Category: US Army

Source: United States Army

TAHITI, French Polynesia — Soldiers assigned to the 1st Theater Information Advantage
Detachment (TIAD), U.S. Army Pacific’s newest information advantage organization and the first unit of its kind in the theater, participated in the Marara Cyber Challenge for the first time during Exercise Marara 26, working alongside military, government, and civilian cyber professionals from across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen cyber readiness and build multinational partnerships.

Marara 26, a multinational exercise led by the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, brings together partner nations from across the Pacific to improve interoperability, enhance collective readiness, and strengthen regional security cooperation. This year’s exercise expanded into the cyber domain with the addition of the Marara Cyber Challenge, providing participants an opportunity to tackle realistic cyber threats while sharing expertise with international partners.

The challenge brought together participants from the United States, France, the Pacific Response Group (PRG), a regional multinational emergency response organization, and other partner organizations to solve cyber defense problems in a collaborative environment designed to test technical skills, communication, and teamwork.

“The Marara Cyber Challenge is a capture-the-flag event,” said U.S. Army Capt. Noah Demoes, a cyber capabilities developer assigned to the 1st TIAD. “We work together as a joint team to integrate our tactics, techniques, and procedures to identify vulnerabilities.”

While the challenge focused on cybersecurity, participants said its greatest value was the opportunity to learn from international partners and gain exposure to different approaches to cyber operations.

“It helps us understand different points of view and ways of completing the task at hand,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Lawrence Cook, a cyber operations specialist assigned to the 1st TIAD.

Throughout the event, multinational teams worked together to defend networks, solve technical challenges, and share expertise. Participants exchanged knowledge and gained a better understanding of how partner nations approach cyber defense.

“Their level of knowledge on cyber operations,” said U.S. Army Capt. Jermell Chester, an
electromagnetic warfare officer assigned to the 1st TIAD. “They have an immense amount of knowledge, and they’ve been able to shed light on things for us as well.”

French Army Sgt. Erwan, assigned to the Army Forces in French Polynesia, said the cyber component reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity across the region.

“Cyber has become more and more important,” Erwan said. “Seeing how nations work on a capture-the-flag challenge can improve each other’s knowledge.”

Participants also worked through language barriers and differing approaches to cyber operations, challenges they said ultimately strengthened communication and teamwork.

“We learn how other people work, and sometimes we discover new ways of seeing things,” Erwan said.

As teams progressed through the challenge, collaboration consistently proved to be the key to success.

“The more that we collaborated, the more efficient we were at achieving the end state,” Demoes said. “We each bring a unique background, and usually that background helps at one piece of the puzzle.”

Beyond technical training, participants built professional relationships that they said will continue after the exercise concludes.

“We know these people now,” Cook said. “We have their contacts, and we can always schedule different times to train. Being that it’s cyber, we don’t have to come here to do it. We can do it online.”

Those relationships support one of the primary objectives of multinational exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific: building trust and strengthening partnerships before real-world challenges emerge.

“I think participation in this exercise is something that I would advocate for moving forward,” Demoes said. “Not just for the experience and gaining more technical experience but building that rapport and trust among different nations.”

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Marara Cyber Challenge demonstrated that effective cyber defense depends not only on technical expertise, but also on strong partnerships. Through collaboration and shared learning, Soldiers from the 1st TIAD and their multinational partners strengthened both their cyber readiness and their ability to operate together across the Indo-Pacific.

Source: United States Army

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173rd Mobile Brigade Combat Team (Airborne)

NORMANDY, France – For U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Torrance, standing on the historic grounds of Normandy isn’t just a professional milestone. It is a moment that connects his service to the legacy of his family members who fought here during World War II.

Torrance, the fire support noncommissioned officer for “Attack Company,” 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, traveled to France to participate in D‑Day 82 commemorations. But his reasons run deeper than unit pride or historical interest.

“I am participating in the Normandy commemorations to honor my family’s legacy,” Torrance said. “My grandfather and his brother were both part of the liberation of France during World War II. My great uncle landed on Utah Beach during D‑Day as a medic.”

