Robins Air Force Base Laser-Focused on Aircrew Eye Protection

Feb. 13, 2026 | By Lauren Boggs, 78th Air Base Wing |

Airmen at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, are helping solve a growing problem among American pilots and aircrews worldwide.

 
The Federal Aviation Administration says laser strikes on aircraft have increased by almost 48% since 2020, with more than 10,000 incidents reported in 2025 alone. 
 
Pointing a laser at an aircraft became a federal crime in 2012 and can result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Violators can also face FAA fines in addition to local and state criminal penalties. 
 
"These strikes can cause serious and, in some cases, permanent eye damage, with health concerns ranging from temporary flash blindness to severe retinal injuries," said Air Force Master Sgt. Bridgette Brzezinski, a bioenvironmental engineering flight chief assigned to the 78th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron. "Laser exposures can severely disrupt critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing, and can have significant psychological effects on aircrew even at distances where ocular damage is unlikely."
 
To combat this threat, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Human Systems Division is pioneering the next generation of protective technology. 
 
The AFLCMC/ROU, based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is working with its operations and support team at Robins Air Force Base on the Aircrew Laser Eye Protection – Technology Insertion program. This evolutionary acquisition program replaces and upgrades laser protection eyewear every five to seven years. 
 
Kevin Frost, AFLCMC/ROU operation and support mechanical engineer, and Eric Miltner, AFLCMC/ROU operations and support equipment specialist, are providing vital sustainment considerations to help develop improved eyewear that reduce the dangerous impacts of laser attacks on aircrews. 
 
They are now working to field a new family of products, the Block 3. It consists of six modular devices, each worn under specific conditions during takeoffs and landings. The kit includes separate day, night and ballistics spectacles, and visors that provide peripheral protection while wearing night vision goggles.

 
Frost and Miltner say the latest changes include a new dye that can filter a wider range of light wavelengths and a new version of the night spectacles that allows more natural light through the lens, increasing visibility for aircrews. 
 
"The main difference is that the Block 3s filter more wavelengths of light and provide more protection than the Block 2s," Miltner said. 
 
The duo also collaborates with technicians and airmen in the field to ensure that their technical orders and manuals are easily understood by the people who use the equipment every day. 
 
"We go to an actual base where people are going to be using this equipment," Miltner said. "We show them the manual, and we let them walk through the steps without us assisting just to make sure it all makes sense." 
 
Frost and Miltner see thousands of airmen using ALEP and the equipment they maintain, which gives meaning to their work, Frost said.

"It helps us make sure that they have everything they need, because a lot of this stuff is critical safety equipment and we want to keep our airmen and aircraft safe while they’re in the air," he said. 
 
AFLCMC/ROU plans to field more than 45,000 devices to Air Force units by 2029.

Face of Defense: Army Reserve Officer Finds Success in Tactical Fitness Arena

Feb. 16, 2026 | By Army Maj. William Allred, U.S. Army Reserve Command |

Army Reserve Lt. Col. Lauren Sharpless, 42, balances a demanding leadership role with elite competition, winning the 40 and over national title at the Tactical Games National Championship in 2024 and finishing second in 2025 while pushing soldiers and civilians toward daily fitness.

Shaping Readiness 

Sharpless trains like a soldier and competes like one. As the director of training for U.S. Army Reserve Command, she spends her days shaping readiness. Outside of her position, she tests her personal readiness against a field of athletes who must run, lift, climb and then steady their breathing to shoot with precision.

Sharpless discovered the competition on social media, signed up and, with coaching from Army Reserve noncommissioned officer and CrossFit trainer Tony Cowden, became a champion.

"I like to set the example," Sharpless said. "I always want to push myself. I want to motivate and inspire others."

The Tactical Games blends functional fitness and marksmanship into staged "battles" that pair grueling physical work with immediate shooting tasks. Competitions are organized into divisions and tiers — including elite, intermediate, masters and tactical — with tailored physical standards and shooting requirements so civilians, law enforcement, military and first responders compete on a level playing field. Events range from regional two-day contests to a multiday national championship that crowns division winners and national champions.

Athletic Roots 

Sharpless' athleticism is family lore. Her father was a high school and college basketball player who once drew interest from the Dallas Cowboys. Her brother played basketball in college and for Brazil's national team and now works as an athletic director. Her sister earned a spot on the Secret Service Counter Assault Team and trains and competes with Sharpless. That lineage, she said, helped shape a competitive instinct she now channels into training soldiers and civilians alike.

 Her message is practical and human. "Commit, make a plan, and stick to it," she advises soldiers and others.

Sharpless recommends 20 to 30 minutes a day of focused activity and says fitness should be inclusive: a walk during a work break counts as exercise. To that end, she recognizes the challenge of reaching reserve soldiers, who juggle civilian jobs and military obligations, and she uses her visibility in the sport to share training tips and motivation.

