Source: United States Airforce
In his first major address since becoming Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Ken Wilsbach highlighted readiness and how the service is responding to a complex and ambiguous strategic environment.
Defense News: Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers Receive French Medal for Actions in Iraq
Source: United States Army
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers who helped rescue 34 French special forces during an August 2023 firefight in Iraq received the French equivalent of the Bronze Star during a Feb. 22 ceremony at Army Aviation Support Facility 2.
The Soldiers, assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th General Support Aviation Battalion, were presented with the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star during the ceremony in Rochester.
The aviation Soldiers were honored for providing rapid aerial support to French special operations forces who were pinned down under enemy fire near Hawija, Iraq, on the night of Aug. 28 and 29, 2023. The French unit was conducting a mission against ISIS terrorists.
Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the New York National Guard’s assistant adjutant general, Army, who presented the French medals, praised the Soldiers for their quick response in loading up and moving a French quick reaction force of 30 troops into the fight.
“We’re very proud of what they’ve done as aviators, but I’d say more importantly, I’m very proud of them being New York National Guard Soldiers,” Natali said after the ceremony.
“The operation they were involved in happened in the dark of night,” he told reporters.
“The French government did not have to recognize our Soldiers, but they went that extra mile to identify our Soldiers who were working that evening to keep their soldiers safe. We’re very appreciative of what the French government has done in recognizing our troops,” Natali said.
The medals were authorized by French General Thierry Burkhard, then France’s Chief of National Defense Staff, in March 2024.
At the time of the mission, the New York Army National Guard aviation crews were on standby at Erbil Air Base as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the multinational effort to counter the Islamic State group terrorist operations in the region.
When the approximately 35 French Special Forces troops took casualties and requested reinforcement and extraction, two CH-47F Chinook helicopters crewed by the Rochester-based B Company launched in support.
Within 30 minutes, the aircrews loaded about 30 French commandos to relieve them and flew nearly 70 miles to the objective area, then stayed nearby, ready to provide follow-on support.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christopher Scott, a Rochester resident who served as air mission commander during the operation, said uncertainty upon arrival created immediate challenges.
“The biggest challenge was not knowing the situation on the ground or what support we had until we got on station,” said Scott, who joined the New York Army National Guard in 2002.
He added that once they made radio contact and confirmed their location, they adjusted the grid, coordinated with the other aircraft and their crews and identified the support available to them.
Scott said the crew’s preparation and cohesion were critical to the mission’s success.
“I’m most proud of the way the crew came together,” he said. “They had the aircraft ready to go.”
“While I was receiving the mission, the crew was already preparing the aircraft,” Scott said.
Once Scott briefed them, they conducted a short planning session on the way and were ready to execute.
Sgt. Jedediah Estrada, a Horseheads resident who served as a door gunner during the mission, said the recognition carries lasting personal meaning.
“Afterward, I read the French press release about the death of Sgt. Nicolas Mazier, [the] paratrooper with the French commandos who was killed in combat,” Estrada said. “I’ve remembered him ever since.”
“Being honored by the French government is a way for me to continue honoring his legacy — not just what our unit was able to do, but what we accomplished together with our partner force,” Estrada said.
“It really brings together why we were there and what we were working to defeat,” he added.
Also recognized during the ceremony were:
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Aaron Taylor of Blasdell, New York, who is now retired but has served in the New York National Guard since 2009.
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jared Twigg of Rochester, who joined the New York Army National Guard in 2007.
- Staff Sgt. Samuel Sacco of Lockport, New York, who enlisted in the Army Guard in 2004, served until 2012, and then reenlisted in 2019.
- Sgt. Zachary Albright of Elba, New York, who enlisted in the New York Army Guard in 2022. Albright is attending a military school and was unable to attend the ceremony.
The French National Defense Medal, known as the Médaille de la Défense nationale, was established April 21, 1982, by then French Minister of Defense Charles Hernu to recognize honorable and meritorious service in support of France’s national defense.
