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Army Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art 6.8 mm Ammunition Production Facility

Friday, February 14th, 2025

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri – The U.S. Army’s Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, along with the Joint Munitions Command, officially broke ground on a new 6.8 mm ammunition production facility in support of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The 6.8 mm family of ammunition, set to be produced at the new facility, will play a vital role in advancing the Army’s modernization priorities.

Developed collaboratively by the JPEO A&A, the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Armaments Center, and the Army Research Laboratory, the 6.8 mm family of ammunition is specifically engineered to maximize the performance of the XM7 Rifle and the XM250 Automatic Rifle. When fired through these Next Generation Squad Weapons, 6.8 mm rounds deliver increased range, improved accuracy, and enhanced lethality, ensuring Soldiers maintain overmatch on the battlefield.

“It is not lost on me that victory on the battlefield begins in our production facilities,” said Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition. “Lake City has been central to our nation’s ammunition production since 1941, and this new facility builds on that proud and historic legacy.”

The cutting-edge facility, which will be operated by Olin Winchester, is the culmination of an 18-month design process led by JPEO A&A with support from a diverse team of U.S. government and commercial contractors.

Spanning 450,000 square feet, the facility will feature modern manufacturing systems capable of producing all components of 6.8 mm ammunition. This includes cartridge case and projectile manufacturing, energetic operations for loading and charging ammunition, product packaging, process quality controls, testing laboratories, maintenance operations and administrative areas.

With 90% of the work supported by industries in the Kansas City region and nearly 50 local businesses involved in the construction, the new facility will strengthen the defense industrial base, create well-paying jobs, and will drive economic growth in the local community.

Once operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 385 million cases, 490 million projectiles and 385 million load-assemble-pack operations for 6.8 mm ammunition. This enhanced capacity will significantly bolster U.S. munitions production, ensuring the Army maintains its readiness and ability to serve as a credible deterrent to would-be adversaries.

JPEO A&A and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command Armaments Center are headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Together, they play a critical role in developing, procuring and fielding cutting-edge armaments and ammunition, ensuring the readiness and modernization of the U.S. Army and its international partners.

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Renames Fort Liberty to Fort Roland L. Bragg

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

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While flying aboard a C-17 from Joint Base Andrews to Stuttgart on February 10, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum renaming Fort Liberty in North Carolina to Fort Roland L. Bragg. The new name pays tribute to PFC Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero who earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his exceptional courage during the Battle of the Bulge. This change underscores the installation’s legacy of recognizing those who have demonstrated extraordinary service and sacrifice for the nation.

By John Ullyot, DOD Press Secretary

Army G-9, Team Bliss Open DOD’s first 3D-Printed Barracks

Friday, February 7th, 2025

FORT BLISS, Texas — The “Home of America’s Tank Division” now houses the Defense Department’s first 3D-printed barracks.

Lt. Gen. David Wilson, deputy Army chief of staff, G-9 (Installations), and Sgt. Maj. Michael Perry, his senior enlisted adviser, joined 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Garrison leaders for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 29, 2025.

The facilities on West Bliss are one of two new sites at Fort Bliss featuring this innovative military infrastructure. They are the first 3D-printed structures to comply with the Defense Department’s updated Unified Facilities Criteria, a mandate updated annually that provides construction guidance DOD-wide and now reflects standards for additive manufacturing, or 3D-printed, facilities.

According to ICON, an Austin, Texas, company that spearheaded the project, the buildings each encompass 5,700 square feet. When construction began in 2024, these barracks were the largest planned 3D-printed structures in the Western Hemisphere.

In total, three buildings were opened at Fort Bliss: two in the Pershing Heights area and one at Camp McGregor on the Fort Bliss Training Complex in New Mexico.

The project was completed with assistance from the Fort Bliss Garrison Directorate of Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who were essential in ensuring the safety certifications of these privately built structures.

The newly opened facilities will initially house troops deploying to Fort Bliss in support of the installation’s Mobilization Force Generation Installation mission. Fort Bliss processes and trains approximately 70,000 service members annually, with support from Army Reserve and National Guard units that deploy to Fort Bliss for annual rotations.

The new barracks at Fort Bliss can house up to 56 Soldiers per building. The Pershing Heights facilities will be first used by the 382nd Military Police Detachment, an Army Reserve unit from Massachusetts, which will be heading to Fort Bliss in support of the MFGI mission.

The 3D-printing, or additive manufacturing, process begins with designing the facility using computer-aided design (CAD) software. The barracks design was then virtually sliced into horizontal layers and vertically rejoined.

