intelligence areas become
cross-func-
tional specialists who only have to train on and maintain one type of server.
Te COE will further streamline field support through its ability to deliver periodic software updates and security patches over wired or wireless Internet. Currently, system updates are done man- ually with service technicians deploying to end-user sites. It’s a time-consuming, sometimes risky process that’s vulner- able to human error—and one of the main cost drivers of sustaining tacti- cal IT systems. But as current systems migrate to COE in the form of software applications, there won’t be a need to physically “touch” every machine to make a change. Instead,
systems will
receive updates over the network that can apply to several applications
once—just as commercial systems such as smartphones are updated today.
Te ability to update software remotely also has the potential to strengthen cybersecurity by cutting down on the inconsistency in compliance and the time necessary for manual
at
in the background, with minimal disrup- tion to unit operations.
BATTLE LAB EFFICIENCIES As with any piece of equipment,
the
COE’s real capability comes into play as the Army establishes training and tac- tics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) to enable Soldiers to effectively employ COE-compliant systems in the field. Te U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Com- mand (TRADOC) is already preparing for this change in its battle labs and cen- ters of excellence.
As a start, the Mission Command Battle Lab is working with the Mission Com- mand Center of Excellence and the PM for Mission Command (MC) to bring a future instance of CP CE, known as CP CE version 3.0, into the lab approxi- mately two years ahead of its planned fielding date. Battle Lab staff will experi- ment with the CP CE software
and
current tactical IT systems in different scenarios to support existing command post processes,
identify potential new system patching.
For example, plans call for the CP CE to take advantage of functionality in the Rapid Vehicle Provisioning System, an automated infrastructure that shortens the time required to establish and con- figure a brigade’s Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T) network.
Using the same automated structure, new security patches for CP CE can be delivered virtually and made available for units to download over the network. Sol- diers see an alert indicating that a patch is available for download, and can pull down and select the patches based on their mission schedule. From there, the patches are applied automatically. Te system sends a report when they are com- plete—allowing the updates to happen
procedures, and determine the training requirements for installation, configura- tion, management and usability. Tey can accomplish this without purchasing new hardware, instead accessing CP CE capabilities as Web-based software appli- cations from existing tactical laptops.
PM MC and the Battle Lab will interface with each other over the two-year period, with the lab providing feedback to the PM and the PM providing over-the-air updates to the software. Tis process will enable TRADOC to develop and refine its COE training and TTPs as the capa- bility continues to evolve before fielding. Te result: significant time savings in TTP development.
As the Army fields incremental updates to COE, we will continue to sustain the
ASC.ARMY.MIL 73
battle
labs
and other key TRADOC
organizations with current versions of COE capability, allowing them to evolve training practices continuously and pro- vide ongoing feedback to PMs.
CONCLUSION With its software-based approach, Tesla has harnessed current technology to meet consumers’ demand for electric cars that get smarter over time. With COE, the Army is trying to do the same with a much bigger portfolio, and with much more than driver satisfaction at stake.
Te technical and cultural transition to COE has not been easy or quick. But if we continue to confront our challenges to get COE right, the Army will meet Sol- diers’ needs for simpler, better-integrated IT systems that reduce their burdens in training, operations, maintenance and sustainment.
In an increasingly
worked, expeditionary force, the benefits will last a lot longer than a tank of gas.
For more information, go to http://asc.
army.mil/web/wp-content/uploads/ COE_Flip_Book.pdf.
MS. KELLY ALEXANDER is the COE director for the ASA(ALT)
net-
SoSE&I
Directorate. She holds an M.S. in national resource strategy
from the Industrial
College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), an M.S. in engineering management from the George Washington University (GWU) and a B.S. in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University. She is currently working on a doctorate in systems engineering at GWU. She is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps with senior- level certification in program management from ICAF.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203
