[Stand-To!] Combined Force Interoperability through Security Cooperation - March 17, 2006

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Edition: Fri, March 17, 2006
Printable Version
TODAY'S FOCUS
Combined Force Interoperability through Security Cooperation

What is it? Security cooperation programs improve U.S. landpower  
capabilities and strategic responsiveness by enhancing the ability of  
both the U.S. and our allies/coalition partners to operate  
effectively across a range of military missions. A key tool for this  
initiative is international cooperative research development and  
acquisition (RDA), which seeks to improve U.S. and allied  
capabilities by enhancing interoperability and leveraging foreign  
technologies for U.S. Army systems. A second tool, security  
assistance, in the form of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and review of  
commercial munitions licenses, enhances interoperability by making  
U.S. Army equipment and technologies available to our Allies and  
coalition partners for use in the Global War on Terrorism.

What has the Army Done? During 2005, the Army initiated or expanded  
its international cooperative RDA efforts, largely focused on  
improving command, control and communications (C3) interoperability.  
These effortsincluded the Multilateral Interoperability Program, the  
Coalition Combat Identification demonstration, and bilateral tactical  
communications interoperability efforts with Sweden and the United  
Kingdom (UK). To enhance C3 interoperability on the Future Combat  
System (FCS) program, the Army established a Land Battlespace  
Memorandum of Understanding with the UK. As part of its security  
assistance activities, the Army managed a multibillion dollar FMS  
program and processed approximately 5000 commercial export licenses  
for Army managed systems and technology. To support the latter  
mission, the Army has fielded a web-based training program that  
enhances Army acquisition personnel understanding of and compliance  
with arms export control regulations. The Army supplemented these  
activities by providing critical war fighting enablers to coalition  
partners in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the  
Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Articles included small arms, Javelin  
Close Combat Missile Systems, night vision devices, and  
communications systems.

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future? Future  
efforts under this initiative include expanding the scope of current  
FCS cooperation with the UK and extending FCS-related  
interoperability activities to other major allies such as Australia  
and Singapore. The Army will also expand Soldier-system related  
cooperation with Australia and continue multilateral interoperability  
cooperation with other major allies, including the UK, France,  
Germany and Italy. Within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization  
(NATO), the Army is taking the lead on several aspects of the  
Alliance’s Defense Against Terrorism Initiative. To ensure broader  
understanding and proper application of arms export control policies,  
the Army is planning to expand the web-based export control training  
program to additional Army organizations involved in the export of  
defense goods, services and technologies.

Why is this important to the Army? This initiativehelps ensure that  
our Allies and coalition partners can continue to fight side-by-side  
with the U.S. Army in the GWOT today and in the fully network-enabled  
environment of the future. It also demonstrates Army support for key  
Department of Defense Security Cooperation themes by demonstrating  
resolve to fulfill our Alliance and other defense commitments and  
fostering defense transformation with advanced defense  
establishments. Through this initiative, the Army will enhance the  
warfighting capabilities of our allies and coalition partners while  
protecting critical U.S. Army systems and technologies against  
unintended proliferation.
NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
DoD to Determine if Troops in Iraq Received Unsafe Water (ArmyTimes)
Operation Swarmer Continues (Associated Press)
Kurds Destroy Shrine In Rage At Leadership (New York Times)
Union: ‘Sweatshops’ Make your Uniforms (ArmyTimes)
Most Say War Has Hurt The USA But Will Help Iraqis (USA Today)
Reserve Colonel gets Three Years for Sexual Harassment (Army Times)
WAR ON TERROR NEWS
Airline Screeners Fail Government Bomb Tests (MSNBC)
Terror Risks of Nuclear Fuel (The Christian Science Monitor)
DHS adds Brainpower to Intelligence Centers (Federal Computer Week)
National Security Strategy Stresses Globalized Approaches (AFIS)
Department of Justice to Create National Security Division  
(Department of Justice)
OF INTEREST
No Poison or Toxins Found in Milosevic's Body (USAToday)
Warmer Seas Creating Stronger Hurricanes, Study Confirms (LiveScience)
'Rosa Parks Act' would bring Pardons (CNN)
The Cost of Bird Flu Hysteria (Boston Globe)
Firefighters Making Progress in Texas Wildfires (NPR)
WORLD VIEW
Violent French Protests: 300 Held (CNN)
China Drops Case against NYT Researcher (USAToday)
Iran Rebels Kill 21 in Southeast (MSNBC)
Bush Reaffirms First Strike Policy, Points to Iran (North Korea Times)
US Launches Iraq Assault (Arab News)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
US Army is a Peak Oil Believer (TC)
Air Assault vs. Air Strike (MSNBC)
Pics of Operation Swarmer (MO)
USA and Indonesia: The Friendship of Slaughter Continues (Delaware  
Watch)


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