The future command post must have a physical footprint that is small, trailer mounted and mobile enough to enhance survivability. With improved communication technology, a command post no longer must be a fixed site in order to enable soldiers to connect to a server stack via internet cable to perform their duties. Digital connectivity enables a more mobile command post. Thus, the US Army is moving to a Mobile Command Platform and reducing the need for large fixed, soft skin shelters. Commercial Off the Shelf equipment is now a focus for Army procurement.

A towable shelter system kit should include chairs, tables, whiteboards and monitor, plus an auxiliary generator and is mounted on and interfaced to a HMMWV towable trailer NSN 2330-01-387-5424. Seven systems have been purchased by U.S. Army Command Post Integrated Infrastructure (CPI2) Aberdeen, MD for field trials under the U.S. Army command post modernization program and passed Mil-Std 810G environmental testing at Aberdeen Test and Evaluation Center, MD—enabling deployment in all austere environments.

A suggested procurement number is 8 per BCT in order to meet BN level requirements. Additionally, there should be 2-4 for the BDE level—in lieu of—or in addition to expand vans for the BDE Main. Although the same will be true for DIV TOC/TAC applications--—the initial focus of this capability is for BDE and below. Cost per system is around $200K—depending on procurement channel used.

Recommendation: Procure a fully integrated system that is towable by military vehicles for reliable and flexible support. Commercial prime movers could be used for disaster response missions.