Army Contracting Command Accelerates Hypersonic Weapon Fielding

April 21, 2026 | By Sarah Nelson, U.S. Army Contracting Command |

Speed defines the Army's long-range hypersonic weapon, Dark Eagle. But long before the system moves at hypersonic velocity, precision behind the scenes makes that speed possible. 
 
U.S. Army Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal awarded a $2.7 billion production contract March 31, supporting Dark Eagle, marking a major milestone achieved ahead of an accelerated fiscal year 2026 fielding timeline. 
 
Getting there was anything but routine. 

At the command, a six-person team of contracting and pricing professionals played a central role in navigating a compressed schedule, evolving requirements and complex negotiations to support one of the Army's top modernization priorities. 
 
"This acquisition was different from a typical contract because it was a joint effort between the Army and Navy, and [it] combined both research and development and production under a single effort," said Paul Daugherty, command contracting officer. "The accelerated timeline compressed proposal reviews, revisions and contractor counterproposals, requiring the team to develop alternative approaches quickly while maintaining acquisition standards."  

Dark Eagle represents a significant leap in capability in a complex War Department effort requiring close coordination across development, testing and production. 
 
To meet an aggressive goal of awarding the contract by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, the command adjusted its approach by engaging with partners early and working through challenges as they emerged. 

The milestone reflects a synchronized effort across contracting centers, program executive offices and industry partners, with ACC-Redstone Arsenal at the center of executing the acquisition strategy. 
 
"This effort marked a significant milestone as the first production contract for the common hypersonic glide body program, transitioning from an [other transaction authority] to a [federal acquisition regulation] part 15 contract," said Eric Blystone, command pricing branch chief. "With limited historical cost data available, the team coordinated closely with partners, including [the Defense Contract Management Agency] and [the Defense Contract Audit Agency], to conduct detailed analysis and support a fair and reasonable outcome for the government." 
 
The effort shows how disciplined execution and early alignment can accelerate complex acquisition programs while maintaining standards. 

"This development and production contract provides the Army and Navy the ability to achieve optimized pricing across base and option years, allowing the government to buy to budget while maximizing every taxpayer dollar," said Vince Dickens, command branch chief of hypersonic missile and counter-unmanned aerial systems. "The close partnership across contracting, pricing and stakeholders was critical to delivering a successful outcome for the warfighter."

Spring Culminating Exercise Tests Cadet Warfighter Skills

April 21, 2026 | By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn, U.S. Air Force Academy |

Nearly 3,000 cadets participated in the U.S. Air Force Academy's spring culminating exercise in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 15-18. 

The exercise is rigorous, realistic, multidomain military training that develops cadets into combat-ready Air Force and Space Force leaders. 

"Our focus is forging these cadets into warfighters," said Air Force Lt. Col. Benjamin Mackey, division chief for Cadet Wing Operations. "We're presenting them with opportunities to learn and grow. The [culminating exercise] allows them to test their military training so that when they graduate, they're ready to lead on Day 1 in any environment."

From Classroom to Combat Scenarios 

The comprehensive exercise applied classroom learning and small-group military training in a notional field training environment, where cadets practiced command and control, cyber operations and integrating space effects into their mission planning and other joint force capabilities. 

"The [culminating exercise] exposed cadets to leading in a joint warfighting construct," Mackey said. "It provided them with a reference of the framework they'll use as officers and gave them valuable background knowledge, which will make them that much more effective working with their sister services."

The exercise required cadets to synchronize efforts across multiple teams and functional areas, reinforcing the idea that individual actions contribute to mission success at a larger scale. Cadets were expected to assess evolving situations, prioritize tasks and make timely decisions, while maintaining accountability for their teams and mission objectives. 

Decision-Making Under Pressure 

Academy planners designed the exercise around realistic, stressful scenarios to develop critical thinking skills while testing the mettle of cadets. 

"This exercise gave cadets a chance to sharpen their skills within a controlled yet dynamic environment," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard McArdle, an academy exercise planner. "We designed it to replicate something they'll most likely see during their Air Force or Space Force careers to improve their ability to adapt and overcome in ever-changing environments."

A separate group of cadets served as an opposing force, a tactical enemy team that worked to disrupt friendly operations within each joint operations area. 

"We designed the exercise to have these items called injects," McArdle said. "When a cadet squadron or [joint operations area] meets a certain objective, one of the injects will be triggered to change the scenario to give the cadets more things to think about and adapt to."

Applying Training in Real-Time Scenarios 

One scenario involved the Air Expeditionary Task Force issuing an order to the joint personnel recovery center to rescue a cadet in enemy territory. 

"It was an opportunity for cadet leadership to test how they've organized, trained and equipped their fellow cadets to be ready to step into a specified role within a larger scenario to accomplish the mission," Mackey said. "I'm impressed with how they've gotten after it."

