Recent News

Iraq War Proves Power of Net-Centric Vision

January 26, 2004
By MEGAN SCULLY

Networked information technologies gave U.S. forces unprecedented battlefield advantages during the lightning-fast invasion of Iraq last March, but cultural and leadership barriers hamper the military's ability to make the most of the systems, according to senior defense officials.

The technologies, some used for the first time, allowed military commanders in the theater and in the United States to watch the battle for Iraq unfold in near real-time. Troops in the field likewise had a more comprehensive view of the battlefield than ever before.

Three brigades of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division were stretched out over 300 miles, for example, and were able to monitor each other's activity, which was key to swiftly reaching the Iraqi capital.

The operation was the most extensive demonstration to date of how network-centric capabilities can improve an Army's ability to fight by sharing information and situational awareness.

The current network includes systems such as the satellite-based Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), the so-called “blue force tracker” that allows soldiers to differentiate between enemy and blue, or friendly, forces.

Changing Culture

While the existing systems that feed into the network are technologically mature, net-centric warfare is more about changes to processes and culture than it is about technology, these officials said. Significant doctrine and leader development changes are still needed.

Arthur Cebrowski, the Pentagon's director of Force Transformation, says it is a matter of cultural evolution.

“Culture is about attitude, beliefs and values,” said Cebrowski, a retired Navy vice admiral. “It is the stuff of leadership. In order to [transform] we have to change underlying values, beliefs.”

One such change, argues Army Maj. Gen. Marilyn Quagliotti, is that network operators must become an “integrated part” of the command structure. Quagliotti commanded the Army's 5th Signal Command, based in Mannheim , Germany , in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“In no way do we want to take the people operating these networks out of the fight,” said Quagliotti, now vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. “They've got to understand [the fight]. This is a very complex command-and-control relationship,” she said Jan. 22 at an Institute for Defense and Government Advancement conference in Washington .

The military is also working with the individual service network operations centers to better prepare them to manage the various battlefield command, control and communications systems during a joint fight.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, many of the operators at the centers could not identify “reachback sites,” or databases, let alone connect the sites across the services, Quagliotti said. Many of the databases were used for several mission threads, but information officers did not know how to locate or access them.

Worse, she added, many of the centers did not designate a person “to pull out of bed at 2 a.m.” in case of network failures.

“Those running [the network] and who know how fragile it is can't sleep at night,” Quagliotti said.

Leader development will be key for the future, she said. The services must begin now to grow a crop of young leaders imbued with hands-on experience in command, control, communications and computer operations, Quagliotti said.

The Army's 3rd Infantry Division, which had FBCB2 systems inside their command vehicles, is essentially pioneering that concept.

Maj. Gen. Buford Blount, who commanded the 3rd infantry during the war, told Defense News that it took a lot of training but by the time soldiers left Kuwait for Iraq , they were comfortable with the system.

“We're very adaptable,” said Blount, now assistant deputy chief of staff for operations.

But Quagliotti said she has her doubts.

“Am I optimistic about network-centric warfare and how fast we are moving there?” Quagliotti said. “I'm going to be the nay-sayer. I'm not as optimistic as everyone else, probably because I've been too close to the fight.”

Enduring Lesson

Gen. Tommy Franks, who ran both the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns as chief of U.S. Central Command, told the conference Jan. 22 that net-centric warfare enabled the Army and Marine Corps' ability to work together and track each others' progress.

“I believe one of the lessons identified as enduring is the power of a network-centric approach, which ... affects our munitions, actions and information,” said Franks, who retired from the service last summer. “It's a big deal.”

FBCB2 gave ground commanders a “precise sense of the location, capacity and capability of the battlefield,” Franks said. “What a powerful, powerful thing.”

Franks said he used FBCB2 to watch in “near-real time” the 3rd Infantry Division's approach to Baghdad International Airport in early April.

The system, built by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems of Reston, Va., uses Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters mounted in military vehicles and aircraft to monitor their location. That information is combined with terrain maps and intelligence on enemy positions to create a battlefield picture that can be shared over commercial satellite networks.

Future Enhancements

While FBCB2's performance in Iraq has been lauded across the Army, program officials are looking for ways to better collect data across the forces and feed it into the system, said Col. Nick Justice, chief of the Future Force directorate within the Army's transformation office.

