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Many people have asked how they can be a part this program, even though they have limited funds. They appreciate what it means to our young Soldiers and Marines and to America. They know the normal process doesn’t always work and are frustrated to see a critical problem, a high-potential solution and the right people in the right place at the right time, just needing the freedom to move.
So, we have put together a way for us to all pull together to achieve the uncommon. We are pleased to have great partners in this program and that this program has the unique ability for all contributions to serve full double duty, with technologies and profits later shared with our disabled veterans and our wounded Soldiers and Marines in rehabilitation.
We believe you will enjoy being part of this story.
Keep in touch with us through our e-newsletter and our blogs. Let us know your ideas and thoughts.
Remember
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How do you explain new levels of maneuver, civilian interface, swarming and the many tactics that our young soldiers will think up? Should we define more than is described on this site before it has a chance to grow into what it will be with our Soldiers’ and Marines’ innovation? It is a solid advance today, and images of the existing prototypes are now actually 3 years old and the next generation is where the action is, probably best not to be shared in full detail with our adversaries via the web and media just yet. (We ask the understanding of you engineers out there. We know you want to see full pictures and videos. Thanks for your patience)
With the freedom to move rapidly and openly, it will be: INNOVATION – YOUNG SOLDIER
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American Agility is a part of the team of 3D Agile Incorporated, a for-profit corporation bringing together our technology labs, our soldiers and a team drawn from across the nation. For this, 3D Agile is constructed as a virtual corporation best able to rapidly perform for a 2-3 year ‘incubation’ of the Jake Modular Technology Platform in methods of maximum innovation with our soldiers. The objective is a bold system of protection, robotics and amplification of our footsoldier, interacting with the US Army, US Marines and US Special Forces. The funds of American Agility allow unparalleled freedom of evolution of this core platform, and enables open teaming with a wide cross-section of our nation’s technology leaders.
These funds break barriers, guaranteeing focus on the Soldier and their innovation, unbiased by past thinking, budget struggles, or political and corporate interests.
American Agility and 3D Agile Inc. also support our disabled soldiers with adaptation of the Jake system for use by these brave young men and women in radical outdoor mobility and independence. At success in innovation and fielding of the Jake for, and with, our Soldiers and Marines, having achieved action for our soldiers that would not have happened any other way, 3D Agile shall be positioned for acquisition by a major defense leader best able to support the system and our Joint Forces worldwide. With this success, the contributions of Americans to this program shall then be redistributed to a non-profit or program within a non-profit foundation supporting our disabled veterans in their use of Jake in outdoors independence.
American Agility is a new approach to a tough challenge, but we believe:
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This program grew from applying design effort to outdoor independence of our disability community, answering how you would most effectively “strap a V-8 engine to your butt and be most like both walking, and driving”. Maybe a bit extreme in the statement of objective, but the innovations of the Jake™ towards this led to a new view of maneuver agility for our Special Ops (They also were ‘into’ the “V-8 bolted to their butt and ability to carry heavy gear most like walking”).
In many ways, this is like how the diode was discovered. The inventor wasn’t trying to invent the diode. He just noted new characteristics he found in his research studies and put them in front of his boss and co-workers as “look what this does”. Together they thought of the applications of these new characteristics…ultimately leading to the computer (imagine today’s computer with vacuum tubes).
To be certain, the Jake™ is innovative in its new combinations of technologies and the potential with this new architecture is large. But, just like with the diode, it is the freedom to view characteristics and capabilities with an open mind that opens the game. It is from this angle and ideation sessions with a Jake prototype in Detroit that the Combat Development Group of Ft Bragg’s Special Operations Command expanded interests. In 2005, the US Army Rapid Equipping Force proposed a program of interactive fielding of 12 Jakes for assessment as a system to team with Humvees, labeling the program an “Agent of Change” and briefing the office of the Secretary of the Army that the Jake “Identifies and fills an existing capabilities gap”. Thought too big a program for the Rapid Equipping Force, it was passed to the larger Army, where this program, and area of soldier capabilities the Jake identified and addresses, remains suspended within the challenge of defining and accommodating such a change.
From this situation and review of a Jake prototype in 2006, Major General Robert Scales (retired US Army) saw the Jake as a key catalyst to ground force transformation. As former Commandant of the US Army War College, General Scales saw the opportunities for a new configuration of soldier effectiveness with particular interests in rapid insertion of agile force and dispersed force.
What is found is that there is no “box” in the process for a “catalyst for change” that does not get defined such that we lose the catalyst part of the equation. Hence, American Agility and its commitment that:
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The program provides solutions to numerous concerns and frustrations of everyday Americans relative to the war in Iraq and other threats facing us. It provides the opportunity for ordinary Americans to have a major impact in getting new equipment and capabilities to our troops.
We find that American Soldier and Marine families understand that this generation of Soldiers are uniquely techno-savvy and have skills and intuitions fine-tuned on video games and a multi-tasking upbringing. These parents laugh in admiration thinking of how different this young generation is. They see the Jake Platform and its new soldier/robotics and video streaming connectivity fitting with their Soldiers or Marines, linking the young soldier’s mindset with today’s technologies. The resulting system, or philosophy of operations, can be greatly expanded by these young soldiers and is why it is termed: INNOVATION – YOUNG SOLDIER
The Jake system-of-systems concept is actually relatively simple to this young generation of troops, is widely understood in our military to fill a critical gap and needs to be done. But, as with many situations, this does not guarantee it gets done. Change is tough.
