Army Marksmanship Instructors Increase Lethality During M7 Training

Feb. 5, 2026 | By Army Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Hamlin, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit |

Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division trained at the Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in January on the Army's newest service rifle, the M7, with instructors from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit providing hands-on support focused on marksmanship fundamentals.

The instructors worked alongside soldiers to reinforce proven shooting techniques that apply across weapon systems and assisted with ongoing M7 fielding efforts alongside program partners.

"We are working with instructors from [the program executive office] and [the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command] to assist in the net fielding efforts and provide marksmanship instruction and guidance to both the students and instructors as they field the next generation squad weapon," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Deal, team chief for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Service Rifle Team, adding fundamentals remain critical when soldiers transition to a new platform.

"It's hard to say what fundamentals matter the most. They're all equally important, but establishing a consistent and stable position, consistent head placement, proper sight alignment, and trigger control are going to make shooting a new weapon system a lot easier," Deal said.

According to Deal, competition-style training exposes shooters to stressful and unfamiliar scenarios that highlight their strengths and weaknesses.

"[It] can help soldiers' combat effectiveness by putting them into new scenarios they may not have been in before and putting them under the stress of time, speed or accuracy to assess their level of training and where there may be room for improvement," he said.

Deal emphasized that consistency must come before speed, especially for developing shooters.

"It's hard to start fast and figure out what you're doing wrong versus slowing things down, assessing fundamentals and building up speed and distance [over time]," he said.

The training course is focused on noncommissioned officers returning to their units.

"The NCOs are getting familiarized with the weapon systems and optics so they can go back and train other NCOs, officers and their soldiers, and begin proper marksmanship training," Deal said, adding that the long-term goal is to sustain improvement across Army units.

"They're going to transfer that knowledge to their soldiers and peers and hopefully make improvements to their marksmanship programs that carry over into better practices and increased lethality," he said.

Naval Installation Optimizes Warfighter Fitness

Feb. 6, 2026 | By Navy Lt. Drew Verbis, Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs |

The Navy's first and only Human Performance Optimization Program is officially open for business on board Naval Base San Diego. Navy Capt. Brian Bungay, base commanding officer, marked the milestone during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Harborside Sports and Fitness Complex Feb. 2.

The program is a comprehensive, performance-based initiative designed to enhance an individual's physical, mental, emotional and nutritional capabilities in order to maximize effectiveness, productivity and overall well-being. 

"The Navy's vision is clear — to enhance individual and team effectiveness by ensuring the health and viability of our warfighters," Bungay said. "We must treat our sailors like world-class athletes, and the HPO initiative is a direct reflection of that vision." 

Navy fitness is expanding beyond traditional gym access and group exercise by introducing specialized staff, performance education and recovery-focused services specifically tailored to support warfighter readiness and resilience. 

"As we move forward with the Total Sailor: Fit to Fight initiative, we must have the tools in place to ensure sailors remain our top priority and are postured for maximum combat readiness," said Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Brian S. Metzger, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, command master chief. "The HPO Program brings top experts in nutrition, cognitive performance and fitness together under one roof — right near the waterfront — which is exactly what our sailors need and something that has never been done before."

Bungay emphasized that the program is designed to provide sailors with the resources necessary to build and sustain peak physical and mental performance.

"While Navy fitness focuses on general facility access, group exercise and standard routines, HPO delivers the Navy's first performance-based program that supports the warfighter both inside and outside traditional brick-and-mortar facilities," Bungay said. "It's a place where sailors can push their limits, build resilience and develop the physical and mental toughness required to meet any challenge." 

Mary Kirby, Fleet and Family Readiness regional program director for Navy Region Southwest, echoed that sentiment, highlighting what sets HPO apart from existing programs. 

"Our [morale, welfare and recreation] fitness programs are outstanding, but sailors typically choose their own path," Kirby said. "What's different here is that sailors begin with a series of evidence-based assessments." 

Those assessments — conducted by specialized, credentialed staff operating within defined professional scopes — include body composition analysis, recovery modalities, physical training evaluations, sleep and recovery strategies, stress management tools and nutrition fueling education. 

