Army Tests APEX Counter-UAS Round in Arizona

March 10, 2026 | By Ana Henderson, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground |

The Yuma Test Center at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, recently tested a new 30 mm Aviation Proximity Explosive round, primarily developed for firing from the AH-64 Apache helicopter.

The APEX closely resembles the fielded M788 training round and M789 high explosive dual-purpose round. 

Walter McCormick, a test officer at the proving ground, explained that the APEX is designed to integrate with the existing M230 gun already mounted on the Apache. 

"The APEX round was developed to be a [fragmented] round that would [explode] in front of the [unmanned aerial system] and make a [small] pattern that would take out a UAS," McCormick said, adding that the need for counter-UAS solutions is urgent. 

In recent years, the UAS has become the weapon of choice on the battlefield, as seen in Ukraine and Russia. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll is pushing for the Army to focus its efforts on UAS and counter-UAS technology. In fact, the Yuma Test Center has been designated as the primary, dedicated interagency counter-small UAS test and training range.

During testing, the center performed two subtests: the first to assess and compare it with the legacy M789 rounds, and the second test was to engage a UAS. Crews fired approximately 1,200 rounds across the two variants at both short and long ranges.

"We engaged a couple [of] different UASs and a few different ground targets," McCormick said.

Yuma Proving Ground has nearly 2,000 square miles of restricted airspace and year-round sunshine, which makes it ideal for aerial testing.

"They have done ground testing at other ranges. The problem is they don't have the land or airspace to do aerial firing from a helicopter. So, that's a big benefit. Plus, all the unique instrumentation YPG offers," McCormick said.

During the APEX test, the proving ground used its full arsenal of support capabilities to collect data, including air-to-ground assets such as chase pilots from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters flying overhead for scoring, tracking mounts, telemetry, high-speed video, still photographers and data collectors.

These assets are readily available to industry partners testing at the proving ground.

"The Black Hawk was used primarily for overhead [scoring], so we can assess where rounds are impacting based on [the] firing point of the aircraft. The other benefit of surrounding ground camera angles was having a 360-[degree] view of the situation," McCormick said.

The next step for the APEX is to undergo airworthiness release based on the current test results. This will provide a safety release for the APEX to be fired from Apaches by soldiers when rounds are available. The airworthiness release is a milestone on the road toward materiel release and fielding.

260th Special Purpose Brigade Activated to Strengthen Security in the Nation's Capital

March 10, 2026 | By Army Capt. Kristy Singletary, Joint Task Force D.C. |

The District of Columbia National Guard activated the 260th Special Purpose Brigade at the D.C. Armory, March 7. It is the only brigade in the Army specifically designed to coordinate military support to civil authorities and protect critical infrastructure in the nation's capital.

The brigade was created in response to Executive Order 14339 and a subsequent directive from the secretary of war. These called for the immediate establishment, training and equipping of a dedicated National Guard unit. The goal is to support public safety operations and strengthen coordination between military forces and civilian security partners in the district.  

Army Brig. Gen. Craig Maceri, land component commander for the D.C. National Guard, presided over the activation ceremony. Soldiers stood in formation as the brigade's colors were uncased — a military tradition that signals a unit's formal activation and readiness for duty.  

"The activation of the 260th Special Purpose Brigade represents the deliberate execution of national guidance," Maceri said. "This unit provides the critical command and control structure that enables us to execute a broad spectrum of scalable operations while effectively integrating with our federal and district partners."  

The brigade will coordinate military support to civil authorities and enabling National Guard forces to rapidly integrate with federal and local agencies responsible for safeguarding the capital.

Washington presents a unique operational environment, including the constitutional institutions of the federal government, foreign embassies and national monuments, as well as millions of visitors each year. Protecting that environment requires close coordination between military forces and civilian agencies during major national events, security operations and emergencies.  

Among the brigade's key partners is the U.S. Marshals Service, which regularly works alongside the D.C. National Guard during security operations in the capital.  

"Partnerships like this are essential in Washington," U.S. Marshal Jurgen Soekhoe said. "The 260th Special Purpose Brigade brings a level of coordination and readiness that allows federal law enforcement and the National Guard to operate as a unified team when security demands it."  

Army Col. Lawrence Doane, commander of the 260th Special Purpose Brigade, said the brigade structure ensures continuous coordination with partner agencies. It also allows the brigade to expand rapidly when missions require additional forces.

"This brigade gives us an operational foundation for unity of effort," Doane said. "It ensures continuity of planning and coordination so that when the situation changes, we can respond quickly and with clarity."  

The brigade also reflects the unique federal role of the D.C. National Guard, which reports directly to the president, not a state or territory governor. This structure places the organization at the center of national-level security planning for the capital.  

The unit's new patch connects the brigade's modern mission with its historic lineage. The design features three red stars and two red bars drawn from the District of Columbia flag, itself derived from the coat of arms of George Washington's family.  

The brigade carries forward the heritage of the 260th Military Police Command, a D.C. National Guard headquarters brigade that, for decades, coordinated military police operations supporting civil authorities and emergency response across the district, until its inactivation in 2011. Its lineage reflects a long-standing mission of integrating National Guard forces with federal and local partners to protect critical institutions and maintain security in the nation's capital.

