Army iPhones out front

by YankeeJim | December 13, 2010 at 07:52 am

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The story here is that the Army is having trouble with configuration management and migration of various communications systems and technologies in Afghanistan (not to mention the entire scope of the Army). Platoon commanders simplify the solution by saying that they want iPhone level performance like their troops have for personal use. That’s a reasonable request. It doesn’t happen because of the massive political procurement bureaucracy that inhibits getting the best technology to the front sooner than later. Without excuses, get those guys some iphones, vests, and uparmor.

“The iPhone (pronounced /ˈaɪfoʊn/ EYE-fohn) is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was introduced on January 9, 2007.[1]

An iPhone functions as a camera phone, including text messaging and visual voicemail, a portable media player, and an Internet client, with e-mail, web browsing, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard rather than a physical one. Third-party applications are available from the App Store, which launched in mid-2008 and now has well over 300,000[2] "apps" approved by Apple. These apps have diverse functionalities, including games, reference, GPS navigation, social networking, and advertising for television shows, films, and celebrities.

There are four generations of iPhone models, and they were accompanied by four major releases of iOS (formerly iPhone OS). The original iPhone established design precedents like screen size and button placement that have persisted through all models. The iPhone 3G added 3G cellular network capabilities and A-GPS location. The iPhone 3GS added a compass, faster processor, and higher resolution camera, including video. The iPhone 4 has two cameras for FaceTime video calling and a higher-resolution display. It was released on June 24, 2010.”

“Army faces communications challenges in Afghanistan
'Perfect Storm' of complex network issues requires attention

By Amber Corrin

Dec 09, 2010

The multitude of hurdles in transition, network operations and infrastructure issues in the Afghanistan theater are making for serious struggles for the Army – and also yielding critical lessons in collaboration and in flexibility of solutions.

“We’re transitioning forces, we have network challenges ... we really are in a time that could be the perfect storm,” said Brig. Gen. Lawrence Brock, commander of the Army 335th Signal Command. “If we don’t manage it and do it right, and get help from program managers, industry and our local partners, it could get ugly real quick.”

Speaking today at Army IT Day in Vienna, Va., Brock cited a litany of challenges he sees: multiple complex combat operations, simultaneous network migrations and upgrades, tough infrastructure issues on forward operating bases, contracting hurdles, complicated transportation issues and the emerging cyber emphasis.

In Afghanistan, a force “uplift,” or build-up, is requiring a build-out of infrastructure that incorporates C5ISR – command, control, communications, computers, collaboration (others refer to the fifth C as combat), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Brock said.

The heavy-duty requirements can be complicated by incompatibility, whether technological or ideological.

“Some platoon commanders say, ‘We don’t want iPhones in our soldiers’ hands, we want them out front,’” he said.

Brock stressed the importance of getting the network as far as the dismounted soldier.

“We need to make sure we look at the tactical edge and build out networks back from that,” he said. “We have to engineer from the tactical edge to the strategic core.””