Critical to the future effectiveness of the Army, and thus its trust with the American people, is whether the Army will retain the essential characteristics of a military profession—each of the six carefully explicated in this monograph—as it transits this era of Department of Defense reductions. Unfortunately, that future effectiveness is often not really known until the “first battle of the next war,” as the Army learned so painfully in the past, e.g., Task Force Smith in Korea.

The Army’s campaign of learning about the Army profession has been ongoing for a year, a campaign led by a broad community of practice (CoP) drawn from many of the proponent Centers (Army schools or agencies for each Army branch or functional specialty) in dialogue with cohorts throughout the Army. For purposes of analytical capabilities, the CoP is organized by cohort within the profession, e.g., officers, noncommissioned officers, warrant officers, enlisted Soldiers, Army civilians, etc. Throughout calendar year 2011, that CoP conducted multiple surveys, assessments, dialogues, forums, and exercises across the Army. This monograph highlights some of the outcomes to date, particularly those relating to the central research question—what does it mean now, after a decade of war, for the Army to be a military profession.

This question is addressed by presenting four initial outcomes of the campaign:

1. The Background Realities of the Army as a Profession;
2. Including Army Civilians: A New Typology for the Army Profession;
3. The Process of Professionalization and the Criteria for Individual Certifications; and,
4. The Essential Characteristics of the Army as a Profession.

 
the Army is making good strides in its most recent effort to prepare for transition in a period of Defense reductions. The Army is doing so by keeping professional capabilities intact and ready for the first battle of the next conflict. But it must be understood that the really hard work is yet to be done.

The hard work is to conform the daily behavior of the institution to that of a profession when almost every tendency during the period of reductions will be to behave like a government occupation: centralizing authority; bureaucratizing processes; micro-managing within hierarchy, while the force “does more with less”; and, taking autonomy away from the very folks in whom the future of the institution lies—its junior professionals, both uniformed and civilian. To avoid such an outcome is now a central challenge facing the “stewards” of the Army profession.

The F-15 Eagle-Undefeated Aerial Warrior

General Characteristics Primary function: Tactical fighter Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Corp. Power plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-100, 220 or 229 turbofan engines with afterburners Thrust: (C/D models) 23450 pounds each engine Wingspan: 42.8 feet (13 meters) Length: 63.8 feet (19.44 meters) Height: 18.5 feet (5.6 meters) Weight: 31700 pounds Maximum takeoff weight: (C/D models) 68000 pounds (30844 kilograms) Fuel Capacity: 36200 pounds (three external plus conformal fuel tanks) Payload: depends on mission Speed: 1875 mph (Mach 2 class) Ceiling: 65000 feet (19812 meters) Range: 3450 miles (3000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks Crew: F-15A/C: one. F-15B/D/E: two Armament: One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9 Sidewinder and four AIM-120 AMRAAMs or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally. Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars);C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars) Initial operating capability: September 1975 Inventory: Total force, 522

Afghan Legal Students Make a Winning Case

Package of a team of Afghan students is off to Washington to take part in a worldwide prestigious law competition. The group study at Bulkh University in the north of Afghanistan. They'll be representing their country in March, vying for the Jessup Cup. Produced by Mel Preen. Also available in high definition.

Global spending on C2/C4ISR systems is expected to remain robust over the forecast period, primarily due to the increased importance of C2/C4ISR systems in modern or fourth-generation warfare. Modern conflicts include a mix of physical combat, mental and tactical elements, where the enemy could be a nation or a faction of society such as a terrorist group. In such situations, C2/C4ISR systems are considered by most nations to be the most important tools for victory. The market consists of land, space, naval and airborne systems.

The development of military communication systems that facilitate truly network centric operations (NCOs) continues to present challenges for researchers and developers and has done so for more than a decade. During this time a great deal of focus has been placed on applying commercial products and internet design methodologies to military systems. While this strategy has met with some success, it does not always translate well to the more challenging environment encountered in military operations.

C4ISR systems have evolved at a rapid pace over the last few decades and countries are now forced to regularly upgrade their products in order to keep abreast of the changes in technology, the cost of which can be significantly high. This is prompting countries to take advantage of improvements nurtured in the civilian marketplace to integrate them into military applications. The US government for example is making use of commercial hardware and software for its C4ISR systems, in order to keep rising costs in check.

