Naval Warfare Center Showcases Unmanned Refueling at Sea

Sept. 3, 2026 | By Latasha Chavez, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division |

The Navy took a major step toward enabling persistent, unmanned operations last month when the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division led a demonstration off the coast of Virginia using a robotic towed connector to repeatedly capture, refuel and release an unmanned surface vessel at sea.

In seven months, a Navy-industry team moved from concept to real-world testing using the T38, a Navy-owned remotely controlled USV built by industry partners, and a towable capture and connection refueling system. 
 
The contracting partnership also helped the warfare center's Blue Water Instrumentation program address a broader operational challenge: keeping USVs and their sensors on station longer during critical capabilities testing without increasing reliance on crewed support. 
 
"At [Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division], our immediate focus is supporting hypersonic and precision long-range fires testing, where flight profiles can extend thousands of miles beyond fixed-range boundaries and require data-collection assets to be distributed across a vast area," said Spencer Holloway, director of the program's future capabilities office. "But the underlying challenge applies more broadly — every time an unmanned vessel must return to port for fuel, we lose persistence, reduce coverage and redundancy, and interrupt the mission." 
 
During the demonstration, the team ran dozens of full-cycle exercises at sea, in addition to pier-side demonstrations. The training support vessel USNS Vindicator towed the refueling system and transferred a total of 400 gallons of fuel to the T38 during the event. 
 
In total, the refueling system completed about 100 connection cycles over the course of a few days leading up to and including the event.

Ronald Raymer, branch head for capability, innovation, science and technology integration at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, also took part in the refueling demonstration. He said unmanned refueling can strengthen fleet readiness. 
 
"This will allow us to have greater reliance on unmanned vessels ... and we can push the USV into higher threat areas without risking manned vessels and personnel," he said. "It will also allow us to distribute greater capability into an area without having to invest in large, expensive manned vessels, and the refueling supports that." 
 
The event took place in the waters off Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, and was sponsored by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division. 
 
The milestone also brought together the Blue Water Instrumentation program team, fleet management team and industry partners. Together, they executed an underway refueling demonstration designed for USVs. 
 
The Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program Office and the Navy's Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Robotics and Autonomous Systems also provided contracting support that enabled BWI to partner with industry and to run the demonstration.

Holloway said the short timeline from inception of the refueling system to on-water demonstrations came from the collaboration between government and industry, which allowed the team to respond quickly to changes when needed. 
 
"Working directly with our industry partners allowed us to bring the platform, control systems, operators and engineers together as one integrated team," he said. "We could make changes, test them on the water and iterate quickly based on what we observed." 
 
The demonstration showed the role of government-industry collaboration in moving the refueling system from concept to testing in seven months.

BWI's next milestone is an end-to-end autonomous refueling demonstration that will test vessel rendezvous and approach, capture, fuel transfer, disconnection and return to mission as a single evolution.

Exercise Urgent Response Tests Marine Corps Installation Partnerships

Sept. 4, 2026 | By Dustin Senger, Blount Island Command |

Simulated gunfire interrupted the workday inside an occupied office building yesterday as service members, civilian employees and contractors at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Florida, faced a split-second decision: run, hide or fight.

The attack was part of Exercise Urgent Response, a four-hour, full-scale force protection exercise that brought the Marine Corps facility together with Jacksonville fire and law enforcement agencies, state emergency managers and federal investigators. 
 
Participants tested how they share information, treat simulated mass casualties, respond to explosive hazards and preserve the military installation's mission during a complex emergency. 
 
The facility provides infrastructure, maritime access and workforce support for Blount Island Command. The tenant command, under Marine Corps Logistics Command, generates and distributes ready-for-issue equipment and supplies across the global positioning network. 
 
A high-decibel blast simulated gunfire as exercise role players portraying active assailants moved through stairwells, hallways, offices and cubicles.

As occupants evacuated, sheltered in place or prepared to defend themselves, Marine Corps police department officers coordinated their response with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The scenario tested individual preparedness, requiring those inside to recognize the threat, identify primary and alternate exits, report concerning activity and respond appropriately when law enforcement entered the building. 
 
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews entered once law enforcement secured access, triaging and treating simulated casualties before transport. 
 
"It was a lot of great communication on all sides," said Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Capt. Shawn Hall. "By the time we arrived, the Marine Corps police department was already in place, already taking lifesaving steps and giving trauma care, so we could get in with medical treatment and transport." 
 
The exercise also reinforced the Marine Corps' 2026 National Preparedness Month theme, "Prepare Today. Protect Tomorrow." The annual September observance encourages individuals and communities to plan ahead and strengthen their readiness for emergencies. 
 
The scenario later expanded to include a simulated explosive threat near the shoreline. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office hazardous devices unit assessed and rendered the device safe.

Inside the installation's emergency operations center, participants tracked the evolving scenario, shared information and maintained a common operating picture for decision-makers and responders. Florida Division of Emergency Management representatives supported state-level situational awareness and resource coordination from the center. 
 
Naval Criminal Investigative Service personnel supported intelligence sharing and exercise control. 
 
Together, participants tested incident command, interoperable communications, threat and triage information sharing, resource coordination and emergency medical response while maintaining connectivity with the emergency operations center as multiple situations unfolded. 
 
The exercise expanded on a January operational planning effort that brought the installation, Blount Island Command and local, state and federal partners together to examine how they would protect the Marine Corps facility and sustain operations during a complex incident. 
 
"The exercise successfully validated installation defense plans, mutual aid agreements and real-world interoperability with local, state and federal partners," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Beau Pillot, Blount Island Command operations director. "Exercise Urgent Response bridged the gap between deliberate planning and real-world execution." 
 
Evaluators from participating organizations observed performance against established objectives throughout the exercise. Their findings will inform a formal review and help refine response plans and future training events.

