The U.S. Department of War (DoW) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) held the 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on September 16-18, 2026 in Busan.
Mr. George LeMeur, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (DASW) for East Asia, led the U.S. delegation. Deputy Minister (DEPMIN) for National Defense Policy, Dr. Kim Hong-Cheol, led the ROK delegation. Key senior U.S. and ROK defense and foreign affairs officials also participated in the dialogue.
During the meeting, both sides assessed the progress and work in implementing follow-up measures in the areas of defense cooperation within the Joint Fact Sheet between the U.S. and ROK Presidents and the 57th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) Joint Communique last year.
Both sides evaluated the work to modernize the Alliance in the face of an evolving security environment. They also assessed progress on the Conditions-based Wartime Operational Control (OPCON) Transition Plan (COTP), and pledged to strengthen cooperation to accelerate the transition of wartime OPCON.
They visited major defense industry sites together to further bolster cooperation in areas of shipbuilding and aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities, enhancing mutual understanding on key defense issues.
The two sides pledged to maintain close and continuous consultations on matters pertinent to the security of the ROK-U.S. Alliance going forward.
Sept. 18, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |
In early June, an Army AH-64 Apache helicopter patrolling regional waters
went down off the coast of Oman, leaving two crew members in need of rescue. An
autonomous surface vessel — a U.S. Navy Corsair operated by the 5th Fleet's
Task Force 59 — rescued the soldiers.
The autonomous seafaring vessel — manufactured by Texas-based Saronic —
picked up the crew members and transported them to another location on the
water where they were then hoisted into a helicopter for further transport.
Saronic builds a variety of autonomous vehicles for the U.S. military and
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the company and workforce today to see
how they make hardware that enables the joint force. He thanked them for the
work they are doing now and will do in the future as part of the Arsenal of
Freedom tour.
"Having had a chance to tour this facility firsthand just a few
moments ago, the scale, investment and precision of your projects [are] truly
impressive," Hegseth told Saronic employees gathered at the company
headquarters in Austin, Texas. "You are on the front lines of American
industry, and that's the entire purpose of the Arsenal of Freedom tour. I had a
chance to shake some hands along the assembly line ... the point ... of this
tour is to look patriots in the eye and thank you for the work that you've done
and for the work that you're doing."
Saronic makes three autonomous ocean-going vessels: the Corsair, the
Mirage and the Marauder. Hegseth said vessels like these are destined to be at
the heart of the U.S. military.
"What Saronic demonstrates is the future of American naval power,
delivering over 300 combat-proven Corsairs; rapidly fueling the 52-foot Mirage
and scaling blue water reach with the 180-foot Marauder, all built in under a
year," he said. "In our building, we're used to timelines of seven,
eight years. One year is not a thing ... I came to see and it's real. That's
the kind of scale and speed that our department needs. The kind of competition
our building needs, [and] the bureaucracy needs to realize that it can be
done."
Warfare has always involved troops on the ground, but now it demands
autonomy as well, and the War Department is leaning heavily into it with its
Drone Dominance initiative. But autonomy doesn't just mean drones in the air —
surface-level vehicles are also critical, he said, including those like the
Corsair that rescued the Apache crew.
"Those pilots are alive today because of the incredible innovation
under this very roof," he said. "You should be ... incredibly proud
of that feat."
The secretary also told Saronic employees that the Corsair had done
additional operational work beyond rescuing pilots.
In July, U.S. Central Command "employed the Corsair to strike a
submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base," he
said. "The operation degraded Iran's ability to continue attacking
commercial shipping and marked the first operational employment of sea drones
in U.S. military combat operations."
To maintain the most powerful military in the world, Hegseth said, the
War Department is reaching out to companies like Saronic and unleashing their
potential to build the best equipment possible, and to do it without
constraints, roadblocks or bureaucracy.
"The Department of War ... has been kicking the door wide open for
commercial disruptors, nontraditional innovators and venture-backed builders;
we are actively creating the next generation of defense primes, firms like
Saronic," he said. "Our Arsenal of Freedom tour showcases how modern
deterrence requires commercial speed."
The secretary said that under Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for
research and engineering and chief technology officer for the War Department,
the department has unified its innovation ecosystem under one roof to make
decisions faster than past bureaucracies allowed. And with the leadership of
Mike Duffey, undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, the
department is reforming acquisition to empower program executives and deploying
multiyear procurement contracts.
Hegseth also lauded Saronic employees and executives for playing a big
role in revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry. In Texas and
Louisiana, he said, Saronic is building ships, creating jobs and strengthening
the defense industrial base all at the same time.
"At the Port of Brownsville [in Texas], Port Alpha ... delivers a $3
billion investment, up to 10,000 high-paying jobs, over $160 billion in
regional impact for Cameron County, [Texas,] and 150,000 ... gross tons of new
shipbuilding capacity," he said. "This industrial muscle here will
double domestic shipbuilding and ensure absolute dominance."
Saronic is also investing some $300 million in Louisiana, including at
the Gulf Craft shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, to build autonomous surface
vessels.
