Category: Security

Source: United States Army

ARLINGTON, Va. – The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recognized National Guard counterdrug programs for supporting 10 award-winning law enforcement investigations during the National Drug Control Awards Ceremony on April 2.

The investigations were part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program, a White House-led effort that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to target major drug trafficking networks across the United States.

“We’re celebrating our High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area groups and recognizing the men and women on the front lines of this fight every day, ensuring our children and our communities are safe,” said Sara Carter, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Nine National Guard counterdrug programs contributed to the investigations, supporting efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and improve public safety.

Twenty-seven National Guard members attended the ceremony and stood alongside their law enforcement and community partners. The awards recognize outstanding law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activity across the country.

National Guard personnel support these investigations by working directly with law enforcement agencies, embedded in multi-jurisdictional task forces. They analyze data, identify key criminal network nodes, and help build cases that lead to arrests and the disruption of larger threat networks, said U.S. Air Force Col. Laurie Rodriguez, National Guard Bureau counterdrug division chief.

The National Guard Counterdrug Program provides criminal analysts, reconnaissance and strategic community engagement support to all 33 HIDTAs.

“Our Guard members act as force multipliers and provide support that enhances the integration of state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies with the detection, interdiction and disruption of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations,” said Rodriguez.

The program, which operates in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia, supports law enforcement agencies with analysis, training and operational coordination. Many of these investigations span multiple states and require close coordination between agencies.

Participating National Guard counterdrug programs included Alabama, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington.

“These awards underscore the power of partnerships in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and related crime,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau. “Together, with our partners, we’re fighting to protect our children and our communities from drug trafficking threats. Just last year, Guard counterdrug operations helped remove $15 billion in illicit narcotics from American communities. We remain committed to this vital mission.”

The National Guard Counterdrug Program conducts a full-spectrum campaign that bridges the gap between Department of War and non-Department of War institutions in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational threats to the homeland. The program supports military, law enforcement and community-based counterdrug operations at all levels of government to anticipate, deter and defeat these threats, enhancing national security and protecting society.

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Source: United States Army

VICENZA, Italy — When Staff Sgt. Michael Martin was up nights caring for his infant daughter, he was also finishing his business administration degree.

At the U.S. Army Garrison Italy 2026 Graduation Ceremony, Martin, 35, a Kansas native with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, recalled holding her while using voice‑to‑text software for a school paper—only to discover it had transcribed him whispering her back to sleep.

“I was holding my daughter to calm her down and I was like, ‘no, no, no, stay asleep,’” Martin said. “The computer wrote that in. When I was revising my paper, I was like, ‘oh, no, I’ve got to take that out before I turn it in.’”

Fifteen graduates received degrees ranging from associate to master’s during the April 9 ceremony at the Golden Lion on Caserma Ederle. The class included Soldiers, spouses and family members earning credentials from the University of Maryland Global Campus, American Military University, the State University of New York, Arizona State and the University of Louisville. Dozens of friends and relatives attended, underscoring the community’s commitment to education.

Martin said earning his degree was a major milestone after three years of balancing school, Army duties and fatherhood.

“I’ve just been grinding it out, trying my best to not only provide for my family, but make a future for us to last forever,” he said, adding that support from his wife and encouragement from colleagues in USAG Italy’s operations directorate kept him motivated.

James Montanio, 18, who graduated from Vicenza High School last year, earned an associate degree and marked the moment by wearing a traditional Italian laurel wreath to honor his great‑grandfather, whose family came from northern Italy. Studying overseas, he said, gave him opportunities he wouldn’t have had stateside, including work at the fitness center and an internship with the garrison public affairs office. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in political science in the United States and hopes to work for the U.S. government.

When keynote speaker Brig. Gen. Daniel Cederman, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, mentioned he earned his master’s through the Army education center in 2007, Montanio immediately noticed—that was the year he was born.

“It’s this full loop of the Army system,” Montanio said. “He was talking about when he got his degree, and now I’m at that point he was talking about.”

Cederman told graduates he understood the challenge of balancing duty, family and night classes. He urged them to decide who they want to be, seize unexpected opportunities and not wait to act.

“This is a milestone achievement,” Cederman said. “I’m speaking from the heart when I say it takes real commitment to get here.”

The USAG Italy Education Center supports Soldiers, families and civilian personnel with counseling, testing and access to accredited college programs, as well as guidance on tuition assistance, credentialing and degree planning. More information is available at the garrison’s Continuing Education Services webpage.

Watch the full graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Garrison Italy YouTube Channel

Source: United States Army

BAUMHOLDER, Germany — On any given day at the Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility, Sgt. Syarra Bermudez can be found moving seamlessly between patient care, leadership responsibilities and mentorship. As a 68T Animal Care Specialist, she represents a growing cohort of Soldiers who are redefining what it means to serve, balancing operational demands with family life and personal advancement.

Bermudez, who enlisted in 2019, did not begin her Army career in veterinary medicine. Initially trained as a combat engineer, she entered the service expecting a path centered on demolitions. Instead, her early experience, shaped by the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, required flexibility.

After graduating from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, she reported to her first duty station at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where she worked in route clearance operations and steadily assumed increasing responsibility. By the time she departed, she had advanced to specialist, serving as a master driver and team leader.

The transition to veterinary services in 2022 marked a return to a longstanding personal goal.

“I always wanted to be a vet tech,” Bermudez said. “I like helping animals and being the voice, they don’t have.”

In 2023, she arrived in Baumholder, where her role quickly expanded beyond clinical duties.

Within a short period, Bermudez was placed in positions of significant responsibility, including serving as a noncommissioned officer in charge. Colleagues describe her leadership style as direct and approachable, with a consistent emphasis on safety and accountability. Bermudez said she prioritizes mentorship, particularly for junior Soldiers.