"This model has been available at off-base commercial businesses and within select special warfare communities, but we're excited to be the first to offer it at the installation level," Kirby said. "Once metrics are collected and evaluated, the intent is to expand this program across the enterprise."

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Troy Torres, an intelligence specialist assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group 3, encouraged fellow sailors to take advantage of the program. 

"Step one is easy — come to the [Harborside Sports and Fitness Complex]," Torres said. "Step two, talk with an HPO specialist. You'll quickly realize that fitness isn't just about gym equipment, sets and reps." 

Marines Establish Refueling Point in Indo-Pacific

Feb. 6, 2026 | By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Getz , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing |

Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 traveled to Tinian, one of the Northern Mariana Islands, to establish and operate a forward arming and refueling point during an aviation training relocation program aimed at developing expeditionary aviation capabilities and ensuring security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

"We are out here training to show we can set up a FARP anywhere quickly and provide support wherever the fight is happening," said Marine Corps Sgt. Kuyler Brown, an expeditionary fuels technician assigned to the support squadron.

The FARP was used to conduct simulated real-world scenarios that gave Marines on the ground experience operating a live FARP and pilots the ability to operate away from their main operating base while receiving continuous support.

"Having a FARP allows us to stay in the fight," Brown said. "It cuts down on flight time, keeps our jets in the air longer and shows we can set up anywhere and operate." 

Tinian is located near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, which provides the ability to rapidly refuel and support aircraft, making it a valuable training area for aviation training relocation operations and projecting power throughout the Indo-Pacific region.  

Conducting training from island locations like Tinian allows Marines to gain real-world experience practicing FARP assembly, disassembly and sustained aviation operations in austere environments — a key aspect of the expeditionary execution of a FARP.  

"This kind of training builds the Marines' confidence not only in their own capabilities but in each other," Brown said. "Our Marines know how to do their jobs, and exercises like this prove we can make it happen."

The successful setup and operation of the FARP at Tinian demonstrated Marine Wing Support Squadron 171's ability to deploy and support aviation operations in austere environments. Training events like this give Marines the chance to develop their skills and remain ready to support future operations focused on ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Meet the Military Athletes Competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Feb. 4, 2026 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy, are fast approaching. As always, there's a contingent of U.S. military athletes who have qualified to represent their country on the biggest sports stage in the world.

While this Olympics will not feature any athletes from the Navy or Marine Corps, there are plenty of World Class Athlete Program participants from the Army and Air Force — including one who was named as a flagbearer for the opening ceremony.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is looking forward to speaking with several of these athletes during morale calls ahead of the games.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis: Skeleton

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis, 37, of Princeton, New Jersey, ranks 16th in the world in skeleton, a daring sliding sport in which athletes lie head-first and face-down on a small sled as they fly down a steep, icy track. Curtis happens to be the sport's top-ranked U.S. athlete.

Being athletic is a bit of a Curtis family trait. Her father, John, was an All-American football player, while her two brothers also played college sports. At Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, Curtis competed in the heptathlon and won the event at the 2011 Penn Relays.

Soon after graduating in 2012, one of her coaches introduced her to bobsled, which she tried out for in 2013. But during her training, she saw skeleton athletes practicing and decided to switch to that sport.

When she's not racing, Curtis serves her country and trains at Aviano Air Base, Italy, where she works in information management. She joined the Air Force and its World Class Athlete Program in August 2020 to support her career as an athlete, which seems to have paid off. Her talents took her to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games, where she became the first Black athlete to represent Team USA in skeleton.

Just last month, Curtis earned silver at an International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation World Cup event in St. Moritz-Celerina, Switzerland, climbing her way to the podium after initially being in ninth place. In the same competition in December 2022, she came in third. She's also raced in multiple world cup and international competitions, consistently ranking among the top competitors.

Curtis has a master's degree from Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, and is married with one daughter.