The medal is awarded in three grades, bronze, silver and gold, reflecting increasing levels of distinguished service. The gold grade recognizes particularly distinguished contributions to national defense.
When accompanied by a bronze star device, the medal signifies the recipient was officially recognized at the regimental or brigade level for notable operational service during multinational missions.
The decoration may be awarded to both French service members and allied military personnel and serves as a symbol of professional excellence and international military cooperation.
Detachment 1 of B Company operates seven CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.
The unit falls under the 42nd Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade’s 642nd Aviation Support Battalion and has conducted numerous deployments overseas and disaster response operations at home.
Related Links
The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil
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The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard
Defense News: Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti
Source: United States Army
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NAIROBI, Kenya – Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially began Feb. 24 across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
The exercise strengthens cooperation and advances regional security by enabling partner-led security operations against shared threats.
The exercise, running through March 13, 2026, serves as a premier innovation hub in East Africa. JA26 is designed to validate new technologies in austere environments while enabling partner-led security operations against shared counter-terrorism threats.
The exercise features a comprehensive suite of training events designed to test the full spectrum of military operations.
“The true strength of Justified Accord lies in our partners taking the lead, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Fernandez, the Justified Accord branch chief, SETAF-AF. “This exercise embodies the principle of burden sharing, creating a powerful, partner-led security network capable of shouldering the responsibility for a stable and prosperous East Africa.”
The two-week exercise features a training approach tailored to shared regional security needs.
In Kenya, activities focus on enhancing joint command and control, including a multinational live-fire exercise, a command post exercise integrating special operations and conventional forces, air-to-ground integration, and defensive cyber operations centered in Nairobi and Isiolo.
In Tanzania, the focus is readiness, global force projection, and joint readiness for crisis response. The exercise features a bilateral field training exercise on jungle warfare and counter-improvised explosive devices, alongside a medical readiness exercise to support local communities and increase U.S. medical readiness.
JA26 heavily leverages the National Guard Bureau’s state partnership program to deepen long-term military relationships.
The Massachusetts National Guard continues its decade-long partnership with Kenya, leading complex kinetic training, while the Nebraska National Guard builds upon its newly developed partnership with Tanzania, focusing on expeditionary medical and ground force readiness.
The training concludes with distinguished visitor days, showcasing the tangible return on investment of this multinational partnership and shared security cooperation.
During the JA26 distinguished visitor days, in coordination with the U.S. military and the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. Embassy Nairobi), selected U.S. and African vendors will set up technology expositions.
The industry day will directly connect commercial technological solutions with military and interagency end-users, fostering collaboration and aligning innovation with operational requirements focused on counter-terrorism, unmanned aerial systems, and counter-UAS capabilities.
“A truly resilient joint force is powered by a thriving defense ecosystem,” added Fernandez. “What you will see is that ecosystem in action, a strategic partnership between our warfighters and commercial innovators from both the U.S. and our partners.”
Related Stories
About Justified Accord
Justified Accord increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and hosted in Kenya and Tanzania, JA is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa, with approximately 1,500 participants.
For more imagery, video and news from Justified Accord visit 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
Defense News: U.S. security force assistance brigade trains Djiboutian rapid intervention force
Source: United States Army
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U.S. Soldiers assigned to Logistics Company Advising Team 6640 of 6th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade, trained 80 members of Djibouti’s 2nd Company, Bataillon d’Intervention Rapide (Rapid Intervention Battalion) in night range operations on Goubet Range, Djibouti, Oct. 15-Nov. 25, 2025.
The 54th SFAB, a subordinate unit to Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), dedicated one training evening per week to 20 Soldiers from each BIR company. Personnel with the East Africa Response Force from Camp Lemonnier’s security forces battalion provided additional support.
According to U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Neil Limper, executive officer for the advising team in Djibouti, this train-the-trainer effort was typical of the SFAB’s mission to conduct security force assistance operations worldwide.
