A U.S. Army officer is sharing modified combat equipment that could offer the military a more optimized alternative to traditional TAPS, or Tactical Assault Panel System. In November, we spoke with 1st Lt. Zachary Calderone of the 25th Infantry Division during the Joint Multinational Readiness Readiness Center Pacific, or JPMRC, training exercise in Hawaii. The JPMRC is a 10-day, large-scale training exercise in which the U.S. military, in collaboration with international partners, uses realistic combat scenarios that prepare Soldiers for combat against peer adversaries like China.
Headquartered on Oahu, the 25th Infantry Division typically trains for jungle combat. That day, Calderone’s platoon was operating at the Pōhakuloa Training Area on the island of Hawaii. While the Tactical Assault Panel System is one of the Army’s standard combat equipment, Calderone was tasked by his unit with testing a prototype optimized for jungle warfare.
Calderone explains the differences between what he calls the “jungle rig” and the standard TAPS rig, highlighting how the new rig offers greater adjustability and breathability.
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