The quick response force received the order, prepared themselves and used navigation, small unit tactics, tactical combat casualty care and field communication techniques to locate and extract their teammate. "My biggest takeaway was learning how to adapt in real-time," said Cadet 2nd Class Joseph Bevivino, quick response force commander. "Our plans changed quickly, and we had to make decisions and maintain command and control from a distance. It reinforced how important communication, flexibility and trust are in a dynamic environment."

The sense of ownership extended beyond individual missions to the exercise's overall design and execution. 

"One thing that makes the academy unique is that we place an immense amount of responsibility on the cadets," McArdle said. "They played a big part in making this exercise happen. From providing logistical support to mission planning, which allowed [the] permanent party to tailor what we do around what the cadets planned for. The [culminating exercise] has so many moving parts, and without the cadets, permanent party, contractors and civilians, it would have been impossible."

Preparing Leaders for Day 1 

The multiday training event ensured cadets gained the leadership skills and experience needed to navigate unforeseen challenges throughout their careers, Mackey said. 

"The skills that the cadets learn might not directly translate into their Air Force specialty code or Space Force specialty code, but their leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills will absolutely translate to any job they'll do," he added. 

Academy officials directed the culminating exercise as a cumulative test for cadets to incorporate lessons learned during their basic cadet training, silver training weekends and individual leadership training, ensuring they are prepared for the rigors of leadership upon graduation and commissioning as second lieutenants in the Air Force or Space Force.

Service Member Olympians Meet With Secretary of War

April 20, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

Soldiers and airmen who participated in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy with the World Class Athlete Program visited the Pentagon April 17. During the visit, the athletes also got an unexpected opportunity to meet with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. 

"I welcomed 10 American Olympians — who also wear the uniform — to the Pentagon," Hegseth said via social media. "They represent the very best of our nation." 

This isn't the first time the secretary has talked with the world-class athletes. In advance of the Olympic Games, he called them directly to wish them luck in the competition.  

The visit highlighted the War Department's support for service member athletes and reinforced military appreciation across the sports community. During their visit to the Pentagon, the athletes and their leadership met with the secretary, toured the Pentagon and also met with their respective military service branch leaders. 

Olympic bobsledders Army Spc. Azaria Hill and Sgt. Frank Del Duca said their focus on fitness as Olympic athletes and soldiers aligns squarely with the secretary's fitness standards. 

"We are definitely big on fitness," Hill said. "That's kind of the basis of what we have to do — what we do day to day."

Hill is a motor transport operator in the Army and a bobsled brakeman as an Olympic athlete. During the 2026 Winter Olympics, she and her bobsled driver ranked in fifth place in the 2-woman bobsled competition. 

Del Duca, who joined the Army a little over six years ago, is an infantryman and also a bobsled driver.

"Fitness is a huge part of my performance as a soldier, as well as my performance as an athlete in the World Class Athlete Program," he said. "I do both, and I have to stay sharp and fit for both. And then there's also the positive benefits just to your general health as well. My obligations as a soldier require a high, high level of fitness, and that spreads to every part of my life."

As a soldier and an athlete, Del Duca said there's a balancing act that has to happen to make sure everything gets done right.

"It's full time for both," he said. "Sometimes the slider will shift one way or the other, depending on the time of year. So, during the Olympics and during the competitions to qualify for the Olympics, I'm doing mostly World Class Athlete Program things. Then that immediately shifts after the season, and I go do my infantry things."

Del Duca said he was excited to meet with Hegseth and said the secretary was impressed with what he saw from the athletes.

"He just had a lot of support for our program and what we're doing, both as soldiers and then in the athlete program," Del Duca said.

In the 2026 Winter Olympics, Del Duca and his teammate came in 4th in the 2-man bobsled competition.

Both the Army and the Air Force run a World Class Athlete Program, where athletes can work with expert trainers within the military as they prepare for world-class competitions — such as the Olympics — while at the same time, be service members and have a future job after their competition days are over.

The program serves both the athletes and the military, said Eli Bremer, an advisor to the Air Force's program.

For athletes, Bremer said, pursuing Olympic dreams while serving means a much more stable and greater level of support than what they might get going it alone. As civilians, athletes often find it hard to both train to the level they need to train and also support themselves. So, for many, it's a struggle to be an athlete. However, joining the Air Force or the Army through the World Class Athlete Program means those athletes can use their training and athletic performance as part of their career.

"It's really hard for them to hold jobs and have even consideration of a career while training for competition as a civilian," Bremer said. "That's why the military is such a positive aspect, because we have a program that allows them to pursue ... the Olympics for the United States, but after that, it's also an off-ramp into a real job."

And for the military, Bremer said those stellar athletes in uniform showcase to the whole world two of the things the military is all about: fitness and discipline.  

