Military on EARTH Magazine

Benchmarks: March 31, 1933: The Civilian Conservation Corps is established

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:23:50 -0500

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers plant trees in Wisconsin in 1937. Across the U.S., the CCC planted more than a billion trees, reclaiming large swaths of forest land that had been logged during the preceding century. Credit: Library of Congress.

On Jan. 25, 1938, a heavy winter snowstorm struck Wisconsin, blocking the road connecting Blackwell to the nearest hospital 10 kilometers away in Laona. The storm left Blackwell resident Stella Simonis, an expectant mother who was hours away from delivering her child, snowed in with no way to get to the hospital, according to an Associated Press article that ran in several Wisconsin papers the next day.

Down to Earth With: Maurice J. 'Ric' Terman

Wed, 23 May 2018 17:22:13 -0400

Maurice Terman. Credit: Courtesy of Maurice Terman

A general wants to advance his army of tanks, but doesn’t know if the terrain he plans to cross will allow it. Tanks can’t go up steep slopes, for instance. And they can’t knock down large trees or traverse soft ground like peat bogs. That’s where military geologists come in — earth scientists who scope out the terrain to determine its suitability for different types of movement and construction.

Down to Earth With: Alexander Stewart

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:32:05 -0400

Alexander Stewart. Credit: Alexander Stewart.

Sgt. Alexander Stewart was brought up to believe serving in the military was an obligation all young men should fulfill. In 1991, at the age of 17, he answered the call of duty and joined the U.S. Army, which took him to Alaska with the 6th Infantry Division (Arctic)(Light). The state’s endless snow and ice fascinated Stewart, and after he left active duty, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in geology. In 2007, he completed a doctorate at the University of Cincinnati — in glacial geology, of course. Now he teaches the subject at St. Lawrence University in New York.

In a position to lead: How military technology and innovation can ease the world's water challenges

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 12:15:13 -0400

Water is run through a solar-powered water filtration system at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hammer in Iraq. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Jared Gehmann.

The U.S. military is spread across more than 500 installations worldwide, from small Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Afghanistan and Iraq that resemble remote villages without water treatment or sanitation infrastructure, to large domestic bases that operate like established municipalities with aging infrastructure. No matter the size or location of a particular installation, though, the military needs a lot of water.

Benchmarks: October 1, 1960: Camp Century, a cold war ice fortress is built

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 13:51:59 -0400

The soldiers who staffed Camp Century enjoyed many of the same accommodations as their fellow soldiers at bases around the world. They had a mess hall, a chapel, a theater, a dispensary, an emergency room and even a hobby shop, all onsite. Just like their counterparts elsewhere, Camp Century’s soldiers got out of bed, shaved, showered and went to work. However, when Camp Century personnel opened the door and walked from their quarters, they saw only one thing: snow. No sun, no moon, no sky, and no distant horizon. Just a corridor with walls, floor and ceiling made of snow.

Pentagon report calls for military to prepare for climate change

Tue, 30 Dec 2014 10:47:27 -0500

Credit: Public Domain.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is charged with ensuring national security against threats, both domestic and foreign. Now the Pentagon has released a report detailing its strategy against a developing foe: climate change. The 20-page “Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap” outlines actions the military can take to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, both at home and internationally.

U.S. Navy navigates a sea change in the Arctic

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:57:00 -0400

Last September, at the international Arctic Forum in the Russian city of Arkhangelsk, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin compared new Arctic shipping routes to the Suez Canal. The Northern Sea Route, he said, which follows the country’s northern coastline, would dramatically shorten trade routes between Europe and China.

How oil and water helped the U.S. win World War II

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:41:58 -0500

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers over aircraft carrier USS Enterprise after strikes against Palau in March 1944. U.S. Navy

The Spindletop oil discovery in eastern Texas in 1901. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

World War II U.S. Gen. Omar Bradley is often cited as the originator of the famous military quote: “Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics.” Irrespective of its origins, the adage holds true for most extended conflicts — and World War II is no exception. Managing logistics for the production, movement and consumption of energy was one of the critical determinants of success during the war.