Army's analysts provide lessons learned

WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Center for Army Lessons Learned uses information gleaned for its L2I network to provide insight on operations across a range of combat theaters.

L2I uses civilian and military analysts embedded with military units in a variety of theaters from Iraq to the Philippines to collect combat data for analysis for future operations, the American Forces Press Service said Thursday.

Analysts accompany military forces on patrols to identify potential pitfalls in their operations to future lessons learned.

"We've put together a network of people that are supported by processes and technology," said Army Col. Steven Mains, director of the Center for Army Lessons Learned. "And those people are out at … every unit, both deployed and not deployed, as well as all of the Army centers and schools."

The embeds coordinate with command personnel to collect information on a range of operational details, from new military techniques to vehicle modifications.

Mains said his center publishes around 125 documents a year based in part on the L2I information, including military handbooks and operational newsletters.