Search Results for: "Marine Units In Iraq"
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U.S. Logistics to support Army vehicles
Relevance Score: 3.736 2009-07-16 23:40:07
The U.S. Marine Corps has selected U.S. Logistics Inc. for a multiyear contract to provide tactical vehicles with maintenance support. Under the deal, North Carolina-based U.S. Logistics will provide the Marine Corps with maintenance services repairing military vehicles returning from operations Iraq. If all five options periods are exercised the contract could be worth nearly $100 million for U.S. Logistics, a military vehicle maintenance, modification and overhaul provider. Officials say work on the contract could last until March of 2012 and will take place at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow, Calif. "U.S. Logistics is extremely proud to have been chosen to perform this very important maintenance work for the U.S. Marine Corps … U.S. Logistics is capable, over time, of providing this type of highly efficient, cost-effective technical workforce at multiple depots, for multiple large scale maintenance and retrofit programs." Mike Boyce, U.S. Logistics president, said in a statement.
The Marines Show The Army
Relevance Score: 3.670 2009-03-13 21:53:08
For five years, the U.S. Marine Corps has been using its own battlefield Internet, based on off-the-shelf equipment. Late last year, the U.S. Army tried out the marine approach, and found that it worked. This all began when the marines went to war in Iraq in 2003. There they quickly discovered that their radio equipment was not up to the needs of fast moving mechanized warfare. That's understandable, as Iraq was the first time the marines ever had to advance so quickly, and so far inland, during combat. Taking this as the wave of the future, and lacking the money for a lot of expensive new communications gear, the marines came up with CONDOR (Command and Control on the Move Network, Digital Over the Horizon Relay). Basically, CONDOR equips each marine battalion with satellite telephone and encrypted wi-fi gear, as well as networking hardware for all sorts of marine radios. The satellite link means that no battalion is ever out of range of radio or Internet communication. Most marine radios are "line of sight" (FM) and are of limited range. When units spread out too far, they lose radio contact unless they have satellite phones. The marines got satellite phones and satellite based communications gear from the army during the Iraq campaign. This proved a lifesaver. But CONDOR went one step further by establishing wi-fi nodes throughout the battalion area, and also collects and transmits data from the EPLRS (locator transmitters) that every vehicle carries. The problem with EPLRS was that it used a line of sight signal (unlike the army Blue Force Tracker, which used satellite communications). CONDOR transmits EPLRS data to all marine units in the area, thus allowing a division commander to see where all his vehicles and troops are, even if they are hundreds of kilometers apart. CONDOR also allows any radio in the battalion to use the satellite link to call anywhere in the worldwide marine communications network. But what really got the army's attention was how CONDOR provided Internet connections for everyone in the battalion. EPLRS has Internet capability built into it, but troops don't always turn it on. During last years army test, the EPLRS Internet feature was heavily used, along with troposcatter radio (signals are sent straight up, and they bounce off the troposphere back to other radios) to connect EPLRS units that are not within line-of-sight of each other. As the marines discovered, this works quite well. Everyone was happy, except the contractors and bureaucrats trying to get the JTRS radio system to work. Since the 1990s, this distance and communications problem, as well as the need for battlefield Internet, had been foreseen. A new family of radios (JTRS) were developed to deal with it. But JTRS underwent one delay after another, and won't be available for another year or two (a phrase that has been overused with regard to JTRS). So EPLRA can fill in until JTRS arrives. CONDOR and EPLRS are more examples of how new technology is being developed so quickly that the usual Department of Defense way of developing new gear is often overtaken by faster evolving civilian equipment. No one expected satellite phones and wi-fi to come to market as quickly as they did. But here they are, and they will fill in until the official solution, JTRS, catches up. more > strategypage.com
$21M to General Dynamics for Marine Corps’ COCs Upgrade
Relevance Score: 3.292 2009-06-18 11:04:33
General Dynamics C4 Systems received a $21 million contract modification (P00163) to provide Internet-like capabilities to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Combat Operations Centers (COCs), the focal point of decision-making for deployed Marine commanders and their staffs. Under the contract modification, General Dynamics will upgrade the COCs’ electronic systems to increase Marines’ situational awareness and information sharing abilities and improve network connectivity across the tactical battlespace. The firm-fixed price and cost-type contract (M67854-02-C-2052) being modified was awarded in 2002; the total value to date is $643 million. The new system, the COC Model G, will enable sharing of mission rehearsal and execution information, as well as electronic chat, email and voice-over-IP communications, for the COCs and joint forces partners. General Dynamics will also migrate existing hardware-based command and control, tactical data systems and other applications to software-driven services using the Marine Corps’ service-oriented infrastructure. DID has more information on the Marine Corps’ COCs… COCs [PDF] are mobile, modular command and control centers designed to support Marines wherever they are deployed. COCs are the focal point of decision-making during all phases of ground warfare, allowing Marine forces to digitally collect, process, and disseminate tactical data. COC systems are supporting Marine forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and supporting Marines pre-deployment training and testing in the United States. The COC Model G is part of the Marine Corps’ initiative to become compliant with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Net-Enabled Command Capability (NECC), which provides Internet-like access to joint tactical networks and information that reaches across the battlespace and worldwide.
