Since its stand up in October 2011, the Army’s System of Systems Integration Directorate has lead the Army’s integration efforts and served as a key acquisition team manager supporting the service’s new acquisition model known as the Agile Process.Leading this effort from its headquarters at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., System of Systems Integration Directorate, or SoSI, spearheads the material and configuration management of the Army’s Network Integration Evaluations, known as NIEs, synchronizes the fielding of Capability Set Management, leads vehicle integration efforts and serves as the...
The Association of the United States Army – "Voice of the Soldier – Support for the Army" – is the Army’s professional organization.AUSA offers specialized programs and exhibitions for soldiers of all ranks – active, National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, Department of the Army civilians, retirees, veterans, civilians, military academy and ROTC cadets, family members and the men and women who work in the defense industry.The Association’s Annual Meeting and Exposition, held each October in Washington, is the Association’s premier event that focuses on and highlights strengthening the Army’s...
While thousands of soldiers maneuver across the New Mexico desert to assess the Army’s future tactical communications network, a smaller group, more than a thousand miles away, is playing a quieter but essential role in the Network Integration Evaluation 12.2.For the first time, Army planners have incorporated the role of higher headquarters into the Network Integration Evaluation, known as the NIE, with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., acting as the higher headquarters for the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (2/1 AD).Just as it would in combat operations, the...
Building partnerships with the armies of Asian and Pacific nations is the focus of Gen. Ray Odierno’s trip through Australia and Thailand in mid-July.Odierno, the Army chief of staff, visited first with Lt. Gen. David Morrison, his counterpart in the Australian Army.The two leaders talked about declining defense budgets in both Australia and the United States, a continued partnership between the Australian and American armies and areas of mutual concern to both nations in the Asian and Pacific regions.Odierno also addressed the Australian Center for Defense and Strategic Studies, which is...
PAMS, the U.S. Army, Pacific’s largest theater security and cooperation event, is co-hosted by U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and a different partner nation annually.
This is the third time Australia has hosted the event since it began in Hawaii in 1978.
"I feel honored to welcome so many of my colleagues from across the Pacific here in our nation’s capital for this collaborative...
AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare recently released a new National Security Watch publication, "Linking Latin America and the Pacific: A Strategy for the Long Term" (National Security Watch 12-3, July 2012), that presents a case for tying Latin America and the Pacific together in a strategic context to address some of the United States’ long-term security goals.As the United States conducts a rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region and engages its rival, China, it must develop a global strategy to manage global power.Strategically connecting Latin America with the Pacific will force the United...
In double record-setting fashion, Sgt. Vincent Hancock became the first shotgun shooter to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in men’s skeet July 31 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London.Hancock, 23, a soldier in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit from Eatonton, Ga., eclipsed his own records set at the 2008 Beijing Games for a new qualification record of 123, and total score of 148.He struck gold in China with a qualification score of 121 and total of 145.Hancock prevailed by two shots over silver medalist Anders Golding (146) of Denmark and by four shots over Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiya (144)...
Today, both male and female soldiers wear body armor that has been designed for men.But, the Army plans to field to women next summer a new type of body armor, designed for them, that will be shorter in the torso with more customized adjustments specific to the female form.Until that happens, the 14 percent of the Army who are women will continue to wear one of the 11 sizes of the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) that are worn by their male counterparts.Following anthropomorphic sizing and fitting studies overseas, and also at Fort Bragg, N.C.; West Point, N.Y.; and Fort Campbell, Ky...
The Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment is already reaping the benefits of advanced encryption tools for their Rifleman Radios in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, as a direct result of successful participation in the Network Integration Evaluation 12.1.This Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE, process enabled the Army to field these capabilities much faster than normal acquisition cycles would have allowed."Our efforts to support the 75th Ranger Regiment by updating our existing systems were based upon the positive soldier feedback we got from NIE 12.1," Chris Manning, project director...
There are three special events scheduled for retirees and veterans at the 2012 Association of the United States Army Meeting and Exposition Oct. 22 – 24 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.Retiree SeminarThe Retiree Seminar will provide information from OPM on the Federal Veterans Employment Initiative.Additionally, John Radke, Army G-1 Retirement Services, will provide an update to include support of the National Guard and Army Reserve, as well as other issues of interest that retirees and veterans have an interest.The seminar will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22, in...
"Reintegration" and "Resilience" are the terms resonating through Army family program support in 2012.With the end of operations in Iraq and the reduced number of troops in Afghanistan, many Army families are happily reuniting with their soldiers without the burden of redeployment hanging over their heads.However, reintegration does not come without its own amount of stress.Changes in the soldier and spouse and children, false expectations, behavioral health concerns, and isolation can all play a role during this period of time.It is with this focus that the AUSA will conduct its Military...
In the harsh desert and mountains of the southwestern United States, soldiers relied on transportable headquarters operation centers to extend mission command capabilities to the edge of the battlefield during the Army’s Network Integration Evaluation 12.2.These command post, or CP, capabilities, previously found only at battalion and above echelons, enable commanders at the company level to exchange critical information, increasing the speed of decision-making and providing an advantage over the enemy."A command post is like a scope on a rifle; it magnifies the battlefield for a commander so...
AUSA, in its signature event on Capitol Hill, recognized Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., as the Association’s 2012 Outstanding Legislators at a ceremony in the Rayburn House Office Building July 25.McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, received the award based on his long-time and strong support for the Army as a member and now leader of this committee.In presenting the award, AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, USA, Ret., said McKeon "is known as one of the most knowledgeable members on defense issues and is an advocate for a strong...
After this year, the Army will no longer sponsor a NASCAR team as part of its national branding and accession efforts.But, the service will continue other programs to attract new soldiers and keep itself in the public eye."We do a wide array of traditional advertising, and we also do a whole bunch of digital outreach through web platforms and social media," John Myers, director, marketing support element, Army Marketing and Research Group, said.Adding, "We are in every state and every major market, with other marketing and advertising assets, motorsports, particularly NASCAR, is only one...
As he maneuvered his squad across the desert, securing objectives in villages along the way, Staff Sgt. Jesus Vasquez tracked his squad’s movements not with a note pad or map, but with an Army-issued handheld device.Flipping open the smartphone-like device worn on the front of his uniform, Vasquez tapped the screen to record what he saw – information that quickly traveled over the Army network to the rest of his platoon."We can plot anything from enemy positions to friendly positions to IEDs [improvised explosive devices]," Vasquez said.Adding, "It’s just like a phone – everybody these days...