Proceedings of the XMO Industrial Seminar 2026: Excellence in Manufacturing and Operations
Keywords
Advanced Manufacturing, Workforce Development, Soldier Training, Allied Trades Specialist, Additive Manufacturing, Machining, CAD, CAM, Reverse Engineering
Tracks
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
DOI
10.5703/1288284318678
Abstract
Under different titles - Machinist, Metal Worker, and now Allied Tradesman - the U.S. Army has employed soldiers to maintain equipment using traditional machining, welding and fabricating technologies. Recent advancements in metal and polymer additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, computer-aided design, and reverse engineering provide capabilities that enable warfighters to sustain, adapt, and modify existing systems, directly enhancing combat effectiveness. However, soldiers in fabrication-focused roles currently receive limited training in the application of these novel advanced manufacturing technologies to mission-relevant tasks. The training provided through Advanced Individual Training pipelines has not kept pace with the state-of-the-art technologies used in industry, leaving soldiers underprepared to fully leverage these capabilities. To address this gap, several external training programs offered at low or no cost to the soldier through the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), and the University of Tennessee Defense Development and Applied Research Center (UTK DARC) provide accessible pathways to build these critical skills. A small cohort of soldiers from the 626th Light Support Battalion, 101st Division Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division were sent through the three training programs and developed new skills for reverse engineering and repair applications The trained soldiers were able to apply the learned skills to several current projects involving a UAS system and the Infantry Squad Vehicle.
U.S. Army Allied Trades Specialist Workforce Development for Advanced Manufacturing
Under different titles - Machinist, Metal Worker, and now Allied Tradesman - the U.S. Army has employed soldiers to maintain equipment using traditional machining, welding and fabricating technologies. Recent advancements in metal and polymer additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, computer-aided design, and reverse engineering provide capabilities that enable warfighters to sustain, adapt, and modify existing systems, directly enhancing combat effectiveness. However, soldiers in fabrication-focused roles currently receive limited training in the application of these novel advanced manufacturing technologies to mission-relevant tasks. The training provided through Advanced Individual Training pipelines has not kept pace with the state-of-the-art technologies used in industry, leaving soldiers underprepared to fully leverage these capabilities. To address this gap, several external training programs offered at low or no cost to the soldier through the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), and the University of Tennessee Defense Development and Applied Research Center (UTK DARC) provide accessible pathways to build these critical skills. A small cohort of soldiers from the 626th Light Support Battalion, 101st Division Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division were sent through the three training programs and developed new skills for reverse engineering and repair applications The trained soldiers were able to apply the learned skills to several current projects involving a UAS system and the Infantry Squad Vehicle.