"This effort creates over 1,500 high-paying maritime careers,"
Hegseth said. "Together, Franklin and New Orleans prove that combining
historic craft with robotics creates an unbeatable industrial edge."
The secretary said Saronic and companies like it are the future of
American shipbuilding, and at the heart of the rebirth of the American defense
industrial base.
"All the strategies from the Pentagon are meaningless without the
people on this floor: the technicians, the machinists, the fabricators and the
engineers," he said. "Every platform you weld, wire and assemble
gives our warfighters the decisive edge to win and return home. Never forget
that direct line from your hands to the success of our warfighters."
The secretary implored Saronic workers to keep doing what they've been
doing, and to do even more.
"Today I say to you: build faster, scale larger and deliver
more," he said. "We need you like never before, because when America
is unleashed, we win."
Sept. 18, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |
The War Department doesn't serve politicians; it serves warfighters and
the nation, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today in Austin, Texas, where he
swore in new military recruits.
At the Austin Armed Forces Reserve Center, the secretary administered the
oath of enlistment to more than a dozen young men and women joining the Texas
National Guard, and then immediately after he administered the oath to more
than 30 who were enlisting as federal troops across all branches of the
military.
Before administering those oaths, the secretary discussed the meaning of
service and commitment. But he didn't address the recruits directly; he
addressed the crowd gathered to watch, which was mostly the parents of the
recruits.
"One of the great pleasures ... for me in ceremonies like this is
... you look out at the families; you look out at mom and dad and sisters and
brothers who love these Americans more than anyone else on the planet," he
said. "I can see in [your faces] the fact that you're realizing that you
are gifting your greatest gift to the United States military, to the War
Department, and I get chills just saying that."
Accepting that gift — America's young people — from the parents who
raised them is a huge responsibility, Hegseth said. He vowed that the War
Department and military services will not squander that gift.
"My commitment to you is that with our every breath that we have,
[we will] ensure that they are prepared, that they are backed up, that they are
trained, that they are ready, that the missions we give them are clear, the
equipment we give them is the best, and the training the most difficult and
rigorous," he said.
The secretary told parents there exists a "Golden Rule" of the
War Department, and that he asks commanders everywhere to apply it all the
time, especially when it comes to honesty in the rigor applied to preparing
troops to be the best they can be.
"[That] is do unto your formation that which you would have done
unto your son or daughter's formation," he said. "Meaning, if you're
compromising a standard, or you're meeting a quota, or you're changing training
to soften it or make it easier for some subset of people, would you do that if
your son or daughter were in that formation, or not?"
Families, Hegseth said, are the backbone of what creates America's
warfighters — young men and women who choose to serve. And he said his role as
one of those at the Pentagon is to serve those young men and women and all who
choose to defend the nation.
"We are here at the highest echelons of the Pentagon to serve the
warfighter, full stop," he said. "Not to serve politicians; [to]
serve those [who] do the difficult things in dark and dangerous
places."
As a young officer in the military himself, Hegseth told parents and
families what he wanted to know was that when he had difficult things to do as
a warrior, that he had the support of his leaders and nation. He told those
families that their sons and daughters will be asked to do difficult things and
that they will have support.
"Things will go wrong, things will break, mistakes will be made, but
we need warriors, Americans, willing to step out and take the risks and do
those difficult things," Hegseth said. "President [Donald J.] Trump
has your back, I have your back, and I'm absolutely honored that we raise such
men, that we raise such women, who are willing to do something bigger than
themselves and serve."
Sept. 18, 2026
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By Air Force Airman 1st Class Ian Carton, 125th Fighter Wing
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The Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing recently joined forces with the Ohio Air National Guard's 220th Engineering Installation Squadron to improve communication infrastructure, strengthen mission readiness and provide hands-on training for airmen.
Earlier this summer, airmen assigned to the 220th Engineering Installation Squadron, who specialize in capabilities such as network infrastructure, communication systems installation and maintenance, and spectrum analysis, traveled to the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida, to assess and document its existing communication infrastructure; the mission served as an opportunity to integrate and provide expert support.
"We are documenting the layout of the communication infrastructure currently in place," said Air Force 1st Lt. Grant Warren, a cyberspace operations engineer assigned to the 220th. "We are making sure it's properly labeled and accurately updated within the digital repository used by communications squadrons and engineering installation units across the service."
The team traced communication pathways between facilities, confirmed cable routes, reviewed labels and updated infrastructure records.
Accurate documentation is critical when communication systems are damaged or disrupted. If a cable is cut or a building experiences an outage, technicians must quickly determine where the problem occurred and how it affects the broader network.
Warren noted that keen, accurate insight into the communication infrastructure keeps the base out of the dark.
"We may know that it starts in one building and ends in another, but we need to know what happens in between," he said. "Having a better understanding of that infrastructure increases our strategic capabilities when it comes to the mission."
The assessment also supported long-term planning. By understanding which pathways and resources are available, the 125th can make informed decisions about future communication requirements, infrastructure upgrades and support for new mission systems.
