Just a little more than a year ago, the Operational Test Command’s Forward Operational Assessment Team XIII had to pull up stakes from Iraq and move its headquarters and focus to Afghanistan. History’s about to repeat itself as FOA XVII moves most of the team to Qatar from Afghanistan and Kuwait.

FOA teams have been operational in theater since 2003 with the mission of assessing everything from counter-threat technologies to unmanned aerial and ground systems that gather intelligence on enemy activities.

“Since the onset of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, Soldiers have had to rely on systems and equipment that either had never been fielded before or that needed modifications to keep pace with a war that continues to evolve,” Col. John Lakso, FOA XVII commander, said. “The Army Test and Evaluation Command responded to this challenge by deploying FOA teams to the combat theater under the direction of OTC.”

Lakso’s team, comprised of Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and contractors from throughout ATEC, has hit the halfway point of their six-month tour, with plenty still left to assess before they return. The move to Qatar remains on track, Lakso said, with five team members already in place setting up the new location. The rest of FOA XVII is closing out operations in Kuwait and Afghanistan.

“We’ve conducted assessments on the Keyhole Sniper Surveillance System, the Stryker Mobile Gun System, the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle with Underbody Improvement Kit, the Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative, the Individual Gunshot Detection System, Route Clearance Optic System and Prophet Enhanced, to name but a few,” he said.

Team members travel to several locations to conduct assessments, according to Lakso.

“To get to the truth, you have to get on the ground and talk directly to Soldiers,” he said. “It’s an integral part of our business to get their comments, feedback and observations; there is no better way to get at the truth.”

While FOA remains focused on the mission, team members manage to take a little time to relax, too, Lakso said.

“We’re going to … have a Thanksgiving holiday dinner, too,” Lakso said, “and our Family readiness group back at Fort Hood is getting the care packages ready to send us in time for Christmas.”

“The spouses and Families are doing well,” Lakso’s wife, Wendy, FOA FRG leader and the III Corps & Fort Hood Health Promotion Officer, said. “It’s all about expectation management; the families were provided a very in-depth brief by the ATEC, OTC and FOA XVII leaders prior to the deployment pertaining to where everyone was going to be and what they would be doing. That, along with continuous updates provided by my husband that I send out to the spouses and Families, has immensely helped mitigate anxious feelings.”

Regular updates are eagerly awaited by Families, Wendy said, especially the monthly newsletter FOA XVII sends out.

“Providing this to the Families gives us a chance to see pictures of them and get the latest updates on what they (FOA XVII) are doing,” she said.

With Christmas looming large, Wendy said, Families will be sending their FOA team members care packages.

“Since FOA team members come from throughout ATEC,” she said, “it’s hard for us to work on one big care package together since we’re not all centrally located.”

OTC’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, Capt. Vicki Stauffer, said employees are helping her staff put together two care packages for both FOA locations in theater.

“It’s just good to know that shortly after the holidays,” Wendy said, “they’ll all be returning home.”