WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -- Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., Army chief of staff, and Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command and the Army's first female four star general, were among the observers here, Sept. 8, during a demonstration of Capability Package 11-12 systems conducted by the Army's Future Force Integration Directorate located at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Soldiers from 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Army Evaluation Task Force, are evaluating equipment that includes tactical and urban unattended ground sensors, the unmanned aerial system, the small unmanned ground vehicle and the network integration kit.
"Soldiers are the most experienced operators on these pieces of equipment," said Maj. Michael Tremblay, the executive officer for 2nd Infantry Battalion, 5-1 AD. "Senior level leaders like to come down and hear [feedback] from the Soldier who is operating that piece of equipment."
Officials said the demonstration involved a time sensitive target raid scenario in which the Soldiers employed their CP 11-12 systems in support of their raid on the objective. The UAS was launched to observe the objective. Subsequently, dismounted Soldiers entered and moved through a building using a combination of the SUG-V and the U-UGS.
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Ramsay of Scout Platoon Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, said the SUG-V pushed ahead of the elements, searched the rooms and identified any possible threats.
"The SUG-V is probably the best [equipment] of the CP 11 that we have," said Ramsay. "[It] gives us a better stand-off to actually see what's coming up ahead rather than put actual Soldiers up in the front and be surprised. The SUG-V actually does save lives."
Lt. Gen. Michael A. Vane, deputy commanding general, Futures and director, Army Capabilities Integration Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, said through the course of nine years, the Army has done a fantastic job of transforming itself in its operational environment.
Soldiers have effectively adapted their tactics, techniques and procedures in the face of adversaries and irregular warfare. Furthermore, said Vane, Soldiers have refined their utilization of equipment in the Army.
"The Army has put an unbelievable number of rapidly equipped capabilities into the hands of our Soldiers at the edge," said Vane.
What is taking place at Fort Bliss, said Vane, is the replication of equipment, TTPs and leadership activities that will be put into an Infantry Brigade Combat Team to take into the theater of operations.
"The network is the centerpiece of this - equipment-wise," said Vane. "The Soldier is of course the centerpiece of it from a perspective of holistic operations. We're replicating that IBCT - or at least a large part of the equipment in that IBCT - with the [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles] that move the squad into a position of advantage, with a network that allows all the members inside that platoon and that company to talk to each other - to talk to headquarters, to take photos - push them up the network."
"To be able to stand and stare with unmanned aerial systems - these are all the capabilities we're expecting to be able to give us an advantage and give that squad and that platoon advantage in that battlefield of tomorrow."
Social Sharing