FAST-FWD: Overview of AMEDD
Integration with the Deployed
RDECOM-FAST Teams
LTC Carl Brinkley,
Medical Officer; OIF Team 20
MAJ Victor Melendez
Medical Officer, OEF Team 2
1
1
Outline
• Purpose
– Overview of Science & Technology (S&T)
concept of support to deployed force
– MRMC/RDECOM FAST partnership
• Agenda
– Technology gaps
– Mission
– Organization
– RFI process
– Accomplishments
2
Technology Gaps
Warfighters face special
needs from an unpredictable,
asymmetric battlefield
How do we provide innovative
technology rapidly enough to
adapt to changing enemy Tactics,
Techniques & Procedures?
3
Connecting Deployed Users
With Materiel Developers
• FAST Team Mission
– S&T support to forward deployed units to enhance
operational capability.
– Communicate Warfighter requests & capability gaps
to RDECOM/MRMC R&D labs/centers for solutions.
• Technology-Associated Tasks:
– Reconnaissance: Identify capability gaps/materiel
requirements
– Assistance: Help articulate operational needs to
CONUS-based combat, training, materiel developers
– Deployment: Coordinate field delivery & training of
new technology prototypes for evaluation
– Assessment: Obtain user feedback on performance
of deployed materiel solutions
4
FAST Team
• 4-5 Team members
– O4/05 OIC (Acquisition Corps)
– E6/E7 Operations NCO & NCOIC
– GS13/15 DA Civilian Scientist
– 04/05 Medical Operations Officer
• Deployment History
– 22 OIF teams since 2003
– Medical team member since 2005
– AMEDD emphasis now shifted to
Afghanistan/OEF
• Rotation
– 6 month deployment
– Travel throughout AO to engage
Soldiers & Commanders
– Fwd life support through the Army Field
Support Brigade (AFSB)
– CONUS support via RDECOM G-3/MRMC
Operations
Past AMEDD FAST Team Members
OIF/OND
Team 10
Jul 05 – Nov 05
Team 11
Nov 05 – Mar 06 CPT Patrick McNutt
MS/71B
Team 12
Mar 06 – Jul 06
LTC Stephen Dalal
VC/64C
Team 13
Jul 06 – Nov 06
MAJ Matt Clark
MS/71F
Team 14
Nov 06 – Feb 07 LTC Rex Berggren
MS/71E
Team 15
Feb 07 – Jul 07
LTC Karen Kopydlowski
MS/71A
Team 16
Jul 07 – Sep 07
MAJ C. Jeremy Clark
MC/60J
Team 17
Oct 07 – Feb 08
CPT Stefan Fernandez
MS/71A
Team 18
Feb 08 – Jul 08
MAJ Melba Stetz
MS/71F
Team 19
Jul 08 – Jan 09
MAJ Keith Palm
NC/66B
Team 20
Jan 09 – Jul 09
LTC Carl Brinkley
MS/71A
Team 21
Jul 09 – Dec 10
CPT Ben Rowe
MS/71B
Team 22
Dec 10 - Jun 10
LTC Sonya Schleich
MS/72D
MAJ Jurandir Dalle Lucca MS/71B
OEF
Team 2 Nov 09 – Mar 10
MAJ Victor Melendez
MS/71B
Team 3 Mar 10 – Oct 10
MAJ Robert Carter
MS/71B
Forward Deployed Teams
OIF & OEF
Afghanistan FAST Alignment
•
•
•
•
•
•
2001: UN International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF)
2003: NATO assumes command of ISAF
& establishes Regional Commands (RCs)
2008: Activation of US ForcesAfghanistan (USFOR-A)
2009: First OEF FAST Team
2010: OEF expands - three FAST Teams
Currently one FAST Medical officer
CMD
HQ
NATO
Lead
FAST Team (2010)
RCCapital
Kabul
France, Italy,
Turkey
Yes
RCNorth
MarzESharif
Germany
No
RCWest
Herad
Italy
No
RCSouth
Kandahar
Canada, UK,
Netherlands
Yes-Primary FAST Med Ops
presence for RC coverage
RCEast
Bagram
USA
Yes
8
Army Materiel Command Relationship
HQ
Department of
the Army (DA)
Army Material
Command
(AMC)
TACOM
LCMC
Training and
Doctrine
Command
(TRADOC)
Army Forces
Command
(FORSCOM)
Army Service
Component
Commands (ASCC)
Direct Reporting
Units (DRU)
RDECOM
Army Research
Laboratory
(ARL)
Aviation and Missile
Research, Development
and Engineering
Center
(AMRDEC)
Natick Soldier
Research,