“I enjoy teaching people and helping them learn something new,” she said. “That’s something I make time for.”

Her professional scope extends into the broader military community. Bermudez regularly participates in town halls and garrison events and plays an active role in organizing training. She recently helped coordinate three international Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care events, bringing together partners to strengthen readiness and interoperability.

These responsibilities coincide with major milestones in her personal life. In January 2023, Bermudez learned she was expecting a child; she gave birth in August of the same year. At the same time, she began pursuing an associate degree, adding academic demands to an already full schedule.

Much of that work takes place after hours. “After my child goes to bed, that’s when I focus on school,” she said. While she acknowledges that time management can be a challenge, she has developed strategies to stay on track. “I make lists and turn things into a competition with myself,” she said.

Bermudez credits her ability to manage competing priorities to a strong support system at home. Part of a dual-military household, she described her husband as a critical partner in maintaining balance. “If I can’t give 100 percent, he’ll pick up the rest,” she said. “That support makes everything possible.”

Despite the demands of her current role, Bermudez is focused on long-term goals. She expects to complete her associate degree soon and plans to become a licensed veterinary technician. Looking ahead, she hopes to attend veterinary school and return to the Army as a commissioned officer.

Her outlook reflects a broader perspective on service and adaptability.

“The Army teaches you how to work through different situations and adjust,” she said. “It’s an organization that continues to change with the times.”

For Bermudez, the most meaningful aspect of her work lies in its impact, whether through patient care, mentorship or everyday interactions. “You have an effect on people, even in small ways,” she said. “Something as simple as saying ‘good morning’ can make a difference.”

As she continues to navigate the demands of military service, education and family life, Bermudez’s trajectory underscores a consistent theme: a willingness to take on challenges, adapt quickly and invest in others along the way.

Source: United States Army

USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – Dietmar Meier, an airfield operations manager with more than four decades of experience all at Hohenfels Army Airfield, concluded his career March 27, 2026 with friends and colleagues on the tarmac of the airfield he dedicated his professional life to.

As part of Meier’s send-off on a clear, cold morning, the airfield’s fire prevention team drove him the length of the airfield.

While the fire prevention team and Meier drove, his colleagues walked from the airfield operations building to just outside a hangar at the other end to take a group photo of the team.

Colleagues knew Meier as “Didi,” a name that had followed him since childhood. Others of his colleagues had a different name for Meier: Mr. Airfield. Meier, for his part, attributes the nickname to him knowing from years of experience most everyone to contact whenever the team needed to accomplish something.

Meier’s connection to the U.S. Army and to Hohenfels partly because his family lived immediately off post in the market town Schmidmühlen.

“I was born in Schmidmühlen,” Meier said. “I grew up in Schmidmühlen. I live in Schmidmühlen. I think I’m going to die there.”

Meier’s father worked for housing on-post, so after schooling, Meier himself decided to apply for a position. He started in September 1983, and, after his probationary period, became part of the airfield crew in February 1984. Meier attributes his longevity in the location to the career field – aviation – being exciting.

“If I look back, the 42 years, this is the truth: I enjoyed every single day,” he said. “I cannot remember a day where I thought I do not want to come to work. It was always exciting.”

After Meier received awards and applause from his colleagues, he took a few moments to speak, thanking his team members and remembering others. He also commended his employer.

“The U.S. Army was always, over my 42, 43 years, a loyal employer,” he said.

Meier plans to spend time at his house in Schmidmühlen, time with his Family elsewhere in Bavaria, and time traveling with his wife to vacation spots throughout Europe.

Source: United States Army

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. — Senior Enlisted Advisor John T. Raines III, the principal advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the New York Army National Guard’s 2026 Best Warrior Competition, where two Soldiers from Buffalo’s 105th Military Police Company emerged as winners.

Spc. Trevor Lock took first place in the junior enlisted Soldier category, while Staff Sgt. Derek Tucker won the noncommissioned officer contest.

Nine Soldiers took part in the March 23–26 event, which was run by the 106th Regional Training Institute.

The competition evaluated Soldiers in physically and mentally demanding events designed to replicate real-world warfighting conditions, according to New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Leylan Jones.

“I learned a lot from this Best Warrior Competition,” Tucker said. “It opened me up to opportunities to learn and train on things that I haven’t before.”

Lock said events like the Best Warrior Competition help build leaders.

“The next generation of leaders can improve from this, not just compete in it,” Lock said. “You can build off this and get a lot of experience with different weapons and courses and gain different knowledge.”

Second place in the NCO category went to Staff Sgt. Justin Jablanski, a combat engineer with the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Spc. Jerry Remy, an infantryman with the 108th Infantry Battalion, finished second in the junior enlisted category.

Lock and Tucker will now compete in the Northeast Regional Competition at Camp Fogarty, Rhode Island, in June for the chance to advance to the National Guard Best Warrior Competition.

Throughout the event, Soldiers navigated situational training exercise lanes, completed land navigation and were tested on their physical fitness through the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment and the Army Fitness Test.

They also completed a written exam, appeared before a board of senior NCOs in their Class A uniforms, conducted a medical skills test and participated in a mystery event — in this case, the air assault obstacle course.

The final challenge was a 12-mile ruck march. Competitors were dropped off by bus at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights, where they conducted their timed march.

The Soldiers also had the opportunity to earn the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency. Earning the badge involves a fitness test, a 100-meter swim in uniform and demonstrating proficiency in first aid and pistol use.

Raines praised all the competitors during the contest awards dinner.

“This competition is not just about who is the fastest, the strongest or even the most technically proficient,” Raines said. “It is about who can embody the profession of arms at its highest level.”

Raines’ visit demonstrated the importance of the event and the caliber of the Soldiers competing, Jones 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