Army Sgt. Frank Del Duca: Bobsled

Army Sgt. Frank Del Duca, 34, of Bethel, Maine, will compete in the two-man and four-man bobsled events in Milan Cortina. This will be his second Olympics, having competed in the 2022 Beijing Games, where his four-man team placed 13th. His experience as an Olympian may be why he was named as one of the two U.S. flagbearers for the opening ceremony alongside veteran speed skater Erin Jackson.

Del Duca grew up as a world-class athlete, earning accolades as a high school state champion in alpine skiing before becoming a sprinter and long jumper at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine.

According to the Team USA website, Del Duca joined the U.S. Bobsled Team as a brakeman after college in 2016, but after failing to make the 2018 Olympics, he switched to pilot. That's also what brought him into the Army World Class Athlete Program, which he joined shortly after enlisting in 2019 as an infantryman. Del Duca said he witnessed the unit's discipline and leadership and thought it would upgrade his training. It turns out, he was right.

"I've learned so much about leadership, team building, accountability, setting standards, scheduling, punctuality — big things and small things that matter when you're part of a group working toward a common goal," Del Duca told Army writer Steve Warns.

At the March 2025 International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation World Championships in Lake Placid, New York, where Del Duca happens to train, he piloted his team to a fourth-place finish in two-man and four-man bobsled events. He told Warns he's excited for what's to come in Italy.

"When the cameras and lights are on, I find another gear," he said. "I push better and focus harder because the competition demands it. There are so many great teams, and everyone has to have their best day."

Del Duca is married with two sons.

Army Spc. Sean Doherty: Biathlon

Army Spc. Sean Doherty, of Center Conway, New Hampshire, might be the most experienced military athlete this year, as he will compete on his fourth Olympic team in as many as six events.

Doherty began competing in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, at age 12. By the time he was 18, he was competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, becoming the first teenager and the youngest U.S. athlete to compete in the sport.

In 2018, Doherty enlisted in the Army as a carpentry and masonry specialist and is now a member of the Vermont National Guard. However, he didn't join the WCAP until after he competed in the 2022 Beijing Games. Now 30, Doherty said the experiences he's had with the WCAP continue to shape him.

"WCAP supports you not just as an athlete, but as a person and a soldier," he told Warns. "They care about my athletic performance, but they also care about my development as a whole person, and I'm grateful for that."

Doherty trains at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont, which is home to the Army Mountain Warfare School. Outside of biathlon, he's an avid hunter, archer, fisherman and woodworker.

Army Spc. Azaria Hill: Bobsled

Army Spc. Azaria Hill, 27, of Santa Clarita, California, comes from a family of Olympians. She's the daughter of track and field star Denean Howard-Hill, a three-time Olympian who won gold and two silver medals; and Virgil Hill Sr., who earned the silver medal for boxing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Hill's aunt, Sherri Howard, is also a three-time Olympic medalist in track and field relay competitions.

"I just knew ever since I was a little girl ... I wanted to be like my mom and aunt," she said in her Team USA biography.

Hill was a sprinter on the track and field team at California State University, Long Beach, California, before finishing her college athletic career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While there, she met U.S. bobsled pilot Kaysha Love, who competed in the 2022 Beijing Games. Love talked Hill into trying out for the bobsled brakewoman position after graduation.

Hill first competed with Love for Team USA in bobsled at the North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York, November 2023, finishing in first place. The pair went on to finish fourth at the 2024 IBSF World Championships.

Hearing the WCAP could provide benefits to support her athletic and professional career, Hill enlisted in 2024 as a motor transport operator and joined the unit.

"It provides resources, such as going back to school to obtain my master's and helping to become an officer," Hill said. "We work on all aspects of ourselves, not just athletics. They make sure we stay on top of classes and training, even overseas. They push us to grow professionally and athletically."

Like Del Duca, Hill is stationed in Lake Placid, New York.

Army Pvt. Spencer Howe: Pairs Figure Skating

Army Pvt. Spencer Howe, 29, of Los Angeles, followed his sister into the sport of figure skating starting at age 9. By the time he was 18, he'd transitioned from a solo skater to pairs and was making a name for himself.

Unfortunately, in the spring of 2023, Howe needed surgery to repair a torn labrum, and it took a lot of time for him to recover before he could make a serious return to the sport.

