Sept. 18, 2026
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By Air Force Airman 1st Class Ian Carton, 125th Fighter Wing
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The Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing recently joined forces with the Ohio Air National Guard's 220th Engineering Installation Squadron to improve communication infrastructure, strengthen mission readiness and provide hands-on training for airmen.
Earlier this summer, airmen assigned to the 220th Engineering Installation Squadron, who specialize in capabilities such as network infrastructure, communication systems installation and maintenance, and spectrum analysis, traveled to the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, to assess and document its existing communication infrastructure; the mission served as an opportunity to integrate and provide expert support.
"We are documenting the layout of the communication infrastructure currently in place," said Air Force 1st Lt. Grant Warren, a cyberspace operations engineer assigned to the 220th. "We are making sure it's properly labeled and accurately updated within the digital repository used by communications squadrons and engineering installation units across the service."
The team traced communication pathways between facilities, confirmed cable routes, reviewed labels and updated infrastructure records.
Accurate documentation is critical when communication systems are damaged or disrupted. If a cable is cut or a building experiences an outage, technicians must quickly determine where the problem occurred and how it affects the broader network.
Warren noted that keen, accurate insight into the communication infrastructure keeps the base out of the dark.
"We may know that it starts in one building and ends in another, but we need to know what happens in between," he said. "Having a better understanding of that infrastructure increases our strategic capabilities when it comes to the mission."
The assessment also supported long-term planning. By understanding which pathways and resources are available, the 125th can make informed decisions about future communication requirements, infrastructure upgrades and support for new mission systems.
Reliable communications enable command and control, aircraft operations, maintenance, logistics and coordination with military and civilian partners. According to Warren, that makes communication infrastructure critical to mission success.
"Without communications, many operational missions would not be possible," he said. "We provide that capability, and it's a critical linchpin to have individuals who are capable of meeting the standards, ensuring that missions can go uninterrupted."
This project also gives junior airmen new experiences outside of their normal day-to-day practice, giving them a greater sense of the capabilities and expectations of the communications squadron's mission.
"It's important to do the job right the first time, because that means less work for the airmen who come after us," said Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Brommeland, a radar, airfield and weather system specialist assigned to the 220th.
Brommeland said serving as a multicapable airman broadens his experience and gives him opportunities to work with his hands while learning different parts of the mission.
The partnership demonstrates one of the National Guard's key strengths: sharing expertise and resources across states. The 125th gained a clearer understanding of its communication network, while the 220th received realistic training in a different operational landscape.
By working together, both units improved their capabilities and contributed to a force that is always ready and always there.
Sept. 17, 2026
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By Alaskan Command Public Affairs, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region
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The Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deployed F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in support of Operation Arctic Vanguard 26-4.2. During this NORAD operation, Alaskan NORAD Region is operating directly alongside the Canadian NORAD Region to execute critical defense missions across the Arctic, Sept. 13-26.
Under Arctic Vanguard, NORAD personnel and aircraft will forward deploy into Greenland to execute operations in austere conditions alongside partners from Denmark and other NATO countries. This operation supports the NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Nordic Bridge concept, which aligns the commands' Arctic operations, exercises and training, activities and investments with other U.S. combatant commands, NATO, individual nations and regional partners.
"Operation Arctic Vanguard demonstrates that austere conditions and vast distances present no barrier to NORAD's collective defense," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander, Alaskan NORAD Region. "Deploying combat airpower from Alaska across Canada and forward into Greenland validates our agile combat capabilities and demonstrates our seamless integration with the Canadian NORAD region, the Kingdom of Denmark and our NATO allies. Together, we maintain continuous vigilance and credible deterrence across North America's northern approaches."
Operation Arctic Vanguard is part of a recurring series of NORAD and Northcom operations conducted across the North American Arctic region to enhance presence, operate from forward Arctic locations and defend North America's northern approaches.
Under the Nordic Bridge concept and efforts to bring orchestration to operations, activities and investments in the Arctic, Operation Arctic Vanguard enables more consistent presence of multinational forces in the region, operating in multiple domains and in varying locations.
Soldiers with the 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, recently reinforced a challenging section of the southern border barrier.
The soldiers emplaced two strands of concertina wire and one strand of razor wire atop 7-foot Hesco barriers in National Defense Area 2 near Fort Hancock, Texas. The reinforced barriers disrupt climbing attempts and enhance persistent detection, monitoring and rapid response along high-risk border corridors.
"Barrier reinforcement operations represent more than physical infrastructure; they showcase the technical ingenuity and skill of our service members," said Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force Southern Border and the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas. "For the last 14 weeks, our great soldiers have been out here day and night developing innovative solutions to stop human trafficking in our own territory."
In May, the Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began installing 10 miles of barriers under orders from the War Department and U.S. Northern Command. Within about 30 days, they constructed 10 miles of barriers, including site preparation, mobilization, environmental clearance, receiving barrier sections from overseas, and transporting more than 90,000 cubic yards of fill material.
On average, constructing 10 miles of Hesco barriers takes approximately 28 days when crews work 12-hour shifts. However, this timeline does not include mobilization, land clearing or compaction.
During the recent reinforcement operation, soldiers assigned to the 591st Combat Engineer Company-Infantry, 62nd Engineer Battalion, maintained a demanding pace as they reinforced barriers from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to Fort Hancock, Texas.
