253:"The REF will identify and evaluate emerging technologies, concepts, and surrogates to estimate/approximate threshold capabilities, while simultaneously providing operationally relevant capabilities to our combat forces within a time frame relevant to current operations... It is my intent to insert critical future technologies and capabilities into the current force while continuously shaping the future force and accelerating its evolution. Therefore, I direct expansion of the mission of the REF to encompass two additional critical functions:
276:, Financial Management and Comptroller, in coordination with the Chief of Legislative Liaison and the REF, will develop a concept and Congressional strategy to support significant Army reprogramming actions and request modifications to laws as necessary to facilitate rapid acquisition when acceleration of future technologies contribute significant combat power to the force in the near term."
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158:. The organization was charged with quickly providing Army units deployed globally with innovative government off-the-shelf and commercially available solutions that address urgent requirements within 180 days or less. The REF was able to do this through unique authorities and by maintaining a presence near the point of need. REF personnel were positioned in
224:. These requests are submitted via a simple document called a "10-Liner" that prompts soldiers to describe the capability gaps they are facing downrange or as they prepare to deploy. From that information, the REF team begins the analysis and procurement process in order to best equip the requesting unit.
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Second, REF initiatives will serve as the testbed to construct a model for lasting change and improvement of Army business practices and to better streamline Army
Acquisition processes. Establish a continuous feedback process to provide lessons learned and best practices identified through the rapid
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It is important to note that the REF equips specific units, not the entirety of the Army. If a solution is applicable to a larger portion of the Army, REF works with partner organizations to transition technologies to project managers who can then field the equipment to a larger portion of the Army.
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The REF lines of support fall into four distinct categories: assess, equip, insert, and inform. Its primary function is to equip units with technologies that fill identified capability gaps. The REF provides training on these technologies downrange and at home-stations. It can insert selected future
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First, the REF will analyze relevant technologies and capabilities that exist in the Army's laboratory, developmental systems, other
Services and Federal Agencies, and international sources, and when appropriate, bring these capabilities into an operational environment to examine and evaluate the
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force solutions for operational evaluation in addition to providing new capabilities not readily available in the existing Army inventory. Finally, the REF constantly identifies and assesses emerging technologies and Army practices concerning operational needs affecting force readiness.
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The REF is structured to integrate three distinct functions to provide the Army with a responsive, rapid acquisition organization. First, the REF Director has the unique authority to validate requirements. Second, the REF has acquisition authority and provided by the
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These three pillars of authority allow REF to quickly insert solutions into theater in weeks rather than years. REF aims to deliver items into
Soldiers’ hands within 90 days, and has even provided a solution in 72 hours after learning of an urgent need.
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The REF currently supports priority equipping efforts over a wide range of challenges including solutions for subterranean operations, electronic warfare, unmanned and counter-unmanned aerial systems, intelligence, and expeditionary force protection.
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On
October 2, 2020, the Department of the Army announced the discontinuation of the REF as the U.S. Army transitions from counter-insurgency operations to a focus on multi-domain operations and large scale combat operations.
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The REF provides innovative materiel solutions to meet the urgent requirements of U.S. Army forces employed globally, informs materiel development for the future force, and on order expands to meet operational demands.
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and mobile laboratories are available for quick solutions. Additionally, the REF empowered the Army at a grassroots level, enabling individual soldiers to communicate needs directly through simple request forms.
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chartered
Project Manager housed within REF's chain of command. Finally, the REF receives funding from a variety of sources, allowing it the flexibility to support Soldiers deployed around the world.
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concepts and their effectiveness. If suitable, the REF will assess the potential to accelerate fielding and the contribution such fielding would make to increased combat effectiveness.
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272:(AAE), with the support of the REF, will use REF initiatives to develop a process to transfer REF initiatives to a fast-tracked fielding program of selected systems. The
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directed the orderly closure of REF facilities, transfer of equipment and property, and transition of military and civilian personnel (to support other army efforts).