Reliable communications enable command and control, aircraft operations, maintenance, logistics and coordination with military and civilian partners. According to Warren, that makes communication infrastructure critical to mission success.
"Without communications, many operational missions would not be possible," he said. "We provide that capability, and it's a critical linchpin to have individuals who are capable of meeting the standards, ensuring that missions can go uninterrupted."
This project also gives junior airmen new experiences outside of their normal day-to-day practice, giving them a greater sense of the capabilities and expectations of the communications squadron's mission.
"It's important to do the job right the first time, because that means less work for the airmen who come after us," said Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Brommeland, a radar, airfield and weather system specialist assigned to the 220th.
Brommeland said serving as a multicapable airman broadens his experience and gives him opportunities to work with his hands while learning different parts of the mission.
The partnership demonstrates one of the National Guard's key strengths: sharing expertise and resources across states. The 125th gained a clearer understanding of its communication network, while the 220th received realistic training in a different operational landscape.
By working together, both units improved their capabilities and contributed to a force that is always ready and always there.
Sept. 17, 2026
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By Alaskan Command Public Affairs, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region
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The Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deployed F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in support of Operation Arctic Vanguard 26-4.2. During this NORAD operation, Alaskan NORAD Region is operating directly alongside the Canadian NORAD Region to execute critical defense missions across the Arctic, Sept. 13-26.
Under Arctic Vanguard, NORAD personnel and aircraft will forward deploy into Greenland to execute operations in austere conditions alongside partners from Denmark and other NATO countries. This operation supports the NORAD and U.S. Northern Command Nordic Bridge concept, which aligns the commands' Arctic operations, exercises and training, activities and investments with other U.S. combatant commands, NATO, individual nations and regional partners.
"Operation Arctic Vanguard demonstrates that austere conditions and vast distances present no barrier to NORAD's collective defense," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert D. Davis, commander, Alaskan NORAD Region. "Deploying combat airpower from Alaska across Canada and forward into Greenland validates our agile combat capabilities and demonstrates our seamless integration with the Canadian NORAD region, the Kingdom of Denmark and our NATO allies. Together, we maintain continuous vigilance and credible deterrence across North America's northern approaches."
Operation Arctic Vanguard is part of a recurring series of NORAD and Northcom operations conducted across the North American Arctic region to enhance presence, operate from forward Arctic locations and defend North America's northern approaches.
Under the Nordic Bridge concept and efforts to bring orchestration to operations, activities and investments in the Arctic, Operation Arctic Vanguard enables more consistent presence of multinational forces in the region, operating in multiple domains and in varying locations.
Soldiers with the 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, recently reinforced a challenging section of the southern border barrier.
The soldiers emplaced two strands of concertina wire and one strand of razor wire atop 7-foot Hesco barriers in National Defense Area 2 near Fort Hancock, Texas. The reinforced barriers disrupt climbing attempts and enhance persistent detection, monitoring and rapid response along high-risk border corridors.
"Barrier reinforcement operations represent more than physical infrastructure; they showcase the technical ingenuity and skill of our service members," said Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Joint Task Force Southern Border and the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, Texas. "For the last 14 weeks, our great soldiers have been out here day and night developing innovative solutions to stop human trafficking in our own territory."
In May, the Navy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began installing 10 miles of barriers under orders from the War Department and U.S. Northern Command. Within about 30 days, they constructed 10 miles of barriers, including site preparation, mobilization, environmental clearance, receiving barrier sections from overseas, and transporting more than 90,000 cubic yards of fill material.
On average, constructing 10 miles of Hesco barriers takes approximately 28 days when crews work 12-hour shifts. However, this timeline does not include mobilization, land clearing or compaction.
During the recent reinforcement operation, soldiers assigned to the 591st Combat Engineer Company-Infantry, 62nd Engineer Battalion, maintained a demanding pace as they reinforced barriers from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to Fort Hancock, Texas.
"When we work on border reinforcement operations, we typically start in the morning, and then we work until around midafternoon," said Army 2nd Lt. Jonah Posada, a Sapper platoon leader with the 591st. "And then, we'll return to Fort Bliss and prepare for the next day; we try to continue at that pace for the whole week."
To address site conditions and avoid the Texas summer heat, the company adopted an offset work schedule: one platoon began work in the early evening; another relieved it and worked until late morning.
The elevated work surface and limited workspace made installing razor wire on the Hesco barriers difficult. Additionally, the soldiers could not use metal stakes, which are generally used for support, because they would place compressive stress on the barriers. Instead, they used boom lifts as work platforms to emplace razor wire atop the concertina wire.
The final 300-meter section presented another significant challenge: soft, uneven terrain prevented the boom lifts from reaching the area and attempts to move the equipment left them stuck. Rather than leave the section unfinished, the 591st soldiers developed a solution using equipment already available.
"We devised a plan using tent poles and rope that we had in our high-angle mountaineering kit," Posada said. "Using those ropes, we stretched [the section of wire] out and kept tension on the razor wire."
Soldiers on the ground used camouflage-net poles to lift the razor wire while teams atop the barrier secured it in place. A carabiner attached to a rope helped lift the wire from the ground, enabling the soldiers to complete the final section without relying on boom lifts.
