Sgt. Joshua Harris launches a pointer UAV, US Army photo by Cpl Benjamin Cossel

This online report by Mark Rutherford of CNET Blog Network that SOCOM is considering the Boeing A-160 Hummingbird in itself is not troubling, but I have great concerns that everyone in command in SOF at or above the rank of O-6 has seemingly his/her own little boutique RDT&E shop (research, development, test and evaluation) The command can simply not have multiple organizations, talking to multiple developers, fielding multiple types, wasting precious personnel chasing down all this stuff. As much as everyone is loathe to give away their flexibility to pursue new and emerging technology, RDT&E has simply got to be consolidated at the SOCOM level, except in very niche cases like underwater systems development which logically should be at the Naval Special Warfare Headquarters.

As SOCOM strains to increase the numbers of SOF personnel while maintaining quality, coupled with the continuing demands of deploying forces, we need to examine every process, every personnel drain, and find areas where the components and Hq. can logically pool their resources and achieve some efficiencies.  I know this is an anathema to folks that think everyone should be able to take their O+M money down to the trade show, whether that be the gun show, the boat show, or the UAV show, but it’s time for SOCOM to stand up, lay down the law, and say if you violate this, you will be relieved, that simple.

In that vein, I propose SOCOM establish a healthy RDT&E cell at Cannon AFB in Clovis NM.  I know this is not Tampa, Coronado, Hurbie, or the Center of the Universe (Ft. Bragg) but what better place to put weapons, systems, equipment through their paces than a dry, desert environment at a base soon to be owned by SOF. If this is considered too flat than put the same unit at Kirtland AFB near Albuquerque, which also has the advantage of being the primary AFSOC training location and close to Sandia Labs. Getting these people away from the flagpole also allows them to focus on supporting the folks forward, not giving PowerPoint briefings to staff weenies.