The INSIDER

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DIRECTOR’S TOWN HALLFurlough update, Page 2

FURLOUGH FAQ DoD provides updated furlough FAQ, Page 3-4

SEN. WARREN VISITS NATICKNew Massachusetts senator meets with NSRDEC leaders, Page 7

THOUGHTS ON IMPROVING INTEROPERABILITYCERDEC Technical Director Jill Smith, Pages 8-9

QUANTUM SENSORS SHOW PROMISEPages 10-11

NATICK RESEARCHERS PERFECT ‘FIGHTING FUEL’Pages 12-13

ARMY, UNIVERSITIES PARTNER FOR RESEARCHPage 14

UNIVERSITY ASKS FOR ECBC’S HELPPages 15

RDECOM UPS SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCEPage 16

RFAST-C TEAM SECURES COMPOUND IN AFGHANISTANPage 19

VIRTUAL WINDOW PROVIDES VITAL VIEW FOR SOLDIERSPages 22

APRIL 2013ISSUE NO. 10

Fire-resistant ghillie suit, enhanced rocket fuze win DoD awards

A Soldier practices camouflage, cover and concealment with a fire-resistant ghillie suit during training at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps acquired the suit in record time through the Defense Acquisition Challenge Program. (U.S. Army photo)

By Dan Lafontaine RDECOM Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — U.S. Army program managers earned Department of Defense acquisition awards re-cently for rapidly fielding a fire-resistant ghillie suit and an enhanced fuze rocket warhead.

After two Soldiers from the Army’s 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment burned to death when their camouflaged sniper gear caught on fire in Iraq, an urgent requirement for a fire-resistant suit was issued.

Neal Nguyen, the product manager for Soldier clothing and individual equipment under Program Executive Office, or PEO, Soldier answered the request in 2010 with the help of the Defense Acquisition Challenge, or DAC, program. He was named the DAC Program Manager of the Year for 2012 for his

work on the ghillie suit as well as a uniform repair patch kit and enhanced combat vehicle crewman coverall.

“It’s a privilege to serve the Army and provide much-needed protective equipment to the warfighter,” Nguyen said. “The flame-resistant ghillie suit accessory kit and flame-resistant base uniform will improve the safety of those forward operators and keep the Army on the leading edge of capability and lethality.

“The Comparative Technology Office allows us the ability to lean forward and fast track capability and protection to our Soldiers who volunteer to be in harm’s way.”

Matthew West, a junior hydra project engineer with the U.S. Army Research, Matthew West, a junior hydra project engineer with the U.S. Army Research, Development

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

2 APRIL 2013 – ISSUE NO. 10

RDECOM Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. —In a first-ever global virtual town hall meet-ing, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command leadership met with more than 10,000 of its federal employees March 27.

Director Dale A. Ormond appeared on video teleconference screens from Alabama to Massachusetts and beyond to discuss the impact of a coming furlough on the RDECOM.

“I wanted to have a chance to talk to you about where we are funding, sequestration, potential furlough and where this is going,” Ormond said.

About 500 employees from the Army Research Laboratory; Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center; and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center attended the town hall at the APG Post Theater.

The director explained recent news from the Department of Defense delays furlough actions as it carefully reviews the latest leg-islation.

Ormond visited Capitol Hill twice in re-cent weeks.

“Nobody is interested in furloughs,” he said. “Every congressmen, senator and staffer that I met with said they understand that this is not how they want to conduct business. They said they are working hard to address the issues between the two par-ties. They want to preclude this from hap-pening.

News reports surfaced the day after the town hall meeting saying that Pentagon of-ficials have reduced the number of furlough days from 22 to 14. Congress shifted more than $10 billion to military operations and maintenance accounts with its latest legis-lation.

However, at the time of the town hall, RDECOM officials said they continued to stand-by for official guidance.

“The most important thing we do -- clearly -- is supporting Soldiers executing the fight, and helping them get the technologies and

support they need to address issues and challenges.”

Ormond said RDECOM will continue to execute Army Materiel Command priorities “to the best of our abilities.”

“It’s about taking care of the priorities, doing the work that we can do and commu-nicating what we’re not going to be able to do through the chain of command,” he said.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

RDECOM Human Resources Director Todd Morris presented a detailed overview of definitions, potential timelines and the general framework of the proposed fur-lough.

Morris explained how employees may not substitute a day of leave or compensatory time for a day of furlough.

“If my furlough day is Friday, that means I cannot take leave on Fridays,” he said. “It is universally known that this will have an impact on our capacity, on our output, on everything we do.”

Morris said there is no shortage of in-formation. The presentation, full of links to FAQ sheets and various Q&A site is avail-able on the RDECOM SharePoint site.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Juan Crockett gave a stress management presentation and offered his services anytime.

“This is important,” Crockett said. “You can’t handle this alone. We all are experiencing this. Every one of us. It’s something that we have to deal with.”

Ormond said RDECOM leadership will con-tinue to keep the workforce informed.

“If you need additional information, please visit our SharePoint site, or speak with your supervisor,” Ormond said.

A video of the entire town hall meeting will be made available to center and laboratory public affairs offices.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we do great things for Soldiers every day,” Ormond said. “This command in particular has a pro-found impact on the Army every day. What you’re doing is providing new capabilities for Soldiers to execute their mission and come home safe.”

RELATED LINKSSharePoint: http://go.usa.gov/2A39RDECOM: http://www.army.mil/RDECOMFB: http://facebook.com/USArmyRDECOM

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Director Dale Ormond talks with employees at a March 27 town hall meeting at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. (U.S. Army photo by Conrad Johnson)

Director holds global town hall

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The INSIDER is an internal information product of RDECOM G5/Public Affairs, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005 at (410) 306-4539

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3RDECOM’s THE INSIDER

By Nick SimeoneAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has revised from 22 to 14 the number of days hundreds of thousands of civilian employees could be furloughed this year because of the budget sequester, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced March 28.

In addition, a senior Defense Department official speaking on background told reporters the start of the furloughs will be delayed until mid-to-late June. Furloughs would happen over seven two-week pay periods until the end of September, when the current fiscal year ends, the senior official said, with employees likely to be told not to come to work for two days during each of those pay periods.

Hagel characterized the reduced furloughs as well as a revised estimate of sequestration’s impact on the defense budget as good news. The changes follow Congressional approval last week of a defense appropriations bill that prevented an additional six billion dollars in cuts, ordered under sequestration, from taking effect.

“It reduces a shortfall at least in the operations budget,“ the secretary told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. “We came out better than we went in under the sequester, where it looks like our number is $41 billion [in cuts] now versus the $46 billion.”

But despite a Congressional reprieve, Hagel said the Pentagon is still going to be short at least $22 billion for operations and maintenance, “and that means we are going to have to prioritize and make some cuts and do what we’ve got to do,” including making sharp reductions in base

operating support and training for nondeployed units.

More critical in the long run, he said, is how budget cuts will affect readiness and the department’s overall mission. Because of that concern, he said he has directed Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to conduct an intensive department-wide review of U.S. strategic interests including how to protect the nation with fewer resources. “How do we prioritize the threats and then the capabilities required to deal with threats?” he said. “There will be some significant changes, there’s no way around it.”

Dempsey said the department has already exhausted 80 percent of its operating funds halfway through the fiscal year and characterized the current budget situation as “not the deepest, but the steepest decline in our budget ever,” and warned it will affect military readiness into the future.

“We will have to trade at some level and to some degree our future readiness for current operations,” the chairman said. He called on elected leaders to give the Pentagon the budget flexibility it needs to carry out institutional reforms.

“We can’t afford excess equipment,” Dempsey said. “We can’t afford excess facilities. We have to reform how we buy weapons and services. We have to reduce redundancy. And we’ve got to change, at some level, our compensation structure.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/127fW3f

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey brief the media in the Pentagon on March 28, 2013. Hagel and Dempsey discussed the ongoing sequester, the impact of furloughs, and recent provocative actions on the part of North Korea. (DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett)

DoD scales back furloughs

What is an administrative furlough?

An administrative furlough is a planned event by an agency which is designed to absorbreductions necessitated by downsizing, re-duced funding, lack of work, or any otherbudget situation other than a lapse in appro-priations. This type of furlough is typically anon-emergency furlough in that the agency has sufficient time to reduce spending andgive adequate notice to employees of its spe-cific furlough plan and how many furloughdays will be required.

Under what authority is a furlough taken?

There are three legal authorities under which a furlough can be taken. Furloughs of 30calendar days or less are covered under ad-verse action procedures found in Subpart D of5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 752. Furloughs of more than 30 calendar days arecovered under reduction in force (RIF) proce-dures found in Subpart B of 5 CFR 351.Furloughs for Senior Executive Service mem-bers are covered in Subpart H of 5 CFR Part359.

How is an employee notified of a furlough?

Employees are notified of a furlough in writing by memorandum that is either personallyhand-delivered to the employee or, if not avail-able in person, is mailed by certified/returnreceipt to their home address of record. If re-quired to mail a notice to an employee, thecertified/return receipt mail option provides proof of mailing that is a legally acceptablemeans of delivery.

What are employees who are in a long-term developmental assignment or activity allowed to do on furlough day(s)?

Employees cannot attend any developmen-tal activities on a furlough day, nor work on any developmental assignments on the fur-lough day. In general, developmental program managers are aware of the furlough and will, to the extent possible, synchronize furlough

DoD answers frequently asked questions on furlough

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4


All APG RDECOM employees are invited to attend a Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action Ceremony 10 a.m., April 2 at the APG Post Theater. The guest speaker is Jessica L. Wright, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Field Assistance in Science and Technology-Center, or RFAST-C, Prototype Integration Facility brings engineering expertise directly to the battlefield. The team is always up for a challenge at Bagram Air field, Afghanistan.

EDGEWOOD, Md. — The Northeastern Maryland Technology Council honored RDECOM professionals from the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the Army Research Laboratory for their STEM efforts at their Visionary Awards banquet Feb. 28. NMTC recognized ECBC Technical Director Joe Weinand for his leadership role in guiding and promoting STEM efforts. Mary Doak, program manager for community and educational outreach at ECBC, was recognized as an innovator. Sandy Young, materials engineer and program manager for student STEM outreach at ARL, was recognized as a role model and mentor.

APG PLANS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS EVENT

“THIS IS WHAT WE DO FOR PT!”

NMTC HONORS RDECOM PROFESSIONALS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

days with affected Components so as to miti-gate the furlough’s impact on participants. Employees should consult with their develop-mental program manager for more informa-tion.

To what extent does non-pay status affect retirement coverage?

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) coverage continue during an Administrative Furlough of 30 days or less.

Will social security contributions be affected?

Social security contributions are determined by a percentage of an employee’s basic pay and may be stopped or reduced if the employ-ee has no earnings or if basic pay is reduced.

Are Human Resources Offices required to provide furloughed federal employees with an SF-8, Notice to Federal Employee about Unemployment Insurance?

Federal agencies are required to provide em-ployees with an SF-8 if they will be in a nondu-ty status for seven or more consecutive days.

If an employee who received a furlough notice had previously scheduled annual or sick leave on a furlough day, what happens to the scheduled leave?

Scheduled leave is canceled on furlough days only (annual leave, sick leave, or other). Absences during scheduled furlough days may not be charged to leave. Leave may be requested and approved on scheduled work-days.

May employees who were designated as exempt from an administrative furlough be granted paid leave?

Yes. Employees exempted from administra-tive furloughs would see no change from nor-mal leave situations, subject to supervisory approval.

Will the furlough impact leave accrual?

Once an employee’s balance of non-pay hours equals their scheduled hours in a pay period (e.g., 80 hours in a biweekly pay period, fewer hours for part-time employees), the employee will not accrue leave for that pay period. Leave accrual resumes the next pay period. This will

occur twice if the furlough period is 22 days.

To what extent does a non-pay status affect Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage?

Coverage continues; however, if the furlough results in salary less than the health insurance premium amount, the employee’s share will be withheld on return to full pay status.

Will an employee continue to be covered under the FEHB program if the agency is unable to make its premium payments on time?

Yes, the employee’s FEHB coverage will continue even if an agency does not make the premium payments on time.

What happens to an employee’s TSP contributions?

There will be a reduction in employee and employer contributions, unless the employee chose a set dollar amount vice percentage of pay.

Will the government matching contribution to TSP be reduced during the furlough period?

Government matching contributions determined by a percentage of an employee’s basic pay may be stopped or reduced if the employee has no earnings, or if basic pay is reduced.

Can an employee take a TSP loan while furloughed?

Yes. By law, a TSP participant may take a TSP loan at any time when they are in a pay status.

What impact does the furlough have on an employee’s loan payments?

Payments continue. If the employee’s salary is insufficient, the loan may be extended orhave a balloon payment at the end.

Can the Government take money from the TSP to resolve the financial situation?

No, the money in the TSP is held in trust for its participants. Neither Congress nor the Administration can take money from an employee’s TSP account.

RELATED LINKSOffice of Personnel Management:http://1.usa.gov/UN5Jc3


ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Staff Sgt. Steven McGloin re-enlists in a cer-emony at RDECOM headquarters Feb. 26. McGloin is the administrative noncommis-sioned officer for Command Sgt. Maj. Lebert Beharie.

The Apple App store offered a free TSP iPhone App that asked for account login information. This app is not being offered through the TSP and TSP doesn’t recommend using this application to access your account. Providing this information may result in a security risk to your account There are a number of mobile applications that reference the Thrift Savings Plan and may prompt you for your TSP account credentials. These applications are not sponsored by the TSP. The TSP cannot endorse any information or advice provided by third-party applications. More important, providing your TSP account credentials to third-party applications may jeopardize the security of your account: https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/plan/planNews.shtml#iPhoneApp

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Brig. Gen. Daniel P. Hughes, RDECOM deputy commanding general, leads a discussion March 28 on the Civil War. The discussion, which was open to RDECOM employees, focused on the Confederate Army’s decision to invade Pennsylvania and the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

ECBC Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Jill Smith, director of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, visited ECBC March 12 as part of the month-long Women’s History Month Speaker Series.

