ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- For Soldiers, weight is an issue. In addition to their uniform, helmet and boots that weigh nearly ten pounds, Soldiers carry ammunition, weapons, batteries, water and food, as well as other items. Depending on where they are going, the purpose of the mission and the length of time they will spend in the field, Soldiers may carry between 60 and 200 pounds.
By focusing on Soldiers' needs and maintaining close relationships with international partners, Kevin Finch and Renee Bober, PM Soldier Weapons, successfully worked with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's (OSD) Comparative Technology Office (CTO) and its Army executor, the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), to secure funding in order to test and evaluate Saab Weapon Systems' successor to the Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System (M3), the M4. Coupled with their out-of-the-box thinking, which saved the Department of Defense (DOD) nearly $500,000 during the course of the project, Finch and Bober were awarded the OSD-CTO Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program Manager of the Year Award for their work on the M4 project, which is called the M3A1 in the U.S.
"Their forward thinking, problem solving processes and stewardship for taxpayers' money moved this project quickly and efficiently, while saving a considerable amount of money," said Randy Everett, FCT project manager. "Many of their project management techniques and lessons learned are being incorporated into future projects as best practices."
Finch, assistant product manager Crew Served Weapons, is a seasoned FCT project lead who has managed other successful FCT projects, including the original M3, in 1992. Managed for the Army by the RDECOM FCT program office, the OSD-CTO FCT program provides an avenue for Army engineers, scientists and program managers to test and evaluate items and technologies from allies and other friendly nations that may fill an Army capability gap. The program encourages international cooperation and helps reduce the DOD's overall acquisition costs by providing funds to formally test and evaluate foreign non-developmental items, commercial-off-the-shelf items, or technologies which are in the late state of development that may satisfy U.S. military requirements.
When Finch was required to go to Afghanistan in July 2016, Bober took over duties as assistant product manager Crew Served Weapons, which included the ongoing M3A1 FCT project. As a result of Finch and Bober's skillful leadership, the project is not only ahead of schedule, but the project management methods, ideas and deliverables are used as a best practice model for initial training of newly selected FCT project leads.
A reusable shoulder fired weapon system, the M3 (also known as the Karl Gustaf), is used by Army Rangers and Navy SEALS on the battlefield in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for other smaller conflicts. Initially called the Ranger Anti-tank Weapons System by Rangers, the M3 was introduced to the Special Operations Command in 1994.
When the M3A1 FCT proposal was approved and funded in 2014, Finch and Bober developed an innovative test plan that not only improved efficiencies, but also saved money. By using previously published vendor technical data, Finch and Bober created the test plan, focusing on essential requirements and avoiding unnecessary or redundant testing. Part of their strategic planning involved monthly Integrated Product Team meetings with key stakeholders, testers, vendors, engineers, system acquisition managers and Soldiers, which enabled them to meet project objectives.
One of the inventive ways that Finch and Bober saved nearly one-half million dollars was by sending the test and evaluation team from the U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command and other subject matter experts to the Saab test facility in Sweden where they observed and validated vendor testing. Completing the testing at the vendor's test facility eliminated the need to purchase ammunition, materials and limited the range time in the U.S., all of which saved money.
In addition to weighing 15 pounds, which is 6 pounds less than the current M3, the M3A1 is 2.5 inches shorter, has a longer handle with better grips for increased ergonomics and the sight can be adjusted for better comfort without sacrificing performance. The M3A1 fires legacy ammunition, with the potential to fire future ammunition interchangeably. An added safety feature -- a round counter system -- enables Soldiers and logisticians to accurately track the service life of each weapon.
The Army has recently issued an Urgent Material Release for the M3A1, pending qualification testing this summer, requesting up to 2,200 units in First Quarter Fiscal Year 2018; the Army plans to equip all brigades with the new M3A1. As the Army strives to unburden Soldiers, the M3A1 not only lightens the load, but also provides versatility and lethality for Soldiers in battle.
For more information on the FCT program, visit https://cto.acqcenter.com.
___
The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command has the mission to provide innovative research, development and engineering to produce capabilities for decisive overmatch to the Army against the complexities of the current and future operating environments in support of the Joint Warfighter and the Nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Social Sharing