By Mr. Mike Shelton, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command FORT BRAGG, North Carolina – Operational Airborne Soldiers here wrapped up testing new night vision goggles and a laser range finder. To determine the operational effectiveness and suitability of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B) — the Army’s […]
Parachute
New reserve parachute testing seeks to eliminate potential premature activations
Sgt. 1st Class Vatasana Phorimavong, a jumpmaster with the 82nd Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Air Operations noncommissioned oficer-in-charge conducts an inspection of a Soldier rigged with the T-11R Single Pin parachute to ensure he is combat ready for airborne operations. (Photo by Michael Zigmond, Photographer, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army […]
Media Advisory: U.S. Army Operational Test Command to hold CSM assumption of responsibility ceremony Friday
WEST FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The U.S. Army Operational Test Command will hold a command sergeant major assumption of responsibility ceremony at its headquarters here Friday at 10 a.m. Command Sgt. Maj. Martin M. Conroy will arrive after serving as command sergeant major of the 181st Infantry Brigade, First Army Division […]
Ft. Bragg parachute riggers turn air drop testing skills into ‘Operation Iron Mask’ for Coronavirus pandemic
By Maj. Cam Jordan, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command FORT BRAGG, North Carolina — Parachute riggers who normally airdrop test Army equipment are using their sewing skills to fabricate protective masks to keep Soldiers and Civilians safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In what they have dubbed “Operation Iron Mask,” […]
82nd Airborne Division conducts new wheeled cargo delivery system test to support Immediate Response Force
By Mr. James (JC) Cochran, Military Test Plans Analyst, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command (Editor’s note: The Airborne drop test in the article below was conducted before COVID19 ramifications were fully understood. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command continues developing and planning equipment testing operations to ensure all advances […]
Airborne test jumpers apply risk reduction tests before equipment tests begin
By Mr. Mike Shelton, Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command FORT BRAGG, North Carolina — Test jumpers here are making sure Special Operations Forces military freefall (MFF) parachutists can safely use their rucksacks without compromising their missions. Risk reduction testing begins inside vertical wind tunnels, which simulates MFF conditions. Airborne […]