Monday, September 28, 2015
What is it?
Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 16.1 is the tenth in the Army’s series of Soldier-led evaluations held at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and is taking place from Sept. 25 through Oct. 8, 2015. Unlike standard NIEs, NIE 16.1 is the final proof of concept for Army Warfighting Assessments (AWAs). AWAs are large-scale exercises that will begin in Fiscal Year 2017 and focus on informing network and non-network requirements to support Force 2025 and Beyond.
The Brigade Modernization Command will conduct the exercise, which will include approximately 12,000 Soldiers from the I Corps, 1st Armored Division (1 AD) and other U.S. Army units. 1 AD will be task-organized as a multinational division, which includes a United Kingdom brigade headquarters and an Italian airborne battalion.
New technologies assessed during NIE 16.1 include coalition network capabilities, expeditionary command posts, operational energy capabilities, and manned/unmanned teaming (air and ground robotics).
What has the Army done?
The Army has conducted semi-annual NIEs since 2011, leading to the fielding of integrated Capability Sets of tactical vehicles, network and mission command equipment to units from the 10th Mountain, 101st Airborne (Air Assault), 82nd Airborne, 1st Armored, 2nd Infantry, 1st Cavalry and 25th Infantry Divisions.
The Army-wide commitment to NIEs has delivered better information to decision-makers to meet the needs of the Army within budget constraints. Over time, as technology and the NIE process matured, the Army decided to split it into two events: NIE and AWA.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
Going forward, each year the Army will hold one NIE, focused on the testing and evaluation of network programs of record to meet testing requirements and validate yearly capability sets for delivery; and one AWA, which will provide a more experimental environment to help shape requirements, with an emphasis on future force development, joint and multinational interoperability and training readiness. The complementary exercises will continue to develop and refine the Army’s tactical communications network.
Why is this important to the Army?
NIEs and AWAs help modernize the Army tactical network and assesses interim solutions to the Army Warfighting Challenges. AWAs will allow the Army to explore the “art of the possible,” assess concepts, refine requirements, improve systems engineering processes and apply lessons learned to enhance the integration and acquisition of network capabilities. This assessment will be unique in support of the Army’s strategy of Force 2025 and Beyond, preparing the Army to Win in a Complex World.
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