During that downtime, Howe learned about the WCAP program. So, he enlisted in February 2025 as a motor transport operator and joined the unit shortly thereafter. He's the first figure skater to be a part of the program.

Last month, during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Howe and his skating partner of seven years, Emily Chan, qualified for the Olympic team for the first time. Howe told Warns that they finished eighth in the short program but secured their spot on the team by placing third in the free skate.

"We're grateful and honored," he said afterward. "Being able to serve my country and participate in my sport at the same time is an unbelievable opportunity that I am incredibly grateful to have."

Howe said his initial military training helped shape him into a better athlete.

"I started looking at skating from a soldier's perspective and not just an athlete," Howe said. "Taking on the responsibility to compete at the highest level — not just for Team USA but also for the Army — is a different level of commitment."

After continuing his education, Howe eventually wants to join the Chaplain Corps.

In his spare time, Howe coaches figure skating and hockey at The Skating Club of Boston, near where he and Chan train.

Army Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin: Biathlon

In her first Olympics in 2022, Army Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin placed seventh in the women's 15-kilometer individual biathlon — the highest finish for an American in biathlon history. Irwin is now the top female athlete for the U.S. Biathlon Team, and she could compete in six events in Milan.

Irwin, 33, of Pulaski, Wisconsin, is a human resource specialist with the Vermont National Guard. She enlisted in the Army in 2019 and competed for the National Guard Biathlon Team in the 2022 Games. In 2023, she joined the WCAP for its consistent support, which she said has made all the difference in both careers.

"With WCAP, I have full-time orders, full-time benefits and direct access to resources," Irwin said. "Being both a platoon sergeant and an athlete have pushed me to learn a lot.

Growing up, Irwin wanted to be a track and field athlete. She picked up cross-country skiing in the winter during high school to stay in shape between the fall cross-country and spring track and field seasons. Irwin then went to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, where she competed in all three sports.

After college, Irwin tried her hand at a professional skiing career. She didn't get started in biathlon until she was 25, when a fellow cross-country skier talked her into attending a talent camp. She told Team USA she instantly fell in love with the sport.

"It has been an honor to be able to represent my country as both a U.S. Olympian and a U.S. Army soldier," she said. "I hope to inspire the next generation to serve and represent our country, too."

Outside of biathlon, Irwin enjoys knitting, baking, puzzles and music.

Air Force Senior Airman Jasmine Jones: Bobsled

Air Force Senior Airman Jasmine Jones, 29, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is a brakewoman in the two-woman bobsled event. After competition this January in the St. Moritz World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the first-time Olympian can now say she's a gold-medal champion.

In high school, Jones was a standout basketball player and a two-time state champion in the 4x100-meter relay. She went on to become a sprinter for Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she was a five-time individual conference champion.

Jones' success led five-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor to reach out, encouraging her to try out for the U.S. bobsled team. Jones took that advice. In the years since, she's competed in world championships and made the National World Cup team.

Jones enlisted in the Air Force in April 2023 as a material management specialist. She joined the WCAP to help bring stability to her busy life filled with work, training and raising her daughter, Jade.

"They allowed me to … have the support from the military as far as pay and benefits so I can truly focus on my sport. Then, on the back end of my contract, I give my time back, which is fine with me because I want a career in the military," she told the Amsterdam News out of New York City.

Just last month, Jones and her teammate, Kaillie Armbruster-Humphries, earned gold at the aforementioned IBSF World Cup two-woman bobsled race in St. Moritz, Switzerland. A few weeks later, they took silver at another IBSF World Cup race in Germany.

"[The] Olympics has always been a dream I've had. Now I can achieve those dreams by representing my country while being an airman," she said in her Air Force biography.

Jones trains in Lake Placid, New York.

Army Sgt. Ben Loomis: Nordic Combined

Army Sgt. Ben Loomis, 27, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, will compete in his third Olympics in the Nordic Combined event, which combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Loomis competed in the 2022 Beijing Games and the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea.

