FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. -- It is often remarked that Fort Huachuca offers something unique to the Army, a synergy in the Intelligence community only possible here and for the on-going test of a new foreign language translation system that synergy is a reality.
Testers from the Fort Huachuca-based Intelligence and Electronic Warefare Test Directorate (IEWTD) at the U.S. Army Electronic Proving Ground (USAEPG), a test center under Army Test & Evaluation Command (ATEC) needed to conduct an operational test event of the candidate system, as part of the standard Army acquisition process. However, in order to conduct the test, they needed some help and called upon the New Systems Technology Integration Directorate (NSTID) at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE), also located on Fort Huachuca.
"NSTID provided Soldiers to be embedded with the test team to act as a performance NCO or data collectors," said Doug Jefferson, assistant test officer, IEWTD at USAEPG. "
USAEPG is the Army's designated developmental tester for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, but they also have the mission to support operational test for intelligence and electronic warfare systems for Operational Test Command. Whether done by Soldiers or civilians data collection is critical to any test.
"These data collectors are senior NCOs, instructors and they know the system," said Jefferson.
"Generally, our data collectors have to be trained up on the system before we can use them as data collectors, but we didn't have to do that in this case, because the instructors already know the system," he added.
USAEPG has both the mission for developmental and operational test. Developmental test is an early phase in the acquisition lifecycle that helps identify problems and reduce the overall risk before the candidate system advances to an operational test event. Operational test is required by U.S. Code for any defense acquisition program entering full production.
"Responding to this need requires great teaming between ATEC, the PM [Program Manager], schoolhouse and Soldiers to provide data and feedback," said the Commander of USAEPG, Col. Ray Compton.
These partnerships are crticical to ensure proper test and evaluation of systems used by Soldiers. A prime example of the value of the partnership were the foreign languague role players from USAICoE who brought added realism to the test both for language and culture, according to Compton.
Instrumental to the partnership between USAEPG and NSTID, has been Sgt. 1st Class Madelyn Bryan who is a trainer, instructor and writer with NSTID. Bryan has been working with the program for some time.
"I've been working with ATEC for a long time," said Bryan. "It's been a really good experience and I've learned a lot."
Operational tests will use scenarios that mirror what Soldiers might see while deployed. Writing scenarios is another aspect that NSTID was able to assist in this test, said Jefferson.
"I'm definitely appreciative on the NSTID involvement and see a bright future," Jefferson said.
NSTID is in a unique position to assist with this operational test event. As part of their mission, they develop and support new equipment training and coordinate with other organizations to integrate new technology and capabilities in future doctrine and training.
Participating in the test allowed the NSTID to start shaping their future instruction for Soldiers. Further, the Soldiers from NSTID could also provide the testers from USAEPG with evaluation data.
IEWTD brought in Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to offer an operational perspective to the test.
"The 101st has a good group of guys out here -- they all have been really professional and are catching on really well," Bryan said.
An important part of operational test is putting new technology in the hands of Soldiers to allow them to use the technology as they would in an operational or deployed environment. This phase of the acquisition lifecycle provides a candid opportunity for the Soldier's perspective. This operational test event for the foreign language translation system proved to be just that.
"I would expect for them to have more tech guys out here, but it's good to have a 11-B's standpoint because we're the ones usually dealing with these types of devices," said infantryman Spc. Emmanuel Velez from the D Company, 1/506th Infantry Regiment.
The experience of assisting in an operational test allows for training and input on possible future Army systems for these Soldiers.
Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Bouleris, platoon sergeant from C Co., 1/506th Inf. Reg., said that for his Soldiers and himself, it is beneficial to take part in a test like this.
"This allows us to see how it [the testing process] works and how it [Army systems] gets developed, as well as an opportunity to see where the Army is going," he said.
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