April 11, 2019 • APG News B5 LAB Continued from Page B1 boards, desk configurations, an ergonomic mouse and more. “Originally, the basic premise was to pro- vide an opportunity for our staff to view proper office ergonomic products currently on the market and afford them the opportu- nity to demo the various pieces of equipment prior to purchasing,” York-Hubbard said. “However, it also morphed into a teaching tool for proper ergonomic positioning in the office workspace.” York-Hubbard said properly using key- boards can help reduce exposure to awkward postures, repetition and contact stress. She said the keyboard should sit directly in front of the users, shoulders should be relaxed and elbows close to the body and wrists should be straight and in line with the forearms. The new lab has a variety of items for people to try. Its current inventory includes several types of chairs to include Humans- cale, Hermon Miller, Body Built and Steel- case, alternative keyboards and mice, and various sitting and standing equipment. “We lend out the items that are portable -- Photo by Joyce M. Conant, CCDC ARL typically for two weeks and coach the staff when visiting on the stationary equipment,” Leslie York-Hubbard, center, explains the importance of proper desk configuration to employees in the new ergonom- York-Hubbard said. “Our goal is to stay cur- ics lab created by the safety office of the U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory. rent with industry standards and equipment they are more productive, have less lost work guide folks as to what items are truly ergo- on recommendations from other users.” and continue to provide our workforce with days and have a more positive morale, all of nomic, not just marketed as such.” To request a workstation assessment, the information, tools and expertise they which certainly benefits this organization,” Researchers from across the lab have ben- email York-Hubbard at leslie.s.york-hub- need to ensure they have an ergonomical- she said. efited by trying out the equipment prior to [email protected]. ly correct office workspace that provides An ergonomic workstation does not purchasing. The CCDC Army Research Laborato- the proper positioning for maximum com- always entail purchasing new equipment. “I engaged with Leslie after suffering a ry is an element of the U.S. Army Combat fort and to eliminate musculoskeletal stress.” Many times it is more about reconfiguring back injury,” said Dr. Scott Schoenfeld, ARL Capabilities Development Command. As the York-Hubbard said the lab is a great addi- items that are already in place and conduct- senior research scientist. “For me, this was Army’s corporate research laboratory, ARL tion to the organization and with it, she hopes ing a bit of ergonomic guidance. not a matter of comfort, but rather pain man- discovers, innovates and transitions science to help reduce discomfort while working. “The benefits of trying the equipment is agement. I struggled to tolerate the time I had and technology to ensure dominant strate- “Having this lab is important, because by really two-fold,” York-Hubbard said. “One, to sit at the desk.” gic land power. Through collaboration across providing guidance and proper workstations if someone is experiencing discomfort we Schoenfeld said he and York-Hubbard had the command’s core technical competencies, we can, in some cases, correct discomfort,” can try various options to see if we can ade- helpful conversations about basic posture. CCDC leads in the discovery, development she said. “Ultimately we would like to pre- quately address or eliminate the discomfort. “She also helped me reconfigure my work- and delivery of the technology-based capa- vent discomfort or injuries in the first place.” Second, it is a cost-savings initiative. Clear- space,” he said. “It’s too easy for an unin- bilities required to make Soldiers more lethal She added that the lab aligns well with ly there is a better success rate if people can formed consumer to purchase equipment that to win the nation’s wars. CCDC is a major ARL’s “People First” initiative. demo an item to make sure they like it and turns out to be ineffective. She guided me in subordinate command of the U.S. Army “When workers are more comfortable, it fits appropriately before they buy it. I also acquiring equipment that was helpful based Futures Command. to use on all of its armored vehicles, Milley PROTOTYPE said. APS is a system of sensors and directed energy that would counter missiles or incom- ing rounds. Continued from Page B1 Equipping four brigade combat teams with APS is an interim measure or “waypoint,” he For instance, the Next-Generation Com- said, until the entire armored force could be bat Vehicle is one of the Army’s six priorities equipped. and one of the programs embedded under