The US military is gradually modernizing personnel management on the battlefield with a new software called Guardian, which helps track soldiers in real time instead of relying on manual spreadsheets and reports as before.
The Guardian software was first deployed on a large scale in the African Lion 2026 (AL 26) exercise, one of the largest multinational military operations led by the US.
This system is designed to display the position and state of forces over a large area, thereby supporting commanders to make decisions faster and more accurately.
Unlike traditional methods that depend on manual data aggregation, Guardian automates the entire process of collecting and processing information.
The system integrates many different input data sources to build an overall picture of the position and movement of soldiers on the battlefield. Thanks to that, commanders can grasp the situation almost in real time.
According to Major Lisa Rousseau of the US Army, the test at AL 26 provides an opportunity to assess the system in real conditions on a large scale, including allies and civilian partners.
This is especially important when many participants do not use the same identification system or access card.
One of the highlights of Guardian is its ability to quickly update data. The system can provide aggregated information about personnel positions in just about 30 seconds, significantly shortening response time compared to before.
This is considered a key factor in modern combat environments, where the speed and accuracy of information can directly affect task results.
However, Guardian is still in the initial development phase. The AL 26 exercise is considered a test step to assess feasibility, while identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
The collected data will be the basis for this force to continue to improve software in the future.
We are learning in real time and continuously perfecting the system every day," Major Lisa Rousseau said, adding that the long-term goal is to build a tool that is flexible enough to operate effectively in many different complex environments.
