Category: Security

Source: United States Army

POZNAN, Poland — U.S. Army soldiers partnered with Polish elementary students for a day of athletic competition here June 1, reinforcing community ties in the NATO-allied nation during a local Children’s Sports Day celebration.

This visit is part of a growing relationship between U.S. Army Garrison Poland and local schools. Last holiday season, students and staff performed a Christmas carol concert during the garrison’s tree lighting ceremony, a gesture deeply appreciated by military personnel and their families.

This year’s sports day, organized by the school, brought together 200 students ranging from ages 7 to 14, alongside teachers and parents. All were eager to experience a day in the life of a U.S. Soldier.

“Today was a very special day to bond with the Polish school children,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Javonte Smith, a religious affairs non-commissioned officer with the 510th Regional Support Group. “They were all so welcoming, and it is a blessing to share this experience with them.”

The day’s events included a military-themed fitness circuit adapted for children, culminating in a highly anticipated, friendly volleyball match.

To warm up, Soldiers led the children through a set of pushups. The students then completed jumping jacks and cardio drills, with some even trying on military tactical gear to experience the added weight.

The main event took place in the school gymnasium, where students lined the court to watch their peers face off against the Soldiers in a best-of-three volleyball match. While the students ultimately defeated the Soldiers, the scoreboard took a backseat to the camaraderie in the gym.

“Being able to have this experience really gave me a taste of home that I miss by being away from my own kids,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joseph Callaway, a signal support sergeant with the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, 353rd Civil Affairs Command. “Seeing the smiles on their faces and how much fun they were having made it all worth it. I look forward to more community engagements in the future.”

As the day wrapped up, proud parents watched their children interact with the service members, with many students lining up to take photos with their new American friends.

The 510th Regional Support Group, 7th Mission Support Command, is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and co-located in Poznan, Poland, where it provides base operation support to seven installation sites across the Baltics. As a rotational unit, the 510th RSG sustains the readiness of V Corps and NATO forces defending the eastern flank

Source: United States Army

ANSBACH, Germany — USAG Ansbach holds its next Community Leaders’ Information Forum (CLIF) Wednesday, June 17, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Von Steuben Community Center.

The CLIF is held quarterly and open to the USAG Ansbach community. The intent is to enable communication between Ansbach community spouses, unit FRG leaders, Garrison leadership, and key service partners.

The CLIF will be live-streamed on the Garrison Facebook page at Facebook.com/USAGAnsbachCommunity.

The CLIF addresses garrison services, community updates, and provides community members the opportunity to interact directly with directorates and service providers. Information is shared, feedback is heard, and conversation is encouraged.

The March 2026 CLIF slides are available at: https://go.mil/ansbach-clifslidesmarch2026. Updated slides for June 2026 will be made available here.

Source: United States Army

ANSBACH, Germany — USAG Ansbach holds its next Community Leaders’ Information Forum (CLIF) Wednesday, June 18, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Von Steuben Community Center.

The CLIF is held quarterly and open to the USAG Ansbach community. The intent is to enable communication between Ansbach community spouses, unit FRG leaders, Garrison leadership, and key service partners.

The CLIF will be live-streamed on the Garrison Facebook page at Facebook.com/USAGAnsbachCommunity.

The CLIF addresses garrison services, community updates, and provides community members the opportunity to interact directly with directorates and service providers. Information is shared, feedback is heard, and conversation is encouraged.

The March 2026 CLIF slides are available at: https://go.mil/ansbach-clifslidesmarch2026. Updated slides for June 2026 will be made available here.

Source: United States Army

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Military Department participated in the 2026 Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) May 18-21, marking twelve years of interagency partnership.

SAREX focuses on disaster response preparedness for search and rescue organizations to better prepare for natural disasters and improve interagency coordination between state and federal partners. This year’s exercise integrated rotary-wing rescue assets with unmanned aircraft systems teams to improve situational awareness and communication between agencies.