Special Operations Forces Tackle Unseen Threat of Blast Exposure

Sept. 4, 2026 | By Derik Crotts, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs |

The U.S. special operations forces community is actively tackling the invisible threat of repeated blast overpressure to protect warfighters' brain health without compromising combat readiness.

This is important since, in just six months of initial entry training, a SOF soldier will fire thousands of small arms rounds, employ hundreds of flash-bang devices, and conduct dozens of explosive breaches. For these operators, low-level blast exposure of less than four pounds per square inch is not a rare incident, but rather a daily, unavoidable reality of their training and operational environments. 

Managing this risk factor presents a massive challenge. The scientific community suspects that cumulative, repeated blasts could cause long-term cognitive effects, yet there are currently no validated thresholds to guide medical decisions or return-to-duty timelines.  

Simply tracking the blasts is a logistical hurdle because current sensors are often bulky, competing for precious space on an operator's mission-essential gear. Furthermore, vendor data rarely synchronizes smoothly with standard military systems, and there is little agreement on how peak pressure and incident pressure meaningfully accumulate. 

"More importantly, current sensors only measure the blast wave itself, leaving a critical human gap with no event-linked cognitive, physiological or biomarker data for the operator standing in its path," said Army Sgt. Maj. Chris McNamara, 3rd Operations Support Group human weapon system director. 

To bridge these scientific and operational gaps, the SOF community launched aggressive, data-driven initiatives like the Elite Force Pilot Team. 

"This specialized task force is evaluating how to implement high-fidelity monitoring during high-risk training and operations," McNamara said. "Their goal is to ultimately standardize how leaders make risk and readiness decisions."

The objectives of the pilot team are to mitigate effects of blast overpressure by monitoring high-risk training and operations. They have used lessons learned to improve return-to-duty and return-to-shoot protocols and correlate blast overpressure to clinical outcomes by using evidence-based biomarkers. 

McNamara highlighted the operational reality of these efforts, noting that a delicate balance exists between collecting timely data and not disrupting the tempo of training. He emphasized the essential need to identify accurate and nonintrusive methods for collecting data on blast exposure, cognitive performance and biomarkers.

"As the scientific community strives to find clarity in exposure measurement, leaders at all levels must simultaneously be equipped with relevant and effective risk-mitigation tools," said Kathy Lee, director of warfighter brain health policy at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs. 

Instead of waiting for universal medical standards to be finalized, SOF leaders are already implementing physical changes to training and equipment. One innovation is the multiuse charge housings for enhanced target effect, a flexible charge housing designed to optimize breaching operations while safeguarding service members.  

Made of nontoxic, inert materials, the system is dual purposed for sheet explosives and detonation cords. By using advanced 3D computer modeling and wave-shaping design techniques, the housing focuses blast energy toward the target, allowing for a lower net explosive weight. This optimization delivers identical target-defeat capabilities while reducing hazardous blast overpressure on the warfighter by 25-60%.  

The system is highly intuitive, significantly reduces charge preparation, builds time to maximize training efficiency and is currently being positioned for expanded military distribution. 

"Our priority is to field technology that treats the operator as our premier weapon system," said Chris Wilson, division lead for human weapon system at the U.S. Special Operations Command's Science and Technology Directorate. "Innovations like [the housing] prove we don't have to choose between lethality and safety. By using advanced engineering to shape the blast physics, we are actively lowering the physical toll on the human weapon system while keeping our operators sharp, lethal and in the fight longer." 

For SOF members, the firing ranges and facilities are being redesigned based on advanced modeling of blast waves. New construction materials are also being used that absorb shockwaves. 

Operators are also seeing improvements in their standard gear. This includes the increased use of updated weapon suppressors, heavy weapon simulators and strict helmet policies.  

Researchers are even using biometric instrumented head forms to measure exactly what happens inside a helmet during a blast, leading to improved helmet padding systems. For industrial hygiene monitoring, new hard-copy and mobile applications are being developed to streamline the recording of blast overpressure data directly in the field. 

Ultimately, the overarching warfighter requirement remains clear: a low-burden sensor with integrated power and interoperable data that clinicians can actually use to monitor health. 

By taking decisive action today, U.S. Special Operations Command is taking proactive steps to improve brain health, detect early warning signs and implement preventive measures to extend operational longevity, enhance mission readiness and ensure the long-term health of SOF warfighters. 

Army Artillery Brigade Builds Tactical Proficiency

 Sept. 2, 2026 | By Army Capt. Lydia Laga, 75th Field Artillery Brigade |

Warfighting mastery is forged through the relentless, daily grind of tough, realistic training, fueled by the dedication of soldiers who refuse to let constraints define their readiness.

This is the standard of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, and it was on full display in late August as the 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment, took to the Fort Sill, Oklahoma, training areas to execute Artillery Table VI section qualifications and validate their Role 1, initial medical support for combat operations capabilities.

In the high-tempo environment of large-scale combat operations, the M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System is a devastating instrument of tactical lethality. But the platform's capability is only as good as the crew inside. Rather than treating the qualification as a routine exercise, the battalion used it to build adaptability and grit under pressure, particularly as soldiers navigated real-world manning and maintenance constraints.

For unit leaders, the focus was clear: build tactical proficiency from the ground up by investing in soldiers and empowering junior leaders.

"I feel that my battery did very well on this certification/qualification considering some of our maintenance and manning constraints," said Army Capt. Rachele Smith, Bravo Battery commander. "We have mostly new leaders within our formation and some soldiers stepping up to fill chief and gunner roles, so this was their first time having their feet to the fire."

Smith's approach was unyielding, pushing her platoon leaders to treat every simulated and live-fire iteration with absolute tactical realism.

"Our goal was to keep this training as tactical and realistic to how we'd fight as possible, so I was hard on the platoon leadership to stick to our hit times and key tasks," she explained. "The great part about these section qualifications is that it builds the training foundation for the battery and allows us to progress into our platoon and battery collective training in the upcoming months."