The solution was the latest in a series of adaptations soldiers developed as they transitioned between traditional barrier work and reinforcing Hesco barriers.
The Hesco barriers introduced additional challenges because the razor wire configuration was not standard for the engineers.
"The actual obstacle that we emplaced on top of the Hesco [barriers] is not normal," Posada said. "We had to figure out how to best overcome that. The terrain by the Hesco was a big hindrance on the mission as well."
The company also developed techniques to prevent injuries. In one method, the soldiers attached a wooden post to a boom lift and used it to position the wire across the barrier.
The completed work reinforces the barrier with additional obstacles intended to deter unauthorized crossings and support the broader border-security mission. Posada said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents appreciated the efforts and noted that the additional barriers helped limit crossings.
The operation underscores the role of combat engineers in providing practical solutions when terrain, equipment and mission requirements intersect.
For the soldiers conducting the work, the operation demonstrated the importance of adapting established engineering practices to conditions on the ground. Posada said he shared the techniques that his platoon developed with other platoon leaders in the company so they could apply the lessons learned to similar missions.
Sept. 17, 2026
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By Air Force Capt. Casey Sturdivan, 15th Wing
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green requested military assistance to transport specialized utility vehicles from the Big Island, Hawaii, to Kauai, Hawaii, to help address continued widespread power outages, Sept. 12-13.
The 15th Wing executed the airlift, an interagency effort that included the U.S. Pacific Command, the Air Force, the Hawaii National Guard and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
Power outages began as Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai, Sept. 7. By 6:40 a.m. the next day, approximately 36,000 residents across the island were without electricity.
"I simply decided that we had to do everything possible to shorten the time to recovery, and partnering with the military and utilizing our National Guard on the ground has been a major addition to our state and county efforts," Green said.
Utility trucks originally relocated from California to Hawaii after Tropical Cyclone Lala were loaded onto two C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu, Hawaii, and flown to Kauai to restore essential services.
On the ground, War Department emergency preparedness liaison officers and Hawaii National Guard members received the equipment. The airlift augmented support from the 74 guard members currently providing ground support in the wake of the storm.
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, state adjutant general, said he feels extremely fortunate to be so close to U.S. Pacific Command and the Pacific Air Forces, which enable a rapid response and unity of effort in times of crisis.
"We are committed to continuing support for our community members without power in whatever way we can," said Air Force Col. Kyle Clinton, 15th Wing commander. "Supporting those that support us in times of emergency is why many of us chose to serve."
These consolidated partnerships across the War Department and state agencies enable nearly real-time synergistic response capabilities to natural disasters across the Hawaiian Islands.
Sept. 16, 2026
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By Amy Phillips, Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office
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The swift response of Fort Hunter Liggett, California, to the encroaching Plaskett Fire in the adjacent Los Padres National Forest reflects its emergency preparedness and strong mutual aid partnerships in Monterey County, California. The fire ignited Aug. 26, burned 29,976 acres and is 89% contained as of yesterday.
There is no threat to the cantonment area, and the installation continues daily operations to support military training. While the threat never necessitated activating the installation's emergency operations center, garrison directorates effectively synchronized operations to deliver rapid fire-support operations. Fort Hunter Liggett remains mission ready with minimal disruption to daily operations.
"I'm incredibly proud of the tremendous teamwork and dedication the installation and our tenants displayed," said Army Col. Jason McKenzie, the garrison commander. "The fact that our military training and daily operations continued through these last two weeks illustrates that Fort Hunter Liggett is always mission ready."
The installation's fire department routinely monitors regional fire activity and conducts prescribed fires, when possible, to reduce the abundant fuel in and around the installation. They immediately started defensive planning and acting when they learned of the Plaskett Fire.
Aaron Smith, Fort Hunter Liggett fire chief, is serving as the installation's unified incident commander and is working alongside California Interagency Incident Management Team 7 to ensure a coordinated, safe and effective response to the Plaskett Fire. Fort Hunter Liggett is providing dozers, dozer bosses and dozer operators in support of suppression operations. The installation is also providing an advanced life support ambulance to support the incident medical plan.
"At the same time, we continue to maintain a dedicated initial attack capability for structural and wildland emergencies for the installation," Smith said. "This allows us to support the larger firefighting effort while continuing to protect our community, infrastructure, and training mission."
The Directorate of Public Works Roads and Ground crew works in lockstep with firefighters year-round to create firebreaks. DPW provided four dozers and eight equipment operators to the incident management control team, creating new firebreaks and enhancing existing ones to help contain the fire.
"I've heard nothing but great things from the incident team…they're doing a great job. I'm very proud of my team for their contributions," said Army Lt. Col. Loren Baldwin, DPW director.
The Fort Hunter Liggett police department plays a critical role in patrolling infrastructure and establishing a checkpoint at the installation's Nacimiento-Ferguson Road entry to prevent non-emergency responders' traffic from impeding fire operations. Those living within the Los Padres Forest and installation boundaries have unimpeded access to their homes.
