Category: US Army

Source: United States Army

MILAN–CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Four Soldiers of the Army National Guard are representing the United States of America in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Vermont Army National Guard’s Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin, Spc. Sean Doherty, and Spc. Maxime Germain are competing as part of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon team and Utah Army National Guard’s Sgt. Ben Loomis is competing in the Nordic Combined event.

Vermont Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin: Biathlon

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin, of Pulaski, Wisconsin, competed in her first Olympics in 2022, where she placed seventh in the women’s 15-kilometer individual biathlon — the highest finish for an American in biathlon history. Irwin is now the top female athlete for the U.S. Biathlon Team, and she could compete in six events in Milan.

Irwin, 33, is a human resource specialist with the Vermont National Guard. She enlisted in the Army in 2019 and competed for the National Guard Biathlon Team in the 2022 Games. In 2023, she joined the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP, for its consistent support, which she said has made all the difference in both careers.

“With WCAP, I have full-time orders, full-time benefits and direct access to resources,” Irwin said. “Being both a platoon sergeant and an athlete have pushed me to learn a lot.”

Growing up, Irwin wanted to be a track and field athlete. She picked up cross-country skiing in the winter during high school to stay in shape between the fall cross-country season and the spring track and field season. Irwin then went to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, where she competed in all three sports.

After college, Irwin tried her hand at a professional skiing career. She didn’t start biathlon until she was 25, when a fellow cross-country skier talked her into attending a talent camp. She told Team USA she instantly fell in love with the sport.

“It has been an honor to be able to represent my country as both a U.S. Olympian and a U.S. Army Soldier,” she said. “I hope to inspire the next generation to serve and represent our country, too.”

Outside of biathlon, Irwin enjoys knitting, baking, puzzles and music.

Vermont Army National Guard Spc. Sean Doherty: Biathlon

U.S. Army Spc. Sean Doherty, of Center Conway, New Hampshire, might be the most experienced military athlete this year, as he is competing on his fourth Olympic team in as many as six events.

Doherty began competing in biathlon, a sport that combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, at age 12. By 18, he was competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, becoming the first teenager and the youngest U.S. athlete in the sport.

In 2018, Doherty enlisted in the Army as a carpentry and masonry specialist and is now a member of the Vermont National Guard. However, he didn’t join the WCAP until after he competed in the 2022 Beijing Games. Now 30, Doherty said the experiences he’s had with the WCAP continue to shape him.

“WCAP supports you not just as an athlete, but as a person and a Soldier,” he said. “They care about my athletic performance, but they also care about my development as a whole person, and I’m grateful for that.”

Doherty trains at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont, which is home to theArmy Mountain Warfare School. Outside of biathlon, he’s an avid hunter, archer, fisherman and woodworker.

Vermont Army National Guard Spc. Maxime Germain: Biathlon

U.S. Army Spc. Maxime Germain, of Juneau, Alaska, is competing in his first Olympic event this year. Germain had three top-30 results in individual events at the 2025 Biathlon World Championships and followed up with a strong start to the 2025-26 World Cup season, securing his spot on his first Olympic team in biathlon for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Germain, 24, first tried biathlon at age 13 while living in France, then moved back to Alaska, this time to Anchorage, at age 16 to finish high school, according to his Team USA biography.

Germain enlisted with the Vermont National Guard in 2020 as an aviation specialist and is studying to be a commercial pilot. He has trained with the National Guard Biathlon Team since joining the Guard.

When not competing in biathlon events, Germain enjoys surfing, backcountry skiing, rock climbing and mountain running.

Utah Army National Guard Sgt. Ben Loomis: Nordic Combined

U.S. Army Sgt. Ben Loomis, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is competing in his third Olympics in the Nordic Combined event, which combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Loomis competed in the 2022 Beijing Games and the 2018 PyeongChang Games in South Korea.

According to Nordic Combined USA, Loomis, 27, started ski jumping at age 5. His talents grew so quickly that, at 15, he moved to Park City, Utah, to find higher-caliber training and competition.

In 2019, after high school, Loomis enlisted in the Utah National Guard as a motor transport operator to join the WCAP for its opportunities. He told the Army that training for his sport requires power, endurance and strength — physical traits that are also required to carry out his military duties.

“Being an athlete and a Soldier go hand in hand,” Loomis said. “What I’ve learned in the military has helped my athletic career, and my athletic background has helped me as a Soldier.”

He said his experience in the military has been incredibly positive.

“I want to stay in after my athletic career, maybe even for a full career,” Loomis said. “My reasons for joining and my reasons for staying are completely different now.”

After earning silver in the 2016 Youth Olympic Games, Loomis was named the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Nordic combined athlete of the year. He’s been a member of four world championship teams, and his brother, Adam, is also a former world champion in the sport.

When Loomis isn’t on the snow, he enjoys hiking, fishing, biking and water skiing.

