• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Charter for the Army Digitization Office

The Army... maximizes its combat power through the horizontal integration of new weapons or components, especially when they can be applied across a family of systems.
FM 100-5. Operations (p2-3)

I. PURPOSE.

This charter establishes and defines the Army Digitization Office's (ADO) missions, functions and organizational relationships. It describes, in general terms, the methods by which the ADO will plan and execute efforts to further battlefield digitization in support of the overall Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) initiative.

II. BACKGROUND.

A. Army modernization is a continuous process facing formidable challenges in today's austere fiscal environment. Clearly, there are few opportunities to replace major systems in the near future and therefore the Army must more effectively develop improved or new subsystems to upgrade existing platforms. A viable method to improve effectiveness is to exploit technologies for application across a unit rather than for individual platforms developing integrated operational requirements leading to the synchronized application of interactive and common technologies across the force.

B. The 8 November 1993 Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (ODCSOPS) Memorandum Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) Concept Paper outlines an aggressive approach to modernize existing systems by exploiting leading edge technologies. This 'across the force' development of requirements integrates systems and capabilities across multiple programs and mission areas by fielding common and interactive technologies through new acquisitions, product improvements, or system component upgrades. One of the areas identified for this across-the-force integration is Digitization which exploits communications and information technologies.

C. Along with the obvious internal efficiencies provided a platform through automation, digitized capabilities and the appropriate networking make possible a relevant, real or near-real time view of the battlefield to be shared by our forces.

Digitizing the battlefield is the application of technologies to acquire, exchange, and employ timely digital information throughout the battlespace, tailored to the needs of each decider (commander),shooter,and supporter. Digitization allows each to maintain a clear and accurate vision of his battlespace necessary to support both planning and execution.

D. Currently, there are several existing major systems with a digital capability and others under development that will be digitized. For maximum combat effectiveness, these digitized systems must be interoperable between the battlefield functional areas and from the individual soldier and platform to Corps (or Joint Task Force). It is therefore essential that equipment, common standards, formats and protocols. and naming/addressing schemes enable system to system and processor to processor linkages across the battlefield. Given this need, it was recommended that digitization be intensively managed, and, in December '93, the Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA) directed the Army to pursue an interoperable digital capability across the battlefield. The CSA set the goal of having 2 digitized Brigade by 1996, a digitized Division by 1997 and a digitized Corps by 1999.

E. To accomplish this mission, the Digitization Special Task Force (STF) was formed in January 1994 to assist the Army in developing and coordinating an initial digitization architecture for the force and to assist in forming the Army Digitization Office (ADO). Once established, the ADO will expand on the work accomplished by the STF to evolve a more detailed and longterm digitization framework meeting the CSA's vision.

III. MISSION AND SCOPE OF THE ARMY DIGITIZATION OFFICE.

A. The mission of the Army Digitization Office (ADO) is to oversee and coordinate the integration of Army battlefield digitization activities. Within the Headquarters of the Department of the Army (HQDA), the ADO functions as a staff element of the Army Acquisition Executive (ME) and the Vice Chief of staff (VCSA). The ADO is the VCSA's instrument for digitization activities across the major commands. Likewise, the ADO is the AAE's instrument for providing guidance, assistance and coordination in acquisition matters related to digitization. Periodically the ADO briefs the HTI General Officer Working Group (co-chaired by representatives from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research Development and Acquisition) and ODCSOPS) to resolve controversial issues, seek assistance, and to ensure ADO efforts contribute to the overall HTI effort. Additionally, the Working Group acts as a sounding board as significant issues and recommendations are brought to the attention of the AAE and VCSA.

B. The ADO is specifically charged with advising the ME and VCSA on all matters concerning the integration of digital capabilities across the force and overseeing the integration of Army digitization activities consistent with the ME's and CSA's vision. Using a horizontal integration approach expected to affect programmatics, technological implementation and doctrine, the Office refines and evolves a Digitization Master Plan and monitors digitization integration Armywide to ensure consistency with the Master Plan's objectives. As the ADO oversees Army activities impacting on digitization, it utilizes the Digitization Management Decision Evaluation Package (MDEP) as a planning tool to highlight and integrate the funding effort. (ADO activities are further defined in section IV.).