Program athletes advance their own goals by serving, but they advance the military by being top-level ambassadors who authentically demonstrate what the U.S. military is capable of achieving. When they share that they both serve in uniform and represent their nation at the Olympics as athletes, they make military service appealing to young Americans who also value fitness, discipline and patriotism and who are looking for a place that will make use of what they know they can bring to the table.

"It's a symbiotic relationship," Bremer said. "Athlete endorsers are the highest sought endorsers ... and these authentic testimonials are the gold standard. And so, what we have are some of the world's greatest athletes who have actually joined the military, who are actually serving the military, actually pursuing a career in the military — you cannot get a better testimonial ... than that."

Following their visit to the Pentagon, the athletes traveled to Nationals Park in Washington, where they met with the MLB team during batting practice and were recognized before the first pitch. Just before the start of the game, the Olympic athletes took the field and welcomed the Nats to their positions.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison

April 20, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Two consecutive days during World War I changed Army Sgt. Joseph B. Adkison's life forever. His actions during the first led to him receiving the Medal of Honor.

Adkison was born Jan. 4, 1892, in Egypt, Tennessee, to Joseph F. Adkison and Adeline Delashmit. His father died when he was just 7. He grew up with three siblings in Atoka, Tennessee, just north of Memphis.  

He enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard in 1917. His unit, Company C, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division, fought in the second Battle of Lys and the second Battle of the Somme in 1918. 

On Sept. 29, 1918, near Bellicourt, France, Adkison's unit became pinned down by intense German machine-gun fire. 

According to his Medal of Honor citation, Adkison alone rushed across the 50 yards of open ground directly into the face of the hostile machine gun, kicked the gun from the parapet into the enemy trench and captured the three men manning the gun.  

"The gallantry and quick decision of this soldier enabled the platoon to resume its advance," the citation read.

However, Adkison's fortune would soon run out. The following day, Sept. 30, he was struck by enemy artillery fire, suffering severe injuries to his right arm and leg. The wounds ended his military service, and he was medically discharged. 

In March 1919, he was invited to the White House to receive the Medal of Honor from President Woodrow Wilson. Adkison declined due to his severe injuries. Instead, an Army officer was sent to the farm he lived on in Tipton County, Tennessee, to make the presentation on behalf of the president. 

Adkison received the medal, surrounded by family and friends, at the Atoka Presbyterian Church. He was the first man from Tennessee to receive the Medal of Honor during the war.

Adkison's injuries affected him for the remainder of his life. He endured repeated hospitalizations and chronic complications, which worsened after he was struck by an automobile in 1937. Despite the public recognition of his heroism, much of his postwar life was spent managing his poor health caused by his wartime injuries. 

Family records indicate Adkison was a very quiet man who shunned publicity and was known affectionately as Bernard, his middle name, by family and friends.  

He died May 23, 1965, in his hometown. His legacy lives on there, as his medal is on display at the Tipton County Museum, and a park in Atoka is named for him. 

Guard Unit 'Turns Blue,' Symbolizing Mobile Infantry Transition

April 17, 2026 | By Army Sgt. Adrianne Lopez, 17th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs |

The Nevada Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 221st Cavalry Regiment transitioned from a mounted cavalry formation to a mobile infantry battalion during a "turning blue" ceremony at the Clark County Armory in Las Vegas, April 12.

The ceremony formalized the unit's shift under the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, following its official transition March 31, part of the Army Transformation Initiative to increase mobility, lethality and readiness for large-scale combat operations.

In April 2025, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the Army to implement a transformation and acquisition reform initiative meant to advance President Donald J. Trump's peace through strength agenda.

The unit's transition from a cavalry regiment to an infantry battalion reflects a War Department initiative to restructure force composition by converting armored units into more agile formations capable of rapid deployment. As part of this change, the battalion will replace its tanks with infantry squad vehicles, increasing mobility and operational flexibility.

"Moving from armor to mobile infantry doesn't make this unit lighter; it makes it more relevant, more responsive and more lethal," said Army Brig. Gen. Randy Lau, Nevada Army National Guard land component commander.

Soldiers began the day with a 6-mile ruck march that fed directly into the ceremony, symbolizing both the physical rigor and cultural transformation required to move from armored cavalry operations to the demands of infantry service. The infantry blue cord, worn over the shoulder, signifies a soldier's place in the Army's infantry branch and its legacy of leadership in combat.

About 160 soldiers received their blue cords during the ceremony. One was Army Sgt. Jessica Tanonaka, who became the first female in Nevada Army National Guard history to earn the infantry designation, marking a milestone for the organization as it continues to expand opportunities across its formations.

"We've always endured change," said Army Lt. Col. Michael Moya, commander, 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry. "We've always adapted and always exceeded the mission. I am thoroughly excited about this transition to infantry. It makes me proud that when I joined this organization, I came in wearing this cord, and I get to leave this organization wearing the cord." 
 
