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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Cardiff, a cavalry scout with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, studies notes before beginning a land navigation exercise as part of the U.S. Army 2023 Best Squad Competition at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Cardiff, a native of Albany, New York, is competing as part of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) 2023 Best Squad team. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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Competitors in the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition stand ready before starting the day’s first event at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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The U.S. Army Cyber Command 2023 Best Squad Competition team gathers for a patrol brief before beginning a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Ousmane Drame, a medical logistics specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), reaches the apex of a climbing rope during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. Drame, a native of Senegal who emigrated to the United States in 2018 before enlisting in the Army in 2021, is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A 2023 Best Squad Competition team gathers to plan before beginning a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army M4 carbines are stacked in a staging area during a land navigation exercise as part of the U.S. Army Best 2023 Best Squad Competition at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Groft, a cavalry scout with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, rests before departing for a land navigation exercise as part of the U.S. Army 2023 Best Squad Competition at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Groft is competing as part of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) 2023 Best Squad team. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Ousmane Drame, a medical logistics specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, treats a simulated casualty during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 28, 2023. Drame, a native of Senegal who emigrated to the United States in 2018 before enlisting in the Army in 2021, is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Ousmane Drame, a medical logistics specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, treats a simulated casualty during the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 28, 2023. Drame, a native of Senegal who emigrated to the United States in 2018 before enlisting in the Army in 2021, is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tyler Nace, a medical laboratory specialist with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), waits for the start of a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. Nace is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Hylton, a practical nursing specialist with the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), heaves a medicine ball during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Williams, a practical nursing specialist with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), pedals a stationary bike during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the h Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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The Army Futures Command Best Squad team pushes a 700-pound sled during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Rollian Morgan, a behavioral health specialist with the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL), pedals a stationary bike during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Spc. Ousmane Drame, a medical logistics specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), listens to instructions as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Drame, a native of Senegal who emigrated to the United States in 2018 before enlisting in the Army in 2021, is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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The Army Futures Command Best Squad team performs a squat exercise during a functional fitness contest as part of a community relations event at Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia, Sept. 30, 2023. During the event, members of the local community gathered to watch and cheer for the 2023 Army Best Squad competitors during the fitness contest. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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Emily Krohn, assistant product manager with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA), affixes a sensor component of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) to a competitor’s chest as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A USAMMDA development team is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the HRAPS during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A medical developer with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) opens a sensor component of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A USAMMDA development team is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the HRAPS during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A competitor in the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition stands ready before starting the day’s first event at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Pfc. Delroy Alvarez, a combat medic with Company C, 3rd Brigade Support Battalion and native of Los Angeles, demonstrates casualty evaluation as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Williams, left, a practical nursing specialist with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), carries a casualty role player with a support staff member during medical evacuation skills testing as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Williams is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Hylton, left, a practical nursing specialist with the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), carries a casualty role player with a support staff member during medical evacuation skills testing as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. Hylton is the Army Futures Command team’s senior leader during the competition. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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The Army Futures Command team gathers for a photo as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Sept. 29, 2023. The team members are from several subordinate commands of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) components sit ready for the U.S. Army 2023 Best Squad competitors before a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the HRAPS during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A 2023 Best Squad Competition team gathers to plan before beginning a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) distributes Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) components to competitors in the U.S. Army 2023 Best Squad Competition before a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. The USAMMDA development team is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Luis Astronomo, a combat medic with 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, stands inside the turret of a medevac vehicle as part of a U.S. Army 2023 Best Squad Competition land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Astronomo, who was born in Manila, Philippines, was raised in Montezuma, Georgia before enlisting in the Army in 2016. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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An Army National Guard 2023 Best Squad Competition team member signals his squad during a land navigation exercise at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Williams, a practical nursing specialist with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR), scans his surroundings during a land navigation exercise as part of the 2023 Best Squad Competition at Camp Oliver, Georgia, Oct. 1, 2023. Williams is part of the Army Futures Command team at the competition. Twelve teams from across the U.S. Army completed the exercise as part of the 2023 Army Best Squad Competition here. A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) is attending the competition to assess the real-world applicability of the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) during training and operations. HRAPS is a wearable device to help frontline medical providers and commanders monitor service members’ physiological responses to rigorous activities during both training and combat. Once fielded, HRAPS may help reduce the risk of non-battle injuries, including heatstroke and overexertion, by providing near-real-time physiological data to help leaders recognize serious medical conditions needing immediate treatment before they become critical. USAMMDA, the DoD’s premier developer of world-class military medical capabilities, develops, delivers, and fields critical drugs, vaccines, biologics, devices, and medical support equipment to protect and preserve the lives of Warfighters across the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
(Photo Credit: T. T. Parish)
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A development team with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) completed its support of the second annual U.S. Army Best Squad Competition today, providing real-time physiological data to competition organizers and health care professionals using the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS).
