Category: Security

Source: United States Army

SYKESVILLE, Md. — The Maryland Army National Guard deployed more than 100 Soldiers assigned to the 29th Military Police Company in support of U.S. Southern Command priorities during a ceremony at the Major General Linda L. Singh Readiness Center, May 23, 2026.

Family members, friends, military leaders, and community supporters gathered to recognize the Soldiers at the ceremony hosted by Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, adjutant general of Maryland.

“The mission ahead is complex and directly related to America’s security priorities,” said Birckhead. “That is a big job, and they are up to the task.”

Birckhead highlighted the company’s extensive preparation for deployment, including back-to-back training rotations at the Exportable Combat Training Capability in Mississippi in 2024 and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, last year.

The deployment marks one of the company’s largest overseas missions since the height of the Global War on Terror. Since 1946, the company has supported both federal combat operations and domestic emergency response missions.

“Strength and honor have been the hallmark of the 29th Military Police Company for nearly 80 years, forging its legacy through one test after another,” said Birckhead. “These are men and women who bring order to uncertainty, who bring calm when people are afraid, and who run to the problem instead of away from it. These are the men and women who are committed to doing what is right.”

Col. Adam J. Tiffen, commander of the 58th Troop Command, spoke directly to the families, acknowledging their sacrifices.

“What your soldiers are about to do is important,” said Tiffin. “It matters, but what you are about to do here at home matters just as much. You are the reason they can focus on their mission. You are the half of the deployment that doesn’t get a ceremony, that doesn’t get a ribbon, that doesn’t get a welcome home, doesn’t get a formation, but we see you, we’ve been where you are, and we know what this costs.”

Over the last 25 years, the unit deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and participated in NATO peacekeeping missions in Kosovo. Domestically, the unit has responded to civil disturbances, severe weather emergencies, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, we stand at the threshold of a new chapter in the proud lineage of the 29th Military Police Company,” said Lt. Col. Marcus J. Miller, commander of the 115th Military Police Battalion. “In a world that may prefer comfort and to be on the sidelines, this formation has stepped forward. You are stepping away from your civilian careers, your daily routines, and the familiar rhythm of home to answer a call that demands the very best of you.”

1st Lt. Ronnan S. Rodas, commander of the 29th MP Company, said the company spent the last year reorganizing and integrating personnel from other units with different military specialties to meet the deployment requirements. Several Soldiers attended military police reclassification courses specifically to join the mission.

“We’ll deploy as a composite kind of a makeshift company,” said Rodas “Starting today, we are one company. We are the 29th. We will return as one company, as one family, one mission, one fight.”

According to Rodas, overcoming the adversity of demanding training schedule and deployment preparations, on top of state activations and a large-scale exercise in Croatia with their State Partnership Program counterparts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, helped the unit be ready for their mission.

“One of my mentors, Brig. Gen. Collins, used to tell me, ‘Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,’ and we have prepared,” said Rodas. “We are prepared to meet this moment. We are ready to seize this opportunity, project professionalism, execute, and play our part in the grander U.S. strategy within the U.S. SOUTHCOM area of operations.”

Source: United States Army

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Hanover-based 229th Military Police Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group returned to the United States June 13, 2026, following their federal active-duty deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

Approximately 130 Soldiers will conduct demobilization tasks at Fort Bliss, Texas, before returning to Virginia. The unit began their federal active duty during a ceremony in June 2025.

During their deployment, the 229th’s Soldiers conducted customs clearance operations as their primary mission. After the outset of Operation Epic Fury in February, the unit shifted gears to provide law enforcement support at a military installation in Jordan. Seventy-two of the unit’s Soldiers were validated and credentialed by the Area Support Group – Jordan Provost Marshal Office prior to beginning the mission.

“Over the course of a year, the 229th MPs supported a broad range of locations with vital military customs support enabling U.S. and coalition force missions through United States Central Command,” said Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “We are glad to have them home and thank their families and loved ones for their support during this extended deployment. They represent the best of Virginia.”

While conducting customs operations, the unit painstakingly cleared equipment and personnel, maintaining focus and ensuring every task was performed with precision.

“The Soldiers in the unit cared about doing the right thing,” said Capt. Austin Smith, serving as CENTCOM’s customs commander. “Customs work exposes shortcuts fast – one missed inspection can have heavy consequences. I saw NCOs double-checking work prior to submission, specialists always relying on NCOs instead of guessing. It showed me something about the culture of the 229th. They took ownership.”

The customs mission included preparing U.S. military units for redeployment back to the United States.

