Soldiers Encouraged to Submit Items for Soldier Enhancement Program

Have you purchased any commercial-off-the shelf items (COTS)? Such as gloves, eyewear, load carriage or military-occupation-specialty (MOS)-specific items? If so, have you heard of the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP)? For more than 20 years, the Army’s SEP has been providing Soldiers with COTS items that help them effectively complete their missions. And yet many people have never heard of SEP. SEP is applicable to all MOSs and enhances what is already available. SEP was established by Congress in 1989 to purchase items that improve lethality, survivability, command and control, mobility and sustainability for all Soldiers. Anyone can submit a proposal for anew item, and SEP can provide that capability for our Soldiers in less than three years. The SEP executive council meets each February and August to approve initiatives for the next fiscal year. Enhance what is already available: Unlike many military acquisition programs, SEP relies on COTS technologies that are adapted to meet Soldiers’ specific requirements. Ideas for the program come from Soldiers, commanders, units with specific needs and industry leaders worldwide. The range of items includes individual weapons, ammunition, optics, combat clothing, individual equipment, water supplies, shelters and navigational aids. Identifying Soldiers’ needs: The requirement for anew piece of equipment for Soldiers could be as simple as an individual hand tool or a Bluetooth hand-held electronic organizer that is capable of passing logistics data. The Program Executive Office (PEO) for Soldier Systems Integration, in coordination with the Training and Doctrine Command’s Capability Manager-Soldier, reviews submissions and decides whether to evaluate an item further, buy or produce it, conduct field testing or standardize and issue it to Soldiers in the field. With the Army immersed in conflicts around the world, Soldiers need equipment that reflects the best technology, and they need it fast. Before transformation was part of the Army lexicon, SEP was promoting transformation of the Soldier system with an accelerated acquisition process that gets better weapons and gear into Soldiers’ hands. SEP continues to play a key role in the effort to meet Soldiers’ requirements. Proposals can be submitted on line at www.peosoldier.army.mil/sep/. Anyone can submit a proposal. Nearly 100 proposals are received and reviewed every six months. PEO-Soldier will consider proposals for items that:

• Currently are available as COTS.

• Will enhance the effectiveness of individual Soldiers in a tactical environment.

• Can be worn, carried or consumed by all Soldiers in a tactical environment. Need more Information? Contact Rochelle V. Bautista-Niggemann, B70 3rd Floor, Room 3101, phone (706) 545- 7738, or email Rochelle V. Bautista-Niggemann.civ@mail.mil. Rochelle Bautista-Niggemann is a Figure1. Example of submission form from SEP Website, http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/sep/.

senior capabilities developer in the Electronics and Special Developments Branch, Soldier Divison, Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (CDID), Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, GA. Previous jobs include combat developer, Mounted Requirements Division, CDID; combat-developments liaison, Office Chief of Armor, U. S. Army Armor School, Fort Benning; combat developer, Directorate of Combat Developments, U. S. Army Infantry Center, Fort Benning; security officer, U. S. Army Infantry Board, Fort Benning; and test officer, Capabilities Developments Experimentation Command, Fort Ord, CA. Ms. Bautista-Niggemann’s military schooling includes the Field Artillery Basic Course, Lance Missile Officer Course and Test Officer’s Course. She holds a bachelor’s of arts degree in criminology from Saint Leo College, a master’s of science degree in personnel management from Troy State University and a master’s of science degree in international relations from Troy State University. Her awards and honors include the Order of Saint George, the Order of Saint Maurice and the Army’s Achievement Medal for Civilian Service. Donovan Research Library, Maneuver Center of Excellence, hosts Armor student papers on various subjects, http://www.benning.army.mil/library/content/Virtual/virtual.htm, and back issues of ARMOR magazine, http://www.benning.army.mil/library/content/Virtual/CavalryArmorJournal/ index.htm — currently through 1888-1973 but building up to the early 1980s. Some back issues are also available on eARMOR, http://www.benning.army.mil/armor/earmor/