“What we need is common, shared information that I might use in different ways to meet everyone's needs, whether they're a logistician, a combat company commander, or a theater-Army level commander,” Justice said. “Or, whether they're involved in fire, involved in maneuver, or even involved in intelligence.”

The common information could allow the military to take FBCB2 “holistically across” the entire force, said Col. Curtis McCoy, program manager for combat systems. For instance, resupply needs like gas and bullets could be automated on FBCB2.

Blount is interested in something else: He said the Army is looking into adding a manual red-force, or enemy, tracker to the FBCB2 system.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

April 29, 2003

M-03-11

FROM:   Angela B. Styles
Administrator

Office of Management and Budget

The Executive Office of the President

SUBJECT:   Participation of Veterans in Federal Contracting

The purpose of this memorandum is to encourage agencies to focus contracting efforts on small businesses owned and operated by veterans, including service-disabled veterans. This Administration is committed to ensuring that veterans are provided every opportunity to fully integrate themselves in their communities upon return from service. We must demonstrate to our service personnel that we support them in all that they do, and that we fully appreciate the sacrifices they have made on our behalf. This will be an especially urgent tasking within the next couple of months.

Section 502 of Public Law 106-50, the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999, sets a 3 percent government-wide goal for participation by small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans in federal contracting and subcontracting. The law is implemented through goaling letters issued to agencies by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Individual agency goals are calculated as the result of a negotiation between SBA and a procuring agency based on what is intended to realistically reflect the potential of small businesses to perform contracts and subcontracts of the agency.

A recent review of agency progress in meeting these negotiated goals reflects that we are not doing a very good job. A summary of each agency's progress for fiscal year 2001 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2002 is attached. While low numbers are not surprising for the first year after a statutory goal is established, decreasing numbers indicate that we have issues that must be resolved. Although these goals may not be easy to accomplish, we must do better. To assist agencies in locating veteran-owned small businesses, the Department of Veterans Affairs is creating the VETBIZ Vendor Information Pages at www.vetbiz.gov .

This Administration is committed to providing small business opportunities in our federal procurement system, particularly opportunities for the very people that have fought and suffered for the principles behind our competitive enterprise system. We appreciate the work of agencies that have met their goals. We are asking each agency to take another look at ways to provide opportunities for small businesses owned and operated by veterans who are able and willing to supply quality goods and services at competitive prices. We must strive to meet the needs of our veterans today and tomorrow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release # 00-005 Feb. 3, 2000
ARMY EXPANDS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLDIERS, RECRUITS

Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki and Sergeant Major of the Army Robert E. Hall announced today the Army's two new pilot programs designed to increase educational opportunities for Americans who serve in the Army and to open up new recruiting markets. They were joined during the announcement by Secretary of Education Richard Riley and by General Colin Powell, head of America's Promise, a national organization dedicated to building and strengthening the character and competence of America's youth. The two pilot programs are "GED Plus - the Army's High School Completion Program" and "College First." Both will be offered to recruits coming into the Army on or after Feb. 3 and will run through Sept. 30, 2003. "'GED Plus, the Army's High School Completion Program' and 'College First' are in keeping with the Army tradition of providing outstanding military and civilian training opportunities to soldiers and offering America's youth a proven route to success, teamwork and self-improvement," Caldera said. "We expect these two programs to expand significantly the benefits we offer the quality young men and women who serve this nation with pride." Riley applauded the initiation of these pilot programs. "These creative new policies afford motivated and qualified individuals an opportunity to continue their education, open doors to a more promising future, and serve their country. I congratulate Secretary Caldera for this innovation." "GED Plus - the Army's High School Completion Program" will be open to as many as 6,000 non-high school graduates annually -- about 4,000 active component and 2,000 reserve component recruits -- who score in the top half of the country on the Armed Forces Qualification Tests and who score in the top 75 percent on the Assessment of Individual Motivation test. The Army will sponsor applicants to complete an attendance-based General Educational Development program while the individual serves in the Army's Delayed Entry Program. The American Council on Education, ACE -- the nation's umbrella organization for higher education that oversees GED testing -- praised this new initiative by the Army. "The U.S. Army has a long and proud history of expanding educational opportunity through the use of the GED program," said ACE President Stanley O. Ikenberry. "But this new combination of 'GED Plus' and 'College First' will greatly enhance educational access. We applaud Secretary Caldera and Secretary Riley for their vision and leadership. Thousands of men and women who are serving our country stand to benefit from such creative thinking." "College First" offers college-bound men and women the option to enlist, attend college, then serve a term of service in the U.S. Army. The Army is allowing participants to attend college for up to two years while the individual serves in the Army's Delayed Entry Program or in a drilling reserve status. Individuals in the Delayed Entry Program also will receive a monthly allowance of $150. "We want to expand Army recruiting markets by identifying more people with high indicators of retention, quality and trainability," Caldera said. "Today's force requires highly motivated, skilled, and top-quality soldiers to maintain readiness -- these programs answer that need." - 30 - For more information, contact the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office at (703) 697-3447, (703) 614-7434 or (703) 697-7550. Internet availability: This document is available on Army Link, a World Wide Web Site on the Internet at http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/

