Soldier-Olympian to Compete for First U.S. Biathlon Medal

Feb. 9, 2026 | By Joe Lacdan, Defense Media Activity-Army Productions |

Tears pooled in Army Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin's eyes as she stood at the starting line of the National Biathlon Centre in the Zhangjiakou cluster, a mountainous stretch of land three hours northwest of Beijing. 

As the soldier breathed in the piercing cold, she reflected on the journey that brought her to her first Olympic Games in 2022. 

"I definitely was like, once I start this race, I'm an Olympian," said Irwin, a member of the Army World Class Athlete Program. "And I think that kind of emotion kind of just like came over me like, I get to say that." 

She quickly wiped the tears away before they froze on her face. The soldier clutched her ski poles tighter to keep the blood circulating in her fingers and narrowed her focus. 

Irwin took an unorthodox path to become an Olympian, from training as a cross-country skier in Idaho to attending her first biathlon camp in upstate New York and finally to an enlistment in the Army. 

As a child watching the 2008 Summer Olympics, she dreamed of one day reaching the pinnacle of track and field. Days before her first Olympic race, she attended the opening ceremonies at Beijing National Stadium, in the same city that captivated her on television. 

"It felt definitely full circle for me to kind of have those first memories growing up," Irwin said. "The Olympic dream kind of was always there." 

At the time, Irwin didn't rank among the top 50 female biathletes in the world. But that day she would ski faster and fire more accurately than ever before. 

The temperature grew so cold that Irwin couldn't feel her fingers during shooting sessions, yet she still hit 19 of 20 targets. The cold didn't faze Irwin, as she finished in seventh place, the highest 15-kilometer finish ever by a U.S. biathlete. Irwin fell a single shot shy of winning the first U.S. Olympic medal in the sport. 

After crossing the finish line, Irwin let out a nervous, excited laugh. 

"I had a crazy day," she said. 

Still running on adrenaline, Irwin said she didn't sleep for days following the race. 

Now at her second Olympic Games at 33, Irwin and her U.S. teammates vie to become the first Americans to medal in the biathlon at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics that began yesterday. 

"I think we have really, really strong athletes on both the men's and women's side," Irwin said. "And I think I showed at the last Olympics that anything is possible."

Irwin, who ranks 26th in the world and No. 1 in the U.S., has a contingent of friends and family who traveled to northern Italy to support her, after COVID-19 restrictions prevented spectators from attending the Games in 2022. 

Irwin notched her second top-10 World Cup finish of the season recently at the Nove Mesto World Cup in Prague. She hit 19 of 20 targets and finished 10th in the 12.5-kilometer mass start race. 

"My story is a unique way to show persistence and just believe in yourself," Irwin said. "And really just kind of continuing on, even when you're met with changes." 

To prepare for the Olympics, Irwin and the U.S. Biathlon team traveled to what she called an "elevation camp" in northern Italy to grow accustomed to competing at a high altitude. The Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena, one of the highest biathlon competition venues in the world, sits more than 5,200 feet above sea level. The athletes log 12-20 hours of endurance training each week and work on interval sets to maintain peak physical fitness. 

Irwin will be joined by Army Spc. Sean Doherty on the U.S. Olympic team, and as she learned in the Army, the United States will compete as a team. Doherty, an eight-time World Championship team member, will be competing in his fourth Olympics having placed seventh in the mixed relay at Beijing and 42nd in the men's individual race.

A Biathlete in the Making

Irwin didn't know it then, but she laid the groundwork for her future athletic career while growing up in the rural Midwest. Unlike many of her teammates, Irwin discovered the sport later in life. 

Irwin competed in basketball, track and cross-country in Pulaski, a small Wisconsin town 20 miles west of Green Bay. At age 16, she began Nordic skiing during the Badger State's frigid winters to stay in shape for the track and cross-country seasons. 