Army, Marines boast two new vehicle programs
Relevance Score: 3.203 2009-06-09 22:16:06
During a joint roll-out ceremony here May 14, Department of Defense program managers commemorated the production of two vehicles intended to help the U.S. military travel in battle at a faster, safer rate. The Joint Assault Bridge and the Assault Breacher Vehicle are tracked vehicles both manufactured at the depot by government civilians for use by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. These two programs are successful because of the partnering efforts of the depot, U.S. Army Program Executive Office and Marine Corps Systems Command. The depot serves as the prime systems integrator for both the ABV and JAB vehicles, introducing a manufacturing process unique for depot employees, as they are most often known for upgrading, overhauling and repairing tracked combat vehicles and Strykers. Prototypes for both vehicles were designed by the Marine Corps. The hulls for each system are from the chassis of refurbished M1 tanks. All other parts and components mated to the hull are new to the DoD inventory. In other words, turrets for the ABV and JAB are made from new materials and not from used tank parts. "Anniston can do what industry can do and do it at a better price, saving the taxpayer a lot of money," said Joseph Augustine with the Marine Corps. Leaders here said the depot workforce is to be commended for its willingness to adapt to new production processes and for its intensity in knowledge and skill when it comes to vehicle manufacturing. "We're doing more here than just overhauling combat vehicles, small arms and artillery," said Depot Deputy to the Commander Jack Cline. "These vehicles are produced new right here in Anniston, Alabama. This new endeavor demonstrates our unique capabilities." Already about 30 ABVs have been fielded to Marine units for training purposes. It's designed to breach minefields and complex obstacles and provide a deliberate and in-stride breaching capability for the Marine Air Grounds Task Force and the Army Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Production of the JAB is still in the testing phase; only five have been completed for design evaluation. The JAB has atop it a 60-foot bridge that can be launched when other tracked vehicles like the M1 main battle tank need to cross wet or dry terrain.
GD To Develop Next-Gen Combat Operations Center For US Marines
Relevance Score: 3.157 2009-08-04 12:30:40
General Dynamics C4 Systems has been awarded $21 million to add Internet-like capabilities to the U.S. Marine Corps' Combat Operations Centers (COCs), the focal point of decision-making for deployed Marine commanders and their staffs. Through this effort, General Dynamics will upgrade the COCs' electronic systems to increase Marines' situational awareness and information sharing abilities, and improve network connectivity across the tactical battlespace. The contract being modified was awarded in 2002; the total value to date is $643 million. Identified as the COC Model G, the new system will facilitate sharing of mission rehearsal and execution information among other Marine Corps Combat Operations Centers and joint forces partners. The system will enable services such as electronic 'chat,' email and VoIP communications. General Dynamics will also migrate existing hardware-based command and control, tactical data systems and other applications to software-driven services using the Marine Corps' service-oriented infrastructure. Manny Mora, vice president and general manager for Battle Management Systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems, commented, "This effort begins the transition of the Marine Corps Combat Operations Center from a hardware-based system to a secure, software-enabled command and control system that will also facilitate rapid integration of new technologies as they become available." The COC Model G is also part of the Marine Corps' initiative to become compliant with the U.S. Department of Defense's Net-Enabled Command Capability (NECC). NECC enables Internet-like access to joint tactical networks and information that reaches across the battlespace and worldwide. COCs are currently supporting operations at the battalion, squadron, regiment, group and Marine Expeditionary Brigade levels in Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
Army, Marines boast two new vehicle programs
Relevance Score: 3.098 2009-07-02 11:23:41
During a joint roll-out ceremony here May 14, Department of Defense program managers commemorated the production of two vehicles intended to help the U.S. military travel in battle at a faster, safer rate. The Joint Assault Bridge and the Assault Breacher Vehicle are tracked vehicles both manufactured at the depot by government civilians for use by the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps. These two programs are successful because of the partnering efforts of the depot, U.S. Army Program Executive Office and Marine Corps Systems Command. The depot serves as the prime systems integrator for both the ABV and JAB vehicles, introducing a manufacturing process unique for depot employees, as they are most often known for upgrading, overhauling and repairing tracked combat vehicles and Strykers. Prototypes for both vehicles were designed by the Marine Corps. The hulls for each system are from the chassis of refurbished M1 tanks. All other parts and components mated to the hull are new to the DoD inventory. In other words, turrets for the ABV and JAB are made from new materials and not from used tank parts. "Anniston can do what industry can do and do it at a better price, saving the taxpayer a lot of money," said Joseph Augustine with the Marine Corps. Leaders here said the depot workforce is to be commended for its willingness to adapt to new production processes and for its intensity in knowledge and skill when it comes to vehicle manufacturing. "We're doing more here than just overhauling combat vehicles, small arms and artillery," said Depot Deputy to the Commander Jack Cline. "These vehicles are produced new right here in Anniston, Alabama. This new endeavor demonstrates our unique capabilities." Already about 30 ABVs have been fielded to Marine units for training purposes. It's designed to breach minefields and complex obstacles and provide a deliberate and in-stride breaching capability for the Marine Air Grounds Task Force and the Army Heavy Brigade Combat Team. Production of the JAB is still in the testing phase; only five have been completed for design evaluation. The JAB has atop it a 60-foot bridge that can be launched when other tracked vehicles like the M1 main battle tank need to cross wet or dry terrain. "These vehicle capabilities help guarantee the lethality of the Soldiers and Marines," said Depot Commander Col. S. B. Keller.
