Army | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for the ‘Army’ Category

Fluent in Unity: How LEAP Airmen Powered Joint Success at Arcane Thunder 24

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024

Air Force Lt. Col. Rodrigo Ocampo, Capt. Cassaundra Preston and Staff Sgt. Arnaud Agbo arrived on July 24, 2024, in Morocco ready to support Arcane Thunder 24 with a unique skill set and capabilities that extended beyond traditional military strategy. Their team focused on a specific domain that has not yet been mastered by a piece of technology – human interactions. The team of three volunteered through the Language Enabled Airman Program, also known as LEAP, to serve as linguistic and cultural experts. Their presence supported the mission at hand and deepened the connections between the U.S. and Morocco, showcasing the critical role of language and cultural integration in joint military operations.

Arcane Thunder 24 was a complex, multi-domain exercise that tested the interoperability between the U.S. Army and Moroccan Royal Armed Forces. Ocampo and Preston assisted with integration by serving as linguists during the training. Agbo moved with teams on the ground to support multiple elements. Although their uniform might have been different than that of the U.S. Army and Moroccan military members they served alongside, they were a vital bridge between the two.

“Our LEAP partners were instrumental in the successful completion of Arcane Thunder 24,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion commander. “They brought a high level of cultural and linguistic expertise that benefited our daily operations. Additionally, they rounded out our Joint Force and provided creative solutions to exercise specific challenges.”

As Arcane Thunder 24 unfolded, the airmen forged relationships that assisted both nations. Each of the LEAP scholars proved to be a valuable addition to the exercise in unique ways.

For Ocampo, Preston, and Agbo, this was their first experience in a joint exercise as LEAP scholars. Preston hails from California and has developed a passion for travel. Volunteering for LEAP opportunities has allowed her to gain experience in different countries and work alongside other cultures as an advisor during operations.

“I saw LEAP as an opportunity to travel and experience different cultures,” she said. “We bonded with the Moroccan soldiers over meals and over our love of communicating in different languages.”

While speaking about the value of utilizing uniformed service members in the role of cultural experts, Preston added, “Leaders often undervalue the importance of culture, and as LEAP scholars, we are able to demonstrate that value at the organizational level.”

Ocampo led the team of interpreters during Arcane Thunder 24, but more importantly, he built a cohesive team of trusted experts within the staff. His duties ranged from teaching and translating cyber domain classes to assisting and coordinating events for distinguished visitors. Ocampo demonstrated the power of joint operations and integration by extending his knowledge of technical skills and culture beyond the walls of the tactical operations center. It was a regular occurrence to find him assisting U.S. and Moroccan soldiers anywhere in the exercise.

“LEAP provides organizations with scholars that have a high aptitude in both language and culture,” said Ocampo. “We are able to use our skills to advise on ways to connect with our counterparts from different regions and cultures.” Ocampo has served in joint units before but said that he gained a new perspective working as a cultural advisor for the 2nd MDEB.

As airmen, all three LEAP scholars described the need to learn the Army language initially. Agbo focused on gaining credibility with both counterparts by volunteering to join them on every mission, including recovering downed equipment at night. “The team consisted of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, and we were all able to get together as one team,” said Agbo. “We were all equally exhausted, but we knew what we had to do, and we were able to come together and stay motivated to accomplish the mission.”

Agbo was pivotal as a linguist and cultural expert, ensuring that multiple teams received linguistic support at two separate training areas during Arcane Thunder 24. His dedication to the team was highlighted at the final dinner by numerous leaders within the 2nd MDEB. “Having a positive mindset and energy shows people that we are here to be a part of the team,” said Agbo. “When both the Moroccans and U.S. Army are comfortable with us, we can build the relationship and develop a bond that creates a strong team.”

Agbo was born and raised in West Africa and emigrated to the United States when he was 19. He said he decided to join the U.S. Air Force to serve his new country. “One thing I believe is that if you find something good, you should always try to make it better,” said Agbo. “Serving in the military was my opportunity to serve my country, leave my imprint, and try to make my country better.”

LEAP solves a commonly experienced friction point across military exercises – language and cultural integration. The force multiplier program puts uniformed service members in the position to aid and enhance joint partnerships. The Department of Defense reported approximately 3,500 multi-capable, language-enabled airmen with proficiencies in over 97 languages.

