Among the most recent systems that U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command Forward Operational Assessment Team 13 has assessed are the mine-protected ambush-resistant vehicle and a variety of mine-roller systems and unmanned aerial systems.

One of the systems assessed was the self-protection adaptive roller kit.  SPARK rollers have saved numerous lives in theater, according to T.R. Masino, the Developmental Test Command’s coordinator for the FOA program.

“The feedback from FOA Team 13 has been well received by troops in theater, although they found some things that needed improvement,” Masino said.

“The FOA teams continue to be relevant and have been right at the forefront in evaluating the latest things the Army needs to know about.”

The first team deployed to Kuwait in the early stages of the war in Iraq, to assess the performance of Army vehicles.

Since then, FOA teams have deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq, with the critical mission of assessing the performance of everything from counter-IED technologies to unmanned aerial and ground systems that can gather intelligence on enemy activities.

Deployed teams stay in theater for several months, although some team members have stayed there for as long as a year.

A large number of the forward-deployed team members have been ATEC Soldiers, but many civilian ATEC employees have volunteered to participate in the deployments from ATEC’s three primary test and evaluation organizations:  the Army Evaluation Center, the Developmental Test Command and the Operational Test Command.  Several team members said they don’t mind the rigors of the mission because they know how crucial it is to the Soldiers facing the threat of serious injury or even death, day in and day out.

ATEC’s Col. Brian Dosa, commander of the 13th FOA, emphasized the importance of FOA team members working as the “mouthpiece of the Soldier.”

In that role, they have obtained critical feedback from Soldiers and Army units that can lead to weapon-systems improvements; changes to tactics, techniques and procedures; and adjusted test and evaluation procedures back in the United States at ATEC’s various test facilities and ranges.

Soldiers on the receiving end of ATEC’s forward support very much appreciate what the command is doing for them, said Capt. Brian Hartigan of the 37th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade.

“I was impressed on a daily basis with the level of commitment that these guys showed, not just for their specific project, but to supporting the guys on the ground,” he said of FOA Team Speicher.  “Not only were they willing to go outside the wire and put themselves in harm’s way, they were hungry for the real-time data that our Soldiers were providing them,” Hartigan added.

“The ATEC forward operational assessment team here in support of OIF is essential to the collection process of (determining) what works in theater and what does not,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Liles of the 49th Military Police Brigade.  “It allows decision makers at the highest level to capture what the maneuver commanders see as a relevant force enabler and what is not.  Ultimately, it’s the Soldiers that pay the price of the good-idea guy with no experience of ever being on the ground.”

Some of the systems under assessment during ATEC’s 13th FOA team rotation include mini-robots for clearing explosive ordnance; systems designed to protect Soldiers or to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations; enhanced armor protection for various heavy wheeled vehicles used regularly in the combat theater; along with a variety of unmanned aerial systems.

“Generally speaking, Soldiers are pleased with the equipment they have received,” said Maj. Melinda Kalainoff of the Operational Test Command of her stint with one of the teams in Afghanistan.  “They were eager to tell us about their equipment and they are never at a loss about their opinions and recommendations.

“To get the ground truth, you need to get on the ground and talk directly to the user—the Soldier, and that is what we do.” Kalainoff said.