Lau said that the unit is well-positioned to lead the transformation.

"If there is one unit in this state ready for that challenge, it's the 1-221," he said, adding, "The Army needs you, the guard needs you, Nevada needs you, and today, you step forward, not only as transformed soldiers, but as infantrymen leading the transformation of our force." 

Air Force, Army, Marines Unite for Joint Air Traffic Control Training

April 17, 2026 | By Lauren Boggs, 78th Air Base Wing |

Airmen, soldiers and Marines completed two weeks of airfield training at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, learning valuable skills while highlighting the power of military interoperability.

 
The joint training brought together the Air Force's 53rd Combat Airfield Operations Squadron, the Marine Corps' Air Control Squadron 2 and the Army's Air Traffic Services Command. 
 
The training, led by the Air Traffic Services Command's quality assurance division, centered on the Air Force's new, deployable, airport surveillance radar and precision approach radar system, also known as an air traffic navigation, integration and coordination system. Service members were trained in setting up the system's version 10 radar, operations shelter and lighting systems used to create runways in austere and deployed environments. The air traffic controllers also took turns practicing precision approaches and landings. 
 
"It's a unique system, so we need a unique kind of training," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Terry, 53rd CAOS combat airfield watch supervisor. "The knowledge that [the Air Traffic Services Command] is able to come out and provide, in both a controlling and maintaining aspect, is really what we needed to be able to deploy the system and operate it the way that it needs to be operated."

 
While new to the Air Force, the system has been operated by the Army for over 20 years. It's the only air traffic control system that all three branches have in common. 
 
According to John Kelley, the quality assurance lead for the Air Traffic Services Command, the Army's experience with the system is a major perk, giving other air traffic control service members the opportunity to learn from years of practical application. 
 
The quality assurance division, made up of six air traffic controllers and five maintainers, regularly visits various military bases to train their counterparts, reviews and verifies technical orders and offers courtesy inspections.

 
"We're here to teach them everything that we know on how to troubleshoot and maintain the system, how to set it up and actively use it right away and give them ideas of how they would implement it in a real-world environment," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Wigetes Ho, an air traffic controller maintenance evaluator assigned to the Air Traffic Services Command. 
 
"On the air traffic control side, our role is to sit inside the shelter with their air traffic controllers and assist them in learning how to do precision approaches and the phraseology, terminology and theory behind them to get them to the point where they're actually employing it themselves, can get their certification and safely land aircraft," Kelley said. "The goal is to get them where they're self-sufficient." 
 
Beyond the technical skills, the training fostered crucial inter-branch relationships in a relatively small career field.

"Another big purpose of this training was to build rapport between branches," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Bernard Green, quality assurance division evaluator and noncommissioned officer in charge. "We don't work with the Air Force or Marines a lot, especially for air traffic controllers. Building that rapport between branches and learning from each other and having connections that you can reach out to in another branch and ask for help, while it may not have been the main goal of this training, it was a positive outcome." 
 
The connections create even stronger interoperability in deployed environments, allowing air traffic control service members to operate the system together, if required. 
 
"It just ties the whole picture together when it comes to airfield operations between the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps," Terry said. 

Golden Dome Will Protect Homeland, Provide Layered Defense, Leaders Say

April 16, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

During a hearing yesterday in Washington before the House Armed Services Committee's strategic forces subcommittee, Marc Berkowitz, the assistant secretary of war for space policy, reiterated the need for the Golden Dome for America as he described the intensifying strategic competition facing the nation.

The pace and scale of the threat is unprecedented; rivals are expanding, diversifying and increasing the sophistication of their arsenals in respect to missiles and other aerial weapons, Berkowitz said. 

He noted that the Golden Dome is a comprehensive defense against the most catastrophic threats facing the United States — threats that include ballistic, hypersonic and advanced cruise missiles, as well as next-generation aerial weapons and nuclear threats. 

"Golden Dome will protect our homeland, citizens, critical infrastructure and second-strike capability," Berkowitz said. "Today, our capability to defend the nation is limited, and its effectiveness is eroding against an increasingly advanced set of threats. Golden Dome will rectify this by creating a layered defense in depth of the United States."

Regarding the cost, Berkowitz said it is significant, but a necessary investment to protect assets of "truly incalculable value" — the lives of U.S. citizens and the territorial integrity of the nation.

"The cost of failing to defend our homeland would be infinitely greater," he added.

Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said his commands routinely intercept long-range bombers and other aircraft approaching North America, while standing ready to defend against long-range missile attacks 24/7.

Guillot described several recent command initiatives to build on preparedness and respond to missile threats, including Northcom's activation of Joint Task Force Gold, which will serve as the operational arm for the future layered defense systems provided by the Golden Dome.

Space Force Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, the Golden Dome program manager, said a new generation of advanced air and missile threats, unprecedented in their speed, numbers and lethality, now holds the American homeland at risk.