This commitment to incremental growth embodies the III Armored Corps' training guidance, refining lethality and mastering the fundamentals of combat. By letting junior soldiers step up into critical roles, the unit turned potential constraints into a powerful opportunity for leader development.

While the firing batteries refined their lethality downrange, the battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Battery validated medical readiness, another critical element of survival on the modern battlefield.

Under the cover of darkness Aug. 27, the battalion's medical section established an aid station in the training area, treating simulated blast trauma and severe hemorrhages under unscripted, chaotic conditions.

Like the firing crews, the medical team had to overcome the challenge of a fresh roster to build a cohesive capability.

"Role 1 training is beneficial to our medical section because it allows us to train as we would fight," said Army 1st Lt. Monique Pilcher, battalion field medical assistant and medical exercise training lead. "It builds our ability to rapidly establish, operate and sustain a Role 1 capability while developing proficiency in casualty treatment, triage, evacuation, medical logistics and team coordination."

For Pilcher, success during the nighttime validation came from exhaustive rehearsals and trusting her young medics to carry out their duties.

"Most importantly, it gives our soldiers the opportunity to rehearse their individual responsibilities as part of a cohesive medical team, so when we encounter a real-world casualty or [mass casualty], we can respond quickly, confidently and effectively," she said. "Rehearsals were very important due to having a brand-new team of medics training for the first time."

From the fire direction centers transmitting data-centric missions to the signal specialists securing the tactical networks, and the medical teams operating under limited visibility, the unit demonstrated what cohesive readiness looks like. It is a shared burden carried by every soldier who stepped up to fill a larger role and every leader who mentored them through the process.

The battalion now shifts focus to Artillery Table XII platoon collective qualifications, building on a foundation of hard work and professionalism from its crew members. While this recent qualification focused on individual launcher sections and fire direction centers, the next one elevates the training to a collective qualification.

In this phase, these independent sections must integrate, move, communicate and survive together as cohesive, synchronized platoon-sized elements under tactical command, transforming individual weapon systems into a unified force multiplier. The road to warfighting mastery is long, but as Smith noted, the unit is taking it "day by day to make small incremental changes over time."

Meet Mmoab: A Military Working Dog Serving in England

Sept. 1, 2026 | By Karen Abeyasekere, 100th Air Refueling Wing |

The latest addition to the 100th Security Forces Squadron's military working dog pack is 3-year-old Mmoab, a black Belgian Malinois who joined the U.S. Air Force canine team at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.

The double letter at the beginning of Mmoab's name is intentional. It signifies that he came from the Military Working Dog Breeding and Foster Program at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. He is currently the only 100th Security Forces Squadron dog born, bred and initially trained at the Military Working Dog Center in Texas — and just the fourth specially bred canine at RAF Mildenhall — his predecessors being military working dogs Vvonya, Ootto and Oorion.

Operated by the 341st Training Squadron, the puppy program, as it is commonly called, was established at Joint Base San Antonio in 1998 to allow the military to breed its own dogs, cut costs and produce highly trained military working dogs. The program provides hands-on training from the day the puppy is born, and the Air Force can track the dog's social progression. Their training includes several months of detection and patrol work.

Once a litter is whelped and weaned, the puppies are placed in foster homes in and around San Antonio. The volunteer families must meet specific requirements before being accepted into the program. They provide care until the puppies return to the training program. Foster families receive everything needed to care for the puppies, including dog food, veterinary care equipment, toys and training.

Once a dog is trained and ready to head to its new duty station, a handler travels to Joint Base San Antonio to personally escort the dog to its new home.

Mmoab's handlers said he showed from the start that he was perfect for the job.

"He's insanely fast, very driven and loves to give hugs to his handlers," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cameron Gilbert, a trainer assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron, who was also the first handler paired with Mmoab. The pair recently returned from a five-month deployment to Royal Air Force Fairford in England, where they performed patrol and detection duties.

"I've done his field evaluation from the ground up," Gilbert said. "Everything he's done and where he is now is a result of how I've worked with him, so I'm proud of where he's at right now and when I handed him over to his new handler."

The young Belgian Malinois is now teamed with Air Force Senior Airman Karina Flores, a handler assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron. Mmoab is the third K-9 she's worked with during her Air Force career, and she said they are currently in the rapport phase of their partnership.

"He's my first puppy program dog and is focused 24/7; other dogs can often be like, 'Okay, I'm here, so I'll do it,' but he's completely dedicated," she said. "Mmoab is definitely the most energetic dog I've worked with, and I've been spending a lot of time bonding with him and getting him used to me.

Flores said she gives Mmoab simple tasks, and he receives his favorite toy as a reward so he knows he can trust her and sees her as his "mom."

"It's going good so far," Flores said. "Because he's so driven, I know he's going to make me a better handler because of how much he wants to work."

After military working dogs arrive at the base, which will be their home for the duration of their career, the next stage for them is to pass their field evaluation qualification.

"We made sure Mmoab can meet what's asked of us operationally here," Gilbert said. "Once he arrived and settled in, we took him out to the different training areas to make sure he can do the tasks no matter what."

While military working dogs may draw attention when they are out, don't let their appearance fool you. With a top running speed of more than 30 mph, a bite force of more than 200 pounds and a nose 40 times more powerful than a human, they are highly trained psychological deterrents and a vital asset to the Air Force and the War Department.

Airlift Wing Builds Mobility Readiness During Exercises

Sept. 1, 2026 | By Air Force Senior Airman Brenden Beezley, 86th Airlift Wing |

The 86th Airlift Wing supported Exercise Saber Junction 26 with joint air mobility operations alongside Army and Marine Corps forces at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Aug. 24-30. 