it is the Optionally Manned Vehicle. The Army Entrepreneur networking released a request for proposal, or RFP, for The selection of Austin, Texas, as head- the vehicle March 29. quarters for the Army Futures Command gets the Army’s research and development com- Maturing technologies munity out from behind gates, Esper said, and “The technologies have advanced to a allows them to interact with industry and aca- level where we have confidence,” Milley said demia as Austin is home to the University of of the Optionally Manned Vehicle. Texas system. “Second, we are doing a lot of experiment- “We’re not behind walls or barbed wire,” ing and prototyping,” he said. He explained Esper said. “We’re actually out in the commu- the process is “fundamentally different” than nity. We’re working with young entrepreneurs what happened with the Future Combat Sys- and innovators and we’re also reaching out to tems under development a decade ago. academia there and in other places.” “With FCS, we got out in front of our Photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Mejia An Artificial Intelligence Task Force was headlights, in the sense that we were trying to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley testifies before the House Armed established a couple of months ago in partner- demand a requirement in a vehicle for which ship with Carnegie Mellon University in Pitts- the technology wasn’t mature,” he said. Services Committee about the FY20 National Defense Authorization budget request as Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson watches, April 2, 2019. burgh, Esper said. He said more than a dozen “We know factually that optionally- companies have expressed interest in the task manned or robotic vehicles work today -- a little different than driving in the terrain the vehicles which “will come off the produc- force, along with other institutions of high- they’re working in the commercial world, downrange where the Army maneuvers, so tion line in the not-too-distant future will have er learning. they’re driving and delivering goods and ser- some research and development still needs to great capability to be optionally manned,” he “We’re trying to involve all parties in this,” vices up and down the highways and byways be done and some challenges still need to be said. Esper said. of America, even as we speak.” overcome. Active protection systems is another tech- Milley added that “AFC has tentacles Milley said driving on the highways is The Army, though, is very confident that nology that the Army is developing and plans throughout the nation.” DID YOU KNOW? Potomac River. 2019 National Park Week runs Located near the community of Fort Washington, Maryland, for April 20-28. many decades, the fort was the only defensive fort protecting Washington D.C. The original fort was completed in 1809, Get ready to celebrate National Park Week 2019 when parks and was named Fort Warburton, but renamed in 1808. across the country will host a variety of special programs and During the War of 1812, the fort was destroyed by its own events. To kick off National Park Week, most parks will waive garrison during a British advance in 1814. The same year, entrance fees Saturday, April 20. Check with your destination Acting Secretary of War James Monroe, the 5th President to see if they participate. Special days, themes and events of the United States, oversaw the start of the fort’s revival during the week will highlight the many ways to enjoy to upgrade the Washington D.C. defenses. The Army national parks. Corps of Engineers completed the reconstruction 10 Themes include National Junior Ranger Day, April 20; years later at a cost of $426,000. Military & Veterans Recognition Day, April 21; Earth Day, April Over the years, Fort Howard served several functions. 22; Transportation Tuesday, April 23; Wild Wednesday, April During the Civil War, it was the only defense for the capitol 24; Throwback Thursday, April 25; Friendship Friday, April 26; but with no troops garrisoned there, it saw no action. BARK Ranger Day, April 27; and Park Rx Day, April 28. Its guns were upgraded in the 1890s during the Spanish More than 400 parks and historic sites across the nation are American War and it housed an artillery battery. At the turn of available to everyone, nearly every day of the year. the century, it was garrisoned by the 260th Coast Guard Artillery Maryland National Parks include: Regiment which was disarmed after World War I. From 1922 to 1939 Antietam National Battlefield; Appalachian Scenic Trail; Assateague Island it was occupied by the Army’s 3rd Battalion 12th Infantry which eventually National Seashore; National Heritage Area – Baltimore; Baltimore-Washington relocated to Fort Myer, Virginia. The Army Adjutant General School moved to Parkway; Capt.