Category: Security

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — The Kansas Press Association announced April 20 that the Fort Leavenworth Lamp staff earned several awards across a variety of categories in the 2026 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence competition.

In the annual competition, the work of journalists from across the state is judged against that of their peers by members of another state’s comparable press organization. The Lamp received 18 total awards: five first-place awards, five second-place awards and eight third-place awards.

This year’s awards included recognition for a contributing photojournalist and two college interns.

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR, INTERN KUDOS

First Place: Sports Photo

Brian Allen, an assistant professor at the Command and General Staff College, volunteered to photograph “MCTP officer joins professional hockey teams on ice” and a few other Lamp assignments to share and explore his love of photography. His image of emergency backup goalie Capt. Micah Robbins, an operations officer with the Mission Command Training Program, sharing a moment with his 8-year-old daughter, Kennedy, at a professional hockey match earned Allen the top Sports Photo award.

“What a wonderful moment between a father and daughter,” the category judge commented. “Perfectly timed, and great layered composition with the foreground, middle ground and background.”

Second Place: Best Story/ Picture Combination

Lamp interns Melanie Libby, sophomore at the University of Missouri, and Emilio Gutierrez, senior at the University of Saint Mary, tackled the Command and General Staff Officer Course graduation as their first assignment together as a reporter-photographer team, resulting in a second-place award in the Best Story/Picture Combination category for single-day event coverage.

Third Place: Series

Third Place: Best Environmental Story

Two of Gutierrez’s images joined those of Lamp Editor Prudence Siebert in the six-week series “Army’s 250-year story told in stained glass.” The photo layouts complemented weekly video releases by the Command and General Staff College Public Affairs team highlighting the Army’s history depicted in the stained glass windows at the Lewis and Clark Center. The layouts earned third place in the Series category.

Libby also earned a third-place award in the Best Environmental Story category with her coverage of Girl Scout Katie Moen’s Gold Award project, for which she created two pollinator gardens on post.

EDITOR RECOGNITION

First Place: Best Environmental Portrait

Siebert’s photograph of sisters who were training and working together at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks placed first in the Best Environmental Portrait category. The portrait was taken in front of the USDB Headquarters building because images of the sisters working inside the prison were not allowed. Environmental portraits are necessary in such cases when candid/action images of the subjects are not possible.

First Place: Youth Story

When Siebert met with Leavenworth High School senior Elisabeth Howell to take her portrait to accompany a press release about the teenager earning the highest score possible on the ACT standardized assessment test, she quickly assessed that Howell’s accomplishments deserved more extensive coverage than the short press release. The story evolved into a nearly 2,500-word article that included input from Howell’s parents and swim coach and was supplemented by Lamp file photos of Howell and her family and submitted images taken during a few of her many activities. The story earned Siebert first place in the Youth Story category.

“Great subject and excellent writing,” the judge commented. “Long story but well worth the reading. Photos added to the very impressive package.”

First Place: Design and Layout Excellence

The Fort Leavenworth Lamp also earned a first-place award in the Design and Layout Excellence category, which is an overall evaluation of the newspaper’s design, to include the use of journalistic elements like white space, fonts, graphics and photographs.

When the Lamp went to an online-only publication a few years ago, Siebert was committed providing the community, including archivists and historians, with an “old school” newspaper layout that compiled the week’s coverage in one location, rather than many disappearing links, and could be easily referenced, downloaded and printed.

First Place: Best Story/Picture Combination

Second and Third Place: Religion Story

Siebert’s coverage of the post’s multiple congregations decorating the chapels for the Advent season earned first place in the Best Story/Picture Combination category, as well as third place in the Religion Story category.

Siebert’s story “Prayer luncheon speaker asks for help to stop stigma, save lives” focused on retired Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin’s National Prayer Luncheon message concerning bipolar disorder and mental illness and took second place in the Religion Story category.

Second and Third Place: Military Story

The story of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club induction of two NCOS from the 67th Military Police Detachment (Military Working Dog), Special Troops Battalion, earned Siebert a second-place award in the Military Story category, and her town hall coverage of Combined Arms Command Commanding General Lt. Gen. James Isenhower III explaining his command philosophy to the workforce earned third place in the category.

Second Place: Feature Story

“Hounds for the Holidays,” about the Fort Leavenworth Hunt’s foxhound kennel holiday open house, earned a second-place Feature Story award for Siebert.

“This story is fun and unexpected, a behind-the-scenes look at hunting foxhounds,” the judge commented. “A good story idea, well-executed.”

Second Place: Feature Photo

Third place: Photo Package

Siebert earned two awards for her photos in the “Blind horseman visits Buffalo Soldier Monument” layout, including second place Feature Photo for the main image and third place Photo Package for the full page.