Goals for Success 

Overall, Sharpless has clear goals. She wants to win the national title two-to-three times in a row so there is "no question" about her place in the sport and then step away satisfied. Until then, she keeps training, coaching and competing — a reminder that leadership can be shown in uniform and on a course where fitness, firearm proficiency and mental toughness converge.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army 2nd Lt. Darwin Kyle

Feb. 16, 2026 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

Army 2nd Lt. Darwin Keith Kyle was an experienced soldier who'd survived World War II and took pride in looking after his fellow soldiers. During a firefight during the Korean War, Kyle gave his life to ensure his platoon mates could survive. For his selflessness, he was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.

Kyle was born June 1, 1918, in the coal mining town of Jenkins, Kentucky, to Charles and Pearl Kyle. He had an older brother, also named Charles.

At some point in Kyle's youth, the family moved to Racine, West Virginia, where he grew up and attended Sherman High School before enlisting in the Army in November 1939.

Kyle served valiantly during World War II, earning a Silver Star for his actions in France and Germany. According to a 2001 article in The Mountain Eagle newspaper out of Whitesburg, Kentucky, Kyle received the award for saving soldiers from six disabled Allied tanks that had been hit by enemy fire.

Kyle was discharged from the service in August 1945 and returned to West Virginia. At some point, he married Betty Totten. The couple went on to have two daughters, Donna and Nancy.

Civilian life didn't seem to suit Kyle, though, so in July 1947, he reenlisted in the Army. The veteran soldier was assigned to the 6th Infantry Division in South Korea, where he served as part of the post-World War II occupation force.

By the summer of 1950, when war broke out on the Korean Peninsula, Kyle was back in the U.S., serving as a master sergeant in Massachusetts assigned to Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. By that autumn, however, Kyle was back in Korea, this time to fight.

In December 1950, when Americans were evacuated from the North Korean port city of Hungnam, Kyle helped move several injured soldiers to safety after an explosion ripped through the area. His leadership and bravery during that incident quickly earned him a battlefield commission to second lieutenant, according to the West Virginia Encyclopedia Online.

On Feb. 16, 1951, the platoon that Kyle was leading was ordered to remove Chinese defenders from snow-packed Hill 185 near Kamil-Ni, South Korea. When they got pinned down by intense fire, Kyle remained out in the open so he could move among his men and encourage them to continue advancing toward the strongly entrenched enemy.

The encouragement worked, and they made some forward progress, but they were quickly pinned down again by enemy machine gun fire that wounded six soldiers. Kyle immediately reacted by charging the machine gun nest and fighting its crew in hand-to-hand combat, taking out the position's three enemy soldiers by himself.

Once the platoon started moving toward the hill again, they were met with intense automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed enemy position on their right flank. This time, Kyle led his men in a bayonet charge against the position.

Kyle fired his carbine and threw grenades as he went. He took out four enemy soldiers before a burst from an enemy submachine gun killed him. 

Kyle's leadership and extraordinary heroism during the chaos helped save his fellow soldiers' lives. For his selfless sacrifice, Kyle was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. His wife and daughters accepted it on his behalf from Defense Secretary Robert Lovett during a Pentagon ceremony on Jan. 16, 1952.  

Soon after his family received the award, the Army named Camp Kyle in western South Korea in his honor. The camp remained open until 2005.  

Kyle is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston, West Virginia.  

His heroics haven't been forgotten. In 1955, an elementary school in South Charleston was named in Kyle's honor. A bridge in West Virginia was renamed for him in 1996 before it was rebuilt and rededicated again in his name in 2023.  

In 2024, a new housing tower at Camp Humphries in South Korea was also named for Kyle.

 

March 14 Food Drive: Accept the Secretary’s Challenge

By Raymond E. Foster, Past Master

On March 14, San Dimas Masonic Lodge No. 428 will once again stand in the gap for those who stand for us. Our Feeding Military Families Food Drive is not simply a charitable event—it is a direct response to a documented and ongoing need within our armed forces community.

Food insecurity continues to affect those who serve at troubling levels. An estimated 22,000 active-duty families, 213,000 National Guardsmen, and more than 1.2 million veterans experience food insecurity in America today. Behind these statistics are military families—the spouse carefully managing every dollar, the children who may not understand why portions are smaller, and the household quietly absorbing the strain—so that their service member can remain focused on the mission.

This is not a distant problem. It is a present reality within our own military community.

Since 2022, through Feeding Military Families, we have raised more than 40 tons of food and essential household supplies to confront this need directly. Those donations have supported military families at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, Camp Pendleton, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, Air Force and Space Force personnel at Los Angeles Air Force Base, and families stationed at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Coast Guard Base.

Every pound collected restores dignity, reduces stress, and strengthens readiness. When families are supported, service members are better able to serve.

That is why we act.

