Army net initiative gains momentum despite shutdown

The Army’s biannual technology evaluation effort has been slowed by the recent government shutdown but will be expedited to end on time, reports Amber Corrin of sister publication FCW.

Network Integration Evaluation 14.1 was delayed one week after the 16-day government shutdown but is expected to wrap up on schedule on Nov. 14, Army officials said. The network evaluations, which focus on adding new capabilities to Army tactical networks, take place at Fort Bliss, Texas.

"NIE is on the books," Lt. Gen. James Barclay, Army deputy chief of staff, said Oct. 22 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. "There is a question of whether it's one time or two times [a year]. That's part of getting to decide what we are trying to get out of this program.”

Added Michael McCarthy, director of operations at Army Brigade Modernization Command: "A big piece is taking a more focused look at capability sets as opposed to networks, expanding that aperture.”