MG Stephen Twitty Commander 1St Armored Division Ft
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tacticaldefensemedia.com | September 2015 Commander’s Corner Army Acquisition Executive HON Heidi Shyu on Procurement Reform USMC Tank Upgrades Brigade-Level Armor MG Stephen Twitty Commander 1st Armored Division Ft. Bliss, TX JOCOTAS Contingency Basing Operational Energy Microgrids USMC Expeditionary Energy Polaris defense family of ultra-lighT vehicles tested. fielded. proven. MRZR® 4 MRZR® 2 mv850™ dagor™ POLARISDEFENSE.COM 1-866-468-7783 [email protected] Optimizing Efficiency, Maximizing Readiness Exclusive interview with the HON Heidi Shyu, U.S. Army Acquisition Executive, ASA/AL&T on procurement reform Interview by A&M Editor Kevin Hunter 3 Features 8 22 Sheltering to Meet the Bridging the Brigade- Threat The Joint Committee on Tactical level Gap Shelters (JOCOTAS) expands on U.S. Army seeks to equip units with basing standardization. air deployable armor. By Frank Kostka By Josh Cohen 31 Networking for Energy 13 Readiness 10 Compact energy storage and intelligent power management MG Stephen Headgear By Paul E. Roege Innovations in optics, lights and Twitty headphones have allowed today’s Energizing the Future Commander’s Corner Commander infantryman or special operator to 34 USMC Expeditionary Energy Office 1st Armored Division get the job done with the latest in demo maximizes energy and Ft. Bliss, TX headgear technology, making what minimizes waste was once a communication task a lot Interview with Capt. Anthony Ripley, easier. S&T Lead, E2O Protective Gear Methods of explosive detection, armored vehicles and the latest Departments in protective suits provide today’s servicemember with necessary tools 2 Insights in order to carry out their missions. 20 FutureTech Medical Gear These innovative medical 36 devices are built to withstand Ad Index/Calendar of Events 6 extreme temperatures, allowing medics and doctors to perform lifesaving procedures in an austere Cover: A U.S. Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams Tank Delta Company’s Deactivation environment. with 2nd Tank Platoon, Delta Company, 1st USMC 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Tank Tank Battalion, attached to Battalion Landing Battalion downsizes for increased Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Regimental Combat Team 2, prepares to leave armored capability. Combat Outpost Ouellette, Helmand province, By Josh Cohen Afghanistan. (USMC) tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility September 2015 | 1 Insights s summer transitions to fall, the mechanisms which drive the changeover of one season to the next can be likened to the transitional redeployment Aof combat-ready assets across a global landscape. With the continued U.S. drawdown from Afghanistan and personnel realignment at home, more than ever attention is being paid to platform sustainment and systems upgrades in maintaining high-level force readiness within manageable budgetary constraints. In the September issue of Armor & Mobility, we delve into the latest in current and targeted enhancements to Army and Marine Corps heavy armor programs. From platform retirement to make way for system performance upgrades, to the inclusion of lighter transport-ready vehicles capable of addressing next- generation battlefield mobility needs, the Joint force operations of tomorrow are being visualized today. In an exclusive interview with MG Stephen Twitty, Commanding Officer, 1st Armored Division, Ft. Bliss, TX, the commander outlines his objectives for maintaining personnel and equipment readiness critical Armor & Mobility ISSN: 2151-190x to multi-force brigade combat team coordination. On the acquisition side of the DoD Power & Energy ISSN: 2162-148 house, A&M was fortunate enough to speak with the HON Heidi Shyu, Army is published by Tactical Defense Media, Inc. Acquisition Executive, regarding efforts to reform procurement processes to meet All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without the challenges of present day fiscal realities. permission is strictly forbidden. ©2015 From systems operational needs to the energy required to power these assets, this issue of DoD Power & Energy provides readers with insight into the world Tactical Defense Media publications are free to of Joint military microgrid and expeditionary energy application from a Marine members of the U.S. military, employees of the U.S. Corps perspective. An exclusive interview with Cpt. Anthony Ripley, Science & government, non-U.S. foreign service based in the Technology Lead, USMC Expeditionary Energy Office (E20) discuss efforts to U.S. and defense contractors. All TDM publications maximize power while minimizing waste and a recent targeted industry product are sent electronically to international