According to Nordic Combined USA, Loomis started ski jumping at age 5. His talents grew so quickly that, at 15, he moved to Park City, Utah, to find higher-caliber training and competition.

In 2019, after high school, Loomis enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a motor transport operator to join the WCAP for its opportunities. He told the Army that training for his sport requires power, endurance and strength — physical traits that are also required to carry out his military duties.

"Being an athlete and a soldier go hand in hand," Loomis said. "What I've learned in the military has helped my athletic career, and my athletic background has helped me as a soldier."

He said his experience in the military has been incredibly positive.

"I want to stay in after my athletic career, maybe even for a full career," Loomis said. "My reasons for joining and my reasons for staying are completely different now."

After earning silver in the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, Loomis was named the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Nordic combined athlete of the year. He's been a member of four world championship teams, and his brother, Adam, is also a former world champion in the sport.

When Loomis isn't on the snow, he enjoys hiking, fishing, biking and water skiing.

Marines Prepare for Exercise Cold Response in Norway

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

A technical assistance and advisory team assigned to Blount Island Command, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Jacksonville, Florida, issued thousands of items to II Marine Expeditionary Force during a two-week cave draw in late January, marking a key step in unit preparations for Exercise Cold Response 26. 
 
Marines preparing for the Norwegian-led winter exercise were equipped and supplied to operate in extreme cold-weather conditions. More than 14,000 items were issued, ranging from ready-to-eat meals and cold-weather gear to tactical vehicles and heavy trucks.

 
By drawing equipment and supplies from prepositioned stocks in Norway rather than shipping from the United States, the Marine Corps significantly reduced both time and cost. 
 
According to Buddy Cote, technical assistance and advisory team officer in charge, using prepositioned assets saves more than a month compared to a transatlantic shipment, including time in transit, staging, loading and unloading, while avoiding more than $2 million in transportation costs. 
 
"Blount Island Command's ashore prepositioning department directly supports the Marine Corps' doctrine for the rapid employment of expeditionary forces," Cote said.

 
The equipment is part of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program Norway, which maintains combat-ready assets in climate-controlled caves across Norway. The program has sustained an over 90% equipment readiness rate for several years through rigorous life-cycle management, including proactive maintenance, repair and modernization. 
 
"The Marine Corps Prepositioning Program Norway reduces reaction times by providing combatant commanders with scalable and tailorable forces capable of executing limited objective missions across a wide range of military operations," Cote said. 
 
"This ongoing support strengthens NATO partnerships and ensures prepositioned assets are available for immediate use when called upon."

 
Norwegian partners maintain and account for the prepositioned equipment on a day-to-day basis, a partnership that enhances interoperability and enables rapid integration during joint operations. The equipment is tailored to NATO standards, allowing Marines and allied forces to operate together seamlessly during exercises and contingency operations.

Face of Defense: Brothers Commission as Naval Flight Officers

Feb. 4, 2026 | By Austen McClain, Naval Education and Training Command |

Standing side by side at their Officer Candidate School graduation, brothers Zachary and Samuel Melvin, now Navy ensigns, marked the culmination of two very different journeys that converged at the same moment: commissioning as officers in the same class and earning selection as naval flight officers.

Navy Ensigns Zachary Melvin and Samuel Melvin

Job: Naval Flight Officers

Stationed: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.

Unit: Naval Aviation Schools Command

Hometown: Pensacola, Fla.

For the Melvin brothers, the milestone represented more than the completion of OCS. It was the meeting point of family legacy, personal transformation and a shared commitment to service — witnessed firsthand by their father, Navy Cmdr. Eric Melvin, the command chaplain aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

From the Corporate World to the Quarterdeck 

Samuel Melvin, a native of Pensacola, Florida, entered the Navy directly from civilian life after leaving a corporate career as a business analyst. Though he initially set out to forge his own path, service ultimately called him back to familiar ground. 

"I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps, which is why I joined the Navy," Melvin said. "I tried the corporate world, but I felt unfulfilled. I wanted something more meaningful — something challenging — and I wanted to serve my country like my family was doing." 

The decision crystallized during an ordinary workday. 

