Under Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center direction, U.S. Military Academy West Point cadets are investigating a torso-load redistribution device to improve Soldier comfort, mobility and usability. The cadets demonstrated the ...

Henry Girolamo and Lt. Col. Michael Benson confer at the USMA & NSRDEC Project Presentation Day, which highlighted collaborative efforts to research innovative technologies for the Soldier. Girolamo and Benson are the key points of contact under a Me...

NATICK, Mass. -- Collaboration and ingenuity reigned at the United States Military Academy's and Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center's Project Presentation Day.

The NSRDEC-hosted event featured presentations by USMA West Point cadets, demonstrating accomplishments and lessons learned during the 2014 Academic Year Research Collaboration with NSRDEC. The event was part of a larger collaboration effort between NSRDEC and USMA, which have a shared interest in researching innovative technologies for the Soldier.

NSRDEC's Henry Girolamo developed and implemented the collaboration and continues to manage the effort. Girolamo and USMA's Lt. Col. Michael Benson are the key points of contact under a Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU. The MOU involves joint research projects and the sharing of training sites, research staff, historical data, field equipment and facilities. Several NSRDEC technologies will also be deployed with cadets during USMA Cadet Leadership Development Training.

"The research being conducted at USMA is viewed as complementary to NSRDEC research and may promote beneficial and innovative improvements to NSRDEC products," said Girolamo, lead -- Emerging Concepts & Technologies, Warfighter Directorate at NSRDEC.

"The partnership between NSRDEC and USMA has allowed our faculty and cadets to engage in real-world problems," said USMA advisor and assistant professor, Becky Avrin Zifchock, Ph.D. "From a faculty perspective, this ongoing relationship has allowed me to assist in the maturation of some initiatives, while advancing others that are still in early stages of development. The fresh thinking of the cadets brings a new and innovative perspective on both types of projects."

During the NSRDEC-hosted Project Presentation Day, cadet teams discussed design enhancements to modular extendable rigid wall structures; a torso-load redistribution device to improve Soldier comfort, mobility and usability; a female head shape and helmet fit study related to female hairstyles; micro-climate cooling technology for the individual Soldier; a device that may help improve Soldier performance at the ankle joint; and the Cadet Leadership Development Training field exercise. Research presented was conducted through year-long programs in multiple departments.

"The collaboration between USMA and NSRDEC provides great mutual benefit for both organizations," said Benson, Ph.D., director, Center for Innovation and Engineering, Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering, USMA. "Cadets have an opportunity to learn about and partner with NSRDEC on relevant challenges that they may soon see firsthand as junior officers. NSRDEC benefits from the innovation and passion of these motivated cadets and faculty with their unique blend of Army experiences and the strong academic program, as well as the long-term investment of increasing awareness across the ranks as to the mission and capabilities of NSRDEC. Strengthened with summer internships, USMA and NSRDEC both have great potential to continue to reinforce a successful partnership in service to the nation."

"Overall, it was an amazing experience from both a mechanical engineering student and future U.S. Army officer prospective," said West Point cadet Angela Bapp, who worked on the torso-load redistribution project. "It was inspiring to work so closely with Ms. (Karen) Gregorczyk and her engineering team to see what resources and facilities are available at such a large engineering center. The direct impact these technologies have on the future Soldiers I will soon lead also left me awestruck. I am extremely grateful for the experience of working with the teams at Natick and challenging myself and my team to solve a real-world, complex Soldier design problem. The opportunity to brief Brig. Gen. (William E.) Cole, Brig. Gen. (Timothy) Trainor, Command Sgt. Maj. (James P.) Snyder and other senior leaders at the Natick facilities was also a phenomenal experience."

In the future, the collaboration may be expanded to include additional areas of research.

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The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to empower the Army and joint warfighter with technology and engineering solutions that ensure decisive capabilities for unified land operations. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

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