MIL Security Engine-1

Source: United States Army

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The latest class of future combat medics is nearing completion of the 68W Healthcare Specialist Military Occupational Specialty Transition course at the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 166th Regiment – Regional Training Institute.

The 68W MOS-T course is a 59-day course conducted by the 166th RTI’s Medical Battalion Training Site that prepares Soldiers transitioning from other MOSs to become combat medics.

The course takes students through three phases, with a culminating event on the last day of training. During the culminating event, the students are put into simulated combat scenarios, including a mass-casualty event.

“In the culminating event we put them in as high of a fidelity simulation as we can and have them actually practice these skills that they’ve been training to do,” said Staff Sgt. Caden Schultheis, a 68W course instructor with the 4th Battalion, 166th RTI.

During phase one, students complete the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians course and become nationally registered as EMTs.

During phase two, students transition into the 68W MOS-T course, where they are introduced to a “sick call” and a limited primary care setting.

They are then transitioned into phase three, where they are trained on field medicine and practice on-the-line care.

“Learning everything that it takes to be a certified national EMT in three weeks, that was the most challenging part of it,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Hodson of the 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. “Once we got past phase one, we actually started getting more hands on.”

Hodson explained his admiration for the course and the knowledge it has given him, even stating that throughout his 18 years in the Army this course was the most challenging for him yet.

“I can’t say anything but great things about my experience in the course,” said Hodson. “It was challenging and completely applicable.”

“We [combat medics] prepare you in ways that others don’t,” said Schultheis. “We’re learning all sorts of different stuff when we get to our duty station, in addition to all the medical knowledge that will accrue. So, I would say it’s the best I’ve ever been in the Army, and it’s really worth the effort.”

Source: United States Army

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – Ninety-two teens from across North Jersey and beyond came together on Thursday, Feb. 26 to learn how to launch their own technical careers at the 11th annual “Introduce a Teen to Engineering Day.”

Those in attendance browsed tables providing information on Engineering Under Pressure, Energetics and Warheads, Fire Control for Air and Ground, Robotics, and more. The teens had the chance to discuss STEM topics with some of the nation’s best engineers and scientists and learn what goes into preparing the next generation of U.S. Army armament systems.

Several colleges were present, including the Stevens Institute of Technology, County College of Morris, Fairleigh Dickinson University and NJIT.

According to U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center Supervisory General Engineer Jennifer Page, this event started when the Picatinny Arsenal STEM office saw a need to ensure teens were being introduced to engineering. The first year had five or six tables in the hallway, and Page said it’s been gradually growing since to the 30 tables in the conference center present this year, all the while taking suggestions from attendees on what they want to see.

“There are many ways to be an engineer, and there are many different disciplines. If they have an interest in an area, there’s probably an engineering discipline for them and a career field they can explore,” she said.

The robot dog, a program known as LoneWolf, drew many curious teens. Computer scientist Mary Falcigno noted LoneWolf’s excellent ability to keep Soldiers safe and help them complete missions while looking like “something out of science fiction.”

The teens also had the chance to name the dog, and according to Falcigno, while a name hasn’t been settled on, the team received many excellent suggestions.

“Seeing something that has been popular online in person, plus being able to contribute to naming our robot, made the table a hit with students,” she reflected.

The attendees were also enamored by two tables operated by PM Soldier Lethality. Here, the teens had the chance to lift and hold next generation individual Soldier weapons, the M7 and the M250.

“Everyone’s interested in actually touching what the Soldiers carry, and they’re impressed with how heavy the weapon is,” said Maj. Mark Fischbach. “It hits home that you got to be in shape in the military, and all the things the Soldiers have to go through to be combat effective.”

Jocelyn Lovins, a Morris Catholic High School student, was among the young attendees. Lovins has been accepted to study mechanical engineering at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and will intern at Picatinny Arsenal next summer, helping to package artillery.

“I’ve visited here a few times for other events, and seeing how electricals, mechanicals and chemicals work together to make something, big or small, it has a big impact,” the physics lover explained. Yesenia Lovins, her mother, vividly recalled how excited her daughter was when she came home and spoke of how she wanted to go into engineering.

Jackson Oatley and Ryan Burke came as members of the North Warren Regional High School Robotics Team. Oatley was one of those fascinated by the PM Soldier Lethality table, while Burke was captivated by the COMET Advanced Manufacturing Center’s printing displays.

“I thought it was really cool how they were able to print out different textures and materials. They were able to print out a metal cube, which I thought was very cool,” said Burke.

Reilly Irish of Wallkill Valley High School said he was invited by a teacher, and that while he’s not sure what he wants to do for his career, he found many of the tables intriguing. He said he was most fascinated by the display on area denial munitions.

“It’s the material that they’re made of, I think I’d expect them to be a little heavier than they are,” he quipped.

Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Agile Sustainment and Ammunition and Commanding General of Picatinny Arsenal, spoke from the stage. He noted how important the arsenal’s work is and how critical engineering is in both preserving global stability and in ensuring Soldiers return home.

Reim encouraged the teens to ask questions, to network and explore, and to be aggressive in their pursuits.

“The next piece of technology that will power our Army’s transformation and protect America for the next 250 years might be an idea that starts in your mind right here tonight,” Reim said. “The future isn’t something we just wait for. It’s something we build, and we are counting on you to build it.”