The barracks were built with ICON’s Vulcan printer, a five-ton, gantry-style 3D printer that stands almost 16 feet tall and 47 feet wide. The machine uses a proprietary concrete-based material called Lavacrete, which can be tailored to local environmental conditions, including humidity and temperature, ensuring optimal performance and aesthetic appeal.

Wilson served with the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss from 2008 to 2010 as the 121st Brigade Support Battalion commander shortly after the division moved its headquarters from Ansbach, Germany, to El Paso, Texas.

He recalled the borderland as “one of the warmest and most welcoming communities I had ever been a part of in my 38 years of service, both as an enlisted Soldier and a commissioned officer.”

The Army G-9 oversees Army housing, military construction and infrastructure investment, child care, energy and water security, resilience and sustainability, installation environmental management and stewardship, and other installation-related concerns.

“The great senator Robert Francis Kennedy once said, ‘Do not look at things and wonder why, dream new ideas and say ‘why not?’” Wilson said. “We’re here today because many people dreamed of new ideas and said ‘why not,’ and that’s why we’re delivering this state-of-the-art facility to the Army today.

“Fort Bliss is not only a military installation; it’s a cornerstone of our nation’s defense and a symbol of resilience, strength, and enduring commitment to our nation—a place of growth and transformation. This post has evolved with the times, embracing new technologies, new strategies, and new ways of serving our country,” he said. “So, it’s fitting that we gather here today to open new barracks that embody the same spirit of evolution and progress.”

By David Poe

Arctic Angels Rehearse MEDEVAC Operations Ahead of JPMRC

Wednesday, February 5th, 2025

FORT GREELY, Alaska — On a frigid early morning along the Alaskan frontier, the 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Arctic Aviation Command — both of the 11th Airborne Division, — conducted a medical evacuation rehearsal ahead of Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 25-02, near Delta Junction, Alaska, Jan. 18, 2025.

The MEDEVAC rehearsal comes only days before the start of JPMRC 25-02, the Army’s newest Combat Training Center, focusing on large scale combat operations in remote and extreme Arctic winter conditions, where the ability to reach and treat casualties is key.

“Rehearsal is very important,” said 2nd Lt. Allen Sanchez, a platoon leader assigned to Charlie Company, 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. “We have to practice our skills because, at the end of the day, we have to be prepared for things that may change in real-life situations.”

The Donnelly Training Area and its extreme cold temperatures, high winds and ever-changing conditions presents challenges, but learning to operate in that environment is vital for building soldiers that live up to the division’s motto: Arctic tough.

“This rehearsal is essential because we are in an Arctic environment, where resources are limited,” said Spc. Brandon Martinez Segura, a combat medic assigned to Charlie Company, 25th BSB, 1st IBCT, 11th Airborne Division. “So we need to practice getting all casualties out of this environment and to safety.”

With mere hours of daylight during the winter months, rehearsing in darkness is nearly unavoidable, but is critical to ensuring combat medics are prepared to treat any injury, no matter the conditions.

“It is crucial that we practice how to properly aid a patient in the cover of night; we hope to gain experience and learn from our mistakes,” Sanchez said.

By PFC Makenna Tilton, 27th Public Affairs Detachement

Army Scientists Develop New Battery Treatment Process

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025

ADELPHI, Md. — U.S. Army scientists have developed a new surface treatment that could lead to more efficient and longer-lasting batteries for military applications.

The team at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory, known as DEVCOM ARL, created a process that treats multivalent metal electrodes with an acidic solution, creating an ultra-thin protective layer that improves overall battery performance.

“This quick, commercially viable treatment process creates a unique interphase layer that’s thinner than a human hair, yet significantly impacts how rechargeable zinc batteries perform,” said Dr. Travis Pollard, a chemist at DEVCOM ARL. “For Soldiers, this could eventually mean more reliable and longer-lasting power for their essential equipment.”

The research team’s work focuses on next-generation battery technology that goes beyond current lithium-ion capabilities. Their approach includes applying an acidic solution to the battery’s metal electrode, followed by a controlled drying process that creates a specialized thin protective layer.

Potential applications include:

  • Military energy storage systems
  • Portable electronics
  • Electric vehicles
  • Grid-scale energy storage
  • Advanced defense systems
  • Portable power solutions

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published the patent application (20240387882) on Nov. 21, 2024, following the team’s May 21, 2024, filing. The research team includes Drs. Lin Ma, Marshall A. Schroeder, Oleg A. Borodin, Travis P. Pollard and Kang Xu. The technology, as part of a growing portfolio of disclosures related to zinc/multivalent rechargeable batteries, will soon be available for licensing through the Army’s technology transfer program, offering opportunities for commercial development and broader applications beyond military use.

