Rapid Equipping Force
Encyclopedia
The Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is a U.S. Army organization charged with providing Army units deployed globally with specialized and specific capabilities (materiel) quickly in order to affect the outcome of wars and battles. The REF focuses on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or government off-the-shelf (GOTS) solutions, as well as some rapid prototyping, in order to get capabilities into the Warfighters’ hands as quick as possible, while observing Army and United States Department of Defense
acquisition laws and regulations. The REF is a Staff Support Agency under the Army G-3/5/7, Headquarters, Department of the Army and is located at Fort Belvoir
, Virginia
.
The original vision of the REF was to serve as an operational organization with significant acquisition activity that could insert immediate technology solutions into Iraq and Afghanistan under the auspices of increasing force protection, situational awareness, and lethality. The REF works toward providing real-time solutions to current combat challenges by canvassing the military, industry, academia and science communities for existing and emerging technologies tied directly to immediate Warfighters' needs. Additionally, the REF works to facilitate the early deployment of Army-managed solutions to meet emerging requirements.
The REF operates to "bridge the gap" between the formal acquisition process and a more refined and streamlined process. Also, the REF bridges the capability gap between a piece of equipment needed immediately for a specific purpose, and the Army's more long-term solution to a wider equipment need. Ultimately, the REF impacts the fight by providing immediate solutions for identified capability gaps in a relevant timeframe until the formal acquisition process is able to field enduring solutions.
, the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
created the Rapid Equipping Force as a unique, singular organization designed to address an Army-wide, systemic deficiency in providing immediate technology solutions to deployed and pre-deploying forces for Operation Enduring Freedom. The REF was created after a successful, rapid technology insertion of robots in Afghanistan
.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
acquisition laws and regulations. The REF is a Staff Support Agency under the Army G-3/5/7, Headquarters, Department of the Army and is located at Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
The original vision of the REF was to serve as an operational organization with significant acquisition activity that could insert immediate technology solutions into Iraq and Afghanistan under the auspices of increasing force protection, situational awareness, and lethality. The REF works toward providing real-time solutions to current combat challenges by canvassing the military, industry, academia and science communities for existing and emerging technologies tied directly to immediate Warfighters' needs. Additionally, the REF works to facilitate the early deployment of Army-managed solutions to meet emerging requirements.
The REF operates to "bridge the gap" between the formal acquisition process and a more refined and streamlined process. Also, the REF bridges the capability gap between a piece of equipment needed immediately for a specific purpose, and the Army's more long-term solution to a wider equipment need. Ultimately, the REF impacts the fight by providing immediate solutions for identified capability gaps in a relevant timeframe until the formal acquisition process is able to field enduring solutions.
History
In November 2002November 2002
November 2002: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-Events:- November 1, 2002 :...
, the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army is the principal advisor and assistant to the Army Chief of Staff, the second-highest ranking officer in the US Army. He handles the day to day administration of the Army bureaucracy, freeing the Chief of Staff to attend to the interservice...
created the Rapid Equipping Force as a unique, singular organization designed to address an Army-wide, systemic deficiency in providing immediate technology solutions to deployed and pre-deploying forces for Operation Enduring Freedom. The REF was created after a successful, rapid technology insertion of robots in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Some systems developedby the REF
- PackBotPackBotPackBot is a series of military robots by iRobot. More than 2000 PackBots are currently on station in Iraq and Afghanistan, with hundreds more on the way.-Current PackBot 510 variants:...
: Remote-Controlled, full sensor package capable tracked vehicle.
- PocketTerp: iPaq modification allows user to prerecord translations for specific phases with voice print recorded that can be recalled.
- MagnetometerMagnetometerA magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
: Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) ultra-sensitive metal detecting wand.
- Lock Shims: Small hand-held lock picking devices, used by Soldiers to gain entry into premises to conduct searches, without actually breaking the lock of the door.
- Wellcam: Complete man-portable video system to search wells.
- Armor Kit: 4-door vehicle protection kit.
- PILAR: Acoustically based, fully passive system that determines sniper fire direction on LCD screen.
External links
- Official site.
- "Rapid Equipping Force helps Soldiers with a bright idea: laser pointers." Army Public Affairs. February 3, 2006.