Exercise Venom Forge Strengthens Partnerships, Boosts Combat Readiness

 June 30, 2026 | By Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen, 432nd Wing |

An integration exercise designed to develop new tactics, techniques and procedures, combined support from five wings, seven groups and 17 squadrons across a multitude of operations and support at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, June 17.

Dubbed Venom Forge, this exercise implemented lessons derived from the 57th Maintenance Group's inaugural Agile Maintenance Leadership Course to develop tactical-level maintenance leaders who can build mission-type orders, manage risk, communicate under friction, generate aircraft and create the conditions for combat airpower to happen.

In preparation for the event, mission partners completed a multiplatform hot-pit refueling site certification on base, helping enable contingency hot-pit and integrated combat turn training for multiple fighter platforms. The effort created a foundation for future agile combat employment training iterations.

"Creech [Air Force Base's] support was critical because it gave the capstone an unfamiliar environment and helped turn the course concept into executable training," said Air Force Maj. Yoarmerby Gomez, 57th Maintenance Group maintenance tactics officer. "This exercise required more than ramp space. It required access, support equipment, airfield operations, fuels support, fire emergency services, safety, security, medical response planning, host-base coordination and leadership buy-in."

To execute the exercise, organizations from the 57th Wing, 99th Air Base Wing, 53rd Wing, 355th Wing and 432nd Wing came together to give students a realistic stage to experience how maintenance decisions affect logistics. The students learned how movement timelines affect aircraft generation, how medical and emergency-response planning affects mission risk, and how base constraints shape execution.

The base provided further support with equipment required for execution, facilitation of access across the installation and aided aircraft integration and operations not part of normal day-to-day mission operations.

"[The base] provided the right balance of proximity, realism and operational value," Gomez said. "It is close enough to Nellis [Air Force Base] to support a controlled hub-to-spoke training model but separate enough to force students to coordinate with a real host base instead of relying on home-station assumptions."

To further test units involved, an inject involving members suffering from simulated heat stroke was enacted, allowing medical teams on HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters to integrate critical care air transport while aggressor units conducted hot-pit integrated combat turns on F-35A Lightning IIs and F-16C Fighting Falcons.

"What made Venom Forge unique was that every organization had its own reason to be there," Gomez said. "One of the clearest examples of the training value was the level of deconfliction required on the airfield. At one point, F-35s and F-16s were being refueled and rearmed while two HH-60s were entering the airspace. These elements of controlled chaos were exactly what we wanted the students to experience. It forced multiple agencies to communicate, deconflict and execute safely in a dynamic environment."

The certification and partnership conducted during the exercise enabled a repeatable foundation for future iterations. These next events could include more students, additional mission partners, different aircraft and more deliberate deconfliction across multiple simultaneous operations.

"For the students, Venom Forge showed that aircraft generation is not just a maintenance action," Gomez said. "Thanks to this exercise, we now have a scalable course model, a stronger relationship with [the base], a multiagency training framework and a better understanding of what it takes to generate combat airpower from a spoke location."

JIATF 401 Leaders Visit Whiteman Air Force Base to Strengthen Counter-Drone Operations

June 30, 2026 | By Army Lt. Col. Adam Scher, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 |

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 leaders recently visited Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to learn about the installation's counter-unmanned aerial systems operations and initiatives in advance of the upcoming directed energy pilot program.  

The visit highlighted how the 509th Bomb Wing and the 131st Bomb Wing have strengthened base defense by combining advanced technologies with physical defenses and operational procedures.  

During the visit, leaders discussed infrastructure upgrades, engagement authorities and how best to overcome integration hurdles, as well as strategies for safely employing counter-UAS engagement options within the homeland. The meeting also highlighted how base leaders are successfully using locally developed concepts of operation in their strategy.  

Security forces personnel demonstrated how they are employing the systems provided by JIATF 401 to further strengthen their capabilities. 

"The tools and training we've received from JIATF 401 allow us to respond faster and more effectively to drone threats," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brent Keefler, 509th Bomb Wing section chief for counter-UAS and small UAS. "Having both the technology and training to act gives our team confidence to protect the base and our airmen." 

The visit underscored the War Department's ongoing commitment to partnering with and delivering state-of-the-art counter-drone solutions to warfighters to defend personnel as well as critical facilities and assets. 

"When looking at an installation's counter-drone capabilities, I don't focus solely on the equipment or the array of assets on a map," said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, JIATF 401 director. "I ask who the commanders are that have the mission to defend the base from drones. Whiteman's leadership and airmen are demonstrating exceptional initiative and capability in this mission." 

Sinking Exercise Demonstrates Capabilities of Joint Force

June 30, 2026 | By Task Force 70 and Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs |

U.S. Pacific Command joint forces, along with allied and partner forces, successfully carried out a live-fire sinking exercise as part of Valiant Shield 2026, targeting the thoroughly cleaned and decommissioned amphibious transport dock USS Juneau more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Guam. 

