Category: Security

Source: United States Army

ALPENA, Mich. – Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Rhode Island National Guard Airmen completed a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) from Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, to Fort Irwin, California, during the National Guard’s Minuteman Rotation, the first at the National Training Center (NTC).

The Minuteman Rotation concept aligns National Guard annual training requirements with combat training center rotations with their active-duty counterparts. The first Minuteman Rotation took place in March 2026 at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana, with Soldiers from Florida Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

“The Minuteman Rotation is a specialized, high-intensity training program at combat training centers that are designed to simulate real-world combat scenarios for rotational units, in a controlled, large-scale environment,” said Capt. Courtney Bonneau, Alpha Battery Commander, 1st Battalion, 182d Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard. “Being able to conduct this mission, within our annual training plan as National Guard Soldiers, was a great opportunity to train as we would fight in combat operations.”

Soldiers from Michigan Army National Guard’s Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 182d Field Artillery Regiment, participated in the Minuteman Rotation from June 6-13 to support the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, with deep fires during NTC rotation 26-08. The rotation highlighted joint interoperability across the Army and Air National Guard to rapidly infiltrate over 2,000 miles with HIMARS from 1st Battalion, 182d Field Artillery Regiment, on a C-130J Hercules from the Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143d Airlift Wing.

“The joint training is extremely beneficial for successful agile combat operations,” said Capt. Ben Newman, a C-130J Hercules pilot with the 143d AW, Rhode Island Air National Guard. “By understanding the interoperability between the Air Force and Army, we can align processes and terminology to achieve mission success.”

Static artillery is highly vulnerable in the multi-domain environment that has advanced sensors and long-range fire capabilities. By leveraging HIRAIN, commanders can conduct deep fires forward of the line that minimize ground exposure and create an unpredictable, non-linear battlefield.

“HIRAIN brings speed, reach and survivability to the deep fight by inserting a precision-fire platform that can be rapidly inserted to support any theater of operations,” said Sgt.1st Class Corey Morawa, Platoon Sgt., Alpha Battery, 1-182d FAR, Michigan National Guard.

HIRAIN is a highly coordinated joint operation in which HIMARS is rapidly airlifted to a forward or austere location, offloaded to execute a precision strike, and quickly reloaded and extracted before adversary forces can detect or target the unit. It is the ultimate military execution of the “shoot-and-scoot” tactic at extreme speed and distance, in degraded conditions.

The Minuteman Rotation at NTC provided valuable joint training across U.S. services and active-duty counterparts, while aligning to the annual training requirements for the 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

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — U.S. Army Master Sgt. Nikole Jurecko, operations noncommissioned officer in charge for the G-6, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, was promoted from sergeant first class during a ceremony at Panzer Kaserne in Kaiserslautern, June 12, marking her entry into the Army’s senior noncommissioned officer ranks.

Her parents, Penny and Tommy Jurecko, pinned on her new rank during the ceremony, which was attended by family, friends, leaders and fellow Soldiers.

The ceremony carried special meaning for Jurecko as her parents traveled from Red Oak, Texas, to participate in the promotion and celebrate her achievement.

Lt. Col. Holly Glisson, assistant chief of staff, G-6, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, praised Jurecko’s commitment to mission accomplishment and Soldier care.

“She will go above and beyond for anyone,” Glisson said. “You can always come to her with a problem. She will figure it out.”

Sgt. Maj. Adam Dement, G-6 sergeant major, said the promotion reflects both Jurecko’s accomplishments and the increased responsibility that comes with joining the Army’s senior noncommissioned officer ranks.

“You are going to become the scarcity, the expert that’s in the room,” Dement said. “They look to us to give them the unvarnished truth.”

Dement said the promotion expands Jurecko’s responsibilities beyond technical expertise and into advising commanders, developing Soldiers and helping shape future signal operations.

After reciting the noncommissioned officer charge, Jurecko reflected on the people who helped shape her career and the challenges she overcame along the way.

She thanked her parents for supporting her and the Soldiers she served alongside, recalling their efforts to provide care packages and holiday stockings to deployed service members throughout her career.

“There was a time in my career when I honestly only saw myself retiring as a staff sergeant,” Jurecko said. “People will try to put you in a box. They will look at a profile or a limitation and tell you what you cannot do. Do not listen to them.”