During the week, the wing executed distributed mission planning, patient movements, tactical airdrops and joint airborne operations, culminating in a joint forcible entry event that integrated Air Force C-130J and Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules crews with more than 600 paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. 

Saber Junction 26 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa exercise that tests the airborne brigade's ability to rapidly deploy, conduct joint forcible entry and operate alongside allied and partner forces during large-scale combat operations. 

Leading into Saber Junction, the airlift wing conducted Exercise Agile Gateway, which began with a staging event at Chievres Air Base, Belgium, where, with 86th Communications Squadron support, an aircrew received its tasking and planned the mission from a distributed location. 

The following day, the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron responded to a simulated mass casualty event, transporting three simulated patients from Belgium to Germany. They were then transferred to a 76th Airlift Squadron C-21A Learjet during an engine-running offload/onload for a follow-on aeromedical evacuation. 

The transfer was one of three aeromedical evacuation training flights conducted throughout the week as the squadron exercised engine-running patient transfers, rapid alert response and simultaneous generation of its C-21A and C-37A Gulfstream fleets. 

"Agile Gateway and Saber Junction gave us an opportunity to test our agility and crisis-response capabilities in ways routine day-to-day missions can't," said Air Force Lt. Col. Kyle Gadoury, 76th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations. "These exercises help ensure our squadron remains ready to support joint partners across Europe and Africa in high-tempo or contested environments." 

Following the patient transfer, the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron conducted simultaneous hot-pit refueling and engine-running onload operations on the C-130J. 

These employment capabilities enabled the immediate transfer of patients and rapid onload and airdrop of sustainment cargo, setting the stage for the 173rd Airborne Brigade's upcoming operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany. 

The training also demonstrated joint interoperability capabilities as 37th Airlift Squadron crews planned and operated alongside aircrews from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234, working through differences in terminology, procedures and aircraft capabilities before mission execution. 

"This week showed how our different capabilities can connect and build on one another," said Air Force Capt. Charles Khoshabjian, 37th Airlift Squadron weapons officer. "Working with the Marines reinforced the importance of identifying differences in terminology and procedures early so we can build shared understanding, integrate effectively and deliver combat power for the joint force." 

The wing's support for Saber Junction 26 peaked Aug. 26, when Air Force C-130Js and Marine Corps KC-130Js carried more than 600 paratroopers from Ramstein to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center. A C-37A also supported the mission as an airborne communications node, relaying the launch command between the airborne brigade and the airlift squadron. 

The mission brought together Air Force, Army and Marine Corps capabilities to strengthen interoperability and rehearse rapid force employment across the theater. 

"The joint forcible entry may be the culmination of our air mobility mission, but for the Army, it marks the start of the larger operation," Khoshabjian said. "What we deliver by air enables everything that follows on the ground." 

The integration across airframes, mission sets and military services reflects the broader role the airlift wing provides to the joint force. 

"No single capability defines what the 86th Airlift Wing brings to the fight," said Air Force Col. Matthew Wunderlich, 86th Operations Group commander. "By integrating our mobility capabilities with the joint force, we create the flexibility commanders need to respond across the theater. That integration is what turns individual capabilities into combat power."

Dolly Parton Supported America's Military for Over 50 Years

Aug. 31, 2026 | By Army Sgt. Katherine Devereaux, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, Pentagon News |

Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter whose six-decade career made her one of country music's most recognizable voices, died Aug. 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80. President Donald J. Trump directed American flags at all public buildings, military installations and U.S. territories to fly at half-staff in her memory through sunset tomorrow.

She never wore the uniform, but for more than 50 years, Parton found ways to reach those who did.

In the early 1960s, a teenage Parton fell for a young Nashville man serving in the Army National Guard. Carl Dean completed his service, and in 1966, the couple wed, beginning a marriage that lasted nearly 60 years.

In the 1970s, a syndicated radio program called "Country Cookin' with Lee Arnold" carried a single line before every broadcast: "Presented by the United States Army Reserve." Surviving recordings list Parton among the featured country artists.

In 1991, weeks after soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, returned from Operation Desert Storm, Parton drew cheers and chants after climbing onto the shoulders of an Army major near a pair of M1 tanks. "I've got an all-American heart," she told Vanity Fair, the magazine covering the visit.

On Veterans Day 2003, Parton released "For God and Country," an album pairing patriotic standards with original songs, among them "Welcome Home," written for a parent waiting on a son deployed overseas. "We can't give them enough praise and honor and thanks," Parton said of veterans, service members and military family members.

The tribute followed quickly. On Sept. 8, 2004, Parton stood on the flight line at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee, where airmen of the 134th Air Refueling Wing had painted her likeness onto the nose of a KC 135 Stratotanker and named it "Miss Dolly." She signed the artwork and performed for the airmen and their families.

Then, in April 2005, came the Baghdad broadcast. The Grand Ole Opry partnered that night with the War Department's "America Supports You" campaign, and Parton hosted, with then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld joining her onstage to thank the performers and country fans supporting U.S. troops. American Forces Television carried the broadcast to 177 stations worldwide, including a live feed reaching Baghdad before sunrise — photographs from that night capturing both ends of it: Parton under the Opry lights, and soldiers in Iraq watching from a screen half a world away.

Offstage, Parton was growing an international literacy effort that would touch millions of lives — including the military families she devoted herself to. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which started as a program that mailed free books to local children in her home county of East Tennessee, was inspired by her father, who never learned to read or write.

In 2024, nearly three decades after its founding, the Imagination Library's Washington state affiliate partnered with the Government Employees Health Association on a $15,000 grant expanding free books to military families. Half a century after a vinyl record shipped to country radio stations with her name on it, children of service members were still finding Dolly Parton waiting for them — this time in a mailbox instead of on a dial.