The Juneau launched in 1966 and saw action during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm before it was decommissioned in 2008. 

The evolution brought together air, surface and subsurface assets in coordinated strikes, allowing crews to sharpen critical skills in weapons employment and target engagement under realistic conditions that no simulator can fully replicate.

"This [exercise] provided an outstanding opportunity for our joint team to integrate capabilities across domains, honing the lethal precision and coordination essential for high-end maritime operations in the Pacific theater," said Navy Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 and Task Force 70. 

The coordinated strike included a long-range anti-ship missile deployed by an Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber. The LRASM is designed to detect and destroy enemy ships at long ranges. Developed by the U.S., it's a key component in the military's counter-maritime strike operations.   

"The B-2's impressive performance underscores the U.S. military's commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges," said Air Force Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, commander of Pacific Air Forces. "By prioritizing counter-maritime strike operations, we can maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, protect our national interests and ensure the free and open Pacific that underpin our global security."  

With the deployment of the LRASM from the B-2 Spirit, the Pacific Air Forces has another tool in countering maritime threats. This milestone showcased high-end innovation reinforcing the War Department's commitment to safeguarding national interests and maintaining global security.

All operations adhered strictly to federal environmental regulations and international standards. Prior to the exercise, the target vessel underwent extensive preparation, including the complete removal of hazardous materials in line with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The selected site was surveyed to ensure the safety of marine life, vessels and personnel, with full compliance to the National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and other key statutes. 

Exercise Valiant Shield is a biennial, multilateral field training exercise conducted by the U.S. and partner nations in the Western Pacific focusing on joint, cross-combatant integration operating across sea, air, land and cyberspace.

USS Theodore Roosevelt Hosts International Helicopter Exchange

June 29, 2026 | By Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet |

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt hosted more than 45 international partners from eight countries during an international helicopter warfighter exchange at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 27, 2029, as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific.

During the visit, military pilots from the U.S., South Korea, Italy, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Mexico compared procedures, discussed aviation challenges and strengthened relationships. The event was designed to build trust, improve communication and support cooperation among the different countries.

"We're privileged to host the international helicopter exchange aboard the Theodore Roosevelt," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Andrew Poulin, USS Theodore Roosevelt strike operations officer. "It's a great opportunity to showcase naval aviation and work with our partners from different countries."

Sailors assigned to the Roosevelt highlighted flight deck procedures, launch and recovery operations and the coordination required to operate aircraft safely, while visiting sailors observed how U.S. embarked aviation units work in unison.

"It's been a great experience for helicopter pilots to exchange ideas, share flight experiences, learn about different cultures and get to know more people," said Peruvian Navy Cmdr. Antonio Gonzáles.

During the exchange, visiting sailors were taken to the hangar bay, flight deck and navigation spaces. The locations on the tour route all play a role in flight operations aboard the Theodore Roosevelt.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to participate in exercises like this, which allow us to improve our tactical skills and build relationships with other navies," said Mexican Navy Lt. j.g. Francisco Valencia.

The Roosevelt is participating in Rimpac to enhance readiness, strengthen partnerships and support regional security across the Indo-Pacific region. Thirty nations, over 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in the exercise taking place in and around the Hawaiian Islands from June 24-July 31.

The world's largest international maritime exercise, Rimpac provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. This year's exercise is the 30th iteration in the series that began in 1971.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Pvt. Elden Harvey Johnson

June 29, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Army Pvt. Elden Harvey Johnson fought in the 1944 Italian Campaign of World War II as an infantryman and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism.

Johnson was born in Bivalve, New Jersey, Feb. 13, 1921, and grew up in East Weymouth, Massachusetts.

He enlisted in the Army in April 1943, at age 22, shortly after the United States entered World War II. Later that year, after completing basic training, he shipped out to Italy as a replacement soldier assigned to Company H, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

Johnson was part of the Rome-Arno Campaign, which began Jan. 22, 1944, and lasted until Sept. 9, 1944.

While on patrol June 3, 1944, his unit was attacked near Valmontone, Italy, about 30 miles southeast of Rome — three days before the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France.

It was night, but the area was brightly illuminated by enemy flares. Despite the enemy fire directed at him, Johnson advanced beyond the enemy in a slow, deliberate walk. He fired his rifle from his hip, distracting the enemy enough for 12 of his fellow soldiers to escape. Once he was within about 5 yards of the German machine gun position, Johnson killed the crew.

His Medal of Honor citation reads in part:

"Johnson elected to sacrifice his life in order that his comrades might extricate themselves from an ambush. Braving the massed fire of about 60 riflemen, three machine guns and three tanks from positions only 25 yards distant, he stood erect and signaled his patrol leader to withdraw."

Standing in full view of the enemy, Johnson reloaded, turned to the riflemen to the left and fired directly into their positions.