Through it all, Fort Hunter Liggett remains fully operational, with the installation's Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security team coordinating and synchronizing support efforts. With more than a dozen aircraft supporting the fire and thousands of firefighters in and around the installation, Range Operations are operating at full throttle. They are constantly engaged — monitoring the situation, collecting data and supporting the U.S. Forest Service Fire Service base camp at Schoonover Airfield.
"While our EOC-Light and weekend operations were highly successful, our true victory lies in the lessons learned. We are already leveraging this experience to refine our systems, processes, and communication tools," said Paul Lewis, DPTMS director. "I could not be prouder of the DPTMS team and the garrison's unified response."
The AirNow website reported that air quality at the installation ranged from moderate to hazardous. However, Fort Hunter Liggett discovered that the quality measurements used by online platforms such as AirNow are based on sensors 40-50 miles from the installation. To rectify this, DPTMS worked with the PurpleAir site and installed four air quality sensors inside the cantonment area. These measures allow the installation to get accurate readings and apply appropriate safety measures to protect those who work and live at Fort Hunter Liggett.
Effective communication during any crisis is critical, and the installation uses all available channels to keep the Fort Hunter Liggett community and neighbors informed. The installation uses face-to-face briefings, internal emails, the My Army Post app, mass notification systems, and many online platforms to communicate with the community. Fort Hunter Liggett also has a webpage dedicated to fire-related information.
Good communication and the fact that this is not the first or last wildfire the installation has faced, helps the community stay prepared. The Dolan Fire in 2020 was the last major wildfire to significantly impact the installation. Then and now, seeing the night sky aglow is traumatic for Fort Hunter Liggett residents.
"I went through the Dolan Fire filled with fear and uncertainty. Facing the Plaskett Fire, I understood exactly what could happen," said Talia Wesley, a FHL resident and Army civilian. "That experience didn't erase the fear, but it gave me the resilience, strength and clarity to prepare. I can't control the flames, smoke, or wind in either event, but I can control my readiness."
Wesley and many installation residents are prepared with air purifiers, to-go bags for evacuation orders, and dusted-off family emergency plans.
"The Dolan Fire taught me the reality of wildfire danger; the Plaskett Fire showed me how preparation turns fear into action," she said.
McKenzie said that serving and protecting the community requires a united front and Fort Hunter Liggett is showing its true colors to support each other.
"We're also incredibly grateful for the Army Reserve providing emergency funds, Cadence Communities for sharing command information to keep our residents informed, the Association of the U.S. Army for providing N95 face masks to combat the hazardous air quality, and many others that helped during our time of need," he said.
During the Sept. 8 virtual community town hall, Tom Clemo, incident commander, emphasized the importance of community engagement, listening to concerns and building partnerships.
"The partnerships that have been created…Chief [Aaron] Smith at Fort Hunter Liggett has done an amazing job taking care of firefighters at the base," Clemo said. "If there's anything we've learned during incident management, [it] is that we cannot do this alone."
The Plaskett Fire has reduced some of the available wildland fuels within the affected area, but that does not eliminate the installation's future wildfire risk, Smith said.
"We will continue evaluating burned and unburned areas, maintaining established fuel breaks, conducting mitigation activities when conditions permit and incorporating lessons from this incident into Fort Hunter Liggett's long-term wildland fire management planning," he said.
Preparedness, prevention and strong interagency coordination will remain central to protecting the installation and sustaining its training mission.
Fire also risks federally protected resources and future erosion. The Fort Hunter Liggett DPW environmental team coordinates with CIIMT-7 by providing environmental data for operations and recovery planning. The environmental team will follow up in 2027 with surveys of key areas to monitor the status of threatened and endangered species and cultural resource sites.
Steep, remote terrain and weather play a critical role in fire containment. Various fire operations continue, including applying mobile fire retardant, building backfires, deploying direct handline crews, and building firebreaks continue. Plaskett Fire information is available here.
Sept. 14, 2026
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By Army Staff Sgt. Mickey Miller, U.S. Southern Command
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Movement slows. Equipment gets heavier. Water becomes an obstacle instead of a landmark. The environment quietly strips away assumptions about how quickly a formation should move or how easily a soldier can accomplish a familiar task.
For U.S. soldiers training alongside Peruvian and Chilean forces during Exercise Southern Vanguard 26, that friction is exactly the point.
In the hills surrounding Sauce, Peru, soldiers are learning to move, survive and operate in terrain where their Peruvian counterparts have spent years developing expertise. During the opening days of jungle warfare training, multinational formations started at various lanes, including amphibious movement, survival skills and small-unit tactics designed for an environment that can punish even routine movement.
"Multiply fatigue by 10," Army Capt. Jared Fonzi, an operations planner assigned to the 551st Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, said while describing the physical effects of jungle operations. "The climate, the terrain, the physical exhaustion that everyone here goes through — pictures do not justify the stress and the physical fatigue."
Southern Vanguard 26 is a multinational exercise hosted by the Peruvian Army and designed to strengthen interoperability among participating forces while building proficiency in jungle mobility, survivability and tactical operations. For American soldiers, participation offers something difficult to replicate at home: The opportunity to become students of a partner force operating in a terrain it understands intimately.
