Deployed Soldiers are safer because
of what a team from the Operational Test Command did
while in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait for six months,
the commander of the team’s higher headquarters said.
“There are Soldiers who are not injured and, frankly,
are still alive because of what you did,” Maj. Gen.
Roger Nadeau, commanding general of the Army Test and
Evaluation Command, said Nov. 29 at a ceremony welcoming
home the team.
Forward Operational Assessment Team VIII spent six
months in the Middle East collecting information about
systems being used overseas. Because of the Army’s Rapid
Fielding Initiative, some systems might not be tested
completely because they are needed in-theater so
quickly. So, the FOA teams deploy for six months at a
time to collect information for the Army’s senior
leadership to help determine whether equipment needs
upgrades.
The eighth FOA team mainly studied
force protection systems and the Stryker family of
vehicles.
A special team of eight people deployed for three months
to augment the FOA team because there was such high
interest in the mobile gun system, Maj. Kevin Finch, the
MGS team’s leader, said. The rest of the FOA team was
occupied with other projects, so to handle the amount of
attention the MGS deserved, the extra personnel were
sent to link up with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat
Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Finch said.
While in Iraq with the unit, the MGS team interviewed
crews and observed their planning and operations, Finch
said.
“We made sure to get all the good, the bad, and the ugly
about the system,” Finch said.
The result was forwarding information about the system
to the Army’s leadership and helping to devise a
standard set of tactics, techniques and procedures for
the new system, he said.
“There was no set way of doing business,” Finch said. “There is doctrine, but the doctrine hasn’t been tested. So, the crews came up with their own TTPs. We were able
to pass that on to the next unit, rather than having
them start from scratch.”
Sending special small teams into theater to study a
high-interest system, such as the MGS, is not typical,
Col. Curtis Potts, OTC commander, said. But, that
doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future, he said.
“Some weapons systems or other systems need a more
complete look,” he said. “It’s always an option for the
future.”
The team members were happy they could contribute to
keeping Soldiers well-equipped.
“I felt like we were the voice of the Soldier,” Finch
said. “They were telling us the good and the bad and
things they hoped would get improved on the system so we
could create a reliable database of information. I think
we had a very good impact.”
Several awards were passed out at the ceremony, which
took place at OTC Headquarters.
Col. Vernon Lister, Sgt. Maj. Edwin Blount, Maj. Darcy
Saint-Amant, CWO 4 Clinton Logwood II, and Sgt. 1st Class
Paul Vasquez received the Bronze Star Medal.
Lt. Col. Kevin Mulvihill, Maj. Curtis Burns, Maj. Terry
Butler, Finch, Maj. Jon Hawkins, Maj. Rodney McWhorter,
Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Bal, Sgt. 1st Class Michael
Morris, and Staff Sgt. Harold Turner received the
Meritorious Service Medal.
Maj. David Anderson, Maj. Rodney Turner, CWO 4 Robert
Brown, Sgt. 1st Class John Hudson III, Sgt. 1st Class
James Shelby, and Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Strawder
received the Army Commendation Medal.
Ramona Miller, Cynthia Dunn, Felix Velazquez, Thomas
Masino, Steve Weuve, Douglas Blankenbiller, and Ron Nugen
received the Superior Civilian Service Award.
Raymond Fontaine, Harold Jellison, and Joon Lee received
the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.
Hogan Roberts and Hugo Rangel received the Commander’s
Award for Public Service.
Certificates of appreciation went to Maj. Dave
Blackburn, Staff Sgt. Gerrine Lizama, Skip Ansel, John
Butler, Shawn Contino, Susan James, Johnny Lindsey,
Patricia Silvia, Beverly Thompson, and Richard Whitten.