"He either killed or wounded four of them. A burst of machine-gun fire tore into Johnson, and he dropped to his knees. Fighting to the very last, he steadied himself on his knees and sent a final burst of fire crashing into another German. With that, he slumped forward dead," the citation states, noting that Johnson's acts of valor were an inspiration to the entire command.

Army Gen. Sherman Miles presented Johnson's Medal of Honor to his mother, Althea Bernice Johnson, May 30, 1945, in Boston.

Johnson was buried at Union Cemetery in Scituate, Massachusetts.

The former transport ship USS Pinkney was transferred to the U.S. Army Transportation Service in 1946 and recommissioned as the USAT Private Elden H. Johnson in 1947. The ship was reacquired by the Navy in 1950 and placed in service as the USNS Private Elden H. Johnson under the Military Sea Transportation Service. It went out of service in 1957.

For nearly 50 years, Johnson Barracks in Fürth, Germany, was named for him. The Army installation housed the 16th Engineer Battalion, quartermaster offices and other administrative and support functions. The installation was sold back to the Germans in the early 2000s and is now a business park. Additionally, Weymouth is the only town in the U.S. with five Medal of Honor recipients: Johnson, Thomas W. Hamilton, William Seach, Frederick C. Murphy and Ralph Talbo.

On May 26, 2025, the city dedicated five bronze statues to honor them at the Ralph Talbot Amphitheater in Weymouth, which is adjacent to a veterans memorial wall that lists the names of city residents who have served during times of war.

Southern Command Moves Quickly to Support Venezuela Earthquake Relief

 

June 26, 2026 | By Courtesy Story, U.S. Southern Command |

As directed by the War Department, U.S. Southern Command is working with the State Department to support U.S. government relief operations in Venezuela in response to the devastating June 24 earthquakes.

Southcom is moving quickly to bring unmatched airlift, logistics and lifesaving capabilities of the U.S. military to help save lives and support the nation of Venezuela during this crisis.

The command has established an operational planning team that includes experienced subject matter experts from the Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response, who are advising staff and leaders responsible for disaster relief planning and mission-related decisions.

Southcom has also initiated close coordination with other partners and allies in the region who have pledged to join the international assistance underway to aid the people of Venezuela in their time of need.

Joint Task Force Southern Border Conducts Medevac in Arizona Mountains

June 26, 2026 | By Sgt. 1st Class Alon Humphrey, Operation Ardent Vanguard |

Service members assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border conducted an aeromedical evacuation after receiving a request to assist a civilian who was experiencing a medical emergency while supporting border barrier construction in a remote mountainous area of southern Arizona, June 17. 

This medevac highlights the unique military capabilities that Joint Task Force Southern Border brings in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a part of Operation Ardent Vanguard. 

The task force received the request in the early afternoon, when officials reported that a civilian contractor required urgent medical assistance while in a mountainous terrain inaccessible to conventional emergency response vehicles. 

The service members coordinated with CBP personnel and approved the launch of a War Department medical evacuation aircraft. Initial reports indicated that first responders were hiking to the patient's location while working to determine an exact position. 

"JTF-SB responded to this mission, preserving the life of the civilian upon request of the CBP," said Army Master Sgt. Andrew VanMeter, the chief medical noncommissioned officer for the task force. 

VanMeter said that, although the remote location was inaccessible to civilian aeromedical and ground teams, the Joint Task Force Southern Border was uniquely qualified for the mission because of the patient's remote location and the lack of landing zones. 

The medical evacuation aircraft arrived on station, established visual contact with personnel on the ground and then conducted hoist operations. Aircrews successfully recovered the patient from the mountainside and began transport toward definitive medical care. 

During the flight, adverse weather conditions in Tucson, Arizona, required adjustments to the patient transfer plan. The aircraft landed at an alternate location, where the patient was transferred to civilian emergency medical services for continued transportation to a local hospital. 

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christian Castillo, a flight medic assigned to Foxtrot Company, 3rd Battalion, 501st Assault Helicopter Battalion, said hoist rescues require a significantly different approach than traditional medical evacuation operations. 

"Unlike a standard medevac call, where we can land the aircraft, and I can access all my gear, a hoist requires inserting with minimal equipment," Castillo said. "Because of that limitation, my mindset immediately shifts to executing the foundational knowledge of tactical combat casualty care." 

Castillo said successful hoist operations depend on extensive preparation before an emergency happens. 

"Executing a 160-foot hoist mission requires a layered approach to training, well before the actual mission occurs," he said. "It involves consistently practicing hoist operations during routine training flights and conducting integrated training with the ground forces."

The team also conducted a thorough analysis of the operational area beforehand to anticipate the environmental and tactical conditions it could encounter on scene. 

The most unique aspect of this mission was the crew dynamic; this was the first operational flight for the crew's junior pilot after completing his training with the unit. As for the personnel in the back of the aircraft, Castillo and Army Spc. Kierstann Knowles, the crew chief, had previously executed a hoist rescue together. They said that shared experience was critical.

