Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Richard Frost | "The Lapeer," a device created by the Rapid Equipping Force at Camp Victory, hangs in...... read more read more
The Rapid Equipping Force at Camp Victory in Iraq is designed to respond to soldier's special needs in short time, answering requests from the field that potentially save lives.
They differ from the usual supply chain in that they address needs that are not currently in the supply system, often creating items from many different off-the-shelf components that together, solve a unique problem said Maj. Charles E. Slagle, Claremore, Okla., REF operations officer.
The initial request process has relatively few steps involved. A service member uses the "10-liner", a form that is designed to communicate exactly what the problem is. REF team members then address the problem and come up with a solution that is both effective and timely.
"We are used when there is a capability gap," said Slagle. "Sometimes items are not in the Army supply system. We don't equip units with basic issue items; we use the "10-liner", to create a new piece of kit. The creations fulfill a unique niche need that is specific to a particular challenge a unit is facing."
This is the heart of the REF mission. They react quickly to potentially life-threatening deficits in equipment or capabilities, and give soldiers what they need to keep them safe.
The "Lapeer" is just one of many creations by REF. It is a culvert-denial system created by team members here.
"Insurgents would pack explosives in culverts underneath the roads and they were very effective," Slagle said. "So we came up with this solution that was inspired by a mountain-climbing cam." A cam is a device used by rock climbers to a attach ropes to a cliff-face.
Designers here took the cam, enlarged it and created what is now a standard deterrent against improvised explosive devices.
The wire mitigation system is another project that REF spear-headed.
"The problem was low hanging wires getting hung up on some of the taller vehicles. So we put our engineers into looking at that, building a good solution, and we were able to help out and provide an effective solution," Slagle said.
Most recently, REF was requested to address the second-most dangerous threat in theater here, the RKG-3 grenade. It is a device that can be thrown by an insurgent, like a grenade, except that is has armor-piercing capabilities. The problem was that to create a solution, they needed to test it.
"Basically the lab came up with a simulator that realistically shows the pressures under which an RKG-3 would detonate, using available parts and even electronic components from a toy bouncy ball," said Slagle.
And with this, REF has even created a prototype deterrent to address this threat, that can be tested and implemented.
"This is one of the best things about this job. We get to address problems, implement solutions and get feedback right from the field, from the soldiers using it," Slagle concluded.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2009 11:10 |
| Story ID: | 36620 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 680 |
| Downloads: | 433 |
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