Smith discussed her career path within the Department of Defense, the challenges and benefits of healthy work-life balance, the importance of mentorship and the impact of individual decisions.

“Spend time with your own introspection,” Smith said to about 70 people inside Berger Auditorium. “Make choices knowing and thinking what this means for you now and for the future, and be satisfied with that decision.”

Smith was selected for the Senior Executive Service in May 2001 and served as the director of Weapons and Materials Research Directorate with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. There she led basic and applied research in areas of weapons lethality and protection, as well applied materials research. In October 2010, she

became the director of CERDEC, which has more than 2,200 employees.

But her career in the DoD hasn’t come without its challenges, she noted. Smith attributed her successful path to having an understanding partner. Her husband of 35 years helped Smith achieve a work-life balance suitable to their family and two daughters. She’s also learned how to build upon her strengths as a technical and analytical person, and was open to learning from those who came before her. Though a mentorship does not need to be formal, she said, it played a big part in her DoD career.

“When nobody tells you anything, you’re probably not being mentored,” Smith said. She encouraged the men and women in the room to embrace feedback that will help excel individual skills, but also participate in training programs with peers.

The 2013 Women’s History Month theme is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination,” which celebrates women’s contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and the lasting impacts women have had in shaping American culture.

CERDEC technical director speaks at ECBC Women’s Speaker Series

Jill Smith, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center technical director, speaks March 12 at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. (U.S. Army photo)

RDECOM SOLDIER RE-ENLISTS

WARNING: THIFT SAVINGS PLAN APP

HUGHES LEADS A CIVIL WAR DISCUSSION


Army teams up with Intel on virtual realityBy Michelle MillinerARL Simulation and Training Technology Center Public Affairs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The U.S. Army and Intel Corporation entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to collaborate and optimize research in vir-tual training environments.

Intel researchers have been develop-ing technologies to scale user interaction, and they intend to focus on technologies to scale realism and immersion. As plat-form technology providers, they partner with application developers to ensure technologies address the right problem. Collaboration with the Simulation and Training Technology Center offers an op-portunity to work directly with users of the technology.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s vir tual re-ality experts are part of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s Human Research Engineering Directorate of the STTC here.

The unique partnership will provide both organizations a leap ahead in scal-able simulation capabilities, officials said. Jointly developed technology will allow for at least f ive times the concurrent human participants supported in vir tual-training environments.

The expected increase of participants, areas of operation and complexity of agents will bring the military closer to achieving the goals outlined in the U.S. Army Learning Concept for 2015.

The simulation center identif ied a need for scalability and flexibility for next-gen-eration training applications. The majority of current simulation-based, vir tual-en-vironment training applications are only used at the small unit level, 40 Soldiers or fewer.

“Properly representing the operational environment for Army training needs will require a massive increase in simula-tion scalability and flexibility,” said Doug Maxwell, STTC science and technology manager. “It is our belief that vir tual world technology may be used to achieve the

goal of full-spectrum operations during mission rehearsal exercises. This part-nership is the first step to show that more than 1,000 users can operate in the same space and at the same time to achieve a realistic mission.”

HRED leads two ARL major laboratory programs: human sciences and simula-tion and training technology.

The goal of the Army is to research, develop, mature and transition innova-tive training technologies that increase Warfighter battlefield readiness and per-formance. The center’s research focus is technology for the future -- what are the requirements in five to 10 years?

The center is actively pursuing analysis and development in the areas of intelli-gent tutors, immersive learning environ-ments, human agent teaming, dismounted Soldier training, vir tual world technolo-gies, mobile applications -- like apps -- and medical simulators and simulations.

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://1.usa.gov/WZ7anw

A screenshot from the virtual environment on which the Army and Intel are collaborating.


By Bob Reinert USAG-Natick Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts visited the Natick Soldier Systems Center March 15 as the installation braced for the impact of across-the-board budget cuts, known as sequestration.

In her first visit to Natick, Warren, who was elected to the Senate in November 2012, received an overview of the work done here for service members, learned about Gender Neutral Standards being developed for combat positions, was introduced to female body armor, inspected high-performance fibers, toured the Ouellette Thermal Test Facility, and met with the media.

“Thank you for taking care of all three of my brothers. They were all in the military,” Warren said. “You outfitted them and took care of them. And I just want to say, years later, I’m grateful for that. Thank you for all you do all the time.”

A former Harvard Law School professor, Warren pointed out that she understood Natick’s importance as a research facility.

“I’ve been studying what you do from the outside, actually, for years,” Warren said. “I’ve been an enthusiastic supporter for a long time. You’re a good partner to the American people. I want to be a good partner to you.”

Dr. Jack Obusek, NSSC senior manager

and technical director of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, told Warren of the installation’s unique facilities.

“We’re going to give you a snapshot of what we do here for our nation’s most precious defense asset -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen,” Obusek said.

The female body armor was named one of Time Magazine’s “Best Inventions of the Year 2012.” The new armor was designed to offer better protection and to prevent bruised hip bones that women experienced when wearing improved outer tactical vests meant to fit smaller men.

At the Thermal Test Facility, Warren witnessed a four-second flash-fire done with eight burners on a full-scale, instrumented manikin. The TTF tests the flame resistance of uniform and equipment materials.

“You’re saving lives here,” said Warren to the TTF staff.

Natick, which opened in 1954, has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion.

The only active-duty Army installation in New England, Natick is also reducing base operations funding by 30 percent, suspending overtime, placing severe restrictions on official travel, curtailing training and attendance at professional

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts speaks to members of the workforce at Natick Soldier Systems Center. Looking on are Dr. Jack Obusek, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center technical director, and Massachusetts State Sen. Karen Spilka. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm)

U.S. Sen. Warren visits Natick

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

ECBC Communications

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Traveling to Australia can feel like a time warp. Sixteen hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time can result in jet lag that causes the body’s physiological responses to be out of sync with its normal circadian rhythms.

The Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction Business Unit of the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center has partnered with the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic to prepare personnel for the journey with safety measures to ensure optimal onsite working performance in environmental conditions halfway around the world.

“Each site that they go to ... is a little bit different so sometimes there are special procedures for a particular operation,” said Lauren Abbott, a certified physician assistant at APG’s Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic. “With this particular operation in Melbourne, they are doing some work that requires scaffolding because the height of the rooms is so tall.”

Abbott traveled to Melbourne in September with about 20 other CBARR personnel who will be supporting the Australian military during an upcoming remediation mission. Pre-operational set up and mock exercises were conducted by personnel who ran through several staged scenarios, including what would happen if someone had an emergency.

“What if somebody was exposed to something? Had chest pain or a heart attack? We were able to run through that procedure several times and stage multiple scenarios. Safety is definitely one of the first things CBARR looks at in every type of operation,” Abbott said.

Heat stress is likely to be the No. 1 issue posing a threat to workers who are encapsulated in personal protective equipment for hours at a time. Abbott said the average worker would be able to work effectively for four or five hours on a day when it is 44 degrees outside. However, once temperatures climb closer to 100 degrees as in Australia, the time to be able to work safely becomes significantly less. CBARR does have a heat stress plan that incorporates a work/rest cycle that compares the outside, or ambient temperatures, with humidity levels to determine how long a person can work before needing to rest.

The CBARR Business Unit performs global chemical and biological operations worldwide to deliver innovative technology solutions.

ECBC partners with Army Health Clinic


By Jill Smith CERDEC Technical Director

Efficiency and cost savings are essential in the Army’s current fiscally constrained environment. As the Army completes the drawdown of troops from Afghanistan, an opportunity exists for the Army’s science and technology community to focus on future, leap-ahead technologies for next-generation systems by enhancing the current Common Operating Environment vision.

CURRENT APPROACH

The current premise of the COE vision is that the Army research and development community can shorten the development timeline, lower development costs, and shorten the time required to integrate and certify systems by modernizing equipment and weapon systems around a common set of information technology standards and architecture. Until recently, the research, development, and acquisition process called for meeting Soldiers’ requirements by creating a system that inevitably worked as a stand-alone entity, leading to hardware and software duplications.

The COE implementation plan introduced in 2011 promotes open systems, integrated architectures, and common standards to maximize interoperability among applications, support the goals of the Army Enterprise Network Architecture developed by the Army’s chief information officer/G-6, and facilitate new functionality. The plan places Army programs into six computing environment categories (command post; data center/cloud/Geospatial Foundation; sensor; mounted/handheld; real-time/safety critical/embedded; and mounted) based on mission limitations of size, weight, power, and bandwidth. The result is a common software foundation that facilitates interoperability and reuse of common components. The Army aims to implement these current COE concepts over the next five years.

Identifying CE categories and adhering to common Army standards are significant steps toward improving interoperability and reducing integration time. But could the Army go further?

A NEW APPROACH

Even with the COE, the Army faces significant challenges in the areas of size, weight, power and cost. The Army continues

to add electronic equipment to vehicles to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth, as well as to counter constantly evolving threats. Through processes such as the Network Integration Evaluation and other rapid fielding initiatives, the Army has quickly introduced new command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare systems.

However, these systems put a significant demand on the limited SWAP-C budgets of most military platforms, from tactical vehicles and aircraft to Soldiers themselves. Environmental constraints such as the theater of operations, types of threats, terrain and operational conditions limit the allowable SWAP-C for C4ISR/EW systems, even if Army platforms were able to evolve at the same rate as C4ISR/EW systems.

What I am proposing is a new approach to designing C4ISR/EW systems on military platforms. Each platform requires mission equipment such as antennas, radio frequency amplifiers, transmitters and receivers, real-time processing resources, RF and data distribution networks, miscellaneous sensors, and user interfaces. In this approach, we’ve begun working with the platform owners and equipment developers to establish a suitable architecture that could leverage common software components and standard interfaces in a variety of ways through software to create C4ISR/EW applications.

In this new approach, it is envisioned that military platforms of the future will have similar

characteristics to today’s smartphones in that they will provide a wide variety of functions and capabilities on a single platform, using common components and interoperable software and hardware. This new approach is a natural but significant evolution of the Army’s current COE implementation plan. It allows for common interfaces, hardware subcomponents, and software components to developers that are traditionally within the C4ISR/EW systems domain.

Three key elements are required in order to realize this new approach:

A modular open hardware architecture and associated standards that can support all required C4ISR/EW capabilities with significant room for growth.

A modular open software architecture and associated software development tools and libraries sufficient to implement all required C4ISR/EW capabilities.

Resource management tools and algorithms that enable multiple capabilities to share common hardware and software resources.

EXPLOITING COMMONALITIES

At first glance, C4ISR/EW systems, such as counter radio-controlled improvised explosive device electronic warfare, tactical communication, and position, navigation, and timing capabilities, may appear to have nothing in common. In reality, these systems exploit the electromagnetic spectrum and have similar architectures, which may include transmitters, receivers, processing units, and

Envisioning next steps to further improve interoperability and reduce integration timeBeyond a Common Operating Environment:

Soldiers participate in NIE 13.1 in November 2012. (U.S. Army photo)


user interfaces.In many cases, C4ISR/EW systems overlap

in their use of the electromagnetic spectrum and have similar processing requirements. These similarities suggest the potential for sharing components among C4ISR/EW systems on a military platform, which could reduce total life-cycle costs for all such systems. In addition, sharing components among C4ISR/EW systems on a single platform, such as a ground or air vehicle or the Soldier, could greatly improve interoperability and compatibility of the individual systems.

Leveraging common components to deliver capabilities is critical to realize the benefits of open hardware and software architectures for implementing C4ISR and EW capabilities. However, reducing the amount of hardware on the platform to realize significant reductions in SWAP-C requires sharing components among C4ISR/EW capabilities as much as possible, which introduces new challenges. This extreme challenge exists because the developer controls all processing requirements. For example, EW capabilities must be more responsive to ever-changing threats. In order to rapidly upgrade for new threats this proposed architecture requires resource management tools and frameworks to be developed to aid in creating new C4ISR/EW capabilities while still meeting the stringent timing requirements of EW capabilities.

One can choose from numerous available standards for open hardware, but the real challenges exist in selecting a standard that can evolve with growing demands, and selecting from the many options to ensure that multiple vendors can build to the standard. For example, the processing demands and data flows required for many C4ISR/EW systems call for an appropriate databus that supports the data transfer among processing modules. Most of these backplanes do not address RF signals, so digital backplane standards would have to include RF interface standards. Currently, all of these standards leave too much flexibility in the way modules use the data bus provided on the backplane, yet there cannot be optimal interoperability without clearly defining this mechanism. Additional hardware components also need to be specified, such as digital interfaces for RF receivers, transmitters, sensors, and amplifiers.

SHARING COMPONENTS

The Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center of the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command is working on sharing components among C4ISR/EW systems. CERDEC is demonstrating several capabilities

with common components across EW and communications systems, as well as working with Project Manager Electronic Warfare of Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors on open architectures and networking architecture for EW. Concurrently, CERDEC supports PEO Command, Control, and Communications – Tactical in communication systems architectures.

The current COE effort began with the Vehicle Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability initiative, whereby specifications are part of the real-time, safety-critical CE and define data bus architecture and services to enable the networking of C4ISR/EW equipment onboard a vehicle. CERDEC leads several efforts in VICTORY standards and is actively investigating and developing modifications that support sharing of RF components. CERDEC is also leveraging two Army programs of record—PEO C3T’s Mid-Tier Networking Vehicular Radio and PEO IEW&S’ Multi-Function Electronic Warfare—to demonstrate a SWAP-C reduction for both systems by sharing amplifiers and antennas.