Part of the program maintains deployment readiness for the LEAP scholars to deploy to support joint operations worldwide. The unique aspect of the program is that it brings together the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and international allies and partners.

“This was my first time being embedded in an Army staff,” said Ocampo when asked about his experience at Arcane Thunder 24. “I got to experience the Army culture while working in the field with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, and I am really glad that I got to have such a diverse experience.”

Arcane Thunder 24 was held in Morocco this year for the first time. The exercise proved to be a step towards strengthening the U.S. relationship with Morocco. Integration of the staff elements was made more accessible by placing airmen as linguists and cultural experts to be the connective tissue between the U.S. Army and the Moroccan military.

Story by CPT Michael Mastrangelo

Photos by SSG Rene Rosas

Posted in Air Force, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Fluent in Unity: How LEAP Airmen Powered Joint Success at Arcane Thunder 24

TacJobs – US Army Direct Commissioning Program

Wednesday, August 21st, 2024

The US military has been direct commissioning Chaplains as well as legal and medical professionals for decades.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (NDAA 2019) gave the armed services authorities to directly commission officers up to the rank of Colonel, expanding the career fields eligible.

For example, MAJ Chris Young is the first to direct commission into the Army Acquisition Corps. He took his Oath of Office Aug. 16 at Fort Moore.

For more information, visit talent.army.mil/direct-commissioning.

Posted in Army, Profession of Arms | 1 Comment »

US Army Seeks Powered Parachute Capability aka Personnel Air Mobility System (PAMS)

Wednesday, August 21st, 2024

Yesterday, the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Soldier Center‘s Soldier Sustainment Directive (DEVCOM-SC SSD) published a sources sought notice to industry to to identify potential sources for a Personnel Air Mobility capability to ensure freedom of movement in Contested Environments. They plan to procure this system via an Other Transaction Authority.

As demonstrated by SOF during May’s SOF Week capabilities exercise, a PAMS will provide an additional option to the unit commander, supporting freedom of action in remote and austere locations. This new system will be capable of transporting individual warfighters hundreds of kilometers, reducing dependency on traditional aircraft platforms and extending the range available through traditional parachute infiltration systems. A militarized powered paraglider platform is envisioned to provide both low-altitude (nap-of-the-earth and/or contour-level flight) infiltration and exfiltration capability to increase survivability and avoid detection by the enemy as well as higher-altitude (up to approximately 10,000 feet mean sea level) transit where possible given appropriate threat profile and mission parameters. The PAMS will support multiple mission types including reconnaissance, surveillance, troop movement, infiltration and exfiltration. This new PAMS will also significantly reduce the cost to deliver/transport warfighters over traditional means.

According to the notice, PAMS is planned to be developed to support the U.S. Army’s Airborne forces by addressing a capability gap to provide unit organic personnel air mobility to support freedom of movement in contested environments. Future battlefield threats are expected to require disbursed operations by small units in complex, contested environments. Traditional air assets, including fixed wing and rotary wing transport aircraft, will likely be unavailable for the movement of small teams due to supporting other missions and the difficulty of operating these vehicles in anti-access/area denial threat areas. To overcome the challenges of conducting operations in this space, a concept of expanded maneuver in all domains calls for new platforms that can provide low-cost mobility solutions over extended ranges which are available at the individual unit/warfighter level.

Desired System Performance Parameters:

Range

Threshold 100 kilometers

Objective 300 kilometers

Total System Weight (dry)

Threshold 75 pounds

Objective 60 pounds

Weight Capacity

Threshold 200 to 350 pounds

Objective 150 to 400 pounds

Maximum Altitude

Threshold 10,000 feet mean sea level

Objective 20,000 feet mean sea level

The textile components must be Berry Compliant.

To respond, submit a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement (BOTAA) preproposal as outlined in the DEVCOM Soldier Center BOTAA DEVCOM-SC BOTAA 22-01 located here.

Posted in Army, Aviation, Mobility | 9 Comments »

1st Armored Division Soldiers validate combat capabilities at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex

Wednesday, August 21st, 2024

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, fired their tanks, howitzers and Bradleys during the live-fire portion of their rapid deployment readiness exercise at Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex, South Korea, Aug. 5-9, 2024.