The global C2/C4ISR market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.98%. This is primarily because key markets, such as the US, are expected to prioritize spending on C2/C4ISR systems; an element of defense spending that was not given much importance until the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts.

Next generation highly mobile front line communications are shifting away from the high power single line of contact methods, toward a low power mesh system where more operators are linked together through a multi-node mesh system. These systems will be less prone to single points of failure and will be self healing such that the communications packets find the best route to the destination based on traffic levels and available system bandwidth.

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In particular, it provides an in-depth analysis of the following:

• Global C2/C4ISR market size and drivers: comprehensive analysis of the global C2/C4ISR market through 2011–2021, including highlights of the demand drivers and growth stimulators for C2/C4ISR. It also provides an insight on the spending pattern and modernization pattern in different regions around the world.
• Recent development and industry challenges: insights into technological developments in the global C2/C4ISR market, and an extensive analysis of the changing preferences of armed forces around the world. It also provides the current consolidation trends in the industry and the challenges faced by industry participants.
• SWOT analysis of the global C2/C4ISR market: exhaustive analysis of industry characteristics, determining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the C2/C4ISR market.
• Global C2/C4ISR market-country analysis: analysis of the key markets in each region, providing an analysis of the top segments of C2/C4ISR expected to be in demand.
• Major programs: details of the major programs in each segment expected to be executed during the forecast period.
• Competitive landscape and strategic insights: detailed analysis of competitive landscape of the global C2/C4ISR industry. It provides an overview of key C2/C4ISR manufacturers catering to the global C2/C4ISR sector, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives and a brief financial analysis.

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Scope

• Analysis of the global C2/C4ISR market size from 2011 through 2021
• Analysis of defense budget spending pattern by region
• Insights on the region wise defense modernization initiatives
• Sub-sector analysis of the C2/C4ISR market
• Analysis of key global C2/C4ISR market by country
• Key competitor profiling specifically focusing on the global C2/C4ISR market

Reasons to Buy

• Gain insight into the global C2/C4ISR market with current and forecast market values
• Get insight on key drivers and attractiveness parameters of the global C2/C4ISR market
• Provides detailed analysis of the defense spending pattern including forecasts of military spending till 2021 by region
• Gain insight into various defense modernization initiatives around the world
• Gain insight into various factors impacting the growth of the global C2/C4ISR market
• Gain comprehensive sub-sector market analysis including market values and forecasts of the leading defense spending nations of the world
• Provides a thorough analysis of the recent developments in the global C2/C4ISR including technological trends, industry consolidation trend, and key challenges
• Provides detailed information of the leading C2/C4ISR programs of major defense spending countries across of the world
• Detailed profiles of 20 leading global C2/C4ISR and related systems manufacturing companies across the world including products and services, key alliances, contracts, and recent developments pertaining to the global C2/C4ISR segment.

Key Highlights
Global spending on C2/C4ISR systems is expected to remain robust over the forecast period, primarily due to the increased importance of C2/C4ISR systems in modern or fourth-generation warfare. Modern conflicts include a mix of physical combat, mental and tactical elements, where the enemy could be a nation or a faction of society such as a terrorist group. In such situations, C2/C4ISR systems are considered by most nations to be the most important tools for victory. The market which consists of land, space, naval and airborne systems, is expected to increase from US$16.2 billion in 2011, to US$21.8 billion by 2021 increasing at a CAGR of 2.98%. This is primarily because key markets, such as the US, are expected to prioritize spending on C2/C4ISR systems; an element of defense spending that was not given much importance until the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts. Land-based systems are expected to account for the majority of the global C2/C4ISR market, followed by airborne, naval and space systems. Over the forecast period, cumulative global expenditure on C2/C4ISR systems is forecast to value US$209.1 billion.

