2

Applications at the Edge:Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications (CSDA)

BACKGROUND

In September 2009, the Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center and the Army Chief

Information Officer/G6 initiated the Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications (CSDA) effort. CSDA is an

initiative to enable the use of mobile applications and devices for Soldiers both ‘at the tactical edge’ and ‘at

the point of learning. After initial exploratory efforts, the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)

transitioned the CSDA lead to the and the Mission Command Center of Excellence (MC CoE) in March 2011.

CSDA TODAY

The CSDA initiative seeks to create Mobile Computing Environments (MCE) that improve Warfighter

training and education “at the point of learning” and provides rapid and reliable access to relevant

operational information “at the tactical edge.” These mobile environments include the necessary computing

environment (e.g. devices, networks) and the necessary policy and governance to allow widespread use of

devices and applications and enable soldier innovation. For example, CSDA will enable the Army Learning

Concept 2015 and Army Doctrine 2015 to provide Soldiers information at the point of need.

FOCUS AREAS

1. Device/Network Access : Develop the MCE and the specific mobile capabilities in coordination with

NSA, DoD CIO, DA CIO/G6, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and

Technology (ASA(ALT)) and PEO Soldier.

2. The Army Marketplace: Coordinate with the DA CIO/G6 to develop a functional Army Apps

Marketplace.

3. TRADOC Policy : Synchronize application development, validation and management and mobile

device management in coordination with TRADOC G 3/5/7, TRADOC Capabilities Manager-

Distributed Learning, and DA CIO/G6.

4. Apps Development : Continue Apps development and FY 12 Pilot programs.

5. MCE :

a. The first MCE encompasses a wide audience (Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, DA

Contractors, Retirees, Family Members, and recruits). The concept is to allow this audience to

access unclassified, public releasable information using their personal Mobile Electronic Device

such as a smartphone or tablet. Example Apps include the Army News Feed or an MWR Map.

b. The second MCE targets a more restrictive audience (Soldiers/personnel authorized to access

the restricted .mil (NIPR) network.) The concept is to allow this audience to access Controlled

Unclassified Information (CUI) residing on the .mil network using their personal Mobile Electronic

2

Device such as a smartphone or tablet. The ATN2GO App or the Army Blackboard are

examples.

c. The third MCE focuses on an audience who accesses Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

on .mil (NIPR) network. However, under this category, the user is provided an Army approved

and issued Mobile Electronic Device which is centrally managed by local Army personnel. This

effort is similar to the current Army Blackberry policy.

d. The fourth MCE includes Soldiers who operate in a tactical environment and use an Army issued

device that operates on the classified mission command networks over a deployed mobile

network. A Call for Fire and/or a Blue Force Tracker mobile application are good examples.

PARTNERS

ASA(ALT) and specifically PEO Soldier is the lead integrating organization for the Army in

developing the material solutions required to create the MCE that will enable the use of a suite of approved

mobile devices operating over multiple networks. By executing the handheld collapse strategy and

synchronizing the efforts of multiple Programs of Record, to include the JBC-P Handheld and Nett Warrior,

the intent to is to field a single end user device to eight Brigade Combat Teams in FY13 with further

refinement and expansion of fielding in FY14 and beyond.

CSDA coordinates across other DoD and DA organizations in writing and publishing Army policy

associated with the MCE and the certification required for each App and mobile electronic devices to access

Army networks. CSDA also coordinates the development of the governance and management of the future

site for the Army Marketplace.

SUMMARY

CSDA continues to coordinate across organizations to address DOTMLPF considerations

associated with creating the environments necessary to enable mobile capabilities associated with CSDA.

TRADOC continues to move forward in the development of various applications that will benefit Soldiers

through training and leader development. The CSDA initiative will fundamentally change how Soldiers

access information in both garrison and operational environments.