Category: Security

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

Source: United States Army

SANDY, Ore. – With simulated floodwaters cutting off neighborhoods and covering access roads, Oregon National Guard rescue crews flew low above the Sandy River June 5 to practice lifesaving helicopter operations in Clackamas County.

Since late February, the Oregon National Guard, along with other military first responders, has been training with the Clackamas Fire Department in a three-part “crawl, walk, run” series to enhance joint incident response capabilities. The final “run” focused on water rescues in Clackamas County’s biologically diverse terrain and used an Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk out of Salem and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk assigned to Coast Guard Station Astoria to extract casualties from stranded areas along the fictional Clackamine River.

“What we’re working on today is interagency coordination between our capabilities with the National Guard, and the water rescue teams on the Coast Guard and civilian sides,” said Army Staff Sgt. Elliot Ariel, assigned to G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment. “The training is beneficial to the community, and the practice helps streamline our communication process and how we would have to do this in a real-world event.”

Morgan West, community resilience officer for the Clackamas Fire Department, spearheaded the three training exercises. The “crawl” occurred Feb. 26 during an air-monitoring exercise. The “walk” session was held on April 10 and focused on patient-pack training, aircraft-specific mission briefings and hoist iterations aboard the Black Hawk and Jayhawk helicopters.

A solid plan and open lines of communication set the stage for this final exercise. As with any multi-agency exercise, the real test was weaving everyone together, whether face-to-face, over the radio, on the ground or soaring above.

“Having the combat controllers here [from the 125th STS] was a critical safety factor,” West said. “They are a great resource because they helped with the sequencing of aircraft into and out of the recovery zone.”

The 125th is one of only two Special Tactics units in the Air National Guard; the other is the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron in Kentucky. This unit comprises Combat Controllers and Special Operations Weather Teams. Its members also bring extensive experience in static-line and military free-fall parachuting, rappelling, small-boat operations and all-terrain vehicle operations.

U.S. Air Force Reserve Pararescuemen, known as “PJs,” from the 304th Rescue Squadron at the Portland Air National Guard Base, also participated in the training. They supported both the Army Guard and the Coast Guard Flight Medics on the ground, helping to load patients into rescue litter baskets. Although the squadron is based in Portland, it is part of the 943rd Rescue Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida. The unit has a long history of search-and-rescue missions in the Pacific Northwest.

The conditions for this final part of the three-step exercise unfolded after days of relentless rain, when the saturated soils of fictional Clackamine County could no longer absorb the rising waters. Streams feeding into the lower Sandyville area quickly overflowed, causing severe flooding along the fictional Clackamine River. Local neighborhoods became isolated and sustained significant damage as the water continued to rise.

In response, Clackamas County Emergency Management urgently called on the Oregon Department of Emergency Management for help. This prompted a coordinated rescue effort, with Search and Rescue teams from Clackamas Fire and military units mobilizing to assist those affected by the severe flood.

The final exercise mirrored a real-life rescue operation by the Oregon Army National Guard more than two decades ago. On December 13, 2003, the Oregon National Guard Military Air Rescue Team responded to an urgent call from Oregon Emergency Management and conducted an over-water rescue along a similar stretch of the Sandy River.

Real-life responses such as this highlight the importance of training and support for the next generation of first responders in the Pacific Northwest as they continue this legacy.

“This has been a step-by-step training for all of our teams involved. Many of our members have been deployed outside the region and the Clackamas fire area, so we understand which needs we are missing,” said Kyle Olson, who has coordinated regional disaster readiness exercises for the Clackamas Fire Department.

Last August, he worked with the Oregon Army National Guard to begin initial flood response efforts alongside CH-47 crews.

“We have so many talented folks in each one of these competencies and with these skill sets who can go out and help when we need it most,” Olson said.

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

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

VICENZA, Italy – Soldiers assigned to Civil Affairs Team Libya, Bravo Company, Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) conducted a military-to-military subject matter expert exchange with representatives of the Libyan National Army and the Government of National Unity in Benghazi, Libya, May 19-22, 2026.

This exchange was the first of what CA Team Libya has planned to be a series of “M2M” exchanges with partner forces representing the two distinct political entities that currently control Libya. Through the end of the fiscal year, M2M exchanges with both the LNA and the GNU will occur every month. This gives SETAF-AF’s civil affairs team a special place from which to witness a new chapter in Libya’s evolving history.