Jurecko credited mentors who challenged her to look beyond perceived limitations and pursue opportunities she once believed were out of reach.

She encouraged Soldiers to remain focused on their goals despite setbacks or criticism.

“Keep pushing. Keep proving them wrong and never let anyone else write your story,” Jurecko said.

The promotion marks Jurecko’s entry into the Army’s senior noncommissioned officer ranks, where she will continue serving as a leader, mentor and technical expert within the Signal Corps.

Source: United States Army

POZNAN, Poland — U.S. and Polish military leaders rededicated the Michael H. Ollis Warrior Grill at Camp Kosciuszko on June 12, honoring the newly minted Medal of Honor recipient and reaffirming the powerful bond between the two nations.

The ceremony unveiled an updated plaque for Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis, whose Distinguished Service Cross was upgraded posthumously to the Medal of Honor earlier this year for his actions in Afghanistan.

Ollis, of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, was killed on Aug. 28, 2013, during a fierce insurgent attack at Forward Operating Base Ghazni. Moving alongside Polish Army 2nd Lt. Karol Cierpica, Ollis shielded his wounded ally from a suicide bomber, sacrificing his own life to save another.

Originally dedicated to the Staten Island, New York native in 2023, the Warrior Grill is the first Polish military dining facility named for an American service member. Leaders said the rededication not only reflects Ollis’s Medal of Honor, but also the enduring significance of his sacrifice to U.S.-Polish military cooperation.

“Staff Sergeant Ollis did not do this because of a formal treaty alliance,” said Col. Jeremy McHugh, U.S. Army Garrison Poland commander.

“He did it for brotherhood, for kinship that develops between Soldiers in harm’s way.”

The event’s timing added extra meaning, coinciding with the Army’s 251st birthday and taking place at a camp named for Polish and American Revolutionary War hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko.

“May both individuals serve as examples of the friendship and relationship between our nations for the future,” McHugh said.

Lt. Col. Grzegorz Holubowicz, deputy commander of Poland’s 14th Garrison Support Unit, called Ollis’s actions a lasting symbol of the values shared by both militaries.

“His actions remind us that the soldiers of Poland and the United States are united by common values — honor, courage, loyalty and steadfast commitment to serving and protecting others,” Holubowicz said.

Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip B. Blaisdell, V Corps senior enlisted leader, reflected on his connection to Ollis and his family, tying the soldier’s sacrifice to the long-standing alliance between the United States and Poland.

“We’re here for Poland because on Sept. 11, 2001, Poland was here for us,” Blaisdell said, referencing Poland’s support alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

After the White House Medal of Honor ceremony on March 2, Poland awarded Ollis the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, its highest honor for foreign citizens.

The rededication concluded with an Army birthday cake-cutting, linking Ollis’s legacy of service to the Army’s ongoing commitment to its Soldiers, allies and partners.

Source: United States Army

A unit tribute plaque for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas’ U.S. Disciplinary Barracks was added to the Wall of Honor at the National Museum of the United States Army during a dedication ceremony May 21, 2026, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The ceremony took place 152 years after Congress passed a law to establish a military prison at Fort Leavenworth. The USDB is one of the oldest organizations in the U. S. Army Military Police Corps. The inclusion of the USDB plaque was the culminating event of the USDB’s sesquicentennial celebration, which took place in 2024 at Fort Leavenworth.

The USDB tribute plaque was installed along the Path of Remembrance walkway leading to the museum entrance. The unit tribute program is a donor recognition program managed by the Army Historical Foundation, the National Army Museum’s non-profit organization.

At the ceremony last week, I welcomed the group that consisted of current Army corrections professionals, USDB staff, former USDB commandants, retired USDB alumni, family members and American Correctional Association leaders. I thanked all who donated their time and resources to preserving the storied history of the USDB with this unit tribute plaque.

USDB Commandant Col. Douglas Curtis’ remarks were read during the ceremony.

