Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

MWW 22 – All-Terrain electric Mission Module

November 14th, 2022

During the recent Modern Warfare Week demo day at the Range Complex near Fort Bragg, I had the opportunity to see the All-Terrain electric Mission Module (pronounced Atom) from Plasan North America.

At first glance it’s a trailer. But it also incorporates a 47kWh Li-Iron Battery Pack. Additionally, the system is modular allowing the addition of mission payloads including weapons. ATeMM can be synchronized with the lead vehicle and this system also means it can be remotely operated.

When combined with a lead vehicle, the platform performs as an 8×8. ATeMM’s wheels track with any turns conducted by the lead vehicle which helps keep turns radiuses tight.

Not only can it add propulsion to any vehicle it’s attached to, but it can either propel that vehicle on its own or be charged while being towed by the other vehicle via regenerative braking and coast regeneration. It turns legacy vehicles like the HMMWV, ISV, and GMV 1.1 into hybrids without having to buy completely new systems. Those vehicles can also be moved in silent mode if propelled by ATeMM.

Since ATeMM is also a large battery, it can be used to power a wide variety of systems. As the Army looks more and more toward highly mobile command posts, this offers a way silently power them.

Because it does so many things ATeMM defies categorization. In fact, it’s an issue that the Army’s acquisition system is facing. ATeMM has been used in several experiments and is exactly the kind of multi-use gear that Cross Functional Teams love but when it comes to who would write a requirement and which Program Executive Office would be responsible is where things become fuzzy.

ATeMM looks to be a great options, but may be too generalized for a requirements generation process that seeks out highly specialized capability.

Posted in GSOF, Mobility, Power, Robotics | Comments Off on MWW 22 – All-Terrain electric Mission Module

2022 Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sales Page – Sponsored By Tactical Distributors

November 14th, 2022

Once again, our friends at Tactical Distributors are sponsoring our Black Friday/Cyber Monday master list. To see it, updated regularly with the latest sales info, click here.

Deals are updated daily, so check often!

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Army Futures Command Engages with International Partners to Prepare for the Future

November 14th, 2022

AUSTIN, Texas — As the U.S. Army transforms itself to ensure the all-service force can deter and, if necessary, win any future conflicts, it is engaged with allies and partners to develop new capabilities and foster leap-ahead warfighting advantages.

U.S. Army Futures Command plays a pivotal role in this effort by engaging regularly and meaningfully with partner nations, embracing a collective approach to warfare that aligns with the demands of multidomain operations to deliver speed, convergence and overmatch on the modern battlefield.

The command’s International Programs Team, part of the G-3/5/7 directorate, is spearheading AFC efforts to prepare for tomorrow’s joint and combined warfighting challenges in an adept and highly integrated manner, as exemplified by ongoing multinational experimentation being conducted through Project Convergence.

“The reality is, as we look to the future of warfare, we don’t do anything without our international partners,” said Newman Yang, AFC International Programs Team lead. “Whether it be Iraq, counterterrorism, Afghanistan, you name it — our operations are executed with our combined allies and partners; we don’t do it unilaterally.”

Yang joined AFC as a Department of the Army civilian after 30 years of active-duty service, in a career that included 20 years as an Army foreign area officer in locations such as Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. Due to increasing demand signal for greater engagement with AFC, the command recently expanded the International Programs Team to include personnel with diverse backgrounds in domestic and international Army experience, along with Department of Defense and Congressional engagement knowledge and foreign policy expertise.

Together, the team members help explain AFC’s Army transformation mission, structure and programs to international partners, many of whom have expressed an eagerness to stay abreast of new technologies and to engage in collaborative research and development efforts.

In the fall of 2021, for example, the International Programs Team assisted in the design and execution of a two-day modernization forum hosted by U.S. Army Europe and Africa; the forum, which took place in Germany and included the participation of 13 European allies and partners, offered an in-depth exploration of future opportunities, challenges and concerns related to transformation efforts.