In Cumberland County, North Carolina, home to Fort Bragg, every baby born at Womack Army Medical Center receives an Imagination Library book at birth, then a new one every month until age five. In June, two months before Parton's death, Womack received a regional Beacon Award for the program. "Early literacy begins the moment a child enters the world," said Army Col. Stephanie Mont, the hospital's commander, standing beside a cardboard likeness of Parton to accept the award.

A book arriving at a military child's front door. A television signal reaching Baghdad. A radio program. An Army post. A patriotic album. An airplane bearing her name. Different decades, different settings, the same idea repeated for more than 50 years: Parton had so much to give, and she gave it.

And as flags at installations across the country are lowered in her memory, the military salutes the life of a woman who, in every era and in every way, stood steadfastly by those who serve.

Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert Edward Galer

Aug. 31, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert Edward Galer was a fighter pilot during World War II and went on to serve more than 20 years on active duty. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the skies over Guadalcanal in 1942.

Galer was born Oct. 23, 1913, in Seattle. He was the youngest son of Frederick George Galer and Mary Loretta Leahy, and he had two older brothers, Vincent and Fred Galer Jr. 

Galer went to Queen Anne High School, where he excelled in sports, playing basketball, football, baseball and tennis, as well as running track. After high school, he attended the University of Washington in Seattle, where he was an All-American basketball player and a member of Navy ROTC. He graduated in 1935 with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps because he wanted to fly quicker than an officer commission would allow. Galer began flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and about halfway through the course, he was offered an officer commission and became a second lieutenant in July 1936. 

In April 1937, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Brigade, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, for duty with Aircraft One. Over the next year, he served at The Basic School in Philadelphia, and he was briefly assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard before being ordered to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he served with Marine Scouting Squadron-3.

He married his first wife, Dorothy Beyer, shortly before the start of World War II. They had two children: Vincent and Robert Tipton Galer, who later retired as a colonel from the Air Force. Galer's first marriage ended in divorce, and he married his second wife, Sharon Alexander, in 1981; he became the stepfather to her children, Charles and Christine. 

Galer transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Field on Oahu, Hawaii, in January 1941. In an August 1998 interview, he described the days leading up to the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 

"There was practically no mention of trouble with Japan," Galer said. "In fact, the Saturday before the attack, we lined up the airplanes, wingtip-to-wingtip, and nobody even mentioned that we should scatter them."  

Ewa had very little damage from the attack, except for the airplanes. Galer said none of them were operational, so the Marines were issued rifles. 

Four Marines at Ewa were killed during the attacks, becoming some of the first American casualties of World War II. Galer and his fellow Marines on the ground fought back with machine guns, rifles and pistols.

From Aug. 30 to Sept. 28, 1942, the dates of his Medal of Honor action, Galer, now a major, was the commander of Marine Fighter Squadron 224, Marine Aviation Group 21, flying over the skies around Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific in an F4F-4 Wildcat. 

His citation reads that he led his squadron in aerial combat with enemy forces in daring and aggressive raids against Japanese aerial forces, which were vastly superior in numbers.  

He availed himself of every favorable attack opportunity, shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron, under his zealous and inspiring leadership, shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes. 

Galer received the Medal of Honor from President Franklin D. Roosevelt during a White House ceremony held March 24, 1943. 

The following month, he was assigned to Marine Corps Air Depot Miramar, in Southern California, where he was the assistant operations officer. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and returned to Ewa in November 1943, where he was chief of staff, Marine Air, Hawaiian Area. During his 1998 interview, Galer said he was told Medal of Honor recipients wouldn't fly again, so he trained units on "this new-fangled radar." 

In July 1945, he took command of a cadet regiment at Marine Barracks, Naval Air Training Base, Corpus Christi, Texas, a position he held for two years before he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. 

Galer remained on active duty another 10 years, with assignments at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, Naval Air Station San Diego and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in South Korea. He was promoted to colonel in March 1951. 

On Aug. 5, 1952, while flying an AU-1 Corsair, Galer was shot down by antiaircraft fire over North Korea, while leading a squadron attack near Wonsan. After parachuting safely to the ground, he evaded capture by hiding in a cornfield.  

Upon his rescue, Galer said, "I do know that every pilot flying in this theater should have the highest possible morale with the knowledge that so many are ready and willing to risk so much to get them [when they are shot down]." 

After being hospitalized for two months for injuries sustained from ejecting from his aircraft, Galer was assigned as the assistant chief of staff for personnel at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.  

His final assignment was with the Guided Missiles Division for the Department of the Navy, in Washington, where he served as the assistant director and then the acting director in January 1956. 

Galer retired from the Marine Corps July 31, 1957, and he was meritoriously promoted to brigadier general. That same year, he graduated from George Washington University in Washington with a master's degree in engineering administration. 

Following his retirement, Galer moved to Dallas, where he worked in the defense industry and then at a real estate firm.

In the early 1990s, he collaborated with the San Diego Air and Space Museum to restore the F3F biplane that he had ditched off the coast of San Diego in 1940 due to a mechanical failure. It was recovered from the ocean floor April 5, 1990, at a depth of 1,800 feet. 

Galer died June 27, 2005. He is buried alongside his wife, Sharon, in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. 

In addition to the Medal of Honor, he also received the Legion of Merit with Valor, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold star, the Air Medal with four gold stars and the Purple Heart. 

On Dec. 17, 2020, a plaque was dedicated to Galer at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. There's also a monument dedicated to him and other military alums on the campus at the University of Washington in Seattle. 

DoW Secures 7-Year Agreements With General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin to Triple PAC-3 and Quadruple THAAD Production

Aug. 31, 2026 |

WASHINGTON — The Department of War (DoW) announced the signing of two pivotal framework agreements with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) and Lockheed Martin. These agreements initiate seven-year multiyear procurement (MYP) contracts designed to increase production quantities and accelerate delivery schedules for critical missile subcomponents supporting the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor programs.

