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Competitors Show Off Innovative Thinking at HACKtheMACHINE Unmanned

Tuesday, December 14th, 2021

SAN DIEGO – This year’s HACKtheMACHINE Unmanned competition, held Nov. 16-19, virtually brought together nearly 1,000 competitors in the first of a series of public-facing technology challenges designed to accelerate the U.S. Navy’s Unmanned Task Force, forging valuable partnerships between the Navy, industry and academia to create new, high-end unmanned capabilities.

Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this technology competition encouraged creative “hackers” to help meet the needs of the Fleet by developing and integrating unmanned and autonomous systems at scale.

Chief of Naval Research, Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, helped kick off the event, speaking about innovating in the Navy, including the notion of “the small, the agile, the many.” The idea behind that is they look at small, attritable autonomous platforms and build them quickly and at scale, to complement the larger, expensive platforms that form the bulk of the Fleet and Force. For more information about their new vision, read their press release: ONR Chief Unveils New Vision to Reimagine Naval Power.

“The centerpiece of my strategy to reimagine naval power as Chief of Naval Research is built on a few key themes. First, we are living in a time of incredible technological change, and we must meet the moment with bold action. Second, we will introduce the idea of Strategic Hedge against an alternative future. Third, we have a plan to synthesize the most creative and potentially game changing ideas of the last three decades into a plan of action,” said Selby. “Finally, we conclude with a call to action, which all begins with exploring digital challenges at HACKtheMACHINE.”

Although participants competed virtually, event organizers and Navy personnel were on-site in San Diego to oversee and facilitate the competition, which was streamed live via YouTube and StreamYard.

There were three tracks for participants to compete in: Hack the Pilot, Detective Bot and Top Model. Each challenge fell into a different focus area – maritime cyber, data science and digital engineering, respectively – to appeal to a broad range of talents and skill sets. The Navy’s Cybersecurity Office (PMW 130) sponsored and developed the challenges for the Detective Bot track, as a way to pursue artificial intelligence/machine learning (AL/ML) tools that can distinguish benign from malicious code.

PMW 130 provided a dataset with thousands of malicious and benign code samples to see who can take inefficient AI/ML techniques developed with unlimited resources ashore and adapt them to efficient and effective cyber solutions on smaller afloat and autonomous platforms.

“The competitors at this year’s HACKtheMACHINE had to solve some really tough challenges,” said Mike Karlbom, PMW 130 Technical Director of AI/ML. “We were excited to welcome so many different participants, who were able to show off their data science skills and creative thinking in these tracks. This event shows the importance of bringing together smart people, from a variety of backgrounds, to drive innovation and collaboration.”

In the Hack the Pilot track, participants were provided with an auto piloting system and challenged to test and identify all vulnerabilities in the code base.

In the Top Model track, participants were given a set of mission goals and asked to build a simulation scenario of a wide-area search. Then, they created model-based solutions for defined situations within the created model. Finally, they determined whether their created solutions could outperform a heterogeneous collection of objects combatting the scenario.

Also at the event, PMW 130 announced the winner of their third prize challenge in the Artificial Intelligence Applications to Autonomous Cybersecurity (AI ATAC) Challenge series. The winner of the challenge and the $750,000 prize was Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLK), a data platform leader. Their submission, Splunk® SOAR, had the best performance based on the criteria of the challenge, which focused on enhancing the Security Operations Center using AI and/or ML tools to automate the detection and prevention of advanced persistent threats and other cybersecurity campaign activity.

A technology competition run annually by the Navy since 2016, HACKtheMACHINE events have been previously held in five cities nationwide: San Francisco, Austin, Boston, Seattle and New York. This year’s Unmanned challenge took advantage of a virtual setting and focused on AI/ML and digital engineering to accelerate the process of reimagining naval power.

The next HACKtheMACHINE event is scheduled to be conducted live in Miami, Florida in April 2022.

From Lily Chen

Posted in Guest Post, Navy, UAS | Comments Off on Competitors Show Off Innovative Thinking at HACKtheMACHINE Unmanned

SCUBAPRO Sunday – The Palawan Massacre

Sunday, December 12th, 2021

The Palawan massacre occurred on 14 December 1944, during World War II, near the city of Puerto Princesa in the Philippine province of Palawan. The Japanese Imperial Army massacred 139 of 150 American POWs. The Palawan compound was named Camp 10-A by the japanese, and the prisoners were quartered in several unused Filipino constabulary buildings. Food was almost nonexistent; the prisoners received a daily meal of wormy Cambodian rice and a canteen cup of soup made from camote vines boiled in water (camotes are a Philippine variant of sweet potatoes). Prisoners who could not work had their rations cut by 30%.