But, if America pulls together through the opportunities of Operation American Agility, the sum of many small parts can get big things done. And, if it is ‘boots on the ground’ that are called on to get the job done in Iraq, let’s get these boys and girls some power.
It is time to be creative and open the game for these young soldiers.
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This program shall make our troops more agile on the ground, supporting their movements and carrying their heavy gear. It allows them greater cover, ability to get in and out faster and change the game within a fight quicker. It disperses our guys for better protection, allows them protection tactics while interfacing with civilians for ‘winning hearts and minds’, highly increases ‘situational awareness’ with a level of protection from IEDs, allows them to get off predictable routes, allows them to rapidly cordon off areas, allows them to rapidly create cover for their wounded and get them out of the fight fast, provides them robotic capabilities on demand…and this is just a start in where they will take it from here in innovating new capabilities. It is: INNOVATION – YOUNG SOLDIER
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This program has the potential of allowing a smaller force to have equal stabilizing power. Much of this may come from a reduced ‘logistical footprint’, as the military terms it. In other words, it does not take as many fuel convoys, security MPs, cooks, maintenance bases, etc. for the same number of guys on patrol and in position to react. The ability to pull out heavy equipment can aid the diplomacy task of allowing Iraqi’s to feel they have their country back. We can base forces within strike distance to assure stability with the adaptation of airlift assets for rapid insertion of the Jakes’ capabilities. It is all a part of helping America be creative in adapting.
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This program is not about selling a ‘vehicle’ to the military. True, the core catalyst of the program is ‘vehicle-ish’, in so far as it utilizes wheels or tracks, and the modularity of the platform allows creation of various ‘vehicles’ producing a broad range of configurations. But, the power of the program is in implementation of the concept as a system-of-systems with corresponding advance in tactics and deployment.
Because of this, the program has a longer range view. And, the Jake Platform is seen as a catalyst to large innovation when free to grow unencumbered of predetermined requirements for an ‘incubation’ period. So, no, the idea is not to sell ‘vehicles’. The idea is to allow a period of open and maximum innovation with our troops. The engineers will be held to task to answer the soldiers as they work with the Jakes as a system.
If we were to sell a ‘vehicle’, the military would have to determine specifications in order to purchase it. This would bring on ‘requirements’ that serve past interests, thus locking down the flexibility for innovation that this platform offers. Remember, the opportunities are in looking at this from a new angle. It doesn’t have a steering wheel and isn’t trying to do the job of an armored truck. If everyone is honest here, we would be entering a whole tangle of committee meetings and related discussion of interests, and not necessarily prioritized to those of our young talented troops.
The sales side of the business will take care of itself after having the freedom to demonstrate the power of the platform as a system in the hands of innovative Soldiers and Marines. To be clear: this bold adventure and focus of American Agility and 3D Agile is: INNOVATION – YOUNG SOLDIER
And we are determined:
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It fits well with existing US Army, US Marine and US Special Forces programs and their objectives in light transportable mobility, particularly meeting interests in rapid insertion of surgical ground force and stabilizing presence and in logistical sustainability.
This program directly meets the leading objectives for change that you commonly hear. However, being a new configuration of technologies, it does not directly meet existing requirements as written: a square block in a round hole. This is not an obstacle if privately funded and the system’s core units are made available for evaluation within ongoing assessments. The requirements can be written later after seeing the results of new ways of ‘stacking our technology’ and new ways our young soldiers use it.
So, here is where ordinary motivated Americans working together through American Agility can do great things in keeping the focus on maximum innovation with our young Soldiers and Marines.
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Yes. It is pretty much universally agreed that this new modular platform’s architecture opens significant new capabilities and will fill a serious gap that exists in the equipment our troops need today. In fact, this was the conclusion of the US Army Rapid Equipping Force in 2005, and the wording of the REF program defined by the Jake program is now widely used relative to ground maneuver support initiatives. And, the gap between the footsoldier and his support vehicle in now even bigger as the new heavier armored and less maneuverable transport trucks enter the theater.
Unfortunately, this does not necessarily translate into action in a process driven system. As you read more on this program, you will find that the program has worked hard to fit a systems-based program within the process before deciding that it is too critical to our nation to allow more time to slide by, or for this innovation program to go into a process not conducive to innovation.
To clarify: If the "requirements" are written early in the process, as dictated by current government rules, then the innovations the soldiers develop within this program’s soldier-interactive fielding are very difficult to integrate into the finished Jake – requiring several committees to meet many times, contract revisions to be made and change orders to be written, and approved in more committees, charges to be budgeted for the changes, etc. A great time later, perhaps years, these changes might be incorporated -- likely by then, way out of date and highly frustrating our young soldiers.
