Soldiers who don't own computers or aren't connected to the Internet can enroll through their units via the Army Training Requirements and Resources System. The AIPD site has the latest version of the ACCP catalog and an update of new courses. Hicok said the October 1998 ACCP catalog would be the last printed version. The Army Research Laboratory's Coatings Research Team, which is responsible for developing the paint that goes on all Army equipment and ammunition, can tell you there is a lot more to a coat of paint than meets the eye. The team recently patented a new advance in coating technology that permits the substitution of water for about one-half of the hydrocarbon chemicals normally used as solvent.
Hydrocarbons react with sunlight when released into the atmosphere to form ozone, a pollutant.
Substituting water halves the volatile organic content of the coating, making it better for the environment while providing an improved finish. It's currently undergoing field tests, and the team believes it will change the life-cycle process for coatings because it will last longer and not mar easily. The team also substituted polymer beads for silicon materials in the pigment package to further enhance the coating for mar and weather resistance, and flexibility resistance to cracking. We have developed an environmentally compliant material that has dramatically enhanced performance. The new functional area, FA 40, will be part of the Information Operations career field.