This architecture goes a long way in facilitating system interoperability. However, proper integration of advanced C4ISR/EW devices requires additional VICTORY specification. For example, the VICTORY standard must be modified to include an RF bus as well as a precision timing distribution capability. VICTORY is currently limited to intra-vehicle data exchange, and it needs to be extended to support inter-vehicle networking so that it can support collaboration, coordination, and distributed processing across multiple vehicles in support of C4ISR/EW capabilities. This will de-conflict missions and reduce the SWAP-C of each vehicle. VICTORY addresses tactical vehicles, but the COE addresses all tactical platforms; standards must be developed for networking on dismounts as well as airborne and fixed platforms.

Beyond C4ISR/EW interoperability for vehicles, CERDEC is researching common software architectures and development environments for communication and EW waveforms using a common set of hardware.

Software architectures also offer many options. A top option for C4ISR/EW capabilities is the Software Communications Architecture, developed through the Joint Tactical Radio System program to provide an open framework that describes the hardware and software interfaces for software-defined radios. Specifications support only communication requirements; however, today’s operational environment requires the simultaneous usage of EW, communication, and other C4ISR systems. Many C4ISR/EW systems have been

designed under a proprietary architecture, and designing a nonproprietary, open architecture that supports simultaneous usage of these systems poses a complex problem requiring further research and development. Few vendors have entered this arena because of these challenges.

No vendor has met the end-state objective of a fully integrated solution. While not the ultimate answer, the SCA provides an excellent starting point for next-generation C4ISR/EW capabilities. Modifications will be required to support simultaneous C4ISR/EW operations, and EW and ISR.

CONCLUSION

The Army faces not only technical challenges when implementing this new approach in developing C4ISR/EW capabilities, but also acquisition and cost challenges. Individual systems can no longer be developed in isolation. PMs and PEOs will have to work together from the start of development through testing, fielding, and maintaining in the field to ensure that all capabilities meet their requirements.

As an alternative, the PEO/PM structure could be modified to support the new architectural approach. In addition to being a structural paradigm shift, this new approach will entail an initial startup cost that is greater than that of a traditional program of record because of the requirement for common hardware and software architectures and new development tools.

The savings over time will more than outweigh the startup cost, however. Significant cost savings exist in the amount of inventory for maintenance and repair, field support, and potentially other areas. This is in addition to the efficiency of building compatibility and interoperability into C4ISR/EW capabilities from the start, which avoids having to fix compatibility and interoperability issues after fielding. Finally, modular open hardware and software will enable rapid upgrades to existing capabilities, as well as the insertion of new capabilities that may not even have been considered.

The next generation of COE will reflect a paradigm shift in C4ISR/EW capability development. Implementing this new approach would pose significant challenges, but with the growing reliance of our Army on technology, can we really afford not to continue to push the status quo and advance COE?

For information on the CERDEC perspective on COE, call the CERDEC Corporate and Public Communication Office at (443) 861-7566.

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://www.cerdec.army.mil


By Jenna Brady ARL Public Af fairs

ADELPHI, Md. — U.S. Army Research Laboratory scientists in the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate are exploring the f ield of quantum sensing and are discovering ways in which the Army can benefit from innovations that were once thought impossible.

According to Qudsia Quraishi, Ph.D., a physicist in the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, or SEDD, who is working at the forefront of quantum sensing research at ARL, classical physics can limit the per formance of precision sensing technologies such as time-keeping, imaging and navigation.

“Precision imaging is typically limited by the dif fraction limit of light,” Quraishi said. “Precision navigation for vehicles or planes has limits ranging from

thermal f luctuations to say, GPS-denied environments, and conventional iner tial navigation systems have essentially reached a per formance plateau,” Quraishi said.

Quraishi said that next-generation systems for precision sensing involve quantum sensors, which are based on laser-cooled atoms, and could potentially of fer tremendous gains in per formance.

Laser-cooled atoms are small yet coherent, meaning that one can measure a change in gravity or magnetic f ield, are extremely precise, and are highly sensitive.

In addition, quantum sensors rely on a phenomenon not seen in conventional sensors, which is known as entanglement.

“Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon that links one quantum system to another in such a way that a measurement of one system af fects

the results of the other system, even if these systems are physically separated,” Quraishi said.

“These two quantum systems go through slightly dif ferent environments and inter fering them with one another gives information about the environment of one path verses the other. Such atom inter ferometers can in theory provide orders of magnitude better per formance than conventional technologies,” Quraishi said.

An atom inter ferometer is an inter ferometer based on exploiting the wave character of atoms, which is a quantum phenomenon.

One established method for navigation is a Sagnac inter ferometer, which uses coherent light, such as that emitted by a laser. A beam of light is split and the two beams then follow a trajectory in opposite directions to provide the reference for an

Quantum sensing using laser-cooled atoms shows promise for Army navigation, detection

Qudsia Quraishi, Ph.D., works in the laser cooled atoms laboratory as she explores the future applications for quantum sensing.(U.S. Army photos by Doug Lafon)


Qudsia Quraishi, Ph.D., undergraduate student Matt Bahnsen, and Patricia Lee, Ph.D, are part of a group of researchers at U.S. Army Research Laboratory that is are exploring the field of quantum sensing.

iner tial guidance system.In the Army’s case, quantum sensors

based on atomic systems are a major development that can benefit Soldiers because the use of atoms in an inter ferometer leads to more accurate navigation and environmental sensing.

The specif ic areas within quantum sensing that ARL scientists are exploring include gyroscopes, magnetometry, gravity gradiometry, next-generation compact sensors and atomtronics.

Gyroscopes measure changes in rotation of a body and atom-base gyros can be useful in applications such as precision navigation and seismic detection. Importantly, atom-based navigation would not require GPS signals and hence could be used in GPS-denied environments.

Magnetometry is the measurement of magnetic f ields, and when it comes to magnetometry and quantum sensing, laser cooled atoms can precisely measure magnetic f ields, useful for biomagnetic imaging and studies of condensed matter systems.

Gravity gradiometry is the study and measurement of variations in the acceleration because of gravity. Gravity gradiometers that are based on laser- cooled atoms are able to more accurately and precisely detect changes in gravity that can be useful for detection of underground bunkers or natural resources and for geophysics, for example.

Another application of these quantum sensors is in the measurement of time.

Atomic clocks have revolutionized time keeping. In fact, they have gained global attention, especially since the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to David Wineland and Serge Haroche for their work on quantum systems that has helped to lay the foundation for quantum devices, including quantum computers, and the next generation of atomic clocks.

Wineland in par ticular has used cooled ions to develop optical atomic clocks that are the most accurate clocks in the world.

Scientists are working to make it possible for Soldiers to carry miniature atomic clocks that will assist with time synchronization and position of tactical operations, such as directing missiles af ter they have been launched in GPS-denied environments.

“However, quantum sensors typically involve large experimental setups and sensitive, costly equipment that requires

a dedicated team to operate,” Quraishi said.

The f irst step on the path to a f ield-ready device is an integrated and compact setup, and atom-chips are an excellent platform for compact sensors.

Atoms confined on atom-chips are a robust and cost-ef fective system. Modern approaches to quantum sensors now include smaller, integrated devices like the atom-chip setup at ARL.

ARL scientists’ work involves demonstrating quantum sensing in this small-scale platform, which includes atom-chips, and focuses on quantum sensing for a long-term vision of devices that can be placed in vehicles or carried by individual Soldiers.

The f irst and only cold atom setup for ARL, which has seen great interest from major universities all over the world, is located at ARL’s Adelphi Laboratory Center, where all ARL exploration of quantum sensing is currently done in-house by physicists in the Cold Atom Optics Group, including Quraishi.

Though atom-chips are an attractive platform, additional work needs to be done to execute the long-term program vision, as the size and complexity of the system often directly corresponds to its measurement sensitivity.

“The f irst goal would be to create a table top compact sensor that could be used for Army installations or in tanks and planes, and the long-term goal would be for Soldiers to be able to carry

compact sensors in their backpacks for precise navigation in GPS-denied environments,” Quraishi said.

ARL scientists are also exploring the f ield of atomtronics, and according to Quraishi, atomtronics is basically taking what you can do with electronics and doing them with atoms.

Atomtronic devices are still in their infancy, but could be used in future applications such as ultra-cold atomtronic circuits to be used with quantum computers.

Ultra-cold atomtronic circuits would allow for the more coherent, quick and secure exchange and f low of information.

Just like with the classic computer though, scientists cannot imagine all of the possibilities of the quantum computer, which is still very much in its infancy as well.

There is much to be explored on what Quraishi calls the “quantum horizon,” and those explorations could be vital to our Soldiers on the battlef ield and have the potential to forever change the way they execute their missions.

The experiments with cold atoms at ARL are led by Patricia Lee, Ph.D., of SEDD. She is supported by Quraishi, SEDD post-docs Violeta Prieto, Ph.D., Jason Alexander, Ph.D., Dan Stack, Ph.D., and SEDD undergraduate students Matt Bahnsen and Ian Grissom.

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://1.usa.gov/127ojvG


By Alexandra Foran NSRDEC Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — Eating on the go can be tough, especially when your job requires you to fly an aircraft for the U.S. military. The Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module, designed by the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate will make refueling these avia-tors a lot easier.

The Combat Feeding Directorate, or CFD, has conducted two field evaluations of the prototype ABOMM in-flight meal, first with the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Fort Richardson, Alaska, and then with the 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, at the Yakima (Wash.) Training Center.

“Natick received repeated requests from various aviators who were looking for a

nutritious, lunch-type meal that can be easily consumed on-the-go, in-flight, or on the job while performing combat missions for up to five to seven hours per day,” said Barbara Daley, Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module, or ABOMM, project officer.

“Feedback from surveys and focus groups indicate that aviators currently bring their own food with them or are issued Meals, Ready-to-Eat, which do not meet their specific mission needs because they are difficult to open in-flight, require utensils to eat, and can be messy, with the potential for soiling their cockpit console and electronics. As a result, aircrews were just picking and choosing a few of the snack items to take from these [Meals, Ready-to-Eat], which is a rather costly way to meet their in-flight feeding needs.”

The CFD set out to design an eat-on-the-go meal for aircrews, with the potential for use with vehicle crew, tankers, stationary unmanned aerial vehicle pilots, and air

defense units. It would require no preparation -- heating or re-hydration -- or utensils, is nutritious, generates minimal waste, and is more cost effective.

This tall order involves a simple solution: re-packaging. The ABOMM will be comprised of food components already being procured for other ration systems like the MRE and First Strike Ration, which means no new product development, shelf-life studies, or nutritional analyses are needed.

“This project has minimal (research and development) associated with it,” Daley said. “We are simply trying to find the right combination of existing eat-on-the-go lunch-type items that will appeal to aircrews, and the right way to package them for use during their typical missions.”

During the Fort Richardson field test, conducted in November 2012, four pre-bundled ABOMM in-flight test meals (packaged either in a zip-top bag or shrink-wrapped package), along with two Grab-N-

Natick reseachers perfect ‘Fighting fuel’ for aviatorsBarbara Daley, Aircrew Build to Order Meal Module project manager, pictured with two of the ABOMM prototypes designed by the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate. (U.S. Army photos by David Kamm)


Air Crew Build to Order Meal Module prototypes that were field tested by the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Data from this testing showed that the zip-top bag was better than the shrink-wrapped bag because it is easy to open and reusable.

Go meals, were evaluated. The Grab-N-Go meals consisted of shipping cases where a variety of food items were packed loosely to give study participants the ability to make their own choices as to which food items they would carry with them.

A group of 20 to 50 aviators consumed either one pre-bundled ABOMM in-flight meal or one Grab-N-Go meal per day during the seven-day testing period. Aviators filled out acceptance questionnaires each day.

“We were trying to identify the best packaging configuration,” Daley said. “The Grab-N-Go concept was developed to see if aircrews were interested in having cases of different meal components available to them on the flight deck, so they could open, pick from, and place their selections into a zip-top bag.”

Offering the Grab-N-Go option helped reinforce for the CFD why field testing with customers is so important. While the aircrews liked the idea of bundling their own to-go meal with four to five different

components, “they realized it wouldn’t work out well in combat due to the potential for early depletion of the more popular items,” Daley said. Data on the pre-bundled meals also showed that the zip-top bag was preferred over the shrink-wrapped bag, as it is easier to open, resealable and reusable.

In January 2013, for a seven-day testing period, the second field test was conducted in Yakima with a group of approximately eight to 10 aviators per day. Four varieties of pre-bundled ABOMMs, composed of easy-to-eat, shelf-stable sandwiches and snack-type items packaged into a zip-top bag, were evaluated.

“Each prototype meal evaluated provided approximately 960 calories and weighed approximately 0.83 pounds (377 grams),” Daley said.

Aviators again filled out daily acceptance questionnaires after eating the test meals. This test data is currently being analyzed by the CFD as well as supporting researchers from Natick’s Consumer Research Team.

“We received a lot of positive feedback on the compactness of these meals, with users stating that it’s ideal for use in small cockpits and also fits well in their map cases,” Daley said.

Essential characteristics for the final ABOMM design will consider ease-of-use, acceptability, nutrition, weight, cube, packaging, packaging waste, eat-out-of-hand convenience, overall utility, unit cost and final case configuration and assembly.

Later in 2013, when all user test data is consolidated and analyzed, results and final recommendations will be presented to the Joint Services for a formal fielding decision. If approved, the CFD will develop and transition ABOMM specifications and other documentation to the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support to aid in their procurement of the ABOMM.

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://1.usa.gov/X8jOlA


By Heather R. SmithAMRDEC Public Affairs

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — College stu-dents conducting research into remotely piloted unmanned aerial systems are testing their ideas on actual Army hardware.

