FOLA, W.Va. –
In the wake of a highly successful inaugural DIRT Days event when Soldiers and Airmen from the West Virginia National Guard participated in the field testing of emerging military technologies, the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) has announced two more such events scheduled for April and June 2023. The events will again be held at the CMI2 Adaptive Experimentation Facility in Fola, West Virginia.
DIRT Days engages ground-level Guard personnel in the hands-on field testing of innovative and emerging technologies from universities and commercial vendors as a part of the U.S. Army's Catalyst Pathfinder program. The first DIRT Days event was held in August of this year and was designed to utilize Pathfinder’s experimentation focus to field test technologies while introducing Soldiers to challenging scenarios. Members of the West Virginia Guard field tested emerging technologies at the rugged Clay County, West Virginia, facility during a highly successful inaugural outing.
Through real-world force-on-force scenario exercises, DIRT Days provides technology developers with feedback and design modification suggestions from the ultimate end-users, which is critical in rapidly developing and fielding advanced technologies for a modern-day battlefield.
“You're reminded of how great things are accomplished when people are collaborative and working toward a common goal,” stated Maj. Gen. William (Bill) Crane, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard. “Having the opportunity to be at the forefront of testing leading-edge technology and then to provide immediate and in-person feedback to the developers is a rare commodity. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with CMI2 and the opportunities to have a positive impact on the future battlefield. From our perspective, DIRT Days was a resounding success!”
CMI2 executed the inaugural DIRT Days event in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)and the West Virginia Military Authority (WVMA). Other DIRT Days academic and industry partners included West Virginia University, Vanderbilt University, Marshall University, University of Montana, Guard Unit LLC, and Xtremis LLC.
During the three-day event, Soldiers were exposed to the following emerging technologies, which made a lasting impression on those testing them:
- The Soldier Adaptive Bionic Exosuit for Resupply (SABER) exosuits were used to assist with lifting and to ease the strain of repetitive motions.
- The Advanced Dynamic Spectrum Radio (ADSR) is an artificial intelligence-enabled radio developed by Xtremis and Vanderbilt University. The ADSR finds the right frequency spectrum for clear communications, data transfer, and deters incessant enemy jamming.
- The Signature Management (SIGMAN) kit camouflages products that help reduce and eliminate thermal signatures allowing better penetration and avoidance of enemy detection systems.
- Malicious Device Detection enables better detection of adversary attempts to target the supply chain of devices and components for malicious purposes.
- The Enhanced Movement in Arctic Terrain sled focuses on human performance, building a material solution to aid the maneuverability of Soldiers in arctic environments.
The first day of the August event showcased demonstrations of current Pathfinder projects and other commercially available leading-edge technologies. Participants also discussed advanced engagement scenarios with near-peer adversaries. The following two days saw service members engaged in a force-on-force training scenario under the observation of university partners, DEVCOM researchers, and CMl2 subject matter experts. These pre-developed combat scenarios allowed Soldiers to utilize and test the demonstrated technologies in play against an adversary force.
“Building close relationships with military units and service members to understand real-world requirements is a cornerstone of our work,” said CMI2’s Walter Hatfield, facility manager. “We have a tremendous and dedicated team that is getting after that goal of rapidly advancing warfighting concepts and helping to bring force-multiplying technology to bear for the entire Department of Defense.”
After the completion of each scenario, servicemembers provided event partners with immediate feedback. The event partners will use the input for future design enhancements.
“The key focus of DIRT Days is to understand, from the ground-level servicemembers' perspective, how products and technologies can integrate and assist in their day-to-day and combat operations,” stated Aly G. Gregg, CMI2 vice president. “What is good in theory might not be quite as good in a real-world situation. By being able to test new technologies in the early developmental phases and get true feedback on design, durability, and functionality, we can more rapidly produce the very best innovations to help keep our men and women safe and stay ahead of our near-peer adversaries.”
The CMI2 Adaptive Experimentation Facility isa reclaimed coal mine property offering an austere terrain to experiment with and stress cutting-edge technologies, including advanced communications, electronic warfare, robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and others at the tactical level.
“The development of this facility in Clay County supports next generation economic development for the entire area,” said West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay). “The opportunities to work with CMI2 as it supports our national defense are exciting. The success of DIRT Days and the scheduling of several more in 2023, plus the numerous other defense-related training events coming to Fola, speak to West Virginia’s potential impact on national defense.”
The development of the Fola facility is an effort championed by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV).
“The Adaptive Experimentation Facility at Fola in Clay County is a novel approach to repurposing abandoned mine lands to fulfill a national security need,” said Senator Manchin. “Once again, West Virginia is stepping up to the plate to support military research and development and the strategic partnership between CMI2 and the WVNG provides our servicemembers with an unmatched capability at a cost savings for our taxpayers.”