"Our adversaries are not just expressing the intent. They are demonstrating the capability to threaten our families and our way of life; this threat is not theoretical. We see it unfolding in front of our own eyes every day," he said.

Guetlein described Golden Dome as the cornerstone of the U.S. strategy to rapidly improve the defense of the homeland and ensure peace through strength.

"The vision is ambitious, but it is achievable. The foundational technology exists today, and we are moving with the utmost urgency to bring it to bear. Our strategy is built on speed, affordability and partnerships," he said.

The general said his priority is establishing a unified command and control network linked to the existing battle-proven systems, while investing in next-generation technology, as well as driving down the cost per intercept.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, the Missile Defense Agency director, and Army Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, commander of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, also testified.

Video: War

Africom Commences Exercise Flintlock 2026 in Africa

April 15, 2026 | By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Katelynn Moeller, Special Operations Command Africa |

U.S. Africa Command hosted dual opening ceremonies in Libya and Côte d'Ivoire yesterday, officially beginning Exercise Flintlock 2026 — its annual combined special operations exercise.

This year's exercise brings together approximately 1,500 service members from more than 30 African and international partner nations to strengthen interoperability and collective readiness. 
 
"I'm happy to announce that our premier special operations exercise in Africa, Flintlock 2026, has begun," said Army Lt. Gen. John Brennan, Africom deputy commander. "This exercise will forge stronger bonds between all those participating and demonstrate our shared commitments to confronting and degrading terrorism in Africa." 
 
Flintlock 2026 marks the first time Libya has hosted an operating location with joint forces training alongside one another. It was made possible by the 3+3 Libyan Joint Military Committee, which supports Libyan joint forces efforts.

"Due to the investment of visionary leaders on both sides, and the diligence of the 3+3, it is now a reality," Brennan said. "Security breeds prosperity, and this is clearly visible in Libya today, as you've seen on the demonstration field in front of you." 
 
Cohosted with the Italian special forces, the training location in Sirte, Libya, focuses on enhancing counterterrorism capabilities and running a multinational joint operations center to improve regional security coordination.  
 
Simultaneously, a ceremony in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, commenced at the country's main training location — a key security leader in West Africa. Ivorian-led operations will center around a command-and-control headquarters in Jacqueville, Côte d'Ivoire, directing special operations units conducting tactical objectives.

"Your presence here reflects our shared commitment to cooperation, collective security and peace," said Ivorian Special Forces Deputy Commander Col. Kitchafolwori Sekongo during the opening ceremony in Côte d'Ivoire. "In doing so, we strengthen our ability to operate together, particularly in the face of complex and evolving security challenges." 
 
Flintlock is an African-led, partner-centric exercise designed to build the sovereign capacity of nations to provide for their own security. By sharing costs, leadership and expertise, participating nations make a collective investment in regional stability. 
 
The exercise will continue throughout April and is designed to reinforce adherence to the rule of law and the protection of civilians in military operations. Through shared training and collaboration, Flintlock strengthens the network of trusted partners committed to peace and security in Africa.

Army Engineers Conduct Bridge-Building Exercise in Texas

April 14, 2026 | By Chad Eller, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District |

Army Reserve soldiers assigned to the 401st Engineer Company spent March 26-29 at Bardwell Lake, Texas, conducting a multiday bridge-building exercise designed to train new troops and refresh skills.

Army 1st Lt. Jacob Hawkins, a platoon leader with the 401st, said the company specializes in building floating bridges and rafts that allow military vehicles and personnel to cross bodies of water when permanent infrastructure is damaged, unavailable or tactically unsuitable.

"We basically make bridges that float on water," Hawkins said, noting that the unit uses specialized boats and modular bridge sections to create rafts capable of carrying Humvees, tanks and other heavy equipment. "Anytime we need people to get from one side of the water to the next, we can create a raft and take them across."

The company recently relocated from Oklahoma to Seagoville, Texas, bringing in a wave of new soldiers. Hawkins estimated that roughly half the unit is fresh out of advanced individual training, making this their first hands-on experience with bridge building operations.

"There's not very many times in the military where you get to be on a boat or a bridge floating around," he said. "Once you're out on the water, you can see all the soldiers smiling. They're having a good time. It's great for morale."

The training includes both day and night operations. Soldiers practiced deploying bridge bays, maneuvering boats, assembling rafts and transporting vehicles, skills that can be critical in real-world missions.

Hawkins recalled a previous large-scale exercise in which the unit moved an entire battalion across a river in a single night.

"Between five and 10 minutes, you can do a build," he said. "It's really cool to see how fast they can do this little Tetris act with the bridges."

Army Capt. Charles LeBaron, the company commander, said the exercise also serves as a field-training event for soldiers who have spent little time outside of the classroom environment.