At the patch's center is an upright, unsheathed sword representing the brigade's role in providing security for all who live, work and visit the nation's capital.  

"This new patch reflects something bigger," Doane said. "It represents our commitment to protecting every person who sets foot in the nation's capital."  

With the uncasing of its colors, the 260th Special Purpose Brigade begins its mission as a dedicated force. It will support public safety, infrastructure protection and coordination between civilian and military agencies in Washington.  

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Col. Jack Jacobs

March 9, 2026 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News |

Army Col. Jack Howard Jacobs was just a first lieutenant when he saved more than a dozen lives during an intense firefight in the swamplands of Vietnam. His actions during that incident and throughout his deployment made him one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, including the nation's highest medal for valor.

Jacobs was born Aug. 2, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, to Rebecca and David Jacobs, a World War II veteran. He had a brother and a sister.

The family lived in Queens for a time before they moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey, in the mid-1950s, when Jacobs was in sixth grade. He loved baseball and was focused on his academics.

After graduating from Woodbridge High School, Jacobs attended Rutgers University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. During his studies, he married a woman named Karen, and they went on to have two children.

Jacobs also took part in the school's ROTC program. After graduating in 1966, he was immediately commissioned into the Regular Army as a second lieutenant assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

However, when his unit, the 3rd Brigade, was ordered to deploy to Vietnam in September 1967, he received separate orders to serve as an advisor for Vietnamese infantry battalions. In a 2002 Library of Congress Veterans History Project interview, Jacobs said he was selected for the role because of his college degree. He petitioned to go with his unit instead, but his request was denied.

Prior to his deployment, Jacobs spent 13 weeks learning Vietnamese and the country's culture — lessons he said proved extremely useful when he arrived as the assistant battalion advisor for a South Vietnamese army battalion.

Jacobs said the first few months of his deployment were spent conducting many patrols, and at first, they made very little contact with the enemy. But that all changed after the Tet Offensive kicked off in late January 1968.

By March 9, 1968, Jacobs' battalion was part of an operation in the flat swamplands and rice paddies of Kien Phong Province in the Mekong Delta, near the Cambodian border.

"We received some intel that the enemy was probably going to be located in a specific place, so they mounted an operation that included my battalion attacking from boats over what passed for a beach — it was actually a riverbank," Jacobs said in his 2002 interview.

But as his battalion advanced, it came under intense mortar and machine gun fire from a massive Viet Cong presence that was positioned in well-fortified bunkers. Jacobs' battalion tried to get into an attack formation, but they were halted by more devastating enemy fire. Jacobs, who was with the command element of the company in the front, quickly called for and directed airstrikes onto the enemy.

"We were caught in the middle of this ambush," he said. "A lot of people were killed and wounded."

The intense enemy fire caused heavy casualties to the command group, including injuring the company commander. Jacobs himself had suffered a head wound that impaired his vision, but he quickly assumed command, ordering the soldiers to withdraw to somewhere more covered where they could set up a defensive perimeter.

With no regard for his own safety, Jacobs returned to the open area despite the intense enemy fire to evacuate a seriously wounded advisor. He managed to get the man to a wooded area where he administered lifesaving first aid. Jacobs then returned to the fire-strewn area to evacuate his wounded company commander.

"The enemy had come out from its positions and were killing the wounded and taking weapons," Jacobs said. So, he continued his mission, dodging bullets to make repeated trips across open rice paddies to evacuate more wounded and their weapons. Three times, he was able to drive off squads of Viet Cong, singlehandedly killing three enemy combatants and wounding several others.

"When I finally had my wits about me, I decided I would go along the tree line myself … and be able to engage them effectively, because they were looking in another direction," Jacobs told the VHP. "Eventually, I sat down in a wooded area and physically couldn't get up."

Jacobs was evacuated to a hospital, but not before he'd saved the lives of one U.S. advisor and 13 Vietnamese soldiers. Thanks to his actions, the South Vietnamese company he was with reorganized and fended off the enemy forces.

When Jacobs recovered and returned to the U.S., he served as a company commander at Fort Benning, Georgia. That's where he learned he had been nominated for the Medal of Honor — a commendation that left him "stupefied" and "astounded."

On Oct. 9, 1969, then-Capt. Jacobs received the nation's highest medal for valor from President Richard M. Nixon during a White House ceremony. He'd also earned three Bronze Stars and two Silver Stars during his deployment, making him one of the most decorated soldiers of the war.

Jacobs continued his military career. The Army sent him back to Rutgers to get a master's degree in international relations and comparative politics, a subject he later taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Jacobs voluntarily returned to Vietnam for another deployment in July 1972, continuing his role as an advisor, this time for the 1st Vietnamese Airborne Battalion. He returned to the U.S. in January 1973 after suffering minor injuries from an artillery round.

From there, Jacobs worked his way up the ranks, eventually commanding his own battalion in Panama in the early 1980s. He went on to teach at the National War College in Washington before retiring as a colonel in 1987 after 21 years of service.

In his 2002 VHP interview, Jacobs said he thinks the medal makes its recipients modest.

