A secured conference discussed the US Army's deadly threats from enemy drones. In a recent meeting with senior U.S. military officials, Sgt. Mickey Reeve gave a solution to the four-star general in charge of US Central Command about fixing an army issue. Many senior military officials and tech executives flanked him, but Gen. Kurilla was interested in hearing him.

Soaring temps affect US military bases in the Arctic

Autoplay

1 of 6

Worsening flood risks

U.S. military bases in the Arctic and sub-Arctic are failing to prepare their installations for long-term climate change as required, even though soaring temperatures and melting ice already are cracking base runways and roads and worsening flood risks up north.

Arctic melting

The Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the world. A March heat wave that hiked Arctic temperatures 50 degrees (30 Celsius) higher than normal stunned scientists.

Of 79 U.S. military installations overall, the Department of Defense says two-thirds are vulnerable to worsening flooding as the climate worsens and half are vulnerable to increasing drought and wildfires.

Threat to national security

The U.S. military long has formally recognized climate change as a threat to national security. That's in part because of the impact that intensifying floods, wildfires, extreme heat and other natural disasters are having and will have on U.S. installations and troops around the world. Increasing hurricanes, flooding, storms and wildfires in recent years have caused billions of dollars in damage and interrupted training and other operations.

No action taken

While even acknowledging climate change was a career risk for administration officials under former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden directed faster, more sweeping action on climate change by the Department of Defense and other agencies as one of his first acts in office. But inspectors found none of the bases carrying out the required assessments and planning to prepare for the long-term effects of climate change.

Sunken runways and damaged hangers

Inspectors have found the kind of problems associated with worsening climate change already causing trouble at the U.S. bases. Many of the specific discussions of climate risks at the six bases were blacked-out in the public report. But inspectors photographed and described some that included cracked and sunken runways undermined by melting ice, damaged hangers and roads, and a collapsed rock barrier, at Thule in Greenland.

Who is Sgt? Mickey Reeve?

FAQs

What was Centcom's version of Shark Tank?
Centcom organized its first pitch competition. Sgt. Reeve was one of five service members selected from hundreds of applicants. The contest was organized in the military's premier operations command headquarters. Brigadier General John Cogbill, the deputy operations director for Centcom, directed the officials that the ones closest to the problems are the best at spotting the pain points.

What was Sgt? Reeve's pitch?
He knew a primary training tool would help the military, so he coded the rudimentary training program in about a hundred hours. The program constructs probable future scenarios boosting the decision-making skills of the military. He worked day and night, prepared ten drafts, and rehearsed his pitch in front of his seniors for Centom's event Innovation Oasis.

Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by an external agency. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.

US military organises their version of 'Shark Tank' to deal with military issues

A young Sargent impressed Centcom's Shark Tank judges with his exceptional pitch.