Irwin attended Michigan Technological University in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. There at the remote rural campus, she competed in cross-country and track. Irwin joined MTU's Nordic ski team, which trains at Mont Ripley, a ski area in the wilderness of Hancock, Michigan. Following graduation in 2016, she fell in love with Nordic skiing. 

Irwin moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, in the Pacific Northwest, to pursue a spot on the U.S. Olympic Ski team. There she joined the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's Cross Country Gold Team. 

Irwin had to humble herself and live within her financial means. 

She said she became homeless for a short time, driving her car from house to house sleeping on friends' sofas while working as a dog caretaker. She struggled to earn income while training and remained on her parents' health care plan. 

Irwin posted some of the best times in the nation, but she knew she needed to compete at a higher level to make the Winter Olympics. 

When it became clear that she would not qualify for the Olympic team following the 2017-2018 World Cup season, she decided to move away from cross-country skiing. 

Then, her best friend, Joanne Reid, asked her to give the biathlon a try, inviting Irwin to attend the U.S. biathlete camp in Lake Placid, New York. 

The mental shift from racing down a slope to firing at a target became a motivating addiction. She learned the nuances of sight adjustment and trigger pressure. 

"When you know you're doing well," Irwin said. "And then you get on the range, and you see all those shots go down; it's the coolest feeling in the world." 

Irwin still struggled financially. She could barely afford gas, and fortunately, a friend donated her first rifle. 

Irwin signed a contract with the Vermont National Guard Biathlon Program in 2019 and eventually joined WCAP. 

"I don't think I would have gotten this far in biathlon without the support of the U.S. Army," Irwin said.  

Gradually, she grew faster on the slopes. She started hitting targets more accurately and refined her shooting discipline. At the 2019 Biathlon National Championships, Irwin placed seventh in the sprint, fourth in pursuit and eighth in super sprint. Soon after she began improving on the World Cup circuit, finishing in second in the women's relay at the 2022 World Cup in Antholz, Italy. 

After qualifying for the 2022 Olympics, Irwin reached a new pinnacle. 

"I was never a state champion in running," Irwin said. "I was never an NCAA champion in Nordic skiing or anything like that. But I just knew that I had more in me and I wanted to keep pushing myself and I wanted to keep seeing how far I could get [in the biathlon]." 

Irwin attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2019, followed by advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where she studied to become a human resources specialist. 

The discipline and learning to work with other soldiers changed Irwin. 

"[Basic training] was one of the most mentally difficult things I've ever done," she said. "But ... I learned a lot about resilience and working as a team." 

At boot camp, Irwin learned to fire an M16 rifle, a much heavier weapon than the lightweight, .22-caliber long rifle used by biathletes.

Guard, Army Comes to Her Aid

Irwin had repeatedly shielded Reid from the advances of a ski wax technician who abused Reid for years, according to an Associated Press report. 

Irwin recalled learning about the Army's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, a concentrated effort by the service to eradicate sexually related crimes within its ranks. 

Irwin reported her teammate's case to her chain of command at the Vermont National Guard. Her leaders took immediate action, eventually prompting an 18-month investigation by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which safeguards Olympic athletes from abuse. 

"Being able to tell my chain of command in the Vermont National Guard and having such overwhelming ... resources, they really made sure that I was taken care of, and that I was talking to the professionals," Irwin said. 

During the PowHERful podcast, Irwin added that she risked her athletic career to bring change to the misogyny and abuse against women within the U.S. Biathlon program. 

"We have to start the conversation for the 12-year-old athlete who wants to be in our position," Irwin said. "How do we make it better for them?" 

During the investigations, Irwin still stayed on top of her fitness and used biathlon training as therapy. Irwin got lost in her training; running, skiing and shooting harder. 

She said she never considered walking away from the sport. 

"Continuing to train was therapeutic," she said. "It was my way of continuing to be in control of my life. A lot of that anxiety and stress or whatever is causing that in my life, it melts away." 