"I was sitting at my desk, staring at yet another spreadsheet and feeling completely unfulfilled. I called my brother and said, 'I cannot do this anymore,'" he recalled. "He gave me the recruiter's number, and I called on my lunch break." 

Learning to Lead Under Pressure 

Transitioning from civilian life into OCS proved to be an adjustment. 

"The level of attention to detail we were taught really surprised me. I learned that big achievements start with careful attention to the small things," Melvin said. 

Officer Candidate School, the Navy's commissioning pipeline, is designed to test candidates mentally, physically and emotionally. For Melvin, one of the most challenging moments came during the officer personnel inspection, a high-pressure one-on-one evaluation with an instructor that requires precise uniform preparation and mastery of naval standards. 

"It taught me that I can learn under pressure," he said. 

Having his older brother, Zachary, in the same class made the experience more manageable. 

"We leaned on each other a lot," Melvin said. "He helped me with everything from uniform ribbons to encouragement on the hard days."

A Mustang's Road to Commissioning 

Zachary Melvin's path to commissioning followed a different route. A prior-enlisted sailor and former mass communication specialist, Melvin was assigned to the Naval Education and Training Command before being selected for OCS. 

"I wanted more leadership opportunities," he said. "A chief once told me it is important for enlisted sailors to become officers because it gives the enlisted a voice on the other side. That stayed with me." 

Unlike his brother, Zachary Melvin viewed commissioning as a long-term goal from the beginning of his Navy career. 

"I knew early on that I wanted to become a mustang," he said, referring to the informal term for commissioned officers who began their career as enlisted sailors.  

From Sailor to Officer 

While Zachary Melvin entered OCS with fleet experience, the transition still demanded growth. 

"I already knew how to be a sailor," he said. "At OCS, I had to learn how to be an officer. That adjustment took time." 

His enlisted background, however, became an asset. 

"It gave me perspective," Melvin said. "I could help classmates understand the 'why' behind the training and how it was shaping us into warfighters." 

Sharing OCS with his brother, Samuel, added a unique dynamic. 

"It was fun," Zachary Melvin said. "We shared the humor and the adversity — the planned stress — and grew through it together." 

Selecting Naval Aviation 

Both brothers selected naval flight officer, a competitive warfare specialty within naval aviation. 

"I chose aviation because they are an elite fighting force that sets the standard for the best," Zachary Melvin said.  

For Samuel Melvin, aviation represents a developing passion. 

"I am still undecided on an airframe," he said. "Right now, my focus is working hard and doing the best I can." 

A Father's Honor, A Family's Legacy 

Their commissioning ceremony carried special significance. Eric Melvin administered the oath of office to both of his sons in a private ceremony following graduation. Also attending the ceremony was their brother Nathaniel, a captain in the Marine Corps, currently stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

"It was the honor of a lifetime," Eric Melvin said. "They wanted to be commissioned together, at the very same moment. Watching my oldest and youngest sons take that step was incredibly humbling." 

The moment brought his own Navy journey full circle. 

"I thought back to when I reported to boot camp in 1989 and later, being commissioned into the Chaplain Corps," he said. "Now, all three of my sons are serving on active duty."

Eric Melvin also delivered the invocation for OCS Class 03-26, a moment he described as deeply emotional.  

"As a chaplain, I was reminding them to rely on faith and values beyond themselves," he said. "As a father, it was sobering, knowing my sons may one day be placed in harm's way." 

Looking Ahead 

For Zachary Melvin, the family connection deepened the meaning of the milestone.

"It means more because my family is part of it," he said. "You have your Navy family and your real family serving alongside you, which ultimately raises the stakes on how you perform." 

Looking ahead, both brothers will report to flight school, where their paths will continue — possibly diverging again — but grounded in the same foundation.

"I want to be an officer my sailors can trust and rely on," Zachary Melvin said. 

For Samuel Melvin, the moment represents a decisive turn toward purpose. 

"This feels like closing the loop after all the hard work," he said. "It's just the beginning." 

Following their commissioning, both brothers reported to Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola, Florida, where they will begin flight training as naval flight officers. 