“From the stone walls of the original ‘Castle’ at Fort Leavenworth to the modern facility that operates on the fort today, generations of soldiers and civilians have served there with professionalism, compassion and unwavering dedication to duty. They carried out one of the Army’s most difficult and least understood missions: enforcing military justice while preserving human dignity and providing the opportunity for retribution, rehabilitation and re-entry,” Curtis’ said in his provided remarks. “Equally important is the institution’s commitment to rehabilitation and successful reentry. The USDB’s education, vocational, behavioral health and reintegration programs are second to none within military corrections, designed to provide offenders the greatest possible opportunity to return to society as productive citizens. In doing so, the USDB not only fulfills an obligation of justice and stewardship, but also reduces long-term strategic risk to the armed forces and the communities to which these former service members return.”

Brig. Gen. Sarah Albrycht, commanding general of Army Corrections Command and the provost marshal general of the Army, said the USDB was born from a need to reform and professionalize the way the military handles corrections and discipline.

Years ago, Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Barr, widely known as the “Father of the USDB,” saw the dire conditions in which military prisoners were held and advocated for a single, humane and rehabilitative institution. His vision laid the groundwork for the “Military Center for Corrections Excellence” that we know today. The unit’s motto perfectly encapsulates its purpose: “Our Mission – Your Future.” It is not just a place of confinement, but a place of real transformation.

Retired Maj. Gen. Mark Inch, former USDB commandant, ACC commanding general and provost marshal general, spoke about the role the USDB plays not only in the military, but in society.

The National Museum of the United States Army is for everyone in the nation to come see, celebrate and remember the symbols of what the Army has done for the nation. The USDB plaque does this for corrections professionals. The soldiers, men and women who have passed and those who continue to serve at the USDB are now represented there among other great Army units. The history of military corrections is so deeply engrained with the American Correctional Association, dating back to 1870s and setting the standards and professionalism among corrections professionals. Service members who made the worst mistakes are all confined in one social environment where they conform under the leadership of the USDB officers and NCOs, who provide discipline, training, rehabilitation and education to set them up for success in society upon their release.

Additionally, the officers and NCOs who are trained at the USDB are needed by the Army to go forward when necessary to ensure strategic success. It has been shown what a difference having USDB correctional professionals meant at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Afghanistan; and Iraq.

In 1971, the USDB adopted the motto, “Our Mission – Your Future.” This motto symbolizes the can-do attitude, the spirit of team work and the philosophy of the USDB. The entire custodial staff provides individualized treatment to inmates to prepare them for a self-reliant, trustworthy and respectable future.

We reflect on the past only to build for the future. We emphasize behavior, education, vocational skills and a chance to choose. We emphasize the positive, not the negative. We focus on participation, not punishment; restoration, not retribution; on privileges, not privation; and on partnership and progress, not isolation and humiliation. Discipline is necessary to maintain order, for without order, nothing can be learned, and without knowledge, there is no hope for a new and brighter day. We accept the principle that a man has a right for a new start in life.

On Jan. 18, 1971, Col. F.E. Payne, USDB commandant, concurred with the recommended design of a distinctive insignia for the USDB. This design incorporated the motto, “Our Mission – Your Future,” which was recommended by Maj. Charles A. Hines, Military Police Corps, a student at the Command and General Staff College in 1970-1971. On Feb. 12, 1971, Maj. Gen. Lloyd B. Ramsey, the provost marshal general, approved the design. Upon design completion by the Institute of Heraldry, it was fielded on March 1, 1972.

The USDB Distinctive Unit Insignia is a gold color metal and enamel device that consists of a gold sun on a blue enamel area with nine gold rays radiating upward and surmounted vertically overall by a gold sword between the green enamel post oak leaves, vertical with stems conjoined in bottom below pommel, all between two white enamel columns at the sides and the two end enamel scrolls above and below the columns, the upper scroll surmounting the rays and the sword inscribed, “Our Mission,” and the lower scroll inscribed “Your Future,” all in gold letters.

The sun on the USDB Distinctive Unit Insignia symbolizes authority, healing, knowledge and a new beginning representing the overall mission of the organization. The sword denotes all military personnel. The oak leaves and columns refer to military and civilian stability in rehabilitation. The columns and inscribed scroll simulate a doorway and allude to the custodial guidance of the unit.

The National Museum of the United States Army is owned and operated by the U.S. Army and is open daily with free admission. For more information visit www.theNMUSA.org. For more information about the Unit Tribute Program, visit www.armyhistory.org.