The team also regularly supports engagement visits to AFC headquarters in Austin, recently welcoming senior military leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Asia to discuss shared future force plans and objectives.

Understanding what U.S. military equipment and warfighting systems will look like in the future enables allied and partner nations to make informed decisions about their own transformation requirements, Yang explained, and lays the foundation for future interoperability between allied country militaries.

The diligent work of the International Programs Team contributed to the multinational presence at this year’s Project Convergence event, Project Convergence 22, which brings together U.S., U.K. and Australian service members at U.S. military installations to explore the parameters and possibilities of future warfighting scenarios.

“U.K. and Australia have been full planning participants,” Yang said, noting the countries have incorporated their own service branches in the experiment in a realistic way. “This is a huge commitment on their part.”

Canada, France, Israel, Japan, Korea and New Zealand are also attending the experiment as observers, with the understanding that future iterations of Project Convergence may expand to include additional allied and partner nation participation.

The Project Convergence campaign of learning, experimentation and demonstration is accelerating the U.S military’s ability to transform rapidly and efficiently by identifying common preparedness gaps and assessing who might be best suited to address them across the various services and allied nations.

Yang described the mutually beneficial process as “part of that partnership fabric, where we can mutually develop technologies while also conserving resources to avoid duplication of effort where possible.”

“If we have proper agreements and policies in place, then we can work on sharing those technologies to ensure we persistently modernize our forces and equipment together to deter and defeat potential future adversaries.”

By Maureena Thompson, Army Futures Command

Posted in Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Army Futures Command Engages with International Partners to Prepare for the Future

Great American Outdoor Show Tickets Go On Sale Black Friday

November 13th, 2022

Tickets for the Great American Outdoor Show go on sale on Black Friday, November 25.

Hosted by the NRA, the show runs February 4-12, 2023 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA.

During the nine-day event you can experience:
– 1,000+ exhibitors showing the latest guns and gear
– 400+ outfitters so you can book the hunt of a lifetime
– 200+ FREE daily seminars and demos
– A jam-packed schedule filled with daily special events
– Tons of family-friendly activities including the Eddie Eagle Kid’s Zone
– A rockin’ Saturday night concert
– Free admission to the DockDogs competition
– Your chance to win a firearm at the Wall of Guns Raffle

www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org

Posted in GAOS | Comments Off on Great American Outdoor Show Tickets Go On Sale Black Friday

SCUBAPRO Sunday – Operation Vengeance

November 13th, 2022

One of the biggest codebreaking achieved by Naval intelligence during WWII was on April 14, 1943, they learned that Adm. Isokoru Yamamoto was preparing a visit to the upper Solomon Islands to inspect Japanese bases. Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz immediately relayed the details to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, who informed President Franklin D. Roosevelt. According to reports, the president’s response was “Get Yamamoto.” Whether or not the president actually said those terms, the order was given to assassinate the mastermind of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Ironically, the object of American vengeance had repeatedly put his life on the line by speaking out against US wars. He saw how poor industrial Japan was in comparison to the United States and the United Kingdom because of his postings in America and England.

When asked how he thought a war between Japan and America would go, Yamamoto replied that he would “run wild for six months or a year, but after that I have absolutely no confidence.”

“It is a mistake to consider Americans as luxury-loving and weak,” Yamamoto said in a meeting with classmates from his hometown of Nagaoka on Sept. 18, 1941. Remember the American industry is much more mature than ours, and they have unlimited oil supplies, unlike us. Japan would never be able to defeat the United States. As a result, we should refrain from fighting the US.”

When his government decided to go to war, Yamamoto put his personal feelings aside and pledged to do everything in his power to win.

Yamamoto was playing chess with a member of his team, Capt. Yasuji Watanabe, when they learned over the radio about the assault on Pearl Harbor and Japan’s subsequent declaration of war. “That’s too bad, Watanabe,” he said. Tell the Emperor that the navy did not intend it this way from the start if I die before you.”

