Aerospace Science Professor explains benefits of GPS technology for all military personnel

GPS technology was first tested and then utilized by military members in the 1960s.  Since then, GPS has now expanded to the commercial market, and is on its way to becoming standard on all transportation and mobile devices. Meanwhile, over the last few years the military has not been able to keep up with the trends. On average across the branches, the military distributes one GPS device unit. A unit is an ambiguoous term, and can contain hundreds of soldiers. GPS comes standard on all military transport videos, but if that transport vehicle is destroyed or that one handheld device gets broken, then the entire unit is SOL.

Every semester, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Pecoraro, Professor of Air Science at the University, tasks his students with writing a paper, and then giving a subsequent briefing, on a topic of their choosing surrounding developing technologies in the Air Force. And every time, he advocates for students to explore the unfortunate situation of the military and GPS technology.


Duplicate video show below. Correct first video found at THIS LINK


  Several potential dangers exist with distributing handheld GPS devices to all military personnel.


It is no secret that technological devices tend to be expensive. The military employs hundreds of thousands of personnel, and therefore the cost of distributing a weatherproff, ruggedized handheld GPS device like the one pictured above would be a very hefty investment on the military's part. So naturally, there is skepticism. One main argument in opposition to handheld GPS devices for military members, is the idea that if the devices or lost to the enemy, it can be used as a tracking device or giveaway of hideouts. Col. Pecoraro explains why this argument should be put to rest.




Will handheld GPS be in military members near future?


Pecoraro says he can only speak for the Air Force, but he believes that the pros of having these devices are so great that the distribution of these devices, at least to Airmen, will eventually happen.


Debates about the topic are still going on, but no major moves for a decision have been made. To support the unofficial cause, and help deployed personnel get GPS devices from a nonprofit organization, visit gpsfortroops.org