Keywords
Defense, global C2/C4ISR, land based C2/C4ISR, space based C2/C4ISR, airborne C2/C4ISR, naval C2/C4ISR, Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM) Rapid Response – Third Generation (R2-3G) program, Strategic Services Sourcing (S3) program, Laser Infrared Targeting and Navigating (LITENING) Targeting Pod System, Command Hardware Systems-4 ,US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) system,Communication Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management, Global Navigation Satellite System , Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System,Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Vehicle (SV4),Wideband Global SATCOM Program ,Mission Planning Enterprise Contract-II (MPEC-II),Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA) radars, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (Glonass), SISFRON program, SISGAAZ program, The Green Pine, EWTS, EMP bomb,ARTHUR artillery tracing radars, Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems Electronic Warfare Systems (ACES), AN/MPQ-64F1 Improved Sentinel radars, airborne radios, Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATPs),Mirage F1 communication systems,Network for Spectrum ,Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems,Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems, Mode S Transponders, Mode 4/5 Identification Friend or Foe Encryption, High Frequency radio replacements, Multifunctional Information Display Systems for Link 16 operations, Have Quick II radios, Satellite Communications and Common Secure Voice encryptions,Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS)

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AC-130U Spooky

The Spooky (U-model) is the third generation of C-130 gunships. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the AC-47 The AC-130 gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam. Gunships destroyed more than 10000 trucks and were credited with many life-saving close air support missions. During Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the successful assault of the Point Salines Airfield via airdrop and air land of friendly forces. The AC-130 aircrew earned the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Award for the mission. AC-130s also had a primary role during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 when they destroyed Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities. Aircrews earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year and the Tunner Award for their efforts. During Operation Desert Storm, AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces. Gunships were also used during operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia, providing close air support for United Nations ground forces. Gunships also played a pivotal role in supporting the NATO mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The AC-130H provided air interdiction against key targets in the Sarajevo area. In 1997, gunships were diverted from Italy to provide combat air support for US and allied ground troops during the evacuation of American <b>...</b>

During Bold Alligator 2012, the BAC1-11 is being configured with the F-35's AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and the AN/AAQ-37 infrared distributed aperture system (DAS). Systems will operate with future software blocks undergoing test as well as those delivered in current F-35 jets.

Bold Alligator is a large-scale, multinational Navy-Marine Corps amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces and Marine Forces Command. It will be the Atlantic Fleet's largest amphibious exercise in 10 years.

The 2012 exercise is centralizing planning and execution of a brigade-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium threat environment. Following a decade of ground war, this event is intended to revitalize, refine and strengthen core amphibious competencies of the Navy and Marine Corps.

"With JSF being delivered to training commands in 2012, the Navy-Marine Corps team is poised to start using our radar and DAS in an operational context, much like U.S. Pacific Command did during Northern Edge 2011. Northrop Grumman's commitment to deliver new capabilities to the war fighter remains a priority. This exercise is another opportunity to demonstrate operational utility to the fleet," said Jeff Leavitt, Northrop Grumman's vice president of Combat Avionics Systems.

"F-35 sensor capabilities are unprecedented. Their performance continues to meet or exceed expectations."

Building upon successful F-35 sensor deployments during Exercise Northern Edge in 2009 and 2011 in Alaska, Northrop Grumman's BAC1-11 test aircraft is flying air-to-air and air-to-ground reconnaissance missions during Bold Alligator's large naval and ground force maneuvers on the Atlantic coast. Participating naval forces include an aircraft carrier strike group, amphibious ready group, NATO alliance ships from eight partner nations, and Marine landing forces.

The F-35 AN/APG-81 AESA radar and AN/AAQ-37 DAS have demonstrated exceptional maturity well in advance of formal operational testing timelines. Participation in Bold Alligator is integrating these advanced capabilities in the maritime domain.

The AN/APG-81 AESA radar is a multifunction aperture capable of the full range of air-to-air and air-to-surface functions complemented by significant electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The AN/AAQ-37 DAS provides passive spherical awareness for the F-35, simultaneously detecting and tracking aircraft and missiles in every direction, and providing visual imagery for day/night navigation and targeting purposes. The F-35 JSF's role as an invaluable future component of the Navy, Marine Corps and international defense team is being demonstrated in all phases of amphibious operations as exercised in Bold Alligator.

"We are proud of the MicroFalcon mini UAV system. It has demonstrated its long endurance, wide-area surveillance capability to detect targets in all operational environments - in any type of weather, day and night," says Michael Armon, Innocon's CEO.

The MicroFalcon is Innocon's lightest UAV. It provides high quality intelligence and surveillance information required for both the civil and HLS markets, as well as for military over the hill missions.

This UAV has an Innovative structure of boxed type wings with belly mounted payload, which contributes to its high survivability and fast redeployment time cycle.

Moreover, the system is able to give around the clock coverage of the targeted area with its multi UAV control capability. The multi UAV function allows the operator to fly continuously over the target. Both UAVs are controlled and monitored during the whole time from a single ground control station.

