REF helps support Soldiers

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (February 23, 2009) –  Located inside of the Joint Task Force Paladin Complex, the Rapid Equipping Force offers innovative tactical equipment and technologies.

The REF is comprised of Soldiers working with contractors to provide equipment in limited quantities to units for specific capability shortfalls. This increases Soldier's safety and combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

“The REF is allowing me to take logistics to the next level,” said El Hadji Ndiaye, REF contract logistics analyst, whose previous experience as an Army logistics specialist helps to push the logistics envelope. “What we do is important because it creates an impact on how we fight the war by inserting new technology that’s extremely useful to the war fighter in a very short time frame.”

REF, headquartered out of Fort Belvoir, Va., is part of the Army logistics organization which consists of operations, intelligence, requirement validations, acquisition and technology management. 

However, REF isn’t under the same constraints as a regular logistics unit. Something that would take logistics eight or nine months to create only takes the REF eight or nine weeks, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Manley, REF operations non-commissioned officer in charge.

The REF’s origin began in 2002 when Col. Bruce Jette, REF founder met with Gen. John Keane, Army Vice Chief of Staff at the time, and discussed the possibility of using robots instead of Soldiers to search caves in Afghanistan.

Jette developed a remote controlled robot using commercial technology and brought it to Afghanistan, where it was hailed as a success. Unlike the Central Issuing Facility and the Rapid Fielding Initiative, REF specializes in rapidly fielding specific equipment from government or commercial off-the-shelf purchases.

According to the REF’s official website, commanders or Soldiers first have to go through a 10-Liner form, similar to an Operational Needs Statement, to acquire equipment.

“The process begins and ends with the Soldier,” said Manley.

The REF equips Soldiers through the feedback that REF receives from units. They can further refine solutions geared toward increasing Soldier combat effectiveness and safety.

Once REF has a proven concept, equipment is either created or modified, if the complexity isn’t too great. It generally takes three to eight months for the gaining unit to receive the equipment, although future technology inserts take about one to two years to implement.

Dr. Dan Kingsley, REF managing theater engineer contractor, who has a doctorate in robotics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, said the contractors provide in-theater engineering support with advice and gather requirements.

REF equips Soldiers and units with counter-improvised explosive devices, forward operating base security systems, camera systems, individual Soldier systems, personal protection and lightweight equipment. 

Flight medics of the 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion units utilize a small, compact hands-free ventilation system provided by the REF.

As recent as a month ago, this piece of equipment was used in saving a Soldier’s life.

“We used it on a patient that required ventilation and had complications through the intubation. My partner successfully navigated the tube down the patient’s trachea on the first attempt and proceeded to apply a rapid sequence of intubation, and once tapered, we transferred him to the emergency room,” said Army Sgt. Ruben Higgins, flight medic, Company C, 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion.

REF equipment is purchased through REF funds, not unit funds. The only cost to the unit is to provide feedback on the equipment.

An assessment is conducted after the issuing equipment has been used in a combat environment to gauge if it should be transitioned Army wide.

“REF equipment is very useful. I like the idea that they’re encouraging companies to let us use some of this stuff to try and get improvements for it,” said Army Sgt. Christopher P. Thompson, 2nd team leader, 2nd platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, Korengal Valley Contingency Operating Base, Afghanistan.

“The future of the REF looks bright and if one piece of REF equipment saves one Soldier’s life, then we’ve done our job,” said Manley. “Anywhere there’s a Soldier deployed, the REF will be there.”