* General Robert Cone, commanding general of US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), wants the fact that US troops were not exactly greeted with rose petals in Iraq to sink in. The integration of “engagement” and consideration for “human terrain” skills into Strategic Landpower doctrinal work should counterbalance a natural American tendency to see everything through the prism of technology.
Surface Navy Association Symposium
* Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Greenert would like ships to reduce their electromagnetic emissions and has set Navy-Marines integration as one of his priorities, along with placating the Administration over its fixation on sexual assaults in the military.
* Rear Admiral Rowden, Director of Surface Warfare Division (OPNAV N96), defines the short-term tradespace:
“Given the CNO’s priorities, the most immediate impact of decreasing resources will be on the readiness of non-deployed forces. We will accept additional risk in available surge capacity to ensure the combat readiness of forward deployed and next-to-deploy forces. Ship modernization timelines could be impacted or de-scoped to free up resources to plan for the future, protecting investments in both shipbuilding and research and development.”
* Vice Adm. Copeman, head of US Naval Surface Forces, authored a document outlining a vision [PDF] for the 2026 surface fleet. Among his goals: increasing commonality among ships, and moving to condition-based maintenance to both reduce costs and improve readiness.
* According to Copeman the top factor currently affecting the Navy’s readiness is a shortage of qualified sailors. Sailors against Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) would say it’s a self-inflicted wound.
US Logistics Contracting
* The US Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) contracting office will be dissolved as of September 30. Its acquisition responsibilities are being assigned to SDDC’s G9 Strategic Business directorate, while contracting responsibilities will be handled by the USTRANSCOM Acquisition Office at Scott AFB and US Army Contracting Command at Rock Island, IL.
US to Tone Down NSA Data Program
* President Obama is announcing today that the NSA will need a court order before it can search through phone record metadata. The commission he set up to advise him recommended that such data remains in private hands until it’s needed, but it is not yet clear who will store it if not the government.
Syria’s Chemicalestromy
* The head of the UN body in charge of removing Syria’s chemical weapons says the amount collected so far is limited, but he remains hopeful deadlines will be met. The US’ cargo ship MV Cape Ray has been readied for its destruction mission while other countries provide escort and cargo services.
Additive Manufacturing for Parts
* Today’s video explains which parts are now being 3D printed to help sustain the UK’s Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s:
