"It's very important for us to recognize what it is our noncommissioned officers do for our Army. They are the glue that's actually holding this Army together in a very difficult period and allowing us to accomplish the near impossible every day. I think it's important that we recognize...what an asset a noncommissioned officer is."

- Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey Jr., shows his support for NCOs at one of the world's largest military installations

Chief of Staff meet NCOs, spouses on Fort Campbell

Year of the Noncommissioned Officer

"At times it just takes seeing another Soldier doing things as an individual to motivate others to do the same. One of the pillars of leadership development is self-study and self-development…as we all continue to grow and make ourselves better as noncommissioned officers and leaders in our United States Army."

- Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Blackwood, 1st Armored Division

Sailor-turned-sergeant, 48 going on 32, inspires other Soldiers to 'do anything you set your mind to'

• Early Bird News Site
• Information Papers with "2008 Army Posture Statement"
• Stories of Valor
• Army Public Affairs Portal
• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace
• 2008 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2008 Army Strategic Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Blogger's Roundtable
• The White House Blog
• Taking time to teach: Former teacher volunteers time, effort with English lessons for Iraqis
• Troops hand out clothes, toys donated at thrift shop in Germany at school in Iraqi village
• Troops aid Afghans with security, supplies

2009: Year of the NCO

2009: 100th Anniversary of the Chaplain Assistant

March 2009:

- National Women's History Month: Army Heritage and History Web site

- Brain Injury Awareness Month: U.S. Army Medical Department Web site

• Army Media Player
• Flickr: Army images
• YouTube: Army videos
• Twitter: Army updates
• del.icio.us: Army links

Army Professional Writing

• The Army's commitment to suicide prevention (SM)
• Female chaplains serve god and country (NSJ)
• The slain Soldier of Salah Ad-Din (DSS)

External Links Disclaimer

Joint High Power Solid State Laser Science and Technology Effort

What is it?

A Joint solid state laser (SSL) Science & Technology effort executed by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command that has achieved weapon level (100kW+) performance in the laboratory. This accomplishment marks the first time that a SSL has achieved the level of performance required for weapon applications of interest to the Army. This device is one of two SSL laboratory devices being developed in cooperation with the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office and other services. The second device also is expected to achieve 100 kW performance this year. A 100kW laser can rapidly heat a target causing various catastrophic effects, such as exploding a warhead or airframe failure.

What has the Army done?

For more than thirty years the Army and other DOD organizations have developed and tested a variety of directed energy devices, including both chemical and solid state lasers. High-power chemical lasers proved to be successful in testing against rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM), but used chemical fuels that would cause a large logistical burden for the warfighter. In 2005 the Army decided to focus on all-electric SSLs as the lower cost high energy laser (HEL) path to the future, with the only consumable being diesel fuel for electric generators.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

The Army is planning to move a 100kW SSL laboratory device to the Army-operated High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). This laser will then be coupled to an existing beam director to establish a SSL Testbed and begin field testing by 2011. The SSL Testbed will be utilized to test and evaluate the SSL capability, with scalable power up to a 100kW, to accomplish a variety of missions of interest to the Army. The results of these tests will be the basis for directing future development of SSLs as a weapon system.

Why is this important to the Army?

When weaponized, a 100kW class SSL will be capable of protecting the warfighter against RAM threats and unmanned aerial systems. Other mission applications for scalable high power SSLs include stand-off negation of unexploded ordnance and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), anti-sensor applications, and precision strike with minimal collateral damage.

Resources:

USASMDC/ARSTRAT Web site

SMD Technical Center Web Site

HEL Component Technology

HELSTF Fact Sheet