Come see us out at Enforce Tac, stand 8-116. FS will be exhibiting at NürnbergMesse GmbH in Nürnberg, Germany, 28 February through 01 March.
Stop by and check out our maritime capabilities and our latest LaserFrame™ pocket releases for 2023.
Visit FirstSpear to find America’s premier tactical gear and equipment.
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. –U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) completed Snow Crab Exercise (Snow Crab Ex) 23-1 this week following the departure of U.S Navy EOD units and Navy Divers at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minnesota.
During the two-week exercise, U.S. Navy EOD tested and evaluated operating in a simulated Arctic environment.
“Navy EOD and Navy Divers clear explosive hazards and underwater obstacles to enable access in (typically) denied areas for the U.S. Navy Fleet,” said Capt. Chuck Eckhart, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2, “so it’s important we continue to train and evolve our capabilities. Snow Crab Ex trained Navy EOD and Navy Divers forces to better operate and survive in the challenging Arctic environment.”
U.S. Navy forces must be able to operate in the Arctic due to “rapidly melting sea ice and increasingly navigable waters”, according to the Department of the Navy’s Strategic Blueprint for the Arctic.
Several Navy EOD units of action participated in Snow Crab Ex, including Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 12, which exercised tactical control over Navy EOD from EODMU 2, Navy Divers from Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, as well as Sailors from EOD Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2 and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2.
“During Snow Crab Ex, we put our people and our gear to the test,” said Cmdr. David Scherr, commander, EODMU 12. “The Arctic presents challenging conditions, and lessons learned from Snow Crab Ex will help these Navy EOD teams operate quickly and efficiently anywhere with cold weather.”
All participating units completed Arctic mobility and survival training to ensure they could effectively operate in cold-weather conditions. Navy EOD cleared simulated unexploded ordnance, secured critical infrastructure, and effectively communicated between distributed operating units in a training environment. Navy Divers successfully completed ice dive training to ensure they can complete dive and salvage operations in Arctic waters.
Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard provided ideal conditions and training areas to simulate an Arctic environment for ice and cold weather dive training, where Navy divers can train in a subzero temperature and arduous conditions at training ranges.
EODMU 2, EODMU 12, EODESU 2, and MDSU 2 are headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story under EODGRU 2. EODGRU 2 operates as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and EODGRU 2 provides skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations.
By Lt Brittany Stephens, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two
WASHINGTON (AFNS) —
The Department of the Air Force 2023 Vice Chief’s Challenge begins Feb. 21. Its goal is to find innovative responses to challenges affecting Agile Combat Employment.
ACE is designed to increase survivability while generating combat power in geographically dispersed locations. Announced last year, ACE intends to be both proactive and reactive in addressing threats.
Airmen can submit their ideas here. Submissions are due between Feb. 21–May 22.
“We have heard the call to Accelerate Change or Lose from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.; he has set the vision for the force we need to become. Through the Operational Imperatives, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has refined our focus on delivering threat-informed capabilities that the force needs to prevail,” said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. “The changing character of war will privilege lethality, speed, agility, and resilience – acceleration matters.”
This year’s challenge focuses on two key areas:
Rapidly transitioning to a wartime footing and delivering combat power to the point of need at the speed of relevance
Operating in a highly contested environment consistent with the concept of ACE
Operationalizing ACE aids four areas: codifying repeatable and understandable processes; forces that are suitably organized, trained, and equipped; theaters that are postured with the appropriate equipment, assets, and host nation agreements; and joint service and partner nation integration and interoperability.
Idea selection will be based on which have the broadest appeal and highest probability of delivering impacts toward designing, improving, and employing ACE.
“The imagination and creativity resident in our Airmen is vital,” Allvin said. “Airmen are our critical advantage. Airmen have the ideas and ingenuity required to help us accelerate and fly, fight and win…airpower, anytime, anywhere.”
Airmen whose ideas move forward in the Vice Chief’s Challenge will be paired with innovators from across the force, to include key players on the Air Force headquarters staff who advocate to adopt similar concepts. Morpheus innovation team will take 6 to 12 promising ideas and directly shepherd Airmen and ideas through the innovation adoption process.
A Platform One account is required to participate in the Vice Chief’s Challenge. Instructions can be found here.
For additional support available by email, visit here.
To learn more about the Vice Chief’s Challenge visit here.
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —
The capabilities that special warfare graduates provide are as needed today as ever before. That reality is the reason program leaders are working hard to attract a group of candidates who are broad, diverse and committed.