The Japanese unit in charge of the prisoners and the airfield at Palawan was the 131st Airfield Battalion, it was command of Captain Nagayoshi Kojima, whom the Americans called the Weasel. Lieutenant Sho Yoshiwara commanded the garrison company, and Lieutenant Ryoji Ozawa was in charge of supply. Ozawa’s unit had arrived from Formosa in 1942 and had previously been in Manchuria. There was also a Military police and intelligence unit, called the kempeitai at Palawan, they were feared by anyone who fell into their hands because of their brutal tactics.

In September 1944, 159 of the American POWs at Palawan were returned to Manila. The Japanese estimated that the remaining 150 men could complete the arduous labor on the airfield, hauling and crushing coral gravel by hand and pouring concrete seven days a week. The men also repaired trucks and performed a variety of maintenance tasks in addition to logging and other heavy labor

An attack by a single American Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber on 19 October 1944, sank two enemy ships and damaged several planes at Palawan. More Liberators returned on 28 October and destroyed 60 enemy aircraft on the ground. While American morale in the camp soared, the treatment of the prisoners by the Japanese grew worse, and their rations were cut. After initially refusing the prisoners’ request, the Japanese reluctantly allowed the Americans to paint American Prisoner of War Camp on the roof of their barracks. This gave the prisoners some measure of protection from American air attacks. The Japanese then stowed their supplies under the POW barracks.

On 14 December, Japanese aircraft reported the presence of an American convoy, which was headed for Mindoro, but which the Japanese thought was destined for Palawan. All prisoner work details were recalled to the camp at noon. Two American Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft were sighted, and the POWs were ordered into the air-raid shelters. After a short time, the prisoners re-emerged from their shelters, but Japanese 1st Lt. Yoshikazu Sato, whom the prisoners called the Buzzard, ordered them to stay in the area. A second alarm at 2 p.m. sent the prisoners back into the shelters, where they remained, closely guarded.

Suddenly, in a deliberate and planned move, 50 to 60 Japanese soldiers under Sato’s leadership doused the wooden shelters with buckets of gasoline and set them afire with flaming torches, followed by hand grenades. The screams of the trapped and doomed prisoners mingled with the cheers of the Japanese soldiers and the laughter of their officer, Sato. As men engulfed in flames broke out of their fiery deathtraps, the Japanese guards machine-gunned, bayoneted and clubbed them to death. Most of the Americans never made it out of the trenches and the compound before they were barbarously murdered. Still, several closed with their tormentors in hand-to-hand combat and succeeded in killing a few of the Japanese attackers.

Marine survivor Corporal Rufus Smith described escaping from his shelter as coming up a ladder into Hell. The four American officers in the camp, Lt. Cmdr. Henry Carlisle Knight (U.S. Navy Dental Corps), Captain Fred Brunie, Lieutenant Carl Mango (U.S. Army Medical Corps) and Warrant Officer Glen C. Turner, had their dugout, which the Japanese also doused with gasoline and torched. Mango, his clothes on fire, ran toward the Japanese and pleaded with them to use some sense but was machine-gunned to death.

About 30 to 40 Americans escaped from the massacre area, either through the double-woven, barbed-wire fence or under it, where some secret escape routes had been concealed for use in an emergency. They fell and/ or jumped down the cliff above the beach area, seeking hiding places among the rocks and foliage. Marine Sergeant Douglas Bogue recalled: Maybe 30 or 40 were successful in getting through the fence down to the water’s edge. Of these, several attempted to swim across Puerto Princesa’s bay immediately but were shot in the water. I took refuge in a small crack among the rocks, where I remained, all the time hearing the butchery going on above. They even resorted to using dynamite in forcing some of the men from their shelters. I knew [that] as soon as it was over up above, they would be down probing among the rocks, spotting us and shooting us. The stench of burning flesh was strong. Shortly after this, they were moving in groups among the rocks dragging the Americans out and murdering them as they found them. By the grace of God, I was overlooked.