“This training was conducted at the operational and tactical level to develop the capacity, capability and interoperability of [Djiboutian] partner forces, as well as their supporting institutions to accomplish theater security cooperation objectives,” Limper said.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Holzrichter, assistant team leader, explained that their mission successfully embedded a cadre of night-fire trainers across three maneuver companies and the headquarters company of the Djiboutian unit.
“Having received this training, Djiboutian BIR personnel showed they could independently train their remaining forces,” Holzrichter said. “This marks a significant milestone in their operational self-sufficiency. It shows their training coordinators now have a framework to build tactics, techniques and procedures to integrate night fire into their future training.”
Limper noted that the Djibouti Armed Forces is an important strategic partner for U.S. Africa Command in the Horn of Africa in a relationship focused on counterterrorism, as well as regional security and stability. The BIR’s mission primarily concentrates on security concerns, combatting extremism and executing specialized missions.
“Having a partner force that is just as capable as our own forces makes for a more formidable partner,” Limper said.
U.S. Army Maj. Micah Bennett, BIR logistics advisor, said that the BIR’s improved capacity will alleviate the training burden for future SFAB advisor teams and create a benchmark for future teams’ evaluations. Participating in this training also served as a demonstration of Djibouti’s commitment to burden-sharing in regional security matters.
“The BIR is an internal defense force,” Bennett said. “Having a unit capable of operating in low visibility conditions allows the Djiboutian military to better defend their country.”
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
Defense News: Justified Accord 2026 begins in Kenya, Tanzania
Source: United States Army
Back to
NAIROBI, Kenya – Exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26), U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially begins today across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), JA26 integrates approximately 1,500 personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States and several other nations to build readiness, deepen partnerships and strengthen regional security.
The exercise strengthens cooperation and advances regional security by enabling partner-led security operations against shared threats.
The exercise, running through March 13, 2026, serves as a premier innovation hub in East Africa. JA26 is designed to validate new technologies in austere environments while enabling partner-led security operations against shared counter-terrorism threats.
The exercise features a comprehensive suite of training events designed to test the full spectrum of military operations.
“The true strength of Justified Accord lies in our partners taking the lead, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Fernandez, the Justified Accord branch chief, SETAF-AF. “This exercise embodies the principle of burden sharing, creating a powerful, partner-led security network capable of shouldering the responsibility for a stable and prosperous East Africa.”
The two-week exercise features a training approach tailored to shared regional security needs.
In Kenya, activities focus on enhancing joint command and control, including a multinational live-fire exercise, a command post exercise integrating special operations and conventional forces, air-to-ground integration, and defensive cyber operations centered in Nairobi and Isiolo.
In Tanzania, the focus is readiness, global force projection, and joint readiness for crisis response. The exercise features a bilateral field training exercise on jungle warfare and counter-improvised explosive devices, alongside a medical readiness exercise to support local communities and increase U.S. medical readiness.
JA26 heavily leverages the National Guard Bureau’s state partnership program to deepen long-term military relationships.
The Massachusetts National Guard continues its decade-long partnership with Kenya, leading complex kinetic training, while the Nebraska National Guard builds upon its newly developed partnership with Tanzania, focusing on expeditionary medical and ground force readiness.
The training concludes with distinguished visitor days, showcasing the tangible return on investment of this multinational partnership and shared security cooperation.
During the JA26 distinguished visitor days, in coordination with the U.S. military and the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. Embassy Nairobi), selected U.S. and African vendors will set up technology expositions.
The industry day will directly connect commercial technological solutions with military and interagency end-users, fostering collaboration and aligning innovation with operational requirements focused on counter-terrorism, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and counter-UAS capabilities.
“A truly resilient joint force is powered by a thriving defense ecosystem,” added Fernandez. “What you will see is that ecosystem in action, a strategic partnership between our warfighters and commercial innovators from both the U.S. and our partners.”
Related Stories
About Justified Accord
Justified Accord increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance and crisis response, prepares regional partners for United Nations and African Union missions and builds readiness for the U.S. joint force. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and hosted in Kenya and Tanzania, JA is U.S. Africa Command’s largest exercise in East Africa, with approximately 1,500 participants.