For several years now, our Lodge Secretary, Glenn Johnson, II, has issued what has become an ongoing and inspiring call to action—the Secretary’s Challenge. Each year, he challenges us to donate our weight in food. And each year, Brothers from our Lodge, Brothers from other Lodges, and members of our wider community step forward and rise to meet that challenge.

On March 14, we will once again collect nonperishable food and essential household items to stock military base pantries serving families in need. But this year, we raise the bar.

I challenge every Brother of San Dimas Lodge No. 428 to meet the Secretary’s Challenge: donate your weight in food.

If you weigh 180 pounds—bring 180 pounds of food. If you weigh 220—bring 220. Let our collective weight reflect the gravity of the cause. Let our actions match the obligations we profess.

Freemasonry teaches relief as a core tenet. This is our opportunity to live it visibly and meaningfully.

Brothers, step on the scale. Then step up.

March 14. Donate your weight. Feed a family.

For more information, email feedingmilitaryfamilies@gmail.com or call 909-667-2721.

 

Georgia National Guard Soldiers Reunite Lost Puppy With Owner During D.C. Patrol

Feb. 13, 2026 | By Army Spc. Sherald McAulay, Joint Task Force District of Columbia |

What began as a routine patrol at the Anacostia Metro station quickly turned into a heartwarming reunion when soldiers assigned to the 170th Military Police Battalion, Georgia Army National Guard, helped return a lost puppy to its grateful owner, Feb. 9.

Army 1st Lt. David Okonofua, a military police officer supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, was patrolling the station alongside Army Sgt. Michael Waller, Army Staff Sgt. Cesar Serrano and Army Staff Sgt. Martinez when a mother and child approached the team.  

"It was one of those moments where everything feels normal, which made the situation stand out when we were flagged down," Okonofua said.  

Holding a small white puppy, the woman explained that the dog's owner had left the puppy on a transit bus and they were searching for help.  

"They were ... actively seeking assistance," Okonofua said. "Their urgency and body language made it clear that something wasn't right."

Waller and the other soldiers immediately stepped in.

The patrol team took custody of the puppy, ensuring it was safe and cared for while they worked to locate the owner. The soldiers provided food and water and carried the puppy with them as they coordinated with the station manager and contacted local animal rescue resources.  

Community members also joined the effort.  

"Pedestrians shared dog treats and food," Waller added. "The community helping out and being diligent really helped us care for the lost animal. I have dogs at home, so we know how to treat dogs."  

"We're dog people," Serrano said laughing.

"It was a nice, cute little puppy, very sweet," Waller added. "Didn't bite, very friendly with everybody that walked past."

About an hour later, a woman arrived at the station asking if anyone had seen a small white dog. After verifying details, the soldiers reunited the owner with her pet.  

"She was very relieved," Okonofua said. "The dog was also very happy to be reunited with its owner. She thanked us, and we shared a few words before she left with her puppy."  

Okonofua emphasized that this moment exemplified the broader purpose of the mission.  

"Our mission goes beyond just security," he said. "It's about protecting people, property and even animals. Helping reunite someone with their pet builds trust and shows that we care about the community we serve."  

For Waller, the experience was a reminder of one of the many reasons soldiers put on the uniform.  

"It's not every day you get to put on a uniform and be a hero, making a difference," he said. "When you're actually doing it, it does feel good."

Battles of Saratoga: Turning Point in American Revolutionary War

Feb. 13, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

This year marks the nation's 250th birthday, celebrating the Declaration of Independence.

On July 4, 1776, things were not going well for the American military forces, which were retreating from New York City and Canada following battles with the British. A little more than a year later, a turning point occurred as British forces surrendered, following the Battles of Saratoga, Oct. 7, 1777. 

The British planned to sever New England from the rest of the country by sending forces from Canada eastward down the Mohawk River, southward via Lake Champlain and northward up the Hudson River, where they planned to converge in Albany, New York. 

The plan was strategically sound, but things went horribly wrong for the British.

British Army Gen. John Burgoyne led about 8,000 troops south from Canada through the Champlain Valley. 

British Army Gen. William Howe never moved his forces north up the Hudson River, and British Army Brig. Gen. Barry St. Leger turned back his forces meant to arrive from Canada through the Mohawk Valley, leaving Burgoyne's entire force surrounded and outnumbered by the Americans in upstate New York.

Burgoyne surrendered his entire force to Continental Army Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates. 

The victory was so successful that France decided to ally itself with the United States, providing much-needed assistance with its military, supplies and equipment. 

Later in the war, Spain and the Netherlands also provided assistance to the U.S.

A number of Navy ships, including sailing vessels, cruisers and aircraft carriers, bore the name USS Saratoga in honor of that victory. 

Today, the National Park Service maintains the site of the victory, which is now called Saratoga National Historical Park. 

TSA, DOW Create Process to Ease Recruits' Journey to Basic

Feb. 12, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

When the day to leave for boot camp finally arrives, military recruits often have a lot of anxious thoughts racing through their minds.

