Joining the first day of the 2019 Maneuver Warfighter Conference Sept. 10 at Fort Benning, Georgia, via video teleconference, the commanding general of the U.S. Army 1st Corps gave an overview of the 1st Corps mission and the current and future capabilities of the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) to an audience of Army leaders.

Lieutenant Gen. Gary Volesky, 1st Corps commanding general, began by describing how the Army had initially conceived the capabilities of the Stryker and how the Army adapted the Stryker to its current needs and how the Army is exploring the future capabilities of the Stryker armored vehicle and its formation.

"When the Stryker formation was originally created, it was designed to be an interim force, really a bridge between what was then the legacy Army and the future combat systems," said Volesky. "Today, that force is no longer interim. That force is going to be with the Army until 2040."

There are currently seven active Army and two National Guard Stryker brigade combat teams, four of which are in 1st Corps.

The adaptability of the Stryker platform has kept it relevant to Army use, according to Volesky. He highlighted the 30-mm cannon and the double V-hull A1 and further upgrades that allow other capabilities to be bolted onto the Stryker.

"It's tailored for the fight in the urban environment," said Volesky. "Near peers try to offset our technical capabilities by fighting in a complex terrain. It's no longer the Fulda Gap or the deserts."

Further technology the Army is exploring for the Stryker includes new weapons systems, new night-vision systems, connection to the Integrated Tactical Network, a self-propelled Howitzer for longer range fires, and more. Volesky said the exploration of new capabilities will help keep the Stryker BCT relevant into the future.

"That is to continue this strategy of modernization, so that when we get this Stryker formation to 2035, it is as lethal as we can make it," said Volesky.

The 1st Corps' job is to " ‘Deploy, Fight and Win' decisively in any environment to enhance security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region." The 1st Corps area of responsibility is the Asia-Pacific region, and when Volesky highlighted the area in a map on a slide, he emphasized the scope of the 1st Corps responsibility.

"More people live in that circle than out of it," he said. "More things travel through that circle both physically and virtually than anywhere in the world. Ten of the 20 fastest growing economies live there. And one-third of the global GDP and 60 percent of the GDP growth reside in that."

Volesky addressed a misconception that the Pacific was strictly a naval concern.

"People don't live in the ocean, they live on land," said Volesky. "And that's where you win, and that's where Strykers will be absolutely critical."

To see the video from this event, visit: vimeo.com/fortbenningtv/icorps.

To see photos from the first day of the Maneuver Warfighter Conference, visit: fortbenningphotos.com/Maneuver-Center/Warfighter-Conference/Annual-Maneuver-Conference/2019-Maneuver-Warfighter-Conference.

For more stories from the Maneuver Warfighter Conference, visit: army.mil/benning.