Irwin said she not only represents the U.S. but also the Army and National Guard in this year's Winter Olympics. WCAP places athletes on active-duty orders during their pursuit of Olympic glory while supporting athletes with health care and training resources. 

Irwin works remotely with nutritionists who analyze athletes' bloodwork and provide vitamin supplements. Irwin communicates directly with Army nutritionist Maj. Kelly Kaim through texts and emails. 

"It's been a really amazing program to be a part of and the resources," Irwin said. "Everybody within their program has been a really, really huge help in this last push for the 2026 Olympics." 

Irwin competed as part the U.S. Biathlon team in the mixed relay 4x6 kilometer event yesterday, finishing 14th.

U.S., Italian Soldiers Earn German Military Qualification

Feb. 9, 2026 | By Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane Klestinski, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa |

U.S. and Italian soldiers accepted the challenge of earning the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge during a military qualification assessment at various locations throughout Caserma Del Din, Italy, Feb. 2-6.

The proficiency badge is a German armed forces decoration that is one of the few foreign awards approved for wear on formal U.S. service uniforms. 

Over 110 candidates reported for the challenge. U.S. participants included 99 soldiers representing: 173rd Airborne Brigade, 207th Military Intelligence Brigade, 517th Geospatial Planning Cell, 79th Theater Sustainment Command (FWD), 21st Theater Sustainment Command and U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa. They joined Italian paratroopers in their quest for the badge. 

German soldiers assigned to the Support Battalion 8, 10th Panzer Division, oversaw the assessment that determined whether candidates met the standard to wear one of the badge's three qualification levels: gold, silver or bronze. 

The goals of the challenge included strengthening bonds between U.S. service members, building partner-nation military relations, and promoting esprit de corps while showcasing military and physical preparedness.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mitchell Hansen, executive officer for the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa's intelligence and sustainment company, said earning the badge would be an important accomplishment at his command, considering the extensive work his team does with allies and partners in Europe. Hansen took on the challenge while serving as an officer in charge during the assessment, primarily acting as a liaison. 

"It builds trust and camaraderie working with our German partners … so we can complete our mission both in Europe and in Africa," Hansen said. "This training has really opened my eyes, working with our Italian and German partners, because they each have different processes for completing the mission." 

Over four days, participants completed the German armed forces' basic fitness test, swimming and pistol marksmanship assessments, as well as a road march ranging from 3-7 miles with a 35-pound pack. Academic testing required participants to demonstrate competency and proficiency in chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear first-aid training. 

Hansen considered the 100-meter swim to be the most challenging single event, which required candidates to swim the distance in full military uniform, then take off their blouses and trousers and throw them out of the pool.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michelle Alvarado, an all-source intelligence analyst assigned to the 17th Military Intelligence Company, 173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, agreed with Hansen on the difficulty of the badge's swim requirement. Having previously earned her U.S. Army Expert Soldier Badge, Alvarado said the swim presented "a different type of challenge," highlighting it as an example of the skill sets candidates needed to improve for the testing. 

"I would usually never be [swimming] for my occupation," Alvarado said. "Training with allied forces teaches us how differently they operate in different environments, what they're proficient in and what we can learn from them." 

German Army Capt. Stefanie Mayer, executive officer for 2nd Company, Support Battalion 8, led the team that administered the testing and noted that both American and Italian candidates were "very fit and very trained." She also pointed out other benefits of allies forming personal bonds while rising to meet the same challenges together. 

"Especially notable was the camaraderie between the candidates," Mayer said. "They were cheering each other on and having fun with these disciplines. We are looking forward to repeating this event again, maybe forming a lasting partnership [with the U.S.], and hopefully having the opportunity to come back or have a team do something with an American proficiency badge for German soldiers." 

The weeklong assessment ended with an awards ceremony Feb. 6, where candidates received recognition for their efforts. After organizers calculated the final scores, U.S. recipients earned 11 gold, 30 silver and 19 bronze badges. The Italian cohort received six gold and six silver badges.

Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Lt. Carlton Hutchins

Feb. 9, 2026 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

Navy Lt. Carlton Barmore Hutchins was a skilled aviator who did his best to save his crew during one of the worst naval air disasters before World War II. He kept his damaged plane in the air long enough for a few crewmates to parachute out. Hutchins went down with his aircraft, but his bravery and selflessness earned him the Medal of Honor.  

Hutchins was born Sept. 12, 1904, to Walter and Clara Hutchins. He had two younger brothers and grew up in Albany, New York, before graduating high school in 1922 and attending the U.S. Naval Academy.

After commissioning into the Navy in 1926, Hutchins served on the USS Pennsylvania until 1928, when he went to flight training school in Pensacola, Florida. That same year, he married his girlfriend, Elizabeth Poehler. The couple later had a son, Walter.

By February 1929, Hutchins had earned his wings as a naval aviator. He spent the next few years flying fighter aircraft and scouting planes before studying aeronautical engineering at the California Institute of Technology. In 1937, he served with a seaplane squadron in the Caribbean before being transferred to Patrol Squadron 11 aboard the USS Langley based at Naval Air Station San Diego (now Naval Air Station North Island).

On Feb. 2, 1938, Hutchins was piloting one of several PBY-2 Catalina seaplanes that were taking part in one of the largest fleet exercises of the time about 70 miles off the California coast. According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, nine aircraft were flying in formation at night during a bombing training run when a sudden rain squall began and they flew into a cloud bank without warning. Because of the sudden lack of visibility, Hutchins' aircraft collided with another seaplane.

While the second aircraft crashed immediately, killing all seven on board, Hutchins managed to keep his failing aircraft in the air long enough to give his crewmates the chance to parachute to safety. He was only able to keep the aircraft afloat for a few minutes, but that was enough for four of the six men to jump out. The remaining two were in the plane's forward compartment with Hutchins and died with him as the plane went down.

One of the men who parachuted out died the following day, but three survived thanks to Hutchins' ability to keep calm and steady the aircraft for as long as possible.

The crash killed a total of 11 men. At the time, it was considered one of the worst aircraft disasters in Navy history.

On Aug. 3, 1938, Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson announced that Hutchins would receive the Medal of Honor for his bravery. The nation's highest honor for valor was presented to his widow in a ceremony 10 days later.

Sadly, Hutchins' remains were never recovered.

In his memory, the destroyer USS Hutchins was commissioned in November 1942 and used throughout World War II.

At the Naval Academy's Bancroft Hall, one of the world's largest collegiate dormitories, Hutchins has a room dedicated to him, as do all other Medal of Honor recipients who attended the prestigious school.

Hegseth Reenlists More Than 100 National Guardsmen in Nation's Capital

Feb. 6, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

More than 100 National Guard personnel from nine different states gathered in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington today to recite the oath of enlistment and extend their service contracts.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth administered the oath. 

Those guard members — from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and West Virginia — are among the more than 2,600 guardsmen currently serving in Washington, at the behest of President Donald J. Trump, in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force mission. 

The task force stood up in August 2025, after the president declared a crime emergency in the nation's capital.

Washington is safe again — thanks to the work of the thousands of guard personnel who have volunteered for the mission over the past six months, Hegseth said. 

"What you've accomplished on your mission in this city is historic, life-changing, actually," he said. "Anybody who arrived in this city in 2024, early 2025, knows exactly what we walked into — a city full of crime, graffiti, lawlessness. The folks that lived here kind of got used to it, but visitors showed up and asked what happened to the capital." 

Crime is down in the district, Hegseth said, both visitors and residents feel safe again, and it's because National Guard members are working hand-in-hand with local law enforcement and federal partners to secure the city and make it safe and beautiful.

"This is a brand-new city; a fundamentally different city," he said. "President Trump promised to deliver that. I talk about it. The Army talks about it. Your leadership talks about it. You guys do it every day ... that gives assurances to the people that live here, the people that are visiting here, and you provide a capital that Americans deserve, that the world should see. You should be extremely proud." 

