According to CBS, the U.S. Army has filed 22 additional charges against Pfc. Bradley Manning. Manning is the soldier that is suspected of providing government documents that was published on WikiLeaks. The new charges formally accuse Manning of aiding enemies.

The U.S. Army is testing out a new solar powered tent for soldiers. “They are ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your (communications), night vision goggles and computers are powered up. You don’t want a generator on top of a mountain, and you don’t want to have to bring fuel to a generator or haul batteries,” stated the Army assistant secretary Katherine Hammack. The TEMPER Fly is a 16×20 foot tent that is able to generate 800 watts of electricity. The QUADrant is a smaller version of the TEMPER Fly that can generate 200 watts of power. [DVICE]

The Army is looking to have every soldier have access to a smartphone, whether it is an Android or an iPhone powered device. The Army also wants to pay for every soldier’s monthly bill too. Lt. Gen. Michael Vane, the director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) is one of the individual’s pushing for the initiative.

Research In Motion Limited (NASDAQ:RIMM) is working with BMW and the Army to develop a new tablet computer. RIM is working with BMW on the audio system and is using technology from the Army Crusher tank. RIM wants to really make their tablet computer stand out.

The U.S. Army has just given iRobot a lucrative contract.  The Army will be paying iRobot $35.3 million for 486 PackBots (pictured after the jump).  iRobot is usually best known for making automatic vacuum cleaners.

PackBot are good for searching out for dangerous areas so human soldiers do not have to.  The order was made by the U.S. Army TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, MI.  The Army specifically ordered iRobot PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit robots.  The robots weigh 53 lbs. and can run as fast as 5.8 MPH.  The robots can last 4 hours per charge and are controlled by game-style controllers on a laptop.

Full press release after the jump.

The U.S. Army is trying innovative new ways to reach out to today’s youth for recruitment.  In this case, they are turning to both Twitter and Facebook.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley oversees recruiting for the Army and is managing the social networking initiative.  Facebook is a key way to reach 18-24 year olds according to Freakley.  You could become friends with the recruiter and then the recruiter would be able to talk to your friends.

General Raymond Odierno, a top commander in Iraq set up a Facebook page where anyone can ask questions and receive answers regarding the mission in Iraq.   The U.S. Air Force and The U.S. Coast Guard has also launched a social networking initiative on Facebook recently as well.

Some of the questions that have been asked include “Can I have a dog in the army” and “Can I be married in the Army?”  Lindy Kyzer updates the Army’s Twitter feed and blog.  To maintain transparency, negative posts are not removed.