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Show ©Hilltop Times i "j August 5, 2004 ' * Air Force News Army, Air Force sharing battle information systems and laying the foundation toward net- we find a target that needs to be eliminated the enemy unit, its direction and the location we run a close-air support request through the of my unit so we can avoid friendly fire or fratwork-centric enterprise services." Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 The FCS also serves as the basis for com- tactical air control party and the Air Support ricide incidents," he said. Public Affairs bining multiple platforms and systems to cre- Operations Center." Aside from battle space awareness and fratNELUSAFB,Nev.(AFPN) — Parked under ate a force multiplier for the Army's future unit Because of the unprecedented battlespace ricide prevention, another major benefit of awareness supported by the WMI, friendly fire the system is its remote operability. camouflaged netting in the heat of the Nevada of action. "One of the main advantages of the WMI is sun is an extended cab Humvee equipped with "FCS is the Army's leading transformation incidents will be significantly reduced. all the modern comforts of home: vinyl seats, program for unit-of-action tactical systems," "When CAS is requested, the WMI oper- we can operate the UAVs and UGVs from a remote base," Sergeant Dugan said. "We can air conditioning, tinted windows and four 23- said Army Maj. David Bassett, product man- ator should be able to see an aircraft icon ager for unit-of-action software integration. on the screen and see the location of the air- remain focused on the mission objective while inch plasma displays. spotting enemy units from a relatively safe discraft's strike run. That helps eliminate fratIt is not the Army's version of a stretch lim- "It integrates combat platforms, networks, ousine, but an element of the Army's Future and sensors, everything a unit-of-action com- ricide on both fronts," said Terry Steinhebel, tance. We don't have to place individuals in the subject-matter expert for the lead sysharms way, only equipment." Combat Systems program that is taking part in mander needs to execute the mission." tem integrator's FCS. "We'll be able to light When fielded, the system and WMI will prothe Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 Part of that system includes the Warrior or ID the targets that we want the strike up vide the Army's future force with unprecedented here. The Air Force-sponsored experiment Machine Interface, an intuitive, graphic-user aircraft to engage as a red icon in the cocknetwork-centric capability and joint operabilassesses new and emerging technologies. interface to the FCS Battle Command Sys"The Future Combat System-equipped unit tem, acting as an electronic liaison between thepit so the pilot can choose the best method ity. "What we're here for in JEFX is to start inteof action (brigade-level force and below) will Soldier on the battlefield and the Air Force's to eliminate the threat." Sergeant Dugan also said that a combina- grating with the Air Force at the infancy of FCS," be more joint," said Army Col. Jon Maddux, Air Support Operations Center. product manager for unit-of-action network sys- vWe (WMI operators) run reconnaissance tion of electronic tracking and following propersaid Mr. Steinhebel. "We're trying to make joint interoperability a cornerstone of the system so tems integration at Fort Monmouth, N J. "Thafand s surveillance with the unmanned aerial vehi-procedure helps promote better situational literally every person on the battlefield can talk awareness and prevent fratricide. one of the reasons we're here at JEFX using cles and unmanned ground vehicles," said Army some very early developmental software. We'reStaff Sgt. Steven Dugan, from the unit-of-action "I have a checklist that I follow to make to sureto each other and know where everyone is posidemonstrating early interoperability with joint maneuver battlelab at Fort Knox, Ky. "When I have everything set as far as the location of tioned — total situational awareness." by 1st Lt, James L, Bressendorff Mask liner gives Airmen 'second skin' masks' and second skins' actual protection levels are classified, with or without the skin the masks provide a high level of proWarner Robins ALC Public Affairs tection to the wearer against chemical warfare agents such as ROBINS AFB, Ga. (AFMCNS) — A simple innovation in blister and nerve agents. The second skin however, expands that chemical protection gear could save thousands of Airmen's lives protection to the next level with additional thickness. and millions of Air Force dollars according to support equip- The Air Force's initial second skin development was done at ment and vehicles directorate integrated product team mem- Brooks City-base, Texas; but the original group to develop it was bers here. the Army through the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center Known as the second skin, the recent addition to the MCU- in Edgewood, Md., for use with their M-40 masks. 2P and the MCU-2A/P, the military's personal protective gas Sustaining the skins and all technical responsibilities are hanmasks, adds a literal extra layer of protection against chemical,dled through Robins' support equipment and vehicles direcbiological and nuclear warfare agents. torate. In addition, the Defense Logistics Agency is the supply "The idea is simple, but I think it'll do wonders for the masks,"source and covers all procurement and distribution. said Don Waddell, support equipment and vehicles directorate In the past three years more than 314,000 masks have been engineering branch chief. fielded, and since the first quarter of 2003, when the second skin Made of a rubber-type material, the second skin is an overlaywere first available, more than 500,000 have been put to storage for the mask which experts said extends the time it's effective at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. in a hostile area. Before the addition, the masks had to be dis- 'The second skins are issued on an as needed basis as percarded after exposure to chemical agents, but with the second sonnel are deployed to hot or potential high threat areas," said skin it's possible to save the masks for repeated use by remov-Laurie Beebe, support equipment and vehiclesdirectorate engiing the skin after the decontamination process and replacing it neer. "All new mobility personnel are issued a mask, therefore with another. Robins fills new needs as well as replacements on a daily basis." According to team members, the price difference between the The Robins IPT recently awarded a five-year contract on the second skin and a mask is astronomical, and that little piece oforder of $258 million to support the war fighter's needs includrubber saves the Air Force roughly $170 per mask. ing current demands for the masks. Since the second skin is out Earl Duck, support equipment and vehicles directorate equip-in relatively small quantities and has been out for a short time, ment specialist, said the masks are being given to Airmen who the feedback is limited, but the possibilities are endless. are, or could be, deployed to a hostile area. "We expect it to improve survivability and save on wear and "In our emphasis on Air Expeditionary Forces, this is almost tear of the more expensive mask," Mr. Waddell said. "The seceveryone in uniform," he said. ond skin is a big step forward, and if s going to make it a much Johnnie Kincaid, directorate program manger, said while the better item than it was in the past in many ways." by Lanorris Askew Photo by Sue Sapp Airman 1st Class Kelley Deppen, a readiness Journeyman at Robins AFB, Ga., demonstrates the MCU-2AP gas mask fitted with the "second skin" liner that forms the face piece of the mask. 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