"Today's announcement represents an example of the evolution of how we partner with industry to expand the Arsenal of Freedom, outpace emerging threats, and ensure the Warfighter never faces a fair fight," said Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey. "General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin have answered the call. We are cutting red tape, shortening timelines, and rapidly scaling our domestic manufacturing capacity to deliver the advanced air and missile defense capabilities."

General Dynamics will execute the rapid scale-up of highly specialized interceptor components. Key production goals under the new frameworks include:

•    Tripling the production capacity of PAC-3 MSE interceptors.

•    Quadrupling the production capacity of THAAD interceptors.

•    Ramping up manufacturing for essential sub-components, including motor cases, seeker housings and midsections, and shroud deployment systems.

The funding for these transformative agreements is subject to annual appropriations. These agreements provide industry with a stable, long-term demand signal by guaranteeing minimum annual procurement quantities which empowers General Dynamics and its lower-tier suppliers to make generational investments in workforce expansion, bulk material purchases, and facility upgrades.

About the OUSW(A&S)

The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) equips the Joint Force and allies with secure, resilient, and decisive capabilities.  Driven by an unwavering commitment to the Warfighter, A&S executes a portfolio-driven strategy to field advanced technologies at speed and scale.  By accelerating acquisition and modernizing critical infrastructure, A&S is actively rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom and securing our nation's enduring military advantage against any pacing threat.

Guard Program Links Global Partnership to DOW Priorities

Aug. 28, 2026 | By National Guard Bureau |

Senior leaders and security cooperation personnel from across the War Department gathered for the 2026 National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program conference in Atlanta, Aug. 13. 

The goal of the annual conference was to align activities and engagements with National Defense Strategy Lines of Effort, administration arms transfer reform objectives and rigorous data-driven evaluation to prove return on investment for the American taxpayer. 

In addition to DOW, the event included speakers from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Defense Security Cooperation University and the National Guard Bureau's International Affairs Directorate, including the assessment, monitoring and evaluation, foreign disclosure and integration teams. 

Throughout the event, speakers tied ongoing SPP achievements to the four NDS LOEs: defend the Homeland; deter China in the Pacific region through strength, not confrontation; increase burden-sharing with U.S. allies and partners; and supercharge the U.S. defense industrial base. 

Keynote speaker Christopher Mamaux, deputy assistant secretary of war for security cooperation, highlighted the program's critical role in operationalizing national security objectives. 

"As we look to the future, we must transition our partnerships from a default of security dependence to operational independence," Mamaux said. "We want to focus our energy on developing model allies, partners who are willing to spend on their own defense and contribute meaningfully to regional security." 

Mamaux emphasized the asymmetric advantage built over decades of state-level engagement. "With 117 partner nations, we have built a network of trust over decades that our strategic competitors cannot hope to replicate," he said. 

David Ferrari, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency advisor to the director, focused on the intersection of the SPP and the defense industrial ecosystem under Executive Order 14383, the America First Arms Transfer Strategy. Ferrari characterized guard personnel in the field as an "early-warning system" for foreign military sales requirements.   

"This is exactly where the SPP's persistent engagement is a strategic enabler, as you are in these countries year after year and can help partners identify what they need before they submit a request," he said, noting that this operational alignment creates a reinforcing cycle between procurement and capability development. 

"As we improve FMS processes to help partners buy more U.S. equipment, we are directly scaling the arena for SPP activities," Ferrari said. 

He concluded with a direct call to action for guard leaders to leverage partner investment to strengthen mutual readiness. 

"As you conduct your persistent engagements this year, look at your partners through the lens of [the America First Arms Transfer Strategy]," he said. "Help us identify where partner capital can invest in mutual capacity, and help us transition them to modern, standard U.S. systems. We cannot reindustrialize the arsenal of freedom without the guard leading the way on the ground." 

Regarding workforce development, Sonya Finley, the dean of workforce education and development at the Defense Security Cooperation University, outlined key milestones in the professionalization of security cooperation. 

Under DSCU, the SPP has been officially designated as a distinct functional area within the War Department's Security Cooperation Workforce Certification 2.0 Program — a major step toward codifying and standardizing global partnership management across the joint force. 

Conference sessions also underscored the importance of maintaining high-quality data processes. Recent policy guidance has institutionalized assessment, monitoring and evaluation as a mandatory mechanism to measure performance, demonstrate accountability and justify resourcing for SPP activities. 

Mamaux reinforced that strategic alignment applies directly to resource stewardship.  

"We must prove that our resources are aligned with the NDS lines of effort and provide a very clear return on our investment," he said. "Every dollar you spend across the program must be logical, transparent and benefit the American people." 

Presenters highlighted real-world examples of guard activities that have delivered strategic outcomes. In one instance, military planners maximized space on existing training transport to deliver equipment to Albania, achieving a critical delivery while eliminating commercial transportation costs. 

In another example of interstate collaboration, when Bulgaria's state partner, the Tennessee National Guard, identified a requirement for Stryker platforms outside its force structure, it coordinated with the Washington National Guard to fill the gap seamlessly. 

Regarding the program's future expansion, Mamaux noted that growth will remain deliberate and value driven.  

"Under our current strategic policy, we anticipate accepting only two to three new partnerships per year," he said. "Every pairing must offer a clear benefit to United States national security interests and align with the NDS."

Sky Soldiers Train for Modern Conflict in Europe's Premier Crucible Event

Aug. 28, 2026 | By U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa |

More than 2,300 paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, along with more than 2,100 allied and partner forces from 10 nations are participating in Exercise Saber Junction 26 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

Overseen by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, the rotation is designed to validate warfighting readiness, strengthen NATO interoperability and prepare forces for large-scale combat operations across the European theater. 

Exercise Saber Junction 26 tests the brigade's ability to rapidly deploy, conduct joint forcible entry, execute offensive and defensive operations, and regenerate combat power in a contested environment. The exercise incorporates lessons learned from ongoing conflicts, including electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems, dispersed maneuver and contested communications.  