Eugene Nielsen of the 59th Coast Artillery observed, from his hiding place on the beach, a group of Americans trapped at the base of the cliff. He saw them run-up to the Japs and ask to be shot in the head. The Japs would laugh and shoot or bayonet them in the stomach. When the men cried out for another bullet to end their misery, the Japanese continued to make merry of it all and left them there to suffer. Twelve men were killed in this fashion. Nielson hid for three hours. As the Japanese were kicking American corpses into a hole, Nielson’s partially hidden body was uncovered by an enemy soldier, who yelled to his companions that he had found another dead American. Just then, the Japanese soldiers heard the dinner call and abandoned their murderous pursuit in favor of hot food. Later, as enemy soldiers began to close in on his hiding place, Nielson dived into the bay and swam underwater for some distance. When he surfaced, approximately 20 Japanese were shooting at him. He was hit in the leg, and bullets grazed his head and ribs. Even though he was pushed out to sea by the current, Nielson finally managed to reach the southern shore of the bay.

He was one of 11 prisoners of war who escaped the December 1944 massacre on Palawan Island in the Phillippines, where around 140 soldiers died when the Japanese put them into trenches, dumped gasoline on them and set them on fire. He was later a key witness in the War Crime Trials of 1945.

This biography tells the story of Glenn (“Mac”) McDole, one of eleven young men who escaped and the last man out of Palawan Prison Camp 10A. Beginning on 8 December 1941, at the U.S. Navy Yard barracks at Cavite, the story of this young Iowa Marine continues through the fighting on Corregidor, the capture and imprisonment by the Japanese Imperial Army in May 1942, Mac’s entry into the Palawan prison camp in the Philippines on 12 August 1942, the terrible conditions he and his comrades endured in the camps, and the terrible day when 139 young soldiers were slaughtered. The work details the escapes of the few survivors as they dug into refuse piles, hid in coral caves, and slogged through swamp and jungle to get to supportive Filipinos. It also contains an account and verdicts of the war crimes trials of the Japanese guards, follow-ups on the various places and people referred to in the text, with descriptions of their present situations, and a roster of the names and hometowns of the victims of the Palawan massacre.

www.humanitiestexas.org/news/articles/interview-rufus-w-smith-world-war-ii-pow

SCUBAPRO Sunday is a weekly feature focusing on maritime equipment, operations and history.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, History | 5 Comments »

Primary Focus – Core Differences Between the .223 Wylde and 5.56 NATO

Saturday, December 11th, 2021

What’s the hype about .223 Wylde, and is it worth the money and time?

It’s not so much hype as reality. The .223 Wylde can successfully chamber and fire both the 5.56NATO round and the .223 Remington. The Multi-Cal on your lower receiver explained. Mystery Solved. Case closed – article over.

Unless you want the details…

The 5.56×45 and the .223 Remington aren’t interchangeable. This is mostly because of pressure differences in the SAAMI specification. The load pressure for the 5.56×45 is 62,000 on the specification. The .223 Remington is loaded to a 55,000-psi pressure specification. The dimensions aren’t different, but the tolerances and the chambering dynamics are different.

All things equal, the .223 Remington is held to a tighter set of tolerances in expectation of being loaded into a firearm chambered to enhance accuracy and take advantage of that core tolerance control. The picture below shows 223 Wylde. They typically have a sharper taper from the case down to the bullet.

The 5.56 is held to a less rigorous tolerance specification and is meant to deliver a higher pressure load in its respective chamber.

So again, all things equal, the differences in potential are that the 5.56 is made for a higher pressure scenario and therefore requires a more supported chamber. The .223 Remington is built to a theoretical higher tolerance specification and can potentially be used to deliver better accuracy if given the right conditions.

This is provable in the real world. You see it in ammunition prices (sometimes), and you see it on the target, more often. But the real benefit here is that safety and interchangeability that has been talked about for so long is part of the deliverables of the .223 Wylde.

What’s the point here? Sounds like something you could do safely with a 5.56×45 stamped barrel for years. Yes, in part, but not in totality. A 5.56 chambered barrel, while tough enough to handle anything it can chamber, doesn’t offer the same barrel-specific variables to enhance the accuracy that the .223 chambering will offer to the .223 Remington cartridge.

Similarly, the 5.56×45 cartridge should not be shot out of the .223 Remington chambering/barrel. This is already a higher pressure load. But the concern comes not from the higher pressure load, but the combination of a higher pressure load, and the higher pressure that will be stacked upon it from the fact that the 5.56×45 will be engaging the leade (the transitional part from the front of the chamber into the rifling of the barrel) incorrectly for the pressure specifications.

This means additional pressure will be present, even above and beyond the 62k psi that is part of the loadout.

