Ops-Core is excited to participate in SOF Select, taking place in Tampa, Florida from May 6th to May 8th. Join us at Booth #10 to hear exclusive updates and discover a major new development that represents a significant leap forward in operational capability.
OKSI’s Precision Guidance Seekers Systems delivery high-confidence acquisition, tracking and terminal guidance – no GPS or laser required. The 81mm Precision Guidance Kit provides first round effects for mortars, providing unmatched effectiveness on today’s battlefield.
OKSI will be at SOF Week hosting customers and business partners on their yacht, showcasing their latest technologies. Get on their meeting schedule to talk low-cost solutions and integration to bring your system Intelligence By OKSI. Contact: solutions@oksi.ai
OKSI will be at SOF Week hosting customers and business partners on their yacht, showcasing their latest technologies. Get on their meeting schedule to talk low-cost solutions and integration to bring your systemIntelligence By OKSI.
Read about their latest, novel technologies and why they have the competitive edge:
GPS-Denied Navigation: oksi.ai/omninav-gps-denied-navigation
Intelligent EO/IR Seekers & Precision Guidance: soldiersystems.net/2025/04/02/elevate-your-precision-oksis-advanced-eo-ir-seekers-and-terminal-guidance
Contact: solutions@oksi.ai to get on our their SOF week meeting calendar
Come see us at SOF Week next week over in Tampa, FL, Monday, May 5th through Thursday, May 8th.Check out our product line-up and catch up with our team to learn more about what’s coming in 2025!
FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting edge-tactical gear for military, law enforcement and those who train.
For more information visit First-Spear.com.
WEST POINT, N.Y. — On Jan. 11, 2025, a team of eight cadets and their advisors prepared their equipment on a cold morning in the remote desert of Black Rock Playa, Nevada. The team was about to face a challenge that would test both their engineering skills and their resilience: to break the Karman Line, the boundary of space, 100 kilometers above Earth. But this was not just a mission to reach space; it was a journey of innovation and determination – built on the teamwork of six years of cadets designing, testing, failing, and succeeding to do something that few people have ever accomplished. It was a test of what they had been taught, their ability to adapt, and the courage to push past their limits. In alignment with the Academy’s annual intellectual theme, “The Human and the Machine: Leadership on the Emerging Battlefield”, this mission highlighted the powerful intersection of human determination and technological advancement.
That day, the SPEAR Hypersonic Rocket Team successfully launched a two-stage hypersonic rocket to an astonishing 149.556 km—surpassing the amateur rocketry altitude record by 6 km and the Karman Line (100 km), the internationally recognized boundary of space!
The day before the launch, the team huddled together, surrounded by planning documents and scattered components, making last minute decisions that would shape the outcome. At the heart of their strategy was simplicity – every decision driven by efficiency. That mindset paid off.
The next morning, as the countdown reached zero, the rocket ignited. The team watched in tense anticipation as it soared through the atmosphere. Every calculation, every design choice led to this very moment. As the vehicle soared beyond the Karman Line, the mission’s success depended on one final challenge – recovery.
Hiking through the rocky terrain, the team could hear the crunch of the desert crust beneath their boots as they trudged up the mountain in search of the rocket. The air was cold, their bodies were tired, and the uncertainty of the outcome loomed.
“We had a track on the rocket during flight, but we didn’t know the condition of the system after descent. It was unclear whether we would be able to recover anything”, Major Kevin Zander, Advisor and Instructor, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering recalled. The team pushed deeper into the mountains following a GPS signal, ascending 1,500 feet to reach over 6,000 feet in total altitude.
As the team surveyed the landscape, a glint of sunlight reflected off metal caught their eyes – Cadet Barrett Connor (‘25) spotted the payload amidst the rocks. The moment was surreal.
“We didn’t want this to be a case where the telemetry data says we made it, but there’s no physical evidence”, Cadet Ida McLaughlin (‘25) explained. “Now we can hold in our hands a part of the vehicle that actually touched space”.
After six years of development and perseverance, the team has set new records by crossing the Karman Line with precision and confidence.
Colonel Aaron Hill, Deputy Head, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, reflected “It would be an understatement to say I’m proud of this team! This successful launch upholds the long legacy of excellence at West Point and proves that our graduates are prepared to design and implement solutions in complex environments as trusted Army professionals.”