In 2012, four Raven-A small unmanned aircraft systems were transferred to Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Alabama A&M and Auburn University.

This unique opportunity is the result of partnerships between the Program Manager of Unmanned Aerial Systems; the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center; and the four universities.

Under Educational Partnership Agreements, each university was provided with a RQ-11A aircraft, ground control station and tough book computer.

According to AMRDEC chief of aerodynamic technology, Lamar Auman, the Center anticipates the partnerships and hardware transfers will lead to future research collaboration and opportunities to speed transition of innovative technologies from academia to the field. Auman sees the potential for students to develop new payloads and new sensors to fit into existing and

future systems. In addition to promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, these efforts could lead to new or expanded lower-cost capabilities for all UAS platforms.

Odeal Richardson, technical chief for External Programs for PM UAS, said the memorandums with the program manager and the EPAs with AMRDEC are important steps to take today to develop engineers and technology for tomorrow. Richardson added, “We are in the process of identifying gaps that the universities that they can pursue on their own.” Additional partnerships with other universities are being discussed.

The Raven-A is a great choice for loaning to universities because it’s small, man-portable, and requires two people to operate, Auman said. “It’s a small portable platform that has a lot of capability for its size. It is also the size and class of remotely piloted aircraft that many schools across the nation have been using as teaching aids in their curricula. Many colleges and universities compete in programs like AIAA’s Design, Build, Fly and AUVSI student competitions. Our obsolete RQ-11A systems will serve as ‘ambassadors’ to the colleges and will challenge the students

to design to the harsh and rugged demands that are placed on these systems.”

At the end of the five-year EPA, the university will return the hardware to the Army. “Our goal is to have new low-cost technology ideas coming back to AMRDEC for future systems. We are taking small steps in that direction and we’ve got a long way to go before we will realize that goal,” Auman said. “While it’s not called out in the EPA, it is my personal hope that the schools will use the Raven hardware to develop a form, fit, function, and communication solutions for a host of sensors applications.”

“When someone comes to AMRDEC with a new UAS sensor payload, I believe we should be positioned to partner with them to assist with payload integration and flight tests performance evaluation. We could develop special sensors to look for a host of things, so that when the next natural disaster occurs we could send in support teams to search for stranded survivors, hazardous leaks from industrial sites, or a variety of other things. I believe that would be a great product that AMRDEC could provide to PM UAS and the nation.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://bit.ly/TnDs6m

Army, universities partner for aviation researchAuburn University mascot Aubie learns how to hand-launch an RQ-11A Raven with engineer Daniel Hiatt, holding a Puma, during a 2012 visit to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. (U.S. Army photo by Merv Brokke)


ECBC Communications

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — When a South Dakota beef producer voiced concerns over the safety of its product to a meat inspection staff, the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at South Dakota State University called on the Food Emergency Response Network for help in early January. Within a few days, the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s chemical-biological center, or ECBC, answered.

“It was really great,” said Laura Ruesch, research associate at SDSU. “I would have had no way of knowing that [Edgewood Chemical Biological Center] existed if it weren’t for the [Food Emergency Response Network]. It was a really great way to connect people who have the resources and similar interest in food testing, but otherwise would not have had contact with one another.”

Food Emergency Response Network, known as FERN, an integrated system of food-testing laboratories across local, state and federal levels in the United States, facilitated the partnership between SDSU and ECBC’s CBARR Business Unit laboratories at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Federal and state funding cuts caused SDSU’s biochemistry laboratory to close in 2011, leaving the university without the facility or personnel to support a core chemistry capability for food testing. Furthermore, the absence of a Department of Agriculture laboratory in South Dakota left Ruesch with little state resources to reach out to. Instead, she utilized her contacts within FERN to connect to CBARR’s Environmental Chemical Monitoring Laboratory.

As part of South Dakota’s meat inspection program, SDSU needed to conduct additional chemical testing on a meat sample to determine whether or not Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic agent, was present. According to Ruesch, the Ivermectin compound is used in a pesticide that is poured on live cattle to control internal and external parasites such as roundworms, cattle grubs, mites, lice and flies.

“Typically, there is a withdrawal period of 45 days before they can slaughter that animal,” Ruesch said. “Whatever product was absorbed into the body of the cow was processed by the liver and kidneys and excreted via feces and urine so levels present in the tissue are reduced to tolerable levels.”

The meat sample in question, however, had been processed before the 45-day time period, after only 28 days. Additional testing was conducted by CBARR to ensure the meat sample was not contaminated and the

Ivermectin compound was not still present. The anti-parasitic agent is widely used as insecticides in agriculture, gardens and veterinary practices. When exposed to unsafe levels of the chemical, humans may develop mydriasis, depression, coma, tremors, ataxia, stupor, vomiting and drooling. After two weeks of testing, CBARR did not find any hazardous levels of Ivermectin in the meat samples.

“A lot of chemistry laboratories that have such a high sample throughput usually don’t have the time for some of these more unique cases,” Ruesch said. “ECBC really went out of their way to help us out. A lot of places just didn’t have the time or the qualified staff available to investigate that method and put it into place.”

Nam-Phuong Nguyen, CBARR senior chemist, was excited to take on the task. Based on previously proven USDA methods and the work conducted with raw milk samples, Nguyen developed and verified the appropriate method for detecting the presence of Ivermectin in the ground beef product sample provided by SDSU.

“After we received the samples, I applied my research to develop the analytical methods,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen had previous experience creating and verifying testing methods, an invaluable resource when conducting this type of work with a quick turnaround time. According to Nguyen, other projects tend to take longer to complete because they typically involve validating another scientist’s methods. But because Nguyen had designed the test methods for the FERN project herself, there was only one matrix and one analysis that needed to be done.

“Before working on this project for SDSU, CBARR had done work on a food project for the USDA where we were asked to validate their developing method of detecting three

compounds of interest in various food matrices, including orange juice, apple juice, egg yolk, egg white, whole milk, two percent milk, hot dog and ground beef, and deli turkey,” Nguyen said. “Although the two projects were seemingly different, the same concepts, with respect to the development and validation of methods, were applied.”

Out of nearly 10 laboratories across the country who responded, CBARR was the only one awarded the work. CBARR was accepted into FERN as a chemical, biological and radiological testing laboratory in January 2009, and has performed method equivalency testing for biological analysis with food matrices for other FERN partners. The work with SDSU marks the first time CBARR has expanded its FERN efforts to include chemical testing.

ADRDL is integrated into SDSU’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and joined FERN in 2004. ADRDL is one of fewer than 40 veterinary diagnostic laboratories accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. It is also an integral member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network that helps detect nationally significant animal diseases like avian influenza.

ECBC is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, and the partnership with SDSU highlights each organization’s commitment to detect agents of food-borne illness, and respond to emergencies involving the contamination of food. The inter-agency participation within the FERN structure enhances the network’s ability to form, develop and operate across the country on complex issues involving the nation’s food supply.

RELATED LINKSECBC: https://www.ecbc.army.mil

University calls on Army for chemical testing of meat product

The Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory is integrated into South Dakota State University’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and joined the Food Emergency Response Network in 2004. (Courtesy photo)


By David McNallyRDECOM Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — People’s desire for more information and enter-tainment has driven exponential increases in the popularity of social media.

The Department of Defense released an official social media policy Feb. 25, 2010. In the years since, RDECOM and many other military units established online presences.

The social media policy said that DoD computers on the nonclassified network, known as the NIPRNET, would have open access to sites like Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Under the policy, open and consistent access is offered across the board.

Many organizations find it convenient to push out information quickly to a broad audience. The medium offers many advantages over a weekly newspaper, or even competing in an overflowing e-mail inbox.

Most RDECOM organizations have established social media identities through Facebook and Twitter. Many share photos through Flickr and videos on YouTube.

Measuring success in social media is a challenge. While it’s easy to see how many followers an organization may have, “likes” are often ambiguous, according to social media marketing experts.

“A ‘like’ doesn’t signify a change in behavior, or even a willingness to take action,” writes social media expert Mark Goode, in a tweet to RDECOM.

Regardless, numbers are an indication of engagement, and RDECOM has seen a bump in its numbers recently.

With Facebook likes approaching 5,000 and the Twitter following close to 4,000, RDECOM is tracking a rapid increase. This may be in response to a new social media strategy.

RDECOM and its key leaders are engaged on Facebook and Twitter seven days a week now from morning to evening. Links encompass news and information about science, technology and engineering.

Tweets and posts are augmented by random themes that may last two or three days.

One recent topic was #bodyarmor. Others were were #graphene, #3Dprinting and #invisibility. Hashtags are a rally point where social media users include the topic name in their comments or links. Clicking on the terms gives the user a link to information on that topic.

“We hope to advance the conversation about Army technologies, inform the public about Army initiatives and showcase the work of the Army technology team,” said Joseph Ferrare, RDECOM public affairs officer.

Scattered throughout the links to various science and technology news, RDECOM inserts links to stories it produces, like the latest research at Natick Labs, or the Army Research Laboratory.

The process starts with a story and image on the official Army homepage. Social media echoes the message and offers opportunities for interaction and collaboration.

“We view social networking as the driving force behind major changes in modern communications,” Ferrare said. “We’re building a strong community of fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter, and posting an enormous number of public images and videos to Flickr and YouTube.

“For a command that is at the forefront of technology, this is a must,” Ferrare said. “Not only are we supporting a generation of Soldiers who are comfortable on these sites, we recruit from that same generation to fill vacancies in our command. The majority of our 15,000 people are civilian scientists and engineers. We have to be where they are.”

Being where the audiences are is at the core of the social media phenomenon for many organizations. It means more people gathering information from alternative online sources in a dramatic shift away from post newspapers.

“The immediacy of posting images and stories during an event is an unmistakable advantage,” Ferrare said. “Strategic communications are vital to our success in supporting Soldiers. All Americans need to know we’re doing everything possible to make Soldiers strong and America safe, and social media offers the level of transparency they deserve.”

Producing good content is the key to success, Ferrare said.

“You have to produce compelling content or no one is going to bother becoming a fan or follower,” Ferrare said. “We hope to highlight what RDECOM is doing to make Soldiers stronger through technology, but we have to do it within what have become the accepted rules for using those media.”

With the current trend and trajectory of social media followers, officials hope compelling content meets the scrutiny of the next generation.

“This generation is the technology generation; technology drives their lives,” Ferrare said. “This is also the generation destined to interact with each other in new ways. Whether we communicate in this realm is not the question; it is how we adapt our workflow to make it happen. It will happen.”

RDECOM ON TWITTERhttp://twitter.com/RDECOMhttp://twitter.com/DaleOrmondhttp://twitter.com/CSMBehariehttp://twitter.com/ARDEChttp://twitter.com/ArmyResearchLaboratoryhttp://twitter.com/CERDEChttp://twitter.com/EdgewoodChemBiohttp://twitter.com/NatickLabshttp://twitter.com/TARDEC_pao

RDECOM ON FACEBOOKhttp://facebook.com/RDECOMhttp://facebook.com/MrDaleOrmondhttp://facebook.com/LebertBehariehttp://facebook.com/RDECOM.ARDEChttp://facebook.com/ArmyResearchLaboratoryhttp://facebook.com/CERDEChttp://facebook.com/EdgewoodChemBioCenterhttp://facebook.com/TARDEC

RDECOM and many of its suborganizations are engaging daily on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

RDECOM increases social media engagement


By Joyce ConantARL Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Employees from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory supported Churchville Elementary School, who along with the National Education Association, celebrated Read Across America Day by reading stories to children in grades one through five on March 1.

In 1997, NEA pushed for a special day to celebrate reading throughout the United States. This idea proved to be a popular one so it was not long before the first Read Across America Day was held on March 2, 1998.

This nationwide observance coincides with the birthday of Dr. Seuss (Geisel), an American writer best known for writing children’s books. Some of his books include “Green Eggs and Ham,” “How the Grinch

Stole Christmas,” and “The Cat in the Hat.”Churchville Elementary School provided

readers who wanted to dress up with hats and other Dr. Seuss-related costumes to wear while reading.

Volunteers were told that they could bring a favorite book to read or one would be provided. They each read for 20-30 minutes.

Paul Conroy from the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate read to the fifth-grade class, which was also his son’s class. Conroy decided to read the Declaration of Independence to help give the children a better understanding of it. He asked the students questions before reading it to see how much they knew in advance.

Angelique Scharine from the Human Research and Engineering Directorate read to students in the secnd grade. She read books such as “Fox and Sox,” “Make up Mess,” and “I’m so Embarrassed” by

children’s author Robert Munsch.Scharine, who was very animated during

each of her readings, kept the children entertained.

“It’s always great to have someone come in from the community to share and read to the students,” said Danielle Carter, second grade teacher.

Another ARL employee who read to the students was Matthew Floros from Vehicle Technology Directorate who read in the afternoon to the second grade students.