"I think everybody who receives the Medal of Honor receives it in his heart for all the soldiers with whom he served," he said. "Receiving the award has made me a different person — [it's] made me a better person, a more thoughtful person."

In regard to his Medal of Honor actions, Jacobs also reflected, "I hope that if I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know now, that I would have the fortitude to do it again." 

After retirement, Jacobs worked in investment banking and real estate development, and he also served as a military analyst for NBC News. He currently serves as an advisor for the Code of Support Foundation, a nonprofit that provides assistance to veterans and military families.

In 2008, Jacobs published a memoir, "If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America's Time of Need." In 2020, he was inducted into the Army ROTC Hall of Fame.

Jacobs divorced but eventually remarried a woman named Susan, and they had a son. The couple currently lives in Far Hills, New Jersey.

Soldier Returns to Service After Vaccine Mandate Discharge

March 9, 2026 | By Army Staff Sgt. Raymond Valdez, 40th Public Affairs Detachment |

"It was just a lot of frustration and a little bit of anger towards the military," said Army Spc. Hunter Wade, an indirect fire infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, recalling sitting in his commander's office in 2022.

The married soldier, from Greensboro, North Carolina, knew what would happen next.

"The [administrative separation] process was going to start," he said. "I knew several other guys in my platoon who also did not take the COVID-19 vaccine, and they had already started the [separation] process at that point."

This turning point was challenging for Wade; he had always wanted to serve his country.

"For me, it was a calling to join the Army," he said. "I've always wanted to do it ever since I was a kid."

Growing up near a military base inspired him to serve.

In July 2020, Wade joined the Army. After completing basic and advanced individual training to become an infantryman, he was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where a new ambition began to take shape.

"It had been a goal of mine to earn my air assault wings," Wade explained. "My platoon sergeant and a couple of other [noncommissioned officers] in my platoon had expressed interest in going to air assault school. They said we want you to go as well."

A short time later, he got his chance. Wade attended the Lightning Academy Air Assault Course at Schofield Barracks in August 2021. Although his first attempt was unsuccessful, he remained undeterred and returned in December.

"I was in phase three, three days from graduation," he recalled. "The air assault [leadership] said we need to see everyone's COVID-19 vaccine card."

Wade did not have one. He previously prayed about taking the vaccine, ultimately deciding not to. Without the COVID-19 vaccine card, Wade was dropped from the course. Several months later, despite his efforts to get a religious accommodation, he was officially separated from the Army.

"It was hard to process," Wade said. "I never imagined I would be separated from the Army for that."

After moving back to North Carolina, he continued serving the community as a deputy with the Iredell County Sheriff's Office. Still, he missed the brotherhood of military service.

"The last four years I was out of the Army, I had still been in contact with many of them," Wade said. "Whether it's just checking on each other or even just communicating on social media, I've talked to almost all of them since then."

When an opportunity appeared, those ongoing connections proved invaluable.

During the 2025 presidential inauguration, it was announced that service members separated from the military because of the COVID-19 vaccination refusal would be reinstated with back pay and benefits. As the announcement echoed through the ceremony, Wade watched, listened and absorbed every word.

The War Department soon established the Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force to manage the reinstatement process for affected service members. The task force, led by Army Col. Kevin Bouren, helps service members rejoin after being separated under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

"I thought that was very interesting," Wade said. "I wanted to look into that."

Wade spoke with his wife and prayed about the idea. He visited the recruiting office the very next day.

"It was surreal because I did not think I would ever come back into the military," Wade said. "I thought I was done for good."

Despite his doubts, Wade and his wife continued to support each other during the process.

Before long, Wade rejoined the Army and was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the Army's only air assault division, the 101st Airborne Division.

Being at Fort Campbell reignited Wade's original ambition.

"I thought, 'You know what? I do have some unfinished business with air assault,'" he said.

Wade explained his air assault situation to the task force. Later that day, Bouren said the air assault school commander and first sergeant had approved him to reenter where he left off.

"I was just blown away," Wade said. "I didn't even ask for that. That was just something he [Bouren] did on his own just to try to make me whole again."

Wade entered the rappel phase, or phase three of the course. Here, students must complete a tower rappel, tie a Swiss seat, demonstrate hook-up and belay procedures, rappel from a helicopter and finish a 12-mile ruck march with a 35-pound rucksack in under three hours.

Having conquered the tower, technique demonstrations and helicopter rappel, only one event remained. His ruck weighed on his back as he stood beneath the schoolhouse arches, ready to begin the 12-mile march.

"Being out of the Army the last four years, I didn't really ruck," Wade said. "Mostly, I was just thinking I just have to get through this and we'll be good."

At 3:30 a.m., under cloud-filled skies, Wade began. With each mile, thoughts of earning the Air Assault Badge drove him. Twelve miles later, he passed beneath the arches. His time: two hours and 46 minutes. He finally achieved his goal.

"It feels just so surreal to experience this," he said. "If you have the grit, no matter how hard things get — if you keep going — you can accomplish your goals."

Wade's wife pinned on his wings at graduation, making it official. Wade is once again a soldier, and four years later, he is air assault qualified.

DoW Identifies Army Casualty

March 9, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury.
 
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky., died of his wounds on March 8, 2026, from injuries sustained during an enemy attack on March 1, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The Soldier was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade, Fort Carson, Colo. The incident is under investigation.
 
