HARTFORD, Conn. –
As Department of War (DoW) leadership prioritizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration, the National Guard Performance Improvement Office is delivering high-impact regional training to meet the mission. Recently, Camp Nett in Niantic, Connecticut, hosted the "21st Century AI Enabled Warfighter" problem solving course. This milestone event marks the 300th Soldier or Airman Connecticut has trained in continuous improvement since 2024, signaling a major shift toward a more agile, tech-forward force.
The multi-tiered program offers Introductory, Foundational, and Advanced levels, immersing students from multiple states in realistic warfighter scenarios. These exercises align with senior leaderships’ focus areas, including domestic operations, partnership collaboration, and warfighter missions. By merging AI tools with Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) methodologies, the course develops a culture where personnel at every echelon can solve problems with speed and precision.
This initiative directly supports Connecticut’s Adjutant General, Major General Evon’s focus on innovation and upskilling through strategy execution and leadership training. Highlighting the operational shift, BG LaPierre, Director of Joint Staff, CTNG and wartime G3, 8th Army (dual-hat), stated, "Leveraging AI empowers our Airmen and Soldiers to rapidly solve problems. It's a game changer, but we must show them the how. This course does that." This modern approach builds on the Connecticut National Guard’s long history of quality programs, such as the CT Aviation Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD) that supports Army National Guard aviation fleet across 14 states and DC.
Armed with these new skills, students now apply their knowledge to high-impact projects designed to reduce lag times and enhance unit support across the force. These practical initiatives include reducing recruiter vacancy search times, streamlining JEEP program payments, and accelerating mission analysis for Joint Staff domestic operations. Other students focus on technical and administrative innovation, such as implementing the V01 CRH enterprise workflow management system and decreasing NCOER submission delays. These projects prove that AI-enabled CPI delivers measurable results across both administrative and tactical domains.
The "21st Century AI Enabled Warfighter Problem Solving" course delivers value far beyond immediate efficiency gains. Upon successful completion of these rigorous projects, participating Airmen and Soldiers earn their Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. This credential signifies their enhanced capability to drive innovation within their military roles and provides a highly sought-after qualification for their civilian careers. Through this commitment to upskilling, the National Guard ensures its leaders remain ready for the complexities of the modern, AI-enabled battlefield.