His great uncle, U.S. Navy Petty Officer William J. Mundy, served as a hospital corpsman aboard LST‑496, a tank landing ship that spent a week supporting operations off the coast of Normandy. On June 11, 1944, the ship struck a mine, killing three crew members and sending the vessel to the bottom. Mundy survived the blast and was evacuated to a naval recovery facility in England.

Torrance’s grandfather, U.S. Army Cpl. Charles Mundy, entered the European theater shortly afterward. In a twist of fate that became a treasured family story, the brothers unexpectedly reunited in England after two years apart. A 1944 newspaper article captured the moment, which was a rare coincidence amid the massive mobilization of Allied forces.

“There were tens of thousands of personnel moving through the theater,” Torrance said. “The fact that they found each other again is incredible.”

Eighty‑two years later, Torrance walked the same coastline where his great uncle risked his life to save others. Though he had visited Normandy before as an amateur historian, this was his first time attending official D‑Day remembrance events.

“Being in Normandy during D‑Day festivities hits different,” he said. “This is an incredibly powerful area to be in. You can feel it in the air, the presence of those who fought here and the battles that took place.”

For Torrance, wearing the 173rd Airborne Brigade patch in this setting adds another layer of meaning.

The brigade’s lineage traces back to the storied airborne operations of World War II, primarily in the Pacific theater, then again in Vietnam and Afghanistan, where the brigade’s paratroopers received multiple Congressional Medals of Honor.

“It really is something special, and it’s a major honor to be here while wearing the 173rd Airborne patch,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest honors of my life. I feel extremely humbled to be walking on these grounds.”

His family shares that pride.

Torrance said relatives, including his great uncle’s sister, who is still alive, have been sending him photos, newspaper clippings and wartime documents as he retraces the footsteps of the Mundy brothers.

“They told me I’m bringing incredible honor back to my family for coming here,” he said. “It makes it even more significant that I get to be here in Normandy while representing the 173rd Airborne.”

As thousands gather across northern France to mark the 82nd anniversary of the largest amphibious invasion in history, Torrance stands among them not only as a Sky Soldier, but as a grandson and great nephew carrying forward a legacy forged on these same beaches.

“It’s humbling,” he said. “And it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Source: United States Army

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of South Korea – Sixteen Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, based out of Johnston, Iowa, recently traveled to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to support Operation Freedom Shield 2026. Freedom Shield is an annual, defense-focused exercise conducted under the framework of the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. The exercise integrates ground, air, maritime, space, cyber and information capabilities to enhance the U.S.-ROK alliance’s ability to respond to a range of security challenges while reinforcing deterrence and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Throughout the exercise, U.S., ROK and United Nations Command forces executed a series of live, virtual and constructive training events, including noncombatant evacuation operations, reception, staging, onward movement and integration, and counter–weapons of mass destruction scenarios. These events are designed to replicate realistic conditions and improve combined warfighting effectiveness.

While large-scale maneuver and operational training remained central to the exercise, the information environment played a critical role in shaping understanding, maintaining transparency and supporting command decision-making. The 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment contributed to this effort across multiple operational elements, demonstrating the full spectrum of MPAD capabilities.

“The Soldiers of the 135th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment continue to demonstrate why they are such a critical asset to the readiness and success of the Iowa National Guard and our nation’s military,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, Adjutant General, Iowa National Guard. “Exercises like Freedom Shield provide invaluable opportunities to train alongside our allies, strengthen partnerships, and operate in complex, real-world environments. Public affairs professionals play a vital role in modern military operations by ensuring commanders, service members, partners, and the public receive accurate, timely information.”

Assigned across several commands, Soldiers with the 135th MPAD provided direct support to senior leaders, operational units and simulation environments. At Eighth Army headquarters based at Camp Humphreys – about 40 miles south of Seoul, the nation’s capital – MPAD leadership supported noncombatant evacuation operations working groups. They collaborated with staff sections to ensure timely, accurate and coordinated communication during simulated large-scale evacuations. These efforts underscored the role of public affairs in synchronizing messaging during complex operations.