Fonzi, a graduate of the Jungle Operations Training Course-Panama, Ranger School and an infantry officer proficient with conventional U.S. tactics, said jungle warfare changes the scale at which soldiers must think and maneuver.
"The size of the maneuvering element is far smaller," he said. "You don't really maneuver as a platoon, which is usually the bread and butter of U.S. operations. Here, with smaller elements — team size, squad size — you need to rely more on individual survival techniques and minimal equipment."
That emphasis places greater importance on survival, fieldcraft and understanding the environment itself. Humidity, elevation, water obstacles, rainfall and dense vegetation are not simply background conditions.
"These climate differences and natural elements are what affect the fight," Fonzi said.
That reality is also driving U.S. soldiers to look outward for expertise.
Fonzi said U.S. forces are relying heavily on jungle warfare specialists from countries such as Peru, Colombia and Panama to understand how forces accustomed to the environment operate and which techniques might improve U.S. tactics, techniques and procedures.
The dynamic is visible throughout Southern Vanguard 26.
Peruvian instructors are leading much of the jungle training, while U.S. instructors work alongside them and help translate techniques for American formations. Fonzi described the Peruvian approach as aggressive and immediate, often moving soldiers quickly from instruction into practical application.
"There's really no crawl phase here," he said. "They'll give a brief instruction, and then they just throw them in the water or whatever training environment they go into."
The approach may differ from how many American soldiers are accustomed to training, but adapting to unfamiliar methods is part of the exercise itself.
Interoperability is often discussed in terms of radios, procedures and whether two formations can communicate on a battlefield. But before any of that works, soldiers have to understand how their partners think, move and solve problems.
Sometimes that begins with something as unremarkable as getting everyone across a body of water. That process requires a certain humility.
The U.S. military brings considerable capability nearly anywhere it goes. The jungle offers a useful reminder that capability and expertise are not the same thing. Sometimes readiness means arriving prepared to teach. Other times, it means recognizing when someone else has something to teach you. Southern Vanguard creates room for both.
For soldiers operating beneath the jungle canopy, the lessons are as physical as they are tactical.
"Being wet 24/7, fighting through brush, crossing water — these little things have a huge impact on how you fight," Fonzi said.
Over the course of the exercise, those small hardships become part of a larger test: whether multinational formations can adapt together in an environment that does not care how experienced, capable or well-equipped they were before entering it.
That may ultimately be the most valuable lesson hidden beneath the canopy. Partnerships become meaningful when soldiers learn to depend on one another before circumstances require them to.
The littoral combat ship USS St. Louis departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, in support of U.S. Northern Command's mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13.
The St. Louis assumes duties previously executed by the USS Cooperstown in support of Northcom's border security objectives. The command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.
"Our crew has trained relentlessly for this deployment, and they stand ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. I could not be more proud to lead these sailors," said Navy Cmdr. Lester Shewmake, commanding officer of the USS St. Louis. "To our families and the Mayport community — thank you for your unwavering support as we head to sea."
Navy assets are deployed under Northcom's maritime homeland defense authorities to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs or other illegal activity.
The St. Louis is assigned to the Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2 and homeported in Mayport. The littoral combat ship is a fast, agile, mission-focused warship designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants armed with capabilities to defeat challenges in the world's littorals. These ships can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multimission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.
It is the 22nd littoral combat ship delivered to the Navy, the 10th Freedom-variant to join the fleet and the seventh ship to bear the name. The first St. Louis, a sloop of war, was launched in 1828. It spent most of its service patrolling the coasts of the Americas to protect interests and trade.
Sept. 15, 2026
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By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Boris Pistorius, Germany's defense minister, met today at the Pentagon to discuss NATO 3.0, increased European defense spending and the defense industrial bases of both nations.
"We're here to take another strong step in advancing our defense industrial cooperation between the United States and Germany," Hegseth said.
Last year at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hegseth said allied nations must spend more on defense; President Donald J. Trump set the bar at 5% of gross domestic product. He added that increases in troop readiness, weapons production and force contributions were also needed.
Hegseth, who calls the proposed changes NATO 3.0, said Germany has been "front and center" in making them happen.
"Today, we see major progress that no one would have thought possible," he said. "Germany today is moving closer to fulfilling the 5% — leading the way on the spending commitment it made at the Hague Summit last year — but as we talked about, defense spending is just the first step."
The secretary noted that increasing defense production on both sides of the Atlantic is essential.
"NATO 3.0 will also require putting Germany's very large and historic industrial base to work for the common defense," Hegseth said. "It's the same thing that we're doing right here, as I and members of our team travel across the country; as we rebuild our arsenal of freedom."
The arsenal of freedom plan, Hegseth said, aims to reindustrialize the U.S., rebuild American manufacturing, manufacture American-made products and create American jobs.
The two civilian military leaders signed an agreement that, Hegseth said, aligns the War Department's acquisition transformation strategy with Germany's Procurement Acceleration Act.