"When we work on border reinforcement operations, we typically start in the morning, and then we work until around midafternoon," said Army 2nd Lt. Jonah Posada, a Sapper platoon leader with the 591st. "And then, we'll return to Fort Bliss and prepare for the next day; we try to continue at that pace for the whole week."
To address site conditions and avoid the Texas summer heat, the company adopted an offset work schedule: one platoon began work in the early evening; another relieved it and worked until late morning.
The elevated work surface and limited workspace made installing razor wire on the Hesco barriers difficult. Additionally, the soldiers could not use metal stakes, which are generally used for support, because they would place compressive stress on the barriers. Instead, they used boom lifts as work platforms to emplace razor wire atop the concertina wire.
The final 300-meter section presented another significant challenge: soft, uneven terrain prevented the boom lifts from reaching the area and attempts to move the equipment left them stuck. Rather than leave the section unfinished, the 591st soldiers developed a solution using equipment already available.
"We devised a plan using tent poles and rope that we had in our high-angle mountaineering kit," Posada said. "Using those ropes, we stretched [the section of wire] out and kept tension on the razor wire."
Soldiers on the ground used camouflage-net poles to lift the razor wire while teams atop the barrier secured it in place. A carabiner attached to a rope helped lift the wire from the ground, enabling the soldiers to complete the final section without relying on boom lifts.
The solution was the latest in a series of adaptations soldiers developed as they transitioned between traditional barrier work and reinforcing Hesco barriers.
The Hesco barriers introduced additional challenges because the razor wire configuration was not standard for the engineers.
"The actual obstacle that we emplaced on top of the Hesco [barriers] is not normal," Posada said. "We had to figure out how to best overcome that. The terrain by the Hesco was a big hindrance on the mission as well."
The company also developed techniques to prevent injuries. In one method, the soldiers attached a wooden post to a boom lift and used it to position the wire across the barrier.
The completed work reinforces the barrier with additional obstacles intended to deter unauthorized crossings and support the broader border-security mission. Posada said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents appreciated the efforts and noted that the additional barriers helped limit crossings.
The operation underscores the role of combat engineers in providing practical solutions when terrain, equipment and mission requirements intersect.
For the soldiers conducting the work, the operation demonstrated the importance of adapting established engineering practices to conditions on the ground. Posada said he shared the techniques that his platoon developed with other platoon leaders in the company so they could apply the lessons learned to similar missions.
Sept. 17, 2026
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By Air Force Capt. Casey Sturdivan, 15th Wing
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green requested military assistance to transport specialized utility vehicles from the Big Island, Hawaii, to Kauai, Hawaii, to help address continued widespread power outages, Sept. 12-13.
The 15th Wing executed the airlift, an interagency effort that included the U.S. Pacific Command, the Air Force, the Hawaii National Guard and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
Power outages began as Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai, Sept. 7. By 6:40 a.m. the next day, approximately 36,000 residents across the island were without electricity.
"I simply decided that we had to do everything possible to shorten the time to recovery, and partnering with the military and utilizing our National Guard on the ground has been a major addition to our state and county efforts," Green said.
Utility trucks originally relocated from California to Hawaii after Tropical Cyclone Lala were loaded onto two C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu, Hawaii, and flown to Kauai to restore essential services.
On the ground, War Department emergency preparedness liaison officers and Hawaii National Guard members received the equipment. The airlift augmented support from the 74 guard members currently providing ground support in the wake of the storm.
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, state adjutant general, said he feels extremely fortunate to be so close to U.S. Pacific Command and the Pacific Air Forces, which enable a rapid response and unity of effort in times of crisis.
"We are committed to continuing support for our community members without power in whatever way we can," said Air Force Col. Kyle Clinton, 15th Wing commander. "Supporting those that support us in times of emergency is why many of us chose to serve."
These consolidated partnerships across the War Department and state agencies enable nearly real-time synergistic response capabilities to natural disasters across the Hawaiian Islands.
Sept. 16, 2026
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By Amy Phillips, Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office
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The swift response of Fort Hunter Liggett, California, to the encroaching Plaskett Fire in the adjacent Los Padres National Forest reflects its emergency preparedness and strong mutual aid partnerships in Monterey County, California. The fire ignited Aug. 26, burned 29,976 acres and is 89% contained as of yesterday.
There is no threat to the cantonment area, and the installation continues daily operations to support military training. While the threat never necessitated activating the installation's emergency operations center, garrison directorates effectively synchronized operations to deliver rapid fire-support operations. Fort Hunter Liggett remains mission ready with minimal disruption to daily operations.
"I'm incredibly proud of the tremendous teamwork and dedication the installation and our tenants displayed," said Army Col. Jason McKenzie, the garrison commander. "The fact that our military training and daily operations continued through these last two weeks illustrates that Fort Hunter Liggett is always mission ready."
The installation's fire department routinely monitors regional fire activity and conducts prescribed fires, when possible, to reduce the abundant fuel in and around the installation. They immediately started defensive planning and acting when they learned of the Plaskett Fire.
Aaron Smith, Fort Hunter Liggett fire chief, is serving as the installation's unified incident commander and is working alongside California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 to ensure a coordinated, safe and effective response to the Plaskett Fire. Fort Hunter Liggett is providing dozers, dozer bosses and dozer operators in support of suppression operations. The installation is also providing an advanced life support ambulance to support the incident medical plan.