"How long will I have to stay awake during the first couple of days? When will I get to talk to my family again? Is it true they make you mow the lawns with fingernail clippers?" 

With all those concerns and many others to mull over, having to pony up just south of $50 to be given the privilege of boarding an airplane that's about to shuttle you off to some of the most stressful and demanding seven to 13 weeks of your life — depending on which branch you join — might seem like a slap in the face. 

And yet, having to pay to get processed through airport security was the potential reality that thousands of recruits nationwide were facing as of Feb. 1, when the Transportation Security Administration rolled out its ConfirmID program. 

Under ConfirmID, airport travelers must either present a REAL ID to security or pay $45 to proceed using a standard ID. 

Fortunately, though, the War Department's Office of Personnel and Readiness got ahead of this early by partnering with TSA to ensure recruits who don't possess a REAL ID won't have to dig into their pocketbooks to pass through security. 

Even better, recruits are now receiving "white glove treatment" from TSA when processing through airport security en route to basic training.  

White glove treatment makes getting through security much quicker and more convenient than standard screening, and it's similar to that afforded to our nation's veterans through the Honor Flight program.

Good enough for our nation's current heroes, good enough for our nation's future heroes.  

And here's the really good news: the program is working.

U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command recently conducted a site visit to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, where they observed recruits shipping out from Chicago MEPS and having no trouble getting through screening.  

And this included applicants without REAL-ID-compliant identification. 

"Putting our recruits first is a priority. These young men and women have volunteered to serve our nation. When they are shipping out to basic training, we want them focused on the fight, not worried about what type of ID they have or whether they will need to pay a fee to make it there," Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata recently said of the joint DOW-TSA partnership. 

Tata said that it is the War Department's duty to take care of the young men and women who volunteer to serve their country from the moment they sign up to protect the nation, and that the new security screening initiative is a great example of innovation and cross-government collaboration.  

"The department identified a challenge and partnered with TSA to put in place a solution, bolting over the bureaucracy to provide thousands of new recruits with the white glove treatment they deserve," Tata added. 

One senior TSA official — who served 10 years in the Marine Corps and noted that one in five TSA employees are veterans — concurred that easing young recruits' journey to boot camp should be a top priority.  

"TSA is honored to be a part of the journeys young men and women take to reach initial military training and begin their service in America's armed forces. … We are committed to ensuring recruits can stay focused on what lies at the end of their travels, serving America, instead of worrying about how they'll get there," explained Mike Turner, TSA's assistant administrator for domestic aviation operations. 

"By leveraging the pre-vetting processes [that] we already have in place, TSA will assist America's newest service members reach their training safely and smoothly," he added. 

With airport security crossed off their list of worries, the men and women who raised their right hands and swore an oath in anticipation of embarking on one of the most exciting and honorable adventures they'll ever go on are ready, with or without nail clippers.   

Military Sealift Command Delivers Needed Cargo to Antarctica

Feb. 12, 2026 | By Sarah Cannon, Military Sealift Command Pacific |

The Military Sealift Command chartered heavy lift ship Plantijngracht is conducting cargo offload operations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, as part of MSC's ongoing support of the annual Antarctic resupply mission: Operation Deep Freeze 2026.

The Plantijngracht arrived in Winter Bay, Antarctica, Feb. 4, where its crew offloaded a 65-ton floating modular causeway system. Sections of the system were assembled on the ship's deck before being offloaded, connected and floated into place by the Army's 7th Transportation Battalion. The causeway is being used instead of the traditional ice pier this year due to the size and weight of the ship's cargo. 
 
While the focus of the mission is on cargo delivery, the causeway system came with its own unique set of challenges that planners had to anticipate and account for to ensure a smooth operation. 
 
"The [causeway system] adds to the overall timeline of the cargo offload. It takes approximately three to four days to build at the start of the operation and the same amount of time to break down at the end," said Marie Morrow, the ship's liaison to the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica staff. "Weather starts to deteriorate quickly in the second half of February, as the summer season comes to a close, so those extra six to eight days can increase the likelihood of weather challenges." 

 
Once the system was in place and secure, the ship was met by members of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 1 and cargo offloading operations began. The ship is delivering 372 pieces of cargo, consisting of containers filled with dry goods and supplies needed for survival at the remote Antarctic outpost. 
 
Logistical moves are nothing new for Military Sealift Command; in fact, around the world, they are almost a daily occurrence. However, moving cargo in the harshest environment on Earth is a mission unto itself. Antarctica is known for its bitterly cold temperatures, harsh winds, ice conditions and weather that can change in a matter of minutes. All factors that need to be considered as operations unfold. 
 
"The austere environment adds a lot of challenges to the operation. Unpredictable weather conditions, freezing cargo gear and high winds are common hurdles faced in the cargo operation. Ice conditions vary from year to year and bring different problems," Morrow said.

