RAPID EQUIPPING FORCE

Abstract

The US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) was established to provide urgently needed state-of-the-art technology to Soldiers in the field to meet immediate warfighter needs under operational conditions in the current theaters. The REF Forward Teams in Iraq and Afghanistan work with Operational Commanders and the Soldiers to identify warfighter needs while REF Rear formulates solutions and rapidly delivers/fields new equipment to the deployed units. REF solutions are rapid responses to evolving, adaptable and changing threats, in any operational environment. REF Rear evaluates, utilizes or adapts currently available military or civilian items (COTS/GOTS) which typically have not been type classified for Army-wide use but are available and adaptable to the current Operational Commander's needs. For the REF, necessary materiel solutions can only be determined as "real time" threat modes are identified. Countermeasures to these evolving threats must be developed/purchased/modified, often within weeks, for the first cycle of spiral type responses. The REF rapidly provides capabilities to Army forces employed globally through current and emerging technologies in order to improve operational effectiveness. Specifically the REF is charged to: EQUIP Operational Commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly - ideally within 90 days. The REF process rapidly provides capabilities to meet immediate warfighter needs and supports efforts to mitigate asymmetric and traditional threats. A key element of this process is the provision for execution flexibility. The REF process provides the mechanism to respond rapidly to an adaptive enemy who changes in days and months, not years. The REF focuses on finding effective capabilities to counter emerging and future threats. The REF works directly with Operational Commanders to find solutions to identified equipping requirements. These solutions may result in procurement of new or existing military/commercial materiel equipment, or accelerated development of a Future Force materiel solution for insertion into the current force now. The REF adaptive practices are at the forefront of Army modernization and serve as a catalyst and change agent for Army transformation. The REF accomplishes its mission by working in partnership with industry, academia, Army senior leaders, the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the Army acquisition community, and the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) to meet immediate warfighter needs. The REF ensures safety testing of all equipment prior to release to Soldier. All equipment must pass Safety Confirmation and have a Capabilities and Limitations Report completed prior to being issued to operational unit/Soldiers. The Asymmetric Warfare Group (FY12 OCO Request of $8.3 Million) integrates, coordinates, deploys and provides trained and ready forces, and exercises command and control of assigned forces in support of Joint and Army Forces Commanders? to enhance the combat effectiveness of the operating force and enable the defeat of asymmetric threats. The AWG observes, collects, develops, validates, and disseminates emerging tactics and techniques to those who need it. Provides Train-the-Trainer on countering asymmetric threats, to include Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide bombers and biological weapons. AWG identifies and coordinates the fielding of rapid prototyping and/or commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to counter asymmetrical threats. --Army and Joint Forces must be able to successfully observe, detect, recognize, and identify both friendly and enemy forces on the modern battlefield. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) functions are a principal element of U.S. defense capabilities, and include systems for gathering and processing information needed by decision-makers and military commanders. Efforts will enable combatant commanders to more quickly identify changes in threat situations and rapidly research and develop ISR material solutions to counter these new threats. --Soldier Support efforts will exploit existing and emergent Small Unit Capabilities related to the individual Soldier protection and survivability to include countermeasure technologies. Efforts incorporate development of innovative solutions and modifications to government off-the-shelf (GOTS) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. These efforts may include contracting activities for technical subject matter expertise and engineering support in the Soldier Support commodity. --Lethality efforts will develop material capabilities as a bridge to enduring capabilities for Army. Investments will include emerging technologies and countermeasures focused on constantly changing enemy tactics and procedures that threaten Soldiers. Efforts incorporate new solution developments and modifications to government off-the-shelf (GOTS) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. These efforts may include contracting activities for technical subject matter expertise and engineering support in the Lethality commodity. --Mobility efforts will develop material capabilities as a bridge to enduring capabilities for the Army. Investments will include emerging technologies for innovative delivery to the battlefield, movement of supporting equipment and strategies to decrease vulnerability and increase survivability. Efforts will include adaptive prototyping devices for water and other media in the defeat of IEDs as well as incorporating new solution developments and modifications to government off-the-shelf (GOTS) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products. These efforts may include contracting activities for technical subject matter expertise and engineering support in the Mobility commodity.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2012
Source ID: C08_0603747A_4_2040_PB_2012

RAPID EQUIPPING FORCE

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