"At the same time, we continue to maintain a dedicated initial attack capability for structural and wildland emergencies for the installation," Smith said. "This allows us to support the larger firefighting effort while continuing to protect our community, infrastructure, and training mission."
The Directorate of Public Works Roads and Ground crew works in lockstep with firefighters year-round to create firebreaks. DPW provided four dozers and eight equipment operators to the incident management control team, creating new firebreaks and enhancing existing ones to help contain the fire.
"I've heard nothing but great things from the incident team…they're doing a great job. I'm very proud of my team for their contributions," said Army Lt. Col. Loren Baldwin, DPW director.
The Fort Hunter Liggett police department plays a critical role in patrolling infrastructure and establishing a checkpoint at the installation's Nacimiento-Ferguson Road entry to prevent non-emergency responders' traffic from impeding fire operations. Those living within the Los Padres Forest and installation boundaries have unimpeded access to their homes.
Through it all, Fort Hunter Liggett remains fully operational, with the installation's Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security team coordinating and synchronizing support efforts. With more than a dozen aircraft supporting the fire and thousands of firefighters in and around the installation, Range Operations are operating at full throttle. They are constantly engaged — monitoring the situation, collecting data and supporting the U.S. Forest Service Fire Service base camp at Schoonover Airfield.
"While our EOC-Light and weekend operations were highly successful, our true victory lies in the lessons learned. We are already leveraging this experience to refine our systems, processes, and communication tools," said Paul Lewis, DPTMS director. "I could not be prouder of the DPTMS team and the garrison's unified response."
The AirNow website reported that air quality at the installation ranged from moderate to hazardous. However, Fort Hunter Liggett discovered that the quality measurements used by online platforms such as AirNow are based on sensors 40-50 miles from the installation. To rectify this, DPTMS worked with the PurpleAir site and installed four air quality sensors inside the cantonment area. These measures allow the installation to get accurate readings and apply appropriate safety measures to protect those who work and live at Fort Hunter Liggett.
Effective communication during any crisis is critical, and the installation uses all available channels to keep the Fort Hunter Liggett community and neighbors informed. The installation uses face-to-face briefings, internal emails, the My Army Post app, mass notification systems, and many online platforms to communicate with the community. Fort Hunter Liggett also has a webpage dedicated to fire-related information.
Good communication and the fact that this is not the first or last wildfire the installation has faced, helps the community stay prepared. The Dolan Fire in 2020 was the last major wildfire to significantly impact the installation. Then and now, seeing the night sky aglow is traumatic for Fort Hunter Liggett residents.
"I went through the Dolan Fire filled with fear and uncertainty. Facing the Plaskett Fire, I understood exactly what could happen," said Talia Wesley, a FHL resident and Army civilian. "That experience didn't erase the fear, but it gave me the resilience, strength and clarity to prepare. I can't control the flames, smoke, or wind in either event, but I can control my readiness."
Wesley and many installation residents are prepared with air purifiers, to-go bags for evacuation orders, and dusted-off family emergency plans.
"The Dolan Fire taught me the reality of wildfire danger; the Plaskett Fire showed me how preparation turns fear into action," she said.
McKenzie said that serving and protecting the community requires a united front and Fort Hunter Liggett is showing its true colors to support each other.
"We're also incredibly grateful for the Army Reserve providing emergency funds, Cadence Communities for sharing command information to keep our residents informed, the Association of the U.S. Army for providing N95 face masks to combat the hazardous air quality, and many others that helped during our time of need," he said.
During the Sept. 8 virtual community town hall, Tom Clemo, incident commander, emphasized the importance of community engagement, listening to concerns and building partnerships.
"The partnerships that have been created…Chief [Aaron] Smith at Fort Hunter Liggett has done an amazing job taking care of firefighters at the base," Clemo said. "If there's anything we've learned during incident management, [it] is that we cannot do this alone."
The Plaskett Fire has reduced some of the available wildland fuels within the affected area, but that does not eliminate the installation's future wildfire risk, Smith said.
"We will continue evaluating burned and unburned areas, maintaining established fuel breaks, conducting mitigation activities when conditions permit and incorporating lessons from this incident into Fort Hunter Liggett's long-term wildland fire management planning," he said.
Preparedness, prevention and strong interagency coordination will remain central to protecting the installation and sustaining its training mission.
Fire also risks federally protected resources and future erosion. The Fort Hunter Liggett DPW environmental team coordinates with CIIMT-7 by providing environmental data for operations and recovery planning. The environmental team will follow up in 2027 with surveys of key areas to monitor the status of threatened and endangered species and cultural resource sites.
Steep, remote terrain and weather play a critical role in fire containment. Various fire operations continue, including applying mobile fire retardant, building backfires, deploying direct handline crews, and building firebreaks continue. Plaskett Fire information is available here.
Sept. 14, 2026
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By Army Staff Sgt. Mickey Miller, U.S. Southern Command
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Movement slows. Equipment gets heavier. Water becomes an obstacle instead of a landmark. The environment quietly strips away assumptions about how quickly a formation should move or how easily a soldier can accomplish a familiar task.
For U.S. soldiers training alongside Peruvian and Chilean forces during Exercise Southern Vanguard 26, that friction is exactly the point.