The success of their mission was a validation of the decisions made over years of planning, testing, and refining. Every step, every choice, led them to this moment.
The team returned to Black Rock Playa in April to launch again, testing new capabilities, and laying the groundwork to guide the 2026 team to even more success. SPEAR Hypersonic Rocket Team continued to push the boundaries of what is possible, ensuring that West Point cadets remain at the forefront of innovation and leadership.
Born from a cadet-driven initiative in 2018, the Space Engineering and Applied Research program found early support from mentors within the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering. The SPEAR Hypersonic Rocket Team is now one of the most ambitious undergraduate rocketry programs in the Nation and a critical part of the Space Community of Practice at West Point that is developing Army officers who are capable of leading in emerging space operations, hypersonics, and cutting-edge rocket technology.
This historic launch would not have been possible without the support of many dedicated individuals and organizations. A special thank you to DEVCOM AvMC, the Office of Naval Research, Pyramid Lake Fire Department, Bureau of Land Management Black Rock Field Office, Gerlach Community, and FAA Western Service Area. Their guidance, support, and resources played a crucial role in making this mission a success!
SPEAR Hypersonic Rocket Team is administered by the Center for Applied Research in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, with contributions across West Point including the Departments of Systems Engineering, Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Chemistry and Life Sciences, and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
This project is part of West Point’s 26th annual Projects Day Research Symposium that showcases more than 350 cadet-led research projects. Learn more about the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at bit.ly/WP_CME and check out more project features at www.westpoint.edu/werx
By Jana Scardigno Marketing Specialist, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Army Leaders,
Battlefields across the world are changing at a rapid pace. Autonomous systems are becoming more lethal and less expensive. Sensors and decoys are everywhere. Dual-use technologies are continuously evolving and outpacing our processes to defeat them. To maintain our edge on the battlefield, our Army will transform to a leaner, more lethal force by adapting how we fight, train, organize, and buy equipment.
Consistent with the Secretary of Defense directive dated 30 April 2025, the Army is implementing a comprehensive transformation strategy — the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI). This initiative will reexamine all requirements and eliminate unnecessary ones, ruthlessly prioritize fighting formations to directly contribute to lethality, and empower leaders at echelon to make hard calls to ensure resources align with strategic objectives. To achieve this, ATI comprises three lines of effort: deliver critical warfighting capabilities, optimize our force structure, and eliminate waste and obsolete programs.
Deliver Warfighting Capabilities. ATI builds upon our Transformation in Contact (TiC) effort, which prototypes organizational changes and integrates emerging technology into formations to innovate, learn, refine requirements, and develop solutions faster. We will introduce long-range missiles and modernized UAS into formations, field the M1E3 tank, develop the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, and close the C-sUAS capability gap. Command and control nodes will integrate Artificial Intelligence to accelerate decision-making and preserve the initiative. Agile funding, which shifts from program-centric to capability-based portfolios, will increase timely equipment fielding and accelerate innovation cycles. Adaptation is no longer an advantage — it’s a requirement for survival.
Optimize Force Structure. Our focus is on filling combat formations with Soldiers. Every role must sharpen the spear or be cut away. We are eliminating 1,000 staff positions at HQDA. To further optimize force structure, Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command will merge into a single command that aligns force generation, force design, and force development under a single headquarters. Forces Command will transform into Western Hemisphere Command through the consolidation of Army North and Army South. Multi-Domain Task Forces will align with theater headquarters to operate under relevant authorities. We will trim general officer positions to streamline command structures and revise civilian talent management policies to prioritize performance.
We will also restructure Army Aviation by reducing one Aerial Cavalry Squadron per Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) in the Active Component, and we will consolidate aviation sustainment requirements and increase operational readiness. We will convert all Infantry Brigade Combat Teams to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams to improve mobility and lethality in a leaner formation. We are trading weight for speed, and mass for decisive force.
Eliminate Waste and Obsolete Programs. We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the AH-64D, excess ground vehicles like the HMMWV and JLTV, and obsolete UAVs like the Gray Eagle. We will also continue to cancel programs that deliver dated, late-to-need, overpriced, or difficult-to-maintain capabilities. Yesterday’s weapons will not win tomorrow’s wars.
This is a first step. We have already directed a second round of transformation efforts to be delivered in the coming months.