“In large-scale operations like Freedom Shield, communication elements are what turn complexity into coordination,” said Maj. Melanie Sharp, commander of the 135th MPAD. “This type of operation takes synchronization across joint forces, multinational partners and multiple warfighting functions. Communication isn’t just simply passing on information, it’s how the entire operation functions as one force.”

Those assigned to Eighth Army headquarters integrated into the staff to deliver daily assessments of the information environment and provide messaging guidance to commanders. The team developed a range of products in response to evolving scenarios, including press releases, media responses, social media content and crisis communication plans.

In addition to command-level integration, 135th MPAD Soldiers embedded with operational units to capture and produce multimedia content highlighting combined training. Soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division to document tactical movements, live-fire exercises, key leader engagements, and produce photo and video products for distribution to military and civilian audiences.

These multimedia products supported transparency and reinforced the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance by showcasing combined training and readiness efforts. Across the exercise, 135th MPAD products contributed to a broader communication effort that generated thousands of views, engagements and shares across official platforms.

Another element of the 135th MPAD operated within the Korea Battle Simulation Center as opposing force (OPFOR) media, replicating a realistic information environment. This team produced articles, conducted simulated press engagements and generated social media activity to challenge the training audience and test response strategies.

“Being connected with the United States Forces Korea during Operation Freedom Shield allowed me to see wartime public affairs through a different lens as I portrayed opposing media,” said Sgt. Matthew Tudor, exercise OPFOR with the 135th MPAD. “The multinational level of the exercise opened my eyes to the gravity of how media impacts the landscape of a wartime environment.”

This role highlighted the evolving nature of modern military operations, where information is a critical domain alongside traditional warfighting functions. By introducing realistic media pressure and narrative challenges, the OPFOR team helped train leaders to operate effectively in contested information environments.

Master Sgt. Nicole Leidholm, American Forces Network, Yokota Air Base, Japan, served as an exercise controller public affairs officer, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the mission.

“The people were what made this experience stand out,” Leidholm said. “Working alongside our Republic of Korea counterparts and other information professionals provided an opportunity to share knowledge and build lasting relationships.”

Additional 135th MPAD personnel supported sustainment and military police operations in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, covering logistics, base defense and detainee operations, as well as key leader visits. These efforts ensured comprehensive documentation of the exercise and supported operational messaging across multiple commands.

Freedom Shield 2026 reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea and demonstrated the alliance’s commitment to maintaining readiness and regional security. The integration of public affairs into every level of the exercise highlighted the capacity of MPADs to provide commanders with communication support, operational awareness and strategic messaging. From senior-level advising to frontline documentation and information operations, the 135th MPAD enabled commanders to communicate effectively in a complex environment.

Source: United States Army

More than 65 members of the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment Association (2-1 Cavalry Association) gathered to honor and remember their fallen comrades during a ceremony May 29, 2026, at Memorial Chapel at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as part of the association’s 2026 reunion.
The ceremony paid tribute to Black Hawk troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation, as well as those who have recently passed away. As each name was read aloud, association members placed a flower on a wreath to remember, pay their respects, and ensure none are ever forgotten.
Following the event, association members were given a tour of the installation and visited the Frontier Army Museum, where Buffalo Soldier reenactor George Pettigrew spoke about the history of the Buffalo Soldier regiments and their lasting legacy to the Army.

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — Students and faculty from Fort Hays State University, in Hays, Kansas, and the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning, in Winchester, Virginia, were at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, May 27, 2026, to share data gleaned from motion-triggered wildlife cameras and obtain video and photographic footage for multiple projects associated early exploration of the area. The location was a stop along the route surveyed by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in the early 1800s during the Corps of Discovery expedition.

Snapshot USA

Snapshot USA is an ongoing survey project of the Smithsonian Institution to monitor wildlife using game cameras, conducted by ecologists from universities and organizations across the country. For the nation’s 250th anniversary this year, Snapshot USA collaborators are resurveying the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition Trail, focusing on the area within 80 kilometers of the original trail. The current data will eventually be compared with observations noted in Lewis and Clark’s journals to see how wildlife species distributions and habitats have changed since then.