The mission highlights Joint Task Force Southern Border's ability to rapidly integrate with federal, state and local partners, its readiness, aviation capabilities, and its commitment to preserving life and enabling mission success along the southern border.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence: Pennsylvania, Part 1

June 26, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Delegates to the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The 56 delegates who signed the formal break from Britain are all considered Founding Fathers. 

Pennsylvania had nine delegates, the most of the colonies. This week's profile features George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris Jr. Their signatures are grouped in the top third column from the right of the document. 

George Clymer

Clymer was born March 16, 1739, in Philadelphia. His parents were Christopher Clymer, a sea captain, and Deborah Fitzwater. Both died when he was still a child. 

He was raised by his maternal aunt, Hannah Coleman, and her husband, William. Under the tutelage of William Coleman, Clymer learned the merchant trade. Although he didn't have a formal education, Clymer was self-taught, since he was an avid reader. 

He married Elizabeth Meredith March 22, 1765, and they had eight children. 

He became a successful Philadelphia merchant, a skill that paid off during the Revolutionary War, in which he provided generous funding. 

After the war, Clymer served in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and represented the colony in the 1787 Constitutional Convention. He was one of only six men who signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.   

He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives in the First Congress.   

Clymer died Jan. 23, 1813, and was buried at the Friends Burying Ground in Trenton, New Jersey. 

The Navy attack transport ship USS George Clymer was named for him. It served during World War II, the Chinese civil war, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. 

The cities of Clymer, Pennsylvania, and Clymer, New York, are both named for him, as are many streets throughout Pennsylvania and New York, as well as Clymer Elementary School in Philadelphia. 

Benjamin Franklin 

Franklin was born Jan. 17, 1706, in Boston. His parents were Josiah, a soap and candlemaker, and Abiah Folger Franklin. Franklin had nine siblings and seven half-siblings. 

He married Deborah Read Sept. 1, 1730, and they had three children: William, Francis Folger and Sarah. 

Franklin is undoubtedly the most famous of the 56 signers — and he was the oldest. He was a printer, writer, musical instrument inventor, composer, inventor and diplomat. 

He was the first to chart the Gulf Stream, the warm current that sweeps up the East Coast from Florida, which was useful for efficient ship navigation. He also made the connection between volcanic eruptions and periods of global cooling caused by particulate matter in the atmosphere that blocks the sun. 

He was a self-taught Renaissance man who gained fame for inventions that included bifocals, the Franklin stove and electrical grounding to protect structures from lightning strikes.  

At 17, Franklin moved to Philadelphia, where he launched a printing business and published the widely read "Poor Richard's Almanack." The publication, produced from 1732 to 1758, contained calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical information, and advice on frugality and morality, such as: "A penny saved is a penny earned" and "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." 

After signing the Declaration of Independence, he sailed to France, where he played a crucial role in securing French support for American independence. 

In 1787, Franklin was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. At its closing, when asked what kind of government had been created, he replied, "A republic … if you can keep it." 

Franklin died April 17, 1790, and was buried in Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia. 

Hundreds of cities, streets and schools bear his name. Perhaps the most interesting was the State of Franklin, a short-lived state in what is now East Tennessee. 

Franklin has also appeared on postage stamps, the Franklin half-dollar coin and the $100 bill. There is also the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, a large statue of him in Philadelphia. 

Robert Morris Jr. 

Morris was born Jan. 20, 1734, in Liverpool, England. His parents were Robert Morris Sr., a shipping agent, and Elizabeth Murphet. However, he was raised by his grandmother after his mother died when he was young.

In 1747, Morris, 14, and his father immigrated to America and settled in Oxford, Maryland. He was sent to Philadelphia for an apprenticeship. After his father died in 1750, Morris inherited his estate and became a successful shipping merchant.   

Morris married Mary White March 2, 1769, and they had seven children. 

Known as the "Financier of the Revolution," Morris financed a large portion of the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War. He was appointed as Agent of Marine from 1781 to 1784 — a precursor title to secretary of the Navy — as well as the first and last superintendent of finance. The latter title became secretary of the Treasury. In 1789, although George Washington appointed Morris to the position, he declined and suggested Alexander Hamilton. 

After the war, he became a U.S. senator, representing Pennsylvania from 1789 to 1795.  

Morris died May 8, 1806, and was buried in the Christ Church Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Families of Vietnam War Missing Gather to Hear Updates, Share Stories

June 25, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The bedrock of the warrior ethos is that Americans never leave behind a fallen comrade, said Anthony Tata, undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness.

Tata spoke today in Arlington, Virginia, to members of families who lost loved ones during the Vietnam War. The event was sponsored by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 

"The Vietnam War may have ceased more than half a century ago, but I know that for all of you, it's never really ended, and you have spent decades carrying your silent vigil, a silent vigil for your unaccounted-[for] fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, family and friends, and waiting for answers. Know that this War Department is focused on helping you find them," Tata said.

