TSM-TR update: assessment will provide basis for recommendations

JTRS Program:

Dennis Bauman, the Joint Program Executive Officer for the Joint Tactical Radio System, is near the completion of conducting a full assessment of the JTRS program (Clusters 1, 2, Airborne Maritime Fixed-Station, and 5) to include program dependencies and a comprehensive risk mitigation plan. The results of this assessment will provide the basis for an overall set of program recommendations to reestablish program cost, schedule, and funding health. Subject recommendations may include overall restructuring of the JTRS program and associated acquisition strategy, baselining and prioritization of program requirements, and a revised Future Years Defense Program funding profile. JPEO JTRS is in the final stages of the JTRS Cluster assessments and re-planning efforts. These in-depth reviews are critical to the development of executable paths for these transformational clusters. The leadership of the JPEO will finalize the JTRS Way Ahead in the next few weeks. Once completed, the JTRS Way Ahead, with projected cost and schedule plans for each Cluster, will be briefed to the service leadership and Department of Defense. Following those meetings, Bauman will brief Capitol Hill.

Enhanced Position Location Reporting System

Retrofit of product improvements to existing EPLRS-fielded units such as the 4th Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, and the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team will be completed by end of FY-06.

The EPLRS portion of the 41D transformation process is ongoing at Fort Hood, Texas. The existing brigade structure will be converted into Units of Action and Units of Employment. PM TRCS will convert the centralized EPLRS Net Control Stations to EPLRS Net Managers and field an additional 400+ new EPLRS radios, bringing the total fieldings to 1,690 radio sets. Additionally, as part of the transformation process, the previously-fielded EPLRS radios will be upgraded to increase the performance capabilities of the system. Five of the Net Control Stations have been fielded to date; the remaining eight will be completed by the end of October. The final training sessions in support of the NCS operators were completed the week of July 8. All 41D retrofit actions were completed by Sept. 30, 2005.

Planning sessions are underway to begin retrofit actions in support of 1CAV. These actions will be very similar to those completed in support of the 41D. Training sessions for NCS and system planner in support of initial capability began in September 2005. The complete retrofit is scheduled for June 2006.

Planning for retrofit and Net Equipment Training of SBCT-2 (1/25 ID) at Fort Lewis, Wash., is under way. The resident training sessions for the SBCT-2 are scheduled for January 2006 followed by on-site NET training and retrofit.

Training and fielding to support the 3rd Brigade Combat of 4ID at Fort Carson, Colo., was completed during this reporting period.

Training sessions in support of the final fielding of SBCT-4 were completed at Fort Gordon, Ga. Initial fielding began during the 4th quarter of FY 05. Cohesion, Operational Readiness, and Training sessions in support of SBCT-5 were conducted in September 2005, followed by initial fielding during the FY-06 timeframe.

Instructor and key personnel training of Signal Center personnel is underway. Initial sustainment capabilities were operational by August 2005. Training sessions at the Signal Center were completed during June supporting SBCT-6 and the South Carolina Army National Guard. These training classes provided initial capability for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard planning process and the SCNG in support of rotations for Operation Clear Skies.

Mr. Wilson is the deputy chief of TSM-TR, Fort Gordon, Ga.

ACRONYM QUICKSCAN

AMF--Airborne Maritime Fixed-Station 1 CAV--1st Cavalry Division 41D--4th Infantry Division CohORT--Cohesion, Operational Readiness, and Training DoD--Department of Defense ENM--EPLRS Net Managers EPLRS--Enhanced Position Location Reporting System FYDP--Future Years Defense Program NCS-A--Net Control Stations NET--Net Equipment Training JPEO JTRS--Joint Program Executive Officer for the Joint Tactical Radio System SBCT-2-2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team SCNG--South Carolina Army National Guard UA--Units of Action UE--Units of Employment

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