Tomorrow's warriors need more than bullets

When the idea for this issue's cover story, "Future warriors," came up, my first thought was high-tech weapons. But Doug Beizer's story opened my eyes.The tools of war are more than gunpowder and steel. Much of what he writes about are tools to save and protect lives, not take them.Imagine technologies that can let a soldier see through walls before entering a building or an apartment. They will help protect our soldiers from ambushes and protect innocent people from having their doors kicked in by mistake.The article also discusses the continuing evolution of wireless technologies and the expansion of logistics systems to medical personnel in the field. Again, the idea is to save lives and protect people from harm.In a related story, Last Byte features an interview with John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org. He explains how Moore's Law applies to the battlefield. It's fascinating stuff.Also in this issue, Michael Hardy explores what seems to be an uphill struggle for small businesses looking to join the teams of Networx contract holders. One piece of advice: If you're not on a team yet, be patient; in the long haul, opportunities are likely to open.One stunning statistic in Hardy's story is that the General Services Administration modified the FTS 2001 contract more than 300 times. As technology and needs change, Networx will evolve, which should open opportunities for new businesses to join teams.Be prepared for change.