“For members of the Special Warfare Training Wing, 2022 was a historic year and I’m incredibly proud,” said Col. Nathan Colunga, SWTW commander. “Our training wing is postured to train all Americans and will ensure any candidate who comes through our doors, are offered the same opportunities to succeed and will be treated with dignity and respect.”
In 2015, the U.S. Air Force began integrating women into six special warfare specialty areas previously closed to women. Since then, a total of eight female special warfare Airmen have graduated from various training pathways.
The gain of the three women into the special warfare community within a calendar year is an unprecedented success for the Air Force.
“It is a strategic imperative that Americans know special warfare training is accessible to anyone who can meet the standards,” said Maj. Gen. Michele Edmondson, 2nd Air Force commander. “Of all the Air Force’s training programs, special warfare training has the highest attrition rate due to extremely high-performance standards.”
The future fight is going to be different from the past, requiring us to leverage the entire talent pool of skilled, qualified and diverse individuals our nation offers in order to assemble the teams America needs to meet future mission requirements,” she said.
To ensure Americans are aware of special warfare training programs, Air Force Recruiting Service made significant changes in the past two years. The agency invested in future special warfare trainees as early as possible to ensure no segment of the population is excluded from this opportunity.
AFRS activated the 330th Recruiting Squadron, a one-of-its-kind Air Force squadron, that recruits solely for special warfare career fields. Additionally, the Special Warfare Development program was established, which better prepares prospective candidates physically and mentally for the rigors of the training ahead. The program pairs candidates with current, former and retired special warfare Airmen known as “developers” for mentorship and guidance. This program is open to any aspiring candidate who can meet the standards set forth by the special warfare community, is cleared medically, and can attain the required security clearances.
“AFRS is scouring the nation to identify and connect with potential candidates who have the grit and aptitude, but also the physicality and mentality to become one of the elite Air Force special warfare Airmen as sixth-generation warriors,” said Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, AFRS commander. “Once connected, our Air Force development program is keenly focused on preparing future Airmen, so each candidate has the tools necessary to be successful.”
Efforts do not stop at recruitment. Once candidates arrive at the Special Warfare Training Wing, each member is developed physically, mentally and spiritually to meet the rigors of the training ahead. Using a holistic approach, the training utilizes embedded human-performance professionals, special warfare instructors and support staff to optimize every moment of the specific training pathway with each individual candidate.
“We welcome and encourage diversity of background, experiences and thought for our forces because this is what our nation needs to meet the demands of the future mission construct and necessary force employment,” Colunga said. “We want every candidate who comes through our doors to succeed because we need every one of them. Once you arrive at the Special Warfare Training Wing, we will provide the tools and resources for success. But it is up to you to rise to the challenge.”
“The synergistic efforts of the Special Warfare Training Wing and AFRS laid the path for the extraordinary graduation successes of 2022,” Edmondson said. “And while the graduation of three female Airmen in one calendar year is a true testament to inclusion, innovation, hard work and transformative training, we still invite all those Americans who have the desire to be special warfare operators, to join our team.”
If you want to pursue a career in Air Force special warfare and wish to speak to a special warfare recruiter, please visit here.
Special Warfare Training Wing Public Affairs
DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. (Feb. 9, 2023) – The Army announced today the award of a requirements contract with five base ordering years plus five one-year optional ordering periods to AM General LLC for estimated Joint and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) production of up to 20,682 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) and up to 9,883 JLTV Trailers. The total contract value is $8.66 billion. This competitive follow-on production contract has been part of the JLTV acquisition strategy from the beginning and focused on a best value determination that includes retaining the capability of the JLTV today, while ensuring that it can be upgraded in the future with the latest technologies.
The JLTV follow-on contract strategy was designed to provide a fair and competitive environment, while ensuring the Army obtained a premier manufacturer that delivers the highest quality, most capable, and affordable tactical vehicle in the world.
The JLTV follow-on contract request for proposal, in accordance with the Army Climate Strategy, sought to incentivize offerors to propose fuel efficiency technologies that targeted on-the-move fuel economy improvements and anti-idle capability in support of optimizing combat effectiveness. The JLTV A2 design is the first tactical wheeled vehicle with baseline architecture utilizing lithium-ion batteries, which is a key enabler for anti-idle capability.
Effective competition is the critical element for controlling cost and maximizing buying power for the government. The JLTV engagement strategy with industry has been very successful in establishing executable timelines, adding mature technology insertions, and providing transparency throughout the process to allow contractors to make individual business decisions.