Development and
Engineering Center
(NSRDEC)
CommunicationsElectronic Research,
Development and
Engineering Center
(CERDEC)
Armament Research,
Development and
Engineering Center
(ARDEC)
Edgewood
Chemical
and Biological
Center
(ECBC)
Tank Automotive
Research,
Development
& Engineering Center
(TARDEC)
Strategic Partnership
for Shared Mission
Simulation and
Training
Technology
Center
(STTC)
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Medical Research & Materiel
MEDCOM
5 RMCs
AMEDDC&S
PUBLIC HEALTH
COMMAND (P)
VETCOM
DENCOM
WARRIOR
TRANSITION
MRMC
US Army
Medical
Research
Institute of
Chemical
Defense
(USAMRICD)
US Army
Research
Institute of
Environmental
Medicine
(USARIEM)
US Army
Medical
Research
Institute of
Infectious
Diseases
(USAMRIID)
Research & Technology
– 6 core labs
– Basic & applied research
– Advanced technology development to
prove tech-based concepts for medical
products
US Army
Institute of
Surgical
Research
(USAISR)
US Army
Aeromedical
Research Lab
(USAARL)
US Army
Medical
Materiel
Development
Activity
(USAMMDA)
Walter Reed
Army Institute
of Research
(WRAIR))
Acquisition
US Army
Medical Materiel
Agency
(USAMMA)
Advanced Development
Medical Logistics
–
–
–
–
–
– USAMMA
– Field, distribute, sustain, maintain &
dispose of medical products, supplies &
equipment
– Materiel management from tech 10
base,
advanced development or commercial
sector
USAMMDA & USAMMA
Advanced component & prototypes
System development
Demonstration of tech-based concepts
COTS transition to FDA-approved warready products
MRMC Advanced Development
PROGRAMS
Military Infectious Diseases
• Vaccines against malaria, dengue, HIV
• Drugs against malaria
• Topical Skin Creams/tests
Combat Casualty Care
•
•
•
•
•
Soldier worn haemostatic's
Resuscitative fluids
Modified commercial devices
Oxygen generation
Evacuation support devices
Military Operational Medicine
• Diagnostics
• Health monitoring
• Operational testing
COMMODITIES
• Drugs
– Products derived from synthesized
chemicals with the intent of being
metabolized by the body
– Medications/IVs/Creams
• Biologics
– Products derived from living
sources (animal, human,
microorganisms)
– Vaccines, blood, tissue
• Devices
– Instruments, machines, implants
used in the clinical diagnosis or
treatment with the intent to affect
the structure or function of the body
– Lab equipment, bandages
MRMC Advanced Developers =
Rapid Acquisition Gatekeepers
Rapid Acquisitions
• Addressing urgent medical needs
– Operational Needs Statement (ONS)
• Urgent/compelling; 120 day goal
– Rapid Equipping Force (REF)
• Empowered via Army G3 to approve Tech-based projects &
commit funds
• 10-line request format to “equip” the user; 90 day goal
• FAST Team - Leverage rapid acquisition via Requests
For Information (RFIs) to materiel developers
– Incoming request outlining capability shortfall
– Provides sufficient background to understand problem
– Requests for potential existing solution or technology search12
for COTS solution
Generic RFI Format
• Distribution & Reply by dates for tracking
• RFI number & Title
– Descriptive text
• Body of document
– (1) Issue – Technical description
– (2) Summary – BLUF – 1-2 sentences
– (3) Performance gaps & capability shortfalls
• List capability gaps & integrate photos if possible
– (4) Recommendations
• If known, what the field believes is required to fix the problem
– (5) Contact information
• Name, Telephone, E-mail
13
REF “10 - Liner”
•Baseline document that drives the REF process.
