The U.S. Army is exploring what high effects operational tempo, little rest, and sustained combat have on soldier performance under stress. Researchers are hoping to better understand human capacity, improve training, and optimize warfare performance. 

It is a five-year Army Science and Technology program led by Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Soldier Center, Army Futures Command, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Combat Lethality Task Force. It is primarily focused on measuring and predicting human performance. The initiative is called Measure and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E). 

“We are seeking to maximize human potential by developing and applying quantitative measurements of performance under stress,” George Matook, MASTR-E program manager told the National Interest in an interview. 

Research is being done on soldiers’ minds, bodies, and physiology to assess key biomarkers such as heart rate, respiration, cognitive performance, and social and emotional variables. If a platoon has been up for several days, soldiers’ response time, aiming and attacking accuracy and movement under fire might be greatly impacted.

A key goal, along with measuring and protecting soldier health, is to help form a predictive model for Army leaders in a position to make key combat decisions. Performance can be assessed in a training environment to help generate data needed to form conclusions, conduct analyses, and make effective recommendations to decision-makers. If a soldier is running with their weapon, Matook explained, their heart rate will change. Yet another example is how an inertial measurement unit could be embedded into a soldier’s helmet to make key determinations. Commanders can have a cognitive and physical readiness status about how a given unit might make decisions or perform in combat.

“We will have information with which to make risk-informed decisions, as it is a risk management tool,” Matook said. “How would I use this to fight?”

Given the pace and volume of incoming information, one is likely to think of artificial intelligence- (AI) enabled computer algorithms used to perform analyses and identify key moments of relevance essential to making determinations. An AI-empowered computer system could, for example, average a large amount of heart rate readings, body temperature, oxygen capacity, and other key indicators, then bounce them off of a large database to solve problems and make essential, time-sensitive decisions. 

Kris Osborn is the Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

Image: Reuters.