Snapshot USA collaborator Dr. Lorelei Patrick, associate professor in biological sciences at FHSU and associate curator of mammals at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, connected with Fort Leavenworth Natural Resources Specialist Neil Bass to participate in the Lewis and Clark project. She said the collaboration for project participation was easy to accomplish, with FHSU students already conducting wildlife surveys on post, and the fact that the installation is located within the boundaries specified for the project. The Corps of Discovery expedition passed through the area in the summer of 1804.

“I thought it was important and good to share our camera data with a larger entity that could use it, and thus show the good stewardship that the Army provides and has been providing at Fort Leavenworth for almost 200 years,” Bass said about participating in the project.

FHSU scientists have been collecting data from wildlife cameras set up on Fort Leavenworth for their own studies and the Snapshot USA Lewis and Clark Trail project. While the university’s study is focused on medium-sized mammals, such as raccoons, skunks and opossums, FHSU graduate student Elizabeth Horinek said the cameras have also been picking up several white-tailed deer and coyotes, as well as some squirrels and a bobcat.

Virtual reality project

Students from the Shenandoah Center for Immersive Learning are travelling to several sites along the Lewis and Clark trail this summer to collect footage for multiple video projects, tying into the Smithsonian’s project as well as working on another supported by the Lewis and Clark Trail Association.

The Shenandoah students recorded interviews with Patrick and Bass and got footage of Patrick and Horinek checking one of the trail cameras on the floodplain by Sherman Army Airfield, then they trekked to the fort’s champion pecan tree near the river to take 360-degree views, video and photographs.

During the summer of 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition made note of pecan trees seen on the shore of what would later become Fort Leavenworth when travelling on the Missouri River.

“When we’re going back to the Lewis and Clark history, Lewis and Clark actually mentioned those pecan trees in their journals on the July 1, 1804, journal entry, and so (the students) could then look at these historic trees that are actually mentioned in the journal for this original assessment that they’re kind of following and mimicking as part of the Lewis and Clark (Trail Association),” Bass said.

Bass said at least one of the pecan trees on Fort Leavenworth is large enough, and thus old enough, to have possibly been among the trees spotted by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“It’s very possible that that tree and some others — there’s probably at least two trees out there that could (have been) actually standing when Lewis and Clark came by, were actually big trees when Lewis and Clark went by — and then some of those others probably were seedlings.”

Shenandoah Immersive Media Specialist Lee Graff, project lead for “Lewis and Clark VR,” a virtual reality student production funded by the Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance, said he and a group of students travelled across the country two years ago to interview historians and capture footage at significant sites. Now he is travelling with a crew of work-study students to several sites along the trail, from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Oregon coast, for a second iteration and expansion of the project.

“(On the first trip), we did the story of Lewis and Clark, the expedition. Now we’re wanting to talk a bit more about the scientific stuff — the plants, the animals, flora, fauna and geography that they encountered that white people from the east had never seen before,” Graff said. “And we’re interviewing people about Native (American) perspectives, first on Lewis and Clark, second on American westward expansion in general, to add that to a 2.0 version of the experience that more fully tells the stories associated with that, because one of the things Lewis and Clark did is, as they traveled up the Missouri River, they encountered more than 50 different tribal groups and clans (and) did diplomacy with them. Some went better than others.”

Graff said the “Lewis and Clark VR” project isn’t part of a class, but it is allowing the work-study students to have an immersive experience in their field of study as they travel across the country, without compensation for their time but with meals and lodging paid for.

For more information on the “Lewis and Clark VR” project, including how to view the first iteration for free, visit https://www.su.edu/scil/projects/lewis-and-clark-vr/.

For more information on the Snapshot USA Lewis and Clark Resurvey project, visit https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation/lewis-clark-resurvey-snapshot-250th.

Source: United States Army

Sainte‑Mère‑Église, France — In the heart of the first town liberated on D‑Day, U.S. Army leaders, Veterans, paratroopers, and local residents gathered to honor the legacy of the Allied Airborne forces who landed in on the beach of Normandy 82 years ago. Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, commanding general, Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (SAG‑U) and NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), delivered commemorative remarks grounded in the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of the paratroopers who fought for freedom, democracy, and human rights on June 6, 1944.