Since the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, Libya has experienced vast security improvements, according to U.S. Army Maj. Miles Dunning, team lead for CA Team Libya and Bravo Company commander.

Dunning explained that various governments recognize the LNA as Libya’s legitimate government, while others recognize the GNU, but the preferred end state is a unified Libya with a combined Libyan armed forces’ capability to combat terrorism in the region.

“What we’re trying to do as SETAF-AF — and specifically civil affairs — is get both entities to the negotiating table with the overall goal to unify Libya under one government,” Dunning said. “The way we do that at SETAF-AF at the civil affairs level, is by conducting military-to-military exchanges with both partner forces… to facilitate a space where those partner forces can come together, cooperate and have face-to-face conversations through knowledge exchanges.”

Twenty-one military officers, ranging from senior company-grade (captain) to field-grade status (colonel), represented the LNA and GNU. Dunning noted that both partner forces seemed interested in making progress toward a stronger, more stable country.

“They get along together very well from what we’ve seen,” Dunning said. “Both parties are amenable to a lasting peace and are eager to work with each other to continue these exchanges in the future. From what we observed, both partner forces were very cordial.”

This event also marked the first time a SETAF-AF element has conducted an exchange with partner forces in Libya. Dunning emphasized that it represented a pivotal step in building relationships between the military forces of the U.S., LNA and GNU.

“It is specifically SETAF-AF that has been tasked to do these military-to-military exchanges with Libyan partners,” Dunning said. “We are the only conventional U.S. Army force that has a presence in Libya after this engagement.”

As part of the U.S. contribution to the knowledge exchange, the civil affair team discussed how the U.S. Army conducts combined arms operations. This conversation went on to include U.S. warfighting functions, the Military Decision-Making Process, troop leading procedures and the operations order.

During a tabletop exercise that was the exchange’s culminating event, partner forces received a scenario in which they were operating in a fictitious country, and they had to complete a road-clearance operation from one village to another. Given specific resources to complete this notional task, representatives from both partner forces described how they would accomplish the mission.

“Insights [from this exchange] will enable successful rapport building between the U.S. and both Libyan partner forces,” Dunning said. “SMEEs offer a distinct opportunity to participate in open dialogue. They will set the stage for SETAF-AF’s future M2M operations, increase partner force cooperation and facilitate communication between the LNA and GNU.”

Dunning pointed out that these exchanges “increase our ability to work with a partner force” by providing a better understanding of how they operate. In return, those partner forces receive a better understanding of how U.S. forces operate, which makes for conducting improved combined operations in the future.

“This was a ground-breaking event, and it has been many years in the making with a lot of parties, especially with the Security Cooperation Directorate,” Dunning said. “People have put in hundreds of man hours to make this happen and my team was very lucky to be tasked with this mission. It is the first time a conventional U.S. Army element from any organization has been to Libya in 16 years, so it was a big deal and a big first step in reestablishing a military relationship with Libya.”

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

SALEM, Ore. — High school culinary students got a taste of Army field cooking June 4-5 as Oregon Army National Guard culinary specialists mentored them through a two-day “Chopped Challenge” at the Career Technical Education Center in Salem.

The event, now in its second year, connected Oregon Army National Guard 92G culinary specialists with CTEC culinary arts students for hands-on training inside Army Field Feeding System mobile kitchens. The experience gave students a look at a National Guard career field while challenging them to cook under conditions far different from those in a commercial classroom.

Each Containerized Kitchen, capable of feeding 800 Soldiers in the field with three hot meals a day, became a working laboratory in limited equipment, tight space, intense heat and the pressure of cooking under a clock.

Eight student teams competed over two days in four shifts. The first shift each day featured two teams preparing an entrée, while the second shift brought in two new teams to compete on an appetizer. Guard culinary specialists embedded in each kitchen served as team leaders and mentors, and a panel of professional chefs judged the dishes.

“We are always in need of 92 Golf cooks in the National Guard,” said Lt. Col. Thanh Vo, commander of the 1249th Engineer Battalion. “My unit specifically is the field feeding team, always needing cooks. We were thinking outside the box on how to boost that within our ranks, and working with CTEC, we figured what better way to show students what we do than to have them embedded in the Containerized Kitchen with our cooks.”

For students used to a commercial classroom, the Containerized Kitchen was a culture shock.