Leaders, we need you to drive change to ensure we stay lethal, ready, and continue to build cohesive teams that take care of our Soldiers and families. Our Army must transform now to a leaner, more lethal force by infusing technology, cutting obsolete systems, and reducing overhead to defeat any adversary on an ever-changing battlefield. Our continuous transformation is underpinned by strong, agile leaders who act on their initiative.
This We’ll Defend.
Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army
Randy A. George, General, United States Army, Chief of Staff
What started as providing security for humanitarian aid vehicles on their way to the front, my time in Ukraine has had many twists and turns. From training to “volunteer efforts”, I needed something with the flexibility to go from slick to full combat loads. Enter the Crye LVMBAV.
Light and packable, the MBAV is made of a 4 way stretch material that allows me to cinch the vest down to a minimal profile whether slick or jocked up. That minimal profile is essential for Ukraine and makes a huge difference when quickly getting in and out of vehicles/damaged buildings.
Plussing up an MBAV is as easy as attaching an AXL Advanced Adaptive Placard. I have three or four of these with unique set ups at any given time depending on where I am based. The placard hooks into/out off mounting interfaces on the MBAV so changing from one to another or going completely slick takes a matter of seconds.
Centerline front, the Shaw Concepts 3-Magazine Elastic 556 Placard is the best fit for my day to day. The elastic cells reliably retains magazines, without flaps or bungie. When empty, the pouches completely collapse. Having an integral TQ holder and the ability to molle a large admin onto the front of the placard is also preferable to layering a number of Velcro backed pouches and adding unwanted bulk on the front of the vest.
Below the Shaw, I keep a groin protector and a Platatac ASAD. The Platatac is perfect for “overflow” items, like pick ups(items found or given) or empty magazines, etc. I sometimes run these on my belt but I’ve found it’s easier to stow/unstow this pouch when mounted up front over the groin protector.
The groin protector itself has Ukrainian made soft armor that is based off of the Russian GOST system as well as an upside down shooters cut Hesco L210 size small. No idea who makes it, but this particular groin protector and the Hesco plate are a perfect fit (not sure how many beers deep I was in the kit room when I figured it out but there you have it).
On the sides, I prefer a Crye Stretch Cummerbund. Even loaded up, I can run the sides tight to my body without sacrificing movement or breathing. I typically run a magazine and radio in the forward cells, and then a water bottle and magnet for shotguns or other tools in others.
If the Crye Stretch is not available, their JTAC cummerbund will do. While not as dynamic, the JTAC cummerbund supports a hard 6×6 plate and a 6×9 soft armor panel. While not always available, running PPE on the side is a must for work in contested areas.
On my left, I also run a Titan Retention system. A ratcheting system, the Titan can accommodate any number of different tool/weapons that you may come across. It’s also nice if I have to climb or work anything/anyone that requires both hands without having a rifle constantly getting hung up on the environment or other people.
While “green” comms are not a constant, the Silynx Clarus PTT has been a winner over multiple trips. It supports easy control of dual comm systems without creating a tangle of cables and devices. The lapel clips also attach to the AXL placard seamlessly.
Finally, in back, I have a Ferro Concepts Roll 1 pouch. Wearing a plate carrier inside of a vehicle with no lower back support wears on you even after a short period of time so I was super happy when this was first announced. In the field, I cut out a portion of the Velcro interface used to attach it to the carrier so I can rip the entire IFAK off my back versus traditional method, which is difficult to access with gloves or cold hands.
Behind the Roll 1 is another Ukrainian made soft armor panel. The lower back is typically overlooked when considering armor so while it’s just soft armor, it’s better than nothing.
After three years, the LVMBAV has become my go to. It’s not the shiny new thing, but the design and materials work in ways many of the “latest and greatest” do not. Whether comfort, flexibility, or durability the LV MBAV is my standard and has a permanent spot in my kit bag.
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WASHINGTON — In the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the term sapper carries weight. For 250 years, sappers have served as elite combat engineers, supporting frontline infantry in every war throughout American history.
“A sapper, in a historic sense, goes back to the 17th century. It’s a French term,” said USACE Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Galick.
Back then, military engineers would dig trenches to breach enemy defenses without direct exposure to enemy fire.