Source: United States Army

For decades, the Army’s personnel and pay process was a labyrinth of paperwork and disconnected databases, leading to frustrating delays and a lack of visibility for Soldiers and commanders alike.

In 2023, a comprehensive, Army-wide solution – the Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS‑A) – was introduced, providing a modern platform to streamline and update the Army’s human resources and talent management processes.

This sweeping digital overhaul replaces an antiquated network of over 200 human resources and pay systems across the Army, Army Reserve and National Guard with a single, integrated, and secure online portal, heralding a new era of efficiency and transparency. The launch of IPPS-A was not merely an IT upgrade; it represents a fundamental pillar of the Army’s broader modernization strategy, a critical enabler for building the agile and data-driven force.

“With Personnel Action Requests, we are replacing the administrative guesswork of emails with the guaranteed transparency of real-time status updates, ensuring Soldiers are never left in the dark about the status of their actions,” said Col. Mary B. Divine, IPPS-A USAR Program Chief. “Soldiers will no longer have to wonder about their leave request or promotion packet; they can now follow its journey through every step of the approval process directly from their smartphone.”

This change is a muti-compo effort with the Active Component representatives from the Department of the Army, G1 leading development through the Functional Management Division (FMD). The Business System Architecture Division (BSAD) represents the Army Reserve and works to support the FMD, fostering a collaborative relationship to advocate for and defend Army Reserve interests in the representation, build and deployment of IPPS-A’s Human Resources and Pay system functionality.

“In the world of modern systems development, software is created and rolled out in phases. This iterative process … allows for continuous improvement based on valuable feedback from users,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chris Akbaroff, Cross Functional Chief.“IPPS-A is a prime example of this methodology in action.”

Between April 1 to Sept. 30, 2025, IPPS-A released over 590 bug fixes or system enhancements. BSAD worked with the FMD in most if not all solutions. Even with the long list of achievements, the Army Reserve team remains focused on continuous improvement.

Recent system upgrades have delivered significant improvements to the promotion and assignment processes, directly benefiting the individual Soldier. The system now offers greater transparency by allowing Soldiers to view their own authoritative data. Key data is shared across multiple functions within the system, helping HR professionals make timely and accurate decisions. These changes reduce errors, eliminate frustrating data mismatches, and empower Soldiers with better visibility and control over their career progression.

For leaders and HR professionals, modernization is enhancing data accuracy and streamlining critical workflows. The system now automatically updates records when personnel actions are approved, eliminating hours of manual data entry and reducing the risk of human error. Dashboards have been significantly upgraded with new data and improved interfaces, giving leaders a clearer, more accurate picture of their formations to make better decisions. Furthermore, crucial updates to the DD-214 separation document process ensure that every Soldier’s record of service is generated correctly, securely, and transmitted accurately the first time.

Behind the scenes, the Army’s personnel system is becoming more intelligent and efficient. The assignments process has been updated to handle complex scenarios automatically, from generating the correct orders for transfers to intelligently managing job openings in the marketplace. By improving how different systems talk to each other and automating tasks that were previously manual, these upgrades are creating a more reliable and responsive platform. This ensures the right Soldier gets to the right place at the right time with greater accuracy and less administrative burden.

This newfound transparency is at the heart of the IPPS-A initiative, empowering Soldiers with unprecedented access to their own records and putting them in control of their careers.

“We know Soldier pay is one of the most valuable resources, and our top priority is to protect it. That’s why we are moving Army Military Pay into the new IPPS-A system in careful, deliberate stages,” said Master Sgt. Tiffinie Hampton, Pay & Benefits NCOIC. “Instead of changing everything at once, we are doing it step-by-step to ensure everything is right. For example, we started by moving death gratuity payments into IPPS-A in January 2026. Testing the system on a smaller scale first allows us to learn and apply those lessons as we expand.”

“This careful process ensures that when we move pay for larger groups, like TPU and Active Guard Reserve Soldiers, the system will be more reliable, and the risk of errors is minimized,” said Hampton. “We are committed to making sure your pay is handled correctly.”

From a strategic perspective, IPPS-A provides Army leadership with a comprehensive, real-time view of the entire force, a critical component of the Army’s “People First” strategy.