For more information regarding Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, members of the media may contact the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Public Affairs Office, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., at usarmy.redstone.smdc.mbx.public-affairs@army.mil.

DoW Identifies Army Casualty

March 8, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the death of a National Guard Soldier who was supporting Operation Spartan Shield.

Maj. Sorffly Davius, 46, of Cambria Heights, Queens, N.Y., died on March 6, 2026, in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, as a result of a non-combat related incident. The Soldier was assigned to the Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion, 42nd Infantry Division, Troy, N.Y. The incident is under investigation.

For more information regarding Maj. Sorffly Davius, members of the media may contact the U.S. Army National Guard Bureau Public Affairs at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mbx.ngb-press-desk@army.mil.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Marks 100 Years Since First Guard Posting

March 6, 2026 | By Army Staff Sgt. Oscar Toscano, Joint Task Force National Capital Region |

"We do not know from whence he came, but only that his death marks him with everlasting glory of an American dying for his country," said President Warren G. Harding, Nov. 11, 1921.

Harding delivered the remarks during the burial ceremony for the Unknown Soldier of World War I, whom he symbolically "fathered" as next of kin.

World War I Unknown

Following World War I, the United States joined the Allied nations in honoring unidentified servicemen who lost their lives during the war. Congress approved the burial of an unknown American who lost their life during the war to represent all American service members whose names were lost to history.

Four unidentified American remains were exhumed from four different military cemeteries in France and examined to confirm they had died in combat and could not be identified. The ones chosen were then escorted to Chalons-sur-Marne, where the final selection was made by Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger, 50th Infantry Regiment. Younger was presented with the honor of making the final selection of the Unknown Soldier for his bravery fighting in all American offensives during the war.

His commanding officer, Army Maj. Gen. Henry T. Allen, who at the time was chief of the United States troops on the Rhine, said, "Your gallant deeds are indelibly inscribed in the pages of history to the glory of your nation," referencing the heroism Younger portrayed during the war.

The selection was made on Oct. 24, 1921. Younger circled the caskets three times and placed a spray of white roses on the third casket from the left. He then faced the body, stood at attention, and saluted. The roses remained with the casket and were eventually buried with it.

From the moment of selection, the Unknown Soldier was escorted and guarded throughout his journey. French and American honor guards stood watch during ceremonies in France. U.S. Marines maintained continuous watches during the transatlantic voyage aboard the cruiser USS Olympia.

The casket then lay at the U.S. Capitol, where tens of thousands of Americans paid their respects. On Nov. 11, 1921, the third anniversary of the end of World War I, the Unknown Soldier was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, with full military honors.

A Sailor's Account of the Journey

A firsthand account from Navy Seaman 2nd Class Edward J. Webb offers a look into the journey of the Unknown Soldier aboard the USS Olympia. "Early in the fall of 1921, we received orders to pick up the Unknown Soldier in Le Havre, France," Webb wrote, recalling how the casket was "placed under two Marine guards, continually" during the voyage.

After stopping in Plymouth, England, and Le Havre, the ship crossed the Atlantic and navigated the Potomac River before arriving in Washington in early November 1921. As the ship passed Mount Vernon, sailors stood in full dress uniform with rifles at present arms, while a 21-gun salute was fired and the ship's band played "Bells of Mount Vernon," tolling the bell in tribute.

Webb described the transfer at the Navy Yard, where the "Black Horse Cavalry was waiting with horse mounted band," and as the casket was placed on the caisson, "the band played the mournful dirge." The Unknown Soldier stayed at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for a week before being laid to rest, a moment Webb witnessed before the Olympia returned to Philadelphia.

World War II, Korean War and Vietnam Unknowns

In the decades that followed, the nation expanded the tradition to honor those lost in subsequent wars. World War II and the Korean War claimed many American lives, many of whom were never identified.

In 1946, Congress authorized the burial of a World War II unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, but the outbreak of the Korean War delayed the plan. Separate ceremonies were held for the European and Pacific theaters, with the final selection made aboard the littoral combat ship USS Canberra before the chosen World War II unknown soldier was interred, and the remaining candidate buried at sea with full military honors.

In 1958, unknown service members from both conflicts were honored together. Congress also directed the selection of a Korean War unknown soldier, who was chosen in Hawaii, to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside the World War II unknown soldier, with President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarding both the Medal of Honor.

Decades later, following a conflict in Vietnam that resulted in more than 58,000 American deaths, unidentified remains were selected in 1984 to represent the nation's missing from that war and buried at Arlington, with President Ronald Reagan awarding the Medal of Honor.

In 1998, advances in DNA testing identified the Vietnam War unknown soldier as Air Force Capt. Michael J. Blassie, whose remains were returned to his family, while the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier continues to honor those who remain unaccounted for.

100 Years of Vigil

Though the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is now one of the most revered sites at Arlington National Cemetery, it was not always guarded. In the years after the 1921 interment, the memorial had no assigned military presence, and visitors often treated it as a tourist attraction.

Concern over the lack of respect led Army Maj. Gen. Fox Conner, the Army's deputy chief of staff, to order an armed military guard on March 24, 1926. The first sentinel was posted the following morning. Soldiers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, assumed the duty, beginning what would become an unbroken vigil.