“They’re in an entirely different environment than they’re used to,” said Sgt. Malik Durden, a 92G Culinary Specialist with the Oregon Army National Guard, who served as a team leader inside one of the kitchens. “They’re used to normal commercial kitchens where they have five ovens, multiple stove tops, endless supplies nearby. In the Containerized Kitchen, they’re limited. They have one oven to share, few burners, and equipment they have no experience with. They just have to adapt.”

Durden, who served 12 years with the Hawaii Army National Guard before transferring to the Oregon Army National Guard in January, said the goal inside the kitchens was to keep students from getting overwhelmed.

“They have 20 things running through their head at the same time,” Durden said. “I’m making sure they’re not making mistakes.”

CTEC culinary arts instructor Caroline Spaulding, in her 10th year at the school, said the experience pushes students in ways their regular classroom cannot.

“The element of chaos that’s contained in these spaces is something that they’re not prepared for,” Spaulding said. “The level of being comfortable being uncomfortable helps them grow a lot. When we asked our graduating seniors, a lot of them told us this was one of their most meaningful experiences of their whole two years in our program.”

Spaulding said the Guard mentors also opened a career pathway many students had not considered.

“They’re not seeing the pathway of a culinary specialist very well — it’s usually recruiting at lunch, recruiting at events,” she said. “This is really meaningful because it’s really real. They can see, ‘I could actually do something like this as a career.'”

Among the judges was Scott Daffron, a chef at Willamette High School who previously owned a culinary school for children and worked for 14 years at Disneyland.

“Considering they’d never been in there, the food they were delivering, the plates, were amazing,” Daffron said.

He added that the experience carried personal weight, as his brother is retiring from the military next month after 25 years of service.

“After 25 years, I finally get a glimpse into what he gets to live every day.”

For the 1249th, Vo said the event ties into a broader vision championed by Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, The Adjutant General of Oregon, of positioning the Oregon Army National Guard as the service of choice for Oregonians.

“They get to stay within their community, serve their nation on a drill weekend, and still have a civilian career,” Vo said. “A lot of these kids have interests in pursuing a culinary career, and having us out here allows them to see a little of what we do.”

The 1249th Engineer Battalion, headquartered at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, specializes in construction, contracting, medical operations and engineering.

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

USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – Students, parents, siblings, friends, teachers, faculty, military leaders and many other members of the community gathered June 5, 2026 at the Hohenfels Middle / High School football field to witness the class of 2026 enter adulthood.

There were 28 graduates, of whom 27 walked the stage to receive their high school diplomas and begin lives that would take them beyond the Hohenfels community.

Of the graduating class, 25 earned a grade point average above 3.0. Ten students completed a career in technical education pathway. Five students earned a seal of biliteracy. And three students joined the U.S. armed forces, one of whom could not join the day’s ceremony because of they had already begun their new career.

Brig. Gen. Terry R. Tillis, the commander of the 7th Army Training Command, provided the commencement address, recounting the class’s academic and career accomplishments.

“You’ve already proven you have what it takes to succeed – the academic excellence, the European athletic championships, and the resilience you built in this tight-knit Hohenfels community,” Tillis said to the assembly. “That wasn’t just high school, that was the foundation of your future. As you step into college, your careers or the military, you’re bringing a unique life experience most people simply do not have. When you face the challenges beyond the classroom, you will thrive because you already know how to adapt and change.”

Customary to American high school graduation ceremonies, the salutatorian and valedictorian had the opportunity to impart their thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Dr. Whitney Johnson, the assistant principal of HMHS, introduced Connor Landreth, the salutatorian, who is going on to Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University at College Station.

“When I think about Tiger pride, I think about students who represent our school well, who invest in others, and who leave things better than they found them,” said Dr. Whitney Johnson, assistant principal. “Connor embodies that spirit. He has made our school stronger, and he has done so with humility and purpose.”

“A lot of people spend their lives waiting for permission – permission to be themselves, permission to try something new, permission to even be like somebody else, permission to fail or permission to stand out,” Landreth said. “But the truth is, nobody’s going to hand that to you. You have to give it to yourself.”

Art teacher Jennifer Nicklas introduced the valedictorian, Brooklyn Clark.

“Everything she chooses to undertake reflects her critical eye, determination and creative spirit,” Nicklas said of Clark. “Brooklyn’s unflagging work ethic and commitment to succeed served her well during her high school years.”

