The U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground Command Group and Arctic Regions Test Center’s Command Group from Alaska visited Tropic Regions Test Center in Central and South America the week of March 16.
Despite the obvious differences in their climate, the two test centers have commonalities and learned a great deal about each other’s operations.
Robert Dunn, Deputy Program Manager for Tropic Test Support Services said, “It’s interesting to see how there is overlap on harsh environments in general” adding “It’s also interesting to see their testing approach and how they are executing to make sure they are aligned to what happens in Panamá and Suriname as well.”
If the test plans call for it, a test item will make stops at Yuma, Arctic and Tropic Regions. While each test center strives to educate customers on the value of testing in each climate, now they can do it with personal experience.
The visit was a first for Jeff Lipscomb the Arctic Regions Test Center Technical Director who said, “We are always advocating for all three natural environments, and now having gotten down here and experiencing and seeing the capabilities and the limitations, allows me to better advocate for TRTC when I am taking extreme natural environments with to potential customers and political entities.”
The visit includedastop toCorozalofficesin Panamáwhere theCommandGroupsmet withemployees supporting the missionthere and toured the facilities.
Thecapabilities tour took them to theHorokoMaintenance Facility and testsites including aroad course where several Yuma Test Center employees arecurrently supportingtheArmored Multi-Purpose Vehicletesting.
In Suriname, theCommandGroups visited theAfobakamaintenance facility,road courses, andtraversedthrough the jungletrails.
YPG Commander Col. John Nelsonsaw the value each participant took from the tripandknows the contacts made willultimatelyhelpthe Soldiers.
“It was a good opportunity to expose the folks from thearctic to things thatimpactSoldiers in thetropics. The arctic specializes in clothing and equipment andthat’ssomething the Armyhasn’tfocused on in a long time as far as tropics, how are clothing and equipment working inthe tropics. So, itwas a good opportunity for them to share their subject matterexpertiseinclothing and equipment with folks that are down there in the jungle trying to learn those lessons,” said Nelson.