Each competitor wore the HRAPS device through the first phase of the competition, which features 12 squads from across the Army, each vying for the title “Best Squad.” The combat-related events tested each competitor’s fitness and knowledge of Warfighter tasks and squad battle drills across Fort Stewart’s 200,000-plus acres. It was a perfect opportunity to assess the HRAPS program’s progress and applicability in real-world conditions, according to Emily Krohn, assistant product manager for USAMMDA’s HRAPS program.
“The HRAPS is a fantastic tool to help tactical commanders and frontline health care providers make critical decisions about Warfighters’ health and performance during both training and real-world operations,” said Krohn. “It is designed to help small-unit leaders and frontline medics identify possible health concerns before they become critical. It gives a snapshot of critical health and performance data about once a minute, so leaders can know their Soldiers’ location and vital signs whenever the device is transmitting data.”
The Army-wide Best Squad Competition is the culmination of a series of command-level competitions that have taken place since the beginning of the year. It is designed to test competitors’ tactical skills while demonstrating their commitment to the Army Values and Warrior Ethos. The competition is a challenging and exhausting event that mimics the rigors of combat operations, and it is a perfect showcase for the capabilities HRAPS offers to small-unit leaders during training, said Krohn.
“Because of the forecasted future nature of combat, it will be imperative to have modern, user-friendly, rugged, and expeditionary tools like HRAPS to help frontline commanders in the Joint Forces make more informed decisions,” said Krohn, who travelled to Fort Stewart from USAMMDA’s home at Fort Detrick, Maryland, to manage the HRAPS assessment. “The reality is that medevac capabilities found during previous operations, like in Iraq and Afghanistan, will be stretched very thin due to the possible operating environments of the future, where small teams will deploy far from higher echelon care facilities in austere, remote locations.
“It will be a critical advantage to have tools like HRAPS that will help provide advanced warning for health concerns that can point to deeper issues before they become emergencies,” she added. “Having real-time health information for the Warfighters on the front lines will help inform field medical care and maximize the effectiveness of available resources.”
Competitors in the event were selected from commands across the Army. The Army Futures Command team comprises Soldiers under the banner of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, experts in frontline medical care and medical technology development. According to Staff Sgt. Jesse Hylton, AFC team senior leader and practical nursing specialist with the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) originally from Interlachen, Florida, the HRAPS is form-fitted for events like the Best Squad Competition where competitors are pushed to their limits, a close approximation of a combat environment.
“The HRAPS is a very useful tool for us out in the field, especially Soldiers in the medical services,” said Hylton, who has served in the Army since 2015. He wore an HRAPS device during both the AFC-level Best Squad competition and throughout the Army-wide event in Georgia. “I was surprised at the capabilities it brings to the table. Having a tool like this as a medical provider, having this type of data in real time, would be extremely beneficial in a real-world environment.”
While no training or exercise can truly replicate the intensity or mental and physical exhaustion of combat, the Best Squad Competition is nevertheless a comprehensive test of a Soldier’s physical fitness and ability to endure under physical and mental duress. Long days under the Georgia sun, sleep deprivation, and calories burned combine to create clear physiological responses common during intense training and combat. Assessing the real-world applicability of HRAPS during events like the Best Squad Competition will give USAMMDA developers greater insights to improve and refine the development process, according to Hylton. It also points to the greatest value HRAPS gives leaders and medical providers on the front lines: identifying medical issues before they become medical emergencies.