Operation Vengeance is a vengeance-seeking operation.

Adm. Yamamoto was killed when the Betty bomber was shot down over Bougainville on April 18, 1943.

Following that came an incredible run of Japanese victories. The Imperial Japanese Fleet was then defeated at Midway, nearly six months to the day after Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto saw the writing on the wall when the arduous Guadalcanal war ended in early 1943. “I sense that my life must be completed in the next hundred days,” he wrote in a letter to a friend in Marchs. He left for the south to oversee the next phase of the operation.

Operation I-Go was a joint Japanese navy-army aerial counter-offensive launched on April 1, 1943, to halt American advances in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Yamamoto, now based in Rabaul, decided on April 13 that he wanted to inspect Japanese bases in the upper Solomons. Yamamoto halted the offensive on April 16, pending the completion of his inspection, after acknowledging without question exaggerated pilot reports of ship sinking’s and aircraft shootdowns.

Eighteen P-38s were chosen and fitted with special drop tanks (sixteen for the assault, two spares). While the others targeted the fighter escorts, a “killer” flight of four fighters led by Capt. Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. would target the two Betty bombers containing Yamamoto and his staff.

Nimitz had to time his window of opportunity to intercept Yamamoto perfectly. Fortunately for him, his opponent was known for being punctual. Yamamoto’s path was outside the control of naval fighters, but it was within the range of Army Air Force P-38Gs that had recently been deployed to Guadalcanal.

Maj. John Mitchell USAAF, commander of Squadron 339, found himself assisting Vice Adm. Marc Mitscher and other senior commanders in preparing the assault on April 17. The intercept will take place over Bougainville Island. A 1,000-mile round trip was planned, with a 600-mile roundabout approach from the south. Eighteen P-38s were chosen and fitted with special drop tanks (sixteen for the assault, two spares). While the others targeted the fighter escorts, a “killer” flight of four fighters led by Capt. Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. would target the two Betty bombers containing Yamamoto and his staff.

Operation Vengeance is a vengeance-seeking operation.

Any of the pilots who flew Adm. Yamamoto’s assassination flight, Operation Vengeance. From left to right: William Smith, Doug Canning, Besby F. Holmes, Rex Barber (historians believe he was the pilot who shot down Yamamoto), John William Mitchell, Louis Kittel, and Gordon Whittiker. Roger Ames, Lawrence Graebner, Julius Jacobsen; Eldon Stratton, Albert Long, and Everett Anglin; and unknown, crouching from left to right. Image from the National Archives

The P-38s of Operation Vengeance took off at 7:25 a.m. on April 18, the first anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. They arrived at the intercept point at 9:34 a.m. and saw their objective exactly on time.

While the other planes assaulted the other escorts, Lanphier and 1st Lt. Rex T. Barber of the killer flight split up to target the Bettys and immediate escorts. One P-38 and its pilot, 1st Lt. Raymond K. Hine, were killed when both bombers were shot down.

“That son of a bitch will not be dictating any peace terms in the White House,” Lanphier radioed shortly before noon, as the returning P-38s prepared to land at Henderson Field. Yamamoto was no longer alive. Lanphier’s comment was a misinterpretation of Yamamoto’s words, as he broke radio silence to say. Yamamoto was implying that a military victory over America could not be achieved by winning a single war, or even a series of battles.

The Navy Cross was awarded to any pilot who took part in the assault. The question of who shot down Yamamoto’s plane sparked a debate, with both Lanphier and Barber claiming responsibility. Barber was later identified as the perpetrator by historians.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, History, Maritime | 6 Comments »

Pepper’s Donation Drop – 2022 Toy Drive

November 13th, 2022

You may recognize Pepper and her handler Justin Melnick from the hit CBS series “SEAL Team”. Pepper is raising funds for working K9s via Military Working Dog Team Support Association, Inc an all-volunteer 501(c)3 charity.

