FORT BARFOOT, Va. –
National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division took part in a command post training exercise to sharpen their readiness for real-world missions April 26 to May 10, 2025, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The event allowed division staff to rehearse their duties in a simulated combat environment.
This year’s exercise included a scientific twist. For the first time, researchers from the U.S. Army’s Research Laboratory, part of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, joined the event, not as participants, but as observers. Their goal was to measure the invisible signals coming from the division’s communications systems.
“We’ve been driving around the [operations area] measuring the electromagnetic spectrum being emitted by the communications systems to characterize what the division looks like,” explained Capt. Edward Olbrych, a 29th Infantry Division officer and civilian employee with DEVCOM. “Once we know what we look like on the electromagnetic spectrum, we can take steps to reduce our signature.”
Those signals, known as electromagnetic signatures, can reveal a unit’s location to an enemy. By understanding and minimizing these signatures, Army units can improve their chances of staying hidden and safe on the battlefield.
“This data is critical,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Antonio Nash, an electromagnetic warfare technician with the division. He explained how it helps commanders see what their units look like from an enemy’s perspective and make smarter decisions about how to operate.
The partnership between the 29th Infantry Division and the Army Research Lab is just getting started. The division recently signed a 10-year agreement giving researchers access to large-scale training events like this one. The goal is to help Army leaders at the highest levels find better ways to protect troops by managing their electronic signals more effectively.
“The 29th ID is proud to work with Army Research Labs and be at the forefront of the Army's technology research and development,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph DiNonno, Commanding General of the 29th ID. “The 29th's history has always seen us leading the way in major conflicts. We are doing it again in a unique way as our Soldiers directly contribute to technological advancements that will support all Army components in today's and tomorrow's fights.”
Following the division exercise, ARL will accompany the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in June as they undertake eXportable Combat Training Capability rotation at Fort Barfoot. The findings will help broaden the Army’s understanding of how different types of units appear on the electromagnetic spectrum and how to keep them safer in combat.