FORT STEWART, Ga. — Team members with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) are supporting the U.S. Army-wide Best Squad Competition this week and next, providing real-time health and performance data to the competition’s supervisors at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Each of the 60 competitors from across 12 U.S. Army commands composing 12 separate squads is wearing a Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) device throughout the duration of the event. The HRAPS consists of a lightweight transmitter – about the size and shape of an earbud – that affixes to a wearer’s chest with adhesive strips and portable, handheld devices that receive and display physiological data for tactical leaders and medical providers at and near the front lines.
While the teams are vying for top billing as the best squad in the U.S. Army, the competition presents a perfect opportunity for the HRAPS development team to assess the program’s progress in real-world conditions, according to Emily Krohn, assistant product manager for USAMMDA’s HRAPS program.