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U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration

By Sgt. Jose EscamillaMarch 10, 2022

U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An augmented reality prototype headset is included as part of a display at Fort Stewart, Georgia, during 3rd Infantry Division’s Augmented Reality for Maintenance Training Executive Demo and Information Day, March 04, 2022. The prototypes were brought to Club Stewart to showcase the capabilities of augmented reality and provide a glimpse into the future of U.S. Army training and equipment maintenance troubleshooting and diagnostics. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin Mcfarlin, an innovations officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, uses an augmented reality headset prototype during 3rd ID’s Augmented Reality for Maintenance Training Executive Demonstration and Information Day, at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 04, 2022. The 3rd ID hosted representatives for the event from the Army Applications Library, Taqtile, Georgia Institute of Technology, Microsoft, and more. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT STEWART, Ga.- The U.S Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and stakeholders held an augmented reality demonstration to showcase its technological applications for training and equipment maintenance troubleshooting and diagnostics on Fort Stewart, March 04, 2022. The team sought collaboration from commercial and government agencies on a collective path forward for leveraging the capability within the greater Army enterprise.

Called the Augmented Reality for Maintenance Training Executive Demo and Information Day, the event drew participants to Club Stewart to discuss ideas and solicit constructive feedback from Soldiers on the implementation of augmented reality for a variety of military functions. Taqtile, Microsoft, and Georgia Institute of Technology were the civilian enterprises that attended.

Government agencies that attended included Army Applications Laboratory, Sustainment Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, and Combined Arms Support Command.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Hefti, the chief of plans for 3rd ID, opened the event with a brief about where augmented reality technology is now and where the technology could take the Army years from now.

U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Hefti, the chief of plans for the 3rd Infantry Division, prepares for an interview at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 04, 2022. Hefti said during his interview that augmented reality technology could improve training efficiency in maintenance and maintenance operations by allowing Soldiers to work on a piece of equipment on the heads up display before they put hands on the equipment. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Hefti, the chief of plans for the 3rd Infantry Division, opens 3rd ID’s Augmented Reality for Maintenance Training Executive Demo and Information Day at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 04, 2022. The division held the event at Club Stewart to demonstrate augmented reality applications in Soldier training and was attended by representatives from Taqtile, Microsoft, Georgia Institute of Technology, and more. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL

“How do we gain better efficiencies as we’re repairing vehicles as they become more complex- How can we speed up that maintenance and also reduce costs?” Hefti said. “Augmented reality allows you to actually see the real piece of equipment you’re working on and it overlays on top of an image to help you fix those things faster.”

Hefti pointed out that the technology is already in use for vehicle maintenance in large companies. As the 3rd ID becomes the most modern armored division in the Army, he hopes to help inform the greater Army effort of leveraging augmented reality technology. Key to that is ensuring Soldiers inform what is beneficial and works for them.

U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 3rd Infantry Division hosts an Augmented Reality Maintenance Training Executive Demo and Information Day at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 04, 2022. This culminating event put new augmented reality technologies into Soldiers’ hands for user feedback on implementation as methods of training or equipment maintenance troubleshooting and diagnostics into the Army. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division Hosts Augmented Reality Demonstration
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Christopher Aliperti, a Soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, uses a prototype headset with augmented reality at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 04, 2022. The 3rd ID hosted the augmented reality demonstration for collaboration towards a collective path forward for virtual maintenance training within the Army enterprise. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jose Escamilla) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Jose Escamilla) VIEW ORIGINAL

“It’s pretty shocking at first, but it was actually very easy to operate,” said U.S. Army Capt. Benjamin Mcfarlin, a deputy innovations officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd ID. “I think that augmented reality technology can have a pretty profound, positive impact on the military.”

Mcfarlin performed maintenance with a mortar firing system using the augmented reality headset. He emphasized that he had no background with the mortar firing system, but with the technology, he felt very comfortable interacting with the weapon. He added that there was a dashboard within the augmented reality display with the user manual and instructional videos that enabled him to work although having no prior experience.

As the Army emphasizes preparation for multi-domain operations, the force’s Training and Doctrine Command must adjust training methods and aids to account for the ever-increasing volumes of information required to maintain increasingly sophisticated weapon systems. The 3rd ID is leading the effort in modernizing the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams for Large Scale Combat Operations, making America’s forces more connected and lethal than ever before.