1976 Bicentennial Celebrations Featured Military Participation Across the Nation

Jan. 30, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Once every 50 years, the United States holds milestone Independence Day celebrations. This year marks the nation's 250th birthday and fifth semicentennial celebration. 

The bicentennial was celebrated nationwide, July 4, 1976. It was celebrated only a year after the last U.S. troops left South Vietnam during the fall of Saigon, April 30, 1975. 

President Gerald R. Ford's administration stressed the themes of healing and rebirth, as well as nostalgia for the nation's founding. Ford was a World War II Navy officer, serving in the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier USS Monterey. 

New York City celebrated the bicentennial with a parade of ships that included dozens of historic and current ships. Operation Sail, as it was called, began in New York Harbor and moved up the Hudson River.

One of the ships, the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal, carried Ford, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and State Secretary Henry Kissinger.  

The event was also attended by 70 foreign ambassadors and chiefs of naval operations from 35 countries.

A statue of King George III was beheaded, reenacting when his statue was beheaded during the Revolutionary War and melted down to make bullets. 

During the celebration in the city, bands and ceremonial units from all of the military services marched down Constitution Avenue.

In Greenfield Village, Michigan, members of the military dressed in Revolutionary and Civil War period uniforms. Military parades like these took place across the nation. 

In 1976, Donald Rumsfeld was the defense secretary; Martin Richard Hoffmann was the Army secretary; Gen. Frederick C. Weyand was the Army chief of staff, followed by Gen. Bernard W. Rogers in October of that year; J. William Middendorf II was the Navy secretary; Adm. James L. Holloway III was the chief of naval operations; Thomas C. Reed was the Air Force secretary; David C. Jones was the Air Force chief of staff; and, Gen. Louis Wilson was the Marine Corps commandant. 

The military wasn't involved in any conflicts in 1976, the last being the Mayaguez incident in May 1975, in Kampuchea, now called Cambodia.

The U.S. was involved in the Cold War, which lasted from 1947 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. 

During this timeframe, the U.S. military maintained a large presence in West Germany, Japan and South Korea.

At Panmunjom, South Korea, Aug. 18, 1976, two U.S. soldiers were killed by North Korean soldiers while trying to chop down part of a tree in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which had obscured their view of North Korea. Three days later, Operation Paul Bunyan took place with a show of force made up of dozens of U.S. and South Korean troops, who completed cutting down the rest of the tree. 

On Nov. 2, 1976, Jimmy Carter, a former naval officer like Ford, was elected president. 

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star Marks 50 Years of Service, Begins Operation Deep Freeze

Jan. 29, 2026 | By Courtesy Story, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area |

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star began icebreaking operations in the Southern Ocean in support of Operation Deep Freeze 26 and marked its 50th year of commissioned service Jan. 17 by freeing and escorting a cruise ship trapped in a pack of ice.

The Australian-owned cruise ship contacted the Polar Star at approximately 11 p.m., local time, Jan. 16, after becoming beset in a pack of ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. The Polar Star's crew conducted two close passes to break the vessel free, then escorted it approximately four nautical miles to open water. 

The Polar Star departed Seattle in November for its 29th deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. 

The operation provides logistical support for the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is managed by the National Science Foundation. The mission includes strategic and tactical airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, cargo handling and other transportation requirements.

These efforts enable critical scientific research in one of the most remote regions on Earth. The ship's role in Operation Deep Freeze includes breaking a navigable channel through miles of dense Antarctic ice to allow fuel and cargo deliveries essential for sustaining research stations and operations.

Commissioned Jan. 17, 1976, the Polar Star is the nation's only active heavy icebreaker and has served as a cornerstone of the U.S. presence in the polar regions. For five decades, the cutter has executed missions including Antarctic resupply, search and rescue, environmental protection and national defense. 

As the cutter transits the Southern Ocean en route to Antarctica, its crew reflected on a half-century of service defined by resilience, adaptability and dedication.

