a. AUSA News – “Should the U.S. deploy THAAD to Seoul despite North Korean threats?”
North Korea recently threatened to take a "physical counter-action" if the United States follows through with plans to deploy an advanced missile defense system in the South.
b. AUSA Five Things - “Army makes strides forward with laser weapons.”
AUSA Five Things: A Weekly Tip Sheet for AUSA Members, dated July 11, 2016: “Rapid Laser Gun Advances.”
In 2015, a 30-kilowatt laser weapon built by Lockheed Martin disabled a truck engine from more than a mile away in a few seconds, demonstrating the effectiveness of a ground-based system against ground targets. Now, a 60-kW laser has been produced, with an option of increasing power to a 120-kW laser mounted on an Army vehicle.
What to watch: By 2022, the Army could have 300-kW laser guns available for a variety of targets, including ground vehicles, missiles, rockets and even swarms of drones. The potential of laser weapons was captured in the 1985 movie Real Genius.
c. AUSA Five Things - “Army Reserve Soldiers involved in major training exercise for harbor and seaport logistics.”
AUSA Five Things: A Weekly Tip Sheet for AUSA Members, dated July 11, 2016: “Big LOTS is More than a Store.”
Army Reserve soldiers from the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) recently took part in Big LOTS 2016. That is not a raid on the well-known discount retailer but a major training exercise, Big Logistics Over the Shore West. It involves harbor and seaport logistics operating that would be required in a major deployment or when responding to a natural disaster.
What to watch: Two-thirds of the Army’s logistical support capabilities reside in the Army Reserve, making exercises such as Big LOTS an important part of overall readiness. Quickly and safely moving equipment and supplies is vital to U.S. national interests.
d. AUSA Moderator – “It takes too long to get new weapons to Soldiers. The speed to market has to change. ”
“If it takes eight to 10 years to build a weapons system, we are already two generations behind,” said Lt. Gen. Michael E. Williamson, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, at a July 13 breakfast hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army’s Institute of Land Warfare.
“We start our discussions with: ‘If we do this right, we’ll see this in the field six years from now.’ That’s insane,” Williamson said. “Our speed to market has to change. Our ability to get it into soldiers’ hands quickly has to change. We don’t have the luxury of waiting four, eight, 12 years. The access to technology today by our enemies has changed the equation.”
Click here to read more: https://www.ausa.org/news/it-takes-too-long-get-new-weapons-soldiers.
THIS WEEK'S POLL QUESTION:
(1) Should Soldiers be allowed to carry personal weapons on post?
o Yes
o No
o Not sure
(2) Does using a civilian doctor give you concerns about privacy of your records?
o Yes
o No
o Not sure