Senator Brown visits Natick Soldier Systems Center

By Bob Reinert/USAG Natick Public AffairsNovember 19, 2010

Senator Brown visits NSSC
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Senator Scott Brown visits NSSC
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NATICK, Mass. - United States Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts received a series of briefings and demonstrations before joining military and civilian employees in a Thanksgiving luncheon Nov. 19 at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center.

After taking a windshield tour of the post, Brown received an overview of NSSC and its installation master plan. He then was briefed on the Joint Service Clothing Collaboration, Camouflage Technology, Soldier Load, Ballistic Blast Technology, and Soldier Power and Energy.

His party next moved to the Doriot Climatic Chambers, where Brown watched Soldiers walk a treadmill in the arctic chamber and received a briefing on traumatic brain injury research. He also visited the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine's altitude chamber, hypoxia room, physiology lab and immersion tank.

Before departing, Brown, a lieutenant colonel in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, joined in a holiday lunch at the Lord Community Center.

"Thank you for what you do, making our lives as Soldiers more comfortable and safer, because without the innovation and support of this facility and all the people that are using their brains to make it better and easier and safer, you know, we're not going to be as effective as a fighting force," Brown said. "I know that to be true."

His staff members later continued on to briefings about Expeditionary/Contingency Basing, Soldier System Integration, and Flame-Resistant Clothing Testing.

Brown serves on the Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

"Just know that I'm battling every day, trying to assure you have the tools and resources and funds ... trying to live within the confines of what we have to do better ... so our men and women who are serving can do the job and come home safely," said Brown, "and you're an integral part of that.

"You should be very, very proud. As long as I'm in this position, I'll do my very, very best to advocate for you."

A 30-year member of the National Guard, Brown now serves in the Judge Advocate General Corps.

"I started out as a PFC, infantry," Brown said. "I get it, as well. I care very deeply about our men and women that are serving and my role."

Brown was elected Jan. 19, 2010, to fill the term of the late Senator Ted Kennedy.

"We're very honored to have Senator Brown here today, so that we could show him all the great things that the folks here at the Natick Soldier Systems Center are doing to support our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen," said Brig. Gen. Harold Greene, NSSC commander. "Senator Brown, as a serving National Guardsman, clearly understood the value of the work that's done here at Natick to feed, clothe and shelter (them).

"We're especially thrilled that we could have him here on the same day that we did our Thanksgiving celebration and he could join us and join in some fellowship with not only the civilian staff but also the Soldiers here."