Now, as the guard marks its centennial, soldiers continue to stand watch through every season and storm, a reminder of the nation's enduring promise to honor those who gave their lives without ever having their names known.

 

The Many Weapons Used During the Revolutionary War

March 6, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

This year marks the nation's 250th birthday. To commemorate this milestone, it is fitting to look back at the weapons that won the American Revolutionary War.

The "Brown Bess" muzzle-loading smoothbore musket was the most common weapon used by both the British and Americans forces during the war.  

With an effective range of 100 yards, the Brown Bess was slow to load, limiting its rate of fire to about three rounds per minute. As a result, much of the fighting involved bayonet charges.

In addition to the Brown Bess, other muskets were produced locally by gunsmiths or were imported from France.

Besides muskets, rifles were also used by snipers, with a maximum effective range of 300 yards. Like muskets, they also had a low rate of fire because of the lengthy loading process.

Similar, flintlock pistols were standard issue for officers, cavalry and sailors. Their effective range was 30 yards. Officers also carried swords or sabers.

Beyond handheld weapons, cannons, mortars and howitzers were the three types of artillery used by the Americans, French and British on land and at sea.

Cannons could fire solid shot, chain shot, grapeshot and canisters, which could tear large holes in the infantry ranks or destroy fortifications. Their maximum effective range was about 1,000 yards.

Mortars fired an exploding shell, called a bomb, in a high trajectory. The bombs flew over embankments and exploded while still airborne, raining shrapnel over the enemy. The maximum effective range was about 750 yards.

Howitzers blended features of cannons and mortars. Mounted on field carriages, they could fire both bombs and cannonballs at a flat or high trajectory, offering versatility on the battlefield. The maximum effective range was about 750 yards.

The size of the mortar, cannon or howitzer was designated by the width of the bore in inches. The sizes used included 3-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, 13-, 16- and 24-pounders. 

Tomahawks and knives were the favorite weapons of Native Americans during the war, with tribes fighting for both sides. 

While Improving Quality of Life, Navy Remains Ready to Fight

March 5, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The Navy is participating in exercises and operations worldwide, said Navy Adm. James W. Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, who, along with other service leaders, testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on joint force readiness.

Last year in the Middle East, the Navy executed strikes against adversaries during Operations Rough Rider and Midnight Hammer, while defending regional allies and partners. 

This year, the Navy participated in Operation Absolute Resolve in the Atlantic, while sailors operate every day to deter China and build partnerships in the Pacific, Kilby said. 

Currently, the Navy is supporting Operation Epic Fury. On March 3, a Navy fast attack submarine sank an Iranian combatant ship with the Mark 48 torpedo. 

The Navy's primary weapon system is its sailors, the admiral said, noting that the service exceeded its recruiting goals last year and is successfully working to increase retention. 

To further support sailors, the Navy is focused on improving quality of life through a new initiative that provides permanent shore-based housing so that no sailor is required to live aboard a ship while on shore duty, he said. Efforts also include expanding child care, improving fitness facilities and expanding meal selections with healthy options. 

Always looking for ways to improve, the service is increasing platform readiness by reducing maintenance delays, investing in shipyard infrastructure optimization and developing the civilian workforce. Advanced technologies such as conditions-based maintenance and advanced additive manufacturing are being used to optimize systems. 

"The Navy continues to drive toward our goal of 80% combat surge-ready ships, aircraft and submarines with urgency and accountability," Kilby said, adding that he's concerned with the material condition of amphibious ships and is working to improve that. 

Marine Corps Improving Amphibious Warfare Ship Availability, Says Defense Leader

March 5, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The Marine Corps is the nation's global response force, said Marine Corps Gen. Bradford J. Gering, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, who, along with other service leaders, testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington on joint force readiness. 

The Marine Corps' traditional role as a crisis response force is embodied by the amphibious ready group and Marine expeditionary unit, he said. 

 "This sea-based capability provides our nation with decision space and options, changes the behavior of bad actors and delivers swift and decisive action when required," Gering said. 

These forces deploy from the East and West Coasts, along with one based in Japan. 

"These forward deployed forces provide a continuous presence, enable the joint force and contribute to deterrence with allies and partners," he added, noting that in partnership with the Navy, the Marine Corps is working to improve the availability of amphibious warfare ships, and significant progress has been made with the procurement of medium landing ships. 

"We need to continue to move forward with a sense of urgency in … amphibious warship readiness availability and littoral mobility. Despite these challenges, your Marines are ready," the general said. 

Once again, the Marine Corps met its recruiting mission last fiscal year and is on track to meet it again this year. 

Taking care of Marines and their families is a warfighting necessity that directly impacts readiness and retention, Gering said, noting that new barracks are under construction and child care incentives are underway. 

"Finally, I'm proud to report to you that for a third consecutive year, your Marine Corps has earned a clean audit opinion," he said. "This is a direct reflection [of] our commitment to fiscal stewardship and demonstrates our accountability for every taxpayer dollar." 