The ceremony, held in the center of Sainte‑Mère‑Église at the Airborne Monument, drew an audience of Veterans, French citizens, U.S. service members, and visitors from around the world. The Airborne Chorus and a U.S. Air Force quintet performed as approximately twenty paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division participated in the event, which remains one of the most symbolic commemorations of the annual D‑Day observances.

Lt. Gen. Buzzard opened by paying tribute to the 24,000 Allied paratroopers from the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the British 6th Airborne Division who launched the first phase of the liberation of Western Europe. He highlighted the scale and audacity of the airborne assault: 16,000 American and 8,000 British paratroopers jumping or landing by glider into darkness, confusion, and fierce resistance. Their mission—to seize key terrain, block German counterattacks, and open the way for the beach landings—set the conditions for the success of Operation Overlord.

The ceremony also included remarks from U.S. Army Col (Ret) Keith Nightingale, esteemed D-Day historian, and Maurice Renaud, youngest son of the former mayor of Sainte‑Mère‑Église, Alexandre Renaud. Both speakers elaborated on the incredible strength and fortitude exhibited by all paratroopers who took part in Operation Overlord and the mark that it left on history.

The commemoration in Sainte-Mère-Église closed with a reminder that the legacy of the airborne forces is not confined to history. It lives on in the soldiers who continue to defend freedom today and, in the communities — French, American, and Allied — who gather each year to honor them. The 82nd anniversary of D-Day is a reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and unity of U.S. and Allied forces who fought to liberate the world from tyranny.

Source: United States Army

GRAYLING, Mich. — Approximately 3,000 Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers participated in a Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Grayling, Michigan, to ensure that they are deployable and fit to serve.

“Medical screens allow us to identify any deficiencies with the Soldiers’ medical readiness,” said Sgt. James Hickey, a noncommissioned officer with the Michigan Army National Guard SRP medical personnel. “Doing large units at a time like this allows us to get a large percentage of the overall force processed so they can rectify those issues before it comes time for them to deploy or separate.”

The Michigan Army National Guard SRP serves as a critical component in maintaining readiness across the force. Soldier Readiness Processing is a comprehensive review of Soldiers’ medical, dental, administrative, and personnel records. The process helps identify and resolve issues before they affect mission readiness, ensuring Soldiers remain prepared to execute the nation’s call when needed.

SRP is classified into two levels: Level I is conducted annually, and Level II is conducted prior to unit mobilization. Level I covers the preparation and completion of personnel, medical, administrative, and readiness records. Level II Soldier Readiness Processing must be conducted prior to movement to ensure Soldiers meet deployment requirements.

“SRP contributes to your unit ratings for deployability,” said Sgt. 1st Class Chelsea Herman, a Michigan Army National Guard SRP administrative noncommissioned officer. “Not only that, but it contributes to your overall capacity for Soldiers going out the door. It helps make sure any issues or problems are addressed so your unit is capable of completing the mission and task at hand.”

Throughout the event, Soldiers moved through multiple stations, each with a packeted checklist in hand. Administrative professionals, medical personnel, and unit leaders worked together to verify requirements, update records, and address any current or past deficiencies. Cadre members directed Soldiers throughout the event, going through multiple buildings; following signs going to and from immunizations, dental and service provider stations to their next requirement.

“NCOs manage the system created. They ensure accountability, proper standard operating procedures are followed, and all resources needed are provided, while also monitoring individuals’ health.” said Staff Sgt. Rebecca Hillman is a noncommissioned officer with the Michigan Army National Guard SRP medical personnel.

At the event, Soldiers went through stations that included medical and administrative support, legal, Family Readiness Resources, and religious support services.

“The providers play a critical role in reviewing all of the Soldiers’ medical readiness indicators,” said Maj. Mark Glotkowski, Michigan Army National Guard medical provider section officer in charge. “Vision, dental, and hearing are evaluated to determine if Soldiers still meet Army standards for duty. We are also identifying any Soldiers who might have a new injury that prevents them from performing their duties.”

For Soldiers, SRP provides a clear picture of individual and unit readiness.