"I am constantly amazed at this crew's tremendous energy and enthusiasm," said Coast Guard Capt. Jeff Rasnake, CGC Polar Star commanding officer. "Despite the many challenges associated with getting and keeping this ship on mission, they remain eternally positive and committed to meeting the high standards we've set for ourselves."

Throughout its service life, the Polar Star has completed dozens of Operation Deep Freeze missions and numerous Arctic deployments, defending U.S. sovereignty, securing critical shipping lanes, protecting energy and mineral resources, and countering adversarial presence in the polar regions. Despite its age, the cutter continues to demonstrate unmatched heavy icebreaking capability, routinely operating in conditions few vessels can navigate.

"At 50 years old, [the] Polar Star remains the world's most capable non-nuclear icebreaker," said Coast Guard Cmdr. Samuel Blase, the ship's executive officer. "That's a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, [the] Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future." 

As the cutter undertakes another demanding deployment, its 50th anniversary underscores both the ship's enduring capabilities and the professionalism of its crew.

"While the term 'historic' has lost meaning through overuse, there is no doubt that this is an amazing ship," Rasnake said. "[The] Polar Star's 50 years of service in the polar regions puts it in the discussion with other great Coast Guard icebreakers." 

As the Polar Star presses south through freezing seas and thickening ice, the crew carries forward a proud tradition of service. The 50th anniversary serves as both a celebration of the past and a reminder of the cutter's ongoing role at the forefront of U.S. polar operations. 

National Guard Repair Depot Key to Army Aircraft Maintenance

Jan. 28, 2026 | By Timothy Koster, Connecticut National Guard Public Affairs Office |

At the Connecticut National Guard's 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot, workers refurbish and maintain the Army's fleet of rotary-wing aircraft. This unique job can save the War Department millions of dollars a year.

Unlike field units that are trained and equipped to conduct basic maintenance on their aircraft, the repair depot is capable of stripping a helicopter — whether it's a UH-60 Black Hawk, a CH-47 Chinook or an AH-64 Apache — to its nuts and bolts and rebuilding it to factory standards, as if it just rolled off the assembly line.

"We are considered a sustainment-level facility in that we can do the highest-level maintenance comparable with any Army aviation depot," said Army 1st Sgt. Jarod Meekhoff, a quality control inspector for aircraft and aviation maintenance at the repair depot. "The kind of work that we do is highly technical, which is why we have a lot of specialized tools, equipment and specialized individuals here with the knowledge and skills capable of doing that."

Connecticut is home to some of the country's largest military-industrial businesses. It is fitting, then, that Connecticut is also home to the repair depot. The facility, based in Groton, Connecticut, employs highly skilled uniformed mechanics and some of the industry's most experienced civilian contractors to refurbish and maintain the aircraft. 

 
"In doing depot maintenance, we can basically take an aircraft and overhaul it from the ground up," Meekhoff said. "That's removing all the components, stripping all the paint, doing significant structural upgrades, structural repairs, component repairs [and] component overhauls." 
 
One of the best examples of this facility's cost-saving capability came in 2019, when the repair depot received two battle-damaged Chinooks that were deemed inoperable. In just two years, even with the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, these two helicopters were stripped down, analyzed, repaired, repainted and returned to the fleet as fully functional machines, sparing the military millions of dollars in buying new helicopters. 
 
Holding important certifications qualifies the repair depot to bid on special aviation maintenance projects offered by the Army. This allows soldiers and contractors at the facility to develop skills and knowledge comparable to those of their civilian defense industry counterparts. 

 
Working at the depot provides an opportunity for those interested in the aviation or aerospace industries to acquire skills and experience that will help advance their careers. 
 
"Because of the level of maintenance and the kind of very technical maintenance that we do, our maintainers will walk away with a much better understanding of not just helicopters and aircraft, but general maintenance and procedures, which absolutely translates to all the civilian companies that do any sort of production, manufacturing or assembly," Meekhoff said. 
 
In addition to the repair depot, the facility is home to the 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group, the traditional National Guard unit to which many of the uniformed personnel are assigned. These soldiers are capable of going downrange and performing high-level depot maintenance on aircraft on the front lines of the War Department's efforts to maintain peace and stability worldwide.