INNOVATION

Innovation in Europe and Africa

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Video by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri

Thrashing the Guitar with Master Sgt. Gary Noel

United States Air Forces Central

March 2, 2012 | 2:24

Master Sgt. Gary Noel, a native of West Warwick, Rhode Island, is the guitarist with the U.S. Air Forces Command Band Afterburner. In this video, Noel takes you through his 100 day deployment with the band and talks about how he started playing guitar more than 30 years ago. Produced by Air Force Staff Sgt. David Salanitri. Also available in high definition.

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Rhode IslandAFCENTHigh DefinitionDavid SalanitriafterburnerWest WarwickGary Noel

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Thrashing the Guitar with Master Sgt. Gary Noel

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Latest News On Innovation in Europe and Africa

173rd Airborne Brigade Trains Drone Operators at Grafenwoehr

May 14, 2025 | 0:41

In a world where paratroopers fall from the sky, one platoon is flipping the script. Forget parachutes. This time, they're learning to fly a little differently.
Led by Chief Andrew Topits, a UAS instructor with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) , who’s leading the charge—one rotor at a time—throughout the year at Grafenwoehr Training Area. His mission? To make sure Sky Soldiers across every rank know how to operate Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS. Yes, that’s Army-speak for “drones.”

Using innovation to save equipment costs

May 1, 2025 | 0:50

U.S Army Sgt. Jacob Fritz, lead manufacturer, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, explains his tasks and leadership position in 2MEB's innovation lab, Apr. 2, 2024, on Mainz Kastel TMP Station in Wiesbaden, Germany. The innovation lab was created to find cost-effective and beneficial ways to revolutionize warfighting with techniques such as 3-D printing and soldering.

3ID Drone Validation: CW3 Mesa on Eyes Above the Fight

May 6, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Mesa, 3rd Infantry Division, discusses unmanned aerial systems drone validation during Combined Resolve at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center on Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, May 5, 2025. Combined Resolve is part of the Army’s “Transforming in Contact” initiative, which assesses the effectiveness of electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems, as well as how force structure changes and current tactics align with emerging technologies.

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Wiesbaden Drone Pilot Learns to Fly

May 1, 2025 | 0:52

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Aaron Ritzema, commander, 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2n Multi-Domain Taskforce, and Spc. Samantha Zaldivar, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with the Extended Range Sensing and Effects Company of the 2nd MDEB, begin preparations and training for Arcane Thunder 25 on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 15, 2025. The battalion innovation lab added a virtual drone flight simulation to the established mission command software to streamline the reconnaissance process.

Transforming in Contact during Exercise Combined Resolve

Feb. 7, 2025 | 2:43

Col. Joshua Glonek, 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division Brigade commander discusses how the U.S. Army's Transforming in Contact initiative is shaping how his unit trains and may influence the future of army training during Combined Resolve 25-1, at Hohenfels Training Area, Feb. 1, 2025. During CbR 25-1, TiC utilizes new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.

Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid during Combined Resolve

Jan. 22, 2025 | 1:08

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chavez, an air traffic control specialist assigned to 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, describes the features and capabilities of the Amy's new Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid prototype during Combined Resolve 25-01 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 14, 2025. The Next Generation Tactical Vehicle-Hybrid (NGTV-H) is a diesel-electric light reconnaissance vehicle. During Combined Resolve 25-1, the U.S. Army is implementing its Transforming in Contact initiative, utilizing new technologies and systems designed to enhance its warfighting readiness and ability to respond to crisis or conflict.

173rd Airborne Brigade hosts inaugural Innovation Symposium

April 1, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Francesco La Torre and U.S. Army Warrant Officer Justin Love discuss the 173rd Airborne Brigade's inaugural Innovation Symposium, held March 26-27, 2025 in Vicenza, Italy. The symposium showcased how the 173rd Airborne Brigade supports innovation by enabling bottom-up problem-solving improving warfighter readiness and deploy technology to increase warfighting lethality.

Soldiers demonstrate counter-drone tech in Germany

The U.S. Army showcased several sophisticated systems Soldiers operate to detect and respond to unknown, potentially hostile drones during a demonstration at Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, March 25, 2025.

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Soldiers live fire FPV drones in Germany

Soldiers conducted a live fire of first-person view drones for the first time at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 17-20, 2025. Although drones have been incorporated into training for years, this event combined FPV drones with live munitions in a series of live fire flights, all within range safety standards. The success is a result of collaboration between U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, 7th Army Training Command, Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

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Drone Training

March 13, 2025 | 1:27

Ssg. Gary E. Bowers, assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, describes the multiple uses of the Flying Basket drone at Gasinci training area, Croatia, Mar. 11, 2025.

Wiesbaden Soldiers create solutions in Innovation Lab

April 22, 2025 | 1:00

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian Lehr and Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Baumgartner, the officer and noncommissioned officer in charge of the Innovation Lab of the 2nd Multi-Domain Effects Battalion, 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force, spearhead technological advancement on Mainz Kastel Station, Germany, April 7, 2025. The innovation lab creates quick solutions to fill gaps in support during military operations. The innovation lab provides real-time, cost-saving solutions to the Army to increase its capabilities.

Army Drone Innovation Lab represents new model for battlefield adaptation

April 14, 2025 | 3:00

U.S. Army Capt. Ronan Sefton, an intelligence officer assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, explaining the creation of 2CR's drone innovation lab and its transformative capabilities and implications for the future of U.S. Army warfare during an interview at Balli Airfield UAS Facility, Vilseck, Germany, April 7, 2025. 2CR's Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Program involves the design, 3D printing, assembling, and testing of custom-built drones, all done exclusively by 2CR Soldiers. This enables the regiment to rapidly respond to changing battlefield conditions and quickly overcome environmental challenges.

Army Specialist Samantha Zaldivar operates a homemade simulator during Chimera Sunrise

CHIMERA SUNRISE PUTS INNOVATION LAB AT THE CENTER OF NEXT-GEN SENSOR-TO-SHOOTER TRAINING

A homemade simulator, a high-altitude balloon, and a new task organization came together last week in Chimera Sunrise, a virtual sensor-to-shooter exercise that pushed the boundaries of multi-domain operations inside the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force (2MDTF), 56th Artillery Command’s Innovation Lab.

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173rd Airborne Brigade Trains Drone Operators at Grafenwoehr

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Using innovation to save equipment costs

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3ID Drone Validation: CW3 Mesa on Eyes Above the Fight

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Wiesbaden Drone Pilot Learns to Fly