Category: Security

Source: United States Army

ELLINGTON FIELD JOINT RESERVE BASE, HOUSTON-75th U.S. Army Reserve Innovation Command’s Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander and first sergeant provided their fiscal year 2027 annual training brief to Maj. Gen. Michelle Link, commanding general, 75th USARIC, and to her command staff both virtually and in-person at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, in Houston, Texas, Jan. 24, 2026.

The HHD FY27 YTB allowed discussions to improve their detachment’s training, readiness and status, allowing for Link’s guidance and input to build long-range training plans.

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

AGADIR, Morocco – More than 40 technology vendors will test cutting-edge military capabilities alongside U.S. military forces from April 20 to May 08, 2026, as part of an effort to close the gap between emerging innovation and the warfighter in Morocco during African Lion 26.

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa’s (SETAF-AF) Advanced Capabilities Directorate leads the initiative, serving as the command’s front door for the innovation ecosystem.

“Our ultimate purpose is to translate the senior leader’s vision for transformation into tangible, battlefield-ready capabilities in the hands of our Soldiers,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ramon Leonguerrero, innovation division project manager for ACD.

African Lion, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual training exercise, provides the scale and complexity needed to test how new technologies perform alongside multinational partners and allies.

The exercise prioritizes delivering practical solutions to the warfighter over simply showcasing innovation.

The directorate handles technical scouting and external coordination with industry and academia, filtering for the most promising solutions. This approach brings more than 40 U.S.-based vendors into the exercise to address specific needs, including 10 mission command systems, four deep attack capabilities, 12 defense-in-depth enablers and 15 counter-attack integrators.

Morocco provides unique advantages with expansive ranges, unrestricted airspace and an open electromagnetic spectrum that enable realistic experimentation.

“Our goal is to close the gap between emerging technology and the warfighter, using African Lion 26 to rapidly field and validate the tools and technology needed for a decisive edge,” Leonguerrero said.

A primary focus for SETAF-AF during the exercise is transforming how the combined joint task force headquarters processes data and executes strikes. By shifting from manual reporting to automated, real-time analytics, the command is breaking down information silos.

“The shift is most evident in the accelerated speed of decision-making,” Leonguerrero said.

This acceleration is critical for deep attack operations. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools, and launched effects from six key vendors, the headquarters is fundamentally shortening the kill chain.

“This provides the CJTF headquarters with the ability to detect, track and engage targets with greater speed — and at extended ranges, revolutionizing deep reconnaissance and attack operations,” Leonguerrero said.

The result is increased standoff distance and lethality that enables credible ground deterrence. It equips the land component with cost-effective, faster engagement options, freeing joint forces to concentrate on other strategic priorities. Technologies like the Maven Smart System help build a common operational picture by bridging operational and tactical sensor data across formations.

By integrating these vendors into the exercise, the joint force creates a collaborative ecosystem where developers work side-by-side with operational units.

Units including the 19th Special Forces Group, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater), Army Test and Evaluation Command, and Army Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate are taking these tools from industry into a realistic field environment.

This setup allows for immediate validation. If a piece of equipment fails in the heat and dust of Morocco, the vendor knows immediately. This transparency ensures that solutions are effective for U.S. forces and scalable for coalition warfare.

“We need the ability to scale or make changes to technology rapidly,” Leonguerrero said. “This exercise allows us to test, fail, fix and validate these emerging technologies in an operational environment.”

During the exercise, warfighters will complete digital surveys evaluating equipment performance. The assessment generates real-time data and graphics, producing scorecards for each vendor. This dashboard is sent to the vendors and U.S. Army Europe and Africa to inform development and procurement decisions.

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About African Lion

African Lion is U.S. Africa Command’s largest, premier, joint, annual exercise. This joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employs a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and build readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and around the world.

For more imagery, video and news from African Lion 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

Source: United States Army

BAUMHOLDER, Germany– For some, the path to service is a straight line, for Veterinary Readiness Activity, Rheinland Pfalz, veterinarian and officer in charge of the Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility it had its twists and turns.

Maj. Paulynne Bellen took an unconventional path to her commission, entering the U.S. Army at an age when many are well-established in their careers. Her journey involved leaving a corporate job to return to school at 34, driven by a lifelong goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Originally from the Philippines, Bellen developed an early interest in animal care, often rescuing and rehabilitating injured animals she found. At 20 years old, Bellen moved to the United States with her sister and began a career as a staffing coordinator in New Jersey. However, her ambition to work with animals persisted, so she volunteered at an animal shelter.

At 34, she made the decision to pursue her original dream. The choice meant starting over academically and financially, a risk she fully accepted.

“I gave everything, I had no safety net,” Bellen stated. “I pulled my 401K and quit my career. Giving up was not an option.”

Before applying to veterinary school, she gained international experience by volunteering with World Vets for two years in Nicaragua and Ecuador. Her commitment resulted in acceptances to ten veterinary schools. She ultimately attended The Ohio State University, earning both a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Public Health.

The idea of joining the Army had always lingered in the back of her mind, partly inspired by her brother who had been passionate about enlisting but never got the chance. While it was not her primary plan, it remained a possibility. After earning her veterinary degree, she sought new experiences and applied for a non-appropriated fund veterinary position on a military installation.

The interview for the NAF job proved to be a pivotal moment. The interviewing military veterinarian pointed out that at 39, her time to commission as an Army veterinarian was limited. She was presented with a choice: take the civilian position or enlist.

She chose the latter, commissioning in 2018 after making the decision in 2017. Her recruiter, Sgt. 1st Class (ret.) Erica Rough, provided crucial support and they remain in contact.

“I call her on my good days and I call her on my bad days,” Bellen said. “Joining the military just felt right for the very first time and she made it happen.”

Since joining in 2019, Bellen’s assignments have included stops like First-Year Graduate Veterinary Education at Fort Bragg and being the officer in charge of the Naples Veterinary Treatment Facility at Naval Support Activity in Naples, Italy. She now serves as the OIC in Baumholder, Germany, and is slated to move to Korea to become the 106th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support Chief of Operations.

“It’s a full circle moment,” she noted. “I moved from Asia to the US and now I’m heading back to Asia to continue my service.”

Bellen describes her military service as a positive experience defined by its dynamic nature and sense of community.

“The Army is an experience for me,” she said. “I love the people, the travel and my job. It’s exciting and you never really know what’s next.”

She identifies the collaborative spirit as a key component of her satisfaction with Army life.

“The best part of the Army is that we all come together and support together,” she explained. “We laugh through the tough times and come out stronger.”

Reflecting on her journey, Bellen believes the service has helped her grow personally and professionally. “The Army pushes you to discover a potential you never knew you had,” she concluded.