Army families may now train online
by Paul Cavanaugh WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 7, 2000) --

Army family members and spouses can now receive skills training and support at their desks, thanks to the new Army Family Team Building NetTrainer web site, www.defenseweb.com/aftb. The web site allows anyone interested in AFTB training to register and take available courses online. The project is part of Army-wide efforts to use the Internet to improve service and support, especially for their geographically dispersed and deployed community members. Army Family Team Building is a modular training program designed by the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center to educate family members -- particularly those of first-term soldiers -- about Army culture, benefits, family support and other programs. The NetTrainer online system includes web-based versions of the AFTB level one training lessons, along with a "Student Union" where students can track individual lesson progress, post questions to trainers, and communicate with each other. Lesson topics include "Family Support Groups," "Understanding your Benefits," "Managing Expectations" and "The Army Chain of Command and Chain of Concern." "Our organization has had great success training families on post and enhancing family preparedness," said Vicki Brown, AFTB program director for CFSC, headquartered in Alexandria, Va. "With this site we can reach an even greater number of Army families, no matter where they are located," she added. AFTB has trained more than 20,000 family members in classroom instruction since 1994, and the NetTrainer site is expected to train an additional 4,000-5,000 Army family members annually. The focus on Army families reflects the military's increased emphasis on well-being - quality of life -- issues. The logic is simple: Soldiers with satisfied and well-informed families are more likely to remain in the service. At a time when all branches of the military face challenges in making enlistment quotas, retention is a significant topic. Training is just one part of the AFTB NetTrainer system. Through the site's "TeamLink" area, trainers, and program managers read the latest Army family news, share and download program resources, order supplies and file reports. CFSC staff uses the system's password-protected areas to track local AFTB programs worldwide, allowing them to allocate resources and determine needs more efficiently. Anyone can use the site as a resource without registering. All visitors can access news, site links and a learning center, where they can find answers to commonly asked questions about Army living. CFSC's AFTB staff partnered with DefenseWeb Technologies to develop the NetTrainer system, utilizing the latest software development tools and graphical interface. AFTB and DefenseWeb staffs are working on the next phase which includes translating the training into Spanish and Korean, adding Level II training modules and developing other site enhancements. For more information on the Army's AFTB training and programs, contact Vicki Brown, (703) 681-7400/DSN 761; brownv@hoffman-cfsc.army.mil or Paul Cavanaugh, (858) 272-8505; cavanaugh@defenseweb.com. (Editor's note: Paul Cavanaugh is employed by DefenseWeb Technologies)

Distance learning only part of new Battle Staff NCO Course
by Staff Sgt. Glenn A. Johnson FORT BLISS, Texas (Army News Service, Feb. 25, 2000) --

