Building off lessons learned during the first Network Integration Evaluation conducted this summer, the Army is kicking off NIE 12.1 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., and Fort Bliss this month.

A TRIAD comprised of the Army Test and Evaluation Command; Director, System of Systems Integration; and the Brigade Modernization Command will assess network and non-network capabilities and determine their implications across DOTMLPF (doctrine; organization; training; materiel; leadership and education; personnel; and facilities) during NIE 12.1. “We’ll measure success by what we will learn by putting these networked capabilities in the hands of Soldiers in the field for evaluations,” Maj. Gen. Genaro Dellarocco, ATEC commanding general, said. “It’s an effective and essential way of doing business.”

The NIE’s primary purpose, according to Dellarocco, is to continue required evaluations in support of Program of Record milestones.

“NIE supports the Army holistic focus to integrate network components simultaneously in one operational venue,” he said. “It will also begin to establish the Objective Integrated Network Baseline and introduce industry participation in the evaluation cycle.”

ATEC’s efforts will be led by Operational Test Command, one of its subordinate commands located at Fort Hood, Dellarocco said, and supported by White Sands Missile Range and the Electronic Proving Ground located at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Data collected during NIE is sent to the Army Evaluation Center for analysis at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

“NIE 12.1 is supporting the Joint Tactical Radio System Rifleman Radio Initial Operational Test,” said Col. Laura Richardson, OTC commander, “along with the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Instrumentation Certification event and the Harris Radio comparative assessment.”

Conducting developmental and operational testing in an integrated environment such as NIE, Richardson said, sets the standard for future testing.

“It is far better to do integration up front while changes can be made in the developmental process,” she said. “It will ultimately lead to a better product for the Soldier.”

OTC’s Mission Command Test Directorate again has the lead for NIE 12.1, according to Richardson, with OTC’s Integrated Test and Evaluation Directorate providing support.

Approximately 552 ATEC soldiers, Department of the Army civilian employees and contractors will be involved in the conduct of NIE 12.1, said Test Director Mike Nott.

“The first iteration of NIE, eleven point two, was the largest operational test in the history of OTC,” said Nott, who is also MCTD director, “in terms of systems evaluated and personnel supporting. NIE twelve point one is part of this culminating process that will support Army leadership in acquisition decisions.”

ATEC, which is undergoing reorganization, has taken to heart senior Army leadership’s vision of an integrated network capable of handling everything from combat situational awareness to financial requests, Dellarocco said.

“We activated ITED at Fort Bliss in July this year specifically charged with focusing on network integration,” he said. “We’re more than halfway complete in filling all the military and civilian positions for this test directorate.”

The plan is for ITED to take the lead for ATEC with NIE 12.2, according to Col. Dave Wellons, ITED director.

“Our goal is to streamline the evaluation and feedback approach, allowing for more usable test data and direct user feedback to the acquisition community,” he said. “This should help avoid potential costly system changes in later stages of development and perhaps even production.”

Integrating fielding, training and test and evaluation is a new challenge, Wellons said, but one his test directorate is up to. “By employing the Agile Process, the Army is able to keep pace with industry and technological advances,” Wellons said. “And by committing to the integration of hardware and software up front prior to deployment, we’re lessening the integration challenges faced by deployed units.”

Another part of ATEC’s reorganization effort is the September realignment of EPG and OTC’s Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Test Directorate, Dellarocco said.

As the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance developmental tester, EPG has developed integrated instrumentation plans to support OTC’s POR testing, assessment of Systems Under Evaluation and assessment of DOTMLPF.

Additionally, EPG configured and installed its specialized C5ISR data collection and reduction test tools to support the collection and reporting of digital data from SUE’s, Systems Under Test and the network, according to Col. Ron Jacobs, EPG commander.