Army to begin construction on innovative human performance research facility at Natick Soldier Systems Center

By CCDC Soldier Center Public AffairsAugust 20, 2020

U.S. Army Soldier and Squad Performance Research Institute, or S2PRINT
Artist's rendering of the U.S. Army Soldier and Squad Performance Research Institute, or S2PRINT, to be constructed at the Natick Soldier Systems Center as a joint project between the Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or CCDC SC, and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, or USARIEM. The project will result in the Army’s premier, state-of-the-art human research and engineering laboratory, focused on human performance optimization. (Photo Credit: Artist's rendering) VIEW ORIGINAL

NATICK, Mass. —Construction is set to begin at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center on a joint project with the Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or CCDC SC, and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, or USARIEM. The project will result in the Army’s premier, state-of-the-art human research and engineering laboratory, the Soldier and Squad Performance Research Institute, or S2PRINT. Both CCDC SC and USARIEM are part of Army Futures Command, which was created to streamline research and development, science and technology efforts, and innovation processes.

“This partnership between two of Army Futures Command’s top research organizations will generate capabilities and allow us to move aggressively to mesh technology and concepts to enable overmatch. The S2PRINT facility gives us the scientific reality of having increased Soldier and squad performance optimization as a function of the overarching multi-domain operations concept,” said Brigadier General James Bienlien, senior commander at Natick and deputy commanding general of the Combat Capabilities Development Command.

The 80,600-square-foot S2PRINT facility will provide a platform for innovative human performance research to baseline, measure, predict and optimize individual Soldier and small unit readiness, performance, and resiliency across real-world, mission-essential tasks. S2PRINT will provide world-class scientists and engineers with a one-of-a-kind, mission-relevant, controlled environment for applied studies in Soldier and squad performance optimization and enhancement.

“We look forward to the opportunities that this new performance laboratory will offer our scientists and collaboration partners as we focus on the delivery of validated biomedical solutions that optimize the health, performance, and military readiness directly to our Soldiers and squads” said Lt. Col. Denise Milhorn, deputy commander of USARIEM. USARIEM is an internationally recognized Department of Defense center of excellence for biomedical research on Warfighter health and performance within the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, or MRDC, which is a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.

The S2PRINT facility will promote collaboration among Natick Soldier Systems Center organizations and other DoD and government agencies, and enable unique collaborations and partnerships with the nation’s premier research and industrial partners, leading universities, and first responders to advance the performance and resilience of our nation’s warfighters.

“The S2PRINT laboratory is critical to understanding, synchronizing, and maximizing value-added research to ensure Soldier and squad readiness, overmatch, and dominance in the combat environment of the future,” said Mr. Doug Tamilio, director of CCDC SC.

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About CCDC SC: CCDC SC is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure America’s warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. CCDC SC supports all of the Army's Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the CCDC SC’s chief areas of focus. The center’s science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. CCDC SC is constantly working to strengthen Soldiers’ performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat.

CCDC SC is part of CCDC. Through collaboration across the command's core technical competencies, CCDC leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation's wars and come home safely. CCDC is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.