“The photo immediately drew me in to learn more about the context in it,” the judge wrote about the image of blind rider John H. Wooten III, better known as J.W. Wolfman Black, astride Arabian/mustang/Morgan cross Topaz, talking with George Pettigrew, executive vice president of the Alexander/Madison Chapter – Greater Kansas City/Leavenworth Area 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association, in front of the monument. “A crisp and curious shot that leaves you wanting to know more about it.”

Third Place: Feature Photo

Siebert also earned third place in the Feature Photo category with her image of budding entomologist 5-year-old Colm Menge catching and studying insects on Moth Night.

“Such an interesting and unique event,” the judge commented. “The photo really captures that. Great lighting.”

Third Place: Feature Package

The story “Movement options for students help improve learning, behavior” explored the use of the Unified School District 207’s move-to-learn practices, which combine exercise with learning, and included student testimonials. The layout with the story, photographs and boxed grant information earned Siebert a third-place award in the Feature Package category.

“A fascinating article and pictures about how certain movement activities can positively affect the behavior and studying habits of youngsters with ADHD or issues caused by moving around frequently by military families. There are lessons that can be shared with other school districts,” the category judge wrote. “Great writing and pictures and interesting interviews with the children affected and aided by the techniques.”

Third Place: News and Writing Excellence

The Lamp also received a third-place award in News and Writing Excellence, a category evaluating full issues of the newspaper on writing style, originality, interest and headlines.

The Fort Leavenworth Lamp is produced weekly and is posted online Thursdays at https://home.army.mil/leavenworth/about/news. Readers can check the link each week or request that a link to the new issue be delivered to their inbox by e-mailing usarmy.leavenworth.id-training. mbx.pao-inbox@army.mil. Reminders can also be received, and the links accessed, via the My Army Post App, which is available at Google Play and the App Store.

The Lamp welcomes event information, story ideas, photography and reporting submissions, as well as volunteer writers and interns. E-mail ftlvlampeditor@gmail.com if interested in contributing.

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

AGADIR, Morocco — In a rapidly evolving operational environment where speed, accountability and real-time awareness are critical, military personnel assigned to U.S. Africa Command are leveraging African Lion 26 as a battle lab to test emerging technologies designed to enhance personnel tracking and operational efficiency at Southern Zone Headquarters, April 20-May 8.

At the forefront of that effort is Guardian, a software-based, personnel-tracking proof of concept under evaluation for the first time during this multinational exercise. The tool represents a forward-looking approach to how commanders visualize, manage and safeguard personnel across dispersed and dynamic areas.

“This is a proof of concept that allows us to improve personnel accountability in complex operational environments,” said U.S. Army Maj. Lisa Rousseau, USAFRICOM contingency, exercise and personnel planner. “This is a system that we are stress testing in African Lion.”

Guardian is designed to provide near real-time visibility of personnel across a theater of operations. By integrating data inputs, the tool enables planners and commanders to maintain a more accurate and dynamic understanding of where personnel are located and how they are moving.

Traditionally, personnel tracking has relied on manual reporting methods, spreadsheets or fragmented systems that can lag in real-world conditions. Guardian aims to bridge that gap by automating aspects of data collection and visualization.

“It’s about giving leaders a clearer picture, faster,” Rousseau said. “It’s going to give them that decision dominance to have that near or real-time fused picture of personnel and their locations with complete status updates in under 30 seconds per person to scan.”

During AL26, users are employing Guardian in a large-scale, multinational environment, allowing planners to stress-test its capabilities across multiple locations, units and partner forces.

As USAFRICOM’s largest annual military exercise in Africa, AL26 provides a unique opportunity to evaluate new technologies in realistic conditions. With thousands of participants from multiple nations operating across vast distances, the exercise serves as an ideal battle lab for innovation.

“This exercise gives us the scale we need to truly understand how this capability performs,” Rousseau said. “We knew African Lion afforded us the opportunity to not only test the sheer magnitude of personnel coming through, but also to work with foreign partners and civilians who do not have common access cards.”

The integration of emerging tools like Guardian reflects a broader emphasis on innovation that drives readiness, which not only prepares forces for today’s missions, but also equips them for tomorrow’s challenges.

“Guardian has the potential to transform how we maintain accountability in a dynamic environment,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Hancock, operations and training officer assigned to the 79th Theater Sustainment Command. “By consolidating personnel data into one accessible platform, it strengthens situational awareness while reducing reporting redundancies and discrepancies. The ability to deliver real-time updates enables commanders to make faster, more informed decisions, and its automated processes ease the administrative burden on units, allowing Soldiers and planners to stay focused on mission execution.”

As a proof of concept, Guardian is still undergoing evaluation, and exercise participants are actively identifying limitations and its strengths.