Sheryl Coleman, program specialist, who helped organize the event said, “ARL employees each year take the time out of their busy schedules to make this a successful program. School officials said they are always thankful for the number of ARL participants.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/ZpX5Qs

ARL employees support Read Across America Day at local elementary school

Paul Conroy from the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate reads the Declaration of Independence to the fifth-grade class to help give the children a better understanding of it. (U.S. Army photo by Joyce Conant)


By Janet BallardAMRDEC Technical Management Directorate

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — Vortex. Vortices. Swirls of air trailing behind wings as they produce lift. You know from the movies what happens to a jet flying through another jet’s wake, but what happens to a missile’s tail fins passing through the wake of the missile’s wings? Designers must understand these aerodynamic forces to predict their effect on missile flight.To that end, Josh Doyle and Chris Rosema, missile aerodynamicists in the Aerodynamics Technology Branch of the System Simulation and Development Directorate, have devel-oped a vortex cloud model and integrated it into Missile Data Compendium (Missile DATCOM), a semi-empirical aerodynamic prediction code originally developed by the U.S. Air Force in the 1980s.Missile DATCOM, which had been improved several times over the next two decades, is still in use throughout the defense community for conceptual design and early design trade analysis and for rapid database development. Rosema began making enhancements to Missile DATCOM in 2005. Doyle joined the ef-fort in 2007. They worked together to improve

the model for wing-shed vortices propagating downstream.They produce downwash, an effective downward airflow, on the tails, Rosema ex-plained. “That’s why airplanes have to wait a minute or so in between takeoffs on a run-way. Each plane creates this vortex-gener-ated downwash that is proportional to the lift it is generating. This downwash will have an adverse effect on the runway flow field for the airplane taking off behind it. The vor-tices dissipate over time due to air viscos-ity, so once the vortices become sufficiently weak, the next plane can take off.”Similarly, when missile wings or forward control surfaces produce lift, they create vortices that act on the tail surfaces.Last year, Doyle and Rosema began the fol-low-on task to develop a higher fidelity mod-el for vortices shed by the body of a missile. Previously, Missile DATCOM had relied on empirical data and a single vortex pair to model the leeward side of a missile body.Integration of the resulting vortex cloud would then model the actual flow field more accurately. The model accounts for the in-teractions of body-shed vortices with each other and with wing-shed vortices.“We’re taking the concept, using high fidelity

computational fluid dynamics for the empiri-cal component of the model and then imple-menting into Missile DATCOM for the first time,” Rosema said.This new capability provides a more accu-rate representation of the vortices’ cumu-lative aerodynamic effects on downstream control surfaces and ultimately, missile flight.The incorporation of this vortex cloud model in the next version of Missile DATCOM rep-resents a potential cost and schedule sav-ings; the new vortex models really aid in the design process, Rosema said. The more accurate code can lead to fewer design it-erations and reduce the need for the costly CFD analysis and wind tunnel testing con-ducted during the latter stages of design.Use of the improved Missile DATCOM may result in faster, more affordable develop-ment of missile systems and has the poten-tial to benefit systems such as the Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar Program Directorate Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative and the AMRDEC-developed Extended Area Protection System.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://bit.ly/TnDs6m

Aerodynamic duo advances missile developmentJosh Doyle and Chris Rosema, missile aerodynamicists at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, describe a missile vortex cloud model developed at AMRDEC. (U.S. Army photo by Ryan Keith)


By Dan LafontaineRDECOM Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — American Soldiers in Afghanistan were re-cently challenged in securing a facility for co-alition forces. They turned to deployed U.S. Army civilian engineers for a solution.

Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment had been unsuccessful in finding the expertise they needed to de-sign, build and install new force-protection measures. After meeting with the forward de-ployed engineering cell from the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, a fix began to take shape.

Steve Roberts, a mechanical engineer from RDECOM’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, led the effort. The project demonstrates how the team overcomes obstacles of time zones and distance separating stateside Army engineers and technicians from Soldiers in the Middle East.

“We were able to assess the site, per-form the design reviews, create prototypes, come up with final products, and do an in-stall within a month,” Roberts said in an in-terview from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. “If we would need to reach back to the states to get this type of work done, it would have taken a minimum of three months, probably closer to six.”

The RDECOM Field Assistance in Science and Technology-Center, or RFAST-C, Forward Deployed Prototype Integration Facility devel-ops engineering solutions in cooperation with the Army Materiel Command’s 401st Army Field Support Brigade.

Roberts; executive officer Dan McGauley, Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center; equipment operator Jon-Luke DeStephano, ARDEC; and engi-neering technician Bob Spetla, ARDEC, com-prise the team that completed the security improvements.

Capt. Mitchell Monette, 1-9 Cav officer-in-charge of force-protection improvements, praised the efforts to provide security up-grades for his Soldiers.

“I couldn’t believe the level of efficiency and professionalism the engineers brought,” Monette said. “Internal Army assets were fully engaged with other projects so the recom-mendation was made to contact RFAST-C.

“After seeing the quality of the worksman-ship that went in to the upgrades, I’m very happy with the outcome and will continue to call on their expertise if needed. It was a plea-sure to be working with this organization.”

The project included designing, construct-ing and installing a metal door and frame, observation screens to allow movement in the compound without being monitored, and retaining devices to increase wall height using sandbags.

Security Forces Advise and Assist Team 8 members requested the modifications in early January. The RFAST-C installed the frame, door and observation screen framework Feb. 16.

RFAST-C Director Michael Anthony, who works for RDECOM’s Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, said the team’s rapidly developed prototypes would not be possible without being on-site with the Soldiers.

“That’s the benefit of having a forward de-ployed team of Army civilians who are experts in their field and can quickly build prototypes,” Anthony said. “Being in theater allows us to assess the situation to develop a rapid, engi-neered solution. We get immediate feedback and can adjust the effort where needed. It saves time and valuable resources.”

McGauley said RFAST-C’s capabilities en-able solutions not found elsewhere. RDECOM established RFAST-C in 2011.

“It’s a reputation that RFAST-C has devel-oped here at Bagram Airfield. They heard about us from another unit,” he said.

Because Soldiers are not accustomed to having the support of an engineering team em-bedded in a combat zone, they often attempt

their own fixes without the necessary exper-tise, materials or equipment, DeStephano said.

“Out here, if there is no one to provide the work or resources, [Soldiers] work around it,” he said. “A lot of times they get so used to do-ing this, they don’t even know where to turn.

The four RFAST-C members first trav-eled to the compound and performed a site survey. Roberts said he used the software ProEngineer at the PIF to develop models.

The 1-9 Cav Soldiers came to the RFAST-C PIF to vet the models and prototypes before production started. The 1-9 Cav provided a welding machine and a Soldier to perform welding.

Spetla said the team developed camarade-rie with the Soldiers working on the project. The face-to-face interaction with Soldiers is a benefit not typically available back home.

“Even though in the States I’m helping Soldiers, here, I see their faces and talk to them. The day of installation was the best day I’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said.

Because of engineering limitations in a combat zone, resourcefulness is a necessity.

“Here in Bagram, you have to use what you’ve got. We don’t always have everything we need on hand. We went on a reconnais-sance mission on the base,” Spetla said. “Sometimes it’s like treasure-hunting.

“It’s part of the way of life here -- people helping, giving and taking. We have no Home Depot.”

DeStephano said another challenge was the compound’s remote location. Unlike a modification to a ground vehicle that is brought to the PIF, the group did not have ac-cess to the site after the initial day of taking measurements.

“This was different from most projects that we’ve worked on. We used our existing knowl-edge to get a working design to fit in the pro-cess. We had to adjust it when we went into the field,” DeStephano said.

McGauley said the tight deadlines and re-strictions on equipment and materials, com-pared with those typically available in the Army’s research centers in the United States, forces the team to develop new ways of think-ing.

“This job pushes everybody to their limit and then forces them to go beyond that limit, find-ing new ways to do things that perhaps they hadn’t seen or thought of before. RFAST-C is a force multiplier for the units on the ground here in Afghanistan,” he said.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/Z9955k

Jon-Luke DeStefano (RFAST-C equipment operator) and Capt. Mitchell Monette (1-9 Cav officer-in-charge of force-protection improvements) work on security infrastructure enhancements at an Army combat outpost in Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo)

RDECOM team secures compound in Afghanistan


By Dan LafontaineRDECOM Public Affairs

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, Md. — America’s next cancer research pioneer, space ex-plorer or cyber security whiz could be one of the Maryland high-school stu-dents who presented their research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Thir ty-three students convened March 8 as part of the 2013 Maryland JSHS Innovative STEM Conference.

Tucker Chapin, a Baltimore Polytechnic Institute junior who presented his work on computer modeling of dark matter, said he was particularly impressed by the complexity and detail of his fellow

students’ medical research.“We’re high-school students doing

research that graduate students aren’t doing,” he said.

Months of work developing their scientif ic topics culminate with this

annual event. The students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting their research f indings before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers.

Dr. Carl White, associate dean of Morgan State University’s School of Engineering and director of Maryland JSHS, said the conference’s goal is to introduce students from an array of backgrounds to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM.

“These kids live in a technological world. It ’s so important that all students have an understanding of STEM -- how it works and impacts their present and future,” White said.

Future innovators exhibit talents at Maryland JSHS

Maryland students explore science and technology at the 2013 Maryland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Innovative STEM Conference in Linthicum Heights, Md., March 8. (U.S. Army photos by Tom Faulkner)

“These kids live in a technological world. It’s so important that all students have an understanding of STEM -- how it works and impacts their present and future.”

— Dr. Carl White


Universities across the country administer 48 regional symposiums in collaboration with the research arm of the Department of Defense. Five f inalists from each region will attend the National JSHS in Dayton, Ohio, May 1-5.

Sixteen U.S. Army scientists and engineers from Aberdeen Proving Ground served as judges for Maryland JSHS.

“The Army involvement has really been signif icant to us,” White said. “The fact that the Army’s scientists and engineers participate allows the kids to interact with real- life professionals. It ’s an opportunity for kids to grow and learn more about careers in STEM.”

The Army Educational Outreach Program sponsors seven STEM outreach programs, including JSHS, for four th- through 12th-graders.

Gabriel Grell, a junior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, plans to follow the career path of his father, a mathematician. He used his internship at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute to delve into research on low redshif t galaxies that are moving away from the Milky Way.

Grell’s NASA mentor, Dr. Henry Ferguson, and graduate student Kuang-Han Huang helped turn his passion for astronomy into a research project at JSHS. He star ted his research last summer and hopes to complete it by next year’s competition.

“It ’s been a great experience,” Grell said. “I hope to see other people’s presentations and compare them with mine. How does it dif fer? Can I boost the level of my presentation?”

After studying astrophysics and math at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University or Johns Hopkins University, Grell hopes to become a physicist.

Lt. Col. Wilbur Richburg, a systems team chairman with the Army Test and Evaluation Command at APG, judged environmental sciences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry and a master’s degree health services administration.

“The high school students were outstanding. It ’s an understatement that I’m impressed with the students,” Richburg said. “Their science projects were much better than mine during my days in school.

“I’m telling students to stick with the sciences. Eventually there will be a correlation to what they do in everyday life. They will see a product they can

attach their name to.”Studying science in college was an

essential step to his career as an Army of f icer, Richburg said. His academic studies translated into real-world applications as a Soldier.

“Once I graduated and went into the chemical f ield, I had a chance to understand the ef fects of biological and chemical agents,” he said. “Those building blocks helped me understand how the hard sciences were a foundation for me. If I didn’t have hard sciences, I would have never understood those things during my 24 years in the military.”

Vinay Siriam, a junior at Poolesville High School’s Science, Math and Computer Science Magnet Program, completed his research in an area with national visibility - - Internet routing security. He

hopes to attend MIT or Carnegie Mellon University to study computer science or electrical engineering for a career at Google or IBM.

“From the beginning of middle school, my magnet program offers accelerated courses in computer science. I got interested in computer science from an early age,” he said. “Cyber security is very prominent, so I wanted to do something in that area.”

Richburg emphasized that STEM subjects provide a solid foundation and are important for all students.

“STEM programs are for every student to get that foundation for the sciences. The sciences are invaluable,” he said.

RELATED LINKSMore: http://www.jshs.org/

(Upper left) Dr. Carl White is associate dean of Morgan State University’s School of Engineering and director of Maryland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. (Upper right) America’s next cancer research pioneer, space explorer or cyber security whiz could be one of the Maryland high-school students who presented their research at JSHS. (Lower left) Morgan State engineering students serve as volunteers during the event. (Lower right) Gabriel Grell, a junior at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, used his internship at NASA’s Space Telescope Science Institute to delve into research on low redshift galaxies.


TARDEC Public Affairs

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. — Contemporary military vehicles, such as the family of Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles, have several transparent armored windows Soldiers can use to survey the area around them. When Soldiers ride in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, they’re surrounded by protective armor and cannot see the area around them or know what they will encoun-ter outside the vehicle once the rear ramp is lowered and they deploy.

To provide better situational awareness for BFV Infantrymen, a cross-discipline team of TARDEC engineers is developing the Virtual window — a video display mounted to the interior of the rear ramp that provides the Soldiers a comprehensive environmental view before they dismount the vehicle.

The virtual window display helps minimize surprise when the ramp descends and the crew deploys out from the vehicle. Soldiers can step on the reinforced screen without damaging it as they exit the vehicle.

“We integrated a high-definition camera onto the rear of a Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and then integrated a commercial 46-inch LED display into the ramp,” explained TARDEC Engineer Andrew Kerbrat. “The video feed from the camera appears on the display, which gives Soldiers the ability to

see outside the vehicle with the ramp closed. This visual situational awareness could be a game-changer in how the Soldier proceeds out of the vehicle.”

To generate ideas for the Virtual window design, the project team organized an Innovations Solutions training event consisting of design students and professors from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, plus Army Warrant Officers from the U.S. Army Ordnance School who provided their experience and technical knowledge to the students who created numerous sketches for the virtual window concept. A second Innovations Solutions Workshop is being planned for this May.

As a follow-up to the workshop, the team has already started working on Virtual Window 2, which expands the system’s capabilities and will be integrated into and

Virtual window provides vital view for SoldiersThis rendering proposes a virtual window screen across the rear ramp of an armored vehicle. It gives Soldiers riding in the vehicle a critical picture of their surroundings. (Sketches by U.S. Army TARDEC designer James Scott)

““We are trying to move the technology toward the idea of the vehicle as a member of the squad.”

— Andrew Kerbrat


Pull-down screens showing other perspectives outside the vehicle may be included in the Virtual Window 2 phase design.

