Programmer: You should write a book about that, or at least someone should.

So many key innovations, the Cullen Hedgerow penetration device, direct communications between infantry and tanks, use of tanks to assault enemy held cities, the AC-47 gunship, medical use of super glue, and no doubt many others were made by U.S. Military people outside of normal R&D circles.

Of course, these usually accompanied important changes in tactics, which drove the need for the individual innovations.

In my 25 years of service I found that innovation at the field level was both actively discouraged and relied on very heavily in the end. And official attempts to promote innovation were much ballyhooed but almost always came to nought.