Southern European Task Force, Africa serves as the division-level higher command for the rotation, integrating U.S. and allied formations, issuing division orders, maintaining the common operating picture, and rehearsing mission command essential for operations across Europe and Africa. 

"Saber Junction is where our soldiers and our allies prove they are ready for the demands of modern war," said Army Maj. Gen. Matthew W. Brown, Southern European Task Force, Africa commander. "This rotation is a crucible event — designed to expose gaps, accelerate learning and ensure that formations are trained and lethal. The 173rd continues to demonstrate that disciplined application of the fundamentals, ground-up innovation and persistence remain the hallmarks of a combat-credible force. The brigade is ready — and the lessons we gather here help our Army scale innovation at pace and strengthen NATO's collective readiness."

The exercise also highlights modernization efforts within the 173rd Airborne Brigade, including the work of the bayonet innovation team, the brigade's internal innovation cell comprised of paratroopers, engineers, warrant officers and technical specialists. The team designs, builds and fields low-cost, high-impact technologies such as first-person view drones, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, ground robots and artificial intelligence-enabled tools. It operates a facility that can produce drones in-house and integrates lessons from Ukraine, Joint Multinational Readiness Center rotations and multinational exercises to help the brigade adapt rapidly and strengthen NATO interoperability.

"Our standards are nonnegotiable: disciplined, lethal and relentless. Saber Junction is where we put those expectations to the test," said Army Col. Mark E. Bush, 173rd Airborne Brigade commander. "This exercise validates our ability to deploy at the time of need, fight and succeed regardless of the mission environment or enemy capability and posture the brigade for future operations. Through the character, competence and commitment of our Sky Soldiers, we will deliver overwhelming firepower, maneuver aggressively and accomplish the mission alongside our allies." 

Exercise Saber Junction 26 includes participants from Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States. The exercise strengthens multinational interoperability and accelerates combined decision making across the European theater.

Global Strike Reimagines Readiness With Tactical Training Simulator

Aug. 27, 2026 | By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelby Thurman, Air Force Global Strike Command |

To ensure operational readiness and maintain the tactical edge, airmen must train their brains with the same rigor as their bodies. Air Force Global Strike Command is looking to accelerate and modernize this effort with MindGym, a tactical training simulator.

"No different than investing in modernization efforts for weapon systems, such as the B-21 Raider, Sentinel [intercontinental ballistic missile] program and the new fleet of Grey Wolf helicopters, Global Strike senior leadership recognizes the importance of modernizing how they advance their most important asset: Global Strike airmen," said Air Force Col. Erich Schroeder, Global Strike command surgeon.   

MindGym, originally developed through a partnership with a defense contractor, is a safe, painless and highly-controlled environment designed to sharpen focus, accelerate reaction times and enhance decision-making under pressure. The 7-by-7-foot reflective cube room provides low lighting, calming music and guided exercises. Participants wear an electroencephalogram biosensor headband that assesses brain functions, providing insight into areas such as task management, mental clarity and relaxation.  

This readiness resource is already available to airmen and civilians across the command's eight bases. Regardless of rank, unit or workplace — a flightline or a missile field — MindGym is available for anyone in Striker Nation looking to perform at a higher level by sharpening their cognitive control, focus, mental clarity and energy required to thrive on and off duty.

MindGym is a commercial system that does not collect specific military identifiers like rank, unit or Air Force specialty code. Just as the audio file for the 20-meter high aerobic multishuttle run lets airmen practice timing their shuttles before their physical fitness readiness assessment, airmen can build mental fortitude with MindGym.   

While this tool is optimal for Global Strike Command airmen regardless of rank, job or location, it is another resource available to help sharpen physical and mental fitness.   

"MindGym is another example of how Global Strike Command directly invests in our airmen," said Air Force Col. Nekitha Little, Global Strike Manpower and Personnel Directorate director. "Striker airmen are fundamental to mission success. Well-being is vital to ensuring that Strikers are always ready to provide long-range precision strike, anytime and anywhere."

The Capital's Defenders: Two Centuries After Historic Battle, Citizen-Soldiers are Recognized

Aug. 26, 2026 | By Air Force Master Sgt. Arthur Wright, D.C. National Guard |

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, the District of Columbia National Guard, citizens and other government staff gathered at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, Aug. 23, to look back 212 years — to a moment when ordinary citizens answered an extraordinary call and stood in defense of the young nation's capital during the Battle of Bladensburg.

The wreath-laying ceremony connected America's Freedom 250 commemoration with the citizen-soldier tradition that helped defend the nation in its earliest years and continues today with the National Guard. Held among the gravesites of those who lived that history, the ceremony honored their courage while examining the lessons their service left for future generations.

"Whether you're describing acts of bravery or military chaos, the story [of that battle] cannot be told without recognizing the role of the citizen-soldier," said Mark Hudson, executive director of the cemetery. "The local militia joined the desperate fight to defend our young nation."

Historian Glenn Williams placed their service within the broader Chesapeake campaign during the War of 1812. With much of the nation's military strength committed elsewhere, he said the Washington area was defenseless except for the citizen-soldiers of the militia as British forces advanced toward the capital.

Williams described how American riflemen initially engaged and counterattacked the British advance before reinforcements shifted the balance. Outnumbered three to one and eventually outflanked, the American defense collapsed, clearing the way for British forces to enter Washington and burn several prominent public buildings.

Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, said approximately 1,000 D.C. militia members assembled to defend the capital in 1814.

"They were ordinary Americans who answered an extraordinary call," he said. "They stood in defense of a young capital, a young government and an independence won only a generation earlier."

For Blanchard, remembering the battle also means confronting the lessons that came from defeat. The militia members who assembled in 1814 possessed courage and commitment, but courage alone could not overcome their shortcomings in preparation, organization and coordination.