“During emergency situations while treating injuries and casualties, every minute counts, and having a baseline of physiological data tracked over a period of time would help inform decision making while treating Soldiers in the field,” said Hylton. “We know that the effects of injuries compound over time, so being able to identify vital sign anomalies before they present in a patient is important to helping prevent possible complications with the onset of symptoms. If abnormalities do appear, we will be able to treat them early in the continuum, which would help mitigate injuries before they begin to escalate, and help providers apply a more holistic approach to casualty treatment, leading to better overall outcomes.”
Each competitor wore the HRAPS device through the first phase of the competition, which features 12 squads from across the Army, each vying for the title “Best Squad.” The combat-related events tested each competitor’s fitness and knowledge of Warfighter tasks and squad battle drills across Fort Stewart’s 200,000-plus acres. It was a perfect opportunity to assess the HRAPS program’s progress and applicability in real-world conditions, according to Emily Krohn, assistant product manager for USAMMDA’s HRAPS program.
“The HRAPS is a fantastic tool to help tactical commanders and frontline health care providers make critical decisions about Warfighters’ health and performance during both training and real-world operations,” said Krohn. “It is designed to help small-unit leaders and frontline medics identify possible health concerns before they become critical. It gives a snapshot of critical health and performance data about once a minute, so leaders can know their Soldiers’ location and vital signs whenever the device is transmitting data.”
The Army-wide Best Squad Competition is the culmination of a series of command-level competitions that have taken place since the beginning of the year. It is designed to test competitors’ tactical skills while demonstrating their commitment to the Army Values and Warrior Ethos. The competition is a challenging and exhausting event that mimics the rigors of combat operations, and it is a perfect showcase for the capabilities HRAPS offers to small-unit leaders during training, said Krohn.
“Because of the forecasted future nature of combat, it will be imperative to have modern, user-friendly, rugged, and expeditionary tools like HRAPS to help frontline commanders in the Joint Forces make more informed decisions,” said Krohn, who travelled to Fort Stewart from USAMMDA’s home at Fort Detrick, Maryland, to manage the HRAPS assessment. “The reality is that medevac capabilities found during previous operations, like in Iraq and Afghanistan, will be stretched very thin due to the possible operating environments of the future, where small teams will deploy far from higher echelon care facilities in austere, remote locations.
“It will be a critical advantage to have tools like HRAPS that will help provide advanced warning for health concerns that can point to deeper issues before they become emergencies,” she added. “Having real-time health information for the Warfighters on the front lines will help inform field medical care and maximize the effectiveness of available resources.”
Competitors in the event were selected from commands across the Army. The Army Futures Command team comprises Soldiers under the banner of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, experts in frontline medical care and medical technology development. According to Staff Sgt. Jesse Hylton, AFC team senior leader and practical nursing specialist with the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), the HRAPS is form-fitted for events like the Best Squad Competition where competitors are pushed to their limits, a close approximation of a combat environment.
“The HRAPS is a very useful tool for us out in the field, especially Soldiers in the medical services,” said Hylton, who has served in the Army since 2015. He wore an HRAPS device during both the AFC-level Best Squad competition and throughout the Army-wide event in Georgia. “I was surprised at the capabilities it brings to the table. Having a tool like this as a medical provider, having this type of data in real time, would be extremely beneficial in a real-world environment.”
While no training or exercise can truly replicate the intensity or mental and physical exhaustion of combat, the Best Squad Competition is nevertheless a comprehensive test of a Soldier’s physical fitness and ability to endure under physical and mental duress. Long days under the Georgia sun, sleep deprivation, and calories burned combine to create clear physiological responses common during intense training and combat. Assessing the real-world applicability of HRAPS during events like the Best Squad Competition will give USAMMDA developers greater insights to improve and refine the development process, according to Hylton. It also points to the greatest value HRAPS gives leaders and medical providers on the front lines: identifying medical issues before they become medical emergencies.
“During emergency situations while treating injuries and casualties, every minute counts, and having a baseline of physiological data tracked over a period of time would help inform decision making while treating Soldiers in the field,” said Hylton. “We know that the effects of injuries compound over time, so being able to identify vital sign anomalies before they present in a patient is important to helping prevent possible complications with the onset of symptoms. If abnormalities do appear, we will be able to treat them early in the continuum, which would help mitigate injuries before they begin to escalate, and help providers apply a more holistic approach to casualty treatment, leading to better overall outcomes.”
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