"Getting them straight into a reserve unit that actually gets to go out into the field and practice their job is amazing," he said.

The training was conducted in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Bardwell Lake. LeBaron praised the collaboration, calling the Corps of Engineers "a great partner to work with" and highlighting the value of having access to the facilities it manages.

"They [were] more than welcome to have us out here," he said. "They get activity on their lake, they get publicity and we get good training. It's good for the engineer regiment as a whole."

With mostly clear skies, mild temperatures and open water, soldiers spent their nights camping near the shoreline — an experience Hawkins described as ideal for training and building camaraderie.

Medal of Honor Monday: Spanish-American War Heroes

April 13, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Many heroic actions took place during the Spanish-American War in the late 19th century. One such action was the Battle of Tayabacoa, Cuba, a special operation effort to land supplies and reinforcements, which resulted in four Buffalo Soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor.

The battle took place June 30, 1898, when 30 Cuban freedom fighters and U.S. soldiers aboard the Army transport steamships Fanita and Florida and the gunboat USS Peoria made an amphibious landing at Tayabacoa.

Four miles west of the town, at the mouth of the Tallabacoa River, was a heavily defended Spanish fort. The Peoria lobbed cannonballs at the fort, but the damage was light.

The 30 fighters crept into the jungle on a reconnaissance mission but were discovered by Spanish scouts and soon came under heavy enemy fire, causing them to retreat.

The party took cover in a mangrove swamp. Maximilian Lund, a Danish surgeon, swam out to the Peoria to report that the survivors needed assistance, as some were wounded and their rowboats had been sunk by Spanish fire.

The first four rescue attempts failed due to heavy enemy fire. The fifth attempt was made under the cover of darkness.

Army 2nd Lt. George P. Ahern, Army Sgt. William H. Thompkins, Army Cpl. George H. Wanton and Army Pvts. Dennis Bell and Fritz Lee volunteered for the rescue mission, battling sustained enemy fire from concealed positions.

This time, the rescue was a success, with all but one soldier returning safely to the ships.

But the fearless warfighters were not ready to quit. On July 2, 1898, the Peoria returned to the mouth of the Tallabacoa River, along with the gunboat USS Helena, and shelled the fort for 30 minutes, damaging it and the area around it.

The troops then set fire to Spanish housing in the nearby town of Tunas de Zaza. The gunboats then proceeded 40 miles east to Palo Alto, near the town of Trinidad, where the Cuban troops and supplies disembarked to carry on other operations.

Bell, Wanton, Lee and Thompkins received the Medal of Honor, and Ahern received a Silver Star Medal. All the soldiers served in the 10th Cavalry Regiment.

Bell, who was born in Washington, D.C., enlisted in the Army in 1892. He received his Medal of Honor while still serving in Cuba in June 1899. He attained the rank of corporal before retiring from the Army in December 1903. He died Sept. 28, 1953, in Washington, and he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Wanton was born May 15, 1868, in Paterson, New Jersey. He served in the Navy from 1884 to 1888 and then joined the Army in August 1889. He received his Medal of Honor in June 1899. Wanton attained the rank of master sergeant before retiring in 1925. He died Nov. 27, 1940, in Washington, and is also buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Lee was born in June 1866 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and joined the Army in 1889. Shortly after the war ended, his health deteriorated. He received his Medal of Honor while in the hospital June 23, 1899, and was medically discharged July 5, 1899. He moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, and died there Sept. 14, 1899. He is buried at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. In July 2025, Fort Lee, Virginia, located a few miles from where Lee grew up, was rededicated to him.

Thompkins was born Oct. 3, 1872, in Paterson, New Jersey, and joined the Army in August 1889. He received his Medal of Honor in June 1899, and not much is known about his life after his military service. He died in 1916 and is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery.

Ahern was born in New York City on Dec. 29, 1859. In 1906, he initially retired from the Army as a major but returned to active-duty service July 1, 1916, and served as secretary of the War College from 1918 to 1919. He worked at the Veterans Bureau from 1920 to 1924 and finally retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1930. He died in Washington on May 13, 1942, and is the final rescue volunteer buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Hegseth, Indonesian Counterpart Announce Defense Partnership

April 13, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed his Indonesian counterpart — Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin — to the Pentagon today, where the two men announced the establishment of the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership between the two countries.

The partnership will serve as a framework to advance bilateral defense cooperation between the U.S. and Indonesia in order to maintain peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

"Your visit demonstrates the importance that the War Department places on our growing security relationship — and it is active and growing — with Indonesia," Hegseth told Sjamsoeddin, just before noting that the two countries complete more than 170 military exercises together each year.

"This [partnership] signifies the strength and potential of our security relationship … bolsters regional deterrence, and advances our shared commitment to peace through strength," Hegseth added.

During his brief remarks, Sjamsoeddin affirmed Hegseth's sentiment regarding the strength of the U.S.-Indonesia relationship.