The presence of thick ice can slow down the ship's arrival at the station. Little to no ice or open water conditions can cause shoreside erosion at the wharf.  

"To handle all of the challenges, we control what we can within the operation," she said. "We use past lessons learned to handle challenges that come up." 
 
Following the offload, the ship will be loaded with containers of retrograde cargo for transportation off the continent. This includes trash and recyclable materials for disposal and equipment no longer required at the station, as well as the causeway system.

Before departing McMurdo Station, the crew will also load ice-core samples that will be stored on the ship in a subzero freezer. The samples will be delivered to the U.S. for scientific study. 
 
"The cargo delivery from California to Antarctica is one of the longest supply chains in the world. The ship plays a huge role in delivering cargo that supplies and sustains multiple stations on the continent," Morrow said. "The crews are always quite enthusiastic to be a part of such a unique and remote operation. For most, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Air Forces Southern Airman Integral to Rescue Off Coast of Mexico

 Feb. 12, 2026 | By Andrea Jenkins, Air Forces Southern |

Air Force rescue aircrews assigned to the 563rd Rescue Group, supported by Air Forces Southern, conducted a long-range water rescue of a civilian aboard a tanker in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico, Feb. 5.

The mission underscored how training, experience and cross-unit integration enable Air Force rescue forces to respond when time, distance and personnel availability converge. 

The mission began when the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center received a request for assistance from the crew of the Maran Gas Olympias, a Greek-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker operating more than 340 nautical miles offshore. A civilian aboard the vessel was experiencing a serious medical emergency that required immediate advanced medical care. 

Because of limited helicopter pilot availability, 563rd Rescue Group leaders reached out to Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Budis, chief of exercises and airshows assigned to the Air Forces Southern operations directorate. An HH-60W Jolly Green II pilot with over 2,000 flight hours, Budis was asked to integrate into the operation based on his extensive rescue experience. While assigned to Air Forces Southern, Budis maintains his rescue pilot qualifications and continues flying with the rescue group to remain mission-ready. 

"This mission is a shining example of what rescue does," Budis said. "Being ready to go at the drop of a hat — that's why we train the way we do. These missions are unpredictable. They don't come around often, but when they do, you have to be ready; training is what makes that possible." 

Budis served as an aircraft commander and supporting flight lead, overseeing mission planning and execution, including fuel planning, risk management and long-range overwater coordination.

"The call wasn't about where I was assigned — it was about having the right experience available when it was needed," he said. "My role was to integrate into the team and help execute the mission safely." 

Two HH-60W helicopters assigned to the 55th Rescue Squadron, supported by an HC-130J Combat King II, launched toward the vessel. The extended distance required detailed mission planning, multiple helicopter air-to-air refueling events, and close coordination among aircrews, pararescue teams and tanker crews. The 79th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II conducted refueling events, transferring more than 13,000 pounds of fuel to extend the helicopter's range and time-on-station. 

"Flying hundreds of miles over open ocean is inherently high risk," Budis said. "If anything goes wrong during air refueling, you're suddenly talking about more survivors than the one you were sent to save." 

Once on scene, 48th Rescue Squadron pararescue personnel boarded the vessel and assessed the patient, determining he required evacuation for higher-level care. While the primary medical team conducted the initial assessment, supporting aircraft managed fuel and timing constraints to ensure the mission could continue safely. 

"They packaged the patient on the bow of the ship, hoisted him off and we flew through the night to Cabo San Lucas, [Mexico]" Budis said. "From there, he was transferred to Mexican medical authorities for continued treatment."

The patient was transported ashore in stable condition. 

Air Force Capt. Nate Delaney, chief of plans and exercises and HH-60W pilot assigned to the 55th Rescue Squadron, who flew alongside Budis during the mission, said the operation highlighted the strength of standardized training and trust across the rescue enterprise. 

"Even when crews don't fly together every day, the standards are the same," Delaney said. "Everyone understood their role, trusted the plan and focused on one thing — getting the patient the care he needed and bringing the team home safely."

"We fly with different people all the time, but we all train to the same standards," he added. "That's what allows us to trust each other and execute every mission safely; it comes down to standards and training," Budis said. "We fly with different people all the time, but we all train to the same standards, so we know what to expect and how to trust each other." 

For Budis, missions like this directly inform his work overseeing exercises and training across the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

"Everything I do in exercises is informed by real missions like this," Budis said. "It's easy to draw from real experience when planning and training." 

At the end of the day, he said the mission reflects the core principle that drives the Air Force rescue community. 

"These things we do, that others may live," Budis said. 

Railhead Operations Drive Strategic Mobility for Exercise in Alaska

Feb. 11, 2026 | By Air Force Senior Airman Johnny Diaz, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson |

Large-scale arctic exercises far into the Alaska tundra require support just as sophisticated and robust as the operations themselves. It takes a coordinated network of planners, inspectors and transportation specialists working behind the scenes to move equipment safely and efficiently.

