`Land Warrior' takes Army from bayonets to body armor
Army News Service
By Alfonso Lopez June 17, 2003
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 17, 2003) - Visitors to the Army birthday celebration at the Pentagon June 13 had a chance to see some of the latest technology designed for soldiers.
Exhibits ranging from new boots to the latest weaponry were displayed in the Pentagon courtyard by the Program Executive Office Soldier.
PEO Soldier has changed the long-standing perspective of the soldier, said Col. James R. Moran. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld put it this way: "The Army has gone from defending Boston to defending Baghdad."
"The soldiers are going to be the centerpiece of our formation," said Moran of PEO Soldier. "...the soldier is the most deployed weapon system in the Army."
Yet until now the focus of change has been on equipment and armaments, not on the individual who wields them, Moran said.
"Hundreds of thousands of pieces of equipment" were sent to U.S. soldiers deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan for them to use and test, Moran said. Of these several were on display at the Pentagon, including the XM107 long-range sniper rifle, XM29 integrated airburst weapon system, and the M4 carbine (modular).
The PEO Soldier mission is to "arm and equip soldiers to dominate the full spectrum of peace and war." The Air and Land warrior weapon platforms were conceived to do just that, PEO officials said. These were developed to increase, "soldier lethality, survivability, mobility and sustainment."
The Air Warrior is heralded as the first fully integrated system for Army aircrews. As he wore the Air Warrior outfit at the Pentagon, Staff Sgt. Michael Resmondo said that it was more comfortable and convenient than other uniforms he has worn.
The helmet contains an enhanced face shield and earpiece for communication. Resmondo pointed out the many pen pockets for convenience. He said safety is key in that the suit contains a floatation collar, signal radio, flares, soft body armor. An extraction restraint also allows the soldier to be air lifted, alone or with another person, without the need of a harness.
Comfort has not gone unnoticed. Resmondo seemed to appreciate the cooling unit, which can cool up to 62 degrees. A water carrier is also incorporated.
The infantry soldier can look forward to the Land Warrior. This soldier of the future outfit is not as far off as it may seem, PEO officials said. It is expected to be ready by 2008. Spc. Akili King, wearing the Land Warrior, said that with all the equipment he carried it was light and comfortable.
The Land Warrior has a helmet-mounted display that provides weapon information, map displays, night vision and thermal images. Messages can be received through a microphone earpiece or a multi-band secured radio. The platform has a 500mhz computer, soldier control unit, and GPS.
Group leaders are outfitted with a 17-inch screen with which they can track each soldier's movements. Such components are expected to reduce friendly fire incidents. The XM307 was one of the few upcoming additions. It is the next step from today's MK19 Grenade Machine Gun.
Maj. Ray Firman, an observer in the Pentagon courtyard, said he remembers the MK19 from his days commanding a platoon in Somalia. Seeing the XM307 during the presentation, he was amazed at its "accuracy, targeting [and] lighter weight."
All of this has come from an organization that has been around for barely a year. Moran said that of 350 equipment programs, 50 percent are in PEO Soldier. He noted that among the successes are the stories of lives saved by body armor.
Though developed for the Army, both the Land and Air Warrior platforms are currently being considered for use by other branches, a PEO official said.
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