In a .223 Remington, the leade is built to maximize the tolerance and quality control inherent in the .223 Remington cartridge from the factory. That engagement relies on a shorter space between the chamber and the rifling, where that transition will be too tight of a fit for a 5.56×45 relative to the tighter tolerances of a .223 Remington.

Does this mean your 5.56 will blow up a .223 Remington barrel or chamber? Not necessarily. It may never happen. But it’s a risk you shouldn’t be taking. The risk is real, and there have been accidents and failures, and it is a legitimate situation.

The backstory on the .223 Wylde

To get to the backstory of the .223 Wylde, you might be best served understanding the backstory of the .223 Remington and the 5.56 and how their paths crossed in 1972 when FN (the famous Belgian manufacturer) made a round-based off the .223 Remington for use by NATO that had preferable performance increases over the .223 Remington. This was due mostly to the higher pressure specification – 62,000 psi.

The benefit of increased range and effectiveness made the 5.56 the go-to for wartime and military usage.

The inherent accuracy though was lost from the .223 Remington, as it now had to be chambered in a chamber with different freebore and leade dimensions, which meant that the projectile engagement into the rifling of the bore was looser and not optimized for the .223 Remington.

Bill Wylde decided to modify the dimensions to suit the best attributes of each cartridge in hopes of finding a way to get the best of both worlds from either cartridge in a single barrel suited to handling the intricacies of both cartridges independently or in use together.

The leade and outer dimensions of the 5.56 barrel were used to compensate for pressure and allow for the proper chambering, while the freebore of the original specification for the .223 Remington was used to ensure safe engagement but still support the tendencies of the .223.

The result was improved effectiveness on the accuracy front for the .223 Remington, in a barrel specification that could safely chamber and shoot both cartridges with reliability and the performance that was only slightly lacking over the previous optimized standalone accuracy of the .223.

Basic performance ranges and off the shelf type performance parameters

Each cartridge is going to get similar performance metrics out of the Wylde. It isn’t overly compensating for anything. Where you will see some important performance increases is with the .223 being slightly more accurate than it was having been used out of a true 5.56×45 specification chambering.

It also allows for the higher grain weight and slightly elongated 80-grain projectiles that are popular in National match type events to be shot particularly well from the barrel and therefore gives niche shooters a way to optimize further for longer range more effective projectiles on hand loads or specialty factory loads for longer range targets.

What’s the incremental cost increase and does it pencil out logistically?

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish with your rifle. It’s simultaneously a good way to be sure you get good performance from both cartridges out of a single barrel and to utilize an optimized build to prioritize larger grain weight bullets that are particularly good on long-range targets in competitions.

That is where the market has determined the Wylde should be at this point, and there are enough shooters in that niche or with the desire to play around with the stability and accuracy of the larger grain weight projectiles that the Wylde chambering has become an interesting option to a growing market population.

Only you can decide if the cost of a barrel will ruin the economies of your engagement in the varied aspects of the AR market.

What can you do with a .223 Wylde that you cannot do with other chamberings?

Shoot safely, and extract maximum theoretical precision from any given (safely) chamber-able cartridge from either the 5.56×45 or the .223 Remington. You can also hone down on the optimization for larger grain weight bullets suitable for competition that have a longer overall length.

Some basic optimization considerations for the .223 Wylde

The competition group has become so hyper-focused on tangential optimization strategies that a whole subculture of customization now exists that can cut a freebore by a few thousandths of an inch for a specific chambering to match a specific projectile, and specific Overall Cartridge length projectile included.

The importance to some shooters is so high on these dimensions that they are custom handloading rounds to that given specification in an attempt to wring out the most accuracy from the specific pairing.

While it may seem a bit esoteric, the tangible benefits are evident through data collected by volume shooters of precision builds in competitions like the National Match formats.

In a broader sense, the mainstream adoption of ever more optimized and nuanced parts and components in the AR space allows the consumer to further tailor their modular build to their unique needs, even if that incremental improvement may not be registering in the overall data.

This is not a criticism of the Wylde concept; the people who strive for absolute precision in their components and the variables they build for their style of shooting; or the market for AR component parts.

Rather, this is an exploration of what is possible when a modular platform like the AR can begin to make improvements on an already ridiculously refined set of components to further defy the pundits of the AR market and sell more nuanced and sophisticated elements to a group that likes to test everything.

