USO Canteen FReeper Style....Monday....April 1,2002

USO Canteen Freeper Style

War has come to our shores. It was committed on American soil. We have been able to live in Freedom only because of those who have fought in the past wars giving life, limb and all the sacrifices for us to live in Freedom and go about our day without fear.

On September 11, 2001, that comfort, that feeling of living in a land that would not be attacked ended.

William T. Sherman said it succinctly, "War is hell."

The day has come for this Nation and its people to understand that there is a risk in losing its freedom, and in reality there always has been. We have ONLY stayed free because of the sacrifices of our military, our warriors.

This is about saving the future of America. Aristotle said, "We make war that we may live in peace."

We are seeing the American Flag flying at homes now more than ever in my lifetime. We are seeing the American Flag flying on vehicles and people wearing Flag pins and small Flags on their clothes. America is united in the cause for Freedom and for our country to WIN against the evil that came upon our land to kill and hurt us. To change our way of life and to destroy America which is US, you and me. To take away our precious Freedom.

This is the Freeper version of the USO Canteen. Where soldiers could come and feel a small part of being at home. It is a place where you that have family in the military can post a thought to a loved one that might be able to read it far away from home. A place where we that support our military can help support them, post to them, fun graphics showing the price in America and our troops. Poems, quotes, cartoons, or articles of how America is behind our troops.

Those in our military are our Nation's warriors. Let us join hands, fly our Flag and let the world know how important our warriors are to us....And that our MILITARY, our Warriors, are America's TRUE HEROS!

"No Marine was ever honored for what they received. Honor was the reward for what they gave." (Anonymous) CHIEF gave his all in many ways. He touched our lives and his friendship meant so much to all of us. He will live in our hearts forever, and his friendship will always be a bright and shining memory in our hearts and souls.

USO Web Site

Join Operation Infinite FReep!

ALL PREVIOUS THREADS

Army Tests Land Warrior for 21st Century Soldiers

article from U.S. Department of Defense
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- American soldiers and Marines are already among the most deadly in the world, but a system called Land Warrior will soon make them unmatched.

Land Warrior integrates small arms with high-tech equipment enabling ground forces to deploy, fight and win on the battlefields of the 21st century.

"Land Warrior soldiers fight as a system, and the most important part of the system is what's between his ears," said Army Lt. Col. Robert Serino, Land Warrior product manager.

Land Warrior came about in 1991 when an Army study group recommended the service look at the soldier as a complete weapon system. The first priority in Land Warrior is lethality. The second is survivability and the third, command and control. The program will cost $2 billion when 45,000 sets of the equipment are fielded between 2001-2014. The Marine Corps, Air Force and many foreign countries are interested in the system.

"First and foremost, Land Warrior is a fighting system," Serino said. Land Warrior has several subsystems: the weapon, integrated helmet assembly, protective clothing and individual equipment, computer/radio, and software.

The weapon subsystem is built around the M-16/M-4 modular carbine. It has a laser range finder/digital compass, a daylight video camera, a laser aiming light and a thermal sight.

"This system will allow infantrymen to operate in all types of weather and at night," Serino said. In conjunction with other components, a soldier can even shoot around corners without exposing himself to enemy fire.

The integrated helmet assembly is lighter and more comfortable than today's helmet, Serino said. It has a helmet-mounted monocular day display, a night sensor with flat panel display, a laser detection module, ballistic/laser eye protection, a microphone and a headset.

The protective clothing and individual equipment subsystem incorporates modular body armor and upgrade plates that can stop small-arms rounds fired point-blank. It includes an integrated load-bearing frame, chemical/biological protective garments and modular rucksack.

The infantryman will attach the computer/radio subsystem to his load-bearing frame. Over this goes the rucksack for personal gear. The computer processor is fused with radios and a Global Positioning System locator. A hand grip wired to the pack and attached to the soldier's chest acts as a computer mouse and also allows the wearer to change screens, key on the radio, change frequencies and send digital information.

The subsystem comes in two flavors: The leader version has two radios and a flat panel display/keyboard, and soldiers have one radio. With the equipment, leaders and soldiers can exchange information. Soldiers using their weapon-mounted camera, for example, can send videos to their leaders.

Finally, the software subsystem includes tactical and mission support modules, maps and tactical overlays, and the ability to capture and display video images. The system also contains a power management module. Designers set up the system so it can be updated as technology improves.

The soldiers who will actually use Land Warrior have been consulted every step of the way. Prime contractor Raytheon worked with experts at the U.S. Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., in designing the system. They have taken the system to the users to ensure the system is headed in the right direction.

For instance, Serino said, "The rucksack has quick-release straps so an infantryman can just drop it if the need arises. This is what our soldiers asked for -- which is really great."

One problem the Army must overcome before fielding is power. Current batteries last about 150 minutes with all systems running. "Clearly soldiers won't have all systems running all the time, but this is still not acceptable," said Serino. Other batteries under development by the Army's Communications- Electronics Command may push the time up to 30 hours.

The Army plans to test the Land Warrior system with a platoon from the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. Later, a battalion-sized test is planned, Serino said.

"Ultimately, soldiers will define the end state of Land Warrior -- and we'll know more every time the soldiers employ the system," he said. "We'll get the system up to a certain point, then the soldiers will be the people who say how far it can really go."

SFC Cary C. Augustine, a tester assigned to U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Systems Management-Soldier at Fort Benning, Ga., calls Land Warrior a "revolutionary" concept.
"It gives every infantryman the ability to see where he is on the map, to see where his buddies are, to see where identified enemy positions are, and to engage targets from cover after identifying them with thermal sites or the video camera, which are mounted on the weapon," Augustine said. "Using the view from the display mounted on his helmet, a soldier can stay under cover and engage targets accurately without exposing himself."

"It went extremely well, and I'm pleased with the results," said Staff Sgt. David A. Crawford, Land Warrior Platoon. "The Land Warrior equipment allowed us to see targets we would have never seen without it. All the components on the modular system helped us out tremendously."

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.