Keeping communications strong
Relevance Score: 2.778 2010-03-01 17:01:35
Wars could not be fought without communication. It's rumored that one of the downfalls of Napoleon Bonaparte was his terrible handwriting; his officers misunderstood the written orders and failed to execute them properly. Imagine what the battle of Iwo Jima would have been like without communication. The Tet offensive? Fallujah? Ever since the inception of the Marine Corps, Marines have been known for their ability to receive and carry out orders efficiently and effectively. To keep this warfighting practice alive, Marines of Communication Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group stay busy keeping the lines communication open. The Marines trained aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 24 with the Support Wide Area Network and Wireless Point to Point Link to ensure proficiency with the systems that keep commanders connected to their units with internet, e-mail and telephone services while deployed. Cpl. Kenneth V. Holvenstot, one of the training instructors with Comm. Co., said he's seen the problems that occur with a lack of training and tries to ensure all the Marines are proficient with both systems. Both systems can be used for all three communication services, but there are pro and cons to both. Both the SWAN and WPPL act as a sort of wireless internet router. In the same way that multiple computers can access the internet by connecting to the same router, multiple SWANs receive services by connecting to the Master Reference Terminal which connects to satellites. With the Marine Corps presence in so many different theaters of operation, the SWAN and WPPL remain invaluable assets.
Navigating Military Vehicles, Tactically, Is KVH.
Relevance Score: 2.760 2009-10-16 14:21:52
KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) has received a total of $2 million in new orders from multiple U.S. and international military consumers for its TACNAV® tactical navigation systems and Universal Multilingual Displays (UMDs). Shipments of these orders are planned to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009 with some extending into 2010. Due to contractual restrictions, additional details regarding the customers and platforms cannot be disclosed at this time. KVH’s TACNAV military vehicle navigation systems provide unjammable, precision navigation, heading, and pointing data for vehicle drivers, crews, and commanders. TACNAV systems can also serve as a link between each vehicle and the overall digital battlefield, making each unit a node in a secure military network that consolidates a wide range of tactical data to provide detailed information to individual units and military commanders. TACNAV systems are currently in use on U.S. and allied vehicles participating in ongoing operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. Military forces fielding TACNAV include the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, as well as many allied consumers, among them Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Botswana, Singapore, and Italy.
10,000 Ministry of Defence staff & troops, including Britain’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, get online access to shared info & HR systems
Relevance Score: 2.660 2009-12-08 14:47:06
10,000 military and civilian staff of the UK Ministry of Defence will for the first time gain online access to MOD information services such as human resources systems, following the completion of a major project led jointly by Capgemini and Microsoft. Users in locations around the world – including Britain’s troops in Iraq and Afghanistan – will be able to use credit-card style chip-and-pin authentication via the Government Gateway to obtain secure ‘self-service’ access to MOD HR systems for a variety of purposes, including filing their expenses, updating their personal details and booking themselves on training courses. The new procedures follow the successful completion of the 18-month Internet Access to Shared Services (IASS) project carried out in collaboration with Capgemini, Microsoft, several units within the MOD and specialist IT vendors. As a result of new security processes developed as part of the IASS project, secure access to MOD shared services is expected to be available to MOD personnel from any PC, laptop or mobile phone with an Internet connection on an ‘any place, any time’ basis. Following successful trials with defence units in several parts of the world, the new system will be rolled out in 2009 to some 10,000 MOD staff, mostly in overseas locations, who will now for the first time have easy and secure access to MOD internal information systems.
Military: 2 NC-based Marines Killed In Afghanistan
Relevance Score: 2.603 2009-07-15 02:32:06
Two North Carolina-based Marines were killed last week during combat in Afghanistan's Helmand province, the Department of Defense said Tuesday. The Marines were identified Tuesday as Lance Cpl. Pedro A. Barbozaflores, 27, of Glendale, Calif., and Master Sgt. Jerome D. Hatfield, 36, of Axton, Va. The Marines died Saturday. They were assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. Hatfield was the company operations chief for the battalion's Delta Company. He stared service in the Marines in June 1991 and was promoted to the rank of master sergeant in Sept. 2007. Previous deployments for Hatfield included tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2008 and operations in the Adriatic Sea in 1992 and 2000. Hatfield was a former drill instructor and is survived by a wife and three children, ages 4 to 19, the Marine Corps said. Barbozaflores was a crew member of a light armored vehicle crewman. He joined the Marines in March 2008, was promoted to lance corporal in December and deployed to Afghanistan in June.