"Today, we are here as Indonesian delegates … with very great enthusiasm to continue to develop our defense relationship, [which] should be enduring for our next generation in Indonesia and the United States of America," Sjamsoeddin said. "We're working on behalf of mutual respect and mutual benefit to enhance [the] value of our national interests."

The new cooperation agreement features three "foundational pillars" that are based on each country's national sovereignty and mutual respect: military organization and capacity building; training and professional military education; and exercises and operational cooperation.

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Under the framework of the agreement, both countries will work on exploring cutting-edge initiatives, "including codeveloping sophisticated asymmetric capabilities, pioneering next-generation defense technologies in the maritime, subsurface and autonomous systems domains, and cooperating on maintenance, repair and overhaul support to improve operational readiness," according to a joint statement on the new partnership.

The statement goes on to explain that both the U.S. and Indonesia have agreed to enhance joint special forces training, and that such engagements will make the bond between both countries' militaries stronger.

Additionally, Hegseth noted that Indonesia has been helpful to the U.S. with the recovery of fallen service members.

"I appreciate your continued support in helping the United States find, return and protect the remains of our soldiers who fought alongside Indonesians during World War II," Hegseth told Sjamsoeddin.

He added that the signing of the partnership memorandum will enable the War Department's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to recover those aforementioned service members' remains in Indonesia.

Both Hegseth and Sjamsoeddin described the defense cooperation as a "line of departure" — a military term for setting off on a new mission — for their respective countries.

"So, here's to the next chapter and our new mission together for our great countries," Hegseth told Sjamsoeddin.

The U.S. and Indonesia have maintained formal diplomatic relations for more than 75 years, and established ties in 1949, just after Indonesia's war for independence from the Netherlands.

Dangers of Disease in American Revolutionary War

April 10, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

As America celebrates 250 years of independence, here is a look back at the price the Revolutionary War service members paid for freedom.

Besides being killed by the enemy, the thing most feared by soldiers during the war was dying from disease — and with good reason. Historians have said that many more died from disease than from combat. 

In November 1775, soldiers, led by Continental Army Col. Benedict Arnold, marched on Quebec City. The following month, an outbreak of smallpox occurred preventing the Americans from taking the city. 

As smallpox was quickly spreading in America, Gen. George Washington, Continental Army commander, ordered his troops to be immunized against the disease.   

"Necessity not only authorizes but seems to require the measure," he said. "For should the disorder infect the Army, in the natural way, and rage with its usual virulence, we should have more to dread from it, than from the sword of the enemy." 

The inoculation procedure involved inserting an active smallpox pustule into the skin of a healthy soldier and then quarantining him for a period of time. This proved successful and enabled the Americans to have battlefield successes. 

Besides smallpox, bringing soldiers together in close quarters with poor nutrition and sanitation caused diseases such as dysentery, typhus, typhoid, dengue fever, cholera, fever and diarrhea to spread.

The procedure for extracting a musket ball from a soldier involved the surgeon extracting it with forceps — if it could be reached. The forceps were usually never cleaned and the surgeon operated without gloves, spreading germs and causing infections. 

Since there was no anesthesia available then, surgeons gave the soldiers alcohol to drink — if they had any — to help ease the pain. 

The vast majority of surgeons didn't go to medical school, learning instead through apprenticeships. Dubious treatments included treating the sick by balancing the body's four fluids — blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. Rebalancing was done through bloodletting and purging through various teas and medicines. 

Today's military medicine has come a long way since that war. 

Army Launches Data Operations Center, Giving Warfighters Decisive Edge

April 10, 2026 | By Army Communications and Outreach Office |

The Army launched the Army Data Operations Center April 3 — a key initiative designed to transform how it manages and uses its vast data resources to ensure decision dominance on the modern battlefield.

The data center will serve as the operational engine for the Army's transformation into a data-centric force. It will connect commanders at all echelons to the full power of the Army's enterprise data, ensuring warfighters have access to the right information at the right time.

Although the Army possesses a wealth of data from operations worldwide, much of this information has been fragmented across legacy systems and organizational stovepipes. The data operations center is designed to bridge that gap.

"Commanders are not short on data," said Army Lt. Gen. Jeth Rey, deputy chief of staff for the Army G-6. "We have tons of data on our battlefield and in our enterprise. We don't have a data problem. We have a data management problem, and data becomes the ammunition that we need to provide to our senior leaders in order for them to make quick and informed decisions and gain decision dominance."

Organized under U.S. Army Cyber Command, the data operations center will function as a centralized data service, described by officials as a "911 for data." A team of expert data brokers will be responsible for identifying authoritative sources, establishing secure connections and routing critical information to the point of need — from enterprise systems to joint and coalition partners.

