LandWarNet 2011: Chiefs herald signals change

US Army signals regiments are undergoing a sea-change in the way they train, learn and are equipped, according to senior service officials.

Speaking at the LandWarNet conference in Tampa on 23 August, service chiefs warned that signals units would see 'changing equipment, training and education' and stressed that such changes in the way the regiments were employed would be 'for the better'.

'Change is coming,' urged Maj Gen Alan Lynn, Chief of Signal for the US Army and Commanding General of the army's Signal Center of Excellence. 'The way soldiers learn is also changing,' he added while describing how training was becoming more 'virtualised'.

'Soldiers like to learn on their applications and we are developing apps as well which are available on iPhone and android stores. We are testing these at Network Integration Evaluation [NIE] and are looking at androids, iPhones and other types of equipment,' he continued. 'Soldiers at squad level want to use equipment at that level so there's a lot of interest in it'.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Susan Lawrence, US Army Chief Information Officer described her pride in the changing signals regiments and said they had progressed from a 'D-minus' through an 'A' grade. She also described the ongoing NIE exercises at Fort Bliss, New Mexico as 'very important' for the future of signalling.

'Taking equipment out of the inventory of Brigade Combat Teams and standing up networks that they saw when deployed is putting new technology into the hands of soldiers and getting immediate feedback,' she continued.

Finally, Lawrence said it was important to support the soldiers at 'point' on operations along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border for example, allowing them to connect to the network and call for fire support and medical evacuation for example.