Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Army

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. (May 27, 2026) — Members of the Presidio of Monterey military community participated in the Bureau of Land Management’s Freedom 250 commemorative event at Fort Ord National Monument on May 23. The event honored retired Sgt. 1st Class Allan MacDonald, a decorated cavalry veteran whose lifelong devotion to Fort Ord’s mounted Army heritage left a lasting mark on the Monterey Peninsula.

Hosted by the Bureau of Land Management near the gravesite of MacDonald’s horse, Comanche, the ceremony served as California’s featured BLM Freedom 250 event, part of a nationwide initiative recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary. Held during Memorial Day weekend, the event brought together community members, military representatives and MacDonald’s family to reflect on service, sacrifice and the Army’s enduring connection to the region.

“Former bombing ranges and military training grounds now support one of the largest remaining expanses of coastal maritime chaparral on this stretch of California’s coast,” said Zach Ormsby, BLM central coast field manager. “What once prepared Americans for war now welcomes Americans in peace.”

The event included support from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center Joint Service Color Guard and historical remarks from command historian Cameron Binkley, who connected MacDonald’s story to Fort Ord’s cavalry heritage and the Army’s transition from horse-powered to mechanized warfare.

Binkley described MacDonald as a bridge between two eras of Army history. MacDonald enlisted in the Army in 1938 at age 17 and served with the 11th Cavalry Blackhorse Regiment during a career that spanned World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He earned two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star and remained devoted to cavalry traditions long after horses disappeared from military service.

“Keeping the tradition alive,” Binkley said, referencing the motto of the 11th Cavalry Regiment. “Today, we do exactly that.”

Following his retirement from military service, MacDonald became a familiar figure at ceremonies, parades and community events throughout the Monterey Bay region. Often dressed in his cavalry uniform and riding his white Mustang, Comanche, he helped preserve the memory of Fort Ord’s mounted Army heritage for new generations until his death in 2016.

Following the ceremony, officials unveiled a new interpretive marquee honoring MacDonald’s life and legacy near Comanche’s gravesite. The display helps visitors understand the connection between the gravesite, nearby historic landmarks and the cavalry traditions that once shaped military life on the Monterey Peninsula.

Members of MacDonald’s family attended the unveiling, including his daughter, Jane Minglana, who accepted commemorative gifts presented in her father’s memory.

“My dad would really be proud of this,” Minglana said. “He wanted to live to be 100 and couldn’t make it.”

The ceremony served as a reminder that the Army’s legacy on the Monterey Peninsula lives on not only through history and memorials, but through the continued partnership between the military community and the region it serves.

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – Military Professionals now have instant access to all Army branch journals through the new Line of Departure app, which currently delivers more than 1,200 professional military articles directly to the field.

Army University Press launched the app on May 12, 2026, expanding the reach of their Line of Departure website that previously consolidated the Army’s branch journals into a single, searchable interface. The new mobile version enhances the user experience by letting readers receive article alerts, build custom bookshelves, and share content with others.

Maj. Nate Green, a Harding Fellow for Armor Magazine, noted that the app’s ease of use directly meets reader needs on the go. “I am a big fan of the mobile app and how it brings resources to readers. In less than three clicks, I can be reading an article from a professional bulletin,” Green said.

Putting professional discourse and leadership lessons learned directly in Soldiers’ hands supports the Army’s mandate to reinvigorate professional writing. Lt. Gen. Jim Isenhower, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Command, emphasized the importance of effective writing earlier this year, calling it “a critical aspect of our Army profession.”

“Modernization is one of the key initiatives of the Line of Departure — to help all of the branch journals have a more modern capacity to provide lessons learned and share their content with Soldiers across the Army,” said Michael Serravo, director of Line of Departure.

The mobile app builds upon a highly successful web foundation. Since its launch in October 2024, the centralized Line of Departure platform has acted as a force multiplier and an “equalizer” for smaller journal teams with minimal staffing. Website usage has consistently grown, reaching more than 50,000 views and 19,000 new visitors in April 2026 alone.

By pushing this established platform to mobile devices, the Army is breaking down branch silos. Capt. Garett Pyle, Harding Fellow at the Army Sustainment Bulletin, noted that the centralized system provides an avenue to cross-communicate. “Now, I can easily view articles from other branches that I would otherwise never see. We are sharing insights and overall increasing Army lethality through this process,” Pyle said.

