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Returning C4ISR field support capabilities to the Soldier


by Mr. Rich Licata, Mr. Andrew Troy and Ms. Sara Miller I 22


n response to urgent capability needs during the past decade of war, complex mission command systems were brought to theater at a rapid pace, equipping Soldiers with the technology needed to effectively complete


their missions.


However, that quick delivery of new capabilities came with a price: Soldiers who were continuously engaged in deployment prepara- tion often lacked the time and training to learn to expertly operate and maintain command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) equipment.


So, to ensure that mission-critical capabilities were in constant working order, the Army employed the expertise of field service representatives (FSRs) and field service engineers (FSEs), who were embedded with Soldiers and worked side by side with them to maintain equipment readiness and provide technical assistance.


Now, as the Army continues to retrograde from Afghanistan while confronting an uncertain fiscal future, it is examining ways to realign the FSR and FSE roles and shift a decade of civilian technical knowledge back to the Soldier.


In an effort to get “back to the basics,” the C4ISR community, led by the Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications – Tactical (PEO C3T), the Communica- tions-Electronics Command (CECOM) and PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, will reevaluate how field sup- port is provided for tactical communications capabilities. Teir findings will help shape field support for the Army of 2015 and beyond.


TIERED SUPPORT STRUCTURE


Rather than simply cutting the numbers of FSRs and FSEs ran- domly and across every system, the C4ISR community decided to take a strategic look at reshaping field support, using a four-tier process. (See Figure 1, Page 23.)


Tis tailored approach comes after studying more than 7,000 trouble tickets logged by Soldiers at the Joint Readiness Train- ing Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA, and the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, CA. Te Soldiers were using C4ISR systems, which provide capabilities that include mission command, situational awareness and the tactical network. Te analysis, part of an integrated process team (IPT) initiative last


Army AL&T Magazine


July–September 2013


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