In the hills surrounding Sauce, Peru, soldiers are learning to move, survive and operate in terrain where their Peruvian counterparts have spent years developing expertise. During the opening days of jungle warfare training, multinational formations started at various lanes, including amphibious movement, survival skills and small-unit tactics designed for an environment that can punish even routine movement.
"Multiply fatigue by 10," Army Capt. Jared Fonzi, an operations planner assigned to the 551st Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, said while describing the physical effects of jungle operations. "The climate, the terrain, the physical exhaustion that everyone here goes through — pictures do not justify the stress and the physical fatigue."
Southern Vanguard 26 is a multinational exercise hosted by the Peruvian Army and designed to strengthen interoperability among participating forces while building proficiency in jungle mobility, survivability and tactical operations. For American soldiers, participation offers something difficult to replicate at home: The opportunity to become students of a partner force operating in a terrain it understands intimately.
Fonzi, a graduate of the Jungle Operations Training Course-Panama, Ranger School and an infantry officer proficient with conventional U.S. tactics, said jungle warfare changes the scale at which soldiers must think and maneuver.
"The size of the maneuvering element is far smaller," he said. "You don't really maneuver as a platoon, which is usually the bread and butter of U.S. operations. Here, with smaller elements — team size, squad size — you need to rely more on individual survival techniques and minimal equipment."
That emphasis places greater importance on survival, fieldcraft and understanding the environment itself. Humidity, elevation, water obstacles, rainfall and dense vegetation are not simply background conditions.
"These climate differences and natural elements are what affect the fight," Fonzi said.
That reality is also driving U.S. soldiers to look outward for expertise.
Fonzi said U.S. forces are relying heavily on jungle warfare specialists from countries such as Peru, Colombia and Panama to understand how forces accustomed to the environment operate and which techniques might improve U.S. tactics, techniques and procedures.
The dynamic is visible throughout Southern Vanguard 26.
Peruvian instructors are leading much of the jungle training, while U.S. instructors work alongside them and help translate techniques for American formations. Fonzi described the Peruvian approach as aggressive and immediate, often moving soldiers quickly from instruction into practical application.
"There's really no crawl phase here," he said. "They'll give a brief instruction, and then they just throw them in the water or whatever training environment they go into."
The approach may differ from how many American soldiers are accustomed to training, but adapting to unfamiliar methods is part of the exercise itself.
Interoperability is often discussed in terms of radios, procedures and whether two formations can communicate on a battlefield. But before any of that works, soldiers have to understand how their partners think, move and solve problems.
Sometimes that begins with something as unremarkable as getting everyone across a body of water. That process requires a certain humility.
The U.S. military brings considerable capability nearly anywhere it goes. The jungle offers a useful reminder that capability and expertise are not the same thing. Sometimes readiness means arriving prepared to teach. Other times, it means recognizing when someone else has something to teach you. Southern Vanguard creates room for both.
For soldiers operating beneath the jungle canopy, the lessons are as physical as they are tactical.
"Being wet 24/7, fighting through brush, crossing water — these little things have a huge impact on how you fight," Fonzi said.
Over the course of the exercise, those small hardships become part of a larger test: whether multinational formations can adapt together in an environment that does not care how experienced, capable or well-equipped they were before entering it.
That may ultimately be the most valuable lesson hidden beneath the canopy. Partnerships become meaningful when soldiers learn to depend on one another before circumstances require them to.
The littoral combat ship USS St. Louis departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, in support of U.S. Northern Command's mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13.
The St. Louis assumes duties previously executed by the USS Cooperstown in support of Northcom's border security objectives. The command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.
"Our crew has trained relentlessly for this deployment, and they stand ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. I could not be more proud to lead these sailors," said Navy Cmdr. Lester Shewmake, commanding officer of the USS St. Louis. "To our families and the Mayport community — thank you for your unwavering support as we head to sea."
Navy assets are deployed under Northcom's maritime homeland defense authorities to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs or other illegal activity.
The St. Louis is assigned to the Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2 and homeported in Mayport. The littoral combat ship is a fast, agile, mission-focused warship designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants armed with capabilities to defeat challenges in the world's littorals. These ships can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multimission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.
It is the 22nd littoral combat ship delivered to the Navy, the 10th Freedom-variant to join the fleet and the seventh ship to bear the name. The first St. Louis, a sloop of war, was launched in 1828. It spent most of its service patrolling the coasts of the Americas to protect interests and trade.
Sept. 15, 2026
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By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Boris Pistorius, Germany's defense minister, met today at the Pentagon to discuss NATO 3.0, increased European defense spending and the defense industrial bases of both nations.
"We're here to take another strong step in advancing our defense industrial cooperation between the United States and Germany," Hegseth said.
Last year at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hegseth said allied nations must spend more on defense; President Donald J. Trump set the bar at 5% of gross domestic product. He added that increases in troop readiness, weapons production and force contributions were also needed.
Hegseth, who calls the proposed changes NATO 3.0, said Germany has been "front and center" in making them happen.
"Today, we see major progress that no one would have thought possible," he said. "Germany today is moving closer to fulfilling the 5% — leading the way on the spending commitment it made at the Hague Summit last year — but as we talked about, defense spending is just the first step."