The battalion, based out of Fort Bliss, Texas, arrived during the final week of July and drew their combat equipment from Army prepositioned stock maintained on the Korean Peninsula by the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and 403rd Army Field Support Brigade. The 25th Transportation Battalion transported 1ABCT’s newly donned equipment from Daegu city to RLFC for the live-fire validation.

After zeroing their weapons, 1ABCT Soldiers fired their M1A2 Abrams tanks, M109-A6 Paladins and M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles throughout the week.

“Task Force Thunderbolts received a no notice deployment exercise where we were able to demonstrate our ability to project combat power into the Indo-Pacific under a condensed timeline,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Lorete, 4th Battalion commander. “We rapidly drew our combat fleet from the Army Preposition Stock-4 to assist the Army in validating its combat readiness in a critical area of responsibility.”

On July 17, 4th Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment Soldiers were notified they would leave Fort Bliss for a no-notice deployment readiness exercise. Six days later, they began drawing their combat equipment at Camp Carroll, South Korea. This deployment readiness exercise is part of Pacific Fortitude, which is part of a longstanding agreement to support the Republic of Korea – U.S. alliance.

The rapid deployment exercise is a standard, routine readiness validation where a U.S. Army unit is tested on its ability to rapidly deploy personnel successfully to a given environment, conduct training and redeploy back to their home station. This exercise also tests the swift deployment and decisive utilization of vehicles and equipment already present on the Korean peninsula. Army Prepositioned Stock-4, or APS-4, are strategically placed caches of warfighting equipment in Korea and Japan that serve as a critical component of the U.S. Army’s ability to rapidly project combat power throughout the Indo-Pacific.

“We are extremely proud of our team who worked tirelessly to prepare our equipment to conduct squad and platoon collective training, culminating in tank platoon live-fires and a combined ROK-U.S. mechanized infantry platoon live-fire,” Lorete said. “This opportunity to train as part of Pacific Fortitude enhances our operational readiness enabling our team to grow and learn every day and reinforces our commitment to the ROK in maintaining security and stability on the Korean peninsula. It is an honor to train side by side with our Republic of Korea Army partners increasing readiness and winning every day.”

Pacific Fortitude enhances the U.S. Army’s combat readiness and the ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, and further strengthens security and stability on the Korean peninsula. All professional militaries train on routine and continuously executed events to maintain readiness, proficiency, credibility, and trust.

By Eighth Army Public Affairs Office

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Training | Comments Off on 1st Armored Division Soldiers validate combat capabilities at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex

US Army Soldiers Assemble Across NATO’s Eastern Flank for Norwegian Foot March

Monday, August 19th, 2024

FORWARD OPERATING SITE POWIDZ, Poland — From as far out as Romania to Estonia, Soldiers who support NATO missions across NATO’s eastern flank arrived at the 33 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego (33rd Air Transport Base) of the Polish Air Force to conduct the 30 km (18.6 miles) Norwegian Foot March.

The march was first held in 1915 as a test of marching endurance for soldiers in the Norwegian Army, with the goal being to move a large number of troops over a great distance and have them be combat-ready even after completing the march. The Norwegian Foot March has since evolved into a coveted foreign service badge that can be earned by U.S. service members due to its challenging nature.

Spearheaded by Staff Sgt. Ramon Figueroa and Staff Sgt. Letzy Williamsperez of Alpha Company, 553rd Division Sustainment Support Battalion, ‘Task Force Gunslinger,’ of the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade, the ‘Task Force Wagonmaster’ organizers successfully assisted more than 300 candidates overnight across two days. The candidates, ranging in age from 18 to 53, came from permanent stations in Poland to rotational forces deployed across NATO’s eastern flank.

Candidates had to march 30 km with an 11kg (24 lbs.) rucksack and complete the march within a designated amount of time, depending on the candidates’ age group and gender. There are seven age groups, with the second age group having the largest age range (21-34-year-olds) and the most demanding time standards (five hours, 15 minutes for women, and four hours, 30 minutes for men).

For some, this was an exciting new challenge.

