Whispers

AFSOC Training Center

A new training center designed to consolidate all Air Force Special Operations training units has recently stood up at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The Air Force Special Operations Training Center will be the command proponent for all mission qualification training for AC-130H/U, MC-130W, U-28, combat aviation advisers, nonstandard aviation, special tactics, Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element and ISR exploitation mission areas.

The center commander is responsible for the recruitment, assessment, selection, indoctrination and training of AFSOC assigned forces. The center will better streamline training capabilities while relieving the strain on the warfighter by using dedicated training personnel under a single training center. Reorganizing special operations-unique training into a single unit will relieve the operational flying community of their initial training commitment and allow them to focus on the global war on terror.

There will also be a requirement for some Guard and Reserve units to work alongside active duty airmen within the training center to serve as aircraft instructors. The training center will be aligned under Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command, and will be commanded by Colonel Paul Harmon, the current U.S. Air Force Special Operations School commandant.

USASOC Documentary

The United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) recently held a movie premier screening of a new documentary titled, “Why We Fight Now—The Global War on Terror,” at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

The event was hosted by Brigadier General Michael S. Repass commanding general, USASFC(A). Dignitaries that were present included Tony Rand, N.C. state senator, Tony Chavonne, mayor, city of Fayetteville, Tommy Bolton, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army, along with the commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Lieutenant General Robert Wagner, Major General John Mulholland, who recently relinquished command of U.S. Central Command’s Special Operations Command, and the commanding general of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Major General Thomas Csrnko.

“For the benefit of our nation and the world, it is time that the truth be known about the United States Army Special Forces—who we are, what we do—and what great potential we bear for the advancement of freedom, peace and stability across the world,” said Repass. “Though special forces have been traditionally known as the ‘Quiet Professionals,’ we can no longer afford to be the ‘Silent Professionals.’ For the military and diplomatic ‘challenges of our time,’ this story must be told.”

One of the primary goals for the video project is to educate audiences about U.S. Army Special Forces’ roles in current and future fights. For over 50 years, U.S. Army Special Forces have conducted missions in support of the indirect approach, such as unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense. While Army Special Forces have also performed other core missions, such as direct action and special reconnaissance, it is clearly the force of choice to conduct unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense due to its mastery of those missions as indicated by its experience.

Informing audiences about special forces commanding prominence in these missions may assist in sustaining the force in the years to come. SF will accomplish this by encouraging long-term predictable support for its forces during its high operational tempo in this time of persistent conflict.

The video presents a rare and comprehensive view into who Green Berets really are, why they fight, and how they are uniquely qualified and appropriate as a military and diplomatic force to represent the nation to the world. It also illustrates how they effectively join together with groups, nations, military and government leaders worldwide against the tyranny of insurgency and in the conduct of the war on terror.

True to their motto, “De Oppresso Liber”—To Free the Oppressed, their primary focus is to build trust with the local populace and to bond together with them and their nations to fight against and vanquish our common enemies.

Night Vision Goggle Prototype

BAE Systems has developed and delivered to the U.S. Army a new helmet-mounted night vision goggle system that combines visible, lowlight and infrared imagery for all-weather use in darkness and in other visibility-limiting conditions.

Developed through the Army’s Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier Enhanced Night Vision Goggle advanced technology development program, BAE Systems’ digitally fused enhanced night vision goggle, or ENVG(D), will allow soldiers to view, via a monocular eyepiece, imagery that exploits features from visible, low-light-level and infrared sensors. The digitized data can then be shared across the battlefield, sustaining the Army’s vision for the “digital battlefield.”

“The design and delivery of this prototype is a milestone in the Army’s roadmap toward a digitally-fused night vision goggle capability,” said Rajani Cuddapah, ENVG(D) program manager for BAE Systems in Lexington, Mass. “It substantially improves situational awareness for our men and women in combat, which means increased mission effectiveness and, more important, increased survivability.”

Using BAE Systems’ MicroIR sensor technology, the ENVG(D) prototype provides several modes of fusion for varied application needs, such as visibleonly imagery, IR-only imagery, monochrome fusion or colorized fusion with a user-selectable color palette. The system includes a goggle, helmet mount, battery pack assembly and related cabling.

Spatial Disorientation Simulator

SDS International recently delivered a non-motion-based simulator to the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL) to support research associated with spatial disorientation (SD) in both fixed wing and rotary wing aviation environments.

SDS International’s Advanced Technologies Division, Orlando, Fla., satisfied NAMRL’s simulation requirement by providing a specialized version of its LiteFlite reconfigurable simulator product line, which is currently being used by a number of U.S. and foreign military customers for a variety of research and development, test and evaluation and training applications. This specialized SD version of LiteFlite evolved in response to requirements embedded in a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program focused on providing the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps with their next-generation spatial awareness/ disorientation training program.