“One of the rescue sites, Camp Bullis, provided a realistic disaster environment that first responders could face including power lines, trees, roof extractions and more,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rob Meischen, a SAREX planner from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade. “Collectively this training is exactly what aircrews, hoist personnel, ground teams, and UAS operators need to help validate training and processes so we are better prepared for the next Kerrville or Hurricane Harvey.”

There were 22 aircraft from 13 different agencies, including the U.S. Air Force 41st Rescue Squadron, National Guard units and Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Teams (HART) from Arkansas and Indiana, and the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. With over 335 attendees, there were 275 hoists, 339 personnel moved, and over 84 hours flown.

“Last year, SAREX was held less than two months before the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country and central Texas during the July Fourth weekend, which claimed the lives of 136 people,” said Brett Dixon, the assistant chief of Texas A&M Task Force 1 and SAREX director. “The local, state, and federal aviation coordination that rescued and evacuated flooding victims is a testament to the training at SAREX. Our goal is to make sure that all aviation resources in Texas are ready to respond in a coordinated way to help Texans on their worst day.”

SAREX 2026 enables local, state and federal government search-and-rescue aviation to develop better coordination mechanisms for responding to hurricanes and natural disasters in real-world scenarios. The Texas Military Department plays a critical role in disaster response exercises by providing rapid aerial response, personnel transport, and coordinated aviation support alongside civilian emergency agencies, strengthening interagency partnerships that are essential to lifesaving operations.

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

FORT HOOD, Texas — Fort Hood held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand new Barrack 101 on May 19, the latest addition to the improvements to housing and quality of life for Soldiers at The Great Place.

The barrack is part of a project authorized and funded by Congress in fiscal year 2022. Congress appropriated $80 million, but the barrack was completed under budget at $65.5 million.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to deliver this first-class facility for the Soldiers of 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade,” said Brian Dosa, director of the Directorate of Public Works. “We had about 50 Soldiers in formation at the ceremony. When complete, they all made a beeline for the barracks, kind of like kids on Christmas morning! Their excitement and appreciation were evident and that’s why we serve. We now have 101 barracks on post, and this is the very best one.”

Sgt. Ramiro Soto Gomez, narrator for the ceremony and Soldier assigned to 69th ADA Bde., thanked the partners who assisted in the construction of the barrack during his remarks.

“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cerris Builders, Dominion Energy and American Water to deliver this new facility for our Soldiers, on time and below budget,” he said.

The new barrack will house Soldiers assigned to 69th ADA Bde. It can house 248 Soldiers in 124 rooms. Each room features two separate bedrooms with their own walk-in closets, and a shared bathroom and kitchenette. The kitchenette features a convection microwave, along with an electric stovetop with two burners.

There are three floors, each with its own laundry rooms and communal lounge rooms. Additionally, the first floor features a pool table, foosball table and a fully equipped fitness room while the second and third floors offer balconies.

In addition to the new barrack, there are also seven covered areas nearby complete with a grill and an outdoor fitness area for Soldiers to use.

Command Sgt. Maj. Javier Casanova, command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th ADA Bde., noted Soldiers have expressed significant satisfaction regarding the transition into Barrack 101. Pfc. Kiresten Smith, 69th ADA Bde., agreed.

“It makes me feel more comfortable mentally,” she said of the updated rooms. “It puts me in a better space because I can make this more of my home space.”

The amenities provide a variety of new opportunities, convenience and boost morale, Smith expressed.

“It gives us the opportunity to meet other people and to talk to other people in the lounge room,” she said. “Then I like the built-in weight room; that’s nice. It saves us time, gas, money from going to the gym. We could just go downstairs and work out.”

The upgraded amenities significantly improve support for unaccompanied Soldiers’ quality of life, Casanova said.

“The completion of the new barrack facility has driven an immediate increase in morale across 1-44 ADAR, positively impacting both the Soldiers residing in the building and unit leadership,” Casanova, said. “Furthermore, its placement within the Lightning Brigade’s footprint facilitates greater leader presence and enables more effective barracks oversight.”

Barrack 101 is far from the last of the improvements to housing for Soldiers. Dosa said the next project is a 224-bed barrack planned in the 10000 block, near the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Headquarters.