Category Archives: Science and Technology

Game. Mission set. Overmatch. War game introduces early synthetic prototyping, which enables the Army to explore thousands more ideas than what is possible today before acquiring new capabilities. by Dr. Robert E. Smith and Maj. J. Peter Barnhart A group of cadets has some rare downtime, and they log into their favorite war-themed video game. The team has to capture a watch-list terrorist in a 40-story high-rise building in Mumbai, India. It’s rainy season in the game, meaning that sometimes the streets flood en route from the edge of town. After everyone logs in, the team receives a virtual budget and must first choose its base vehicle from three options: […]

Reserve Component Automation Systems’ Agile Solution Factory derives maximum benefit from software development methodology to modernize effectively, fast and securely. by Mr. Stephen P. O’Brian and Ms. Angela D. Green-Mack The term agile in software development has become another information technology buzzword, like cloud. Many programs say they are doing Agile, but are they? What does it mean to be Agile enough to realize all the targeted benefits? Agile is a software development methodology and culture designed to anticipate the need for flexibility and apply a degree of practicality to delivery of the finished product. It focuses on delivering discrete pieces or parts of the software rather than an all-or-nothing […]

Army medicine stands up Medical Devices Modernization Directorate. by Mr. Doug Wright The Army’s modernization strategy has one focus: Make Soldiers and units more lethal to win our nation’s wars and come home safely. Lethality is important, but so is survival. That’s why medical equipment modernization is just as critical as the modernization of other Army resources. WHAT CHANGED? The way the Army delivers medical care on the battlefield is dramatically different than it was 100 years ago, or even 10 years ago. Every war or conflict offers lessons that improve lifesaving medical care on the front lines, which is why the survival rate for injured warfighters is higher than […]

USAMRMC’s Combat Casualty Care Research Program pursues evolving medicine for an evolving battlefield. by Col. Michael R. Davis, Lt. Col. David S. Johnston and Mr. Ramin A. Khalili It wasn’t that long ago when the concept of the future—this time beyond time, this collection of years on the horizon somewhere—was just that, a simple concept. But as we move from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) onto a newer and more complex version of the battlefield, the future is beginning to look increasingly familiar—more and more like a direct reflection of the past. Given that a more confined and condensed combat zone will likely be the norm […]

Congressionally directed medical research in areas such as cancer, neurological disorders, traumatic injuries and rehabilitative medicine traces its roots to breast cancer advocacy work launched more than a quarter-century ago. by Ms. Erin Bolling The many voices echoed off the historical buildings throughout the streets of Washington, carrying a message of hope and demanding change. While this scene is one that resonates today, this particular event actually took place more than 25 years ago. In 1992, the National Breast Cancer Coalition set its first priority: Increase federal appropriations for breast cancer research. Frances M. Visco, coalition president, recently recalled the beginning of the movement that eventually resulted in the formation […]

Even cutting-edge and high-tech systems are about people. Gathering Soldier feedback, implementing it quickly and then showing test units the improved product helped PEO C3T get a new expeditionary radio closer to the field. by Ms. Amy Walker As the Army faces potential peer adversaries, it is searching for solutions to reduce traditionally long acquisition timelines and modernize its tactical network more rapidly. In support of this quest, Soldier feedback from Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) 17.2 and user focus groups helped to rapidly refine a tactical line-of-sight radio within 45 days after the event concluded. Once the enhancements were complete, the program office went to Fort Hood, Texas—home to the […]

As CERDEC explores and tests technologies to modernize the command post, the focus is on keeping the commander close to the battle, and the warfighting information close to the commander. by Ms. Lisa Heidelberg and Ms. Kathryn Bailey If the path to overmatch on the modern battlefield had a Facebook status, it would undoubtedly be “it’s complicated.” Commanders on the modern battlefield will face peer and near-peer adversaries employing a combined-arms attack to disrupt both the physical and electronic capabilities of their command posts. Their maneuver operations will span multiple, complex terrains including deserts, jungles, sub-terrains and highly populated cities. At times, these missions will include coordinating with other commanders […]