“It’s important to recognize that this is not a finished product,” Rousseau said. “We are not yet fully at operational capability yet. As we continue operational testing during the exercise, we are simultaneously making updates and improvements.”

These insights are critical to refining the system and determining areas of improvement before any potential broader implementation.

Its use during AL26 also opens the door for joint and multinational integration. Tools like Guardian could potentially support a more unified operational picture since personnel tracking is a shared requirement across services and partner nations.

Guardian’s testing during AL26 underscores USAFRICOM’s role as a leader in operational innovation. By using the exercise as a battle lab, planners can experiment with new technologies in realistic conditions, accelerating the development process and informing future capabilities.

As the U.S. Army continues to prioritize innovation that drives readiness, efforts like this demonstrate how emerging technologies can integrate into operations to enhance effectiveness, accountability and mission success.

“We’re learning in real time,” Rousseau said. “We’re already making in-stride improvements every day that we’re here.”

The results of this proof of concept will help shape the future of personnel tracking across the force, ensuring that Soldiers and leaders have the tools they need in increasingly complex operational environments.

AL26 is USAFRICOM’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, AL26 involves over 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

About African Lion

African Lion 2026 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Co-led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

African Lion content can be found on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

Source: United States Army

LANDSTUHL, Germany – Public Health Command Europe Environmental Engineer was recently selected to attend the Army Medical Department’s prestigious Iron Major Week in San Antonio, Texas. This highly competitive, annual course brings together outstanding military officers and civilians who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and potential.

Christopher Veis was one of only 50 individuals selected for the Fiscal Year 2026 cohort from across the entire Medical Command and one of just four civilians to receive this honor. The selection process is rigorous, with each leader being nominated by their supervisor, endorsed by their commander and ultimately chosen by a senior board.

The Iron Major program is designed to recognize and develop future leaders within Army Medicine.

The week-long course provides attendees with valuable insights into the strategic direction of the Army and Army Medicine through direct interaction with senior leaders.

Veis’s selection for this program is a testament to his dedication and leadership qualities. His achievements also include being chosen for the Defense Civilian Emerging Leaders Program, where he is one of 72 selected from across the Department of War and one of 21 selected by the Army for the FY26 cohort.This program is designed for entry-level and emerging federal leaders, immersing them in experiential activities that enhance self-awareness, communication, and team-building skills.

Reflecting on his time in San Antonio, Veis expressed that he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the vital role Army Medicine plays and its vision for the future.

“It was an amazing experience to basically get a 30,000-foot view of what Army medicine is. It was enlightening.” said Veis.

Looking ahead, Mr. Veis is eager to apply the knowledge and insights he gained to his work at Public Health Command Europe. He plans to share his experience with his colleagues to help enhance the unit’s mission.

“I truly enjoyed the briefs about holistic fitness and what the next steps are,” said Veis. “Integrating better nutrition, fitness and sleep is something each of us can do.”

Source: United States Army

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. –With the ongoing transformation of the 81st Brigade from a Stryker to a Mobile Brigade, the Washington National Guard transferred eight Strykers to the Bulgarian Land Forces through the Foreign Military Sales office.

Brig. Gen. Paul Sellars, commanding general, Washington National Guard, and his team visited key leaders in Bulgaria as part of the sale to ensure the success of the transaction and to discuss the importance of working together between the U.S. military and the Bulgarian Army, April 15-17.

“The first machines that are on the ground here arrived from Washington state, so we came to see for ourselves that the project is underway and being successfully implemented. We currently have eight machines here that we are working with. We have a team on site that helps with the introduction of the equipment, initial training, and maintenance,” said Sellars during an interview with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

In Nov. 2023, the Bulgarian parliament approved the purchase of the Stryker Fighting Vehicles from the U.S. The first batch of Strykers arrived in February 2026 and marks the initial phase of a broader procurement effort conducted through international defense agreements to upgrade the Bulgarian Army’s combat capabilities.

“The interactions between the Bulgarian and American military personnel will be aimed at supporting training and gaining operational understanding of the platform,” said Sellars. “We spent ten years with these machines and we appreciate the opportunity to find them a suitable new home, as well as to see the motivation and desire of the people to train.”

Bulgaria’s acquisition of Stryker armored vehicles from the United States is one of the most significant modernization efforts in its land forces since joining NATO. This also reflects a broader regional trend of Eastern European militaries upgrading capabilities in response to evolving security threats.

The Stryker deal was also aided by the Tennessee National Guard, which has been Bulgaria’s State Partnership Program partner since 1993. The Tennessee National Guard did not have knowledge of the Stryker platform but had connections in Washington.

“Tennessee approached Washington and said, ’Look, we have a great program to modernize the Bulgarian Land Forces with Strykers. Can you help us with the introduction of these machines?’ And we said of course,” said Sellars. “The first Strykers here are ours, so we feel a sense of pride, especially when Tennessee approached us with a request to assist in this project.”