•Template after the standard Operational Needs Statement (ONS),
and consists of the following 10 lines:
1. Problem
2. Justification
3. System Characteristics
4. Operational Concept
5. Organizational Concept
6. Procurement Objective
7. Support Requirements
8. Availability
9. Recommendation
14
10. Coordination Accomplished
14
Materiel Solution Process
MEDCOM
• USAMRMC
– R&D Labs & Centers
Medical Need
– Product Developers
– MEDLOG SMEs
•
•
•
•
AMEDD C&S/Combat Dev
Public Health Command
OTSG
Consultants/SMEs
COAs
FAST - FWD
ID Warfighter
need or
Capability Gap
FAST HQ/G3 &
MRMC - CONUS
FAST - FWD
ONS
Track & Vet
Issues
Present leadership
solutions & help w/
COA
REF 10-liner
Write RFI
RDECOM
Non-Medical Need
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Natick Soldier Center (NSRDEC)
Aviation & Missile (AMRDEC)
Armaments (ARDEC)
Communication/Electronics (CERDEC)
Tank & Automotive (TARDEC)
Army Research Lab (ARL)
Edgewood Chemical-Bio Center (ECBC)
PM/PEO funding
Prototype
Assessment
•Need
•Gap
•Solution
Technology Need
1 of 7
• Capability Gap
– Up-armored ground ambulance
• Solution
– Ambulance variant of Mine Resistant Ambush
Protected Vehicle (MRAP)
16
Technology Need
2 of 7
• Capability Gap
– Non-medical vehicle
evacuation requirement
• Solution
– Ground vehicle
CASEVAC Conversion
Kits
17
Technology Need
3 of 7
• Capability Gap
–
Requirement for blood culture plus
bacterial identification & antibiotic
susceptibility testing at level III MTFs
• Solution
–
Bac-T-Alert
–
Autoscan-4 microbial ID/Sens system
for the clinical lab
18
18
Technology Need
4 of 7
• Capability Gap
– Child restraint to prevent
“submarine” effect during
MEDEVAC transport
• Solution
– Air-worthy certified COTS
product
19
Technology Need
5 of 7
• Capability Gap
–
Current fielded water quality
testing equipment is limited in
portability & panel of tests
• Solution
–
The HACH DR890 lightweight,
rugged COTS water testing device
(colorimeter)
–
Hand-held device consistent with
current water quality testing
requirements
20
Technology Need
6 of 7
• Capability Gap
–
Tuberculosis endemic in Iraq
–
Detainee healthcare workers at risk
–
Require isolation technology to
induce specimens for testing
• Solution
–
Specimen collection chamber to
prevent occupational exposure to
healthcare workers
21
Technology Need
7 of 7
• Capability Gap
–
No fielded product to
effectively warm IV fluids
• Solution
–
Lightweight, low cost fluid
warming system
–
Delivers fluids at controlled
temperature
–
Prevents infusing fluids into
casualties that may induce
hypothermia
22
MEDEVAC-Related RFIs
•
NVG-compatible lighting for flight medics
•
Ruggedized pulse oximeter
•
Alternative aid bags
•
Updated aviation first-aid kit (vintage 1980)
•
Light-weight carbon composite O2 tanks
•
Flame retardant/ fluid-resistant disposable gloves
•
Lower torso over-garment w/ knee pads
23
Soldier-Requested Availability of NSNs
for COTS items
24
Other Technology Insertions
Into OIF/OEF
Combat Application
Tourniquet (CAT)
Golden Hour Blood Transport
Hemostatic
Bandages
Vibration Dampening Map for
MRAP Gunners
Warrior Aid Litter Kit (WALK)
Digital Filmless
Dental X-Ray
Zoll Critical Care Device XL Smart Battery
