Brig. Gen. Scott Spellmon, commander of U.S. Army Operational Test Command at Fort Hood, spoke to the members of the Harker Heights Rotary Club at their morning breakfast Aug. 7 at the St. Paul Hasong Catholic Church Parish Hall.

“This is a very busy time for us,” Spellmon said. “We do all the operational testing for the Army and some for the Marine Corps.”

As stated in the law, every piece of equipment goes through an operational test in combat conditions to ensure it’s safe and that it functions as intended before equipment is put into the hands of soldiers to be used in the field.

Rotarian Phil Haggerty praised the general officer’s role in OTC.

“This is an exceptionally intelligent gentleman and we are well off with a person with his drive out there keeping an eye on things so we can sleep better at night,” he said.

The work of the group includes testing of the new tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and weapon systems along with combat optics, scopes and sights, all the new helicopters, fixed-winged and unmanned aircraft that the Army may be about to purchase. Mission command also tests all the new networks and tactical radios.

There are four other directorates across the nation at various military installations that work together with Fort Hood’s Operational Test Command in testing everything from airborne special operations to intelligence and electronic warfare.

Senior Army leadership is struggling with balancing priorities.

“I am pleased to report that senior leadership is not taking any risks in respect to testing. We have everything we need to do our job from the personnel and financial perspective,” Spellmon said.

Currently, there is testing underway of the latest Apache helicopter, the A-64E.

“It is a testament of the power of American industry solving problems for the military,” Spellmon said.

Testing Humvee replacement

A team is going to Fort Stewart, Ga., for nine weeks to test the Humvee replacement. The new model is called the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. Three different prototypes will be put through their paces in the hands of infantry soldiers that will result in a report prepared by the directorate.

“I’m a veteran and worked at the forerunner organization, which became the Operational Test Command at Fort Hood,” Rotarian Mike Pinson said. “It’s in good hands now. The general is on top of things and knows what needs to be done. My concern is the drawdown of the military and the problems that will create.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rotarian Otis Evans announced that during the next KNCT-TV fundraiser, the station would air the TV documentary “When I Have Your Wounded.”

Evans was a medevac pilot in Vietnam for 12 years and appears in the movie.

He also will take part in an in-studio interview.