• Home
• GOVERNMENT CXO
• E-GOVERNMENT
• CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
• TAX AND REVENUE MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
• GREEN GOVERNMENT
• GOVERNMENT DATA MANAGEMENT
• GOVERNMENT SECURITY
• GOVERNMENT CLOUD
• GOVERNMENT ANALYTICS
• GOVERNMENT GIS
• CONNECTED GOVERNMENT
• DIGITAL INCLUSION
• EDUCATION IT
• HEALTHCARE IT

Government Data Management

Governments to raise soldiers’ survivability with IT

By Clarice Africa | 11 March 2011

Governments are moving towards strengthening the most important foundation of its army – the soldiers.

Warren Prentice, Regional Industry Manager of Public Safety & National Security at Microsoft told FutureGov Asia Pacific that many governments have found producing and sustaining enough soldiers have been quite a challenge.

“Increasing affluence along with changing values in societies has led less and less people wanting to become soldiers” Prentice said.

According to Prentice, the changing socio-economic conditions has led armies requiring more time to build up its recruits and has also made military service less attractive to many. Therefore, to ensure that enough people do join the military, governments ensure that the pay and benefits are at par with the civilian sector.

“In such an environment, it is important to maximize not only the capabilities of soldiers but also their survivability, requirements which can be largely achieved through technology” he said.

Though state-of-the-art armaments are important in enhancing capabilities and survivability of soldiers, but just as crucial are technologies that would facilitate effective communication and information awareness to soldiers.

Prentice pointed out that, initially, much of such information and communication systems equipment was only available at the command or headquarters level rather than individual soldiers.

By providing soldiers with enhanced communication, information and awareness capabilities, soldiers can respond to situations on the battlefield more rapidly and effectively, allowing them to compensate for their smaller numbers. Furthermore, better knowledge and information on the battlefield can result in lesser casualties as the soldiers can use such information to allow them to avoid situations which would put them at a disadvantage.

The strong focus on counter-terrorism, counter insurgency and stability operations has led to a decentralization of the conduct of military operations. This places greater emphasis on the performance of individual soldiers and small units instead of a larger brigade. Thus, much of the decision making will rest upon the shoulders of a soldier on the spot rather being directed by commanders a distance away.

As such, the soldier in the field requires tools that would enable him to obtain, process, and act upon information in a rapid and timely manner.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) for example, used service support agreement with dedicated engineers from Microsoft to ensure that it optimises its technical infrastructures and delivers the best service possible. The MOD, an agency which relies strongly on its robust IT infrastructure, was able to curb potential events that could endanger the lives of the soldiers and at the same time also saved the Ministry millions of pounds worth of taxpayers money.

Prentice cited technologies such as helmet mounted display screens, individual soldier tracking and monitoring systems that would allow soldiers to know the location of the rest of the troop on a digital map and their health status.

“These technologies would not only benefit the soldiers, but also specialist units such as engineers, medics and mechanics all stand to gain from greater advances in communication, information and awareness capabilities”.

“It is clear that technology plays a key role in addressing the challenges of an era where the numbers of soldiers are limited but greater demands are placed upon them. We are constantly looking at ways to enhance the capabilities of soldiers through technology as they are the key component of any defence force. Without them, you cannot have an army, and without an army for protection, you cannot have security, peace, stability, and prosperity” Prentice said.

---