The secretary noted that increasing defense production on both sides of the Atlantic is essential.
"NATO 3.0 will also require putting Germany's very large and historic industrial base to work for the common defense," Hegseth said. "It's the same thing that we're doing right here, as I and members of our team travel across the country; as we rebuild our arsenal of freedom."
The arsenal of freedom plan, Hegseth said, aims to reindustrialize the U.S., rebuild American manufacturing, manufacture American-made products and create American jobs.
The two civilian military leaders signed an agreement that, Hegseth said, aligns the War Department's acquisition transformation strategy with Germany's Procurement Acceleration Act.
"When we align the two, you expand opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, and expanded maintenance and sustainment capacities — exactly what allied countries should be doing," he said. "The objective is straightforward: Deliver capable systems to American, German and allied forces, at scale and at speed for maximum lethality."
Pistorius highlighted Germany's immense increase in defense spending and said it's on board with the NATO 3.0 vision and with balancing out the burden of defending the NATO alliance.
"Germany is strengthening its defense capabilities and acts as a driving force in Europe," he said. "We Europeans want to take some of the burden off the U.S. and assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe."
The German defense minister noted that since last year, Germany has increased defense spending by 25%, equivalent to about $147 billion.
"We are investing in new state-of-the-art weapon systems here in the U.S.; we are assuming a leading role within NATO and, when it comes to providing support to Ukraine, we are strengthening NATO's eastern flank, particularly through our armored brigade in Lithuania," he said.
He also highlighted German investments in technology, including space and deep-precision strike capabilities. Later this week, Germany will also roll out its first F-35A aircraft.
The U.S.-Germany agreement, he said, will help Germany become an even stronger NATO partner than it has been for more than 70 years.
"It creates a strong basis for closer armament cooperation between our two nations with one clear aim: increasing our production capacity," Pistorius said.
He added that the NATO alliance must feature stronger European leadership to survive, and Germany will play a big part in that.
"NATO needs to become more European in order to stay transatlantic," he said. "Burden shifting is progressing. Together with our allies, we are working towards a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO. And together with our American friends, we are working on strengthening our common defense and resilience."
Sept. 14, 2026
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By Air Force Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter, 926th Wing
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For recruits assigned to the 926th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, their journey starts long before basic military training. Before ever setting foot on the drill pad, these future airmen are already learning exactly what it takes to succeed in the Air Force Reserve.
Serving as the catalyst for this transition, the 926th Wing Development and Training Flight bridges the gap between civilian life and operational military service. By coming in regularly alongside current wing members, trainees get a firsthand glimpse into their future. During this time, they are introduced to the core tenets of military life, learning essential customs and courtesies, drill procedures and rank structure to establish a baseline of knowledge.
However, the training flight goes one step further with an initiative specifically designed to start building the wing from within. Beyond military fundamentals, trainees also embed with operational squadrons to gain firsthand experience with units they may eventually join.
"The development and training flight is built for newly enlisted reservists that come into our wing," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bench Riche Lagus, a program coordinator assigned to the 926th. "It helps them prepare for [basic military training] and tech school, but it also helps them get integrated with the wing that they're about to work for."
Trainees recently observed the 555th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers and traveled to Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to witness security forces field operations.
For trainees like Abril Fonseca, a future vehicle mechanic with the 555th, this early exposure eases the transition into military life and provides a tangible goal.
"It's cool to see what our day-to-day [life] is going to look like," Fonseca said. "Everybody is just so pumped."
Establishing a common baseline can be a challenge as trainees enter the flight with different levels of experience, from recent high school graduates to those with established civilian careers. As they move through the program, they rely on one another to learn military expectations and adjust to their new environment.
"The other trainees around me that have been there longer helped me out," Fonseca said. "It's a cycle; the people who have been here the longest help the newbies out, and then we just carry that on."
Alongside military fundamentals and wing integration, physical readiness remains a cornerstone of the development and training flight curriculum. The program incorporates monthly fitness tests, group workouts and participation in wing fitness events to familiarize trainees with Air Force fitness standards.
This proactive approach ensures recruits arrive at basic training already equipped with the physical resilience required for military service. For many trainees, the group environment provides the exact motivation they need.
"I was not good at working out consistently before I got to the flight," Fonseca said. "But now it feels like I can actually do it. What makes it better for me is that I have my teammates around me supporting and pushing me."
Army Capt. Daniel W. Lee Sr. was a platoon leader during World War II. He earned the Medal of Honor for valorous action in southeast France in 1944, during Operation Dragoon.
Lee was born June 23, 1919, in Alma, Georgia. His parents, Daniel M. Lee and Ida Hyres, were farmers. Lee and his six siblings grew up working on the family farm.
After graduating from Alma High School in 1937, Lee attended the University of Georgia, paying his way by working odd jobs; he worked for a professor, typed papers for fellow students and surveyed crops. He graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture and began his career in soil management.
In December 1942, Lee married Sallie Davis, and they had three children after his service ended in World War II: Daniel W. Lee Jr., James and Elizabeth.
Shortly after being denied entry into the Air Force because he was colorblind, Lee was drafted into the Army in March 1942. He was commissioned a second lieutenant later that year, and his unit, the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, shipped to England for training. They arrived in northern Algeria in 1943, but by then, the enemy had already surrendered. His unit then engaged in combat during the Italian Campaign, from May to August 1944.
