EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE FORCE
timeline, thus finding ways to accelerate the schedule wherever possible. Taking on calculated risks where appropriate allows the team to make the necessary refinements and deliver solu- tions to the force.
“Te intent is to get the end users what they need as quickly as we can while also ensuring the equipment performs. It’s a balance between maintaining a certain speed but not pushing too hard on the process in a way that would negatively affect the results we need on the backend,” O’Connor said.
THE RESULTS ARE IN Te analysis of the results and data collected from the testing is a critical part of the process that cannot be rushed. Te CEDS program team collaborates with different independent organi- zations to obtain a thorough analysis. Some of the organizations include the Defense Treat Reduction Agency, National Assess- ment Group at Kirkland Air Force Base and the DEVCOM Analysis Center. Tis collaboration allowed the team to have objective analyses of the data to confirm the results obtained during the testing.
“Due to the nature of CEDS, we want to make sure without a shadow of a doubt that the data we are basing our decisions and test [results] on are as accurate as possible,” said Tim Cadle, CEDS assistant program manager for JPM CBRN SOF. “Tere are no additional sensors or backstops that can confirm that CEDS has decontaminated every bit of agent from the equip- ment. Tus, we need to be very confident in our data to ensure that we can say that the system achieves the right efficacy level.”
Te CEDS test data the team is obtaining will also support the development of tactics, techniques and procedures for use with CEDS when it is fielded to SOCOM. Te testing is looking at actual operational equipment’s efficacy levels and informing the best practices per equipment set.
“We want to achieve a level of understanding for what is operable for different pieces of equipment throughout the test process and pass that information to the end user,” Cadle said. “As an exam- ple, if a protective mask eye lens is difficult to decontaminate to the right efficacy level, then the entire mask would become a throwaway item. If you want to mitigate this and recover the mask, then you would need to ensure that the mask eye lens protective cover is in place during CBRN operations. By doing this, the throwaway item is now the disposable eye lens protec- tive cover and not the entire mask. Tis information gets passed to the end user as a recommendation that the eye lens protective
cover must be worn during CBRN operations if you want to be able to recover the mask.”
CONCLUSION Te JPM CBRN SOF CEDS program team and the SOCOM stakeholder community confirmed that the CEDS small variant prototype design documentation was sufficient to proceed into fabrication, demonstration and testing. Tey also reviewed the technical and test data to ensure that the systems produced for DT/OT testing in the Czech Republic are standardized against approved design information and that future design modifica- tions can be implemented.
“Tis test event moves us one step closer to fielding the CEDS capability to SOCOM, which will improve the lethality of the SOF warfighter by enabling them to quickly reconstitute mission- essential equipment and resume real-world CBRN response operations,” Sheely said.
Te testing event at VVU was a major accomplishment to keep the CEDS program moving forward, but there is still more to be done before this equipment can be fielded. Te small variant underwent operational testing in December 2024, while the large variant will commence testing in the first quarter of 2025. Te team is working towards a Milestone C decision in fiscal year 2025, which would greenlight it for production and deployment, and then equipping the first SOCOM units in fiscal year 2027.
For more information, contact the JPEO-CBRND Public Affairs Office at
usarmy.apg.dod-jpeo-cbrnd.mbx.jpeo-cbd-public-
affairs-office@army.mil or go to
https://www.jpeocbrnd.osd.mil.
KELLY BURKHALTER is a strategic communications specialist at Booz Allen Hamilton where she leads strategic communications programs in support of U.S. Army clients, such as the JPEO- CBRND. She holds an M.A. in communication from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in journalism and English from Syracuse University.
https://asc.ar my.mil
17
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