Spotlight: Taking Care of Our People

Army Vice Chief Says Department Ready to Meet Threats Worldwide

March 5, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Every decision begins and ends with ensuring soldiers are ready to fight and win when called upon, said Army Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, Army vice chief of staff, who, along with other service leaders, testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on joint force readiness.

Today, more than 108,000 soldiers are deployed or forward-postured across 160 countries, securing America's interests in the Western Hemisphere, deterring aggression in the Indo-Pacific and responding to threats worldwide, he said.

Turning to regional specifics, he added, "In the Middle East, our soldiers are operating in a complex and dangerous environment, amid active conflict with Iran and its proxies. They're defending U.S. forces and partners, intercepting missiles and drones, and protecting critical infrastructure."

Supporting these efforts, sustainment formations are moving fuel, munitions and medical support across the theater, while command posts are integrating joint fires and intelligence to ensure rapid response to evolving threats in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the general said.

"Brave Americans have been killed and wounded in the line of duty. Their loss is felt across our formations and in communities across this nation. To their families, we extend our deepest condolences and our enduring support," he said.

Shifting back to organizational structure, the department consolidated Army North and South in the Western Hemisphere into a single, unified headquarters responsible for homeland defense, while retaining the capacity to generate and deploy forces globally in response to crisis, LaNeve said.

In the Indo-Pacific, the Army maintains 91,000 troops and has committed $1.3 billion to the Pacific deterrence initiative, he said.

At home, soldiers at training centers solve complex problems and test the latest systems, he said.

The Army has restructured its acquisition processes to reduce the time between field experience and program decisions from years to months, the general said, citing several ground and aviation prototypes.

"After 36 years, I've never seen a unit readiness determined by a depot or its equipment alone. What I have seen repeatedly is how we treat our soldiers shapes whether we retain the experienced ones and whether the force we're building reflects the standards we claim to uphold," LaNeve said, adding the service is surpassing recruiting goals.

Air Force, Space Force Ready for All Warfighting Challenges

March 5, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The Air Force's lethality depends on the professionalism of airmen and the capability of their equipment, said Air Force Gen. John D. Lamontagne, Air Force vice chief of staff, who testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on joint force readiness in Washington.

"Airmen are our most precious resource. The active-duty, Air National Guard, reserve and civilian workforce are why the United States Air Force is effective at a moment's notice," Lamontagne said.

The Air Force updated its fitness policy to push airmen to new levels and ensure they are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with its joint partners on the toughest battlefields, the general said.

The service is improving airmen's quality of life by updating dormitories and child development care centers.

"We strive to make the Air Force an unmatched place to serve," Lamontagne said, adding that recruiting goals are being met and retention numbers are strong.

The Air Force is increasing aircraft availability, which allows aviators to get the repetitions they need to build competence. The service is also recapitalizing its ground-based strategic deterrent, fighter, bomber and tanker aircraft, as well as the command-and-control architectures that bring them together, the general said.

At the tactical level, airmen are practicing agile combat employment and preparing to fight in exercises like Bamboo Eagle. Last summer, the Air Force deployed more than 400 aircraft and 15,000 personnel across 50 locations in the Pacific region, Lamontagne said.

Space Force Gen. Shawn N. Bratton, vice chief of space operations, said his service, along with commercial partners, executed 170 launches this year.

A new radar has upgraded optical surveillance systems to track adversarial activity on orbit better, he said, noting that additional systems will increase domain awareness.

Regarding readiness, Bratton said guardians must be ready at any time for any threat across the entire spectrum of conflict. They participated in a variety of exercises designed to ensure space superiority, and officer training courses now include training in space, cyber, intelligence and acquisitions.

"We will need to double in size in the coming years to meet identified operational needs, as well as significantly increase our training facilities. Even as we prepare for current warfighting challenges, we are aggressively looking ahead at capability requirements for the future force," he said.

DOW Identifies An Army Believed to Be Casualty

March 4, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the believed to be death of an Army Reserve Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Calif., was at the scene of the incident on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, and is believed to be the individual who perished at the scene.  Positive identification of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marzan will be completed by the medical examiner.  The Soldier was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information regarding Chief Warrant Officer 3 Marzan, members of the media may contact U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office, Fort Bragg, N.C., at usarmy.usarc.usarc-hq.mbx.press-desk@army.mil.

Department of War Invests $27M for the Domestic Excavation, Extraction, Processing, and Refinement of Antimony

 March 4, 2026 |

The Department of War announced today a February 24, 2026, investment of $27 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funds to U.S. Antimony Corporation (USAC) for the domestic extraction, processing, and refinement of antimony. This investment was delayed due to the government shutdown. The investment uses funds from the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. It also supports the Administration's goal to increase the production of processed critical minerals and other derivative products as articulated in the March 20, 2025, Executive Order 14241 - Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.

"For too long, DOW has depended on overseas sources for its critical mineral production," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Mike Cadenazzi. "This investment will address risk in one of our most critical munitions and materials supply chains."

Using DPA Title III funds, USAC will modernize and expand the company's capacity in Montana to refine and produce antimony necessary for flame retardants, batteries, munitions, and other defense applications. In parallel, this investment will support USAC's initiative to establish domestic antimony excavation and extraction in Alaska. By securing domestic feedstock, USAC has positioned itself to enable full vertical integration across the supply chain from ore extraction to mid-stream floatation capabilities to finished antimony products.