Clark earned the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from the Advanced Placement College Board among many other scholastic accomplishments. She also proved herself as an athlete, lettering in volleyball, soccer, basketball and softball.

Clark became choked up as she spoke to the audience, thanking her parents for providing a positive model by putting forward their best effort in all things. She also praised the accomplishments of the school and its students.

“As a small school, we do not always have access to the same resources and opportunities that larger schools enjoy,” she said. “Yet, despite those challenges, our students and staff continue to accomplish amazing things. We succeed because we refuse to set limitations. We work hard and persevere when things become difficult.

“One thing we can always control is the effort we give,” Clark continued. “If we continue to put our whole heart in everything we do, we may not always succeed, but we will gain something even more rare: the ability to look back on our lives without regret.”

Clark is going on to Fordham University in Bronx, New York, having earned a dean scholarship.

Rick Renninger, the principal, handed each of the graduating seniors their diplomas. Tillis then shook their hand. Johnson then handed each a sprig of lily of the valley, their class flower. Once all present students were called forth, Renninger released the students to find their parents and gift them the flower.

After the students retook their seats, they turned the tassel on their graduation caps, and, once signaled, flung the caps skyward.

Following the ceremony, they gathered with friends and Family, took photos together and left before cool winds and rain blew in.

To see further photos from the event, visit the page here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagbavaria/albums/72177720334123317.

Source: United States Army

FORT POLK, La. — The Virginia Army National Guard’s Staunton-based 116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team is testing its combat readiness during a Joint Readiness Training Center, or JRTC, rotation May 31 – July 1.

The rotation marks a historic milestone for the brigade and the Army National Guard. The 116th is the first Army National Guard brigade to conduct a JRTC rotation as a mobile brigade combat team, or MBCT, after officially transforming from an infantry brigade combat team to an MBCT in October 2025.

The training gives Soldiers and leaders an opportunity to validate new formations, equipment and tactics in a demanding, large-scale combat environment while preparing for future overseas deployments and domestic response missions.

“Unlike typical annual training, this rotation involves a large-scale combat operations simulation aimed at validating the readiness of brigade-sized units for global missions,” said Col. Arthur S. Moore, commander of the 116th. “This exercise is a key event in a multi-year training cycle and represents a generational opportunity, as many National Guard Soldiers may have this experience only once in their careers.”

About 3,000 Soldiers assigned to the 116th MBCT are participating in the JRTC rotation, along with units from 18 states and territories, three U.S. Army Reserve units and international partners, including members of the Finnish Defense Forces. Virginia and Finland are formally paired through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

“This premier training event allows the Soldiers and leaders of the 116th to operationalize the new formations and equipment to prepare for upcoming [outside the continental United States] deployments and support domestic missions,” said Brig. Gen. Rusty McGuire, the assistant adjutant general – Army strategic initiatives of the Virginia National Guard and the senior trainer for the JRTC rotation.

The MBCT concept is part of the U.S. Army’s continuous transformation effort to build units that are more agile and lethal. The formation incorporates three infantry battalions, adds a multipurpose company to each battalion and includes a multifunctional reconnaissance company at the brigade level.

The 116th became the first Army National Guard brigade to test and evaluate an approved task organization for an MBCT during its 21-day eXportable Combat Training Capability, or XCTC, rotation in June 2025 at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Since the XCTC rotation and formal transition to an MBCT, the brigade has prepared for JRTC by fielding and training on new Infantry Squad Vehicles and incorporating new unmanned aircraft systems and electronic warfare capabilities. The brigade has also worked with the Army Research Laboratory to integrate new technology designed to help Soldiers operate on the modern battlefield.

“Our partnership with the Army Research Laboratory is pivotal to the Virginia National Guard’s commitment to modernization and readiness,” McGuire said. “This collaboration ensures our Soldiers are at the forefront of innovation, equipped to counter emerging threats and prepared to excel in overseas deployments. It highlights the vital role our Guard members play in advancing the security of our nation.”

Moore said, “Our brigade is trained and ready to win the first battle alongside the active U.S. Army if our nation calls upon us.”

“JRTC provides the ultimate test of our systems against a world-class opposing force. This ensures that when our Soldiers go to war, they do so with the absolute best preparation,” Moore said.

Read more about the 116th MBCT and their transformation on the Virginia National Guard website.