“The true value of this platform is providing our HR professionals with powerful new, easy to use capabilities, allowing them to deliver superior support through data-driven analytics to our Soldiers and commanders, which in turn directly strengthens the overall readiness of our force,” said Maj. Gen. Dianne Del Rosso, Deputy Chief of Army Reserve. “I am exceptionally pleased with the tremendous progress of the IPPS-A program, and I’m proud of the dedicated Soldiers and civilians who are the driving force behind this successful modernization of our personnel and talent management capabilities.”

Source: United States Army

WASHINGTON — Army Col. Frank Rubio will return to space for the second time, joining a four-person crew on the Artemis III mission as part of NASA’s ultimate goal to return humans to the moon and to maintain U.S superiority in exploration, NASA announced Tuesday.

But this expedition will be notably different from Rubio’s first space voyage, during which the Soldier spent a year aboard the International Space Station for scientific study and research. The astronaut will have only a year to 18 months to prepare for the two-week voyage, during which the crew will simulate critical docking capabilities and perform various flight maneuvers.

The crew will launch the Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, in late 2027, an important step before the Artemis IV mission in 2028, which is scheduled to land on the moon’s South Pole.

NASA named Rubio as mission specialist 1; he will be joined by retired Marine Corps Col. Randy Bresnik as commander, Coast Guard Reserve Cmdr. Andre Douglas as mission specialist 2 and Italian Air Force Col. Luca Parmitano as pilot.

The last time circumstances tested Rubio’s resolve, it resulted in the longest ever recorded spaceflight in U.S. history. During a scheduled six-month mission in December 2022, the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft carrying Rubio and two cosmonauts suffered a fuel leak, pushing Rubio’s return date to September 2023. The Soldier spent 371 days in space, traveling more than 157 million miles and completing 5,963 Earth orbits during Expeditions 68 and 69.

“I tend to thrive trying to attempt challenges and trying to overcome things,” Rubio said. “And [Artemis III] is going to be a very difficult goal of completing this mission in about a year, to a year and a half. We have a lot of work to do, lots to learn, lots of development to do, but I think we’re up for it as a NASA team and as a nation.”

During Artemis III, the crew will test Orion systems while launching the world’s most powerful rockets. While remaining in low earth orbit about 290 miles above Earth, the crew will also assess the hardware of Orion and commercial lunar landing systems, paving the way for landing on the lunar surface. The astronauts will also test the durability of the Axiom extravehicular mobility unit. This next-generation space suit improves mobility and flexibility while keeping astronauts cool during deep space exploration.

Rubio said Artemis III may not have the visibility of touching down on the moon, but the mission still presents a daunting challenge.

“We’re going to have three rockets that need to launch the crew and two landers, and then we’re going to have to rendezvous and dock with each of those landers,” he said. “Each of those landings is going to be affected by both weather and maintenance issues, and so coordinating all that effort in a way that enables us to test the entire system as a whole, it’s going to be a challenge.”

Rubio, a native of Miami and a former UH-60 Black Hawk pilot, accumulated more than 1,100 flight hours, including more than 600 in combat. The Soldier said that his hand-eye coordination from piloting the Black Hawk, as well as his experience working with an Army copilot and Army crew chiefs, will assist him in performing docking and rendezvous simulations with his fellow astronauts.

A 1998 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Rubio served in various combat roles, including as a platoon leader and then later as company commander of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.

He also earned his jumpmaster certification as a former member of the Black Knights, West Point’s parachute team. Rubio later transitioned to the medical field, earning his doctorate in medicine and eventually serving as a battalion surgeon.

“Operating in very challenging environments, whether it’s dust landings, snow landings, multi-ship night operations, I think all of that prepares your brain to stay calm and operate in a variety of environments to include space,” Rubio said.

Source: United States Army

VILNIUS, Lithuania — When the 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau arrived in the Baltic region this month, he was not opening a new chapter in American security cooperation, he was reinforcing the bedrock of deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. Here, allies are taking responsibility for an increased share of the defense burden the United States expects of its closest partners.

Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, CNGB, joined by Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief John Raines and the adjutants general of Maryland and Michigan, along with Pennsylvania’s deputy adjutant general-Army, traveled from Tallinn, Estonia, to Riga, Latvia, and concluded here in Vilnius.