Here’s Pepper’s pitch….”If you donate $18 to MWDTSA, you will be purchasing the ‘Magnum Black Stars and Stripes’ rope toy from USA-K9 by SodaPup pictured on the right. It’s made from extra sturdy rubber so teeth like mine can’t bite through it. As an added bonus, from November 1 through December 15, 2022, USA-K9 by SodaPup will match your tax-deductible donation with TWO additional toys. That’s right, you’re purchasing three toys for the price of one. Thank you!”

Once the fundraising drive is over, MWDTSA will send the toys to working dogs.

Donate here.

Posted in Charity, Fundraising, K9 | Comments Off on Pepper’s Donation Drop – 2022 Toy Drive

Indigenous Airman Celebrates Being Among First to Receive Religious Hair Accommodation

November 13th, 2022

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. (AFNS) —

For most, the days and hours leading up to their basic military training departure are filled with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come in the next four to six years. For others, the feelings are tainted with fear and anxiety.

For Connor Crawn, the day before he shipped off to boot camp was one of the worst in his life.

The 18-year-old graduated high school only six months earlier as the class of 2020, eager to enlist in the U.S. Air Force but curious about whether he could keep his hair long in accordance with his Kanien’kehà:ka faith.

When Crawn decided to speak to a recruiter his dark, neatly braided hair draped straight down the length of his spine.

For the Kanien’kehà:ka, Crawn explained, keeping the hair long reflects spiritual strength, protection and resilience. Certain styles, like braids, signify even greater strength.

His recruiter took the steps necessary to request a religious accommodation and Crawn went through military entrance processing successfully, but his BMT departure date continued to get pushed as he waited for an answer about his hair.

“I was at the point where I couldn’t wait any longer,” Crawn described of the hurry-up-and-wait process. “I had to get out of my situation.”

Crawn agreed to cut his hair if it meant getting an earlier departure date. He kept his hair long until the last minute, hoping approval would arrive at the last-minute to spare him from the trauma of severing his symbolic strength. He waited, fruitlessly, until the day before he left for BMT.

“My dad and I cut our braids together,” Crawn began, eyes saddening. “I wish I never had to go through that. I felt like a part of me died when I lost my braid.”

Now officially branded as an Airman, the next chapter in Crawn’s life began: BMT and technical training simply became two obstacles to overcome before the fight for accommodation resumed.

In July of 2021, Crawn was stationed at the 341st Missile Wing as part of the security forces group. Before he was even assigned a flight, his priority was visiting the base chapel to begin the request process all over again.

Capt. Trevor Wilson, one of the chaplains on duty at the time of Crawn’s visit, cemented himself as an ally and quickly went to work figuring out the requirements of a process that, just one month earlier, had been introduced to the Department of the Air Force.

The duo spent hours together during that first meeting, poring over instructions, regulations and guidelines for a reality Crawn hoped would soon come to fruition.

My dad and I cut our braids together. I wish I never had to go through that. I felt like a part of me died when I lost my braid.

Airman 1st Class Connor Crawn

According to the process for religious accommodation, as lined out in the DAF Instruction 52-201, the timeline from request to approval was supposed to take no longer than 60 days. Considering the overwhelming number of religious requests being vetted at that time due to COVID-19 pandemic, though, goalposts had to be moved and Crawn’s request would not be approved until October of 2022.

“I knew it was going to take longer than expected,” Crawn explained. “But as the time dragged on, my hope started to waver a little bit. After a year passed, people used to joke that it would be the end of my contract before I heard anything—and honestly, that’s what I was beginning to expect.”

Though the timeline dragged on like a heavy-burdened traveler, Crawn’s case was carefully corralled through coordination by Wilson.

“I know how hard his leadership and the wing worked to get his package up,” Wilson shared. “I had to ensure his request would not get lost or overlooked in the bulk of all that [COVID-19] paperwork. I regularly followed up and tracked his request, because part of my role as the chaplain is to be an advocate.”