“One of the key strategies of the JLTV program from its earliest days was to leverage competition to control cost and maximize buying power for the government,” said Brig. Gen. Samuel L. “Luke” Peterson, program executive officer, Combat Support & Combat Service Support. “From the start of production, the government procured the data rights to the JLTV Technical Data Package from the original equipment manufacturer, which the program leverages to conduct future production competitions and control the platform’s configuration and vehicle price well into the future. These government-held data rights permitted the program to compete this follow-on production contract with much better control of the production configuration and cost.”
To ensure the JLTV follow-on production contract was robustly competitive, the government focused on rigorous communication with its industry partners. This consistent communication strategy included prior notifications to the current contractor that future contracts were intended to be competitive. The original JLTV contract was awarded in August 2015 to Oshkosh Defense, and the Technical Data Package option was ordered shortly thereafter.
“Our industry partners are essential to ensure we deliver critical, advanced technology and capabilities like the JLTV to our warfighters,” said Brig. Gen. David Walsh, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command. “We look forward to partnering with AM General to build upon this proven platform and ensure our warfighters have the latest in vehicle technology.”
Since August 2019, Joint Program Office JLTV actively engaged the light tactical wheeled vehicle industrial base. The feedback received from market research was instrumental in framing the acquisition plan, which was approved by the Army Acquisition Executive in November 2020. The plan:
Focused on and extended the presolicitation period
Provided multiple draft Request for Proposal releases that sought feedback to shape the solicitation and eliminate barriers
Provided lease vehicles to provide a deeper level of understanding for the nonincumbents
Released both the JLTV A1 and A2 Technical Data Packages to provide competitive balance
Enabled multiple static displays and one-on-one sessions with government subject matter experts
Provided a responsive Q&A forum, resulting in active industry engagement (more than 400 questions submitted and corresponding responses.)
The JLTV Family of Vehicles, an Army-led joint program with the U.S. Marine Corps, closes capability gaps in the light tactical vehicle fleets. JLTVs can perform multiple mission roles and are designed to provide protected, sustained, networked mobility for personnel and payloads across the full range of military operations. The JLTV brings increased protection and performance to the fleet; minimizes ownership costs by maximizing commonality, fuel efficiency and reliability; and maintains effective competition throughout its life cycle. Commonality of components, maintenance procedures, training, etc., between vehicles is expected to be inherent in Family of Vehicle solutions across mission variants to minimize total ownership cost.
The JLTV program has been lauded as a model of successful acquisition. It has received two David Packard for Acquisition Excellence Awards as well as Department of Defense Should-Cost and Innovation Awards.
By Sam Tricomo, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support
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Find out more about The Graverobber Hipster or any other MATBOCK product at www.matbock.com or contact the Sales team at sales@matbock.com.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army xTech Program announced three winners of the inaugural xTechHBCU Student competition on February 11, 2023. The winners were selected out of the 16 student finalists who delivered their final technology solutions pitches to a panel of Army judges at the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year STEM Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
The xTechHBCU Student competition provided eligible historically Black college and university undergraduate students with the opportunity to pitch their innovative technology ideas addressing climate change, preventative care for Soldiers’ mental and physical health and implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Through its first-ever student prize competition, the U.S. Army awarded three promising young scientists and engineers $8,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place and $2,000 for third place. The winning students also have the opportunity to develop a prototype or seek a patent for their technology solution.
In addition to their innovative technology pitches at BEYA, students also had the opportunity to network with Army and industry leaders from across the research and technology ecosystem and discuss their future careers in STEM. Many of the finalists received on-the-spot interviews and job offers from the Army and industry organizations in attendance that were recruiting at the conference.
Leaders from across the Army enterprise also attended the students’ technology demos to learn more about the capabilities.
“The students who participated in xTechHBCU Student took each step of the competition in stride — from the concept submission and pitch preparation to the final live pitch event in front of a prestigious panel of judges,” said Dr. Matt Willis, director of Army prize competitions and the Army Applied SBIR Program. “It was exciting to see these students’ passion for research and development, as well as public service. This year’s competition is an excellent step in developing key partnerships the Army needs to continue driving toward its modernization priorities.”
The winning students of the competition are:
1st Place: Deneen Royal, Fayetteville State University: “AI For Independent Surveillance Missions (ASIM)”
2nd Place: Lirane Mandjoupa, University of the District of Columbia: “Ground-based remote sensing for Airdrops precision system: A data acquisition approach to mitigate supply chain and climate change risks”
3rd Place: Shirley Jacquet, Fayetteville State University: “QTL Mapping and Correlation Analysis of Amino Acids Contents in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Population”
The finalists represented nine HBCUs across the U.S. and finalists were invited to take part in an eight-week xTech Accelerator program that prepared students for their pitches, educated them on Army priorities and areas of interest, and provided insight into Army career pathways.