For more imagery, video and news from Justified Accord visit 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
Defense News in Brief: DAF increases B-21 Raider production capacity to deliver combat capability faster
Source: United States Airforce
The Department of the Air Force and Northrop Grumman Corp. have reached an agreement to expand production capacity for the B-21 Raider, accelerating delivery of the Air Force’s next-generation stealth bomber fleet.
Defense News in Brief: Air Force issues new guidance to streamline Line of Duty decisions for Reservists, Guardsmen on extended active-duty orders
Source: United States Airforce
The Department of the Air Force released updated guidance intended to accelerate Line of Duty determinations for Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members serving on extended active‑duty orders.
Defense News in Brief: Fort Gordon to gain ANG cyber operations squadrons
Source: United States Airforce
The Department of the Air Force has selected Fort Gordon, Georgia, as the preferred location for two Air National Guard cyber operations squadrons.
Defense News in Brief: DAF exploring lease opportunities for data centers in Alaska
Source: United States Airforce
The DAF is gauging interest for data center construction in Alaska. Interested parties have until March 13 to submit a response.
Defense News: Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Win Innovation Title at Army’s Best Drone Warfighter Competition
Source: United States Army
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers won the innovation category at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, showcasing cutting-edge unmanned aircraft system technology developed at Fort Indiantown Gap.
The competition, held Feb. 17–19 at the Huntsville Test Range in Huntsville, Alabama, brought together Soldiers from active-duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve units. It featured three categories: Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad and Best Innovation.
The 28th ID innovation team, – 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr, won the innovation competition.
The team’s project, dubbed Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone), utilized a drone equipped with AI-enabled object-recognition software to identify downed enemy or friendly drones and a robotic, 3D-printed, carbon fiber arm with claw to grab the downed drone and fly it back for intel exploitation or repair.
“This is a great achievement for the team and the UAS facility as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole,” said Reed, the 28th ID team captain. “Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes to what the team has been doing and the hard work they’ve been putting in, and it highlights the Pennsylvania National Guard and what we’re able to accomplish.”
The innovation competition consisted of a Shark Tank-style pitch on the first day, followed by a live demonstration on the second day.
“The judges were very impressed with everything we went through,” Reed said. “We got a lot of positive feedback and a lot of opportunity to continue working further with the Army Research Laboratory. They were highly impressed with what we were able to put together.”
Reed, who is the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Training and Innovation Facility commander at Fort Indiantown Gap, said he was able to view some of the other teams’ projects in the innovation category, and the competition was stiff.
“They did a lot of great work and put a lot of other great projects out there, so it was great for the UAS community in the Army as a whole to be able to come together and collaborate ideas,” Reed said. “It was a great honor for our team and for the state to be recognized as the top project amongst all the other great competitors in the event.”
In addition to the innovation team, Capt. Christopher Rongione competed in the operator category, and a team of Wehr and Sgt. Tyler Beck competed in the tactical squad category.
The tactical squad category, also referred to as the hunter-killer competition, began with a physical challenge that included weighted medical litter drags, overhead water can presses and sandbag carries. Competitors then moved 1,000 meters with their gear to a target area, where they employed their “hunter” drone to identify targets, submit an enemy activity report — known as a SALUTE report — and engage targets with the “killer” drone.
“In both categories, our team put in a lot of hard work and had a great showing, but unfortunately didn’t come out on top,” Reed said.
The 28th ID was the only Army National Guard unit to compete in all three events.
Dan Driscoll, the Army secretary, attended the awards ceremony on Feb. 19 and presented the winners with plaques.
In addition to a plaque, the 28th ID team also received an Army Research Lab drone prototype and a one-year research-and-development agreement, allowing the 28th ID to assist ARL with design improvements.
“We’re excited to continue to have incredible support from state and division level leadership,” Reed said. “They’ve been very helpful and very supportive of everything we’re doing, and it’s allowing us to highlight what we can do at our facility. And, I’m super proud of my entire team and everything they’re doing.”