“It prepares me, as well as my unit, to understand what elements we are lacking to be fully mission capable,” said Cadet Cecelia Jacuzzo, Michigan Army National Guard, 1171 MCAS. “It allows each individual to know their faults, as well as receive advice efficiently and effectively.”

The event helped ensure Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers are medically, administratively, and personally prepared to meet mission requirements. Through coordinated support from medical personnel, administrative staff, leaders, and readiness professionals, SRP continues to strengthen the force and prepare Soldiers for future missions.

By bringing Soldiers, leaders, administrative professionals, and medical personnel together in one location, SRP streamlines the readiness process and reinforces the Army’s commitment to maintaining a capable and deployable force.

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

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, multiple National Guards, state defense forces, Washington Emergency Management Division, Civil Air Patrol and active-duty military units gathered June 2 for a counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS, field demonstration day at the Yakima Training Center ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The demonstration marked the latest step in a year-long effort by the Washington Military Department and Washington National Guard to build a comprehensive counter-UAS program ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will bring millions of visitors to the greater Seattle area. The event showcased emerging technologies and operational tactics designed to detect, track and mitigate drone threats while highlighting the Washington National Guard’s growing role in developing a regional schoolhouse for counter-UAS training and innovation.

Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general and homeland security advisor for the Washington National Guard, said the event represents a milestone not only for Washington, but for the nation.

“When you look at all the FIFA states, all the FIFA cities and all the different challenges that people are dealing with, Washington is the only state that actually brought people together to rehearse and discuss any of this stuff,” Welsh said during the event. “This is the only one-of-a-kind event in the entire country that’s going on.”

As unmanned aerial systems continue to evolve from recreational tools into potential threats to public safety, critical infrastructure and major public events, the Washington National Guard is positioning itself at the forefront of counter-unmanned aerial systems training and readiness. Recognizing the growing threat posed by unmanned aircraft systems, the Washington Military Department hosted a counter-UAS summit in late 2025, bringing together leaders from government, public safety, academia and industry to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving drone environment. The summit laid the groundwork for expanded partnerships and highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to airspace security.

Building on that momentum, the Washington National Guard’s Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center launched a counter-UAS Fundamentals Course to provide military, law enforcement and public safety professionals with foundational training in drone detection, identification, legal authorities and response planning. The program has attracted interest from agencies across the region as organizations prepare for large-scale public events and the increasing presence of drones in everyday life.

“A year ago, we were not in this space,” FBI agent Phil Randolph said. “A year ago, we wouldn’t have thought about drone detection around NFL stadiums. Now we’re leaning forward.”

Welsh emphasized that the challenge extends far beyond a single event such as the FIFA World Cup.

“Don’t just look at this as, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get through FIFA and then we’ll go back to work,’” Welsh said. “We’re going to be dealing with the threat for the rest of our lives.”

Participants of the counter-UAS field demonstration day observed a series of live demonstrations showcasing drone detection systems, swarm operations, interception techniques, radio-frequency mitigation capabilities and render-safe procedures. The event provided attendees with an opportunity to evaluate emerging technologies and discuss how those capabilities could be integrated into real-world operations.

For Washington National Guard leaders, Yakima Training Center also offers an ideal location to expand those efforts.

“This really is the Kevin Costner moment from Field of Dreams,” said Col. Phillip Lamb, senior Army advisor to the Washington National Guard. “We have 327,000 acres of untouched, unobstructed training area right here at Yakima Training Center.”

Lamb, who served as the garrison commander for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which also covers Yakima Training Center, said the installation’s vast maneuver space provides a unique environment for agencies to train together, test emerging technologies and conduct realistic counter-UAS operations.

That vision extends beyond individual demonstrations and training events.

“We want to build an Army counter-UAS Center of Excellence right here at Yakima Training Center,” said Col. Craig Broyles, director of the Washington National Guard Counterdrug Program, adding that the installation has classroom space for beginner-level instruction and training areas for practical exercises and advanced courses.

Recent organizational changes have further strengthened the state’s ability to address emerging aerial threats, Welsh said.