TARDEC Engineers John-Taylor Smith and Shawn Keller test the demonstrator at the Detroit Arsenal. (U.S. Army photo)

tested on a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle.Possible enhancements for the Virtual

Window 2 phase could involve driver and commander crew stations connected to the new display system to provide broader levels of situational awareness for the four-member squad, including:n360-degree visual situational awareness through electro-optical sensors.nThermal viewer through a commander’s Gimbal for medium range situational awareness (CITV-like) capabilitynUnmanned Ground Vehicle Command and Control with video feed displayed on the Virtual windownVideo feed from a remote Soldier camera fed back to an ICV and displayed on screennRemote mission planning from a tablet provided to the virtual windownForce XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below capability displays

“We are trying to move the technology toward the idea of the vehicle as a member of the squad,” Kerbrat said.

The technology concept can be applied to other vehicles as well, he said.

“Not all vehicles would be able to take a wholly integrated system, but some subsystem technologies have relevance in current and future vehicles,” he said. “For example, we’re using versions of the Soldier Machine Interfaces for many projects ranging from command and control of small unmanned ground vehicles all the way to integration into MRAP vehicles involved in today’s fight.”

The project involves an integrated team effort that bridges several TARDEC technical areas, including Ground Systems Survivability, Ground Vehicle Robotics, Vehicle Electronics and Architecture, Ground Vehicle Power and Mobility’s battery team and the Center for Systems Integration.

The group worked with the Communications Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, provided the sensor suite that allowed the team to employ many capabilities for the Virtual Window 2 phase. CERDEC also helped develop and integrate base technologies for the system.

TARDEC’s Ground Systems Engineering, Assessment and Assurance team provided vehicle information for Virtual Window 1 and set up the first Innovations Solutions Workshop, Kerbrat said. Also, the Maintenance Operations Center provided training space and storage, and assisted with related maintenance issues.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://tardec.army.mil/


By Bob Reinert USAG-Natick Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — Take a boyhood working for family food businesses in Boston’s famed North End, add plenty of intelligence, hard work and people skills, spice it all with self-deprecating humor, and you have Gerry Darsch’s recipe for success at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate.

Darsch, who has seen to it that America’s warfighters get the best food available to any military in the world, pushed away from the table for the final time March 10, when he left his position as Combat Feeding’s director after nearly two decades. A native of nearby Braintree, Mass., Darsch has spent 37-plus years at Natick following graduation from the University of Massachusetts, or UMass, with a bachelor’s degree in food science.

Before he retires in June, Darsch will transition his comprehensive technical and leadership knowledge to the new director and complete ongoing projects. An Air Force brat, his love affair with food began early.

“My father had a place in the North End of Boston, and he blended his own salad oils and actually made his own vinegar and bottled that,” Darsch recalled. “He also had a sausage casing-tying business.”

Soon after graduating from UMass in 1975, he began at Natick as a food technologist and earned a master’s degree in food science from Framingham State University, Mass. He held other jobs at Natick over the years but settled into the Combat Feeding director’s chair in 1994, pondering whether he had bitten off more than he could chew.

“Like a lot of people,” said Darsch, “you wonder to yourself, ‘Are you up for the challenge?’”

Darsch dug in and proved to have a voracious appetite for supporting service members, but there was a great deal of work to do at the beginning. In a story he has told many times before, Darsch related being called to the Pentagon after the first Gulf War to meet with Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“I’ll never forget it,” Darsch said. “General Powell said, ‘There’s no need to sit down. This is not going to take very long.’”

Powell told Darsch that he had a message for him about the current Meal, Ready to Eat.

“Fix it,” Darsch recalled Powell telling him.“I said, ‘Sir, got it,’” Darsch said. “We

then switched our business philosophy into ‘warfighter recommended, warfighter tested and warfighter approved.’”

Gone, said Darsch, were such “delicacies” as “the ever-popular ham and chicken loaf” and the hot dogs that “were often referred to as the four fingers of death.” In their place came menu items that warfighters actually wanted.

“At the end of the day, what we do is we fuel the Defense Department’s most flexible and adaptable weapons platform, and that is the individual warfighter,” Darsch said. “And without that fuel, that military machine comes to a grinding halt.

“For all intents and purposes, if they’re not going to eat it, then you have diminished their effectiveness on the battlefield. So (we) need to be sure that we give them the nutritional armor that they need to optimize cognitive and physical performance. Our goal at the end of the day is to help ensure that our warfighter will outlast any adversary, any place, any time.”

Today, that fuel includes the First Strike Ration, designed to be eaten on the go on today’s asymmetric battlefield and built around shelf-stable pocket sandwiches. Another innovation was the Unitized Group Ration-Express, which brings hot food to warfighters in remote locations by airdrop rather than convoy.

“It is taking trucks off the road, in some cases, and keeping warfighters out of harm’s way,” said Darsch of the UGR-E. “And we’ve

heard that from warfighters.”To find out what service members thought of

the First Strike Ration and the UGR-E, Darsch and deputy director Kathy Evangelos traveled to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in 2005 and asked warfighters from Iraq and Afghanistan. Darsch said the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

“You will never please all of us all the time, but you’re pleasing most of us most of the time,” Darsch said they told him. “Think of Easter dinner at your house, and you’ve got 20 relatives ... around the table. It would be highly unusual that everybody at that table enjoyed everything that was put in front of them. It’s just not going to happen.”

In a March 2012 visit to Natick, Secretary of the Army John McHugh lauded the work done by Darsch and his Combat Feeding team.

“I’ve spent a lot of time ripping open MREs (meals, ready-to-eat) over the years, as a member of Congress and now Secretary of the Army, eating with Soldiers forward deployed,” McHugh said. “You don’t think a lot about the work and research and the analysis that goes into making sure that we’re providing something the Soldier wants to eat.

“You can pack all the nutrients you want into a pouch. If they don’t find it very palatable, they’re not going to eat it. So it’s not just understanding what the caloric count is in a particular dish, it’s not just understanding how many vitamins and minerals are in it, but also the palatability of it.”

Darsch knows that some might think of

Sharing his recipe for success at Natick

Gerry Darsch, the longtime director of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate, stepped aside March 10. Darsch oversaw the development of many products that provide nutrition and comfort to today’s warfighters. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm)


By Jason Kaneshiro ARDEC Public Affairs

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Scientists and engineers at Picatinny Arsenal have volunteered their time to mentor local students in a robotics competition as part of an ongoing effort to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to students.

The FIRST Robotics competition was held March 23-24 at Mount Olive and had 13 teams sponsored by members of the Picatinny Arsenal community. The acronym FIRST means “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.”

The Department of Defense established the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, initiative in an effort to ensure a leadership position in economic growth and technological supremacy.

FIRST was established in 1989 by Dean Kamen, who is best known for having invented the portable dialysis machine, the Segway and recently the Luke prosthetic arm. Since its establishment the “game” has changed from year to year and the number of teams has continued to grow.

“Every year it gets bigger and bigger. Now there are more than 2,500 teams with more than 51,000 students involved.” said Charlie Patel, chief engineer with Product Manager Excalibur, a part of the Program Executive Office for Ammunition at Picatinny.

“We’ve been sponsoring teams for four years now,” said Shahram Dabiri, STEM technology manager with the Defense Ordnance Technology Office, or DOTC.

The teams receive the parameters of the game and all of the rules at the same time via YouTube.

They have only six weeks to design, build, test and field a functional robot. Adding complexity to the challenge the robots do not come in “kit form” nor are any instructions provided.

Instead, by using parts available through FIRST and ones the students fabricate themselves, a robot must be built and tested to not only compete against other robots, but also to meet critical physical and safety parameters.

Three years ago, the DOTC-STEM office started with four teams. One team, # 3142 from Newton, N.J., made it to finals in Atlanta in its rookie year.

The DOTC-STEM support has expanded

to 13 local teams. Each team is provided a sponsorship to help fund the team and, more importantly, continued technical assistance through a professional mentor.

Mentors keep students focused and keep their projects within designated parameters, as well as ensure that safety remains a top priority at every stage.

With the growth of the number of locally supported teams, an Integrated Product Team was formed to establish communication among various Picatinny supported teams. “Teams share together,” Patel said. “They share parts and knowledge because there’s no way they can succeed on their own.”

Unlike other sponsors, Picatinny mentors provide a continuous link between the engineers and the students.

Students participating in the competition gain more than just learning engineering principles as they bring their projects from concept to reality.

“They learn project management, presentation skills, engineering, and safety procedures,” said James O’Malley, an engineer with the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.

One of the most positive comments that the engineers received from the students was that they were truly helpful to students.

Dabiri recalled students who said that other non-Picatinny sponsors would rarely check on them, while other sponsors wouldn’t let the students do anything and would complete the project for them.

“We’ve been told that some other mentors only stop once in a while and others wouldn’t let the students touch any of the machine tools needed to fabricate parts for the robot,” O’Malley said.

The students are not the only ones who benefit from the competition.

“It helps me as an engineer because we have to be able to explain these concepts to a 17-year-old,” O’Malley said.

By learning to communicate sometimes complicated engineering principles to the students, O’Malley added, it helps him to be a better communicator with other Picatinny personnel who do not have an engineering background.

“If we can explain these things to students, we can explain to it anyone,” Dabiri said.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/X9qHD0

Picatinny supports local students in robotics competition

Combat Feeding as a luxury in an era of austerity. He said that’s simply not the case.

“Let’s just look at the Defense budget,” Darsch said. “The budget for the Combat Feeding program is 3/1000s of one percent. Now to me, that’s not a lot when you think about it. To me, it’s money well spent. And the return on that investment is both tangible and priceless.

“Think about what the impact of Combat Feeding is to that warfighter in terms of mood, morale and performance. It’s a significant force multiplier. It really is.”

Darsch said that Natick partners with industry whenever possible, but that the commercial world could never accomplish Combat Feeding’s unique mission.

“There’s very little incentive for them to invest what would be required, and the volume is not always consistent,” Darsch said. “It does fluctuate depending on whether or not we’re in conflict.

“This is a one-stop shop. There is no other agency within the Defense Department that does combat feeding. It’s all done right here.”

According to Darsch, several large food companies have visited Natick to learn what happens here.

“They’ve recognized that Natick is the best in the world in terms of developing high-quality, shelf-stable products,” Darsch said. “We have had a fairly significant impact on the commercial marketplace. Commercial products just don’t have the same constraints that rations do. When was the last time your groceries were delivered by airdrop?”

Combat Feeding also has had a profound effect internationally, paving the way to ration standardization across NATO. Some NATO and coalition partners have designed new rations based on the U.S. family of rations. That led Darsch to joke that where MREs had once been known as “Meals Rejected by Everybody,” they could now be dubbed “Meals Respected by Europeans.”

Darsch reluctantly admitted that the kid who earned his chops on Boston’s North End had come a long way.

“It is a bit of a walk, if you will, but I enjoyed every minute of it,” Darsch said. “If I were asked to do it again, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Hopefully, we’ve made a difference during my tenure here.”

Then, like the gracious host at that holiday dinner table, he passed around the credit.

“This team of individuals at Natick are incredibly passionate about what they do,” Darsch said. “They’re absolutely tremendous, and I consider myself one lucky guy. I really do.””

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/127pBXy


By Alexandra ForanNSRDEC Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — The Expeditionary Basing and Collective Protection Directorate at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center works with Soldiers to help erect and provide shelters, and some-times works alongside them when both civil-ian and military personnel are deployed to countries such as Afghanistan.

“Living a Soldier’s life, even for a little while, is invaluable,” said Melvin Jee, with Expeditionary Basing and Collective Protection Directorate’s, or XB/CP’s, Tactical Shelters Team leader. “I don’t know of a group at Natick, as small as we are, that has spent more time in the war zone. That really helps with customer service, because nobody’s more willing to help a Soldier than another Soldier. People overseas recognize that type of commitment.”

Besides the Large Area Maintenance Shelters, or LAMS, that XB/CP has helped assemble, there are many other types of smaller shelters. Yet, the Army has bought hundreds of LAMS to be used in a variety of ways.

“Soldiers need places to work, they need places for their aircraft, and they need places to sleep sometimes; our shelters get used for everything,” said Frank Murphy, an equipment specialist who has made a number of trips to Afghanistan.

Often, these LAMS are used as aircraft shelters for helicopters and small aircraft as large as C-17s. LAMS have also become billeting tents, laundry rooms, dining facilities, office spaces, among other types of shelters.

“Our team offers pretty much the only technical expertise that the Army has on these things,” Murphy said. “So we track with their locations, we help get them fixed, we help put them up, and that’s in addition to other tactical types including hard shelters and med centers that RDEC puts out there. It’s quite a broad-based challenge.”

While set-up time is dependent on the workforce, the XB/CP team is able to assemble a LAMS system in seven to eight days depending on the size, modification and vendor. Their major focus, whether stateside or abroad, is serving their customer, the Soldier.

“We really try to tailor the service to the customer,” Murphy said. “Two of us will go to a site as technical helpers and help the Soldiers put them up so that we can teach the teachers. I’ve worked with local Afghans

to put them up in small, out-of-the-way camps.”

The XB/CP team at Natick has worked with Special Operations Command, logistics, and even Physical Readiness Training groups. Anyone who needs a place to work ends up going through or to XB/CP in some way.

“The Natick name is actually on the shelter canvases, and people have learned that that ‘NAT’ initial represents Natick,” said Murphy, “and it has been to our benefit to be there and back these up.”

XB/CP also works on ways to improve shelters to find the right technology to suit Soldiers’ needs.

“Right now we’re trying to find a way to put a shelter over bomb dogs in Bagram,” said Murphy, “(to) keep them out of the weather. They’re sitting out in 125 degrees in fur coats, and then they’ll freeze in the winter, and there’s been nothing up until this time to shelter those dogs.”

The team at Natick helps Soldiers get tools to install shelters, as well, and XB/CP even helped build Afghanistan’s largest gymnasium using LAMS.