More than 33 years ago, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia became the first three nations paired with U.S. states under what became the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Born in the uncertain aftermath of the Soviet collapse, the SPP has matured into one of the U.S. military’s most enduring, cost-effective and strategically agile security cooperation tools.

“The partnership between the Baltic countries and the National Guard of Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania is more than a military relationship, it’s an investment in deterrence,” Nordhaus said. “Our Soldiers and Airmen gain invaluable experience working alongside trusted partners, sharing expertise, strengthening readiness and building relationships that enhance security on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The State Partnership Program didn’t just start with the Baltics; it was the Baltics.

In the early 1990s, U.S. Army Gen. John Shalikashvili, then NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of U.S. European Command, sought rapid Western engagement for the newly independent Baltic countries. The National Guard provided the ideal solution. The pairings—Maryland with Estonia, Michigan with Latvia, and Pennsylvania with Lithuania, were deliberately built on deep cultural and diaspora ties.

More than three decades of sustained engagement, coupled with sharp recent increases in Baltic defense investment (with all three nations exceeding the NATO 5% GDP benchmark well ahead of schedule) have produced tangible results: highly capable, interoperable partners ready to shoulder greater responsibility for their own and the Alliance’s defense.

All three Baltic nations demonstrate unified pro-United States alignment. This is underscored by immediate support for U.S. global operations, including Operation Epic Fury.

Past combined deployments also epitomize these bilateral commitments. Estonian Air Force pilots flew UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation missions with Maryland Guard aviators in Afghanistan. The Pennsylvania Guard and Lithuanian Armed Forces conducted 18 co-deployments to Afghanistan. In 2009, Latvian soldiers fought alongside Michigan Guardsmen, marking the first SPP-enabled deployment into a combat zone. Two Latvian personnel killed in action on combined deployments are memorialized with fallen Michigan Soldiers in the “Hall of Honor” at Michigan’s Joint Forces Headquarters.

“What began as a state partnership has evolved into a unified operational relationship where Maryland and Estonia, Michigan and Latvia and Pennsylvania and Lithuania stand side-by-side as one force, forged by trust, sacrifice and shared service,” Raines said.

Tallinn, Estonia: Here, Nordhaus and Raines were joined by Army. Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the adjutant general of Maryland. The Maryland–Estonia partnership operates at the cutting edge of allied capabilities, particularly in cyber defense.

Last month, more than 40 Maryland Guardsmen joined Estonian partners in Immediate Response 2026, a key cyber exercise within the Sword 26 series across the High North and Baltics. They focused on defending critical infrastructure in realistic, contested environments.

Last year, Maryland troops participated in Estonia’s largest exercise, Hedgehog, alongside over 16,000 troops from multiple NATO nations, and in Exercise Hurricane for convoy and mobilization training. Additionally, Estonian Cyber Command personnel visited Maryland for Baltic Blitz 25, while Maryland Guardsmen from the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group have supported Locked Shields—the world’s premier live-fire cyber defense exercise—at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn.

“As Estonia continues to invest heavily in its national defense and deterrence posture, the Maryland–Estonia partnership remains a proven and trusted mechanism for advancing shared security objectives and strengthening NATO readiness,” Birckhead said.

The Guard leaders met with Estonia’s defense leaders to underscore a partnership that evolved from the SPP’s original experiment into a sophisticated model for multi-domain integration and cyber resilience. Nordhaus commended Estonia’s cyber capabilities.

“Estonia is on the cutting edge of NATO cyber defense,” he said. “We learn as much from them as they do from us.”

Riga, Latvia: The Michigan National Guard’s long-standing partnership has helped shape Latvia’s military culture, procurement, NATO integration and warfighting ethos. Latvian leaders, including Maj. Gen. Kaspars Pudāns, Commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces, have repeatedly credited the partnership as foundational.

“I am grateful for the support from the U.S. in our developmental years, which has significantly contributed to the growth of our forces,” Pudāns said at a Baltic Defense College roundtable last April. “The State Partnership Program with Michigan has been particularly beneficial…”

Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, TAG of Michigan, joined the NGB leaders here with a deep understanding of and history with the bilateral relationship.

“This partnership is personal,” Rogers said. “The Latvians are like family members. We take it very seriously.”

