THE SQUAD AS AN INTEGRATED PLATFORM


TIGHT SQUEEZE


At Fort Benning’s Maneuver Battle Lab, a Soldier is put through activities that resemble challenges that warfighters face in current combat situations. (Photo by PEO Soldier)


innovative approaches to eliminating cables, and setting size, weight and power allowances across the subcomponents, we can realize significant efficiencies across these domains and help Soldiers reduce their load. Te adaptive squad architecture will be a key enabler to achieve these efficiencies.


“Now, with ASA, the terms ‘extensibility’ and ‘modular open- systems approach’ that are normally associated with information technology systems or larger weapon systems will apply to the close combat Soldier and squad,” Howell said. “Te Army mate- riel enterprise must now be planning for integrated capabilities right from the start of the acquisition process.”


CONCLUSION As new, advanced equipment is developed, the adaptive squad architecture will provide the means to integrate it. Additionally, it will give other platform PEOs (aerial, ground and maritime, for example) a way to ensure that their platforms can incorporate and accommodate the situational awareness, logistics and lethal- ity needs of the Soldiers who use them.


“It’s time to stop making the Soldier figure out how all the equip- ment needs to fit together. Te ASA will help us get a little closer to that goal,” Gerstein said.


“Tere have been many valiant efforts over the years to create a Soldier-squad architecture,” said Howell. “Unfortunately, there have always been significant challenges, either operational, finan- cial, technical or otherwise, that have prevented success.


“Te partnership between PEO Soldier and the SL CFT [Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team], as well as the support of Army leadership and our Soldiers, has enabled the realization of the


ASA and the Soldier Performance Module,” he said. “Te time has definitely come to build and use the architecture that will finally allow the Soldier and squad to be treated like an inte- grated platform.”


Te PEO Soldier and Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team partnership is vital to achieving the goal of the squad as an integrated combat platform. Together, these organizations are improving the Army’s ability to keep pace with emerging threats by leveraging the adaptive squad architecture to synchronize capa- bility gaps and technology development, ultimately providing Soldiers with the capability they need for overmatch.


For more information, go to https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/.


ROSS GUCKERT is the deputy program executive officer for Soldier, supporting the program executive officer in leading the development, integration, testing, acquisition, fielding, sustainment and modernization of more than 150 diverse programs of record. He holds an M.S. in national resource strategy from National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces; an M.S. in engineering management from George Washington University; and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is Level III certified in program management, engineering, and science and technology management. He is Level I certified in test and evaluation. He is a member of the Senior Executive Service and the Army Acquisition Corps.


44


Army AL&T Magazine


Fall 2019


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