Trail Bosses' leadership streamlines validation for Network Integration Evaluation 15.2

By Vanessa Flores, SoSE&I Public AffairsApril 27, 2015

Trail Bosses' leadership streamlines VALEX for NIE 15.2
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Trail Bosses' leadership streamlines VALEX for NIE 15.2
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Trail Bosses' leadership streamlines VALEX for NIE 15.2
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FORT BLISS, Texas (April 23, 2015) -- Systems gearing up to be evaluated during Network Integration Evaluation 15.2, also known as NIE, finished spending their final weeks within the controlled Integration Motor Pool.

During the Validation Exercise, or VALEX, System of Systems Engineering and Integration, Capability Package Directorate, or CPD, power up equipment integrated onto vehicles in order to establish and validate the network.

Since VALEX was recently completed, within the next few weeks, units will deploy into training areas at Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, in order to support integrated testing and evaluation activities.

VALEX has become a key event in preparing Soldiers and their equipment for NIEs. Army Officers who have become known as, 'Trail Bosses,' are the ones who take the lead on the overall VALEX effort.

"Within VALEX there are over 1,600 systems that touch a command post and a vehicle platform," said Maj. Carlito Flores, trail boss for CPD. "There are also over 700 VALEX tasks that we have to manage and perform. VALEX is a pretty big event."

Along with Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Trail Bosses also interact with other stakeholders to ensure systems are operational and ready for testing.

This responsibility extends to communication between the multiple entities that are NIE players. It has become possible, through the assigning of one key point of contact, to manage various communications that are coming from multiple directions within the TRIAD, which includes Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, the Brigade Modernization Command, and Army Test and Evaluation Command.

"Trail Bosses are the liaisons between the TRIAD, the unit, and unit leadership. We are responsible for making sure we stay on schedule and we handle any of the problems that might delay us," explained Maj. Wayne Gendron, trail boss for CPD. "Basically there's a lot of responsibility involved in being a Trail Boss. We're always talking to people: Soldiers, government civilians, and contractors."

"Initially, the teams were split and there were coordination gaps among all the activities leading up to an NIE," said Capt. Brian Ramirez, a trail boss for CPD. "Since then we have synchronized everybody within our organization. We have streamlined every event that has occurred from 11.2 to 15.2, and we have made it a very executable event for the Trail Bosses, along with all personnel involved."

Charged with completing over 700 different processes in a short span of time, Capability Package Directorate, trail bosses manage the loading of all NIE equipment, supervise establishing the network, and carefully manage all VALEX activities in order to ensure that the Brigade can operate at full capacity during the NIE.

While CPD knows that they may not be able to prevent extenuating circumstances, the Trail Bosses do what they can to guarantee that the systems function as they were intended to, and that Soldiers are properly trained on the equipment.

Related Links:

Unique Army tactical vehicles being integrated for Network Integration Evaluation 15.2

Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Accquisition, Logistics and Technology

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