The US Army is going digital, but soldiers still want physical backups of their battlefield maps

US Army soldiers are experimenting with new digital tools and weapons, while still keeping traditional physical backups on hand. The Army is undergoing a major digital transformation, but many soldiers remain hesitant to fully abandon their analog methods. During a recent exercise at Fort Irwin in California, troops tested a variety of technologies, including the Army's Next Generation Command and Control system, or NGC2.

NGC2 features a digital map application that provides real-time information on friendly forces and weapons. Captain Mohamed Elmaola, a soldier with the 4th Infantry Division, said the digital map helps him maintain situational awareness and make precise targeting decisions. However, Elmaola and other soldiers still carry physical maps as a backup, especially in situations where network connections may be lost.

The physical maps provide a more comprehensive view of the battlefield, particularly in degraded environments where digital systems may be compromised. Army leaders emphasized that the use of new technology is often a matter of individual preference and comfort level. Some soldiers find that using both digital and analog tools allows them to compare and update their maps, while others rely on the digital systems for real-time updates.

The Army is using feedback from exercises like Project Convergence Capstone to evaluate the effectiveness of the new technologies and determine what improvements are needed. Brig. Gen. Daniel Hibner, head of the Army Joint Modernization Command, stressed that capturing and analyzing observations from the exercise is crucial for moving forward with the digital transformation.