The undersecretary applauded the work that teams are doing in the field around the world searching for remains, as well as the scientists who make the identifications in the laboratories at Hickam Field and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. 

The DPAA mission is personal, Tata said, noting his own combat service and remembering his comrades who never made it home alive.  

Kelly K. McKeague, director of DPAA, said his agency has been working to recover remains from the Vietnam War since 1985 and that DPAA-trained Vietnamese recovery teams have located the remains of many missing Americans.

Communicating and connecting is just as important as it is with accounting for your loved ones, McKeague said. 

"This is that sacred obligation, that moral imperative that we have told you for years, that we live it, we don't just talk it. We live it simply because we know your loved ones made the supreme sacrifice, you deserve those long-sought answers and that's why we're here," he said. 

While DPAA has been searching for service members from all wars dating to World War II, the agency has prioritized finding the missing from the Vietnam War since firsthand witnesses in several nations where operations took place are aging and dying, McKeague said.

Justin O'Connell, grandson of Marine Corps Maj. Francis Edward Visconti, held a picture of his grandfather, who died Nov. 22, 1965, when his UH-34D helicopter crashed during a night flight in a storm in South Vietnam.  

He and three others on that flight are still missing. Next to O'Connell was his uncle, Tony Visconti, who was wearing an extra set of his brother's identification tags. 

Susan Lilly Harvey's brother, Army 1st Lt. Lawrence Lilly, went missing in Southeast Asia when his Cobra helicopter went down. She said she's been coming to these gatherings every year for 40 years. 

Raymond L. Echevarria Jr.'s father, Army Sgt. Maj. Raymond L. Echevarria Sr., and two other soldiers went missing in Laos following a firefight with Viet Cong. An interpreter escaped to relay what happened. 

Last year, 231 missing service members were accounted for, including eight from the Vietnam War, with the remainder from World War II and the Korean War. Most of the recovery sites are in Europe and Southeast Asia. There are currently 1,565 missing U.S. personnel from the Vietnam War. 

USVDIV-32 Advances Unmanned Operations With NATO During BALTOPS 2026

June 25, 2026 | By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David Keenan, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet |

Sailors assigned to the Unmanned Surface Vessel Division 32 are at the forefront of the Navy's fleet during exercise Baltic Operation 2026, delivering realistic counter-unmanned surface vessel training against unmanned vessels to NATO allies.

Established early this year, USVDIV-32 is one of the newest additions to the Navy's unmanned operational units. Tasked with maintaining and implementing unmanned vessels, the division's sailors regularly conduct exercises and training with multiple platforms, with the most common being global autonomous reconnaissance craft, or GARC. 

"GARCs are just one of the several USVs," said Navy Lt. Sarah Weinstein, commanding officer of USVDIV-32. "GARC is just the one that we've had the most experience within the last couple of years, but they're all very similar. " 

A defining feature of USVDIV-32 is the implementation of a new rate, robotics warfare specialist. These specialists are trained to operate and maintain vessels such as GARCs. 

Navy Robotics Warfare Specialist 3rd Class Joshua VanDeCreek expressed excitement about being on the front lines of a new technology that he believes will keep more people safe by sending USVs as opposed to personnel, calling it "a great step in the future."

"I'm proud to be a part of a new unit in the Navy, one that I think is going to be very important," VanDeCreek said.

Chief Robotics Warfare Specialist Christian Butler said the robotics warfare rate will remain vital in the Navy's future. 

"I think most commands, if not all commands, are going to have some component of [robotics warfare specialists], Butler said. "Just because there's no going away from unmanned systems at this point, they're only going to grow in scale, and you're going to need [robotics warfare specialists] to carry that weight." 

During the exercise, USVDIV-32 played a crucial role by deploying GARCs as an opposing force to allied forces. This simultaneously gave allied ships a chance to test their abilities in defending against USVs and provided valuable experience for USDIV-32, allowing them to see their GARCs in action.

"The first difficult part is spotting the USV," Weinstein said. "What does it look like? What are the telltale signs that it might be a USV? How to tell if it's coming inbound and its different behaviors that it's able to display as it gets closer to the ship." 

As the Navy moves toward a hybrid fleet, USVDIV-32 is playing the key role in being among the first to implement this technology. The division's work during BALTOPS 2026 has been invaluable not only to the allied forces but also to the USVDIV-32.

The sailors of USVDIV-32, with the emerging robotics specialist rate, are carving the path for the Navy's future. 

This is only the beginning of this technology, with no end in sight for its importance and potential.   

"I think the technology and the autonomy will continue to grow to give them more options to make USVs more lethal or more effective at executing the mission that they've been tasked with," Weinstein said. 