“We don’t just do research here; we try to make sure that our breakthroughs have the widest possible impact,” said AnnMarie Martin, team lead, Technology Transfer. “Through our technology transfer programs, we look for partners in industry, whether it’s big corporations or small startups, to take our ideas and develop them into commercial products.”

Martin said the new battery tech could be used in everything from military equipment to electric cars.

“This is a great way to ensure our taxpayer dollars have the biggest impact,” she said.

For information, visit the lab’s webpage on patent license agreements, or reach out to the laboratory via the contact us page.

By U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs

G-Form and High-Speed Gear Deliver 26,469 SF Wrap Pads to the US Army

Monday, February 3rd, 2025

PROVIDENCE, RI, February 03, 2025 – G-Form®, the leader in innovative technology protection, in collaboration with High-Speed Gear® (HSG), proudly announces the successful delivery of 26,469 pairs of SF Wrap Shoulder and Belt Pads to the U.S. Army.

G-Form, renowned for designing and manufacturing protective gear that integrates SmartFlex™ proprietary technology with Department of Defense (DoD)-specific Berry-compliant advanced materials, delivers unmatched mobility, lethality, and protection to enhance warfighter survivability.

“It’s time to revolutionize how luxury in protection is defined,” said David Jackson, Director of Military Programs at G-Form.

High-Speed Gear, a leader in high-quality tactical gear solutions, played a critical role in the success of the SF Wrap Pads, leveraging its expertise in tactical load carriage.

“The collaboration between HSG and G-Form represents a commitment to delivering products that enhance the comfort, endurance, and effectiveness of our warfighters,” said Allison Mitchum, VP of Sales & Marketing at High-Speed Gear. “This innovation ensures that service members can maintain peak performance with reduced fatigue, allowing them to focus on their mission.”

Product Development & Benefits

The SF Wrap Pads were developed following insights from the 2022 Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE), where prototypes received overwhelmingly positive feedback from soldiers. The pads:

• Enhance comfort by reducing energy transfer from plate carriers or rucks to the user

• Feature a 1/4” thin profile, preventing interference with cheek welds during weapon deployment

• Offer cable management with two strapping locations

• Dissipate heat and reduce unnecessary friction

• Provide versatile applications, from over-the-shoulder straps to battle belts, with or without Velcro inner belts

The SF Wrap Pads officially launched with High-Speed Gear in February 2024 and are available for purchase at www.highspeedgear.com.

Product Description

The HSG SF Wrap Pads feature SmartFlex™ non-Newtonian impact solution, which attenuates shock and reduces fatigue by dampening energy transfer. Their versatile design allows for:

• Wide configuration for maximum surface area on large backpack straps

• Slim configuration for minimal bulk on shoulder straps

• Compatibility with most plate carrier shoulder straps, belts, and weapon slings

• Customizable fit, as the material can be trimmed with scissors

• Set of two shipped with One Wrap straps

Part Number: 95SF00OD

For More Information

Sales Inquiries: sales@highspeedgear.com

Strategic Partnerships: strategicpartners@g-form.com

US Army Updates FM 1-102.2 Military Symbols

Wednesday, January 29th, 2025

If you’ve wondered what all of those squiggly lines are on a military map are, then this is guide for you. FM 1-02.2, Military Symbols, constitutes approved Army military symbols for general use to depict land operations. The principal audience for FM 1-02.2 is all members of the profession of arms.

FM 1-02.2 is organized in seven chapters:

Chapter 1 introduces military symbol fundamentals.

Chapters 2 through 4 provide symbols for units, organizations, equipment, installations, and activities.

Chapter 5 introduces control measure and operation symbols.

Chapter 6 discusses tactical mission tasks.

Chapter 7 discusses the course of action sketch.

These chapters provide detailed requirements for composing and constructing military symbols. The rules for building a set of military symbols allow enough flexibility for users to create any symbol to meet their operational needs. All military symbols construct standards are governed by MIL-STD 2525E, and this publication serves as the compendium of land related military symbols used in U.S. Army doctrine and training manuals.

Above is a summary of new symbols added or modified since the last edition.

Get your copy here.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Monday, January 27th, 2025

This video, produced by US Army Special Operations Command, features remarks presented by Command Sergeant Major Dave Waldo at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare and School Regimental First Formation on September 19th, 2024.

It is a charge for our newest generation, just now coming of age, to be more, to be better than even those of the Greatest Generation. We need you now, more than ever.

Take up the challenge join those who came before you, so that this nation will not perish from the earth.

The message is powerful. Share it.

If this video won’t show for you from the embed, go here.