Wargame Articles

America's Army, Shining example of innovation

One of the best armies in the world, if not the best, is now the American army. This may be challenged, but in one field they clearly lead the world, that of anti-ambush drills. Due to their experience in Iraq, they have some soldiers who have the unusual experience at becoming experienced at surviving ambushes. The world's armies are beating the way to the American's armies door to learn from them.

In addition the IT literate American army is disseminating new tactics and information about their enemies latest tactics at great speed using IT such as blogs, websites etc…

America's business spirit is being demonstrated by the speed that innovations requested by the troops get into the field. E.g. soldiers in Afghanistan are being mortared at night and are taking casualties in their tents. Therefore, a soldier in the field emailed an American company (as in a business) on Friday and by the end of the weekend they had designed lightweight panels to hang on the inside of tents to stop shrapnel. Then they get sent in the post. They arrive in the field, the troops like them and then their units are demanding them by the end of the month.

Another example was particular mobile phone jammers to stop radio controlled car bombs. An American officer contacts an American firm who makes what the unit needs and sends a crate load as a free gift to their 'boys in the field'.

The American system of military procurement for small items is being stood on its head as units in the field are simply deciding what they want and asking American industry to build and deliver directly to the battlefield. Units are spending their petty cash budgets not on traditional luxuries such as cans of Coke, Mars Bars or DVDs, but on kit to increase the chance of their men surviving.

The American army is becoming a shining example of an army with embedded learning potential.