Americans Coming Together to
Put Power with Our Foot Soldier
Victory, and sustaining victory today, comes with being on foot with the people, often in areas that heavy armor and trucks can’t go.
Here, our foot soldiers are overloaded and without many of our new technologies that could help them. They need an agile supporting force that works with them and moves the way they move.
They need greater firepower and protection against new threats, yet a peaceful presence to complete the mission and come home.
Click here for Video on this Gap
 There is a solution. Operation American Agility is about opening this issue, and creating action.
"If America can produce ‘Extreme Makeover’ and ‘Pimp My Ride’, we can produce a breakthrough supporting our foot soldier" - Russ Strong
You will learn here of amazing technologies that America has, that our foot soldiers need, but can’t carry. You will learn of the Jake™, an agile carrier of these technologies: an opportunity developed interactive with US Army Special Operations to achieve their style of agility in tight quarters: 3,000 lb unit with 2,000 lb payload - a giant first step in individual protection, “mobile toolbox” and high power fighter units to team with our foot soldiers– solutions quickly  understood when experienced warriors and our youngest tech-savvy soldiers see a Jake prototype.
This could be viewed as either “bringing back the Cavalry” or “powering up a new special force”. In either case, it expands tactical capabilities --- and opens new opportunities needed to stay ahead of a changing enemy,
But this is a program that doesn’t fit a normal “box” in today’s military acquisition process.
So far, this is privately funded, knowing we need special action to achieve its power as a teamed system --- knowing change is tough (see History of Change ) and now requires the help of concerned Americans.
This is a job for all Americans who want to sustain and secure victory bad enough to take a big step in power with our foot soldiers --- and not back off.
As Henry Ford put it simply: “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” Innovation involves not judging before understanding, trying promising ideas, and then embracing what is found. In other words: “You’ve Gotta Want It”.
Look at what America has accomplished with a focus on dominating in the air*. Yet, now we are leaning heavily on our soldiers ON FOOT, away from their trucks little advanced in agility since WWII, as illustrated below.
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Wouldn’t it be great to do something truly radical here?
Imagine you're in Baghdad. It's 110°, you're in the alleys 10 blocks from your truck, the enemy is on the move and your squad needs to quickly move from a vulnerable position and be 3 blocks over and flank them. With Jakes with you, your team maneuvers smoothly and you accomplish the mission. 
When your reaction is “that thing is not fully armored”, or “we can’t fund them having that much technology”, please pause for a moment and think of our soldiers walking the narrow streets where our enemy is adapting and drawing us in. Our soldiers are talented and committed warriors, but in the alleys they are away from their armor, have limited supporting firepower, and little supporting gear. Think how Jakes will team to move and cover dismounted soldiers and each other, just as our foot soldiers do for each other today, but now with far greater support and agility. Also, think of how neighborhoods are stabilized and secured. It’s by our men and women interfacing with people, as our American soldier does best. With all of our new technology and a changed enemy, our young troops deserve the chance to redefine the power of the foot soldier.
“Next Level” Jakes advance from those shown below, and are rapidly fieldable…
…for new concepts in teaming with mounted and dismounted Soldiers and Marines.
With rapid fielding of this one new design, a “pipeline” is opened, bringing a pent-up array of technologies into the alleys with our foot soldier’s: advances in ballistics protection, IED jammers and sensors, sniper sensors, chemical and explosive sniffers, 3D mapping, networked intelligence, tactical tools, small aerial and ground robots, advanced and non-lethal weapon systems, stealth electric drives and much more… can move onto Jake: quiet and peaceful in interface with civilians, and yet equipped to immediately respond to any threat.
 This new design is common logistics of common systems across a multi-mission and multi-environment modular platform on 2WD, 4WD, 6WD or tracks.
Networked with larger systems, and supporting the foot patrol in the alleys, it will open “video-gamer” teaming readily understood by our youngest soldiers (answering recruiting challenges).
In strategic terms for our nation, Jake offers a balance of deterrence, diplomacy and logistics necessary to bring troops home while maintaining regional stability so critical to the freedoms of so many.
Historically, large change is agonizingly slow
Respected military leaders see Jake as a needed catalyst, or “agent of change”, to strategy shifts sought for a changed battlespace. Yet, they acknowledge the challenge of change in a timeframe that matters.
After 6 years, it is clear that only with a national program, with unique freedoms, can we take this huge step in design and tactics and rapidly link our latest technologies with the talents of this generation (not unlike the action taken to achieve the F-117 Stealth bomber).
 Here's a way to contribute to winning.
Pray for our soldiers and join us in helping them accomplish the mission so they can come home.
Your contributions and the technologies of this program further support our wounded soldiers and disabled veterans. Read more. |
read more |
The Jake is equally bold and powerful for their outdoor independence! |
Dear Fellow Americans,
We all know how accumulated processes restrain us and how major change historically takes fifteen years. Yet, with our men and women in harm’s way, and a solution in hand, this is a time for America to join together, tap into how America innovates and get at the task.
We have a tremendous opportunity to rapidly provide power that teams with our soldiers on the ground if we act together now.
Jake is a timely catalyst for the combination of amazing technologies. It is developed with the US Special Forces, without government funds, outside of “strings” that would restrict it. Developed by industry leaders, it is linked with key military thinkers and the best of our defense technology labs. Originating for our disabled community, it is also exciting how this program benefits and works with our wounded soldiers and disabled veterans.
Many leaders in our military have attempted various paths to make this program happen, yet roadblocks to systems-based change are many. In these 6 years, I have learned that your help is needed to create the “core” change, accomplishing what individuals alone cannot do (and what venture capital, partnerships and the military won’t do until change is underway).
With your help, we get the change under way and absolutely soldier-centric. What is “impossible”, becomes possible, and this will trigger far larger action for our Soldiers and Marines.
My nephew, Marine Sgt Jesse Strong was killed in Iraq fighting for our freedoms and theirs, taking a stand with other heroes. As spoken on the dedication on this site, these sacrifices are a sustaining force for me to hold the course for their buddies still in the fight. Our troops need to know that America is truly working with them: that ‘There is a way!’
Thank you for your prayers and support in a campaign that is about both the ingenuity and the resolve of a nation to win.
Russell W. Strong P.E.
CEO 3D Agile Inc,
Operation American Agility
References
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See tactical attributes of Jake on page “Catalyst for Action” Imagine what our troops will do with such expanded agility and power, breaking common barriers of being on foot. On “Mission” page, read of how contributions and technologies of this program support our wounded soldiers.
* General Robert Scales (retired) August 10, 2005 Washington Post
** US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) briefing to Office of Secretary of the Army May 2005, in which Jake was termed “Mobile Foxhole”, Category III Exoskeleton”, the program causing US Army Vice Chief of Staff to term it “the Warrior Transformer”.
*** Analogy of US Army, RDECOM, Director of Futures and Systems Integration, August 2005 |