“I was greatly impressed by the talent and technologies presented during the final pitch event at BEYA,” said Dr. Travis King, director of basic research and science, technology, engineering and math in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology. “The success of the first xTechHBCU Student Competition reinforces the value of a diverse talent pool, specifically as a driver of innovation in science and technology. Collaboration with these HBCU students early in their careers is essential to the Army developing lasting partnerships with future research leaders.”
Established in 2018 by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, the Army xTech Program strives to integrate small businesses and non-traditional vendors into the Army’s science and technology ecosystem by providing opportunities for direct exposure to laboratories, program executive offices and program managers from across the Army. The xTechHBCU competition series enhances opportunities for HBCU students as it works to develop relationships with institutions that directly serve minorities.
The xTech Program holds several competitions per year, from open-topic competitions such as xTechSearch, to technology-specific competitions targeting specific Army needs and challenges. For all competition information, visit the xTech website.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology provides the American Soldier with a decisive advantage in any mission by developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services, and by leveraging technologies and capabilities to meet current and future Army needs. For more information, visit ASA (ALT)’s page on Army.mil.
By Melissa Hirsch, Office of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) —
The 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, recently hosted its second annual ShOC Flag event at Nellis Air Force Base. The event’s primary purpose was to analyze decision-making in a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command scenario to gather insights into operational and tactical command and control processes.
“The Air Force has identified some pretty significant command and control challenges when we apply our current way of doing business in a scenario versus a peer adversary,” said Col. Aaron Gibney, 505th Combat Training Group commander. “To get after these gaps, the ShOC-N has established an environment where we measure old way versus new way, old toy versus new toy, and start accelerating our ability to C2 the war—during deliberate planning and dynamic execution. These insights will inform future requirements and acquisition strategies, as well as our approach to tactics and training.”
The 805th CTS pitted current warfighter systems and procedures against new technologies to gather insights and streamline operational and tactical C2 processes to speed up the kill chain and decision-making timeline. The objective of ShOC Flag was to gather warfighter feedback and stakeholder involvement while showcasing key technologies ready for rapid acquisition decisions, accelerating the planning cycle, providing information superiority and decision advantage, and compressing the decision-making timeline.
These experimental efforts, along with showcasing developing technology on the horizon for the warfighter and the lessons learned from ShOC Flag, have contributed to proofing the current capabilities of the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System Battle Lab to instrument data to the Joint All Domain Command and Control ability, compress C2 planning, and execution to accelerate decision-making across the kill chain.
Planning for the event began over six months ago with collaboration between the 805th CTS, Secretary of the Air Force’s Studies and Analysis team, Headquarters Air Force ABMS Cross-Functional team, Rapid Capabilities Office, Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, 505th Command and Control Wing and industry partners.
With stakeholder’s objectives in mind, the 805th CTS built a three-day, three-scenario experiment intended to satisfy all stakeholders and provide warfighters with the opportunity to work through very complex and dynamic targeting processes against peer adversaries.
During the experiment, the ABMS team, in partnership with the SecAF’s Studies and Analysis team, conducted a ground-breaking battle management experiment which will allow the Air Force to identify credible capability improvements. This foundational event was a success and set in motion a repeatable process for discerning requirements aimed at SecAF Frank Kendall’s Operational Imperatives.
Separately, the PACAF and ACC teams were using the experiment to learn about capabilities advertised as ready for operations, one of which was the Tactical Operations Center prototypes using a joint long-range fires scenario.
Participants used constructive modeling and simulation data to simultaneously utilize current and future technologies in a simulated deployed combat environment. The event also created an opportunity for the tactical air control party Agile Control Integration Team, or ACIT, to demonstrate its capability as a mobile C2 platform.
ShOC Flag also allowed industry partners to showcase their technology by enabling the warfighter to have hands-on use and provide direct feedback to mission partners.
“This level of feedback is critical in ensuring next-generation technologies meet the needs of the warfighter,” said Lt. Col. John Ohlund, 805th CTS commander.
A member of the ABMS CFT stated this event is the only one all year where you have this many levels of command and different C2 communities come together to have these kinds of important conversations.
In 2023, ShOC Flag events will be renamed ShOC Capstone events as the event’s emphasis shifts from advanced training to the culmination of experimentation events. The next capstone event, scheduled for December 2023, will result from the 805th CTS continuing to construct and execute smaller instrumentation experiments throughout the year.
By 505th Command and Control Wing Public Affairs