“Bringing the Civil Air Patrol under the Washington Military Department has elevated our capabilities in the counter-UAS environment,” Welsh said.

As preparations continue for the FIFA World Cup and other major events, leaders believe the partnerships, training opportunities and capabilities developed at the Yakima Training Center will help shape the future of counter-UAS operations not only in Washington, but across the nation.

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

USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – To give the youngest members of U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria – Hohenfels a special day, Child and Youth Services threw Kinderfest May 30, 2026 at the School Activity Center.

The event brought on-post organizations, military units, garrison offices and directorates and more together to give Families with children a day out to enjoy sun, fun and one another’s company.

Christine McConnell, outreach services director for Child and Youth Services explained Kinderfest.

“Kinderfest is typically celebrated during Month of the Military Child as a thank you to our military and civilian children here in Hohenfels,” she said. “It’s CYS’s way to bring the community together and give back to children.”

Normally Kinderfest, an annual event, would take place during April, which the Army celebrates as “Month of the Military Child.” This year’s fest, however, took place at the end of May.

“Because this event is focused on Families, we wanted to make sure that Families could come together,” McConnell said. “There were a lot of rotations in Hohenfels during April that would have kept Families separated during this time. So we wanted to make it that as many Families could come as a whole.”

Local national employees were also welcome to bring their Families to the event.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Families to come out and see what Child and Youth Services does with the community and how we support each other,” said Beth Payne, CYS coordinator for Hohenfels. “It is a CYS event; it is an MWR event; but more than that, it’s a community event. Kinderfest gives the entire community a chance to come into one place, meet new people, reach new Families, and make a difference for them.”

The event also brought Families from other garrisons. Rachel Faulkner, the director of the Child Development Center at Tower Barracks, came to support the event bringing her Family in tow.

“I’m here with the kids; they enjoy it,” Faulkner said. “It is a nice day, so we took a drive out.”

And there was much for Families to see and do. Military units brought their personnel carriers and unmanned aerial vehicles. The Falcon Team landed their helicopter on the field to give young children, and their parents, the opportunity to sit inside and take their photo. Outdoor Recreation gave some children their first archery lessons. The American Red Cross brought their dogs to take photographs with Families. The Religious Support Office held face-painting. Fire and Emergency Services had children play a game where they pushed small emergency vehicles with the blast of a fire hose. The on-post financial institutions gave away snacks, water, juice, stationery, fidget spinners and much more. Morale, Welfare and Recreation marketing from the garrison headquarters came down to hold a raffle.

Children had fun bouncing in large inflatable structures, riding a mechanical bull, kicking balls into novelty inflatable nets, and more. Because it was late spring, weather permitted the use of a large inflatable waterslide with mist spraying over its young users.

And indeed, the weather was clement for three of the four scheduled hours of Kinderfest. In the final hour a stormfront rolled in from the northwest, and concern for the safety – and enjoyment – of those attending precluded Kinderfest’s normal conclusion. Organizations pulled their awnings down, collapsed their tables, and bagged their ungiven giveaways. Parents held their children’s hands, pushed their strollers, cradled their toddlers and speedwalked to their automobiles as the rain started falling and the wind whipped petals off the early blooming trees in an airy swirl rich with ozone and petrichor.

To learn more about Child and Youth Services, visit their page at https://hohenfels.armymwr.com/categories/cys-services.

To see more photos from Kinderfest, visit the photo album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagbavaria/albums/72177720334010599.

Source: United States Army

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany- Sgt. Elijah Campbell, a public affairs mass communication specialist assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, was officially inducted into the Noncommissioned Officer Corps at Tiger Theater on Sembach Kaserne, Germany on May 29, 2026.

Originally from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, his father, who also served in the Army, inspired Campbell to enlist in the Army in 2022 and completed basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He later graduated from the Defense Information School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, before serving assignments that led him to Germany.

Reflecting on the milestone, Campbell said, “I faced a lot of obstacles becoming an NCO, but I persevered. The most rewarding part of my job is taking care of my Soldiers.”

This induction marks Campbell’s transition into the Army’s professional NCO Corps and reinforces his commitment to leadership, mentorship, and service.