“It’s a mental challenge, it’s a physical challenge, and without challenges, there’s no fun,” said Spc. Malaika Lukata, a human resources specialist with the 53rd Transportation Battalion, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, home stationed in Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

For Lukata, whose unit is forward deployed to Forward Operating Site Powdiz, this was her first attempt at the Norwegian Foot March, and she successfully completed it in five hours and eight minutes.

“I think the people around me definitely helped,” said Lukata when asked about her experience during the Norwegian Foot March.

The camaraderie and everybody coming together and helping one another was what Lukata found most enjoyable about this experience.

Upon completion of the event, Lukata is authorized to wear the NFM badge in Bronze, which is a badge given to those who have completed the NFM their first time.

Participants who have completed the march two to four times are authorized to wear the badge in Silver, whereas those who have completed the march five or more times will have earned the badge in Gold.

For others, this was an opportunity for redemption.

1st. Lt. Carson Deushane, an armor platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Cavazos, Texas, first attempted the Norwegian Foot March while a cadet in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps but missed the time mark for a gut-wrenching reason.

“One of the paths actually branched off to the right where there’s a straightaway, and I accidentally went down the straightaway about a mile and a half before I realized that was the wrong way,” said Deushane, whose unit is currently deployed to Bemowo Piskie Training Area (BPTA), near the Poland-Lithuania Border.

Despite ‘booking’ it back to the finish line, to complete the march in time, the additional three miles proved to be too costly.

“I missed the time by about five minus,” Deuschane recalled.

Deushane commenced the planning and execution of this NFM. “I just appreciate them hosting this and actually reaching out to our battalion,” he said.

This time around, Deushane successfully completed the NFM and earned his badge in Bronze, finishing with a time of four hours and 16 minutes.

In addition to Deushane, there are Soldiers like Capt. Huayra Ferrufino, the sustainment (S-4) officer assigned to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, with the Virginia National Guard. She was the first female to finish the ruck march, with an astonishing time of four hours and 27 minutes. What makes it more remarkable is that she did not extensively train for it.

“I tried to train [for it], but the most I’ve gotten is six miles, to be honest,” said Ferrufino when asked what kind of training she did to prepare for the NFM. “It was a great experience [and it] definitely tests your endurance throughout … I loved it.”

Ferrufino, whose unit is currently deployed to Forward Operating Site Karliki, Poland, not only earned an NFM Badge after completing the event, but she also went away with a medal around her neck. After the event, organizers awarded her the title of fastest female finisher. The first-place male finisher was also given an award.

Nearly all participants who completed this event said that other Soldiers should take this challenge head-on and test themselves. Even if they are unsuccessful in meeting the time requirements to earn their respective badge, the camaraderie of the event and the potential growth Soldiers could experience by pushing themselves to their limits is an opportunity that ought not to be squandered.

By CPT Zemas Andargachew

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International, Training | 3 Comments »

National Guard Rifle Team Clinches Dogs of War Trophy

Saturday, August 17th, 2024

CAMP PERRY, Ohio – The All National Guard six-person marksman team won the National Trophy, also known as the Dogs of War Trophy, at the National Matches in August. It was only the third time the National Guard has won this prestigious award, with previous wins in 1986 and 1977.

The National Trophy, a revered symbol of excellence in marksmanship, represents more than individual prowess; it embodies the collective discipline, skill and dedication of a team working in harmony.

“The greatest thing about it is that we are all from different states and at some point in time, every state has been part of the all-Guard rifle team,” said Sgt. 1st Class Amanda Elsenboss of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, a shooter and coach on the team. “Those Soldiers and Airmen are taking back to their units the knowledge that they’ve gained from these national matches, and they’re sharing that wealth of knowledge with those Soldiers and Airmen back at their bases.”

The atmosphere at Camp Perry, steeped in history and tradition, was charged with patriotism and honor, reflecting the connection between military service and the art of marksmanship.

Maj. Kirk Freeman, a shooter and coach from the South Carolina National Guard, emphasized the impact and difficulty of the achievement.

“This is demonstrating the lethality that we are gaining here, being able to engage a target at 600 yards,” Freeman said. “We were able to make the correct wind call to get a hit 119 out of 120 times with six different shooters, shooting off a sling, not off a bi-pod, not off a bag, this was off elbows and a sling.”