Nearly halfway into his contract is when Crawn finally received the good news that he could grow his hair out in accordance with his faith. For him, this was not just a personal win, but a Department of the Air Force-wide win for all his native brothers.

With the approved accommodation, Crawn was authorized to abide by female standards in DAFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance.

“It was incredible,” he chuckled. “I mean, I thought I was dreaming for the next few days. I kept thinking I would wake up and learn it wasn’t real.”

Crawn’s excitement did not end with reception of the news; immediately after learning about the approved accommodation, the first thing he did was call his family to share. Then, he decided to share with the world.

“My first thought after calling my family was, ‘I gotta let other native men know that it’s possible,’” Crawn eagerly said, grin widening to meet the corners of his eyes. “I could not find a single person who received a religious accommodation like mine as I was going through the process, so I wanted to put the information out there. It wasn’t until I made a TikTok video about it that I began to hear from other people.”

Crawn’s video went viral, sparking an important conversation for U.S. military members and those interested in joining. His statement served as a spark of hope for a demographic who, previously, was uncertain that their organization would be true to their word.

Through DAFI 52-201, Religious Freedom in the Department of the Air Force, the DAF maintains an environment in which members can realize their highest potential. For Crawn, this environment was established when he felt that the leadership around him was willing to fight for something he cared about deeply.

Our Airmen chose us once; the environment we create must encourage them to choose us again.”

Col. Barry Little

Wilson, spearhead for Crawn’s request, felt pride knowing other Airmen would be encouraged to use their voice to be a beacon of change.

“Crawn chose to speak up, to ask for something he believed in, to place trust in the process, and it worked,” Wilson enthused. “The Air Force cannot help if Airmen’s needs are not communicated, and if you share your concerns and requests professionally, you can often get the results you need.”

Col. Barry Little, 341st MW commander, praised Crawn’s dedication as an example of the direction that the total force needs to continue moving toward.

“There has never been a time where what our Airmen do for this country has been so important,” Little said. “Creating an environment of dignity and respect is critical to winning the strategic competition for talent. Our Airmen chose us once; the environment we create must encourage them to choose us again.”

Little’s message, targeted to leaders, is partnered by Crawn’s sentiments to fellow Airmen looking for motivation in times where they may feel defeated by bureaucracy.

“I think it’s all about the person and how much they fight from the start,” he encouraged. “I think that [attitude] really shows your leadership and the people around you how dedicated you are. I never gave up; I never shut up about it to anyone who asked.”

Two years into his career, Airman 1st Class Connor Crawn has some time before needing to decide which direction he prefers the next chapters of his life to go in. Currently, he serves as a convoy team leader with the 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron, and with a recent win in his back pocket, he is optimistic about a future in uniform.

“I might as well stay in, now that I’m able to grow my hair,” Crawn chuckled. “I’m definitely considering it. It’s incredible being able to express my heritage in uniform.”

For more information on diversity and inclusion efforts across the DAF, please visit here.

Story by SSgt Elora J. McCutcheon, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

Some photos by A1C May A. Bowers

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | 28 Comments »

Scalarworks Peak/01 Iron Sights Now Available in Tan

November 12th, 2022

“After using their optic mounts, I approached Scalarworks about making a set of fixed iron sights; what they came up with has exceeded my expectations. I’m now running Scalarworks iron sights and Aimpoint Micro mounts on my BCM carbine in all of my training classes. Scalarworks Leap Mounts and Peak Sights are the current state of the art.”

– Larry Vickers –

Created at the request of Larry Vickers, the Peak/01 Iron Sights are designed around a 15″ sight radius found on modern carbines and feature manually adjustable elevation (front) and windage (rear) with a refined 0.5MOA/click, which matches most Red Dot sights.

scalarworks.com/shop/iron-sights/peak-01

Posted in Weapon Accessories | 4 Comments »