“We enabled safe redeployment of combat power back to the United States,” said Smith. “Every single vehicle, container, Soldier redeploying back CONUS from the CENTCOM AOR was cleared by the 229th.”

Overall, the metrics for the 229th’s mission are impressive. Smith said his team cleared about 34,000 personnel, 148,000 bags and 50,000 containers and pieces of equipment over more than 3,400 missions. The value of equipment cleared totaled about $24 billion.

“The mission was not a textbook MP mission. It’s policy heavy, inspection driven, regulatory and very detailed orientated,” Smith explained. “I learned that my Soldiers could interpret complex customs guidance and execute it professionally. They were able to operate successfully with minimal supervision at the customs sites and adapt quickly when guidance shifted or timelines altered.”

Smith expressed his admiration for his Soldiers and his confidence that their experience will benefit the entire VNG organization.

“The 229th MPs demonstrated resilience, adaptability and professional growth,” Smith said. “This deployment strengthens each Soldier in the formation, bringing increased deployment experience back stateside to the Virginia Army National Guard, growing the capabilities and lethality of the Soldiers.”

The 229th is the VNG’s only military police company after it was consolidated with the 266th MP Company in May 2017. In addition to their federal active-duty service, 229th Soldiers supported security operations in Charlottesville in August 2017, at the 58th Presidential Inauguration in January 2021, and during Operation Allies Welcome at Fort Barfoot from August 2021 to February 2022. They have also shared their expertise with checkpoint security operations during exchanges with the Republic of Tajikistan in February 2024 and April 2023.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

WIESBADEN, Germany — Col. Ringo L. Midles assumed command of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden from Col. Troy D. Danderson during a change of command ceremony, June 17, at Allen Field on Clay Kaserne.

Wesley Leisinger, Installation Management Command-Europe Chief of Staff, was the first to welcome the new garrison commander during the ceremony.

“While today’s ceremony marks the accomplishment of one commander, and welcomes another, it gives us an opportunity to recognize the outstanding team that serves, supports and cares for this community every single day,” Leisinger said.

During the ceremony, the garrison flag was passed from Danderson to Leisinger, who in turn passed the colors to Midles, symbolizing his assumption of command of the garrison.

After two years as the USAG Wiesbaden garrison commander, Danderson relinquished command to Midles in this time-honored tradition, representing the Army’s trust and loyalty in the incoming commander as he accepts the transfer of authority and responsibility.

“I’m proud to have been part of a team that built a warfighting-ready garrison to match our warfighting teams,” Danderson said. “It’s been the honor of a lifetime to work and live at U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden. It truly has become a home for us.”

Midles, who has three generations of family ties to the area, reflected on the significance of his new command and his commitment to the mission and community.

“Wiesbaden is very much our home,” said Midles, who was previously stationed at USAG Wiesbaden.

Looking ahead to his time in command, Midles expressed his commitment to the mission and the community.

“I respect and understand that to whom much is given, much is required,” Midles said. “I look forward to being a preferred partner — enabling our troops, maintaining quality services and supporting the units and organizations.”

The ceremony was attended by numerous guests ranging from local community leaders, tenant unit leadership, the Bundeswehr, garrison staff and community members.

Source: United States Army

FORT HOOD, Texas – Candidates from the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, completed the squadron’s Spur Ride June 8-11, earning their place in the Order of the Spur.

The Spur Ride dates back more than 200 years to the early U.S. Cavalry, when new troopers had to demonstrate they could handle a horse and survive in the field before a unit would trust them with spurs. Over the years, the standards have remained unchanged. Today’s candidates work through graded lanes covering land navigation, weapons handling, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, vehicle identification and squadron history, all while spur holders evaluate every move.

Candidates moved through the lanes in small teams created by the spur holders at the start of the course. Each lane was carefully evaluated by the spur holders, who provided the necessary stresses to test the candidates under pressure.

“The Spur Ride gives our troopers a chance to demonstrate the standards we expect of every cavalry Soldier,” said Capt. Ian Cannon, commander of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, and the officer in charge of the Spur Ride. “Watching these candidates push through each lane and lean on each other tells you why this tradition is still around.”

The four-day challenge featured a final day with little rest between tasks. Candidates were pushed to their limits, performing on tired legs with limited sleep.

“It was one of the toughest things I’ve done since joining the Guard,” said Pvt. Matthew Vasquez, a Spur Ride candidate assigned to the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment. “That last day wore everybody down. Finishing it with my team made it worth every minute.”

“Traditions like the Spur Ride bind a cavalry squadron together, and every trooper who finished it is sharper for it,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas Moran, commander of the squadron.