Individual achievements and another team award further highlighted the team’s success.

During the award ceremony, Freeman presented Sgt. Jonathan Wood of the Louisiana National Guard with the U.S. Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge. Elsenboss was awarded the Women’s Rifle Trophy. The team also won the Hilton Trophy given to the highest scoring reserve component team in the National Trophy Rifle Team Match, adding to the National Guard’s legacy in the competition.

“To win this is really a big achievement,” said Master Sgt. Michael Hester, an Arkansas National Guard gunsmith and machinist for the team. “The shooters did exactly what they were supposed to do and the coaches were absolutely on point this year. It’s almost a 40-year try for this match, and this year we secured it.”

As the team members return to their respective units, they carry not just the trophy but the pride of having contributed to a tradition that spans generations. Their achievement at Camp Perry is a reminder of the National Guard’s enduring role in both national defense and the preservation of America’s marksmanship heritage.

By Shawn Monk, 171st Air Refueling Wing

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Shooting Sports | Comments Off on National Guard Rifle Team Clinches Dogs of War Trophy

Interested in Becoming Editor of “Special Warfare” Magazine?

Friday, August 16th, 2024

Applications are currently being accepted for one of the Army’s newest broadening opportunity programs – The Major General Edwin “Forrest” Harding Fellowship.

The Harding Fellowship is a competitive 36-month program consisting of a one-year accelerated master’s degree program at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas for active component captains, non-commissioned officers in the grade of E-8, and warrant officers in the grade of CW4. Upon completion, Fellows will then serve as editors-in-chief for the branch journals at their respective center of excellence for a two-year term.

The Harding Fellowship produces leaders who strengthen the Army profession with their deep expertise in branch matters and superior communications skills. Given the two-year editor term, the Harding Fellowship alternates eligible branches by year.

In FY25, Special Forces, Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs branch personnel may apply for utilization as editor-in-chief of “Special Warfare” at Fort Liberty, NC.

They are now accepting applications for the second group of fellows. Army University recently published an article regarding the application window for the fellowship — Harding Fellowship application window now open | Article | The United States Army

Harding Fellowship application window now open

Meet requirements in chapter 2-2 of the Broadening Opportunities Catalog available at www.hrc.army.mil/content/BOP.

Posted in Army, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on Interested in Becoming Editor of “Special Warfare” Magazine?

US Army’s First TITAN Ground Station Prototype Delivered at JBLM

Thursday, August 15th, 2024

JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. — The Army’s need for a next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system that rapidly processes sensor data from space, high altitude, aerial and terrestrial layers to provide real-time intelligence support for targeting and situational awareness is the impetus behind Project Manager Intelligence Systems and Analytics’ delivery of the Army’s first Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, or TITAN, ground station prototype to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the Army’s capabilities to support multi-domain operations.

“Delivering the first TITAN prototype to JBLM is a pivotal step in enhancing our warfighters’ capabilities,” said Col. Chris Anderson, PM IS&A. “TITAN provides game-changing technologies that revolutionize how we collect, process, and disseminate intelligence across the battlefield, giving us a decisive edge.”

The system which leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies is a ground station that will significantly reduce the sensor-to-shooter timeline, enabling faster and more accurate decision-making in complex operational environments. This delivery is part of a broader effort to equip the Army with advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that support the rapid and effective execution of multi-domain operations.

Product Director Intelligence Systems, Rich Licata said, “We are proud of the successful delivery of the first TITAN prototype. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our partners in the development efforts to refine and expand these capabilities, ensuring our forces remain at the forefront of technological innovation.”

The prototype delivered to JBLM is one of ten being developed. These prototypes will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure they meet the operational needs and will be used to refine the system through Soldier feedback obtained from a disciplined user-centered design process including extensive unit use of the prototypes.

“We are thrilled to move into the next phase of delivering these revolutionary capabilities to the Army,” added Anderson. “The feedback from our Soldiers will be invaluable in refining and enhancing the TITAN system to meet the demands of modern warfare.”

By Larry Glidewell

Posted in Army, Guest Post, ISR | Comments Off on US Army’s First TITAN Ground Station Prototype Delivered at JBLM