The simulator was designed for ease of movement, rapid transition from a fixed wing to rotary wing configuration, and flexible positioning of key components needed to support unique SD research efforts. As such, the system includes an adjustable, multilevel display table holding a 61-inch digital light processing out-the-window display, an adaptable head-down display with touch-screen, and a single COTS computer hosting both the LiteFlite simulation software and its embedded AAcuity PC-IG software. The system also includes a specialized seat supporting both fixed wing and rotary wing controls and a separate laptop computer-station hosting SDS’ robust instructor operator station recently updated to support SD scenario generation, control, recording, playback and data tabulation/graphing.

Maritime Mobility Operations and Capabilities

USSOCOM is currently soliciting, as part of a broad agency announcement, white papers/ proposals for research and development (R&D) projects, which offer potential for advancement of SOF maritime mobility operations and capabilities. A formal request for proposals is not expected.

USSOCOM considers the following general aspects/topic areas (but not limited to and not in order of importance) of applied research and development in support of SOF combatant craft:

• Advanced hull forms having improved ride quality over conventional deep-vee monohulls, low multispectral signatures, high payload weight-fraction, high speed in a seaway, and good sea keeping and maneuverability throughout the range of operations.
• Shock mitigating systems for crew and equipment.
• Low signature antenna, weapon systems, topside equipments, and hull construction and outfitting materials.
• Advanced lightweight composite materials with scalable production processes for large maritime applications.
• Lightweight ballistic protection materials and designs. • High performance diesel engines integrated with high propulsive coefficient propulsion systems.
• Craft propulsion systems that take advantage of proven and efficient hybrid technologies and/or electric drives.
• Integrated command, control and shipboard function monitoring systems to support small crew manning requirements and having improved human factors to reduce crew fatigue.
• Small, integrated sensors and maritime information/communication systems that provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information and improved situational awareness.
• Lightweight, integrated, stabilized weapon and threat detection/engagement systems.
• Small, lightweight, reliable and easily maintained hull, mechanical and electrical systems capable of surviving in a demanding maritime environment.
• Methods, alternative sustainable materials and means that extend craft material availability, improve production efficiency and provide a more effective materials recycling infrastructure.
• Advanced concepts that have not yet been realized.

USSOCOM requires a family of combatant craft to meet SOF maritime mobility and operational requirements. Although the above research and development topics are applicable to a wide range of combatant craft, it is requested that research and development proposals target technology development that supports one or both of the following specific combatant craft requirements.

• A small, tactical craft with the following general requirements: 1) Multi-function craft capable of infiltration and extraction from over-the-horizon. 2) Air transportable by fixed or rotary wing aircraft and deployable from other maritime platforms. 3) Crew of one to two personnel and carry four to eight passengers and their associated gear. 4) Station keeping capability and maneuverability that is safely and tactically sound when conducting infiltration/extraction during across-the-beach operations. 5) Low multispectral signatures for reduced observability. 6) Round trip endurance of 100+ nautical miles at speeds greater than 20 knots (kts). 7) Fuel compatibility with U.S. Navy requirements.
• A long-range and -endurance craft with the following general requirements: 1) Multifunction craft capable in medium threat coastal to open-ocean environments. 2) Large payload capacity with the ability to launch and recover a SEAL Delivery Vehicle or combatant craft up to 40 feet in length. 3) Operating endurance of four to seven days. 4) Operating range of 1,000+ nautical miles at speeds greater than 30 kts. 5) Able to support a minimum of 30 embarked personnel while providing acceptable levels of shock and vibration exposure. 6) Low multispectral signatures for reduced observability. 7) Defensive and offensive weapons and countermeasures.

Maritime Mobility Operations and Capabilities SOFSA Support

The Boeing Company recently submitted a comprehensive proposal in response to U.S. Special Operations Command’s request for proposals for the $5 billion Special Operations Forces Support Activity (SOFSA) contract. Boeing and teammate CSC will bring innovation through proven leadership in lean manufacturing, maintenance and repairs, supply chain and asset management, and information technology to improve processes and systems within SOFSA.

“Our team is bringing together tremendous capabilities that exist within our companies to support the SOF warfighter,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president, Global Services & Support. “Our proven success in improving processes in both the technical and human aspects of sustaining customer readiness is something no other team can match.”

SOFSA is a 10-year-old program that provides comprehensive logistics support services to ensure that the readiness requirements of the SOF warfighter are met. It includes support of virtually any product or item unique to the SOF. The Boeing team’s proposal firmly supports USSOCOM’s goal of providing outstanding support to SOF personnel.

“A successful win will expand Boeing’s footprint into its new and strategically significant services market,” said Muilenburg. Boeing formed a new Defense and Government Services division in September to enter the estimated $400 billion unawarded services market.

“The combined technical, integration and sustainment strengths of our team will deliver improved performance and efficiencies to the special operations warrior,” said James W. Sheaffer, president of CSC’s North American Public Sector line of business. “Our team will bring SOFSA new capabilities that offer enhanced performance while establishing cost-saving efficiencies for operations.”

Boeing already provides USSOCOM with the majority of its rotary wing fleet, including the MH-47G, AH-6 Little Bird, CV-22 and A160 Hummingbird platforms. CSC provides experience in ground support and logistics systems. CSC offers world-class business systems and is the logistics information system provider for the U.S. Army. ♦

* Compiled by KMI Media Group staff