Speculation about an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has reached fever pitch in recent weeks, driven by comments from Israeli officials and a slew of articles in the international media.

Israel, like much of the international community, accuses Tehran of using its nuclear programme to mask a weapons drive, a charge denied by Iran.

And the Jewish state, the sole, if undeclared, nuclear power in the region, has made clear it sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat that it will prevent at all costs.

But experts say Israel's rhetoric about a military strike could be seen as a strategy to obviate the need for an attack by piling on the pressure on Iran and the international community.

Political science professor Yehezkel Dror's book "Israeli Statecraft" analyses various ways Israel could confront Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions and says that bellicose rumblings from the Jewish state serve a range of purposes.

"Israel certainly wants other countries to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons, and is surely using the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran as one of the means to convince them to do so," he told AFP.

By brandishing the threat of military action, Israel targets policy-makers both in Tehran and the West, Dror says, using "a very accepted means of creating deterrence, as well as a motivating force."

Israel's sabre-rattling appears to have stepped up, with Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon warning that no Iranian facility, however reinforced, is immune to Israeli attack.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also said to have asked officials to stop "blabbing" about such an attack, warning it could create the impression an attack was imminent or be seen as undermining tough new European sanctions against Tehran.

For Israeli military and intelligence writer Ronen Bergman, the attack rhetoric is a good way for the Jewish state to preemptively justify an eventual military operation.

"Israel is trying to tell the world: 'We told you that if you wouldn't act, we would,'" he said.

"Part of the international legitimacy for the decision-makers is to say: 'We raised the alert, we did everything throughout the years to get the world to impose sanctions to prevent an attack.'"

Bergman caused a splash last month with a New York Times magazine cover article entitled "Will Israel Attack Iran?," which concluded, based on discussions with senior Israeli officials, that an attack this year is likely.

But he acknowledges that even among his most informed sources, there is still uncertainty. "There has not been a decision to attack," he says.

Avner Cohen, an Israeli-American professor with the Non-Proliferation Centre at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, also believes Israel is keeping its options open for tackling Iran's nuclear programme.

Israeli talk of an attack "may be an 80 percent bluff in the current context, in the sense that Israel has not made a decision," he said.

But he notes that "Israel under Netanyahu and (Defence Minister Ehud) Barak is committed to act, if nothing else would stop Iran, if Iran continues and develops nuclear weapons."

"Israel would likely act alone, so in that aspect it's not a bluff," he adds.

Cohen acknowledged that there is still uncertainty about whether Iran is in fact seeking nuclear weapons, and that any preemptive attack could galvanise their resolve to obtain them.

"The Iranian decision very much depends on how the world would respond," he said.

"They don't need actual weapons, they would like to be perceived as very close to the weapon, to the point that it doesn't really matter whether they actually have the weapon or something short of it," said Cohen.

"Only if Iran would be attacked would they leave the Non-Proliferation Treaty and declare their right to have nuclear weapons in the name of self defence."

Such uncertainty contributes to Israel's mixed messages, Dror said.

"It is not reasonable, to my mind, that the ambiguous threat to attack alone might be a 'bluff' solely meant to galvanise others into action," he said.

"It is much more reasonable to assume that Israel is keeping its options open, which is the right thing to do."

"Few people know all the details," he added. "All the rest is speculation."

Wolfenbarger currently serves as the military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition here and she is one of four female lieutenant generals in the Air Force.

"I am humbled and honored to have been nominated by the President to the rank of general and to serve as commander of Air Force Materiel Command. I look forward to participating in the Senate confirmation process when the time comes. At present, I remain focused on the important Air Force acquisition work I've been charged with," Wolfenbarger said.

A Beavercreek, Ohio, native, Wolfenbarger was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1980 after graduating in the first class with female cadets at the Air Force Academy.

She also holds a graduate degree in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

The general has held several positions in the F-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; served as the F-22 lead program element monitor at the Pentagon, and was the B-2 system program director for the Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB.

She commanded ASC's C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing and was the service's director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as director of the headquarters AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB.

Prior to her current assignment, Wolfenbarger was the vice commander of AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB.

She has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Wolfenbarger received her third star in December 2009 and became the Air Force's highest-ranking woman in January 2010.

(Courtesy of Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)