Visitors Welcome International Tall Ships to Baltimore for Sail 250

June 25, 2026 | By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Theoplis Stewart II, Naval District Washington |

As tall ships from around the world arrived in Baltimore Harbor yesterday for Sail 250 Maryland and Airshow Baltimore, the event offered more than a display of maritime tradition. For visitors and sailors alike, it became an opportunity to celebrate heritage, strengthen international friendships and reflect on the enduring connections forged at sea.

Among those watching the arrival of the Italian navy sail training ship Amerigo Vespucci was Frank Branchini of Annapolis, Maryland. With family roots in Italy, Branchini said seeing the legendary vessel in person carried special meaning.

"I heard what everybody else heard, that the U.S. Navy called it the most beautiful ship in the world," Branchini said. "Being Italian American, with grandparents born in Italy, it means a lot to me."

Branchini traveled to Baltimore specifically to witness the ship's arrival and plans to return during public visitation, hoping to experience the vessel up close. A longtime admirer of tall ships, he previously attended Baltimore's 2012 commemorative sailing event and fondly recalled touring the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle as a child.

Aboard the Spanish sail training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, Midshipman 2nd Class Ignacio Torrente de La Pisa views the gathering through a different lens. As one of Spain's future naval officers, he is participating in a monthslong training deployment that has taken him across the Caribbean and North America before arriving in Baltimore.

"The principal mission of this ship is international relations," Torrente de La Pisa said. "This is the best opportunity we have to cooperate with different countries, make good bonds with them and learn both our differences and our similarities."

His connection to the vessel spans generations. Both his father and grandfather completed training aboard the ship, making his own voyage part of a family tradition shared by generations of Spanish naval officers.

"When I climb the mast, I know my father was here and my grandfather was here," Torrente de La Pisa said. "It's something really, really cool."

The visit also rekindled memories of time spent at the U.S. Naval Academy during an exchange program, where he built lasting friendships and experienced American military culture firsthand.

For Branchini, the gathering of international ships is an opportunity to celebrate his heritage and marvel at maritime craftsmanship. For Torrente de La Pisa, it represents the chance to build relationships that transcend borders and strengthen partnerships between allied navies.

Their perspectives, one from the pier and one from the quarterdeck, reflect the broader purpose of Sail 250: bringing together people from different nations through a shared appreciation of history, service and the sea.

Sail 250 Maryland and Airshow Baltimore commemorates the nation's 250th anniversary by bringing together international tall ships, military vessels, aviation demonstrations and public events throughout Baltimore.

A Historic First: Marine Corps Reserve Integrates Multidomain Assets During Exercise

June 23, 2026 | By Marine Corps 1st Lt. Aaron Xing, Marine Forces Reserve |

For the first time in its history, the Marine Corps Reserve is actively deploying multidomain collection assets during an integration course, marking a significant technological milestone for Integrated Training Exercise 3-26 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. 

The Information and Intelligence Integration Course is a rigorous, three-day evolution that provides a progressive training opportunity for Marine Air-Ground Task Force 23 intelligence and information entities to rehearse complex tactics, techniques and procedures associated with advanced equipment operation, data exchange and battlespace awareness.  

Historically, this level of multidomain integration has been challenging to replicate in reserve training environments. However, during the exercise, Marines are successfully bridging that gap, actively synchronizing signals intelligence and electronic warfare, limited expeditionary cyberspace operations and information maneuver elements into a single, cohesive intelligence picture. 

"As a commander, having a clear and immediate picture of the battlespace is everything," said Marine Corps Col. Aaron Awtry, commanding officer of the task force. "These new emerging technologies within the Marine Corps have fundamentally changed how we operate. They have greatly improved the speed and accurate flow of information from the tactical edge directly to the command operations center, allowing faster, more informed decisions to be made." 

Implementing these technologies in real-time through this new course demonstrates the rapid modernization of the reserve force as Marines keep pace with the evolving character of warfare and the demands of the future fight. 

The course goes through a combination of classroom instruction, detailed planning and dynamic lane training. Operating within a firing range, intelligence collectors and operators must actively scan the area, locate adversary signatures, and execute information-related activities in a simulated, contested environment. The task force's operations center is then tasked with managing these diverse collections, analyzing the incoming data, and producing actionable intelligence for commanders. 

"This gives reserve Marines an opportunity to use capabilities they will not have organically until future force design initiatives are implemented, while increasing our section's proficiency in signals intelligence and electromagnetic warfare integration and operations, said Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Moore, a subject matter expert and instructor for the course's multidomain assets.  

Moore added the course gives units a unique opportunity to bring multiple capabilities into the scenario to coordinate, plan, collect and disseminate intelligence and information products.

"Our 'no sensor left behind' approach helps Marines refine their craft, introduce new capabilities ahead of force structure and capability delivery, and better plan and conduct multidomain operations in increasingly contested environments," he said. 

