As a long-distance bike rider, I know that
the lighter my bike is the faster and further I can go without getting
fatigued. When you're riding 100+ miles in a day, every ounce counts.
You must be efficient with your energy if you are to endure the
distance. Long ago, before I did cycling, I was a competitive runner,
and the weight of your shoes in a marathon makes all the difference. Now
then, the same thing is true if you are a foot soldier and you have to
carry your gear into battle. Okay so, let's talk about this for a moment
shall we?
Soldiers must carry their weapons, ammunition, protective gear, night vision systems, and their communication. They also have things which are electronic to help them, and they have to carry the batteries too. One of the challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan was carrying the extra 60 pounds. I can't imagine finishing a marathon with 60 extra pounds or putting 60 extra pounds on my bicycle and going for that hundred plus mile ride. Nevertheless our soldiers do that, and that's a lot of extra weight.
There was an interesting article in Military and Aerospace Electronics News "Designing the Perfect Lightweight Antenna," published on June 13, 2012 which stated; "Radio communications experts and antenna manufacturers wrestle with the sometimes-conflicting requirements of size, efficiency, bandwidth, and cost as they design the voice and data battlefield communication."
Indeed, every ounce counts while trying to maintain fluidity, agility, and stamina especially in hostile heat environments when fatigue is omnipresent. Some may say it is too costly to spend money on all these lighter materials, but I disagree. Every time you can make a piece of equipment for our soldiers lighter, they can do their jobs better, and with fewer casualties. They can work harder, longer, and have greater endurance in their movements.
Having lighter weight antennas with better designs makes them less cumbersome and no longer a hassle to tote around. After my brother got back from Iraq, he was in the US Marine Corps - he explained the hostile heat and environment. He also explained how hard it was to carry all the gear, and what a workout it was in the process. Imagine doing that day in and day out through your entire tour.
We owe a lot to our soldiers and military, and they should always have the best and latest equipment. This helps them do their job better, and come home alive. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Soldiers must carry their weapons, ammunition, protective gear, night vision systems, and their communication. They also have things which are electronic to help them, and they have to carry the batteries too. One of the challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan was carrying the extra 60 pounds. I can't imagine finishing a marathon with 60 extra pounds or putting 60 extra pounds on my bicycle and going for that hundred plus mile ride. Nevertheless our soldiers do that, and that's a lot of extra weight.
There was an interesting article in Military and Aerospace Electronics News "Designing the Perfect Lightweight Antenna," published on June 13, 2012 which stated; "Radio communications experts and antenna manufacturers wrestle with the sometimes-conflicting requirements of size, efficiency, bandwidth, and cost as they design the voice and data battlefield communication."
Indeed, every ounce counts while trying to maintain fluidity, agility, and stamina especially in hostile heat environments when fatigue is omnipresent. Some may say it is too costly to spend money on all these lighter materials, but I disagree. Every time you can make a piece of equipment for our soldiers lighter, they can do their jobs better, and with fewer casualties. They can work harder, longer, and have greater endurance in their movements.
Having lighter weight antennas with better designs makes them less cumbersome and no longer a hassle to tote around. After my brother got back from Iraq, he was in the US Marine Corps - he explained the hostile heat and environment. He also explained how hard it was to carry all the gear, and what a workout it was in the process. Imagine doing that day in and day out through your entire tour.
We owe a lot to our soldiers and military, and they should always have the best and latest equipment. This helps them do their job better, and come home alive. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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