On Sept. 2, 1944, Lee was the leader of Headquarters Platoon, Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Army in Montrevel, France, when his Medal of Honor valor occurred.
According to the medal citation, the Germans had mounted an hourslong attack against the outnumbered Americans when Lee organized a patrol to knock out their mortars.
He led his men to the edge of town, neutralizing enemy riflemen on a ridge. Atop the ridge, he observed seven Germans manning two large mortars near an armored half-track about 100 yards down the slope.
Armed with a rifle and grenades, Lee left his men on the high ground and crawled to within 30 yards of the mortars, where the enemy discovered him and unleashed machine-gun fire — shattering his right thigh.
"Scorning retreat, bleeding and suffering intense pain, he dragged himself relentlessly forward," the citation reads.
Lee killed five Germans with rifle fire, and the others fled before he reached their position. While being fired on by an armored car, he took cover behind the German military vehicle and used a discarded German antitank weapon to neutralize the threat.
"Despite his wounds, he inched his way toward the car through withering machine-gun fire, maneuvered into range and blasted the vehicle with a round from the rocket launcher, forcing it to withdraw," the citation reads.
Lee struggled back to his men, where he collapsed from pain and loss of blood.
During a 2022 interview, Lee's daughter provided further details. Outnumbered, Lee's platoon surrendered, and the Germans took many of the American soldiers but left Lee because of his injuries.
"Dad told my brother that a German soldier made the decision to leave him there rather than kill him or take him, as he would not have made it. Dad was forever grateful," Beth Lee von Mersveldt said.
Lee was promoted to first lieutenant, and despite his severe wounds, chose to remain in the military. He transitioned to the Army Reserve, then known as the Organized Reserve Corps.
President Harry S. Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Lee in a White House ceremony, Jan. 23, 1946. During the ceremony, Truman reportedly told Lee and three others receiving the same award, "I would rather have that medal — the Congressional Medal of Honor — than to be president of the United States."
After his recovery, Lee worked for the Veterans Administration in Valdosta, Georgia, assisting returning veterans with accessing healthcare, education and other benefits.
He was recalled to service at the start of the Korean War in June 1950. He was promoted to captain and served as a combat training officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky, until 1952. Lee returned to civilian life, rising to the position of senior vice president of the Southwest Region of Military Service Company, the oldest division of EBSCO Industries.
Lee died Jan. 22, 1985, at the age of 65, and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Alma. His wife, Sallie, eventually remarried; she died Oct. 1, 2016.
In April 1996, a bridge near his hometown was dedicated as the Daniel Warnell Lee Memorial Bridge.
Sept. 9, 2026
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By Daniel Taylor, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka
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Sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Yokosuka, Japan, joined U.S. and Japanese military, government, medical and emergency response organizations for Exercise Big Rescue Kanagawa 2026, Sept. 1, at the Kanagawa Prefectural Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center and Fire Academy in Atsugi City, Japan.
USNMRTC Yokosuka contributed doctors, hospital corpsmen, Japanese fellows and translators to a tri-service U.S. medical team. The team integrated with other War Department emergency responders and Japanese medical partners to rehearse patient reception, bilateral triage and treatment, casualty movement and coordination across military and civilian medical systems.
Big Rescue Kanagawa is a large-scale, multiagency disaster-response exercise jointly organized by Kanagawa Prefecture and Atsugi City. It brings together Japanese and U.S. military, medical and emergency response organizations to practice coordinated rescue and medical operations.
USNMRTC Yokosuka sailors and American Red Cross Yokosuka volunteers applied moulage — makeup and materials used to simulate injuries — to role players before the mass casualty scenario. American Red Cross Yokosuka volunteers also served as role players, creating realistic conditions for medical teams to assess injuries, prioritize treatment and move patients.
Translators and Japanese fellows helped U.S. and Japanese participants communicate throughout the exercise. Their support allowed medical teams to exchange information, coordinate care and work through differences in language, procedures and medical practices before a real emergency occurs.
"Exercises like Big Rescue Kanagawa are about more than validating procedures — they are about building the relationships and trust that make a coordinated response possible," said Nikolai Kerry, emergency manager, USNMRTC Yokosuka. "By training alongside our U.S. joint partners and Japanese allies, we strengthen the communication, teamwork and shared understanding needed to provide timely care when communities need us most."
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the exercise with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa and other local officials. The delegation observed rescue, medical and emergency response demonstrations conducted by participating organizations.
Army Maj. Gen. James Dooghan, commanding general of U.S. Army Japan, met with the prime minister on behalf of the department teams participating in the exercise. U.S. Army Japan participated alongside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Navy and Air Force, highlighting capabilities U.S. forces in Japan can provide in support of disaster-response operations.
USNMRTC Yokosuka's command triad also attended the drill to observe the command's sailors working with Japanese medical partners and other War Department responders during the medical response scenario.
"Seeing USNMRTC Yokosuka and U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Atsugi personnel work through a complex scenario reinforced the value of training as one Navy medicine team," said Navy Capt. Joshua A. Miller, commanding officer, USNMRTC Yokosuka and director, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. "Every rehearsal builds the confidence and habits that allow us to respond with purpose when it matters most. That is what it means to be ready, steady and together."
