SAIC's Key Support of the U.S. Stryker Brigades

Fall/Winter 2006

Maneuvering in urban terrain, they arrive in near total silence and can strike the enemy without warning. Because of this, the U.S. Army's Stryker brigades have earned the nickname "Ghost Riders" for their combat exploits in Iraq.

The 19-ton, eight-wheeled armored vehicles for which the brigades are named are not only on the front lines of the global war on terror, they also represent a revolution in military training — and SAIC is playing a key supporting role.

At Fort Lewis, Washington — home to three Stryker brigades — SAIC manages and operates the Battle Command Training Center (BCTC), the Army's Center of Excellence for Army Battle Command Systems training for Stryker combat brigades. A new, state-of-the-art 67,000-square-foot complex, the BCTC includes a Mission Support Training facility and the Stryker Center for Lessons Learned, both of which SAIC also operates for the Army.

Stryker training benefits from the continuous flow of combat information from the Stryker units deployed in Iraq. The day-to-day feedback from deployed troops helps those preparing for combat adjust their own tactics before they deploy. This feedback is obtained from the SAIC operated Home Station Operations Center where units can collaborate with deployed forces using secure VTC, phone or computer. Additionally, the Operations Center has the ability to display and monitor the "live feed" from the EPLARS and satellite equipped platforms: An observer can watch operations in Iraq from Fort Lewis.

"Among the Army units that have rotated in and out of Iraq during the past three years, the Stryker brigades appear to have perfected the lessons learned drill," according to National Defense magazine. Recently, Colonel Steve Townsend, Brigade Commander of the currently deployed 3d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division (Stryker) wrote of his unit's status "But I really don't have any worries as we've been trained well — due in no small part to contributions of staff at MSTF and BCTC."

While Stryker forces in Iraq conduct combat missions, Stryker forces at home conduct simultaneous, synchronized training missions using the same information available to the combat forces.

SAIC collects and analyzes information from combat operations in Iraq almost as quickly as it becomes available and produces training products for use at home stations and by deployed units in combat.

SAIC immediately applies lessons learned and new tactics, techniques and procedures to each unit's training plan. Stryker Brigades deployed around the world can access the information via a web portal. SAIC's efforts garnered a coveted Army Knowledge Award for the center for lessons learned.

In addition, SAIC has designed and developed a Common Driver Trainer (CDT) virtual training system for the Stryker, including a motion platform, 180-degree visual display system, high fidelity driver's cab, and an instructor-operator station.

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