In support of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 26-02 exercise at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, logistics professionals assigned to the 773rd Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 486th Movement Control Team, 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 11th Airborne Division, transported critical equipment for several Army units across Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. 

"The entire operation is a coordinated effort between the deploying units, the division transportation office, the movement control center, the installation transportation office, and Alaska Railroad representatives," said William Lower, installation mobilization officer for the squadron. "It's a continuous flow from planning through final execution."

The logistics workflow starts long before equipment enters the rail yard. Personnel working with unit movement officers identify all gear to be shipped, then work with the movement control center and other transportation offices to book the necessary railcars. Training for the loading teams ensures personnel are prepared and proficient when operations begin. 

"By working in tandem with the [movement control center], our team ensures every piece of equipment is not only properly inspected but also loaded onto railcars precisely, according to the approved load plan," said Army Capt. Benjamin Mohn, 486th Movement Control Team commander. "This meticulous oversight is essential for maximizing the use of available space and ensuring equipment meets the Alaska Rail standards, guaranteeing that the train can transport the maximum amount of equipment possible in a single movement." 

A vital phase of the process is the transportation integrity and preparation for shipment inspection. At the designated marshaling area, each vehicle and piece of cargo undergoes a detailed examination for transportability, mechanical soundness, proper documentation and safety compliance before being cleared for movement.

"Every piece of equipment receives a thorough TIPS inspection to ensure it's mechanically sound, properly secured and documented for movement," Lower said. "That step is essential to moving equipment safely and efficiently." 

Central to that effort was the railhead operation, a core logistics process that inspects, documents and loads military vehicles and cargo onto commercial railcars for movement up to the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center. Railhead operations serve as a key node in the broader logistics network, ensuring that vital equipment arrives intact and on schedule. 

By housing both the movement control center and the installation transportation office within the 773rd LRS, the squadron ensures seamless integration of planning and execution, from initial coordination to cargo departure. This integration enabled the 257 TIPS inspections of the 65 railcars carrying vital equipment in support of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center.

"The [movement control center] and [installation transportation office] are integral parts of the 773rd LRS," Lower said. "By bringing those capabilities together, we're able to synchronize the entire process and guarantee assets are deployed safely, securely and on schedule." 

Railhead and movement control operations often go unseen by soldiers whose gear is already en route or in place. Still, these logistics professionals provide the backbone that enables units to meet training and operational objectives. 

"The strong, trusted partnership between the [movement control team], the [movement control center] and all participating units is the bedrock of our success," Mohn said. "This shared understanding allows our team to remain agile and effectively solve the inevitable challenges and friction that arise during complex operations, ensuring the mission is always accomplished."

Hegseth Calls for Military Unity Across Western Hemisphere at Inaugural Defense Chiefs Gathering

Feb. 11, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today called on defense chiefs and other senior military leaders from 34 Western Hemisphere countries to unite in deterrence against bad actors who may already be operating in, or working to encroach upon, the region. 

Convened by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and held in downtown Washington, the daylong, first-of-its-kind Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference focused on regional security cooperation against narco-terrorism and other criminal enterprises throughout the hemisphere, while also analyzing common security priorities between allies and partner nations.  

While delivering prepared remarks at the meeting's outset, Hegseth said the U.S. — like all countries represented at the conference — desires a hemisphere of peace, which is why all those countries must work together to achieve and preserve it. 

"We, like you, want — and will — achieve a permanent peace in this hemisphere. So, let's work together [with] our militaries: exercising, training, operations, [intelligence], access, basing, overflight, you name it — let's work together," Hegseth told the gathered leaders.  

"To achieve these goals, we have to stand together; there's no other way to do it," he added.  

Hegseth said the War Department, under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and his administration, is prioritizing protecting the homeland and key territories throughout the hemisphere for the first time in decades. 

"The United States is asserting, reestablishing and enforcing the Trump corollary of the Monroe Doctrine," Hegseth explained. 

Issued in 1823 by President James Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine declared that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to any new attempts at colonization by European nations, and that any interference by those powers would be viewed as a hostile act against the United States.  

Reciprocally, the U.S. pledged not to interfere with any of Europe's internal affairs and not meddle in any of Europe's colonial affairs. 

"It's common sense: restoring American power and American strength in our hemisphere through shared priorities and common interests and threads with partners against our adversaries," Hegseth said.  

He went on to reiterate a core tenet of the Trump administration's philosophy on homeland security: that, for far too long, the U.S. had focused on securing and defending other nations around the world while neglecting security within the U.S. and throughout the Western Hemisphere. 

"The consequences of this have been dire for our nation and for your nations; fentanyl, cocaine [and] other deadly drugs poured across our border, poisoning and killing millions of Americans. The number of deaths for Americans to those weapons and those threats is far higher than American casualties in any kinetic war," Hegseth said, adding that illegal mass migration and human smuggling had risen exponentially in the years leading up to the U.S. closing its southern border last year.  