Sept. 8, 2026
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By Robert Hammer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs
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The War Department recognized unique and innovative suicide prevention programs during a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Sept. 2.
The 11 department and two Coast Guard programs were recognized for building partnerships, equipping leaders and peers, connecting people with resources, and creating environments in which service members and families could more readily seek support.
"It is not just what they did during the last Suicide Prevention Month," said Alicia Matteson, Defense Suicide Prevention Office acting director. "They represent sustained efforts, informed by data, informed by the needs of their particular communities that they are serving."
Keith Bass, assistant secretary of war for health affairs, praised each of the honorees before handing out the awards.
"Today, we honor outstanding individuals for their efforts. I was just absolutely in awe of the creativity and the passion," Bass said. "Thank you on behalf of the Military Health System."
Joining Bass and Matteson during the annual event were Tim Hoyt, Defense Health Agency chief mental health officer, and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shane Steiner, Coast Guard deputy assistant commandant for workforce and family services.
September may be Suicide Prevention Month, Hoyt noted, "but the individuals and commands we recognize today did not limit their work to a single month, event or campaign. They invested in suicide prevention throughout the year."
Hoyt added that celebrating these efforts today conveys to the force that the department values a multilayered approach to suicide prevention, which includes:
Leaders who know and care for their people.
Commands who act before concerns become a crisis.
Programs that make support easier to access.
Teams that strengthen connection and belonging.
The recognized programs represent a vital part in fostering that sense of support and connection in military communities, the speakers underscored.
Bass said when someone seeks care in a military hospital or clinic, "we will wrap our arms around that individual. We're going to take care of them and we're going to take care of our families. We have to continue to push this awareness. Nobody's alone. We do this as a team to take care of our folks."
During the ceremony, leaders emphasized that hope resounded throughout each team's efforts to prevent suicide.
"Hope is a belief that things will get better. But it's more than that," Matteson said. "It is also having the agency to make it so. And sometimes we forget that piece. The agency to make it so needs to exist for individuals to have hope that things will get better."
Each program was recognized for its outstanding prevention efforts and was evaluated by the military services based on criteria provided by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office.
Honorees are:
12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Katterbach Army Airfield, Germany. The brigade enhanced direct support of soldiers working in aircraft hangars with interactive walkabouts and physical resiliency notebooks. The unit also created an anonymous peer support group to help soldiers discuss stress without fear of career impacts.
84th Training Command, Army Reserve, Fort Knox, Kentucky. The command executed a campaign that trained leaders to recognize early deviations in a soldier's normal state of being. To combat isolation among geographically dispersed soldiers, the command implemented sponsorship checklists, virtual touchpoints and chaplain-partnered events. The initiative also integrated holistic health and fitness principles into events.
Kentucky Army National Guard. The program created a modern suicide prevention music video that moves past traditional training briefings. This shareable video successfully connected soldiers and families to critical resources across the state.
Marine Corps Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. The battalion normalized seeking mental health support by hosting more than 30 interactive events, including a resiliency lunch and learn series. They also provided incoming Marines with secure storage training and physical gun locks.
Marine Forces Reserve, Force Headquarters Group, New Orleans. This unit created "Vibes are Off," informal, rank-inclusive forums during which Marines can openly discuss stress. Their efforts drastically increased self-reporting and helped recruit 15 new peer prevention trainers.
Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Portsmouth, Virginia. The command combined digital innovation with community outreach, launching a mobile app for mental healthcare and hosting basewide wellness fairs. They also partnered with Operation Homefront to provide support to more than 6,000 military children.
Navy Reserve Center Minneapolis. This center trained 400 Navy Reserve service members across 17 units on how to spot early signs of a mental health crisis. They collaborated with fitness leaders and chaplains to build spiritual and mental toughness.
Air Force Headquarters, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Washington. The command trained more than 300 senior leaders in a supportive postcrisis framework and empowered airmen to share their personal resilience stories. They also taught leaders how to have comfortable, nonjudgmental conversations about secure firearm storage.
Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. The 439th Airlift Wing brought mental health support directly to high-risk career fields, doubling demand for coping sessions for firefighters and distributing secure storage tools. They also expanded unit-level help by training 22 resilience training assistants.
172nd Airlift Wing, Air National Guard, Allen Thompson Airfield, Mississippi. Driven by the commander's clear support, the wing launched a gamified "Helping Hands" scavenger hunt in addition to mindfulness events. These activities showed airmen of all ranks how to make self-care a daily practice.
Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. The base reached 25,000 community members through targeted leadership briefings, secure storage education and a veterans' suicide awareness ruck march. Base suicide response teams also support survivors by providing therapeutic art resources.
Coast Guard Base Boston/Leadership Development Center, New London, Connecticut. Operating at the local level, the base completed more than 260 outreach initiatives to support 4,000 personnel. The center then integrated these real-world lessons directly into training pipelines for 1,300 future Coast Guard leaders.
Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, California. The station used its unique bridge-recovery mission to secure a new physical bridge barrier and overhaul emergency response protocols. They also hosted an awareness walk for 400 first responders and provided daily, low-barrier support to the crew.
WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order today designed to cut weeks from the average time Veterans wait to receive Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
The executive order, “Accelerating Access to Veterans’ Benefits and Employment Opportunities,” directs VA and the Department of War to work together so that service members’ Military Personnel Files and Service Treatment Records are available to VA beginning on the day they enter military service.
