Special Operations and the Soldier System: Critical Acquisition Issues

Abstract

'This thesis provides the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) technology base manager with an unclassified reference document on the Army's 'Soldier System,' the collective term for the Army's emerging approach to the research, development and acquisition of items used by the individual soldier on the battlefield. Chapters II - IV outline the emerging approach, discussing the Soldier Modernization Plan, the current Army acquisition structure and process, and the Army Science Board 'Soldier as a System' study. Chapter V discusses the acquisition responsibilities of USSOCOM, detailing the evolving relationship with the Army requirement development process for individual soldier items. Chapter VI summarizes the thesis findings, assesses the next steps, and makes specific recommendations to USSOCOM. The principal conclusion is that maintaining concurrent and reinforcing combat development, technology base, and top-level program management interface channels with the Soldier System is the most effective way for USSOCOM to influence the Army's process to meet the needs of special operations. USSOCOM, SORDAC, Soldier system, Special operations acquisition, Soldier modernization plan.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA248667

Entities

People

  • Douglas W. Lessley

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Procurement
  • Business Administration
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Governments
  • Green Berets
  • Health Services
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Systems Management
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Business Analytics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control