Shaping Tomorrow's Battlefield: West Point Cadets Visit MED CDID

By Col. James Jones, Medical Capability Integration DirectorateNovember 20, 2023

Shaping Tomorrow's Battlefield: West Point Cadets Visit MED CDID
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Jonathan Taylor, U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence commandant, (left) West Point cadets and Col. James Jones, Medical Capability Development Integration Directorate director, (right) prepare to meet Maj. Gen. Mike Talley, commanding general of the United States Medical Center of Excellence, as part of the cadets' visit to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) from Nov. 14-16. The visit to JBSA encompassed educational and leadership engagement activities, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and innovations in military logistics and healthcare systems. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo) VIEW ORIGINAL
Shaping Tomorrow's Battlefield: West Point Cadets Visit MED CDID
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Gen. Mike Talley, commanding general of the United States Medical Center of Excellence, speaks to West Point cadets during their visit to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) from Nov. 14-16. The cadets' visit to JBSA encompassed educational and leadership engagement activities, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and innovations in military logistics and healthcare systems. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Photo) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas - In a groundbreaking initiative, three West Point cadets sponsored by the Medical Capability Development and Integration Directorate (MED CDID) of the Futures and Concepts Center , Army Futures Command, undertook a strategic visit to Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) from Nov. 14-16. The West Point Cadets participating in this new initiative, are working on projects related to contested logistics and medical planning that align with the Army Chief of Staff's priorities and the Secretary of the Army's objectives to showcase a forward-thinking approach supporting transforming military logistics.

The cadets' visit to JBSA encompassed educational and leadership engagement activities, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and innovations in military logistics and healthcare systems.

Cadet Riley C. Worshek shared his thoughts on the Joint Freeze-Dried Plasma (FDP) Limited Objective Experiment (LOE) at the Rehearsal of Concept Drill Facility. "Observing the LOE was a pivotal experience," Worshek said. "It gave us firsthand insight into the crucial role of healthcare logistics in supporting combat operations, which is vital for our project on enhancing supply and sustainment strategies."

Their interactions with key military leaders, including Maj. Gen. Mike Talley, commanding general of the United States Medical Center of Excellence and MED CDID Division Chiefs, were instrumental in broadening their perspective on strategic military operations. Stressing the significance of these engagements, Cadet Jasper T. Doyle said, "our discussion with Maj. Gen. Talley was incredibly enlightening, giving us a deeper understanding of the challenges in military logistics planning for future conflicts."

The mentorship dinner, hosted by the MED CDID director, facilitated in-depth discussions on military logistics.

Emphasizing the impact of his interaction with Mrs. Trish Cobb, Chief of Operations Research & System Analysis (ORSA) Cadet Benjamin A. Turner said, "meeting Mrs. Cobb was invaluable. Her expertise in ORSA is crucial in guiding us on how to effectively collect and analyze data for our predictive logistics planning models.”

Project Alignment with Army Priorities

The cadets' project, which includes a comprehensive literature review, predictive tool development, and predictive model construction, directly contributes to the Army Chief of Staff's focus on warfighting, continuous transformation, strengthening the profession, and delivering ready combat formations. It also reflects the Secretary of the Army's objectives, including fostering a sustainable strategic path, enhancing data-centric operations, and strategically adapting recruitment and retention approaches.

The JBSA visit marks a significant milestone for the cadets, enhancing their project to revolutionize logistics planning for future military operations. By aligning their efforts with the strategic goals of the Army, they are not only contributing to advancing military logistics. Still, they are also setting an example for future integration of practical military exposure with academic research.

This initiative highlights the Army's commitment to developing future leaders capable of navigating the complexities of modern warfare with innovative and strategic solutions.