The Wylde equals the playing field for the .223 Remington, which was made for higher tolerance guns, and the 5.56×45 which was made for cyclic reliability. It melds the best of both worlds to create a space where innovation might be derived.

Getting a bit more into the weeds about how the Wylde Chamber can be optimized – you will typically find the chamber matched to a rifling twist rate of 1 in 8 inches, which is traditionally mated to projectiles in the 75 and 77-grain arena.

You’ll also have access to the 80-grain specialty match bullet – the storied Boat Tail hollow point by Sierra Match King that has quite the reputation, which is also being optimized over a decent range of velocities. The twist rate is good for stabilizing the longer bullets and the specific angles of these types of projectiles.

The 1:8 twist is particularly forgiving and doesn’t over or under spin the projectiles in this range, giving the handloader the ability to find a standard deviation range that works best for their specific goals on the range and specific distances, taking the barrel out of the equation and giving the corresponding control over flight to the handloading precision of the ammunition maker.

Conclusion

Such is the state of the competitive market in the AR space – and that is said without a hint of sarcasm or frivolity. Individual shooter control where there was never control given before, is a benefit to those who will optimize it. That may be the best storyline about the Wylde that we can think of.

Primary Focus is a weekly feature from Primary Arms that covers various firearms related subjects.

Posted in Ammo, Guest Post | 3 Comments »

Air Force to Field New Bladder Relief Device, Works Toward ‘Suite of Options’

Saturday, December 11th, 2021

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. (AFNS) —

The Air Force is scheduled to receive the first shipment of the Omni Gen. 3 Skydrate, an improved in-flight bladder relief device, in early December.

The Air Force recognized that current devices were not optimized for long-duration sorties, and as a result, aircrew were routinely dehydrating themselves to delay the need for bladder relief. Dehydration can lead to reduced endurance and G-force tolerance while in the aircraft, as well as other negative health issues.

Air Combat Command was the lead command in determining the new bladder relief device requirements for pilots across the Air Force.

“Gen. (Mark) Kelly is focused on reducing predictable barriers to readiness for Airmen,” said Scott Cota, aircrew flight equipment program analyst, ACC Plans, Programs and Requirements directorate, Joint Base Langley-Eustis. “This is just one of the programs we are working on here that will make it easier for Airmen to train and execute their missions.”

ACC worked closely with Air Force Materiel Command and other Air Force units to develop and test Skydrate within a year. Thirty female aircrew were on site at the Omni facility to conduct multi-hour wear tests; nine pilots, at three installations, participated in the flight testing.

“This is a good example of using a ‘fly, fix, fly’ model to prioritize female aircrew feedback and speed up the testing process to field the device quicker,” said Sharon Rogers, lead test engineer, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Skydrate is available for men and women, but there was an emphasis on engineering solutions for female aircrew. Improvements include a larger collection bag, improved flow rate, multiple hose lengths, one-hand operation for on/off functionality, and more interface, or pad, sizes to account for anatomical differences in the wearer.

For Maj. Nikki Yogi, an F-35A Lightning II pilot who participated in the Omni device tests, readiness is at the heart of the issue. Yogi is assigned to the 356th Fighter Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska, under Pacific Air Forces Command. Pilots responding to threats in that region must be prepared for long sorties. A routine flight to Guam is approximately 10 hours.

“A pilot should be focused on taking the fight to the enemy, not on whether their bladder relief device is going to work or be comfortable to use,” she said.

Yogi had a poor experience with her device while deployed as an A-10C Thunderbolt II pilot in 2017. As a junior pilot, she did not immediately raise the issue – something she wants to spare future female pilots. She has volunteered for a variety of equipment tests since returning from that deployment.

“It’s important to provide feedback because it’s that feedback that drives change,” she said.

Aircrew will have access to Skydrate by Spring of 2022. The Human Systems Program Office, a subdivision of the Agile Combat Support Directorate, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is currently reviewing proposals from multiple companies for alternative bladder relief devices with new pumps and innovative human interfaces, which are expected to field within the next year to users. A suite of bladder relief devices will give Airmen the opportunity to choose the most comfortable human interface option while allowing them to focus on executing the mission.

By Jennifer Kennemer, Air Combat Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post | Comments Off on Air Force to Field New Bladder Relief Device, Works Toward ‘Suite of Options’

FirstSpear Friday Focus: The Sleeper Kicks Off FS 12 Days of Christmas

Friday, December 10th, 2021

This week we are kicking off our 12 Days of Christmas. Make sure to sign up for our email newsletters to get a first look at the 12 days of Christmas.

