Latest news with #FM1
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Army releases new primer on organization, purpose for leaders
The Army has released a primer for leaders to better understand the Army, how it's organized and their purpose within the ranks. Field Manual 1, 'The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms,' was released in mid-May and is available for download from the Army's website. The slim volume — 10 chapters in 74 pages — was written in plain language and avoids jargon to better communicate the Army's message. 'Focus is on junior leaders — lieutenants and sergeants — with the intent of explaining in clear language what the Army expects of them and what they can expect of the Army,' Rich Creed Jr., director of the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, recently told Army Times. 'It does so with historical vignettes pertaining to leadership during the types of operations junior leaders should be prepared to experience, and an uncomplicated explanation of what makes up the Army and how it is organized.' Beyond those ranks, the book is expected to be a touchstone for leaders as they progress through the ranks. As individuals rise into leadership positions, they can refer to the book to see how it reflects their responsibilities at every level. 'At higher levels of professional military education, you may have a block of time to discuss the material from different perspectives. Rather than learning the material in the book, you might think through, 'How am I taking the material in FM 1 and making it real in my unit?' Or 'How is FM 1 serving as the foundation for how I coach, counsel and mentor?'' Creed said. The primer is a companion piece to Army Doctrine Publication 1, 'The Army,' a denser description of the service written for more experienced individuals. The directorate is shipping print copies of the primer to Cadet Command, Basic Officer Leader Courses and Officer Candidate Schools for the graduating classes of 2025 and 2026, Creed said. But anyone can download an electronic copy from the Army Publication Directorate website. The 10 chapters are divided into three main sections. The first section discusses the importance of a warrior mindset and preparing all soldiers for battle. 'We are all part of a team and need to have certain basic skills and attitudes, regardless of where we happen to serve,' Creed said. 'We do so as a member of the profession of arms, which is different than the ancient idea of warriors fighting as individuals for themselves and personal glory.' The section ends with a discussion on leadership and understanding the responsibilities of being a leader and a good follower. The second section lays out what the Army is for, what the Army does and what it's composed of in terms of organizations and people. The final section discusses soldiers' obligations as members of the joint force and when they operate with allies and partners. It ends with what the Army owes its civilian leadership and fellow American citizens, Creed said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starlink Rival AST SpaceMobile Wants to Launch 243 Giant Satellites by 2028
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. As it seeks to compete with SpaceX's cellular Starlink service, AST SpaceMobile has an ambitious goal—launch 243 more satellites by 2028. AST mentioned the goal in an FCC filing as it tries to secure regulatory clearance to operate the FM1, a prototype satellite slated to launch from India in July. The FM1 is the company's first stab at a second-generation BlueBird satellite, which is designed to beam cellular connectivity to phones on the ground. In March, AST filed for experimental authority with the FCC to start tests with the prototype satellite. On Monday, it provided more details after the FCC told AST its original application was 'incomplete.' One of the new documents shows that AST envisions launching 243 second-generation BlueBirds from now until 2028. Each satellite is designed to operate for up to seven years before it's de-orbited and set on a path to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. The satellites are huge, with a communication antenna spanning 223 square meters. That's about three times larger than AST's first-gen BlueBird satellites, five of which are currently in orbit. The document adds that FM1 has a mass of 5,830 kilograms (nearly 13,000 pounds) — or about 10 times the mass of a V2 Mini Optimized satellite for Starlink. However, future iterations of the second-generation BlueBird satellites will be smaller at 4,210 kilograms, thanks to the 'use of composite material,' the document says. The second-generation BlueBirds have been designed to deploy at about 520 kilometers (323 miles) in altitude before elevating themselves to 700km. The goal of launching 243 more satellites by 2028 is certainly ambitious, but it will be easier said than done. AST plans to use SpaceX's Falcon 9 to launch next-generation BlueBirds and Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. The latter only just conducted its maiden flight in January; the rocket successfully reached orbit, but the first-stage booster botched its landing. The new FCC filing also mentions an FM2 satellite, suggesting the company is preparing another prototype BlueBird. As a result, satellite industry analyst Tim Farrar said: "Looks like the start of a satellite redesign and extended delay." The other issue is that AST still needs FCC clearance to launch and commercially operate its satellite constellation for use in the US. So far, the FCC has deferred on the company's original request to operate an additional 243 satellites. AST has yet to file a follow-up application. AST submitted the documents to the FCC after SpaceX criticized the company's initial proposal for the FM1 satellite, including its plans to prevent the craft from posing a hazard in Earth's orbit. In response, AST submitted a new 'orbit debris assessment report,' which maintains that the company's FM1 and future satellites comply with orbital safety regulations. Despite the new filing, the FCC sent an email to AST on Tuesday, demanding that it resolve several lingering questions and possible inaccuracies and errors in the documentation. Although AST wants to launch 248 satellites, the company has said it only needs 45 to 60 BlueBirds in orbit to start offering continuous satellite connectivity to partners, including AT&T and Verizon.