The squadron inducted the successful candidates into the Order of the Spur at a ceremony following the final events. Squadron leadership and spur holders looked on as each new member received a set of the coveted silver spurs.

The 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment is headquartered in Waco, Texas. The Spur Ride is one of several training events the squadron uses to sharpen warfighting skills and keep cavalry tradition alive in the Texas Army National Guard.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

POMOZOTIN, Kosovo — Iowa National Guard communications personnel participated in Exercise Sentinel Sica, a multinational communications exercise designed to test interoperability, mission command and network operations while members of the Kosovo Security Force observed.

The exercise brought together Airmen from the 132d Communications Squadron and 185th Communications Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, along with Soldiers from the Iowa Army National Guard G-6 to establish and maintain communications capabilities across multiple locations throughout Kosovo.

The exercise built upon the Iowa National Guard’s partnership with Kosovo through the State Partnership Program, which has connected the two organizations since 2011 and fostered regular subject matter expert collaboration across a range of military specialties.

The training began with mission briefings and intelligence updates that introduced a simulated operational environment involving hostile cyber activity and contested communications. Teams were assigned areas of operation, received equipment and deployed to locations across the country while a main operating base served as the central hub for command and control.

As operations commenced, participants worked to establish communications networks and restore connectivity while responding to a steady flow of mission requirements and requests for information. Exercise controllers introduced evolving scenarios designed to create uncertainty and test participants’ ability to adapt under pressure.

“We showcased our ability to rapidly deploy, establish, and defend critical communications in a highly contested environment. The seamless integration between our Airmen and Army G6 partners showcased the Iowa National Guard’s joint-force interoperability capability at the tactical edge,” said Maj. Dylan Staples, 132d Communications Squadron commander.

The exercise required close coordination between Army and Air National Guard personnel, who combined their technical expertise to troubleshoot network issues, maintain communications and support mission objectives. Members of the Kosovo Security Force also provided local communications support and assisted with coordination efforts.

To further challenge participants, exercise planners incorporated simulated personnel losses and other operational disruptions. As a result, junior Airmen and Soldiers were required to assume additional responsibilities and fill critical roles to sustain operations.

Personnel were reassigned between locations as mission requirements changed, requiring teams to maintain communications capabilities while operating with limited manpower across multiple sites.

Reflecting on the exercise, Staples said, “Not only did this exercise serve as a proof of concept for scaling agile, dispersed operations into larger exercises in the future, but it also demonstrated a clear way forward for validating essential capabilities for our Kosovo Security Force partners. We tested our expeditionary skills under intense, realistic friction, and I can say with absolute confidence that my Airmen are better prepared, more resilient, and ready for any real-world fight.”

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

CHIÈVRES AIR BASE, Belgium – The U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Benelux Safety Office recently hosted a Unit Safety Officer (USO) course that brought together military and civilian personnel from across the theater, strengthening safety through collaboration.

Around 22 students learned about the Army Safety Program, program requirements, risk management principles, accident reporting procedures, workplace inspections, hazard identification techniques, and leader responsibilities in maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

“We’ve been learning how to identify different risks to our environment – how to identify the risk and how we mitigate the risk on behalf of the commander,” said Sgt. 1st Class Zachary Williams, USAG Benelux Religious Support Office (RSO) non-commissioned officer in charge. “We’ve learned how to complete inspections, fill out the Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheets (DRAW) and what the reporting chain looks like if we were to have an incident.”

The attendees all serve as Unit Safety Officers, a commander’s principal advisor on safety concerns at the unit level. Their role is to identify hazards, conduct risk assessments, promote accident prevention programs, investigate incidents and ensure unit compliance with Army safety regulations.

The USAG Benelux Safety Office invited instructors from U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) Safety Office to facilitate the course.

“We’re facilitating the Unit Safety Officer Course, which develops civilians and Soldiers to become advisors to their commands in terms of safety and to run the safety program more efficiently,” said Stefanie Diaz, HQ USAREUR-AF safety and occupational health manager. “Throughout the year, we have nine permanent scheduled classes that are done in at the schoolhouse in Vilseck and then throughout the year we send out Mobile Training Teams (MTT), as requested throughout the theater.”

By bringing critical training directly to the local workforce, the Garrison Benelux Safety Office continues to support readiness, accident prevention, and the well-being of the Benelux community. As operational environments grow increasingly complex, trained Unit Safety Officers remain essential to fostering a proactive safety culture that protects personnel, preserves resources, and enhances mission effectiveness.