Army News Service (July 26, 2007): new surveillance camera minimizes danger in Iraq.

Fort Belvoir, Va. -- A new surveillance system that minimizes soldiers' exposure to harm while providing continual observation in operating areas has been fielded in Iraq after just three weeks of design and manufacturing.

The Army's Rapid Equipping Force developed the Rapid Deployment Integrated Surveillance System, or RDISS, to improve situational awareness for soldiers at joint security stations and combat outposts throughout Iraq.

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"There are a lot of areas, especially obscured areas, around the combat outposts, and we needed a way to cut down on exposing the troops to this broad danger," said Sgt. 1 st Class Mark Henderson, REF operations noncommissioned officer.

The REF partnered with Exponent Inc., an engineering and scientific consulting firm, to develop the RDISS, which can be installed quickly and with minimal training.

"In this environment, where a potential sniper lurks around every corner, having the capability to maintain persistent surveillance while minimizing the risk to the soldiers is a must," said Lt. Col. Daniel Shea, REF team leader in Iraq.

REF staff trained more than 100 soldiers, Marines, and civilians from 20 brigades in the last two months to install, troubleshoot, and maintain the system.

"It's a very simple system to install and monitor yet the benefits are priceless. I know of a few occasions in which using RDISS has averted dangerous situations downrange. It's already proven its worth," Shea said.

REF plans to deploy hundreds of systems to Iraq and Afghanistan by year's end.

"RDISS is a definitive asset when it comes to persistent surveillance, and as long as joint security stations and combat outposts remain targets of opportunity for enemy forces, RDISS will be there to help the soldiers," Shea said.

Rapid Equipping Force