"Strong domestic mineral supply chains are essential to support our warfighting capability," added Mr. Jeffrey Frankston, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, which oversees the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate. "This is a crucial investment for strengthening our national defense."

This is one of three investments made by the DPA Purchases Office totaling $58.5 million since the beginning of fiscal year 2026. The MCEIP Directorate oversees the DPA Purchases Office.

For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.html

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the Warfighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also uses a new Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical supply chain resiliency focus areas. This OTA underscores the Department's ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and promptly giving our Warfighters the materials and technologies they need to accomplish their missions. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.

Trio of Army Medal of Honor Recipients Inducted Into Pentagon's Hall of Heroes

March 3, 2026 | By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News |

Three Army noncommissioned officers who recently received the Medal of Honor were inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia.

The induction came one day after Master Sgt. Roderick W. Edmonds, Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terry P. Richardson were awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump during a ceremony at the White House.

Edmonds, a World War II veteran who passed away in 1985, and Ollis, who died in combat in 2013 during Operation Enduring Freedom, both received their medals posthumously; Richardson, a 78-year-old Vietnam War veteran who retired from the Army in 2008, attended both ceremonies.

"Today, we gather to honor three soldiers whose actions remind us that valor is not just a word etched in metal; it is a living testament to the courage and sacrifice that preserves and protects our great nation," Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll said during the ceremony.

"Each of these heroes went above and beyond the call of duty and placed their lives on the line for those that they loved — the soldiers to their left and their right, and to the very nation that they were born to," he continued.

During the ceremony, senior leaders as well as members of the recipients' families recounted the heroic and valorous acts each of the soldiers performed under intense, harrowing pressure.

Edmonds received the Medal of Honor for his actions as a prisoner of war during World War II, when he refused to identify Jewish-American soldiers to his German captors, saving them from likely persecution and death.

"The Nazi commandant was furious and ordered all non-Jews back in the barracks. Master Sgt. Edmonds calmly responded, 'We are all Jews here,'" Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy A. George explained during the ceremony.

"My dad was a soldier's soldier; he loved soldiers. … [He] was a praying man, and he closed all of our family prayers with, 'Dear Heavenly Father, help us help those who can't help themselves.' That's the value of a soldier … of one who marches for his country, for his family, for his friends, for his freedom [and] for the almighty," Chris Edmonds said of his late father's character.

Ollis earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan on Aug. 28, 2013, when the 24-year-old staff sergeant placed himself between an armed insurgent and a wounded coalition forces officer, ultimately saving the officer but losing his own life when the insurgent's suicide vest detonated.

"Staff Sgt. Ollis died in the blast, but he made sure his body shielded [the wounded officer] from further injury," George said of Ollis' actions, adding that he not only saved his teammate, but he helped stymie an attack that could have killed many others that day.

During the ceremony, Ollis' father, Bob, spoke of how his son had always known he wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a soldier.

Bob Ollis also recounted a story of how he received a phone call from his son roughly a month before he fell in battle. During that call, Ollis told his father that he had just reenlisted in the Army for an additional six years.

"He said, 'Pop, I'm going to give to the United States Army as long as I'm healthy.' … He had such a love for the United States Army that it was incredible," Bob Ollis said of his son.

Richardson received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam on Sept. 14, 1968, when he rescued three wounded soldiers while under heavy enemy fire.

He then proceeded to a hilltop — which turned out to be an enemy camp — and for seven hours, while wounded, directed airstrikes that caused the enemy to flee, thus saving the lives of 85 fellow soldiers.

"The men of [Richardson's unit] figured they would never see Staff Sgt. Richardson again. But, upon climbing the hill, [they] found him sitting on top of a rubber tree, bullet in his knee, ears bleeding — the embodiment of human endurance, grit and courage and an inspiration to them all," George explained of Richardson's heroics that day.

"For me, it's always been about putting soldiers first. … I invested in my soldiers; I knew every one of them. I knew what they needed, and I also knew their families back home, by what they told me," Richardson said during the ceremony.

"That's why I wear this Medal of Honor. It will never be [just] my own when I share it with my team," he added.

During the Hall of Heroes induction ceremony, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered remarks to the attendees remotely, praising the three inductees for the brave choices they made when faced with such adversity.

"The split-second decisions — sometimes made over hours — made by soldiers who we honor here today: what they decided ripples through time and still impacts lives today," Hegseth said, adding that nobody is born with the warrior ethos, but rather that it has to be taught, learned and forged through stories like those of the day's three honorees.

"We thank our Heavenly Father for these men and the decisions they made," Hegseth added. "May we tell their stories forever."

DoW Identifies Army Casualties

March 3, 2026 |

The Department of War announced the death of four Army Reserve Soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa, died on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. The incident is under investigation.

For more information regarding Capt. Cody A. Khork; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, members of the media may contact U.S. Army Reserve Command Public Affairs Office, Fort Bragg, N.C., at usarmy.usarc.usarc-hq.mbx.press-desk@army.mil.