Sgt. 1st Class Marcel Blood, Harding Project deputy director and Ordnance noncommissioned officer, stressed the universal value of this information flow for the Total Force. “I can’t stress enough that there is something in the journals for everyone. Whether you’re on division staff and are trying to solve problems for the CG, or a Soldier learning to use a drone for the first time, there are articles published by your Soldiers, peers, and leaders that can help you,” he said.

Recognizing these benefits, Master Sgt. Travis Ragle, the co-editor in chief of the Special Warfare Journal, expects the mobile app to drive exponential growth in readership as awareness builds.

“The broader reach sparks discourse and coordination among branches, as well as assists in special operations recruitment through the amplified exposure Line of Departure provides,” Ragle said.

Readers can expect publication of approximately eight articles per branch journal each month.

Download the Line of Departure App on your mobile device’s app store.

About Army University Press and Line of Departure

Army University Press serves as the U.S. Army’s premier multimedia organization, functioning as the entry point for rigorous tactical analysis, doctrinal debate, and discussion on emerging topics vital to national defense.

Line of Departure, in collaboration with the Harding Project, is leading the Army’s effort to modernize branch journals and reinvigorate professional military writing as part of the service’s broader transformation initiative.

• Visit the AUP website to learn more about its educational portfolio.

• Visit Line of Departure to access all Army branch journals in one central location and find information on getting published.

(Note: This article references “Isenhower: Writing ‘Critical’ to Army Profession” which can be found here.)

Source: United States Army

TOWER BARRACKS, Germany — U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria celebrated the academic achievements of its community during the annual College Graduation Recognition Ceremony at Netzaberg Chapel May 20, 2026.

This special event provided an opportunity for graduates to walk across the stage and be recognized for earning a degree between fall 2024 and spring 2026—a unique chance for many who may not be able to travel to the United States for their commencement.

At this year’s ceremony, 84 graduates registered of whom 77 walked across the stage: 43 service members, three retirees, 15 family members, six contractors and 10 civilians. The class of 2026 earned a total of three academic certificates, 24 associate degrees, 30 bachelor’s degrees, 23 master’s degrees, and three doctoral degrees from 22 different colleges or universities.

“These numbers represent far more than academic achievement, they tell a story of discipline, sacrifice and purpose”, said Barbara Young, education services specialist for USAG Bavaria. “You’ve shown that distance is not a barrier to excellence and that service and education strengthen one another.”

A highlight of the ceremony was student speaker Master Sgt. Krystal Simpson, who holds a doctoral degree in general psychology. She was selected as a speaker because of her passion for education and her moving story of personal and professional growth.

“I stand before you, telling you that resiliency is important, representation is important more than anything today,” Simpson said. “Trust the path that you are on, loving and respecting yourself and understanding who you are and that the most important thing in this world is yourself.

“I tell my Soldiers: What you do today is based off what you did yesterday,” she continued, “but it only affects what you do tomorrow if that’s what you allow.”

Among the graduates was Randall Fielding, information technology specialist at USAG Bavaria, who reflected on earning his Master of Science in cyber security.

“Small steps towards a goal a day can equal miles of progress,” Fielding said. “Consistency has been my best train of thought over the years. If you can be consistent with your goals, you will reach them.”

Dwayne D. Key, deputy to the garrison commander, gave the keynote speech and congratulated the graduates on their hard work and determination. He also acknowledged the unique challenges faced by the graduates.

“For many of you, this achievement did not come easily,” he said. “You completed coursework while balancing military service, careers, family responsibilities, and all the unpredictability that comes with this military life.

“No meaningful achievement happens alone,” he continued to the Family members in the audience. “Your support matters. And your fingerprints are on these accomplishments too.”

Key closed the speech by emphasizing the pride the graduates should take in the accomplishments.

“Take time to celebrate this achievement,” Key said. “To every graduate here today: I’m super proud of you. We’re all proud of you. Your families are proud of you. Your leaders are proud of you. And you should be proud of yourselves. Congratulations on this incredible achievement – and once again well done.”

For more information about education programs at USAG Bavaria, visit https://home.army.mil/bavaria/edcenter.