Virtual Reality Helps Soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Article Further Explaining PTSD Treatment

http://www.fastcompany.com/1728656/virtual-iraq-helps-soldiers-overcome-ptsd

It's inevitable that when certain people experience a traumatic event, that event might haunt them long after they have returned home. Between 2000 and 2011 76,000 soldiers have been diagnosed with PTSD,and the Army says that the condition is treatable.(http://articles.kspr.com/2012-03-23/ptsd_31232259)  Along with the traditional methods of treatment, including drugs and counseling, new methods of treating the disorder are being developed.  Virtual reality treatment gradually re introduces the soldier to the stressful events that haunt him so they are able to process their fears and emotions in a safe environment.  War can leave scars both mentally and physically on a soldier and this is one way in which technology is helping to heal the emotional trauma sustained in combat.  This method of PTSD treatment is being used with greater success and is giving soldiers a chance to have peace of mind once again.

The Science behind Camouflage

Camouflage Explained from HowStuffWorks.com

http://science.howstuffworks.com/military-camouflage.htm

The Army's Newest and most advanced Battle Uniform
http://defense-update.com/features/2010/february/new_multicam_uniform_19022010.html

There is more behind the colors and shapes which make up the soldiers uniform, than one might originally expect.  Much research and testing goes into the battle uniforms that soldiers are being equipped with.  The newest round of camouflage is better for desert environments than any previous version and is described to "blend and reflect some of the surrounding colors of the environment, thus blending in with the environment. The new pattern is designed to deceive the human eye and brain to accept the concealed object as part of the background. Furthermore, the pattern's complex, curved elements are shaped to efficiently maintain concealment by effectively managing scale and contrast at long and close range."(http://defense-update.com/features/2010/february/new_multicam_uniform_19022010.html)  The great effort and expense the military goes through to update the soldiers uniform shows how important something as simple as clothing can be for increasing their chances for survival.  Each and Every piece of gear issued to a soldier is thought out and designed to do 1 thing, increase a soldiers effectiveness and chances for survival on the battlefield. 

The Newest Generation of Armored Troop Transport Vehicles - Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP)

Article Describing Features and Effectiveness of MRAP
http://www.ndu.edu/press/lib/images/jfq-55/12.pdf

Good Blog with information on newest MRAP technology
http://subloviate.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html 

Roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) were a fairly new concept in the beginning of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and eventually became the leading threat to US and Coalition Troops.  The dynamics of warfare changed as our enemies relied heavily on guerrilla tactics, and modifications quickly had to be made to the way soldiers protected themselves.  In the start of the war soldiers were using soft skinned Humvee's and Trucks, which had little armor and soldiers were being blown up on a regular basis.  The need for more advanced troop carrying platforms was quickly realized and companies like International and General Dynamics designed vehicles which greatly increased a soldiers survivability in the event of an attack.  A variety of technologies were developed and combined to provide a soldier with better safety and capability while traveling the roads in the middle east.  These videos and articles provide information on the technologies and capabilities of this new fleet of advanced military vehicles.  The vehicles have greatly decreased the number of casualties since they were first shipped and continue to do so today.  The first link and document shows just how effective these vehicles have been at saving the lives of soldiers.  The second link is to a blog loaded full of information on all types of armored military vehicles.

Robots Doing the Dirty work

 HowStuffWorks.com always comes through with great info and video footage

http://www.howstuffworks.com/predator.htm

The military is always looking for every way possible to increase mission effectiveness and reduce human casualties, to gain the advantage over their enemy.  Replacing humans with machines is one strategy being used with great success.  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being operated from a pilot sitting on the ground miles away, so they can remain out of harms way.  These Aircraft have proven to be more effective than a pilot operated aircraft because they have a greater range and they eliminate the need to put a military member at risk.  This website and video shows just how effective these unmanned aircraft can be at gathering battlefield data and relaying to soldiers on the ground to give them a great tactical advantage. 

 

This video shows a team of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) soldiers using a robot to defuse an explosive, while at a safe distance.  Every time one of these devices crashes or gets blown up, a human life has basically been saved.  The weapon of choice for the insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan today is the Improvised Explosive Device.  These devices can be remotely detonated by a trigger man hundreds of yards away with a cell phone.  Diffusing one of these devices hidden on the side of the road can be extremely dangerous for an EOD troop and these robots are designed to do the dangerous job for them.  A protective explosion suit is no match for a two 500 lb. bombs wired together and buried underneath a road way.  That's when they call in the robots who can cruise right up to the device risk free and deactivate it or place a detonation charge.  The sooner the device is cleared the traffic can move safely again.  These robots have been proven essential in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Frontline troops push for solar energy

Video Demonstrating Devices Reducing Petroleum Use

http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2011/08/18/t_bst_marines_solar_afghanistan_iraq.cnnmoney/

Military's efforts to Save Lives with Green Technology

http://www.forbes.com/sites/amywestervelt/2012/02/14/how-the-military-uses-green-tech-to-save-soldiers-lives/

1 in 8 army casualties in the war in Iraq was due to the protection of a fuel convoy.  Soldiers on the front lines rely heavily on fossil fuels to carry out there missions.  Transportation and Power generation provide the soldiers with the tools and capabilities they need to carry out there mission and have the best chance for returning home safely.  Both of these require huge amounts of energy so technology developers are looking at new ways to reduce the amount of petroleum being used, which could hopefully in turn reduce the amount of casualties due to protection of fuel convoys.  Marines are rapidly testing and developing new solar devices, influenced from the private sector, to reduce the required amount of fuel to conduct their missions.