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Department of the Army
Memorandum, Signed by LTG Richard A. Cody "The Rapid Equipping Force (REF) Charter and Implementation Guidance Coordination," January 12, 2004.
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The REF was created in 2002 after U.S. soldiers realized the need for non-standard equipment to meet the demands of new terrain, warfare
515:"FIGHTING COVID-19 -- Fort Rucker brings new asset to bear in protecting force, mission, surrounding communities," Army.mil, 5 June 2020
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The REF mitigates capability gaps across the spectrum of warfighter function areas and has supported many projects as listed below.
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Along with leveraging existing technology to meet urgent needs of Army forces deployed globally, the REF also informed longer-term
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475:"Battlefield tech demands: Rapid Equipping Force preps for surge with new Army brigades," Defense News, 27 February 2018
470:"How to Run the Pentagon: Letters to the Editor Regarding ‘Running the Pentagon Right,’" Foreign Affairs, May/June 2014
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485:"Rapid Equipping Force in Afghanistan enables Soldiers' ideas into battlefield solutions," Army.mil, 15 November 2018
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Rapid
Deployment Integrated Surveillance System (RDISS): System to monitor movement near remote FOBs and COPs.
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495:"Still in service: ‘Ex Lab’ is the US Army's problem-solving MacGyver," Defense News, 14 October 2019
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Man-Portable Line Charge (MPLC): Backpack-packaged clearing charge to disrupt IED trigger mechanisms.
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PILAR: Acoustically based, fully passive system that determines sniper fire direction on LCD screen.
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525:"Army to discontinue Asymmetric Warfare Group and Rapid Equipping Force," Army.mil, 2 October 2020
490:"Rapid Response: Unit Works to Quickly Fulfill Urgent Requests" AUSA Army Magazine, 20 August 2019
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460:“Army 'can't afford' not to have Rapid Equipping Force, leader says,” Army.mil, 18 October 2013
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development for the future force. In
October 2020, the Army announced it would dissolve the
480:“Rapid Equipping Force to deliver new electronic warfare platforms,” C4ISRNET 9 August 2018
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Armor Kit: 4-door vehicle protection kit equipped to units during
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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United States
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
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465:"Army Confirms Rapid Equipping Force as ‘Enduring’" Army News Service, 3 February 2014
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Richard A. Cody, "Minutes and Hours… Not Days and Weeks" ed. D. Bennett Dickson, 2008
450:"Army Rapid Equipping Force Taking Root, Chief Says," National Defense, October 2006
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Minotaur: A robotic loader with front mine rollers to support dismounted operations.
332:: A man-portable robot used for the disposal of IEDs and other dangerous explosives.
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The 2004 REF Charter and Implementation Guidance and Coordination memo, signed by
338:: A gunfire locator that uses microphone sensors to detect where shots originate.
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In January 2014, the REF was deemed critical by the Army and transitioned to the
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The REF can receive requests for support from any soldier, from a private to the
510:"Army REF Expands Thermal Imaging Sensors Deployment Effort," DVIDS, 21 May 2020
455:"Mobile Labs Build On-the-Spot Combat Solutions," Military News, 17 August 2012
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Tactical Aerostats: Smaller aerostats used as ISR and communications platforms.
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520:"Army to discontinue AWG, REF efforts next year," Army.mil, 2 October 2020
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PackBot: Remote-Controlled, full sensor package capable tracked vehicle.
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and the Rapid Equipping Force, by year-end FY2021 (September 30, 2021).
317:: Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) ultra-sensitive metal detecting wand.
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500:"Temperature checks begin at Commissary," Belvoir Eagle, 8 April 2020
405:"US Army To Dissolve Rapid Equipping Force, Asymmetric Warfare Group"
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Pole Cam: Extendable pole-mounted camera with a handheld receiver.
505:"Army REF deploys thermal imaging sensors," Army.mil, 1 May 2020
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Wellcam: Complete man-portable video system to search wells.
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equipping process to the relevant staff and US Army
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403:Tucker, Patrick (October 2, 2020).
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539:United States Army organization
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245:Lieutenant General
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