From the Editor-in-Chief E
nabling modernization … why wouldn’t you? By our very nature, humans react to stimuli. Heat, cold and pain have led us to develop complex immune systems, to be sensitive to what can hurt
us and, most importantly, taught us how to adapt to the environment in order to survive. Tis “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs” approach to life is what led us from living in caves to creating the technological wonders that are today’s cities (OK, some need work still). Today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be even better than today.
Like the basic human reaction to stimuli, modernization is the military’s reaction to external threats. It is our ability to collab- orate, adapt to the current environment and neutralize threats that creates the next generation of materiel. And it will create a future of modernization that cements the United States' technological superiority once again. However, sometimes we are our own worst enemy in creating the environment, the processes that encourage or even enable modernization. Policies, rules, regulations, organization structures, current technology, costs and politics all have a role to play in thwart- ing modernization efforts. Insofar as it's within our power, it’s our job as acquisition professionals to identify them and clear the way for the future.
Don’t get me wrong, the U.S. military has the most techno- logically advanced force on Earth. In the issue before last, the previous Army acquisition executive, Dr. Bruce D. Jette, recited numerous examples of great accomplishments in improving and modernizing the force. Among them:
• An Extended Range Cannon Artillery system projectile, which has more than twice the current range.
• The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, which entered full-rate production—the first vehicle purpose-built for modern battlefield networks.
• The Mounted Assured Position, Navigation and Timing System, fielded for GPS-degraded or GPS-denied envi- ronments.
• Fielding of 24 Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnais- sance and Surveillance System aircraft, which will provide a persistent capability to detect, locate, classify, identify and track targets.
• Development of the Persistent Cyber Training Environ- ment system, which will support real-world defensive
missions across boundaries and networks.
• The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, with improved survivability and force protec- tion, is nearing production and will incorporate future technologies.
But, keeping up the moderniza- tion momentum, now that’s the trick! Never rest on your laurels, as they say. In that regard, this issue explores how the vari- ous program executive offices, which turn requirements into reality, are maintaining the modernization drumbeat.
Email Nelson McCouch III @
armyalt@mail.mil
For example, meet Maj. Kevin Smith, team leader for install- ing the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, on a mounted platform. His team and Soldiers from 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Infantry Division joined together to integrate the technology, initially designed for dismounted Soldiers, onto larger platforms. Can’t ship your Army halfway around the world to conduct war games? No problem. Enabling U.S. allies across the globe to conduct the most realistic training possible is the job of the Interna- tional Program Office at the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. Working through security assistance and foreign military sales, this tiny office gets big results by bolstering alliances. By providing state- of-the-art training systems and sustainment services, this organization allows allies to train on the same equipment as their U.S. counterparts and know how to fight as a team when the call comes. Related to that effort, learn how the Army is phasing out its legacy training simulators in favor of the Synthetic Training Environment, or STE. With collec- tive, multi-echelon training and mission rehearsal capability, the STE will bring together live, virtual and gaming environ- ments into a single platform.
If you have comments, story ideas or a story you would like to submit, please contact us at
ArmyALT@mail.mil. We look forward to hearing from you.
Nelson McCouch III Editor-in-Chief
https://asc.ar my.mil 3
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