The first day of Christmas features the Sleeper vest. It can be a stay behind asset or less visible alternative to more overt styles of tactical vests. The Sleeper is designed to wear over or under garments and can be worn alone or in conjunction with other FirstSpear vests. Fits Soft Armor cut to the shape requirements specified for US SOCOM SPEAR BALCS and Hard Armor plates cut to SAPI/ESAPI/SPEAR and Swimmer in the corresponding soft armor size. Medium Plate and Medium Soft Armor fit a medium Sleeper.

Get them before they’re gone— limited quantities, sizes and colors. There will be no backorders once they are gone. Check out the Sleeper at: www.first-spear.com/sleeper

Be the first to know. Sign up for email newsletter at first-spear.com/landing

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Spirit of Innovation: EagleWerx Celebrates Opening with Dedication Ceremony at Fort Campbell

Friday, December 10th, 2021

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) has been a leader in Army innovation for decades, and the Spec. 4 Peter M. Guenette EagleWerx Applied Tactical Innovation Center promises to play a major role in future warfighter transformation.

Soldiers, Families and community members toured the facility firsthand Dec. 7 during a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony at 89 Screaming Eagle Blvd., where they learned about EagleWerx’s capabilities and bottom-up approach to innovation.

“We all know that transformation starts with the people who are executing, and the Soldiers are the ones closest to the problem,” said Capt. Lauren Hansen-Armendariz, deputy innovation officer, 101st Abn. Div. “They understand it the best, and that’s exactly why EagleWerx exists – to be able to give Soldiers what they need so they can make improvements.”

EagleWerx gives Soldiers direct access to a wide range of capabilities including entry-level artificial intelligence, robotics equipment, 3D printing, engineering support and educational workshops to solve problems. Its employees can also connect Soldiers with collaborative partners such as Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or CCDC.

Major General JP McGee, commanding general, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, said EagleWerx is an important step forward for the installation because it empowers Soldiers to adapt and excel in future conflicts.

“Innovation is not about a technology,” McGee said. “It is about a spirit within our Soldiers and leaders, and it needs to be established and fostered before a crisis, before we are at war. A site like this named after one of our heroes, Peter Guenette, represents our tangible investment into establishing innovation as an enduring part of the culture of the 101st.”

Guenette served with 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), during the Vietnam War and received a posthumous Medal of Honor citation for his efforts on the battlefield. During a firefight in the Quan Tan Uyen Province May 18, 1968, he smothered the blast from a hand grenade with his body to protect his fellow Soldiers, saving at least three others at the cost of his own life.

The installation later dedicated the Guenette Arts and Crafts Center to his memory in 1975, and the building retained his name after it was re-established into EagleWerx.

“It evolved into something pretty awesome,” said Michael Guenette, Spec. 4 Guenette’s brother. “It was awesome before as an arts and crafts center, and as the war in the Middle East started it was good for helping Soldiers who had PTSD work on projects. And now this is a great evolution. My brother was a science guy, he really was, so I think it’s a great thing. Keeping his name on the building is important, and this base honors heroes like Peter.”

Guenette was among several guests at the facility’s ribbon cutting and dedication given a guided tour, where Soldiers from across the installation highlighted partnerships and projects being developed through EagleWerx.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ron Billingslea, 101st Division Sustainment Brigade, said EagleWerx will allow the unit to push its additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities to the next level.

“Additive manufacturing, in layman’s terms, is the ability to create parts, one-off pieces or test molds so we can test or figure out a problem and create a solution without having to expend a lot of materiel,” Billingslea said. “Right now, we’re looking at problems that we’re tracking across the board, like long lead times on parts for vehicles that are down or one-off pieces that will get everyday use from Soldiers.”

The Lifeliners use 3D printing capabilities and computer aided design, or CAD, files to produce those parts that can be used to repair broken equipment on the battlefield quickly instead of waiting for third parties to deliver materiel. CAD files for specific parts can also be uploaded into a database and shared across the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force.

“We’re going to partner up with EagleWerx to be able to build products we can prototype here,” Billingslea said. “When we send a CAD file back to the forward line of troops, they can run that program to make sure it’s optimal to what we need in the field. In doing that, we build a network and create a partnership with EagleWerx as a hub for forces across the U.S. platform.”

In addition, Billingslea is planning to facilitate classes at EagleWerx to teach Soldiers and local students the basics of CAD, additive and subtractive manufacturing. Soldiers can use that instruction to gain a better understanding on how those capabilities can help them, while students can position themselves for success in the military or a trade.