Along with the residual benefits of closing the border — which Hegseth said include the biggest drop in illegal border crossings in the past 50 years, as well as a significant reduction in the U.S. murder rate — he also pointed out the successes that the U.S. military and law enforcement are having through the anti-narco-terror mission to the south, specifically with Operation Southern Spear. 

Launched last year by U.S. Southern Command, Southern Spear is a joint U.S. military campaign aimed at disrupting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, particularly by conducting lethal airstrikes against suspected traffickers.  

"Operation Southern Spear has restored deterrence against the narco-terrorist cartels that profit from poisoning Americans and killing our people and your people," Hegseth told the group, adding that the number of narco-terror boats in the region has diminished significantly since the U.S. strikes began in September 2025.  

"Narco-traffickers know that the true cost of flooding our country with deadly drugs is death for themselves — a real deterrent," he said. 

Hegseth also pointed to the success of Operation Absolute Resolve, in which U.S. forces last month captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. 

"Operation Absolute Resolve demonstrated, once again, the bravery and skill and capability of America's best: our warfighters," he said. 

As his remarks drew to a close, Hegseth underscored that Trump and his administration believe that sovereignty and territorial integrity depend upon military power, and not just traditional law enforcement. 

"Yes, policing is important [and] enforcing is important, but military power is [also] important," Hegseth said, adding that the countries represented during the day's conference must work together to combat and dismantle narco-terrorism and drug trafficking cartels in the Western Hemisphere.   

"We need to build those bonds of partnership to defeat the challenges to our security and our sovereignty," he added. "So, as you might say, we can make the Americas great again."  

Senior Enlisted Advisor to Chairman Testifies on Quality of Life

Feb. 12, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Warfighters are the foundation of War Department lethality, said Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman David L. Isom, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee on service member and family quality of life, yesterday.

The love and support from their families make their service possible, he added.

As the joint force works tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the nation, DOW and the nation must also work tirelessly to ensure service members have full support and that they have what they need to fight and win when called upon, the SEAC said.

"Humans are more important than hardware, because the true strength of our military isn't just in our ships and our tanks or our aircraft. It's the unwavering spirit and the trusted hands of our people, our total joint force," Isom said.

Isom told the subcommittee that he and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have three priorities:

• First, the joint force must be properly armed — the right capabilities and capacity when needed to fight and win.
• Second, the joint force must be globally integrated across all domains — with interagency, industry and with allies and partners.
• Third, DOW must build a ready joint force. Being ready is about repetitions, tough training and building muscle memory. This also includes being clear-eyed about the future and being candid with the force and its families.

"Underpinning these priorities is our most important asset, and that's our people," Isom said. "We recruit America's best, and we must retain this talent by taking care of them and taking care of their families."

Senior enlisted leaders from all the service branches also testified.

Airman Heads Back to Olympics to Compete in Skeleton

Feb. 10, 2026 |31st Fighter Wing |

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis, a knowledge operations technician assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing Communications Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, is preparing to represent Team USA on the world's biggest stage for the second time at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

 
Qualifying for the Olympics is brutally competitive. Only 232 American athletes earned spots to represent the U.S. in Italy. The news station NBC Olympics reported that thousands of athletes competed through years of races, rankings and trials to qualify for the Games. For Curtis, this moment is the culmination of years of discipline, sacrifice and resilience, both as an athlete and as an airman. 
 
"When I first asked the Air Force [World Class Athlete Program] if I could be assigned to Aviano [Air Base], the goal was always these Olympic Games," Curtis said. "Four years ago, I qualified for my first Games in Beijing, but Milano Cortina was always the plan." 
 
Raised in a highly competitive household, Curtis grew up immersed in athletics. As the youngest of four siblings, she credits her upbringing and her father's experience as a former NFL player for shaping her drive. 

"I was always trying to keep up," Curtis said. "I competed in everything: wrestling, track and field, softball, baseball and basketball. I never specialized in a specific sport early, and I believe that helped me more than anything." 

Her diverse athletic foundation eventually evolved from traditional collegiate sports to the bobsled, and ultimately the skeleton, an event that demands power, precision and fearlessness. 

Balancing Olympic-level training with military readiness wasn't always easy. As a mother, noncommissioned officer and world-class athlete, Curtis describes her daily routine as a careful balancing act, made possible by strong leaders and teamwork within the 31st Communications Squadron. 

"Staff Sgt. Curtis' ability to balance the demands of military service with world-class competition shows our airmen that anything is possible, so long as you're passionate, dedicated and driven to reach a goal," said Lt. Col Ryan Williams, 31st Communications Squadron commander.

While leaders point to her example, Curtis points back to her team, emphasizing that their confidence in her allows her to carry the same focus and discipline from the workplace to the world stage.  