The Bulgarian Stryker Program includes the acquisition of 183 Strykers, which will eventually form a new brigade-level capability for the Bulgarian Land Forces.

“The level of enthusiasm that we see in the 61st Brigade around receiving the machines is truly impressive – the servicemen are highly motivated and extremely engaged,” said Sellar. “With such a team, the process of training and mastering the equipment will develop quickly and effectively.”

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

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. (April 22, 2026) — The Presidio of Monterey conducted a garrison-wide, full-scale emergency response exercise today, bringing together installation personnel, local partners and external evaluators to simulate a real-world crisis and test coordinated response efforts.

Evaluated by U.S. Army Installation Management Command subject matter experts, the exercise centered on a notional wildland fire in the La Mesa Village housing area. The event required participants across all directorates to respond in real time, mirroring the conditions and pressures of an actual emergency.

A full-scale exercise is the most comprehensive level of emergency preparedness training, involving real-time response, role players and live coordination between agencies. Unlike smaller drills conducted throughout the year, this exercise integrated multiple organizations and functions simultaneously to test how well they operate together under stress.

IMCOM evaluators observe the exercise and provide formal feedback to the USAG PoM garrison workforce, and garrison command team, to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. Col. Norman Pollock, IMCOM’s provost marshal, served as the lead evaluator for the exercise.

“The value of an exercise like this is in the partnerships—we can’t go it alone,” Pollock said. “This is an opportunity to test those relationships and see how organizations respond under pressure.”

Presidio of Monterey fire personnel initially established incident command and worked alongside Monterey Fire Department in a unified command structure to manage the simulated fire response. At the same time, garrison leadership activated the installation’s Emergency Operations Center to coordinate resources, communication and decision-making.

The scenario included a notional evacuation of residents and simulated injuries, requiring accountability, emergency services support and public information coordination. An Emergency Family Assistance Center was also established at the General Stilwell Community Center to replicate support services for affected community members.

To enhance realism, a “white cell” guided the exercise by introducing scenario updates and complications, while role players portrayed residents and victims, challenging responders to adapt quickly and communicate effectively.

“This exercise reinforces our commitment to community safety and highlights the value of our strong community partnerships,” said Col. Dan Artino, garrison commander. “Our ability to work as a team, and with our local partners, ensures we are ready to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency scenario that presents itself here.”

Source: United States Army

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) hosted a multi-agency Radiation Response Workshop April 3, focusing on bringing together federal, state and local partners to strengthen coordination and readiness for radiological incidents.

The workshop brought together representatives from the FBI, the state’s Emergency Management Division, the Washington State Department of Health Office of Radiation Protection (ORP), and the Department of Ecology. It focused on improving interoperability, information sharing and response integration across agencies tasked with managing radiation detection and response events.

“This workshop is about building relationships before an incident happens,” said Maj. Ryan Dykes, commander of the 10th Civil Support Team. “When seconds matter, we rely on established trust and clear communication across agencies.”

The day’s agenda included a series of capability briefs from participating organizations, outlining each agency’s role in responding to radiological hazards ranging from industrial accidents to potential terrorist threats. Presentations highlighted the FBI’s lead role in weapons of mass destruction-related investigations under federal guidance, as well as the Department of Energy’s rapid-response capabilities and the Department of Health’s responsibilities in public safety and environmental monitoring.

A key component of the workshop was a tabletop exercise designed to simulate a small-scale, non-terrorist radiological incident. The exercise emphasized the flow of information between first responders and partner agencies, reinforcing coordination procedures and decision-making processes during real-world events. The exercise incorporated lessons learned from past incidents, including a 2025 State Route 16 response involving a damaged construction density gauge containing a cesium source. The case underscored the importance of early notification, proper standoff procedures and coordinated communication among responding agencies.

“These real-world events that we experienced offer some incredible teaching points,” said Dykes. “We can always learn from each other and from our own experiences.”

Participants reviewed common radiological hazards, including soil density gauges widely used in construction, and discussed response protocols for damaged or compromised radioactive sources. Officials emphasized that while such devices are frequently involved in accidents, proper procedures and interagency coordination significantly reduce risk to the public. The workshop also revisited a real-world case study from a radiation contamination incident at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, highlighting challenges such as delayed reporting and hospital readiness to receive contaminated patients.

“This discussion reinforced the importance of timely communication and public messaging during radiological emergencies,” said Dykes. “Knowing the partners and their capabilities is critical.”

Throughout the workshop, the 10th Civil Support Team showcased its capabilities, including hazard detection, field analysis and technical decontamination.

“Our mission is to identify hazards, assess impacts and help decision-makers protect lives,” said Dykes. “Exercises like this ensure we are ready to respond alongside our partners at a moment’s notice.”

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