AUSTIN, Texas – “Our Soldiers, with our systems, must get accustomed to being constantly modernized,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Todd III, Deputy Commanding General for Acquisition and Systems and Chief Innovation Officer at U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC).

Todd spoke about the importance of persistent modernization – which is intentionally designed to take place “now and often” – to a full audience of defense industry experts and innovators on Wednesday as part of the 2022 NDIA Future Force Capabilities Conference and Exhibition in Austin.

The event, hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association, provided participants an opportunity to learn about new developments in future-focused defense capabilities while also engaging with fellow defense professionals.

Todd’s keynote address highlighted the Army’s work to increase speed, range and convergence on the future battlefield, including by expertly harnessing and incorporating rapidly evolving warfighting technologies.

“We love to get after what’s next – constantly,” Todd said.

AFC, headquartered in Austin, surveys, develops and validates integrated concepts, models, simulations and technologies in order to steer future Army investments and ideas, Todd explained.

The command additionally serves as “lead trail boss” for multiple signature modernization efforts, furthering achievements through research, analysis and synchronization conducted by its Futures and Concepts Center, Combat Capabilities Development Command and Cross-Functional Teams, among other organizations.

“We are the operational architect,” Todd said, noting AFC coordinates closely with other Army commands and with the Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and other partners to advance Army tools and systems.

Underpinning these activities, Army Futures Command leverages artificial intelligence, autonomy, sensors, robotics, synthetic biology, materials by design, additive manufacturing and other nascent technologies.

Exploration of human-machine teaming, which enables operational advantages on the ground and in the air by deliberately pairing human adaptability and intuition with machine speed and precision, is also proving integral to Army modernization.

“Let humans be good at what humans are good at; let robots be good at what robots are good at,” Todd asserted.

Meeting future warfighting demands, including the rigors of Multi-Domain Operations and the necessity of Joint interoperability, requires the active participation of industry, which is why events such as the NDIA-hosted conference function as productive platforms for information sharing and idea generation.

“We can no longer afford to be episodic; we have to be persistent,” Todd reiterated to audience members.

“Without you, we can’t achieve this.”

By Maureena Thompson, Army Futures Command

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers conducted combat water survival and swift water rescue training in the Fox River on Sept. 10.

The rigorous training prepared the Soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, to answer the call to aid in domestic operations whenever needed.

The event was the company’s first large-scale home station training with all Soldiers back together after many deployments and state missions over the past few years.

While on the water, Soldiers learned how to use a Zodiac watercraft and right it when capsized. They also trained to rescue people from a debris field in swift-moving water and identify and treat the victim’s injuries.

The Soldiers performed combat water survival training by treading water in full uniform, including combat boots, for five minutes, swimming 25 meters in full uniform and with a rifle.

“It is great to get back into the community where the National Guard belongs,” said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Hensen, readiness noncommissioned officer and platoon sergeant with Company A. “And to be hosting a domestic operations training event that prepares the Soldiers to use the equipment they could be using in a natural disaster so that we can remain true to our mission to serve our neighbors and the people of Wisconsin.”

Spc. Shane Kieslich received a challenge coin from Brig. Gen. Matthew Strub, Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for Army, for his efforts during the training.

“Command has been trying to switch things up and get us training we haven’t done before,” Kieslich said. “I’m not the best swimmer, so it was a little bit of a struggle, but I thought it was great and I think it really boosts the morale of the Soldiers in the unit.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Georgett Hall, senior enlisted advisor to Wisconsin’s adjutant general, shared that sentiment.

“Not only is this great training for their mission, but it’s also great for morale and retaining Soldiers because there are not a lot of units in the state doing events like this,” Hall said.

Strub said the event was about overcoming adversity and fear and forming a stronger bond as a unit.

“Having competition and building that camaraderie in small teams helps a team to gel and work together,” Strub said. “And then no matter what task they are given in the future, they are able to attack it that much better.”

By SSG Kati Volkman, Wisconsin National Guard

SSG Alice Ripberger contributed to this story.