Monday, April 26, 2010

Shock and Awe

An incredible first day at the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference.
We spent the morning with a briefing by Admiral Eric T. Olson, the Commander of the Special Operation Command that includes the entire range of special forces in our military, from Navy Seals to Green Berets.

Olson is “The Bullfrog,” the oldest active members of the Navy Seals. Hearing him speak, you get a real sense of the changes that are going on in the military. He talks of new technology, cyber warfare, and the need for a true understanding of the people and cultures of countries where we fight.
His concern about the personal lives of the men and women he oversees is evident throughout the discussion. He loves his people.

SOCOM includes 59,000 thousand members of our armed forces, bringing together the elite from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. A somewhat older group and mostly married, these are career-military folks. They are an important part of the upper management of our armed forces. Many have both college and advanced degrees. Some went to West Point or the Naval Academy.
We met a handful of Navy Seals, each possessed a confidence and presence that immediately changed the room.

They are smart, “Type A” people who are driving their operations hard. Every person I met could easily be a leader in any company in Michigan, probably making more money doing it. They all had a sense of mission and passion for their duty. You wouldn’t want to take them on in business or a street fight.

With the changing nature of the way we fight these days, Special Operations is more important than ever. Much of the strategy, tactics, training and new technology that is being developed comes out of this group. You hear a lot about the uses of the internet, bandwidth, new materials, and, even social media.

The discussion of logistics and development of new technologies sounds much like what you hear back in Michigan.
You hear phrases like “equip the operator” and “upgrade SOF mobility,” along with RFP’s and RFQ’s. There is a constant drive to improve effectiveness, lower the weight, raise the quality and lower the cost of equipment.
Just like you might hear when you meet with automotive suppliers and OEM’s, there is much discussion about how new products will work in the field and how they will be deployed.

Sound like it could be Delphi, Raytheon or General Dynamics? Sometimes it is.
More later. Headed for Norfolk and the Navy.

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