25
Call for Volunteers
•
FAST team Medical Operations Officer
–
–
–
–
•
Commissioned Officer, senior O3 to O5
Completion of Captain’s Career Course
Field or deployment experience (recommended)
Acquisition certification (recommended)
April: Request for volunteer message distributed to AMEDD
–
Submission packet/Selection process outlined
•
•
•
–
•
AMEDD S&T Assistance Team reviews applicants & provides recommendations
October: Selection notification
–
–
•
Copy ORB, last 3 OERs,
Request for consideration
3 letters of recommendation
CG, MRMC: Selecting official
Two selectees & two alternates
More Information: MRMC FAST Quick Reaction Coordinator
–
–
Mr. Eluterio Galvez, MRMC Quick Reaction Cell Coordinator
E-mail: eluterio.galvez@amedd.army.mil; phone: (301) 619-0606
26
Pre-Deployment Training
● RDECOM-FAST Orientation
– 4 weeks
– RDECOM & FAST Team HQ (Edgewood, MD & FT Belvoir, VA)
– RDECS (Research, Development, and Engineering Centers)
• NSRDEC, Natick, MA; ARDEC, Picatinny, NJ; TARDEC, Warren,
MI; AMRDEC, Redstone Arsenal, AL; CERDEC, Ft. Monmouth, NJ;
ARL, Adelphi, MD
● MRMC Orientation Training
– 2-4 days at Ft. Detrick
• Individual appointments with designated POCs
• MRMC HQ, USAMMA, USAMMDA
– AMEDD C&S & ISR at FT Sam Houston, TX
● CONUS Replacement Center (CRC)
– 1 week at Ft. Benning prior to flight to Kuwait/Afghanistan
Total Pre-deployment Training ~ 5 weeks
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Summary
• FAST Medical Operations
– Unique Afghanistan deployment opportunity for AMEDD
officer
• Reconnaissance
–
–
–
–
Identify critical medical capability/technology gaps
Collect information/recommendations from the deployed force
Interface between soldiers & R&D centers
Involve SMEs, Materiel Developers, Logisticians, Combat
Developers, AMEDD Center and School
• Assistance
– Initiate/accelerate rapid acquisition process
– Facilitate ONS, REF 10-liner, Letters of Justification
• Deployment
– Introduce requested new technology products originating from
medical R&D, materiel developers, and logistics communities
• Assessment
– Evaluate technology solutions in-theater & provide feedback
to RDECOM and MRMC
28
Questions & Discussion
Egress hatch
useless with Slat
Armor and Duke
box covers it
internally
Can not hang tow
bar once SLAT
armor is hung on
vehicle
Check-6 camera or
360 camera for
vehicle, minimum
gunner to view
Request medical
roll down kit,
WALK bags are
not sufficient for
MEV specific
mission
Answer: NSN
6530-01-515-7651
Panel Modular
Medical Trauma
(click on
attachment)
Request Driver’s DVE to
be remote or additional
DVEs so driver can
clear corner before
turning
Driver’s steering wheel
was not user friendly
Ballistic
windshield breaks
often and are hard
to replace
Better Tires: are
there other tires
authorized with
NSN, rugged
terrain often tore
tires apart
NBC never used
and was in the
way often.
Request FBCB2 for
driver
Possible V- Hull
integration
FBCB2 location
needed to be moved
for crew members
multi functions
25K Tow Rope
scarce and seldom in
BII. Status on
Stryker Recovery
Vehicle.
Possible LED
lights transition
from current lights
Requested internal
suction apparatus
29