For a year now, Hegseth said, the U.S. military has seen phenomenal recruiting numbers — numbers that indicate young Americans want to sign up to serve their country. But just as important as recruiting numbers, he said, are retention numbers. When service members reenlist, it means the War Department and military services are doing things the right way, in terms of mission and providing the right kind of support to service members. 

"It's a great sign," the secretary said. "It's a great sign of your leadership. It's a great sign of belief in the mission. You've got good leaders ... taking care of you. And that's the view that we've had from the department from the beginning. ... We're going to ask you to do tough things, but we're also going to ensure that we have your back the entire time in every way that we can." 

While addressing the guardsmen, Hegseth pointed out the significance of where their reenlistment was happening — right at the center of a handful of landmarks that represent the very ideals U.S. military personnel are sworn to protect.

"When I heard there was some reenlistments, I said, let's pile them all up — as many as we can — and do it as a group to show to the American people how dedicated [and] together we are to this beautiful mission, this beautiful city [and] this beautiful country," Hegseth said. 

This year, the United States commemorates 250 years as a nation, and Hegseth pointed out monuments that represent the nation's history — each visible to those in attendance.  

As he spoke, he pointed to the Washington Monument, representing the father of the nation, George Washington; the Lincoln Memorial, representing the American president who kept the nation together despite having endured a brutal civil war; the U.S. Capitol, where the laws that define a nation are written; and finally the White House, where the words that are written in the Capitol become the nation's laws. 

"Our job is to be willing to raise our right hand and defend it all," Hegseth said. "There's laws that are made, declarations that are made, and then there are men and women who defend [them]. That's exactly what you do."

Army Sgt. Christian N. Brown, a public affairs specialist assigned to the Mississippi National Guard, was one of those reenlisting in the frigid cold on Friday morning. He's been in the Army for seven years, he said, and he's been on mission in Washington since September 2025, as part of Joint Task Force Magnolia, which comprises units from the Louisiana and Mississippi National Guards supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. 

"I pretty much document everything that Joint Task Force Magnolia does throughout the area of operations, both inside the [area of operation] and back at command," Brown said. 

Being able to reenlist with the secretary of war administering the oath, he said, means a lot, as does his military service.  

"I'm very proud to be both in the Mississippi National Guard and to be in the Army," Brown said. "I joined when I was 19; I didn't expect much when joining, but I've actually found a family here with the military, and I love my job. I've always loved being in the military and being in the Army, and it is such a great honor."

Army Spc. Cristal Sanchez, a field artillery specialist assigned to the Alabama National Guard, has been in Washington since September 2025, as part of Task Force Yellow Hammer. 

"We're patrolling the streets; we're helping law enforcement maintain the city," Sanchez said, adding that she feels good about what she's doing. "I am proud; I think we're doing a good job maintaining D.C., safe and beautiful." 

This is Sanchez's third year in the Army, and she said it's an honor to be reenlisted by the secretary of war. 

"I feel privileged," she said. "It's not an opportunity you get every day."

Army Master Sgt. Michael E. Eschenfelder is assigned to the Florida National Guard and has been in the Army for 36 years, both active duty and with the guard. 

"We're making D.C. beautiful and safe again for the people to walk around," Eschenfelder said. "I think every American should have the right to walk their streets without fear, and if we're out here helping them do that — it's an honor to do that." 

Eschenfelder said the work he and his team of soldiers typically do involves disaster response, such as hurricanes, so this work is new to them.

"We always get Florida back up and running real quick," he said. "But here we're on a different mission. We're not doing logistics. We're doing security. My people work in Foggy Bottom ... there's a lot of people coming up to us ... and they're talking about how great it is to see us here. They can feel that everything is relaxing." 

Eschenfelder is mostly proud of what he is involved in, and proud to be reenlisted by the secretary of war. 

