Digital Grunt:Digital Grunt:IT in the Marine Rifle Company IT in the Marine Rifle Company

during OIFduring OIF

PurposePurpose

To give you a brief familiarization To give you a brief familiarization of IT at the rifle company level of IT at the rifle company level during OIF.during OIF.

Technology CoveredTechnology Covered

PLUGRPLUGRAN-PRC 119 & PRRAN-PRC 119 & PRRMDACTMDACTVIPERVIPER

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

1775 to 20031775 to 2003

PLUGRPLUGR

10 digit grid, acc to 1 meter(not civ)10 digit grid, acc to 1 meter(not civ) TimeTime Compatible with ANPRC radios IOT fill time and VIPER for location.Compatible with ANPRC radios IOT fill time and VIPER for location. Enter waypoints for patrols Enter waypoints for patrols T/E says 2!T/E says 2! Primary means of land navigation- Primary means of land navigation- Still a Marine + Map + CompassStill a Marine + Map + Compass

AN/PRC-119AAN/PRC-119A

Each CO T/E rates 8Each CO T/E rates 8

AN/PRC AN/PRC 119119

Primary radio at the CO levelPrimary radio at the CO levelFreq hop & encryptionFreq hop & encryptionCritical to FS and C&CCritical to FS and C&CGives cdr’s the cap to Gives cdr’s the cap to

communicate with air, arty, man communicate with air, arty, man elements and other supporting elements and other supporting arms.arms.

Amphibious Assault VehicleAmphibious Assault Vehicle

6 PRC 119s on board for the 6 PRC 119s on board for the infantry & AAV crewinfantry & AAV crew

Personal Royal RadioPersonal Royal RadioImproved Intra-Squad RadioImproved Intra-Squad Radio

Viper BinosViper Binos

Laser range finder tells you Laser range finder tells you distance and directiondistance and directionPLUGR for locationPLUGR for locationAccounts for deviations in Accounts for deviations in the ground and GM anglethe ground and GM angleYou can add an NVGYou can add an NVGCom thru PRC 119Com thru PRC 119

MDACT w/ EPLRSMDACT w/ EPLRSMounted Data Automated Communications Terminal & Enhanced Mounted Data Automated Communications Terminal & Enhanced

Position Locating Reporting SystemPosition Locating Reporting System

We got 2We got 2

Time lineTime line

Introduced at CAX in Oct 02Introduced at CAX in Oct 02Refresher class on Refresher class on Jan 18 03Jan 18 03Deployed to Kuwait Deployed to Kuwait Jan 20 03Jan 20 03TEWT on March 15 03TEWT on March 15 03Moved from LSA-7 on Mar 22 03*Moved from LSA-7 on Mar 22 03*Crossed border Mar 24 03*Crossed border Mar 24 03*

UsesUsesSend text messagesSend text messagesAlready had templates for CFF, casevac, re-Already had templates for CFF, casevac, re-supply, helo request, CAS(9line)supply, helo request, CAS(9line)Position location of adj & en units(10 digit grid)Position location of adj & en units(10 digit grid)TimeTimeNIMA mapsNIMA mapsOverlays: boundaries, patrols, atk route, Overlays: boundaries, patrols, atk route, probable mine fields & obstacle plans.probable mine fields & obstacle plans.

RealityReality

Good but not dependable…Good but not dependable…Was not always on-lineWas not always on-lineHad to verify messagesHad to verify messagesSome templates did not work(resupply)Some templates did not work(resupply)En units destroyed were slow to be verified En units destroyed were slow to be verified

What worked best…What worked best…

““Going 1775”Going 1775”

The things Marines did before The things Marines did before all this IT!all this IT!

Messenger-still the most reliable methodMessenger-still the most reliable methodPerson to PersonPerson to PersonHand and arm signalsHand and arm signalsFace to face orders briefsFace to face orders briefs

Good tools, but not the answer.Good tools, but not the answer.

What’s the difference?What’s the difference?

17751775 Physically HardPhysically Hard Good marksmanshipGood marksmanship CourageCourage Tactical acuityTactical acuity DisciplineDiscipline

20032003 Physically HardPhysically Hard Good marksmanshipGood marksmanship CourageCourage Tactical acuityTactical acuity DisciplineDiscipline Know how to use pptKnow how to use ppt

SummarySummary

The End-The End-US Marine IT vs Iraqi ITUS Marine IT vs Iraqi IT