Battlefield system gets high marks

by Harper Scott Clark

WEST FORT HOOD — The initial operational test of a new battlefield command system finished with high marks for its execution, Army officials said Wednesday.

Col. (Promotable) Christopher Tucker, commander of the Operational Test Command at West Fort Hood, met the media Wednesday to debrief testing of the Army Battle Command Systems 6.4 software.

“This is one of the biggest and most important tests the Army has run in a long time,” Tucker said, comparing it to the testing of the Stryker armored vehicle.

The difference in intensity was one of time, Tucker said. The Army Battle Command Systems testing was accomplished from beginning to end in nine months. The Stryker had a little more than a year.

The 4th Infantry Division was the test unit for the initial operational test, which made history in one sense, Tucker said.

Tucker said having a local major maneuver division participate in testing is unique. The command usually selects units from spots from all over the globe, but not Fort Hood.

Thousands of 4th ID soldiers participated in the testing beginning March 16 and finishing April 1, said Col. David Titus, director of the Command, Control, Communications and Computers Test Directorate. The platform used were tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles carrying the new hardware and computer software.