C. The ADO will be afforded complete and timely support by all major commands and supporting agencies as it oversees and coordinates the implementation of the Army's Digitization Master Plan. As shown in Figure 1, the ADO directly coordinates with the commands and agencies of the acquisition and user community (e.g., TRADOC for concepts, requirements and functional/operational architectures; AMC (e.g., Communications Electronics Command) for technical architecture development and materiel solutions; OPTEC for experimentation and validation support; and FORSCOM for units participating in digitization experimentation). Additionally, the ADO has the responsibility of monitoring and assisting in the coordination of Army, Joint, governmental (e.g., Commerce) and Allied activities impacting on, or by, Army battlefield digitization.

D. The ADO advocates and supports streamlined acquisition strategies to develop, assess, procure and field equipment in support of the aggressive acquisition timelines implicit in the CSA's guidance. Digitization acquisition processes will take advantage of the newest and best commercial technology and business practices while limiting government unique requirements. Within the Master Plan, best value and performance requirements will be emphasized.

Figure 1

IV. ADO FUNCTIONS AND TASKS.

A. The ADO will develop, maintain, and update a Digitization Master Plan. This Master Plan, approved by the AAE and VCSA provides guidance on factors affecting digitization. This Plan includes, but, is not limited to: - A reconciliation of platform requirements with resource solutions. - TRADOC's need to modify existing, or create new, requirements documents and appropriate architectures. - An Acquisition Implementation Plan which includes, but, is not limited to: - An overall digitization investment strategy and MDEP update. - A digitization Master Schedule. - Short-term developments (e.g., appliques providing limited digitization Capabilities for platforms without embedded subsystems). - Longer term development of new and existing platforms featuring embedded systems. - Streamlining efforts reconciled with acquisition requirements. - The synchronization of equipment fielding.

B. The ADO will oversee and coordinate the implementation of the AAE's and VCSA's approved Digitization Master Plan. As the ADO oversees Army implementation of the plan it will assist in defining, developing, coordinating or determining: - Detailed operational, interoperability, and standardization requirements (including doctrine, training, organizations and leader development). - Technology assessments, best technical approach and tradeoff analyses. - Development and evolution of a common architecture and standards, formats and protocols. - Interface requirements between elements of the architecture. - Synchronization and resourcing of modeling, simulation, experimentation, demonstrations, testing and evaluations in digitization. - Value added to the Force and, given the results of equipment developments and experimentation, assist in the evaluation of new organizational designs.

C. The ADO recommends, maintains and updates planned digitization program funding by use of a Digitization MDEP. The ADO will ensure the funding outlined in the MDEP is programmed, budgeted, and executed in a manner consistent with the Digitization Master Plan and established Army priorities. MDEP updates will be coordinated with the HQDA staff, the major commands and the Program Executive Officers (PEOs) concerned. Once coordinated, the MDEP will be periodically briefed to the AAE and VCSA. The ADO will be informed when resource allocation adjustments occur affecting programs within .he MDEP. In a collaborative effort, the ADO, major commands and PEOs will recommend adjustments to the MDEP best meeting the needs of the major commands/PEOs, the overall digitization effort, and the Army. MDEP issues that cannot be resolved between the ADO and PEOs will be brought to the appropriate authority for resolution (e.g., DCSOPS for prioritization, AAE for programmatics).

D. The MDEP will include some (or all) funding for various R&D Program Elements (PEs) and procurement Budget Line Identification Numbers (BLINs) related to digitization. Due to the importance of the Operations and Maintenance (08M) funded activities related to digitization, O&M funding will also be included in this MDEP (e.g., experimentation planned and executed by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and supported by Forces Command (FORSCOM), Army Materiel Command (AMC), and PEOs). Funds contained within the MDEP continue to be executed by the combat materiel developer commands and PEOs.

V. ORGANIZATION OF THE ADO.

The Army Digitization Office will be activated in June 1994. It will be headed by a Major General who is rated by the ME and senior rated by the VCSA. Initially structured in a l manner similar to that shown in Figure 2, it is expected the ADO's structure, manpower levels, and contractor support will fluctuate as its focus evolves. Located in the National Capital Region, it will be an office of an existing Staff Support Agency.

Figure 2.

Vl. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Charter is effective immediately. It will be reviewed by the HTI GOWG and ADO in July 1995 and recommended modifications submitted to the VCSA and AAE for approval.