Educational programming is a major component of EagleWerx, and the facility has already hosted a number of classes since its soft opening in August.

“I took part in a design thinking workshop on suicide prevention,” said Spc. Seth Johnson, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Abn. Div. “The solution we came up with is currently in the process of being implemented in the division, and it’s sort of like an Eagle Day 2.0 where one day out of every month you do cohesion building exercises among your squad. We reiterated the importance of that, how it affects people and how they feel about it when it’s done regularly.”

Approximately 30 Soldiers from across the installation participated in the workshop and formed two teams to pursue different solutions. Johnson said he appreciates the chance to get involved and looks forward to seeing what future workshops can develop.

“It makes you feel like you have an impact on the Army and the ability to solve problems that affect people at your level,” he said. “I think EagleWerx is going to produce great things and given the opportunity I’d be happy to come back and work on more projects.”

Other classes hosted at EagleWerx are made possible through support from community and Army partners. Bull Holland, Advancing Concepts Office Operations, CCDC Army Research Laboratory, recently led three teams of Soldiers through the H4X Lean Acquisition Innovation Course, a five-week graduate-level course, using EagleWerx as a venue.

“What we’ve done for these Soldiers is put together a class that teaches the same lean innovation methods that we teach in American Psychological Association [APA] schools and other graduate programs around the country,” Holland said, adding he has taught the same course at North Carolina State University. “Instead of us trying to find the right place to engage Soldiers in each different brigade, EagleWerx centralizes Soldiers from across the division into one spot and gives people like myself a place to plug in.”

Soldiers who completed the course at EagleWerx used entrepreneurial skills to develop requirements for new “see through wall” capabilities, electromagnetic sensors and air assault planning based on problem statements provided to each group.

“Our problem statement was that as technology progresses, our electronic footprint keeps increasing through emissions of energy and it’s something potential adversaries could exploit and use against us,” said Staff Sgt. Patrick Frisbie, electronic warfare noncommissioned officer in charge, 1st BCT. “That’s something that we want to develop tactics, techniques and procedures to mitigate.”

As an electronic warfare NCOIC, Frisbie is familiar with that problem and has practical experience with looking for electromagnetic signals to trace enemies. He and his classmates used that experience to identify cost-effective technologies the division could eventually use to reduce energy emissions down to the company level.

“Soldiers all have their own particular insights and they know the problems they face the best,” he said. “This gives them a space to come down if they have an idea. Even if it’s a simple modification to a piece of equipment that already exists, they have professionals here that can put them in touch and make things happen.”

Ultimately, EagleWerx is intended to help Soldiers find the resources to solve problems at any scale and build a culture of innovation across the division.

“Innovation does not start with me,” McGee said. “It is not a top-down driven endeavor; it starts with our people closest to the challenge – our Soldiers who are at the tip of the spear. Our vision is that all Screaming Eagle Soldiers are empowered to inform, accelerate and integrate innovative solutions and models in order to prepare the 101st for the future fight.”

Story by Ethan Steinquest

Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Research | Comments Off on Spirit of Innovation: EagleWerx Celebrates Opening with Dedication Ceremony at Fort Campbell

The MIK-02: Halfbreed Blades’ New Medium Infantry Knife

Thursday, December 9th, 2021

Introducing the MIK-02, influenced by the diverse daily requirements of active-duty personnel and the demands of the environments they serve in.

The MIK-02 (Medium Infantry Knife) from HALFBREED BLADES is a mid-size CQB fixed blade intended for use as a dedicated Infantry knife. The MIK-02 comes in three colors; Black, Dark Earth, and Ranger Green.

The MIK-02’s highly utilitarian tanto point blade incorporates many performance-enhancing, essential features for a multirole fixed blade knife of this genre.

Hewn from a solid slab of 6.5mm thick Austrian K110 (D2), this multirole fixed blade, is overbuilt in every detail. In addition, it incorporates a range of performance-enhancing features developed for hard use applications.

