have never participated in NIE understand exactly what they need to do, when they need to be here, and what their mission entails."

While the number of vehicles involved has grown, they must be integrated within a tighter time frame since the assessment will begin earlier than usual. Typically, there are four weeks to build the prototype vehicles -- known as "Golden Vehicles" -- and then another four weeks to build the entire fleet.

"This time around, due to our shorter time frame, we have a week that will overlap," said Rudy Garcia, engineering branch chief for the System Integration Directorate, who is in charge of vehicle design. "During the overlap, we will be completing our Golden Vehicles and starting the fleet vehicle build, as well as doing required Safety Release testing."

During the AWA, Soldiers will be in the field using the new equipment, but before they get out there, they need training on how to properly use the new technologies. CPD and the Brigade Modernization Command work together to ensure the training aligns with Soldier needs and the goals of the exercise. As the platforms are integrated, Soldiers will be able to see firsthand in the motor pool how the vehicles will look and operate.

"Our team has come a long way; we made the platform integration piece happen and Soldiers are getting the proper training," Harris said. "Our goal is to reduce risk as much as possible before Validation Exercises and the AWA begin."

• Date Taken: 08.04.2015
• Date Posted: 08.04.2015 16:53
• Story ID: 172156
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US