The successful execution of the course sets conditions for information and intelligence support throughout the remainder of the exercise. As the character of warfare continues to evolve, the Marine Corps Reserve's ability to master these next-generation technologies ensures the Marine Corps remains a lethal, ready and agile force prepared to dominate in the complex, data-driven conflicts of tomorrow.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole

June 22, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Army Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole was a 101st Airborne Division paratrooper who fought in the European Theater during World War II, where his valorous actions near Carentan, France, earned him the Medal of Honor. 

Cole was born to Army Col. Clarence Leroy and Clara Hoff Cole, March 19, 1915, in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His father served as an Army doctor and his mother was a teacher at the Mark Twain School in San Antonio. He had two siblings, Leroy and Mary. 

In 1933, Cole graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio and joined the Army, July 1, 1934. Nearly one year later, June 26, 1935, he was honorably discharged to accept an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he played on the football team. 

He married his childhood sweetheart Allie Mae Beall in 1940, and they had a son, Robert Bruce.

After graduating from West Point in 1939, he was assigned to the 15th Infantry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. While serving there, he befriended Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who commanded the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, and later became the regimental executive officer. 

After volunteering and being accepted for airborne duty in 1941, Cole was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning, Georgia, and trained to become a paratrooper. He earned his jump wings in March of that year.  

The Army changed its command structure in the early 1940s to meet the demands of World War II, and the parachute battalions were divided into regiments. In 1942, Cole was transferred to the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and was subsequently appointed commander. 

In 1943, the division sailed to England to prepare for Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France. While there, he met his friend, Eisenhower, who was now a general and the Allied supreme commander. 

A few days after D-Day, at the onset of the Battle of Carentan, June 10, 1944, Cole led his 400-man battalion in a single file line through an exposed raised road with marshes on both sides that led to the last four bridges over the Douve River floodplain and Carentan, France. The 101st Airborne Division had been ordered to seize Carentan and link up with the 29th Infantry Division.

German troops were dug in by hedgerows behind a large farmhouse. As the battalion advanced to the river, they were subjected to continuous fire from machine guns, artillery and mortars, sustaining many casualties. They came upon a mobile anti-tank obstacle, known as a Belgian gate, that only allowed one man to pass through at a time. After enduring a night of shelling and bombing, Cole's remaining 265-man battalion moved through the obstacle and prepared for an assault, June 11, 1944. The German troops at the farmhouse continued to resist, so Cole ordered a bayonet charge that he led. The battalion engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, forcing the Germans to retreat but not without suffering 130 additional casualties. The assault became known as the "Cole Charge" and led to the establishment of a bridgehead across the Douve River and the capture of Carentan. 

After the Battle of Carentan, Cole led his paratroopers into their next battle as part of Operation Market Garden, Sept. 17, 1944, when they parachuted into the Netherlands 

Their mission was to secure bridges in Sint-Oedenrode, North Brabant, Netherlands, which they did. The battalion then moved out to the town of Best to secure railroad bridges. 

On the morning of Sept. 18, 1944, his battalion faced fierce German opposition from small-arms fire and artillery in the Zonsche Forest. After radioing for air support, P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft arrived, firing at German positions — and hitting Cole's battalion as well.

While the attack was underway, Cole was in the process of placing orange panels on the ground so that pilots could identify his battalion's position. As he was in the process of doing this, a German sniper, hiding out in a barn, shot and killed Cole instantly. 

He was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten, Netherlands, the only American cemetery in that country where more than 8,000 U.S. service members are buried. 

Cole was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Carentan, June 11, 1944. He was also awarded the Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre. 

"After the devastating and unceasing enemy fire had for over one hour prevented any move and inflicted numerous casualties, Lt. Col. Cole, observing this almost hopeless situation, courageously issued orders to assault the enemy positions with fixed bayonets," Cole's Medal of Honor citation reads. "With utter disregard for his own safety and completely ignoring the enemy fire, he rose to his feet in front of his battalion and with drawn pistol shouted to his men to follow him in the assault. Catching up a fallen man's rifle and bayonet, he charged on and led the remnants of his battalion across the bullet-swept open ground and into the enemy position."  

Cole's medal was presented by Army Maj. Gen. Jonathan W. Anderson to his mother on Oct. 30, 1944, during a ceremony at Fort Sam Houston on the same parade field where Cole once played as a child. Cole's widow and 18-month-old son also attended. 

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Army Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor, in a handwritten letter to Cole's widow, wrote, "Bob was our ideal airborne soldier. His courage was legendary, and his hold on his rugged parachutists is an example which few other commanders ever attained."  

In his condolence note, Eisenhower wrote that Cole was "one of our ablest and certainly one of our most gallant officers," according to the association. 

During the Normandy invasion, a Stars and Stripes newspaper reporter mentioned that Cole was "a terror to German troops in the area of the Cherbourg peninsula," according to an Oct. 30, 1944, article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper. 

Although Robert Bruce Cole was exempt from the draft as an only child and the son of a Medal of Honor recipient, he volunteered to serve in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. 