Rumors about the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course are causing concern among potential students, according to Sergeants Major Academy officials. Much of the confusion is a result of the term "distance learning," officials said. They claim a perception exists that "distance learning" is only video tele-training. "Converting over to 'distance learning' does not equate only to VTT," said Sgt. Maj. William D. Adams, chief instructor for the BSNCOC. "Actually, the course is a combination of non-resident and resident course material, he explained. Almost 1,000 students from the rank of E-6 through E-9 attend this course annually, officials said. Students identified by ATTRRS [Army Training Requirements and Resources System] are mailed a self-study, pre-resident packet, known as Phase I, that they must complete before they attend the resident portion of the course." Students must contact the BSNCOC Instructor/Coordinator Cell immediately upon receiving the Phase I packet, instructors said. Students have 60 days to complete this material. Upon completion of Phase I, the student will take an exam that is accessed via the Internet. Included in the Phase I packet is information that the student uses to log on the Internet site and take the exam. Phase II, the resident portion of the BSNCOC, has its own share of concerns stemming from the start and end dates associated with both phases of the course, officials said. "Although Phase I and Phase II make up the entire Battle Staff Course, they have separate ATRRS course numbers, as well as starting and ending dates," said Adams. "However, you will notice that the end date for Phase I is the day before the report date for Phase II." The final concern about the new BSNCOC is exactly where the resident portion will be held, Adams said. The prevailing notion is that it is at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. This is a misconception, he said. "Each MACOM [Major Command] has a certain number of slots for soldiers to attend Phase II," explained Adams. "These slots could be at USASMA, at Fort McCoy or at any accredited VTT location. The soldier's MACOM will request where he or she will attend Phase II." The Sergeants Major Academy has set up a BSNCOC Phase I Instructor/Coordinator Cell to answer any questions. They can be contacted at by commercial telephone at (915) 568-9211 or by DSN line 978-9211. Additionally the BSNCOC has its own web-site. It is located on the USASMA home page at http://usasma.bliss.army.mil . If these sources still can not answer all of the questions, students can call the chief instructor, Sgt. Maj. William D. Adams, on commercial telephone line (915) 568-9165 or on DSN line 978-9165.

Soldier turning GED to MBA
by Gary Sheftick WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 4, 2000)

One soldier has gone from a GED to almost a master's degree in the last three years. Sgt. 1st Class Will Adams earned his high school equivalency degree through the education center at Fort Lewis, Wash., shortly after joining the Army. Adams had dropped out of high school after flunking 10th grade and spending a second year as a sophomore. "I just wasn't motivated in the direction of school," he said. "I wanted to leave that town (Nashua, N.H.) and expand my horizons." After two weeks of Army basic training, Adams said, he "realized this was a great opportunity and never looked back." Adams eventually joined the Special Forces and went to the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, Calif. There he learned to speak, read and write Thai. Assignments with the Special Operations Command kept him deployed overseas for the better part of 10 years, he said. He worked as a Special Forces medic and missions included trips into rural Thailand to inoculate village children. He also spent time in Haiti where he said 12 soldiers restored the town of St. Marks and its 130,000 residents from "anarchy" to a functioning municipality. Finally, in 1997, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., as a medical instructor at the Special Warfare Center. With time to spare in the evenings, he decided to go back to school. Adams said the Army's emphasis on education gave him the "motivation" to enroll in night classes. "It was the promotion factor," he said. Adams said he realized "what may separate my record from somebody else is an education." He earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Campbell University in North Carolina. Even before he finished his bachelor's, he enrolled in a program to earn his master's degree in business administration from Webster University. He has been attending classes almost every night from 6 to 10 p.m., he said, at the Pope Air Force Base education center. The Army's tuition assistance program has paid $3,500 a year, but Adams said he has carried the bulk of the cost. But all the work and expense has paid off, Adams said. He was picked up for master sergeant on the last promotion board and he expects to pin on the rank next month. In July, Adams is scheduled to defend his thesis: a database for Special Forces medics which he has been developing through a fellowship with industry. After earning his MBA, Adams said he would like to return to his high school in New Hampshire and show the degree to his former teachers who knew him as a flunkout. "I'm sure some of them would still be there," Adams said, "It wasn't that long ago."

Readiness

The Army has a non-negotiable contract to fight and win the Nation's wars. It must always be ready to defend the United States and its territories; support national policies and objectives; and defeat adversaries responsible for aggression that endangers the peace and security of the United States and our allies. To do this the Army must continue to attract, train, motivate, and retain the most competent and dedicated people in the Nation. Units must be manned at 100 percent, and trained and equipped for the overwhelming and synchronized application of land combat power. The Army will begin filling combat units to 100 percent now and will complete 100 percent manning in all units by 2003. The well-being of soldiers and their families is a key element to Army readiness. By demonstrating to our soldiers that the well-being of they and their families is important, soldiers are better able to focus on doing the Nation's business-whenever and wherever required. Committing soldiers on the ground is the ultimate statement of U.S. resolve.