Category: Security

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

Source: United States Army

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – In a significant leap forward for battlefield technology, U.S. Army infantry drone operators have successfully tested a new warhead designed to be delivered by an unmanned aerial system.

The live-fire demonstration of the Bunker Rupture and Kinetic Explosive Round, called BRAKER, which took place at a Redstone Arsenal in Alabama on March 26, comes only weeks after the initial design and rapid prototyping of the system, showcasing the Army’s accelerated approach to innovation in the face of evolving threats.

The Army continuously transforms by using the latest technologies for warfighting advantage, and ensures that the force is lethal, modern and ready. The development of this air-delivered munition directly supports that mission as well as senior leader priorities in readiness and transformation.

The BRAKER project, led by a team from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center and Project Manager Close Combat Systems — a project office under the U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Ammunition and Energetics — aimed to create a lightweight, powerful and lethal warhead that could be deployed from a small, agile drone.

“Our Picatinny team went from concept to live-fire in two weeks,” said Col. Vincent Morris, Project Manager Close Combat Systems. “BRAKER proves our ability to rapidly develop and safely deliver devastating effects from small unmanned aircraft systems. We are now creating the architecture with Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit and the small universal payload interface for industry to scale this critical warfighter advantage.”

The Picatinny CLIK is a safe and effective method for integrating lethal payloads with UAS platforms, designed and developed by DEVCOM Armaments Center engineers.

The rapid development-to-testing timeline of BRAKER was made possible by the Army’s emphasis on additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing.

Beginning in early March, Armaments Center engineers began design, explosive pressing, housing manufacture, and integration of the warhead to be used on a low-cost and expendable one-way attack drone.

Shortly thereafter, transfer and compatibility tests were conducted at Picatinny and approximately a dozen warheads were assembled, with one being tested on a makeshift bunker on one of the installation’s test ranges.

After proving worthiness and validating effectiveness, the prototype warheads departed Picatinny for Redstone where a live demonstration was conducted for U.S. Army leadership.

The successful detonation of the device deployed on a drone on a designated target demonstrates a new and potent capability for the modern warfighter and illustrates how engineers can quickly design, fabricate, and integrate hardware to meet urgent and compelling needs.

“Rapid demonstrations of overwhelming lethality such as BRAKER are attributed to years of continued technology investments and the organic core technical competencies and facilities resident at the DEVCOM Armaments Center,” said Anthony Sebasto, executive director, Munitions Engineering and Technology Center.

Source: United States Army

Ramstein, Germany– Seventh and eighth graders at Ramstein Middle School recently solved an environmental mystery with the help of local experts. Scientists and engineers from Public Health Command Europe visited the school for a hands-on learning event that brought real-world science to the classroom.

The centerpiece of the event was “The Mystery of the Ailing Ram,” an elaborate scenario where students had to investigate the mysterious illness of the school’s mascot. Working in small teams, the students analyzed simulated water and soil samples, studied insect life and learned about the principles of environmental health to uncover the source of the “ailment.”

The event was initiated by Lindsey Foulkes, the school’s Career and Technical Education teacher for 7th and 8th grade, who wanted to offer her students more hands on experience in environmental health science but also introduce them to the subject matter experts from PHCE.

“My goal is to show them that science is not just something you read about in a book,” Foulkes said. “It’s a hands-on, problem-solving adventure that can make a real difference in the world.”

The students were guided by a team from PHCE’s Environmental Health and Sciences division, who shared their expertise in fields ranging from microbiology and water systems to entomology and pollution control. The students were captivated by the opportunity to use professional scientific equipment and techniques.

“It was like being in a real-life detective show,” said one 8th-grade student. “We had to follow the clues, test our theories and work together as a team to solve the case. It was more fun than a regular science class.”

Michael Bates, Environmental Technician at Public Health Command Europe, praised the students’ enthusiasm and curiosity.

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to guide Ms. Foulkes’ 7th and 8th grade environmental class through a real-world environmental investigation,” said Bates. “It was rewarding to witness the curiosity and intellect of the students. They brought the scientific method into our investigation as they formed a hypothesis, got their hands dirty through the collection the data, and analyzed the results to solve the mystery.”

The event was a resounding success, not only in solving the mystery of the ailing ram but also in sparking a passion for science and environmental stewardship in the next generation. Ms. Foulkes and the PHCE EHS team are already discussing plans for future collaborations, including a possible field trip to the PHCE facilities.