“Those trenches were called saps. The Soldiers that dug them were sappers,” adds Brig. Gen. Joseph Goetz, USACE Pacific Ocean Division commanding general.
The tradition of sappers dates to the American Revolution, where military engineers built critical infrastructure like roads and fortifications. “It really has its roots in trench warfare that started very early, earlier than the American Army,” says Col. Francis Pera, USACE Baltimore District commander.
Today, sappers are still combat engineers, trained to execute the most demanding and vital battlefield roles: “An engineer leader that is an expert in mobility, countermobility and survivability,” Galick adds.
That means clearing paths for friendly forces to maneuver, creating obstacles to slow or stop enemy advances, and building fortifications that protect Soldiers during battle. “That’s really about how we create pathways for maneuver,” explains Pera. “How we stop enemy movement, and then how we buy time and space for our team while we’re in the middle of a battle.”
“They’re advisors to maneuver commanders that put engineer effects into place on a battlefield so that we can win,” adds Goetz.
Sappers also operate as infantry when needed, fully engaged in modern offensive, defensive and peacekeeping operations. “A sapper is really the cutting edge of the nation’s sword,” says Col. Christopher Klein, commander of the USACE Middle East District. “They are the best of the best in the engineer corps, who lead the infantry when the infantry even gets in trouble.”
The Sapper Leader Course is a grueling 28-day program that spans the terrain of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and the Mark Twain National Forest. It teaches mobility, countermobility, survivability, demolitions, engineer reconnaissance and other technical skills at the small unit level. The course provides maneuver commanders with a force multiplier to succeed in both competition and conflict.
The course includes two phases: general skills and patrolling. “Techniques, from advanced demolitions into land navigation, and the basics in waterborne (and) airborne operations (are part of phase one),” says Maj. Blake Jones from USACE New England District.
In the patrolling phase, leadership is tested under extreme stress. “The course is very, very intense,” says Maj. Charles Martin, USACE Baltimore District Real Estate Field Office realty specialist. “It will push you to your limits.”
That intensity is intentional. “Set a good baseline, so when you have to do it in real life, you do the right things,” says Lt. Col. Nicholas Lorusso, USACE New England District deputy commander.
“Sapper School showed me that I can be hungry, I can be tired, I can push my body to the margins and still make sound decisions; sound technical decisions and sound tactical decisions, in a stressful environment,” said Lt. Col. Lamar Cantelou, USACE aide de camp. “And that’s why you need to do it.”
In 2024, the Sapper School had a graduation rate of just under 50%.
“As an engineer, you learn to become almost a Swiss Army knife,” says Capt. Walter Dezir, USACE Honolulu District project engineer. “And the Sapper Leader Course is all about teaching you to be able to function in a variety of different weather conditions and situations.”
Earning the Sapper Tab is a mark of distinction that signals mastery in combat engineering and leadership. “There’s a credibility to other engineer leaders that wear the tab,” said Galick. “When you interact with our maneuver counterparts, they truly believe that an engineer leader that wears a Sapper Tab is a master of their craft and they are the expert engineer on the battlefield.”
The U.S. Army Engineer School (USAES), established in 1866, formalized the training and development of combat engineers, ensuring sappers remain a crucial component of U.S. military strategy. The course started in 1985 and became fully accredited as a United States Army Training and Doctrine Command course in 2004. That same year, on June 28, the Army officially authorized the wearing of the Sapper Tab, an initiative approved by then-Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers.
Since 2005, USAES has hosted the Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers Best Sapper Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, challenging the physical prowess, mental fortitude and technical skills of sappers. Competitors cover 50 miles in 50 hours while executing a myriad of tactical and technical tasks. This year’s competition, taking place April 25–29, celebrates both the 40th anniversary of the Sapper Leader Course and the 250th anniversary of the Engineer Regiment.
Retired Lt. Gen. Flowers is quoted: “When our nation needs a tough job done, they call the Army. When our Army needs a tough job done, they call on the sappers.”
After 250 years, the role of the sapper continues to evolve, but remains essential to military operations worldwide. Their expertise in breaching obstacles, laying and clearing mines, and constructing field defenses makes them indispensable to military operations and a force multiplier on the battlefield.
Klein arguably captures the unique duality of sappers best, saying, “Sapper combines the nerdiness of being an engineer with the badass of being in the Army.”
By Kathryne Gest