Face of Defense: Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner Bridges Medicine, Mission

March 3, 2026 | By Air Force Airman 1st Class Amanda Alvarez, 325th Fighter Wing |

The small, brain-shaped coin felt heavier than its size, a quiet symbol of gratitude that brought tears as she recalled its meaning. It was a gift from an Air Force airman she once treated for lymphoma, presented to her after he not only completed treatment, but beat the cancer.

He honored his doctor by coining her — a tribute usually performed by senior leaders to recognize airmen. The gesture represented the trust placed in her during one of the most difficult moments of the airman's life. 

"This is my favorite coin, and it reminds me how special this [moment] was for both of us," said Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Kuss, 325th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron flight medicine flight commander. "I don't do this job to be thanked, but it was so special to be thanked in this way." 

The experience was shaped by a path she once believed she would never take; one she believed was not for her.

Air Force Maj. Elizabeth Kuss

Job: Aeromedical Nurse Practitioner

Stationed: Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

Unit: Air Force

Hometown: Prattville, Ala.

Wanting More 

Raised as an "Army brat" and surrounded by military service, Kuss had long resisted joining the military. Her father served for 30 years in the Army and for another 20 as a civilian supporting Army aviation, while her brother joined the Air Force in 2000. 

"I was the one saying, 'I'm not joining the military,'" she said, laughing. "Turns out my dad was right." 

By 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and nearing a milestone birthday, Kuss said she felt professionally stagnant. 

"I wanted more — personal growth and professional growth," she said. "I was asking myself, 'Is this it?'" 

The need for a new challenge is what drew her to military medicine. After nearly two decades working in emergency rooms in Alabama, Kuss became an Air Force nurse practitioner at 40 years old, trading night shifts and a familiar hospital system for operational medicine, intense training and a role few in uniform have ever filled. 

"I knew this was not going to be easy. This was not going to be a cakewalk kind of job," Kuss said. "But this is my dream job. I get to take care of the most amazing people while doing the things I love."

A Turning Point in Alaska

Inspired by Air Force nurse practitioners who were deploying, leading and operating far beyond the clinic, Kuss commissioned directly into the Air Force in 2021 as a family nurse practitioner. She was assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, which quickly became a turning point.

Within months, Kuss attended military mountain medicine training, climbing and rappelling with litters, navigating austere terrain and learning trauma care under simulated combat conditions. 

"They made it as real as possible and that was the moment I thought, 'This is what I signed up for,'" she said. "You don't get to do this [training] on the outside. It really solidified my decision to do this." 

After two years in active-duty medicine, she was selected for the Air Force's aeromedical nurse practitioner training pipeline, a career field that was created in 2019 to bridge the gap between medicine and mission. The pipeline included aerospace physiology, altitude chamber exposure, centrifuge training and flight operations. 

"The goal is to have a better understanding of what aviators and defenders go through," Kuss said. "Does this [medical] condition impact their ability to fly? Their ability to see screens? If I understand what duties they're undergoing, I can better understand how that might impact them medically." 

Beyond the Usual Care 

As an aeromedical nurse practitioner, Kuss does far more than traditional primary care. Her role spans occupational health, deployment clearances, public health and flight-related medical emergencies. Between these responsibilities, she also manages administrative tasks such as reviewing profiles, signing medical clearances and advising commanders on readiness risks. 

"It's always a balance," she said. "You're taking care of someone as a person, but you're also responsible for military readiness and mission safety, and asking yourself, 'Is it going to compromise the mission because they aren't able to perform their duties?'" 

Trust between the patient and provider sits at the core of Kuss' work as one of roughly 50 aeromedical nurse practitioners across the Air Force. In April 2024, she arrived at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, as the base's first aeromedical nurse practitioner, stepping into a role that brings both opportunity and pressure. 

"I want to show that we're value-added," she said. "I want to show that we support the mission and that as a [career field], we're needed. When I leave, I want them to say, 'We need another one.'" 

As an emerging career field, Kuss said aeromedical nurse practitioners often face misconceptions, including being underutilized or misunderstood. 

"People don't always know what we can do," she said. "That knowledge gap is probably the biggest barrier. With more exposure and time on the lines, we can break those barriers and learn how we fit within a squadron and how we can be an asset to the team."

Making an Impact 

For those who work with her, her impact and influence are already clear. 

"She's everything you'd want in a provider and a flight commander," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Smith, 325th OMRS flight operational medical technician. "She listens. She's empathetic. She treats everyone like a person first." 

Smith said Kuss' aeromedical expertise has been especially valuable during in-flight emergencies involving F-35A Lightning II pilots experiencing hypoxia-like symptoms. 

"Her being an aeromedical nurse practitioner makes all the difference sometimes," Smith said. "She already knows what's going on when it comes to altitude, aircraft systems, all of it. She's always clocked in with the engine running. 

"She's big on readiness because she knows if we don't take care of pilots and maintainers, the mission doesn't happen," Smith continued. "She sets the standard — anyone who comes into this role should look at her and say, 'That's what an aeromedical nurse practitioner should be.'" 

Looking ahead, Kuss hopes to deploy, support humanitarian missions and continue shaping a career field still defining itself. 

"I've only been in five years, and I've already done things I never imagined," she said. "And there's still so much more to do, so many more boxes I want to check off. I'm ready for whatever comes my way."