In Riga, Nordhaus retraced similar steps taken by Air Force Lt. Gen. John Conaway, the 22nd Chief of the National Guard Bureau, during the National Guard’s first touchpoint with Latvia in November 1992. The 30th CNGB participated in a ceremonial wreath laying alongside Pudāns —a powerful symbol of continuity.

Pudāns spoke to what the partnership’s longevity represents and what it means for the alliance’s eastern flank.

“For more than three decades, our partnership with the Michigan National Guard has been one of practical and effective military cooperation,” Pudans said. “The experience gained through joint exercises has helped to strengthen combat readiness and interoperability with our allies.”

The Guard leaders also met with newly appointed Defense Minister Raivis Melnis, a former Latvian Armed Forces colonel who served alongside Michigan Guardsmen in combat.

“For over 30 years, our partnership with the National Guard has been a cornerstone of Latvian security, including vital support in developing the Adazi and Selija Military Training Grounds,” Melnis said in a statement.

The Guard leaders toured both bases and met with the Guardsmen of the Michigan Guard’s 107th Engineer Battalion who were assisting the Latvians—with Danish help—to build a staging and assembly area that will become the largest hub for multinational operations in the Baltics in Selija, located in southeast Latvia. This site will become a counter mobility corridor in support of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative.

“Access to Latvian and Danish equipment has enabled realistic combined training and significantly strengthened multinational relationships and mission readiness,” said Army Capt. Phillip Halamka, commander, 1432nd Engineer Support Company, Michigan Army National Guard.

Vilnius, Lithuania: The Pennsylvania National Guard’s relationship with Lithuania has generated more than 800 engagements since 1993, spanning aviation, cyber, leadership development and joint warrior competitions.

This March, Pennsylvania Army Guard Soldiers placed second among foreign teams in Lithuania’s Best Infantry Squad Competition, reciprocating Lithuanian participation in Pennsylvania’s Best Warrior event.

The cyber dimension of the Pennsylvania–Lithuania partnership has grown equally significant.

Pennsylvania Guard cyber operators are deeply integrated with Lithuanian counterparts through the Guard’s Defensive Cyber Operations Element, a unit that has evolved from a small communications team into a dual-mission organization supporting state, federal and allied cybersecurity efforts.

Here in Vilnius, the Guard leaders met with defense leaders, closing the trip with a partnership that has grown into one of the most operational bilateral relationships in the entire SPP. The Lithuanian Armed Forces reestablished its 1st Division last year with a focus on expanding and strengthening its force.

“We love nothing better than to conduct warfighting exercises with our brothers in Lithuania,” said. Army Maj. Gen. Michael E. Wegscheider, deputy adjutant general-Army, Pennsylvania National Guard.

Additionally, NCO development is a strong element of each Baltic partnership, Raines said, especially in Lithuania. He credited Sgt. Maj. Darius Masiulis, command senior enlisted leader of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Phillips, Pennsylvania’s CSEL, for taking this core tenet to the next level.

“Through their commitment to shared readiness and mutual respect, each leader has helped ensure that the enlisted force of both nations stands unified in purpose, capability and character wherever they are called to serve,” Raines said. “These strategic partnerships are a trusted brotherhood of Soldiers and NCOs who train, deploy and operate as one team.”

The visit to the Baltic countries was, in one sense, a milestone trip—senior leader’s recognition of partnerships that have endured across strategic shifts and more than three decades of change on Europe’s eastern flank.

It was equally forward-looking.

The State Partnership Program that was born in the Baltics now spans the globe with 116 partner nations in every geographic combatant command and on every continent but Antarctica.

“Strong partners with equal commitment are a force multiplier on the battlefield,” Nordhaus said.

When the 2026 National Defense Strategy called for allies to shoulder more of the weight of collective defense, the Baltic countries wasted no time. That reality did not emerge on its own. It was aided, engagement by engagement, over more than thirty-three years of Guard collaboration. The Citizen-Soldier and -Airman—rooted at home, committed abroad—was instrumental in making it happen.

And in the Baltics, where it all began, that instrument is still at work.

-Lt. Col. Jeffery Fritz, Instructor, Baltic Defense College, Master Sgt. David Eichaker, Michigan National Guard and Sgt. Rachel Hall, Maryland Army National Guard, contributed

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