complexity out of our systems, simplify and standardize user interfaces, and teach Soldiers through apps, videos and chat how to reinforce or in some cases replace over-the-shoulder training on systems that do not require it. But the acquisition community can only do so much on this score, as true proficiency requires repeti- tive hands-on experience with the systems. Commanders must ensure that units are exercising their communications systems, incorporating them into training events at every opportunity and prioritizing communications training as part of sus- tainable readiness.


However, in order for this to happen, the development and acquisition community needs to help our commanders. Te com- munity must design and improve systems to be less burdensome to integrate into home station training events by making them smaller, faster, simpler, more rug- ged and easily transportable. Tese are all common refrains I heard while talking to operational units. If we don’t work across the community to heed these require- ments, units will continue to leave their fielded systems behind at home station and deploy with less capability. Tis is problematic, as we must stay ahead of


our potential adversaries and continue to leverage rapidly changing commercially available technology.


‘MAKE IT SIMPLER’ Based on feedback from operational units, the evolution of the threat environment and the pace of information technology advancement, we are now improving our business practices. We are pushing our research and development efforts, as well as the defense industry, toward simplifica- tion and standardization.


Key to these efforts are movement to a standard common software baseline across our mission command systems, simplifying user interfaces, virtualizing hardware components where technol- ogy allows and fielding smaller and more expeditionary communications capa- bility. PEO C3T is addressing these concerns and issues across the portfolio, including fielding the air-transportable Tactical Communications Node – Light, which provides light infantry units with vehicle-mounted (on the High Mobil- ity Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) mobile, high- bandwidth connectivity; a


lightweight satellite communications capability called Transportable Tactical


Command Communications, which will provide a satellite link that’s easy to set up during early phases of operations; and continuing development of the Com- mand Post Computing Environment, which reduces the number of stovepiped mission command systems and hardware in the command post.


Te above efforts, and others, aim to develop a network foundation for achiev- ing mission command, assured and interoperable communications, and information links across a multidomain architecture. But change does not come quickly, and we must continue to support the near-term readiness of our formations with better and more numerous training opportunities while we try to field less complex, more robust capabilities.


From an institutional perspective, the Army needs to strengthen integration and synchronization across doctrine, organi- zation, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel and facilities, to better support the readiness of our for- mations. Te Army is working toward an integrated approach across new equip- ment, institutional and sustainment training.


FRESH LOOK


The author inspects equipment newly fielded to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado, in February 2017. He had no acquisition experience before arriving at PEO C3T to be the face of the organization to the operational units designated to use the network and communications equipment it acquires. (U.S. Army photo)


ASC.ARMY.MIL


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COMMENTARY


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