"Bladensburg reminds us that courage is essential, but courage must be matched by readiness," Blanchard said. "Training matters. Leadership matters. Command and control matter. And the relationships we build before a crisis matter when that crisis arrives."

Reflections on the D.C. Militia Legacy

Those lessons, he said, remain relevant more than two centuries later as the National Guard confronts an increasingly complex mission set spanning domestic response, homeland defense and support to global operations.

"Readiness is not something we begin building when the emergency starts," Blanchard said. "It is built every day — through training, preparation and trust between the people and organizations who may one day be called to respond together."

While the Battle of Bladensburg ended in defeat, Blanchard emphasized that its enduring value lies in what America carried forward from the experience.

"Winning independence and preserving independence are not the same thing," he said. "One required a generation to establish a nation. The other requires every generation to remain prepared to defend it."

That responsibility, he said, has always depended on more than one organization or institution.

A.J. Orlikoff, cemetery director of programming, brought the commemoration from military history to personal remembrance. Through research, Orlikoff has positively identified 26 D.C. militia veterans of the Chesapeake campaign buried at the Congressional Cemetery, while noting many more may remain unidentified.

"These defenders of the capital came from all walks of life — clerks, craftsmen, public officials, businessmen — all stepped up to defend the city," he said, before reading aloud the names of all 26 identified militiamen, restoring individual identities to men whose graves, in some cases, are unmarked.

"By reading their names and visiting their graves, we are doing much more than simply remembering a battle," Orlikoff said. "We're restoring their identity as people; we're restoring the memory of their service."

Following the remarks, Hudson and Blanchard laid a wreath at the grave of one of the fallen militiamen. A color guard then rendered a ceremonial volley in honor of those who defended the capital.

For Blanchard, the connection between 1814 and 2026 remains clear. The uniforms, technology, missions and threats have changed, but the responsibility to remain ready— and the citizen-soldier and airmen tradition behind it — endures.

"The citizen-soldier is not simply part of our history," Blanchard said. "It is a living tradition. Today, ordinary men and women continue to step away from their families, their careers and their communities when the nation calls."

That continuity carries particular meaning in Washington, where today's D.C. National Guard traces its heritage to the militia tradition that helped defend the capital more than two centuries ago.

Army Armaments Center Unveils New Ammo Packaging System

Aug. 26, 2026 | By Tyler Barth, Picatinny Arsenal |

Blending lightweight polymers with a rugged steel shell, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center's new SixPAC system marks a groundbreaking leap in small-caliber ammunition packaging, one intended to reshape how soldiers use munitions. 
 
The SixPAC, named for its capacity to hold 6.8 mm cartridges, consists of two lightweight polymer ammunition containers in a steel outer pack. After successful implementation with the cartridges, the system is planned for adaptation across multiple legacy small-caliber ammunition production lines.

This initiative serves as the first major overhaul of small-caliber ammunition packaging since World War II. Supply chain vulnerabilities, rising costs and a need to prepare for tomorrow's military operations in varied climates necessitated a reevaluation of current munitions packaging. The system is designed with a lighter tactical inner pack, which will broaden its manufacturing base and increase efficiency. 
 
The system is defined by the absence of a traditional outer wood box, which often required remediation, had to be assembled manually and was susceptible to mold. It also reduces reliance on chemical wood preservative treatments, lowering environmental impacts and the risk of supply chain disruption. 

The polymer inner pack reduces weight, enables easier transport and is more efficient to manufacture. The steel outer pack reduces the logistical footprint by allowing more containers and ammunition per pallet and has a notably larger supply base than its legacy wood counterpart. 

According to the project's technical lead, Jason Runell, the SixPAC was partly driven by a desire to do away with the wooden box and largely pursued to modernize for present-day logistics, portability and supply chain challenges. His team tested several materials and received feedback from various user communities before landing on a polymer inner pack and a steel outer pack. 
 
This decision, he added, comes out of necessity — polymers aren't yet as proven in the U.S. as they are in other countries. However, the U.S. must be ready to engage at any time and fight in various climates, all with their own difficulties and needs. To meet military standards, polymers must hold up no matter the locale, even after years of storage. 
 
"It's a developing field, and polymers are unique — you can modify them, include additives that improve impact performance, stiffness or dimensional stability," said Edward Lucas, a mechanical engineer and polymer designer at the center. "You can add more ingredients to the cauldron and your potion will come out different, trading some characteristics for others." 
 
Several designs are in development, with inner tactical polymer containers expected to weigh about half as much as legacy steel containers. This weight savings will reduce the load on soldiers. 
 
The decrease will also be advantageous, particularly on weight-sensitive platforms such as light watercraft and aircraft. Weight affects whether these platforms can launch and plays a part in their agility. 
 
Beyond that, injection molding for these inner packs will offer supply chain advantages. More than 800 injection molders in the U.S. can likely produce these packs, creating competition, slashing costs and lowering barriers to entry for new suppliers. 

Additionally, polymer inner packs can be produced largely through injection molding, where most components are formed in a single custom mold and do not require large dedicated fabrication lines. Because the same press can be used for other products by swapping molds, polymer production requires a much smaller footprint and fewer dedicated tools.

Soldiers tested the SixPAC throughout 2024-2025 and gave valuable feedback, much of it positive. Several service members pointed out that when aboard watercraft or aircraft, "every ounce counts" and that the new system will allow them to carry more ammunition. 
 
The polymer inner pack design is currently undergoing refinement, with an ongoing evaluation of options. The armaments center plans to continue investing in multiple container designs and will share pertinent information, such as performance requirements, dimensional constraints and lessons learned with industry partners. 
 
The new SixPAC system represents a critical step toward modernizing ammunition logistics and will allow the War Department to meet future challenges and demands more easily, Runell said.