FORT BELVOIR, Va. (July 9, 2015) - The Army moved closer to releasing its long-awaited solicitation for a new, modern handgun system when it hosted a fourth industry day for interested vendors at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, July 8. The Army named the new weapon the "XM17" Modular Handgun System. It will replace the current M9 standard Army handgun with a more … [Read more...]

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (July 9, 2015) - Three teams of 30 people sat crammed around computers in the classroom of McGill Training Center on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The teams, named "Trogdor," "Kobayashi Maru," and "Planet Express Ship," made up of mostly Soldiers and civilians, were partitioned off from one another. Each team monitored large projector screens, … [Read more...]

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (July 9, 2015) - "It's the best job ever," military working dog handler Spc. Ethan Taylor said, as he watched his dog, Alex, conduct an outside training-exercise last week on Bagram Airfield. or BAF. "The dogs are just like Soldiers," he said. "We train as we fight." This team supports Task Force Solid, out of the 21st Engineer Battalion, 101st … [Read more...]

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (July 9, 2015) - Brooke Army Medical Center's, or BAMC's, nurse leaders are trading their uniforms for scrubs each month to join their staff on the hospital frontlines. The program is known here as "Suits to Scrubs;" however, many are dubbing it BAMC's version of "Undercover Boss," a TV show that features senior executives … [Read more...]

FORT HOOD, Texas (July 9, 2015) - When clearing a building or room, some infantrymen use the term "fatal funnel" in reference to doorways. The funnel is a chokepoint, where Soldiers tend to bunch up and make themselves vulnerable to attack. Similarly, Soldiers riding in the back of an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle are confined to a relatively small space, and have to wait … [Read more...]