"When we align the two, you expand opportunities for joint development, production, licensed manufacturing, and expanded maintenance and sustainment capacities — exactly what allied countries should be doing," he said. "The objective is straightforward: Deliver capable systems to American, German and allied forces, at scale and at speed for maximum lethality."
Pistorius highlighted Germany's immense increase in defense spending and said it's on board with the NATO 3.0 vision and with balancing out the burden of defending the NATO alliance.
"Germany is strengthening its defense capabilities and acts as a driving force in Europe," he said. "We Europeans want to take some of the burden off the U.S. and assume primary responsibility for conventional deterrence in Europe."
The German defense minister noted that since last year, Germany has increased defense spending by 25%, equivalent to about $147 billion.
"We are investing in new state-of-the-art weapon systems here in the U.S.; we are assuming a leading role within NATO and, when it comes to providing support to Ukraine, we are strengthening NATO's eastern flank, particularly through our armored brigade in Lithuania," he said.
He also highlighted German investments in technology, including space and deep-precision strike capabilities. Later this week, Germany will also roll out its first F-35A aircraft.
The U.S.-Germany agreement, he said, will help Germany become an even stronger NATO partner than it has been for more than 70 years.
"It creates a strong basis for closer armament cooperation between our two nations with one clear aim: increasing our production capacity," Pistorius said.
He added that the NATO alliance must feature stronger European leadership to survive, and Germany will play a big part in that.
"NATO needs to become more European in order to stay transatlantic," he said. "Burden shifting is progressing. Together with our allies, we are working towards a stronger Europe and a stronger NATO. And together with our American friends, we are working on strengthening our common defense and resilience."
Sept. 14, 2026
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By Air Force Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter, 926th Wing
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For recruits assigned to the 926th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, their journey starts long before basic military training. Before ever setting foot on the drill pad, these future airmen are already learning exactly what it takes to succeed in the Air Force Reserve.
Serving as the catalyst for this transition, the 926th Wing Development and Training Flight bridges the gap between civilian life and operational military service. By coming in regularly alongside current wing members, trainees get a firsthand glimpse into their future. During this time, they are introduced to the core tenets of military life, learning essential customs and courtesies, drill procedures and rank structure to establish a baseline of knowledge.
However, the training flight goes one step further with an initiative specifically designed to start building the wing from within. Beyond military fundamentals, trainees also embed with operational squadrons to gain firsthand experience with units they may eventually join.
"The development and training flight is built for newly enlisted reservists that come into our wing," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bench Riche Lagus, a program coordinator assigned to the 926th. "It helps them prepare for [basic military training] and tech school, but it also helps them get integrated with the wing that they're about to work for."
Trainees recently observed the 555th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers and traveled to Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, to witness security forces field operations.
For trainees like Abril Fonseca, a future vehicle mechanic with the 555th, this early exposure eases the transition into military life and provides a tangible goal.
"It's cool to see what our day-to-day [life] is going to look like," Fonseca said. "Everybody is just so pumped."
Establishing a common baseline can be a challenge as trainees enter the flight with different levels of experience, from recent high school graduates to those with established civilian careers. As they move through the program, they rely on one another to learn military expectations and adjust to their new environment.
"The other trainees around me that have been there longer helped me out," Fonseca said. "It's a cycle; the people who have been here the longest help the newbies out, and then we just carry that on."
Alongside military fundamentals and wing integration, physical readiness remains a cornerstone of the development and training flight curriculum. The program incorporates monthly fitness tests, group workouts and participation in wing fitness events to familiarize trainees with Air Force fitness standards.
This proactive approach ensures recruits arrive at basic training already equipped with the physical resilience required for military service. For many trainees, the group environment provides the exact motivation they need.
"I was not good at working out consistently before I got to the flight," Fonseca said. "But now it feels like I can actually do it. What makes it better for me is that I have my teammates around me supporting and pushing me."
Army Capt. Daniel W. Lee Sr. was a platoon leader during World War II. He earned the Medal of Honor for valorous action in southeast France in 1944, during Operation Dragoon.
Lee was born June 23, 1919, in Alma, Georgia. His parents, Daniel M. Lee and Ida Hyres, were farmers. Lee and his six siblings grew up working on the family farm.
After graduating from Alma High School in 1937, Lee attended the University of Georgia, paying his way by working odd jobs; he worked for a professor, typed papers for fellow students and surveyed crops. He graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture and began his career in soil management.
In December 1942, Lee married Sallie Davis, and they had three children after his service ended in World War II: Daniel W. Lee Jr., James and Elizabeth.
Shortly after being denied entry into the Air Force because he was colorblind, Lee was drafted into the Army in March 1942. He was commissioned a second lieutenant later that year, and his unit, the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, shipped to England for training. They arrived in northern Algeria in 1943, but by then, the enemy had already surrendered. His unit then engaged in combat during the Italian Campaign, from May to August 1944.
On Sept. 2, 1944, Lee was the leader of Headquarters Platoon, Troop A, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Army in Montrevel, France, when his Medal of Honor valor occurred.
