Fort Harrison, Mont. – Today, the Montana Army National Guard held a ribbon cutting event for a new Mobile Immediate Need Engineering Resource (MINER) at Fort Harrison.
The MINER is a mobile engineering lab that comes equipped with several of the latest tools in prototype engineering. This space which will enable Montana’s Soldiers to receive engineering support and guidance as they turn their innovative ideas into prototype solutions and novel technologies that are critical to Army future operations.
The MTARNG has partnered with the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory and the Civil-Military Innovation Institute in this project. This is the first partnership between these organizations and the National Guard, meaning the Montana National Guard is the first in the nation to bring this capability to our force.
“I’ve already heard from several Soldiers who have ideas that they are excited to make a reality through this new facility,” said Brig. Gen. James Wilkins, Montana National Guard Director of Joint Staff. “Through our partnerships, we are establishing an environmental lab and makerspace capable of testing equipment and vehicles in temperatures ranging from -60 to 85 degrees Celsius.”
Attendees at the ceremony included Montana Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras, Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins, Montana National Guard Director of Joint Staff Brig. Gen. James Wilkins, United State Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory Chief of the Technology Transition Office Dr. Tom Saltysiak, Founder of the Civil-Military Innovation Institute, Dr. Zenovy Wowczuk, Catalyst Pathfinder Innovation Program head Mr. Scott Martin, CMI2 Pathfinder Warfighter Innovation Chief for Montana Mr. Scott Abplanalp, Headwaters Tech Hub Executive Director Dr. Tim VanReken, and Montana State University Director of Innovation Mr. Mark Sharp.
"The investment and dedication of the MINER resource at Fort Harrison, in addition to future investments we will make in the coming months, only means the impact of Montana on tactical innovation will continue to evolve and positively impact our Soldiers," said Dr. Zenovy Wowczuk, founder of the Civil-Military Innovation Institute. "Montana is an integral part of our 'innovation in the dirt' efforts, and at every opportunity, Montanans demonstrate you are up to the task.”
The next step in the innovation program will involve the MTARNG renovating facilities to create a cold weather experimentation chamber, which will be announced at a future date.
Join our team! For information on the opportunities in the Montana Army National Guard, please contact recruiting at 406-324-3255.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2024 16:43 |
| Story ID: | 478152 |
| Location: | HELENA, MONTANA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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