All the things XB/CP does are to help put a roof over Soldiers’ heads. Without these shelters, “it’s an ungodly and unforgiving environment,” according to Murphy.

One of the shelters provides cover for large vehicles in Kandahar, which has a

harsh environment.“Besides the dust in the air, there is the

oppressive heat which resides at a normal temperature of 125 degrees with wind,” Murphy said. “It is a tough take to keep a machine and systems clean.”

“Our mission is to keep sustaining the Soldier,” Murphy said. “This is what Soldiers face every day you know, that’s really the point. We’re not doing anything differently than a kid who’s enlisted is doing. They’re taking all the risks, they’re going outside the wire, they’re over there for a year and it’s a small thing to do to be able to share part of their world and make their lives a little bit more comfortable. So that keeps the mission fresh in my mind, trying to make somebody’s life easier somewhere down the line.”

XB/CP has not only civilian personnel, but also National Guard members on its team. Through its rotational system, many team members have had the opportunity to travel, assist and meet Soldiers while doing their job at Natick and abroad.

“Whatever we go through is nothing compared to what the Soldier does,” Murphy said. “The kids inside (the shelters) don’t know that Natick put together pretty much everything there. They just know that it works.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/ZqW76v

Large Area Maintenance Shelters, or LAMS, in use at an airfield in Afghanistan. Often, LAMS are used as aircraft shelters for helicopters and small aircraft as large as C-17s. LAMS have also become billeting tents, laundry rooms, dining facilities, office spaces, among other types of shelters. (U.S. Army photo by Frank Murphy)

Natick provides large shelters for Soldiers


By Bob ReinertUSAG-Natick Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — A system developed by researchers at the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate, would help bring water to Soldiers in the field, either cool or heat it, and then keep it that way for days at a time.

The system revolves around a high-stress collapsible water bag, a beverage cooling unit, and an insulated bag that holds the standard five-gallon water can or the collapsible water bag.

“Everything works together,” said Ben Williams, with Combat Feeding’s Systems Equipment and Engineering Team, or SEET. “You don’t need to use everything together, but you can.”

The system resulted from an effort to improve the standard five-gallon water can by giving it more capability.

“We didn’t have a lot of money,” said Shubham Chandra, who works with Williams at SEET. “We started working with what was out there.”

As Williams pointed out, getting Soldiers to hydrate sufficiently in extreme temperatures, such as those encountered in Afghanistan, has always been a challenge.

“People aren’t drinking enough because their water is 100 degrees,” Williams said. “It’s not pleasurable. But if it was 40-degree water, of course you’d drink more. Your stamina also increases.”

The water bag was developed after a request from the theater to replace the standard water can.

“They said, ‘Hey, we want bags that can be air dropped from at least 35 feet,’” Chandra said. “We knew the cans had a problem. The cans can’t be dropped more than six feet.”

The bag, made of 1050 denier nylon material and coated with silicone rubber, can be air dropped from up to 55 feet, allowing resupply without requiring helicopters to land on remote outposts.

“It won’t explode,” said Williams of the bag. “If you drop a jerry can ten feet, it will blow up. We saw an opportunity here for improvement. The standard five-gallon water can basically hasn’t changed since it was created.”

Storage of the collapsible water bag is also much easier.

“When it’s empty, it rolls up, reducing its volume substantially,” said Williams, “as opposed to the jerry can, which retains the same volume after it’s been emptied. It is also substantially lighter than the water can. These

features are especially important when used in a vehicle, where storage space is extremely limited.”

According to Chandra, Combat Feeding has sent approximately 1,300 bags to service members in Afghanistan.

“They loved them,” Williams said. “They wanted more, so we kept sending them. It’s one of those little things that didn’t require millions of dollars. It was developed on a minimal budget (and had) a big impact.”

There was even an unforeseen use for the bags.

“They can put a cap on it and use it as a shower,” Chandra said.

The bags can be connected to the beverage cooling unit, or BCU, which can cool a standard five-gallon container full of water at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit in 25 minutes. The stand-alone, 40-pound unit can be plugged into any tactical vehicle or a standard wall outlet.

“It’s super fast, super efficient,” Williams said. “Now you have flexibility. You can cool water on demand in a standard water can or the new collapsible bags and then transfer that water to a personal hydration system via the BCU without spilling a drop. Obviously, there was a need in Iraq and Afghanistan for cold water, because they’re buying ice. Instead, you could just cool the water you have back down.”

Keeping water cool can be difficult in temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit as troops move around in tactical vehicles or on dismounted patrols. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke and dehydration become formidable

foes in these environments.Williams’ solution was a new insulated

bag, which is 50 percent lighter than the currently fielded version and provides twice the performance. The new insulated bag can keep a can of frozen water below 70 degrees for more than four days and hot water (180 degrees) unfrozen for five days in the most extreme ambient conditions.

“It’s basically a backpack that you can put the standard five-gallon water can, the water bag, or a case of bottled water into, and you can carry it on your back,” Williams said. “So, once you’ve cooled your water with the BCU, you can take that water away and it will remain cold until you need it.

“This new design reduces the weight by over four pounds, keeps the cost the same, and increases the performance twofold.”

Together, the air-droppable bag, the beverage cooling unit, and the insulted bag provide a low-cost, effective system for delivering water to the most remote areas of the field and keeping that water cold or hot.

“People don’t know about this,” Williams said. “If people in the field saw how it all works together, I think they would want it.”

Williams and Chandra did it all with one person in mind.

“The bottom line is it really helps the war fighter,” Chandra said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/127pYRW

Shubham Chandra (left) and Ben Williams of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Systems Equipment and Engineering Team, Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate, developed a system to provide cold and hot water to Soldiers in the field and keep it that way for days. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm)

Natick researchers teach an old water can new tricks


ECBC Communications

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Protective equipment is an essential part of any Warfighters’ uniform. During the Desert Storm and Desert Shield conflicts, the pro-tective mask and hood that were part of the Mission Oriented Protective Posture present-ed comfort, thermal, thirst, bodily waste, and claustrophobia issues for flight crews. Every service across the Department of Defense was facing similar issues.

In order to address these concerns the Joint Service Airmen Mask program was initiated. Within the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s Protection Engineering Division, Don Kilduff, the program manager for the JSAM Apache mask system, and Jon Sampson, the deputy for the JSAM Rotary Wing mask system, have been working on solutions to mitigate these issues by providing a new design that allows flight-crews to don and dock their masks in-flight in a matter of seconds without removing their helmets. This is accomplished by designing a removable face plate that can easily attach and detach from the hood.

“One way we illustrate the differences in the system to flight crews is we put one guy in a legacy system and another in the JSAM system and then order them pizza for lunch. The guy in the JSAM system can easily eat,” Sampson said. “This is important because the Warfighter has to wear these protective suits for four, six, or even eight hours at a time.”

Initially, JSAM was a single program to replace all airman masks. “The basic challenge was that we started a joint mask program for a one-solution-fits-all application, but with more than 130 different platforms, five different helmets, and a variety of air-crew equipment it becomes difficult. Over time, we have split the JSAM program into five different systems to meet the needs of the airmen across the DoD,” said Kilduff who has been a part of the program since its inception in 1999.

When JSAM created an Apache program in 2007 there were some “safe to fly” issues with the mask and hood because the field of view was not better than the legacy system. Kilduff and his team made adjustments to the lens, completed fielding in 2009, produced the redesign to that in 2010, then finished fielding the redesign in 2012. Currently the team is working on the next iteration of the mask because the Apache helmet was redesigned. The new mask is anticipated to

be fielded in 2014.“Imagine, the Soldier is looking at a TV

monitor in one eye and flying with the other. The crosshairs for the weapon are on that camera, but along the side of the screen is also flight symbology providing the Solider with vital information. The changes to the mask optimized the Soldier’s ability to see the siting system by maximizing the field of view,” Kilduff said, explaining the lens readjustment.

For JSAM Rotary Wing, the challenges surround the need to integrate the mask for all aircrafts in all services across DoD. The services and aircraft do not all use the same systems, which presents many integration challenges.

“In 2007 we had to re-baseline the design due to some deficiencies, for example the hood ring aperture was too large and the lens style was also providing some distortion during flight. So, we went back to the drawing board, and essentially shrank our hood ring apertures and changed out lenses,” Sampson said.

After making those changes, the team went through the requisite design, test, fix, test process. For this project that series has to be repeated for all of the services, each providing feedback based on its system. The team discovered some comfort issues with

the mask’s harness design in conjunction with a particular helmet used by the Navy and Marine Corps. After some significant prototyping efforts, the mask is now reported to be sufficient to wear over an extended period of time.

Currently, the Rotary Wing team is in the production qualification test phase, and is continuing air-worthiness testing while making slight design modifications. The mask must qualify for each aircraft for all services, which is an extensive process, especially since each service has different testing requirements.

The teams in the Protection Engineering Division have used the expertise from across ECBC to provide an improved product within a manageable budget. The teams worked with Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division to make rubber parts and castings to create hard rapid prototypes, which allowed the teams to perform weight, space, and compatibility assessments of the model assembly before making roughly $20 million worth of tools.

The teams also utilized the Environmental Chambers, the Test, Reliability and Evaluation Branch’s test equipment, the QFS Chamber, and the Protective Equipment Test Branch’s SMARTMAN capabilities during their design and testing phases.

Kilduff said having all of these resources available here at ECBC is what is exceptional about ECBC--ADM: the various chambers and testing equipment are all consolidated on one campus. Kilduff explains the synergy at ECBC, “While contractors have access to these same capabilities it is hard to find the capability that ADM has all in one spot, and because they are accessible in-house we can influence prioritization more easily than industry can,” said Kilduff of the synergy.

Sampson agreed, “We have a local capability, especially at Edgewood because we get to be there hands-on and get to see it.”

The JSAM program offers a unique capability to Warfighters, to be face free and have the face plate ready within a few seconds without interfering with the helmet. Kilduff and Sampson both said that many within DoD have expressed excitement at these significant improvements and see the new design as being extremely useful in theater whenever a chemical/ biological threat is perceived.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/X965Ll

“Imagine, the Soldier is looking at a TV monitor in one eye and flying with the other,” said Don Kilduff, the program manager for the JSAM Apache mask system. “The crosshairs for the weapon are on that camera, but along the side of the screen is also flight symbology providing the Soldier with vital information.” (U.S. Army photo)

Wearable solutions fix for joint service airmen mask program


ECBC Communications

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center’s Advanced Design and Manufacturing Division embarked on a small training project that has since ex-panded and amounted to dollars saved for the Army. The training program of-fers the possibility of a new certification for Warfighters using the Husky Mounted Detection System, a kit that can detect explosive hazards when attached to the Husky vehicle.

It started when ADM was tasked by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization’s training arm, Joint Center of Excellence in January 2010 to provide a solution to a recurring issue: what is a cost-effective way to train Warfighters on the HMDS and eliminate the risk of damaging the equipment during training while still maintaining optimal education effectiveness?

The HMDS is a kit that attaches to the Husky vehicle, and has four Ground Penetrating Radar panels, each costing a substantial amount of money. The panels detect metallic and nonmetallic buried explosive hazards. These panels were routinely damaged during training rotations due to inexperienced operators.

“Warfighters would train with these systems and since they were new to them, a lot of damage would occur to the panels in the training process,” said Peter Bryant, a project specialist working in ADM’s Technology and Systems Integration Branch. “Student drivers were doing several million dollars worth of damage per month learning to operate the HMDS. It just was not a reasonable option, so we were tasked to create a training system that would improve the sustainability.”

ADM accelerated the development of the Husky Mounted Detection System Surrogate, a trainer that mimicked the fully-functional HMDS; however, “consumable” panels and a radio-frequency identification system replaced the GPR panels. The RFID system offered the Warfighter the tools to simulate the detection of a buried threat using a ‘tag’ indicating a pre-determined threat type. The surrogate system cost is one quarter that of the original. The panels only cost $1,000 for a complete replacement, but generally, only the nose cones suffer damage, which total $100 to replace.

“We were asked to create and test a

potential training product. We did and that turned out to be a huge success,” said Kevin Wallace, Technology and Systems Integration Branch Chief. “From there we ended up building 26 systems for JIEDDO. Currently we are building 29 additional systems and we’ve been tasked to build more, so it’s certainly taken off.”

After the initial 26 HMDSS kits were shipped to JIEDDO in January 2011, the ECBC engineers have continued to work on enhancements to the systems, to include ground tracking and software interface improvements. According to Wallace, as the project started to grow, the initial group needed to enlist the help of all the branches within ADM as well as some from outside the Division. Additional partners for the HMDSS include Letterkenny and Tobyhanna Army Depots. So far, the HMDSS is already fielded at 17 different locations, including three locations outside of the Continental United States, with the current project to go to 11 other CONUS locations.

“This was certainly a collaborative effort not only to create the initial product, but also to improve and sustain it in the future,” Wallace said. “I would call this a Division-wide effort, but we have also had help from others within ECBC, several

PMs, ATC, and industry partners.”In addition to creating the physical

training detector for the vehicle, the project was taken a step further with the development of an iPad application. The application brings all the same features of driving with the HMDSS to the iPad screen. The user simulates driving a vehicle and receiving alerts of potential threats. From there, the driver must determine a course of action to ensure safety. Additionally, the HMDSS application includes a narrated system overview, and a full user manual for the vehicle.

The iPad application also includes an installation manual as well as simulations that are based on events that could actually happen. The manual allows Warfighters to have something light and easy to carry and refer to for questions while training, as well as having the ability to do refresher training on their own time on an iPad.

Wallace said although the original intent was to create a training possibility, having the capabilities within ECBC allowed the group to explore additional options on the project, ultimately expanding the purpose.”

