In Iraq and elsewhere, information technology is a big part of today's combat-soldiers now fight in traditional battles and in battles waged on networks.

Our soldiers must be ready to maneuver network assets throughout the battlespace in real time, and they must be able to wield this IT to support a joint force commander. To succeed, commanders and soldiers must have a full suite of network capabilities-in garrison, en route to destination and when deployed.

Our way of fighting war today is as part of a joint force and, frequently, as part of a coalition. Interoperability exists today at the network level and extends through space-based and terrestrial transmission systems. All new systems must have joint interoperability and enable network interdependencies.

The Army has been working arm-in-arm with its sister services to develop the network elements of the Defense Department's Global Information Grid. We have migrated to commercial standards and Web technologies to further strengthen interoperability across joint, interagency and multinational environments. At the Army, we've nearly completed the migration to an IP-based network as part of the larger joint Defense network, and we're moving to IP Version 6 for a more efficient and interoperable network.

Today, all of DOD is moving to converged IP, merging voice, data and video services. The result is faster, more efficient bandwidth use, a smaller footprint and a reduction in the number of people needed to operate the equipment. The Joint Communications Support Element at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., led the way with its everything-over-IP approach. This Joint Forces Command unit has proven that it is possible. More than that, convergence is a combat multiplier: It eliminates a lot of the rigidity of our legacy systems. It's scalable, flexible and cost-efficient. You get more bandwidth out of the same pipe.

But replacing a circuit-based world is complex. To get there, the Army is going from its old Mobile Subscriber Equipment to IP-based Joint Network Nodes (JNNs). We're simultaneously fielding the DOD Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T), Joint Tactical Radio System, Transformational Communications System, GIG-Bandwidth Expansion and Net-Centric Enterprise Services. The Army is rapidly providing available capabilities of the WIN-T program to soldiers through the Joint Network Transport Capability-Spiral initiative. These programs-along with the Army's Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program-will make it possible to support deployed forces from foxhole to home station.

Over the past year, the Army deployed JNNs to the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Division, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain) and the 4th Infantry Division. Currently, with the increased communications range and using significantly fewer signal assets, the 101st is able to cover an area of operations in Iraq that has doubled since its arrival. As the Army reshapes its signal units, each unit receives new satellite capability. The task for new brigade combat teams (BCTs) is to go anywhere in the world and operate in a joint environment without special or additional command, control, communications, computers and intelligence capabilities.

The BCTs and the new IT capability require soldiers with the right technical skills. As we modernize equipment, we are also dramatically upgrading our Signal School and training programs at Fort Gordon, Ga. Over the past year, we have spent $25 million to improve signal training and facilities.

We are fighting a war against an adversary fueled by an ideology of intractable hate. The war is going to endure. You and I-and our children-are going to be involved in it for many years at some level. Now is our opportunity to build the network right. Ultimately, as a nation, we must look at total cost of ownership and build something we can afford to sustain in the out years.

Lt. Gen. Steven W. Boutelle is CIO for the Army.

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