Providing VA with immediate access to these records is intended to help Veterans receive the benefits they have earned more quickly after leaving the military, including healthcare, disability compensation, GI Bill education benefits and VA home loan benefits.
During the second Trump Administration, VA reports that the average processing time for disability benefit claims has fallen 46%, from 141.5 days to 76.1 days. The department estimates that improved sharing of military records between DoW and VA could reduce processing times for recently separated service members by an additional 20 to 30 days on average.
The executive order also directs VA and DoW to modernize related information technology systems to support the sharing of these records. It calls for the use of artificial intelligence to make the benefits process more convenient for Veterans and directs the departments to adjust related technology contracts as necessary to accomplish the order’s goals.
In addition, VA and the Department of Labor are directed to work with DoW as it updates the Transition Assistance Program and other programs intended to help service members find employment more quickly as they transition to Veteran status.
“President Trump understands the importance of putting Veterans First like no other commander in chief, and this executive order will make it faster and more convenient for Veterans to get the benefits they’ve earned,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Giving VA continuous access to warfighters’ military records will eliminate weeks of waiting for Veterans applying for VA healthcare and financial benefits. We want to make the transition from military to Veteran status as seamless as possible, and we look forward to working with President Trump and Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth to do just that.”
The executive order follows a series of developments the VA highlights from President Trump’s second administration. According to the department, VA has:
Completed a record 82,083,918 direct-care appointments in FY 2025, an increase of 4.1% from FY 2024.
Completed a record 59,989,662 community-care appointments in FY 2025, up 12% from FY 2024.
Offered Veterans more than 3.2 million appointments outside normal operating hours, providing additional options for timely and convenient care.
Committed nearly $5 billion during the current fiscal year to repair and improve VA healthcare facilities—the largest non-recurring maintenance investment in VA history.
On September 8, 2026, Mr. Alvaro Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (DASW) for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, led the annual U.S.-Mongolia Bilateral Defense Framework (BDF) with Major General Gankhuyag Davagdorj of Mongolia's Ministry of Defense (MoD).
DASW Smith and Major General Gankhuyag identified a structured roadmap for increasing Mongolia's defense spending over the next five years, ensuring that U.S. security cooperation assistance aligns with U.S. interests and Mongolia's defense requirements. They also discussed practical ways to enhance the Mongolian Armed Forces' capabilities and readiness, expand combined military exercises, and strengthen Mongolia's defense industrial base.
DASW Smith commended Mongolia for its critical contributions to the Board of Peace and Haiti Gang Suppression Force. He emphasized that Mongolia's Strategic Third Neighbor Partnership with the United States remains vital to the defense relationship.
Army Cpl. Freddie Stowers served as an infantryman during World War I and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor more than 70 years after his heroic actions in France in September 1918.
Stowers was born Jan. 12, 1896; he was one of Wylie and Annie Stowers' 12 children. His father was a farmer, and his mother was a laborer. Stowers grew up in Sandy Springs, South Carolina, and worked on the family farm.
In October 1917, Stowers was 21 when he was drafted into the Army and sent to basic training at Camp Jackson, now Fort Jackson, South Carolina. His wife, Pearl, and their daughter, Minnie Lee, named for one of his sisters, stayed in Sandy Springs, which was nearly two hours away.
Demonstrating his leadership early on, Stowers was promoted to private first class within two months and then to corporal upon arriving in France in April 1918. He was assigned to Company C, 371st Infantry Regiment, 93rd Infantry Division — one of two buffalo soldier, all-Black divisions — which was ordered to support the 157th French Army.
On Sept. 28, 1918, while serving as a squad leader, Stowers' company came under attack on Hill 188, in the Champagne-Marne Sector of northeastern France. Shortly after the attack began, the Germans ceased firing and climbed onto the parapets of the trenches, holding up their arms as if to surrender. However, it was a trap. As the American forces advanced and reached within about 100 meters of the trench line, the Germans jumped back into their trenches. They opened fire with machine guns and mortars, killing or wounding half of Stowers' company, including his lieutenant and senior noncommissioned officers.
With complete disregard of personal danger and under devastating fire, Stowers took command, crawled forward and led his squad toward the enemy machine-gun nest. After fierce fighting, it was destroyed.
While crawling forward and urging his men to continue the attack on a second trench line, Stowers was hit. Although mortally wounded, he continued to lead his troops and pressed forward, urging the members of his squad until he died.
Inspired by his heroism and display of bravery, the company continued the attack against incredible odds, contributing to the capture of Hill 188 and causing heavy enemy casualties.
After the war, Stowers' commanding officer recommended him for the Medal of Honor, but it was never processed. After a records review in the early 1990s, the recommendation was found, and President George H.W. Bush posthumously presented the Medal of Honor to Stowers. Two of his sisters, Georgiana Palmer and Mary Bowens, accepted the medal on behalf of the family during a White House ceremony held April 24, 1991.
Stowers is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Meuse, France.
A bronze statue of him was unveiled Nov. 10, 2015, on the campus of Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina, a few miles from his birthplace.
There's a Stowers Elementary School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and a Freddie Stowers Single Soldiers Complex at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as well as a Freddie Stowers Veterans Memorial in Anderson County, South Carolina.
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