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/127qaki

A new iPad application assists Warfighters training with the Husky Mounted Detection System, a kit that can detect explosive hazards when attached to the Husky vehicle. The upgraded training eliminates the risk of damaging equipment during training while still maintaining optimal educational effectiveness.

Army improves training with iPad app


By Bob ReinertUSAG-Natick Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — To better understand how carrying heavy loads affects Soldiers, Tyler Brown, Ph.D., looks at them as if they were athletes.

In the past, biomechanics load-carriage studies typically focused on Soldiers walking over long periods of time in a straight line. But Brown of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Biomechanics Team has his subjects run, cut, stop and jump -- movements that mirror what would actually happen in combat.

Athletes have been studied in this way to assess injury risk, but not Soldiers, according to Brown.

“Nobody’s put a load on somebody’s back,” said Brown, “and asked the Soldier to speed up, slow down or change direction of movement.”

Except Brown, who is measuring how 16 human research volunteers, or HRVs, are affected when they carry different loads and make “anticipated and unanticipated” movements in the study, part of a three-year effort that began in 2012 and was funded by a Department of the Army competitive In-House Laboratory Independent Research award.

The Soldiers run, cut and jump on force plates -- basically, precise weight scales -- that measure how much force is created as they move up and down, back and forth, and side to side under different loads. Brown then collects and analyzes the data.

“This is just another data point that shows how much load is affecting our Soldiers,” said Jeffrey Schiffman, Ph.D., the Biomechanics Team leader. “Now we’re starting to get more into react-to-contact type moments.”

Brown has put Soldiers in the study through their paces with three weight loads -- no load, which consists of a helmet and weapon; a fighting load, which includes body armor and a tactical assault panel; and an approach load, which adds a backpack to the fighting load.

“The no load is like six or seven pounds, the fighting load (is) about 40 (pounds), and then the approach load is about 88 pounds,” Brown said. “We have basically four or five different movements we’re looking at.”

Pfc. Jeremy Vasquez of Bronx, New York, took part in the study as an HRV. An accomplished amateur boxer before joining the Army, Vasquez is no stranger to athletic movements, but the heavy loads proved challenging for the 5-foot-3-inch, 153-pounder.

In Basic Training, said Vasquez, the “biggest problem, I know, for me was the ruck marches and was getting used to that weight. I’m a smaller guy, and when you get that weight on you, it limits you a lot.”

Vasquez said that he hopes his participation in the study will help Soldiers to cope with those loads and to stay healthy.

“I’m really glad I was able to participate in it, because I feel like I did contribute and help future Soldiers, Vasquez added.”

The researchers expect that their data will show that Soldiers use different mechanics when carrying heavier loads.

“The idea is if you can anticipate or pre-plan a movement, you’re going to perform it better,” Brown said. “They’ve shown that athletes, when they have to react to something, use different mechanics, postures, and they activate their muscles differently, and even without loads.”

Schiffman said a follow-up study is already planned.

“We, as researchers, want to make sure we’re documenting everything we can about how load affects human performance,” Schiffman said.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/127qpMb

Tyler Brown, Ph.D. (left), of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center’s Biomechanics Team, is studying Soldiers’ movements under different loads. Here, Pfc. Jeremy Vasquez, wearing a suit with sensors to give the researchers information on how the body is reacting, steps on a force plate as Meghan O’Donovan monitors the activity. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm)

Empowering Soldiers by studying them as athletes


By Alexandra ForanNSRDEC Public Affairs

NATICK, Mass. — Imagine a world without dirty clothes. Quoc Truong, physical scientist at Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, wants to make that a reality.

“As a single father of four, I fully understand the rationale for self-cleaning clothing, especially when I look back to the time when my children were younger,” Truong said. “So, when former Army General John Caldwell challenged me to come up with clothing that our Soldiers won’t have to wash, I thought that was a great and stimulating challenge.”

Soldiers cannot avoid getting their uniforms dirty while carrying out their missions, especially on the battlefield. Laundering clothes is time-consuming, adds to the logistics burden on the force, and is not always available to forward-deployed Soldiers, who may come into contact with mud, dirt, water, and an assortment of contaminants such as petroleum, oils, and chemicals.

The fabric Truong helped create has a special durable, super-repellent coating with “dual micro- and nano-size architecture.” When this special coating is applied onto clothing, it will give the surface of the clothing a low critical surface energy, or surface tension. When this surface tension is lower than that of the surface tensions of harmful, toxic liquid chemicals, the toxic chemicals would roll off the fabric on contact. Additionally, fabrics that are coated with this special super-repellent coating showed minimal to no attraction to dust and dirt.

“With minimal or no attractions to dirt and other contaminants, textiles’ frequent launderings will not be necessary, and wash-free clothing could be developed,” Truong said.

Earlier researchers studied microscopic, naturally non-stick surfaces such as the leaves of the lotus and lily flowers, duck feathers, and the feet of a floating water bug, known as the water strider. They found a uniform, repeating “pimples” structure, and they also observed liquid drops’ contact angle as they sit on these micro- and/or nano-structures.

“We go one step further to make our self-cleaning clothing with a special surface coating to resist wetting by oil and dangerous chemicals,” said Truong, who wanted to apply these findings to benefit Soldiers.

Truong submitted a Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, topic on Development and Applications of superoleophobic coatings for textile applications in 2007 based on earlier work on self-cleaning, but more importantly, it was based on Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s recent breakthrough discovery

about designing superoleophobic surfaces.By leveraging MIT’s technical findings,

Truong believed he could develop self-cleaning clothing for Soldiers.

“It took me years to realize that I could address our former Army general’s challenge and make his dream comes true,” Truong said.

The Army accepted the SBIR topic in 2008 to develop self-cleaning clothing based on the use of superoleophobic coatings, which are coatings that do not allow oils, solvents, or chemicals to wet the surface. Since then, Truong has worked with two leading academic and industry partners -- MIT and Luna Innovations, Inc.

Many tests were done on omniphobic coated fabrics that were produced by MIT to understand the relationship between omniphobic coated fabric’s texture and design, and its surface chemistry. Luna developed the fabrics using its omniphobic coating chemistry under Truong’s technical guidance.

Currently, the Army Combat Uniform and Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology chemical protective overgarment have a durable water repellent, or DWR, treatment to repel rain. However, this DWR-treated clothing would lose its water repellency after wear, repeated washing, and coming into contact with petroleum, oils, and lubricants.

Performance goals were set to improve the

fabric development of self-cleaning clothing.“In making sure that our self-cleaning

clothing does not attract dust, dirt, or get wet, is comfortable and durable to wear, and requires minimal or no laundering to stay clean, we have used many standard tests and also came up with many special non-standard tests and demonstrations,” Truong said. “This is because in certain scenarios such as testing with mud and dirt, there are no test standards out there for us to use.”

In 2011 the Luna self-cleaning clothing was produced using a commercial scale coating process, where 25 sets of clothing were subsequently fabricated using a 60-inch-wide omniphobic coated fabric. Twenty self-cleaning garments were field tested in June 2011 for 10 days; Soldiers wore their clothing for up to almost 15 hours each day.

“The results were very promising,” Truong said.

All of the 20 participating Soldiers said their garments shed water well to very well when assessing liquid repellency performance. Sixty-seven percent of the Soldiers said their garments shed oil well to very well. Sixty-nine percent said their Luna omniphobic treated ACU had improved their missions, and 73 percent said their suits should be adopted for use.”

Luna’s omniphobic treated ACU fabric met all of Natick’s performance goals for having high contact angle, moisture vapor permeability, laundering, wash durability, abrasion resistance, tensile strength, air permeability, and flexibility. After the field testing, the omniphobic coating technology was given Air Force Research Laboratory’s only Outstanding Warfighting Transition Award.

NSRDEC is now working with Luna to develop self-cleaning, water and liquid chemical super-shedding clothing that is also multifunctional. A field test of this special multifunctional omniphobic protective clothing will take place in fall 2013.

“In the next few years, you can expect to see self-cleaning clothing that will also be flame resistant and odor free,” Truong said. “These clothes will contain antimicrobial additives, which do not allow microbes to grow on the fabric.

“Someday, we will not have to clean our clothing as often or not at all, and our clothing will remain clean, odor-free, and keep us safe.”

The development, test, evaluation, and limited field demonstration of omniphobic coating technology have shown promise for its potential use as self-cleaning and enhanced chemical-biological protective clothing.

RELATED LINKSOnline: http://1.usa.gov/X9y25E

Quoc Truong, with Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, shows the difference between self-cleaning clothing and regular Army Combat Uniforms. (U.S. Army photo by David Kamm)

Natick scientists design self-cleaning clothing




and Engineering Command’s Armament Research, or RDECOM, Development and Engineering Center, earned the Foreign Comparative Testing, or FCT, PM of the Year for 2012.

The enhanced fuze FCT project’s goal was to qualify and field a cockpit-settable fuze version of the multipurpose penetrator M282 warhead for U.S. Special Operations Command’s, or SOCOM, use on helicopters, West said. A now-retired senior hydra team leader started the project, and West took over for him.

“Over a 20-year period, the branch that I work in has completed multiple successful FCT programs based on the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle weapon system,” West said. “The FCT office, along with my branch chief’s knowledge of the SOCOM FCT program office, gave me support and guidance when taking on this task. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide this capability to the Warfighter.”

RDECOM manages the DAC and FCT programs for the Army, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Comparative Technology Office oversees the programs.

Earl Wyatt, deputy assistant secretary of defense for rapid fielding, and RDECOM Director Dale Ormond presented Nguyen and West with their awards at the Pentagon, March 20.

U.S. Air Force Col. Rodney F. Todaro, director of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, or OSD, Comparative Technology Office, lauded their work in support of the warfighter.

“Mr. West’s accomplishments stood out among a very strong field of candidates,” Todaro said. “The 70mm enhanced fuse project will greatly increase the capabilities of our 70mm rockets while avoiding development, acquisition and sustainment costs, exactly what the FCT program is supposed to do.

“Mr. Nguyen’s project met a critical need in minimum time while improving capability. Significant cost savings were achieved by avoiding a large, new development program.”

DEFENSE ACQUISITION CHALLENGE

The DAC program was created in 2003 in response to a Congressional mandate that the DOD initiate a program that was innovative, flexible, competitive and affordable to integrate mature technologies into the acquisition cycle, said William “Randy” Everett, with RDECOM’s Global Technology Integration team. The program allows U.S. vendors to submit mature technology proposals for evaluation by the PEOs.

With a focus on small business, the DAC program has been a vehicle for small domestic vendors to transition their products to the acquisition cycle. It was funded through fiscal year 2012.

In response to requests for snipers’ ghillie suits, Source One, a small business in Florida, submitted a response. PEO Soldier sponsored the proposal.

Nguyen took on the project and collaborated with RDECOM and Source One to deliver the ghillie suit as quickly as possible. PEO Soldier received $185,000 to purchase suits for testing. Nguyen oversaw testing and evaluation.

The project was completed in 10 months, a record time. The fire-resistant ghillie suit is now being fielded at the U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Ga., at the U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and at the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course at Fort Bragg, N.C.

“It is unknown how many Soldiers and Marines may be saved by this, but if even one life is saved, it is money well spent,” Everett said.

Since beginning, the DAC program has saved an estimated $375 million in DOD research and development by avoiding manufacturing, procurement and life cycle support costs. Additionally, more than 2,000 proposals have been evaluated and 130 projects have been funded from 35 states and the District of Columbia.

More than 70 percent of the awarded projects have been to American small- and medium-sized businesses, and more than 25 percent to non-traditional defense companies. Twenty-three projects have been deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

FOREIGN COMPARATIVE TESTING

FCT’s mission is to find and evaluate “here and now” solutions to meet the operational needs of American service members so that Soldiers have the technology they need to remain dominant on the battlefield and return home safely, regardless of the origin of that technology, Everett said. OSD has leveraged new and evolving technology through FCT since 1980.

The program encourages international cooperation and helps reduce overall DOD acquisition costs by funding the testing of foreign non-developmental items, commercial-off-the-shelf items, or those items in a late state of the development process that demonstrate the potential to satisfy the U.S. military’s needs.

The program has brought U.S. forces the

benefit of 105 items that were tested and deployed in the last 12 years. They include enhanced body armor from Germany; a mine-clearing system from Denmark; and a bunker-busting, multi-purpose rocket warhead from Norway. Other examples include advances in lightweight body armor and lighter, longer lasting rechargeable batteries.

For West’s FCT project, he said the enhanced fuze warhead provides a capability to dial in a delay for a rocket warhead, allowing users to select where to detonate the round. Pilots had this capability 20 years ago, but it suffered from poor reliability and safety risks.

Users can engage all targets with one rocket, whether under light brush cover, in a vehicle, inside a structure or out in the open, West said. This reduces the number of rounds the user needs to fly with, which can also reduce weight.

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://1.usa.gov/127qRtK

technical meetings, reducing purchase of supplies, suspending real property restoration and modernization work, and terminating site maintenance, repair and cleaning contracts.

Warren, who was accompanied by Massachusetts State Senator Karen Spilka, said she was worried about sequestration and determined to fight it.

“This is a place that saves lives, and it’s a place that innovates,” Warren said. “It innovates to protect our military, and it innovates for the rest of our country. It is also a place that reminds me how damaging the sequester will be. It is absolutely the wrong approach to trying to deal with our finances.

“Across-the-board cuts are bad for Natick, they’re bad for Massachusetts, they are bad for our country,” she continued. “They interrupt critical work that’s being done here that would save money for the United States Government and, more importantly, save the lives of our military.”

Warren warned that sequestration could affect innovation at Natick and have a negative impact on the future.

“Natick represents the best in what we do and what we are,” Warren said. “Everything developed here moves on over to the private side and supports a lot of industry and a lot of development. This is the front edge of who we are and what we do.”

RELATED LINKSArmy.mil: http://1.usa.gov/127qGP6

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