Equipment evaluated by troops in battle scenarios
Fort Bliss is playing a vital role in the Army's ongoing efforts to keep up
with technology and continually modernize itself.
The large-scale Network Integration Evaluation is held twice a year at Fort
Bliss, at its surrounding training ranges and at White Sands Missile Range.
The NIE, as it's commonly called, evaluates radios, computers, batteries,
software, antennas and other equipment.
"It runs the gamut," said Lt. Col. Andy Morgado, operations officer in charge
of planning for the NIE.
The main purpose of the exercise is to put equipment into the hands of real
soldiers in realistic warlike scenarios, Morgado said.
"We're now developing future concepts," he said. "The Army is focusing its
time, energy and resources into this and that's keeping Fort Bliss relevant as
an installation to the Army and the nation."
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, is attached to the Brigade
Modernization Command, which is headquartered at Fort Bliss. The Brigade
Modernization Command is one of three Army agencies that manage the NIE.
More than 3,000 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade and an additional 1,000
soldiers, civilians and contractors from the rest of the country participated in
the most recent exercise, which ended in mid-November.
