The Modern Louisiana Maneuvers - US Army Center Of Military History

ordination with the Army, to develop a more
comprehensive program. Authorizes an initial
$8 million for HTI to continue ongoing
testing but withholds further funding pending
the Army's presentation of a more comprehensive
plan.25
-MAJ Richard Hyde, DAMO-FDD, distributes
concept plan for the organization
and initial efforts of the Digitization STf26
16 November 1993-Initial meeting of
the Digitization STF in spaces provided by
Coleman Research Corporation. The group
initially totals nineteen and includes representatives
from the Army Staff and Secretariat,
the RDT&E community, and contractors 27
17 November 1993-Initial Digitization
STF presentation to MG Garner on the evolution
of digitization, describing how MG Adams
envisions the STF accomplishing its mission. 28
18 November 1993-Digitization STF
settles upon standard definition of "digitization."
The group recommends the definition
be: "The application of digital technologies
to acquire, exchange, and employ timely
digital information throughout the battlespace
tailored to the needs of each force element.
Digitization allows deciders, shooters,
and supporters at all levels to maintain clear
and accurate pictures of their respective
battlespace. "29
30 November 1993-MG Adams briefs the
VCSA, GEN Peay, on the progress of the STF's
study, describing what has been addressed and
what remains to be done. Containing costs and
meeting fielding goals in the face of constrained
resources remain key issues 30
1-19 December 1993-TF I-70t h Armor
engages in battalionlbrigade simulation exercises
in preparation for AWE 94-07 at the
NTC in April 1994 31
22 December 1993-MG Adams briefs
the CSA at the four-star RRC on the recom-
122
mendations of the Digitization STF The recommendations
concern the Army's management
structure for digitization, technologies
to pursue, equipping strategies and rationales,
and strawman deadlines for accomplishing
them. The STF also recommends a full-time
STF be established to recommend the precise
organization, functions, and subordination
of the overall digitization management
office. GEN Sullivan endorses the concept of
digitizing the battlefield, and proposes an
even more enthusiastic course in terms of
dates, distribution of digitized equipment,
and other items, including a discussion of
possible experimental force (EXFOR) units 32
January 1994-GEN Sullivan approves
formation of the Digitization Special Task
Force to be led by BG Joseph E. Oder, Director
of Requirements-Horizontal Technology
Integration, ODCSOPS. The Army's goal
is to digitize a brigade by 1996 and a division
by 1997 33
-Army Science Board convenes on Technical
Information Architecture for Army
Command, Control, Communications, and
Intelligence (C3I). Board concludes its study
inJuly 1994 and publishes its final report in
April 1995 34
8 March 1994-GEN Sullivan announces
the Force XXI Campaign to redeSign the Army
for the 21 st century. 35
11 March 1994-BG Oder, Director,
Digitization STF, publishes a White Paper entitled
"Digitizing the Battlefield: The Army's
First Step to Force XXI . "36
4 April 1994-BG Oder briefs GEN Sullivan
on the progress of the Digitization STf37
10-23 April 1994-Task Force I-70t h
Armor, 194, h Separate Armored Brigade, Ft.
Knox, KY, participates in the first battalionlevel
AWE, DESERT HAMMER VI, during the yd
Brigade, 24th ID(M), rotation 94-07 at the
NTC 38
The Modern Louisiana Maneuvers