"The Army Data Operations Center represents a pivotal step in our journey to becoming a truly data-centric force," said Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Eubank, Army Cybercom commander. "By enabling seamless access to trusted, actionable data, [the data center] ensures that our commanders and soldiers are equipped to make precise, timely decisions. This capability is essential to maintaining our advantage. … Ultimately allowing us to set the land domain through the cyber domain."

To guide the center's development, the Army established a task force to execute a 180-day pilot program.

"The is ultimately intended to be the 911 for the operational force to call when they have a data management [or] data connectivity issue," said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Kaloostian, data center task force director. "We are the ones [who] are going to alleviate the burden from those divisions."

As it matures, the Army Data Operations Center will also aim to operationalize data for artificial intelligence and machine learning — managing the Army's AI model garden and shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline. By refining raw data into actionable intelligence, the data center will enable soldiers at every echelon to out-think and outmaneuver adversaries, securing the Army's advantage now and in the future. 

Airmen Launch Remotely Operated Weapon Station Course in Turkey

April 9, 2026 | By Air Force Senior Airman Victoria Nuzzi, 39th Air Base Wing |

The 39th Security Forces Squadron certified airmen on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station for the first time at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, last month, supporting the 39th Air Base Wing's goal for airmen to be trained, equipped and ready. 

While the CROWS system allows airmen to control a mounted weapon from inside an armored vehicle, it is also essential for members of the 39th SFS to continually adapt and become proficient in its operation. The wing remains focused on providing diverse training opportunities that better equip its personnel for a variety of operations. 

This was the first class conducted in-house at Incirlik since the squadron received instructor training at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe CROWS instructor course at Aviano Air Base, Italy, last year. 

"The CROWS course enhances the combat readiness and depth of our defenders," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Quinton Burts, the squadron's course chief and program manager. "A CROWS-qualified team can respond to threats faster and more accurately while remaining protected." 

The training certified the airmen on the M240B and M249 light machine guns, using a CROWS system attached to a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. 

After completing four days of internal classroom instruction — covering system fundamentals, operational procedures, maintenance and troubleshooting — the airmen transitioned to live-fire training. The 31st Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance hosted this final portion, providing the range, equipment, weapons and safety oversight needed for the certification. 

"This training is now a core part of our unit's training plan," Burts said. "As new defenders arrive, they will be scheduled for this course to ensure our forces are 100% qualified and combat-ready on this critical weapons system." 

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett Rescues Family Missing in Western Pacific

April 7, 2026 | By Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam |

The Coast Guard cutter Midgett crew rescued a family of three in the waters off the coast of Chuuk, part of the Federated States of Micronesia, following search and rescue operations April 6. 

The crew located the missing family after receiving a report on Easter from authorities in the Federated States of Micronesia and the U.S. Embassy that the vessel was overdue. 

"Our U.S. Coast Guard colleagues' swift and courageous actions in this successful search and rescue mission not only reflect the highest standards of professionalism and humanity but also reinforce the deep and enduring partnership between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia," said Jennifer Johnson, U.S. ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. "This mission exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and mutual support at the heart of the Compact of Free Association, underscoring how our close relations translate into real, lifesaving outcomes for our people." 

At night, the crew visually located the 23-foot single-outboard skiff carrying the missing family, two men and one woman, in the water. 

The family departed Fananu, an island municipality in the state of Chuuk, March 30 for the short passage to the island of Murillo but never arrived due to a failure of their single outboard engine. At the height of search planning, the predicted search area exceeded 14,000 square nautical miles in rough seas with waves reaching 10 feet. 

All three survivors were rescued uninjured. They were then safely delivered to Weno for further transport to Fananu.

"National security cutter crews spend most of their time executing maritime law enforcement missions, often with our international partners," said Coast Guard Capt. Brian Whisler, commanding officer of the Midgett. "[Search and rescue] cases like this one are not routine for our platform. Our bridge watch standers spotted the small skiff in rough seas just after midnight, and that kind of situational awareness does not happen by accident. It is what this crew trains for, and I could not be prouder of how they performed." 

During the operation, watch standers from the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Sub-Center Guam at U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam developed the search patterns and coordinated with U.S. Coast Guard District Oceania and Air Station Barbers Point personnel to launch an HC-130 Hercules airplane and crew from Hawaii to support the search and directed the launch of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Frederick Hatch  from Guam.  

The crew on the Midgett, already conducting a Western Pacific patrol, diverted following a bilateral maritime law enforcement boarding with two embarked officers from the Federal States of Micronesia in their exclusive economic zone, approximately 200 nautical miles south of Fananu. 

"This rescue reflects the strategic value of maintaining a capable surface presence across the region's vast maritime expanse," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Derek Wallin, the search and rescue mission coordinator. "Without the Midgett's proximity, coordinating a search across more than 14,000 square nautical miles of open ocean would have required significantly more time and resources, time the three missing people may not have had."