HOHENFELS, Germany -- In an organization whose ultimate goals are to defend liberty, protect lives and strive for universal betterment, it is paramount to be equipped with assets to face and overcome adversity in any form. The U.S. Army recognizes this reality and has tasked a group of experts to identify gaps and implement improvements within the force.
The Asymmetric Warfare Group, or AWG, is a Fort Meade, Maryland-based U.S. Army establishment comprised of approximately 350 members: about 200 U.S. Army service members, 100 contractors and 50 federal technicians.
"Our goal is to increase the effectiveness and adaptability of the Army, as a whole," said Master Sgt. Larry Forrest, an operational advisor with AWG. The process through which this is done is what makes the AWG a unique Army asset.
AWG operational advisors and their teams are responsible for collecting information and gathering observations from U.S. Army units around the world. When an immediate Army need is identified, they report it to an in-house solutions development team. From there, solutions are created, tested and distributed via material and nonmaterial means -- everything from standard operating procedures to battlefield equipment have been produced as a result of AWG's work. They can then be distributed to Soldiers in a matter of months instead of years by using the Rapid Equipping Force, or REF, a U.S. Army asset.
"We identify immediate warfighter needs and develop solutions to increase unit effectiveness and Soldier survivability as quickly as possible," Forrest said.
The AWG was established nearly 10 years ago. Though relatively new, the group has already addressed major threats on the battlefield and developed more advanced technology as a result.
The creation of the MPLC, a man portable line charge, is one of many examples.
Throughout the Global War on Terror, improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, have been identified as one of the top killers of Soldiers on the battlefield. Formerly, APOBS (anti-personnel obstacle breaching systems) were used to neutralize IEDs. The device consisted of two 50-pound pieces, which were cumbersome and difficult for Soldiers to transport due to their size and weight.
While embedded with a combatant command, AWG members identified a need for a more efficient way to clear IEDs, which led to the creation, testing, and deployment of the MPLC. Unlike its predecessor, the MPLC, designed with the assistance of Johns Hopkins University's applied physics lab, is more portable -- weighing only 20 pounds. The device was tested at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and immediately fielded by the REF to troops in combat.
The AWG also strives to identify needs for improvement in training environments. Forrest is currently observing an exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Hohenfels Training Area here, where 17 NATO allies and partner nations are participating in Saber Junction 15, a decisive action training environment exercise designed to build and maintain interoperability among the nations.
"The AWG is always interested in observing training rotations," he said. "It provides an opportunity for forces to test their full capabilities outside of a combat area. It allows us to gather best practices and to provide advisory assistance when necessary."
Forrest said that training provides an opportunity for multinational military forces to test their systems prior to operational missions, which is an ideal time to recognize best practices and needs for improvement.
"We live in a very unstable global environment which poses a lot of potential threats to Soldiers," Forrest said. "Everybody who has been in combat has been in a situation where they didn't know what to do. AWG tries to get ahead of threats to provide some additional certainty on the battlefield."
There was once a time when U.S. Soldiers on the conventional battlefield had nothing more than rifles and artillery to protect them from the enemy. Now, the Army is able to maintain operational stability and counter threats on an unconventional battlefield because of the advancements made over the years. The AWG has increased the effectiveness, survivability and adaptability of Soldiers and continues to improve the overall success of the U.S. Army.
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