According to the medal citation, the Germans had mounted an hourslong attack against the outnumbered Americans when Lee organized a patrol to knock out their mortars.
He led his men to the edge of town, neutralizing enemy riflemen on a ridge. Atop the ridge, he observed seven Germans manning two large mortars near an armored half-track about 100 yards down the slope.
Armed with a rifle and grenades, Lee left his men on the high ground and crawled to within 30 yards of the mortars, where the enemy discovered him and unleashed machine-gun fire — shattering his right thigh.
"Scorning retreat, bleeding and suffering intense pain, he dragged himself relentlessly forward," the citation reads.
Lee killed five Germans with rifle fire, and the others fled before he reached their position. While being fired on by an armored car, he took cover behind the German military vehicle and used a discarded German antitank weapon to neutralize the threat.
"Despite his wounds, he inched his way toward the car through withering machine-gun fire, maneuvered into range and blasted the vehicle with a round from the rocket launcher, forcing it to withdraw," the citation reads.
Lee struggled back to his men, where he collapsed from pain and loss of blood.
During a 2022 interview, Lee's daughter provided further details. Outnumbered, Lee's platoon surrendered, and the Germans took many of the American soldiers but left Lee because of his injuries.
"Dad told my brother that a German soldier made the decision to leave him there rather than kill him or take him, as he would not have made it. Dad was forever grateful," Beth Lee von Mersveldt said.
Lee was promoted to first lieutenant, and despite his severe wounds, chose to remain in the military. He transitioned to the Army Reserve, then known as the Organized Reserve Corps.
President Harry S. Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Lee in a White House ceremony, Jan. 23, 1946. During the ceremony, Truman reportedly told Lee and three others receiving the same award, "I would rather have that medal — the Congressional Medal of Honor — than to be president of the United States."
After his recovery, Lee worked for the Veterans Administration in Valdosta, Georgia, assisting returning veterans with accessing healthcare, education and other benefits.
He was recalled to service at the start of the Korean War in June 1950. He was promoted to captain and served as a combat training officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky, until 1952. Lee returned to civilian life, rising to the position of senior vice president of the Southwest Region of Military Service Company, the oldest division of EBSCO Industries.
Lee died Jan. 22, 1985, at the age of 65, and is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Alma. His wife, Sallie, eventually remarried; she died Oct. 1, 2016.
In April 1996, a bridge near his hometown was dedicated as the Daniel Warnell Lee Memorial Bridge.
Sept. 9, 2026
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By Daniel Taylor, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka
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Sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Yokosuka, Japan, joined U.S. and Japanese military, government, medical and emergency response organizations for Exercise Big Rescue Kanagawa 2026, Sept. 1, at the Kanagawa Prefectural Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center and Fire Academy in Atsugi City, Japan.
USNMRTC Yokosuka contributed doctors, hospital corpsmen, Japanese fellows and translators to a tri-service U.S. medical team. The team integrated with other War Department emergency responders and Japanese medical partners to rehearse patient reception, bilateral triage and treatment, casualty movement and coordination across military and civilian medical systems.
Big Rescue Kanagawa is a large-scale, multiagency disaster-response exercise jointly organized by Kanagawa Prefecture and Atsugi City. It brings together Japanese and U.S. military, medical and emergency response organizations to practice coordinated rescue and medical operations.
USNMRTC Yokosuka sailors and American Red Cross Yokosuka volunteers applied moulage — makeup and materials used to simulate injuries — to role players before the mass casualty scenario. American Red Cross Yokosuka volunteers also served as role players, creating realistic conditions for medical teams to assess injuries, prioritize treatment and move patients.
Translators and Japanese fellows helped U.S. and Japanese participants communicate throughout the exercise. Their support allowed medical teams to exchange information, coordinate care and work through differences in language, procedures and medical practices before a real emergency occurs.
"Exercises like Big Rescue Kanagawa are about more than validating procedures — they are about building the relationships and trust that make a coordinated response possible," said Nikolai Kerry, emergency manager, USNMRTC Yokosuka. "By training alongside our U.S. joint partners and Japanese allies, we strengthen the communication, teamwork and shared understanding needed to provide timely care when communities need us most."
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the exercise with Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa and other local officials. The delegation observed rescue, medical and emergency response demonstrations conducted by participating organizations.
Army Maj. Gen. James Dooghan, commanding general of U.S. Army Japan, met with the prime minister on behalf of the department teams participating in the exercise. U.S. Army Japan participated alongside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Navy and Air Force, highlighting capabilities U.S. forces in Japan can provide in support of disaster-response operations.
USNMRTC Yokosuka's command triad also attended the drill to observe the command's sailors working with Japanese medical partners and other War Department responders during the medical response scenario.
"Seeing USNMRTC Yokosuka and U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Atsugi personnel work through a complex scenario reinforced the value of training as one Navy medicine team," said Navy Capt. Joshua A. Miller, commanding officer, USNMRTC Yokosuka and director, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. "Every rehearsal builds the confidence and habits that allow us to respond with purpose when it matters most. That is what it means to be ready, steady and together."
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