Modernization is a critical element in our ability to provide the equipment needed to sustain our Soldiers at home and abroad. The Army must continue to provide special emphasis on developing and fielding equipment to enhance every Soldier’s survivability and combat effectiveness on the battlefield.

The modern battlefield requires an integrated and packaged approach to improve the individual Soldier’s lethality, survivability, command and control, situational awareness, sustainability, mobility, and combat effectiveness. Critical elements include: Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) for near-term non-developmental items; modular improvements for mid-term solutions; and Land, Air and Mounted Warrior programs for long-term solutions.

Land Warrior is the lead technology program developer for the overall Enhanced Land Warrior concept. Land Warrior will be the first integrated Soldier fighting system to connect the Soldier to the digitized battlefield. Air Warrior is the rotary wing aviation program focused on providing a fully integrated, mission-tailorable ensemble to enhance crewmember performance during air and ground operations. Mounted Warrior, currently in the Concept Exploration Phase of its development, will enhance vehicle crewmember performance.

Modernization of Soldier support equipment improves the combat effectiveness and quality of life of Soldiers in the field. Two examples are Force Provider and the Ground Soldier System (GSS). Force Provider includes field feeding equipment, showers, heaters and shelters. The GSS Program will mature and demonstrate the Army's emphasis on integrated system-of-systems functionality. GSS will provide the Soldier the ability to see first, understand first, act first and finish decisively. Through this effort, the Army provides Soldiers safe, efficient, modern support items to replace antiquated equipment.

The Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) provides increased survivability, lethality, and mobility capabilities to Soldiers via an accelerated acquisition program. RFI leverages current programs and commercial off-the-shelf technology to give the Soldier an increased capability over their current equipment.

The Army recognizes the Soldier as a System on the battlefield. Soldier and Soldier support systems are essential elements for executing the Army mission. Soldier and Soldier support modernization investment must be consistent with the Soldier’s importance on the battlefield.

WE THEREFORE RESOLVE to urge the Administration and Congress to:

• Provide stable and sufficient Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), Procurement, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) funding for Soldier and Soldier support modernization to develop products that are critically important to the individual Soldier
  
  
• Continue to fund the Land, Air, Mounted Warrior programs and Ground Soldier System program to ensure the overmatch capabilities of our Soldiers
  
  
• Continue to fund the Rapid Fielding Initiative