LIZEMORES, WV January 22, 2026 — A new push to speed battlefield-ready technology into the hands of U.S. forces is getting underway as the U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) Chief Technology Officer’s office teams up with the U.S. Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2), and Army units, including the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), to launch the FY 2026 Rapid Operational Innovation Detachment (ROID) experimentation campaign. These efforts debut with the first Driving Innovation in Realistic Training (DIRT) Days 26-01, the first in a series of experimentation events that tap into real-world training environments to accelerate technology breakthroughs for frontline Soldiers.
The ROID mission directly aligns with the CENTCOM’s Rapid Employment Joint Task Force (REJTF) mandate to accelerate processes for outfitting deployed forces with cutting-edge capabilities. Specifically, each event in the series focuses on rapidly transitioning technology into Soldiers’ hands to increase CENTCOM’s operational readiness and mission effectiveness by building on the infrastructure and expertise developed by the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, in collaboration with CMI2.
By placing emerging technologies directly with Soldiers, each DIRT Days event enables rapid testing and refinement, improving readiness and mission execution, while streamlining the process from concept to fielding.
“Warfighters know what works and what doesn’t, and ROID and DIRT Days give them a direct line to shape the tools they rely on in real missions,” said Joy Shanaberger, CENTCOM CTO. “This series ensures technology isn’t just cutting-edge but truly combat-ready.”
Throughout the event prioritizing immersive experimentation, Soldiers provided critical feedback on developing technology designed to enhance battlefield readiness and operational effectiveness. Feedback includes daily discussions and researcher engagement ensuring end-user needs remain at the center of every evaluation, advancing innovation from the bottom up.
“DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory works to connect emerging technology with real-world capabilities, and experimentation events like ROID and DIRT Days allow us to do that,” said Arwen DeCostanza, program manager, Catalyst Pathfinder and Accelerating Force, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory. “When our researchers work directly with Soldiers in realistic settings, we can quickly improve technologies, gather important feedback, and speed up the adoption of innovations that strengthen readiness and lethality, giving the joint force an edge.”
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), a longtime supporter of CMI2’s Adaptive Experimentation Facility, underscored West Virginia’s importance as a national hub for military experimentation and development.
“West Virginia has a proud history of supporting our nation’s warfighters, and I’m glad to see CENTCOM bringing hands-on experimentation and innovation to our state,” Capito said. “By conducting real-world testing through initiatives like ROID and DIRT Days, CENTCOM is strengthening military readiness while highlighting West Virginia as a place where advanced technology, training, and national security priorities come together.”
DIRT Days puts new tech in Soldiers’ hands to quickly test, refine, and field capabilities that boost readiness and speed deployment. The first ROID DIRT Days event of FY26 will take place in February at the CMI2 Adaptive Experimentation Facility at Fort Andrew in Clay County, West Virginia.
“The Soldier’s perspective is what makes DIRT Days work,” said Brian Gazaway, DIRT Days Planner for CMI2. “Their direct, daily feedback shapes how new technology evolves and ensures tactical innovation builds from the ground up.”
