Department of War Establishes Force Agility and Streamlining Team to Cut Bureaucracy, Prioritize Warfighters

Sept. 25, 2026 |

The Department of War today announced the establishment of the Force Agility and Streamlining Team (FAST) within the office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, creating an enduring Department-wide mechanism to identify waste, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, and ensure resources are aligned with the Department's highest warfighting priorities.

Established at the direction of Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg and reporting to Under Secretary of War - Comptroller / Chief Financial Officer Jules W. Hurst III, FAST will lead efforts to identify duplicative programs, unnecessary administrative processes, inefficient spending, and organizational structures that no longer contribute to the Department's mission.

The team will work closely with the Military Departments, the Joint Staff, Defense Agencies and Field Activities, and other Department leaders to recommend opportunities to eliminate, realign, consolidate, or modify programs and processes. FAST will also promote greater cost awareness across the defense enterprise and help institutionalize a more agile, accountable approach to managing taxpayer resources.

"Every dollar we spend should make our military stronger, more ready, and more lethal, which is why good stewardship is not separate from warfighting. For too long, layers of bureaucracy and outdated processes have consumed time and resources that belong with our warfighters. Through FAST, the Department is establishing a disciplined mechanism to challenge the way we do business, identify where taxpayer dollars are not producing sufficient value, and act on those findings," said Under Secretary of War - Comptroller / Chief Financial Officer Hurst. "Under the Secretary of War's leadership, we will work tirelessly to reduce unnecessary overhead, improve accountability, and put resources where they matter most — building the force we need to deter our enemies and win our Nation's wars."

FAST will provide recommendations to Department leadership as part of the Department's continuing effort to strengthen fiscal accountability, modernize business practices, and ensure every taxpayer dollar contributes to a more ready and lethal force.

"Success will be measured by results, not by another layer of process," Hon. Hurst said. "If a program is duplicative, we should eliminate it. If a process can be streamlined, we should streamline it. And if resources can be put to better use supporting the warfighter, we have an obligation to make that happen."

U.S., Indian Army Snipers Train on Long-Range Marksmanship

Sept. 25, 2026 | By Army Maj. Ian Roth, 11th Airborne Division |

U.S. and Indian Army snipers trained on the sniper firing range Sept. 22, near Auli, India, during Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, engaging targets out to 580 meters with the Indian Army's Sako TRG rifle chambered in the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge.

Sniper teams paired U.S. and Indian Army soldiers together throughout the training, which began with basic zeroing of the rifle before progressing to shots ranging from 500 to 580 meters in wooded terrain, followed by additional engagements around 520 meters on flatter ground, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Dylan Tinkey, recon platoon sergeant assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.

Tinkey said he is familiar with the Indian rifle after completing a 25-day subject-matter expert exchange earlier this year at the Indian Army Sniper School in Mhow, India.

"I really do love the rifle," Tinkey said. "If you compare it to the Mark 22, it's very similar. We can change the barrel on our Mark 22, and it's also chambered in .338 Lapua."

Tinkey said he is working to have soldiers in his sniper section lead more of the instruction themselves rather than relying solely on his experience in Mhow.

"What I'm striving to do is have guys in the sniper section do more of the teaching," Tinkey said. "I had a younger guy with me, a specialist, who's punching a little above his weight. I had him come to the sniper school with me, so he's familiar with the rifle, and I want to see him teach it more, so he can develop himself and his juniors. If I have to step in, I absolutely will."

Tinkey said the shooter-spotter process translated easily between the two armies, with only minor communication differences.

"It's pretty universal as far as corrections," Tinkey said. "We use mil corrections, and the communication is pretty much the same. Just minor differences."

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026 is the 22nd iteration of the annual U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indian armies. The exercise is scheduled to conclude Sept. 27, with a formal closing ceremony.

Since 2004, Yudh Abhyas, an Army Pacific-sponsored bilateral exercise with the Indian Army, has enhanced combined interoperability and strengthened the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Air Force Reservist Leads Joint Team During NATO Pentathlon in Romania

Sept. 25, 2026 | By Elizabeth Easterling, 919th Special Operations Wing |

An Air Force Reservist helped lead a joint three-member U.S. military team to a third-place finish in the novice division at the 2026 International Confederation of Reserve Officers Military Competition in Bucharest, Romania.

Air Force Lt. Col. Lance Speed was part of an elite contingent of 18 American reserve service members representing the Air Force Reserve Command and Army Reserve Command, who competed against 37 teams of 119 competitors from 14 NATO member states.

The military pentathlon tested participants across five demanding combat disciplines: combat marksmanship, a land obstacle course, a water obstacle course, utility hand grenade throwing accuracy and a military orientation march. 

To prepare for the high-intensity event, Speed completed a 15-day overseas mission that began with a week of intensive interoperability training alongside Greek partners at the Hellenic Army Academy in Athens, Greece. The team then traveled to Romania for two days of weapons familiarization on foreign defense platforms, including live-fire training with the AK-47 rifle and the TT-30 pistol.

Speed, who is assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing, said his background as an air advisor gave him a strong appreciation for building relationships with international partners. He was drawn to the event's professional development and unique allied environment.

"I was interested in the opportunity to challenge myself, develop professionally and learn alongside competitors from other organizations and nations," Speed said. "This competition is a great chance to strengthen those connections, exchange perspectives and learn from our partners."

Competing on a joint team alongside one fellow Air Force Reservist and one Army Reservist, Speed's team showcased outstanding tactical capability by placing in the top four in five of the competition's seven scored categories. The joint team ultimately secured the highest novice team shooting score, the highest novice precision hand grenade score and logged the third-fastest water obstacle course transit time in their division. His standout achievements earned high praise back home from his leaders at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

"Lance is a great representative of the quality of people we have in our squadron," said Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Hurley, Speed's squadron commander. "His professionalism and discipline are evident in both his commitment to physical fitness and his day-to-day work. His results in Romania come as no surprise to those of us who work with him, and I am proud of how he represented the wing."

Speed said the team's joint nature was one of the most rewarding aspects of the mission.

"I really enjoyed working with our Air Force and Army Reserve counterparts and learning from the broad range of civilian and military backgrounds represented on the team," he said. "It was great to step outside the environment at [Eglin's] Duke Field and share the experience with teammates from across the joint force. Just as relationships with our international partners contribute to success, connections and mutual understanding within the joint environment [are] invaluable."

Ultimately, representing the citizen air commandos of the 919th Special Operations Wing and the nation on an international stage was a responsibility Speed did not take lightly.

"It is a meaningful responsibility and such a privilege," he said. "I am mindful that many people from the 919th Special Operations Wing have represented the organization before me and helped establish its strong reputation. I see it as an opportunity to represent the professionalism, preparation and commitment of the people and organizations I work with. It is also an opportunity to represent Team USA in a positive way, building friendships with our international partners and connecting on a personal level outside of an operational environment."