His widow died Dec. 15, 2000, and is buried in a family plot at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Also buried there is their son, who died Dec. 5, 2024. 

Robert G. Cole Middle and High School in San Antonio is named for him. A monument to Cole is at the location where he led his battalion in a bayonet charge and another monument to him is located near the spot he was killed. Also, plaques commemorating Cole's leadership are in Best and Carentan. At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where the 101st Airborne Division is based, there is a park, a golf course and a community activity center named after him.  

Team Army Competitor Brings 'Never Give Up' Spirit to Warrior Games

June 22, 2026 | By Vernishia Vaughn, Army Recovery Care Program |

For Army Capt. Vanessa Munro, arriving at the 2026 Warrior Games already feels like a victory. Before the first event began and before scores were posted, Munro's presence with Team Army was a reminder of how far recovery can reach when determination, support and purpose come together.

Munro's victory is being part of a team again. After a tragic car accident in 2023 resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury, brain surgery and an extended coma, the road back has included months of hospitalization, intensive rehabilitation and daily work to regain strength, confidence and independence.

Now competing with Team Army, Munro is reconnecting with something she's missed: the camaraderie, joking, banter and shared support that come with being part of a team.

Munro's mother, Heidi, shared that the Warrior Games has given her daughter an opportunity to be surrounded by athletes and coaches who see her.

"She loves how everyone supports one another and how people treat her as capable, not disabled," Heidi said.

Munro was commissioned as a field artillery officer in 2018 after completing ROTC at the University of Washington. After four years in her branch, she was selected for the Army's Interservice Physician Assistant Program. Before the accident, she was also an elite athlete and Ironman competitor. Her soldiers often called her "The Iron Ma'am." After the accident, a new nickname emerged.

Heidi said as friends came in and out of Munro's inpatient room with Starbucks, sushi, cute clothes and colorful head coverings, they helped bring light into a difficult season. They bedazzled her wheelchair and walker, decorated her room and made sure her nails were painted. Before long, Munro became known as "The Bougie TBI Girl," a moniker she carries now that captures both parts of her story.

For Heidi and Kailee, Munro's childhood best friend and caregiver, that moniker is more than a phrase. It reflects how Munro has approached recovery from the beginning.

Even in a semiconscious state, Munro didn't want to be seen as disabled. Once she could walk, she refused to use the wheelchair. Then she refused the walker. About six months after the accident, she began walking a mile a day. The pace was slow, and the walks required breaks, but Munro kept asking to go.

On days when Heidi and Kailee were exhausted, Munro would look at them and say, "Outside time." From the beginning, they said, she refused to give up.

Adaptive sports became another part of her recovery. Munro's first adaptive sport was skiing, which made her feel alive and free again. Her confidence grew after that first ski trip. Swimming came next, and once she connected with an adaptive swim coach, the pool became a place where she could focus on what she could do rather than what she couldn't do.

The adaptive triathlon later reintroduced Munro to competition, wearing a uniform, supporting others and being supported by a team.

Participation in various sports activities, plus the Warrior Games, has helped Munro reconnect with the athlete she was before her injury while continuing to discover who she is now.

Kailee said what people see during competition is only part of the story.

"What I've witnessed isn't just physical recovery; it's resilience," Kailee said. "I've watched Vanessa choose to keep showing up when it would have been easier not to. I've watched her rebuild pieces of herself one day at a time. The Warrior Games are incredible, but it's just the visible part of a recovery that's been happening every single day for years."

For Heidi, watching Munro compete has been deeply emotional. Two years ago, doctors told the family Munro would never walk or talk again. Seeing her at the Warrior Games just 30 months into recovery has filled her with hope.

"The real work has taken place in countless therapy sessions, difficult mornings, bouts of depression, setbacks and small victories that most people never see," Heidi said.

One of the most powerful moments came on the track.

"I cried at the track," Heidi said. "I watch her struggle to walk every day always afraid she'll trip over her own foot. I've never seen her run, so to watch her run the 200, with obvious difficulty and exhaustion, and to finish it to a standing ovation and the entire crowd cheering for her, that was the highlight of Warrior Games for me."

When Munro was shown videos of herself walking for the first time after her injury and asked what she thought about herself from the beginning of recovery until now, she chose three words: "Surprised. Excited. Inspired."

For Kailee, the hope is that Munro sees what those closest to her have seen all along.

"Recovery hasn't been about finding her way back to the exact person she was before," she said. "It's been about discovering who she is now, the same fierce, determined, funny, stubborn and compassionate person who inspired people before the accident."

Kailee said Munro's path looks different today, but her strength has never left her.

For Munro, her journey isn't about becoming less than she was before. It's about continuing to move forward, reclaiming pieces of herself and proving, one step and one competition at a time, that "never give up" is more than a motto.

It's how she got here.

Editor's note: Because Munro is still in recovery, some responses and additional context for this story were provided through her mother, Heidi, and her childhood best friend and caregiver, Kailee.