The annual Dragon’s Lair competition brings together innovators from units throughout the XVIII Airborne Corps to compete for the opportunity to advance technologies and concepts capable of solving some of the Army’s most pressing operational challenges at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Participants present their innovations to a panel of judges who evaluate each proposal based on its impact, feasibility and potential to improve the force.

Representing the 3rd Infantry Division were Spc. Santiago Arminana, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Marne Data Team, and 1st Lt. Johnathon Li, assigned to the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion. Each soldier presented a unique innovation aimed at increasing readiness through technology and improving how soldiers prepare for future operations during Dragon's Lair 12.

Arminana presented the Preventative Readiness Information Signal Module, or PRISM, an innovation designed to modernize the Army’s sick call process while providing commanders with actionable readiness data. The platform replaces the traditional paper-based system by digitizing medical reporting and organizing information into a format that allows leaders to identify injury trends throughout their formations.

Traditionally, Soldiers complete sick call forms that are manually routed through medics and clinics, often creating a fragmented process that limits visibility for commanders. PRISM streamlines that workflow by digitizing documentation from the beginning, allowing leaders to monitor injury patterns and intervene before minor injuries develop into chronic conditions that could affect unit readiness.

By transforming medical information into usable readiness data, commanders gain greater insight into the health of their formations and can make more informed decisions regarding training, recovery and deployment readiness.

Arminana said he developed PRISM because he believes musculoskeletal injuries continue to have a significant impact on Army readiness.

“I chose PRISM for the competition because I believe the musculoskeletal injuries are significant drivers of non-deployability and loss of readiness in the Army, and I believe this innovation can make a difference,” said Arminana. He hopes the innovation will eventually benefit service members throughout the Department of Defense.

“I hope PRISM can be implemented across the Army and all the branches so we can have a more lethal and ready force,” Arminana said.

Li presented the Radio Training Application, a web-based learning platform that gives soldiers the opportunity to practice operating tactical radios before handling the physical equipment. The application provides realistic, interactive training that familiarizes Soldiers with radio functions and procedures while reducing the amount of instructor time required during initial hands-on instruction.

The application allows Soldiers to build confidence and proficiency through repetition before working with operational equipment, enabling instructors to spend more time reinforcing advanced skills rather than introducing basic radio operation.

As modern warfare increasingly depends on reliable communications across every formation, Li said radio proficiency is no longer limited to signal professionals.

“We’re moving toward an age of warfare where radio operations are no longer just a signal Soldier's responsibility. Your electromagnetic signature depends on every Soldier’s ability to operate radios individually. What this Radio Training Application and concepts like it do is teach Soldiers how to navigate and operate these radios so when they deploy, they won’t have to worry about not knowing the basics of radio operation,” said Li.

Both innovations demonstrate how Soldiers at the tactical level are identifying challenges within their organizations and developing practical solutions with the potential to improve readiness across the force. Whether preventing injuries through data-driven decision-making or strengthening communications training before soldiers ever touch a radio, each project reflects the Army’s continued emphasis on innovation and preparing formations for future operations.

The Dragon’s Lair competition provides soldiers an opportunity to bring those ideas directly to senior leaders, helping transform grassroots innovation into capabilities that can benefit the Army on a larger scale. By encouraging creative problem-solving and investing in soldier-led initiatives, the XVIII Airborne Corps continues to foster a culture where innovation supports readiness, modernization and the future fight.