Change is very difficult within our current government procurement system, which inadvertently stifles innovation. By using direct funding from the American people, we can have close interaction with all elements of our services and later integration into their programs that grow from this, but limitations of current government requirements will not come into play during this critical first period of innovation with our soldier, its tactical advances and its new means of rapid deployment.
As you follow this story, I am sure that you will hear and read the thoughts of many of today’s leading thinkers on unconventional warfare and diplomacy supporting the opportunities the Jake opens for our ground forces.
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Civilian engagement. To protect ourselves with armor is something that comes naturally to us. This is needed, and we have focused on this. But, what is also needed for long term success, given the nature of our enemy, is winning hearts and minds of surrounding populations. This is what General Petraeus in committed to, and he could use some hardware to support him. This program provides an opportunity for rapid movement on a catalyst for change in this direction, a balance of agility and protection for our footsoldiers on patrol. With the help of American Agility, real results can be seen quickly and we can get radical new protection and tactics supporting our soldiers on foot in the tight alleys of the tough urban environment.
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Some do, and those of our Special Operations, US Army 3rd Cavalry, US Marines and National Guard who do are amongst those asking us to keep going. They want a chance at working with the Jakes. As a Vermont Guardsman back from Iraq said, “You don’t have to tell me what it does. I can already see it does things we don’t have now. Just get it to us.”
This program is generally off radar. We are trying to work with the people within the process, including leaders in Army acquisition and the Pentagon. We need these people to know we are working with them, and not going around behind them. This is challenging, often meeting the statement: “the soldiers aren’t asking for it”. But how could they know about it to ask? This has led to: “don’t tell them they could have it, because if they know about it, they will want it, and we don’t have it in our programs now”.
With American Agility we can all be out front and we can all move together.
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Many of your Congressmen are aware of this. They know we don’t have a program home for this, and that it never works to force someone to do something they haven’t asked for. Could we get funds if we put production in a key Congressman’s district? Yes, but then this isn’t the mission of our program…Our mission is to keep this a Soldier focus.
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American Agility and 3D Agile Inc have a great team. Is it the best? Who knows? But it is proven, it is talented, it is agile and they are great people who are mission driven. They are the spirit of the program you see outlined here at American Agility and 3D Agile Inc. This team comes from across America, backgrounds at Cat, Deere, CNH, truck, automotive, robotics and military, proven in products performing around the globe. You will enjoy following their story and their progress, particularly as our funds allow this team to open up interaction with our best universities and expand integration of the best of our defense technology labs driven to one mission:
INNOVATION – YOUNG SOLDIER
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Contributions are directed to rapid forward movement: pulling the larger team together, bringing on the technology contributions of our partnering defense tech leaders, rapid design advance for prototyping of the next generation Jake modules. Contributions shall power the overall team in the evolution of the Jake Modular Technology Platform as the catalyst to larger innovation and integration of technologies onto this platform. The use of funds is outlined in the section on Contributions on this site, and shall be as efficient as possible toward its mission, with accountability of this program. This program shall power and sustain a campaign that makes action happen with America in a large program format that will not happen any other way, and at later profit, having your contributions serve double duty, being distributed again to a non-profit for support of our wounded Soldiers.
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The Jake™ program originated in Integrated Vision’s mission of expanding outdoor independence for the disability community, and does so in a manner like no other system. Now, with the defense technologies added to this, it will empower outdoor agility at an even higher level. So, here is where American Agility gives something back, moving this part of the program forward by years, bringing greater technology and capital to an area that is under-supported. Derived now from the military Jakes, our vets in wheelchairs will truly get their “V-8 engine strapped to their butt”, able to take them around town or up into the high Sierras. Visit www.nolimitstahoe.com and see why Mark Wellman is looking forward to the results to come from Operation American Agility. He is believing that for our vets:
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Your contributions today will achieve critical movement to link key technologies and open innovation with our young Soldiers and Marines. Your purchasing of window stickers, t-shirts, Accessories & Gear help tremendously with both funding and spreading the word. If you or your group have the ability to start a local fund raiser, please contact us for a packet and a contact person to help you with this. And, your spreading the news of this website, petition and blog to your friends supports a groundswell focused on the needs of our Soldiers and Marines’ on the ground today. Your communicating what this program can do as a catalyst and action towards real solutions can help our nation hold its resolve to accomplish the mission and honor the price that has already been paid.
It is likely that American Agility doesn’t “happen” as we think. It can be beyond our thinking even as we think America will rise up for its young Soldiers and Marines. We believe in America and think that this program can awaken a little something in each of us, awaken Congressmen, awaken leaders who can help in unique ways, awaken a groundswell of determination and resolve that America needs at a critical time.
It is by winning in pulling together as Americans that we keep those that threaten us on their heels, and win the conflicts ahead of us. Civilian engagement, new tactics in learning our enemy, engaging and understanding our enemy, engaging our own population and media are all part of ‘winning’. As a small, but critical part, Operation American Agility can create the freedom to incubate a concept that our young soldiers can build on, that our psych-ops can build on, that our foreign policy can build on, that can strengthen our military and homeland security: a groundswell of us engaging in a larger discussion and all doing our part. The rest will take care of itself.
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