Claude M. Bolton Jr., assistant secretary of the Army talks to Defense AT & L

Defense AT&L, Nov-Dec, 2004

We see nothing that should stop us except ourselves. There are no statutes to prevent us from doing this. We've got support from Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Mike Wynne's shop. We're going to make this work.

Q

How has the industrial base capacity been impacted by the ongoing, increased OPTEMPO [operations tempo]?

A

My way of looking at the industrial base is to include our organic capabilities--depots, arsenals, ammo plants--and defense contractors, commercial and foreign. I've got nothing but kudos for all in the way they respond to the soldier's needs. Everyone is leaning forward, anticipating what will be next.

The entire industrial base has stepped up to the plate. That's a tactical thing. I'm planning this fall to ask another question: How do we go from taking months to maybe a year to come up to speed to as little as days or weeks? And how do we do that when we are not at war? I think we can do it, but we obviously can't do it without industry and associations, so we'll sit down and think it through together.

Q

What has been the reaction so far to the new Army combat uniform?

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A

When I first saw the uniform, I said, "This is the best thing since sliced bread." There are stories and anecdotes from soldiers and airman. They love the uniform. It is in keeping with what we are all about: we are an Army at war, and the uniform needs to reflect that. The pockets are positioned so that you can actually use them; there's a lot of Velcro[R], so you don't have to sew things on; you don't have to press this uniform because of the materials. It's a practical uniform.

The uniform was designed by an E7 and taken to the field during the design process to get input from deployed troops. I'm particularly pleased that the enlisted corps went out and created this. The troops have some recommendations to make it even better, and the next go-round we'll take a look at those.

Q

It seems that you have programs the soldiers like. The next question deals with Stryker, the highly deployable, wheeled armored vehicle that combines firepower, battlefield mobility, survivability, and versatility with reduced logistics requirements. Why is that so popular?

A

I tell folk--our critics too--they shouldn't talk to me. Talk to folks who are in the Stryker, both stateside and in Iraq. It sells itself. Why? First of all, we went from an idea to deployment in four years. Not, "Gee, we got a group here and we're ready to go," but in the field, fighting, in just four years. Just to get the vehicle normally takes us 10 to a dozen years, let alone getting war-fighting capability. We asked for 80 percent capability, and we got well over 90 percent. It's an infantry carrier, a recon vehicle, a command vehicle, a medical vehicle, a fire support vehicle, a mortar vehicle, an anti-tank vehicle, and it will also be an NBC--nuclear, biological, and chemical--vehicle and a mobile gun system. It provides far more protection than getting in the back of a truck, or, as we traditionally do, walking to the fight. Now soldiers can get in a vehicle that goes around 40 to 60 mph and is networked with the rest of the combat team. That's the most important thing. You can sit in a vehicle and know what you are supposed to do when the ramp goes down. The commander knows where he is, he knows where other folks are, and he has an idea where the enemy is. You've also got a lot of protection with the armor. Operationally, it's been superb. Very little damage has been sustained, even by RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades]. Since the 3rd Brigade's deployment, there have been 56 incidents associated with improvised explosive devices resulting in no hull penetrations and no loss of life. There have also been over 26 RPG attacks with the added protective armor defeating all but two of the RPGs. Again, no loss of life. And, because it moves quickly and quietly on wheels, not tracks, we're able to surprise the enemy.