Army Acquisition Terms Explained

[Richard]

We could've used this one years ago...;)

Richard :munchin

NEW - Different shade of olive drab/desert tan from previous design.

ALL NEW - Parts are not interchangeable with any previous design...ever.

EXCLUSIVE - Imported product for USSOCOM use only.

UNMATCHED - Almost as good as the one purchased by the Navy or Air Force.

FOOLPROOF OPERATION - No provision for adjustments and never tested by a PFC actually using it in the field.

ADVANCED DESIGN - The acquisition agency doesn't understand it but it sure looks 'cool.'

IT'S HERE AT LAST - Rush job. Nobody knew it was coming.

FIELD TESTED - Manufacturer lacks test equipment.

HIGH ACCURACY - Unit on which all parts fit.

FUTURISTIC - No other reason why it looks the way it does.

REDESIGNED - Previous flaws fixed...we hope.

DIRECT PURCHASE AUTHORIZED - Manufacturer had a big argument with DARPA over costs of distribution to the field; you want it, you pay the shipping from your O&M account.

YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT - We finally got one to work...so be careful with it.

BREAKTHROUGH - We finally figured out a use for it even though we're still not quite sure what to call it.

MAINTENANCE FREE - Impossible to fix.

MEETS ALL STANDARDS - DARPA's, not yours.

SOLID-STATE - Heavy as anything; not a problem for the Navy and Air Force because they have big ships and airplanes to haul the damn thing around.

HIGH RELIABILITY - We got it work long enough to get some pissed-off LTC working an out-of-branch assignment at DARPA to sign off on it and ship it.

[Slantwire]

MEETS ALL STANDARDS - DARPA's, not yours.

Oh, so true.

[lksteve]

This reminds me of the guy from Natick showing me a three-season nylon dome camping tent that they were going to issue my scout platoon in Alaska...I asked him what the candle was for...he said psychological warmth...I asked him if he'd ever slept outside in -40°F weather...he looked at me like I'd just stepped down out of a flying saucer...then he told me it never got that cold in Alaska...:rolleyes:

[Richard]

I asked him if he'd ever slept outside in -40°F weather...he looked at me like I'd just stepped down out of a flying saucer...then he told me it never got that cold in Alaska...

LOLOLOL - I was glad I had the Norwegian double-down bag I had acquired when in Bad Tolz for that Jan-Feb we were North of the Alaskan Range and the temps would rise to a -25 during the day...and then drop again at night. :rolleyes:

Richard :munchin

[lksteve]

LOLOLOL - I was glad I had the Norwegian double-down bag I had acquired when in Bad Tolz for that Jan-Feb we were North of the Alaskan Range and the temps would rise to a -25 during the day...and then drop again at night. during Arctic Warrior '89 (Which was the successor to Jack Frost and Brim Frost), the ambient temperature never got above minus 50°F on the Tanana Flats...the low at one point hit -78°F at the TOC...I told the Scouts to take two of the ten man hex tents and to try the little nylon tents...they basically fell apart in the cold...

[Richard]

We were lucky - never got below -40 for us. :D

Richard :munchin