readers. demonstration. In a special feature to A&M, the Joint Committee on Tactical Shelter Systems (JOCOTAS) speaks to the latest efforts to enhance contingency Mailing Address basing capabilities through the use of multi-tiered technology application. Tactical Defense Media, Inc. Be sure not to miss Armor & Mobility’s Annual Tactical Gear Guide, featuring PO Box 12115 a myriad of products that can be utilized by both Joint servicemembers and Silver Spring, MD 20908-0115 USA emergency responders when duty calls. Critical equipment ranging from portable Telephone: (301) 974-9792 ventilators, to radiation detectors, to innovative headsets are but a few examples Fax: (443) 637-3714 highlighted in this informative collection. www.TacticalDefenseMedia.com [email protected] As always, feel free to contact us with comments or questions. Thanks for your [email protected] readership! [email protected] Tactical Defense Media Sincerely, Publications Kevin Hunter Sonia Bagherian Editor Publisher Armor & Mobility Tactical Defense Media [email protected] [email protected] Christian Sheehy Scott Sharon Managing Editor Copy Editor Tactical Defense Media Tactical Defense Media [email protected] [email protected] Cathy Kieserman Josh Cohen Office Administrator A&M Correspondent Tactical Defense Media [email protected] [email protected] DOUBLE ISSUE Proud Members COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION www.tacticaldefensemedia.com | Scan the code to sign up now! 2 | Armor & Mobility September 2015 tacticaldefensemedia.com ASA(ALT) Procurement Reform Optimizing Efficiency, Maximizing Readiness A&M recently interviewed the HON Heidi Shyu, U.S. Army Acquisition Executive, ASA/AL&T regarding current efforts to implement broad-based procurement reform. Interview conducted by A&M Editor Kevin Hunter A&M: Please provide some context for the current state of Army acquisition processes and how your strategies will transition moving forward. Ms. Shyu: The Army must sustain operational readiness and technological superiority in an era of increasing threats and declining budgets. Since Fiscal Year 2011, the Army’s Research, Development and Acquisition (RDA) base budget has decreased by one-third – twice that of the Army’s top line. As a result, Army programs are at risk of being overextended or cancelled, and per-unit costs of items will increase with reductions in procurement quantities. tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility September 2015 | 3 ASA(ALT) Procurement Reform Conflicts require us to quickly field urgent operational capabilities to our deployed Soldiers. As threat landscapes evolve, so must our ability to respond quickly with the materiel solutions needed for mission success. To face these challenges, the Army must be prepared to A&M: How does ASA(ALT) continue to utilize the Rapid do more with less. Our long-term modernization strategy Equipping Force to help field needed capabilities? for maximizing investment in this fiscally-challenged environment is five-fold. First, we must divest aging Ms. Shyu: Conflicts require us to quickly field urgent systems that the Army no longer needs to reduce operations operational capabilities to our deployed Soldiers. As threat and sustainment costs. Second, we must reset and sustain landscapes evolve, so must our ability to respond quickly equipment coming out of theater to be ready for our next with the materiel solutions needed for mission success. contingency. Next, we must modernize our existing platforms Since its creation, the REF has equipped operational forces that have reached their maximum size, weight, and power with solutions to reduce capability shortfalls in deployed capacities. This includes the Engineering Change Proposals environments. necessary to modernize the Abrams, Bradley, Stryker, and ASA(ALT) is committed to continuing to leverage the Paladin Integrated Management upgrades programs. Fourth, REF process to quickly deliver urgent materiel capabilities to we will develop new systems to meet critical capability gaps in the Soldier. To this end, I have chartered the REF Program the force. For example, we are committed to enhancing Soldier Manager, reporting through Program Executive Officer - capabilities in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and the Armored Soldier, to provide direct acquisition support to the REF. Multi-Purpose Vehicle programs. Finally, we are prioritizing This allows the Army to continue to quickly acquire tactical science and technology investment to develop the next- solutions for deployed Soldiers. When units identify urgent generation technologies that will shape the Army of the future. capability gaps, the PM REF will acquire a materiel solution Even in this era of declining budgets, we cannot sacrifice our to fill the gap either with available commercial or government