The Features

One-piece full tang construction.
Easy to maintain a razor-sharp polished cutting edge with partial blade serrations.
Hard-wearing, low friction Teflon coating mitigates glare and protects against corrosion. Available in black, dark earth, and ranger green color options.
Modified tanto point and blade design are optimized for piercing, prying, and slicing tasks.
Extra-large handguard aids control and prevents injury to the user.
Jimping at key points along the tang enhances handling characteristics, including forward of the handle, aiding the application of downward pressure and precise control.
US made G10. Handle scales are ergonomically contoured for maximum grip/control with non-gloved hands.
Handle scales are secured by steel torx fittings.
Crusher pommel ideally suited for breaking glass and other hammering tasks.
Lanyard holes at key points allow for paracord attachment.
US made Kydex. We believe the carry system supplied with our tools is as important as the tool it protects. Each sheath is precision-molded for secure retention and easy maintenance. All MIK-02 sheaths are provided with a belt carry system as the primary attachment method, eyelet holes around the perimeter of the sheath serve as secondary attachment options.

The MIK-02 Specs

Action: Fixed Blade
Blade Steel: K110 D2 (59-60 HRC)
Blade Edge: Polished Partially Serrated
Blade Finish: Teflon Coated
Blade Style: Tanto Point
Blade Length: 5.31″ (135mm)
Blade Thickness: 0.25″ (6.5mm)
Handle Material: G10
Handle Thickness: 0.98″ (25mm)
Overall Length: 10.43″ (265mm)
Sheath Type: Molded Kydex
Sheath Weight: 4.40oz. (125g)
Knife Weight: 12.16oz. (345g)
Overall Weight: 16.56oz. (470g)

Posted in Guest Post, Knives | 2 Comments »

EOD Soldiers Clear More than 1,000 Items from US Air Force Training Range

Thursday, December 9th, 2021

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers cleared the way for U.S. Air Force ground attack training by removing more than 1,000 ordnance items from Cannon Range at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

To support A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft bombing and strafing training, EOD Soldiers from the Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri-based 763rd Ordnance Company (EOD) managed an ordnance clearance project across more than 100 acres on the Air Force range.

It was the first range clearance operation the 763rd EOD Company has conducted since 2009.

Managed by the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing on Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Cannon Range is the only aerial gunnery range in the state of Missouri and the range is used by all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Sgt. 1st Class John S. Neely, a platoon sergeant with the 763rd EOD Company, planned and managed the mission with nine personnel, including seven U.S. Army EOD technicians.

The other 763rd EOD Company members involved in the Air Force range clearance mission were 1st Lt. Frank A. Russell from Orange Grove, Texas; 1st Lt. Raylen L. Dupuis from Polson, Montana; 1st Sgt. Kevin J. Pisani from Lyman, Maine; Sgt. Adam D. Carter from Stafford Springs, Connecticut; Sgt. Robert B. Singleton from Blue Springs, Missouri; Spc. Scott A. Sartin from Kettering, Ohio; and Spc. Logan J. Sterner from Springfield, Illinois.

The EOD Soldiers recovered and cleared more than 1,000 practice 50-pound bombs, said Neely, and they ensured an additional 33 practice 500-pound bombs and 11 practice 40mm projectiles were free of explosive hazards.

“The mission was done to enable target replacement of vehicles and buildings on Cannon Range for A-10 close air support training,” said Neely, a 15-year U.S. Army veteran from Whiteland, Indiana, who has deployed to Afghanistan and Africa.

The 763rd EOD Company is assigned to the 242nd EOD Battalion, 71st EOD Group and 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command.

Part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier all hazards formation, Soldiers and civilians from 20th CBRNE Command deploy from 19 bases in 16 states to confront and defeat the world’s most dangerous hazards and threats in support of joint, interagency and allied partners.

Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the 20th CBRNE Command is home to 75 percent of the Active Army’s EOD technicians and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear specialists, as well as the 1st Area Medical Laboratory, CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity, five Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Teams and three Nuclear Disablement Teams.

In addition to deploying for overseas missions, EOD technicians from the 763rd EOD Company also support explosive mitigation missions for any military munitions found in Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota.

Capt. Tarik B. Jensen, the commander of the 763rd EOD Company, said his EOD Soldiers highlighted their technical and tactical proficiency and expertise during the mission.

“The range clearance conducted by the Soldiers of the 763rd EOD Company enabled the lethality of the U.S. Air Force’s premier ground attack aircraft by keeping the range operational for the nearly daily training missions flown on the range,” said Jensen, a native of Liberty Lake, Washington. “Conducting the clearance imparted ordnance knowledge onto our EOD technicians who researched the various ordnance located on the range, showcasing the technical expertise of EOD technicians.”

By Walter Ham

Posted in Air Force, Army, EOD, Guest Post | 1 Comment »