"My leadership has been incredible," she said. "From my commander down to my supervisor, they've been extremely accommodating while still ensuring I'm fulfilling all my responsibilities as an airman. Their trust frees me to focus when it's time to perform."

As the current points lead for skeleton on the U.S. team, Curtis prepares to carry more than her personal goals onto the frozen track. She also carries the weight of family legacy and of representing the Air Force. Despite the pressure, Curtis remains grounded in the values that brought her to this point: discipline and resilience. 

"After the Games, I'll be right back at Aviano Air Force Base doing my job," she said. "But for now, I have the privilege of representing the U.S. Air Force on the world stage, and I don't take that lightly. At the end of the day, all I can do is prepare the best I can and put it together when it matters." 

Curtis hopes her journey inspires other airmen to pursue their own athletic ambitions. 

"Reach out. Research Air Force sports and look into the Air Force World Class Athlete Program," she said. "There's more support out there than people realize, from intramural sports all the way to the Olympics."

DOW Restructures Foreign Military Sales, Prioritizes Speed, Efficiency

Feb. 10, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

In a video posted on social media today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the War Department moved two agencies critical to getting American-made combat gear into the hands of allied and partner nations under the War Department's Office of Acquisition and Sustainment. 

"On Nov. 7, we laid out the Department of War's vision for strengthening the defense sales enterprise," Hegseth said. "Today, we're turning that vision into decisive action." 

Both the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration are part of how the United States helps partners and allies get access to American-made weapons and equipment. They will now fall under the Office of the Undersecretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, led by Michael P. Duffey, according to the memorandum. 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, for instance, is largely responsible for facilitating the sale of U.S. weapons to partners and allies. However, the agency is also responsible for developing and planning the long-term partnerships and training opportunities that accompany those sales. The Defense Technology Security Administration is responsible for identifying and mitigating any risks associated with transferring technology to partners and allies. 

By moving both agencies under the department's Office of Acquisition and Sustainment, Hegseth aims to make weapons sales to allies and partners faster and more efficient, as well as help revitalize America's defense industrial base. 

"This executive order is our mandate: leverage America's record-breaking defense sales to revitalize our industrial base and support our partners," Hegseth said. "On nearly every overseas trip that I take, the demand is clear, every single time; our allies want to buy the world's most lethal weapons: American weapons." 

The realignment, Duffey said, has created a single coherent defense sales enterprise within the department, one that moves at the speed of war, but with the purpose of deterring aggression. 

"Coupled with this new executive order, we're now positioned to leverage the total aggregated global demand for U.S. weapons to grow our nation's industrial might, while maintaining the American warfighters' technological edge," he added. 

Duffey noted that the changes will unlock foreign investment, power production lines, fuel investments in new American manufacturing plants and create thousands of new jobs in the U.S. 

"When we promise to provide American military capabilities, we must deliver," Hegseth said. "Thanks to President [Donald J.] Trump's leadership, these efforts are game changers for the way we do business with our allies and partners around the globe: more and better weapons delivered faster for our warfighters and our allies."

Department of War Finalizes Realignment of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration

 Feb. 10, 2026 |

The Department of War (DoW) today announced the realignment of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) to the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (USW(A&S)). This significant transformation, directed by the Secretary of War, unifies critical acquisition, sustainment, industrial base policy, security cooperation, defense sales, and arms transfer functions under a single organization to improve efficiency, enhance the U.S. industrial base, and enable greater burden-sharing with our allies and partners.

"The President has laid out a clear vision for aggressive promotion of U.S. defense sales through his groundbreaking America First Arms Transfer Strategy," said USW(A&S) Michael Duffey. "This realignment will increase and accelerate the delivery of lethal weapons and advanced capabilities to our allies and partners, empowering them to shoulder a greater share of their self-defense. By unifying our arms transfer enterprise with our acquisition system, we will move with the purpose and speed required to strengthen our alliances and ensure the United States remains the partner of choice in global arms sales."

The realignment establishes a clear and unambiguous line of authority, creating a single enterprise to oversee the execution of defense sales from initial acquisition to final production and delivery. The structural reform is also a key component of the Department's broader effort to improve the speed and accountability of the arms transfer enterprise.

By aligning DSCA and DTSA with the Department's acquisition, industrial base, and technology security functions under USW(A&S), the DoW will integrate technology security considerations earlier in the acquisition life cycle, enhance forecasting of global demand to better meet the defense needs of the United States and our partners, and facilitate the delivery of warfighting capability at the speed of relevance while protecting the U.S. technological edge.

The realignment directly supports the National Defense Strategy and the President's commitment to revitalizing the defense industrial base, including through Executive Action to improve arms transfers. The move will unlock strategic opportunities to leverage allied and partner investments, contributing to the creation of American jobs and ensuring the readiness and security of our Warfighters, allies, and partners.