"It's an honor to be here," he said. "I've never been more proud to be a soldier. I'm telling you right now, this is a good time to be a soldier. I'm just so happy and pumped up to be here for this event. It's amazing."

War Department Cuts Ties With Harvard University

Feb. 6, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today announced the War Department would sever its academic ties with Harvard University, because attendance at the school no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services. 

"For too long, this department has sent our best and brightest officers to Harvard, hoping the university would better understand and appreciate our warrior class," he said. "Instead, too many of our officers came back looking too much like Harvard — heads full of globalist and radical ideologies that do not improve our fighting ranks." 

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the War Department will discontinue graduate-level professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs at the school. Hegseth noted that military personnel who are currently attending classes will be able to finish those courses of study. 

The secretary said the U.S. military has, in the past, had an important and often positive relationship with Harvard. 

"In 1775 ... Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army in Harvard Yard and used the university as a military base," he said. "From that time, through the Korean War, military service was commonplace at Harvard. There are more recipients of our nation's Medal of Honor who went to Harvard than any other civilian institution in the United States." 

Today, Hegseth said, Harvard is no longer a welcoming institution to military personnel or the right place to develop them.

The secretary also cited as a problem the relationships Harvard has with foreign powers, and an on-campus culture that is incongruent with military and American values and interests. 

"Campus research programs have partnered with the Chinese Communist Party," he said. "And university leadership encouraged a campus environment that celebrated Hamas, allowed attacks on Jews, and still promotes discrimination based on race in violation of Supreme Court decisions." 

While the War Department announced cessation of academic relations with Harvard, the secretary said in the coming weeks, the department and military services would evaluate similar relationships with other schools. 

"[We] will evaluate all existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at all Ivy League universities and other civilian universities," he said. "The goal is to determine whether or not they actually deliver cost-effective strategic education for future senior leaders when compared to, say, public universities and our military graduate programs." 

Going forward, Hegseth said, the War Department will focus on developing warriors, increasing lethality and reestablishing deterrence. 

"That no longer includes spending billions of dollars on expensive universities that actively undercut our mission and undercut our country," he said.

3 Consequential Days in the American Revolution

Feb. 6, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

This year, the nation celebrates its 250th birthday, marked by the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress enacted a resolution declaring the separation of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. Two days later, in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, penned by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and others. 

The 56 signers of the document were aware they were risking their lives, as the British considered this act treasonous. 

On those three eventful days, while Congress was meeting in Philadelphia, the Continental Army, Navy and Marine Corps, along with state militia, were battling British forces, German hired troops, loyalists and Native American tribes allied with Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.

Gen. George Washington, the commander in chief of the Army, was in New York City leading about 10,000 troops preparing defenses against nearly 20,000 British combined forces, who had landed on Staten Island July 2. 

It was the largest battle of the war in terms of the number of combatants, with the outcome resulting in the British occupying Manhattan and the port of New York. The British held New York City until Nov. 22, 1783. 

Washington received word of the declaration signing July 9 and ordered it read to his troops.

From July 2 until July 4, 1776, Army Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold was in the vicinity of Crown Point, New York, leading the retreating American forces from Canada and overseeing the construction of a naval fleet on Lake Champlain in New York. 

Beginning July 3, 1776, the North Carolina militia fought against the Cherokee at the Battle of McDowell's Station near present-day Morganton, North Carolina. The battle ended July 12, 1776, with the Cherokee withdrawing. 

While Continental forces were retreating from Canada and New York City in early July 1776, success would come later.

After a series of losses, Washington's forces defeated the British at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey over the winter of 1776-1777. Those victories revitalized the troops' morale. 

The Battle of Saratoga in New York in 1777 was a turning point in the war, convincing France to enter the war as an American ally. 

Other battles followed, the last major one being the British defeat at the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. 

After eight years of battle, the Treaty of Paris, signed Sept. 3, 1783, formally ended the war. 

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.