Courtesy Photo | CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Jan. 3, 2007) - There are five parts to the Force Battle...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Thomas L. Day
40th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Jan. 3, 2007) - The Blue Force Tracker system debuted in February of 1997 at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., with one brigade of the 4th Infantry Division.
Nearly a decade later, 140,000 American troops in Iraq, a country more than 169,000 square miles, are connected into one Blue Force Tracker global communications network.
The Northrop Grumman Corporation, the world's third-largest defense contractor, developed the Blue Force Tracker system. Engineering Solutions & Products Inc., a New Jersey-based company contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense, handles field logistical issues and trains units at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
"You have numerous contractors working hand-in-hand on this," said Thomas Lardner, a site manager with ES&P at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. "Once Northrop Grumman puts out the software, we get a master copy of that and then we burn that software for the units,"
The Blue Force Tracker system, with the Force Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB-2) hardware, took a step forward by taking a step back last month. Days before the Christmas holiday, the system's mainframe moved from Kuwait to the United States. Communiqués from Iraq are now sent across the Atlantic and then redirected back into theater.
"You can bring up the stuff in the States and see what's going on in Iraq," Lardner said.
Training in Kuwait:
Two trainers are stationed in Kuwait to ensure that deploying units go north with adequate knowledge of the system. Kevin Marlow has been an instructor based at Fort Hood, Texas, for more than four years. He arrived in Kuwait in December to begin a six-month tour.
Already, Marlow has seen a pattern in whom often attends his class.
"The unit, they send who they want to," Marlow said. "Primarily, they want to send key leaders...and drivers." Drivers, Marlow explains, are often charged with keeping the system working.
"Everyone on the battlefield who has Blue Force Tracker also will know exactly where you're at," Marlow said. "It helps to protect the Soldier. It makes everyone aware where that vehicle is. It's helps prevent fratricide."
Marlow is quick to point out that the Blue Force Tracker is an information system, not just a communication platform.
It can also send instant messages to a command cell. The program has grid maps and overhead photo imagery loaded.
"All of it, with this application software," Marlow said.
| Date Taken: | 01.03.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2007 09:59 |
| Story ID: | 8729 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 143 |
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