At Fort Drum, the 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade recently hosted an Innovative Technology Symposium to discuss how the Army is using technology to enhance its warfighting capabilities. The symposium aimed to introduce new technology to the military base and demonstrate how Fort Drum can collaborate with other agencies to provide soldiers with access to this technology.
One of the significant focuses of the symposium was the Pathfinder program, which partners with academia or utilizes DIRT labs to conduct research and find solutions to problems identified by soldiers at the tactical level. Cody Clevenger, the Pathfinder program manager, highlighted that soldier feedback played a crucial role in developing a prototype that enhanced operational functionality and weight distribution in assistant gunner bags.
The Army is establishing the Mountain Innovation Systems Integration Lab at Fort Drum, which is expected to be operational by late summer. This lab will serve as a platform for soldiers to propose innovative solutions to challenges encountered during training or deployments. Maj. Michael Fitzgerald, the 10th Mountain Division G-3 knowledge management officer, mentioned that initially, the lab will focus on projects that support alpine planning efforts.
During the recent Mountain Peak exercise, soldiers received training on the TRV-150 Tactical Resupply Vehicle and tested its capabilities in hazardous areas. The TRV-150 can reach speeds of up to 60 mph and transport 150 pounds of cargo in these environments. A Civil-Military Innovation Institute Team will further evaluate the TRV-150 during the upcoming 1st Brigade Combat Team’s Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
Overall, the Innovative Technology Symposium at Fort Drum provided a platform for soldiers to contribute to developing cutting-edge technologies aimed at enhancing military operations and capabilities.