Source: United States Army

FORT HOOD, Texas – Leaders assigned to the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command and the 120th Infantry Brigade conducted a Mobilization Assessment Workshop, February 2-6, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas, ahead of an upcoming mobilization for observer, coach/trainers that will prepare combat ready formations for deployments and overseas operations.

“The purpose of the (MAW) is to assist with our training, to help us identify personnel gaps and see what capabilities someone else can bring for you,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Kenyon Cummings, Command Sergeant Major, 120th Infantry Brigade.

“We can’t help solve problems that we don’t know about. We have enough resources here that can help solve problems for you,” added Cummings while speaking to leaders from the 2-345th Training Support Battalion, the 3-360th TSBN and the 2-382nd Logistics Support Battalion.

The MAW is one of many steps units complete in preparation for their mobilization to their mobilization force generation installation at Fort Hood, Texas, where they will play an important role as OC/Ts with the 120th INF BDE, 1st Army Division West, assisting with pre-mobilization, mobilization, post mobilization, and the deployment of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard units.

“Our goal is to train Component 2 (National Guard) and Component 3 (U.S. Army Reserve) Soldiers,” said Col. Charles Ausman, 120th INF BDE Commander. “We are here to support you and to make sure that you are ready and trained so that we can train other Soldiers. Our main focus is to train our COMPO 2 and 3 units while taking care of our Soldiers.”

Leaders attending the MAW had the chance to see what their mission would look like while mobilized in support of the 120th INF BDE. The MAW also provided commanders an opportunity to identify obstacles or deficiencies within their units, prepare their forces for mobilization, and recognize key personnel in the 120th INF BDE who can help ensure mission success.

Brig. Gen. Michael Shanley, Commanding General, 85th USARSC, also attended the MAW and addressed the Soldiers participating. During his remarks, Shanley highlighted the importance of COMPO 3 units in preparing for mobilization and post-mobilization activities.

“It’s great to see that the level of cohesion and support between Component 1 and Component 3 has never been better,” said Shanley. “Fighting alongside each other for the past few decades has definitely strengthened the cohesion and collaboration between the components. It has never been stronger; it will only grow with units like yours and commanders who recognize the value that Component 3 Soldiers bring to the fight.”

Source: United States Army

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center, or NADWC, was designated by the U.S. Department of War as a national range for uncrewed aerial systems training.

“Today’s designation of the NADWC as a national test site shows that Michigan can lead the future of aerospace and continues to play a key role in protecting our national defense,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Over the last few years, we held an autonomous drone competition, released a statewide Advanced Air Mobility Initiative and secured a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Now, thanks to this new national test site, we are building on that momentum, becoming an even more attractive place for cutting-edge defense and aerospace companies to invest in, create good-paying, high-skill local jobs and grow our economy. You can already see Michigan-made products on roads around the world, and soon, we’ll be in the sky too.”

This designation cements the NADWC as the nation’s premier proving ground for advanced UAS and counter-UAS, positioning Michigan at the forefront of America’s defense innovation economy. Selected by the U.S. Army and National Guard Bureau, NADWC offers an unmatched environment for drone development and testing and training, one that is squarely focused on the warfighter and on doing what is best for the force. By combining permissive operating authorities, cutting-edge infrastructure and close ties to Michigan’s world-class technology and manufacturing ecosystem, this designation amplifies our ability to train at speed and scale.

Anchored by nearly 200,000 acres of maneuver space at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and more than 17,000 square miles of special-use military airspace at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, NADWC delivers a level of scale and realism few training environments can match. These Joint National Training Capability–certified sites feature diverse terrain, robust electromagnetic spectrum access and a true four-season climate, allowing units to stress systems, tactics and formations in conditions that replicate multiple theaters of operation and prepare forces for the next fight.

As the largest joint training range east of the Mississippi River and home to the flagship Northern Strike Exercise, NADWC is purpose-built to enhance readiness. Its all-weather, all-domain environment enables warfighters and our allied partners to train together at full operational tempo, integrating uncrewed systems into live-fire, combined arms and advanced swarm operations. The result is a more lethal, more prepared force, better equipped to succeed on the future battlefield.

“This designation is about staying focused on the warfighter and doing what’s best for the force,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The NADWC gives us the scale, airspace and all-domain environment we need to amplify our ability to train and prepare for the next fight. It allows our Soldiers, Airmen, joint partners and allies, to develop, test and employ uncrewed systems at operational tempo under realistic, all-weather conditions. That kind of training directly translates to readiness and ensures our forces are positioned to succeed on the future battlefield. I want to thank Governor Whitmer and Michigan’s congressional delegation for their steadfast support in making this effort possible, which will ensure the men and women of the U.S. military and our allies will be prepared for any future conflict.”

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

ANSBACH, Germany – Col. Aaron Southard, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach commander, hosted the garrison’s annual Spring Social on Feb. 6, 2026, to update the installation’s host-nation community and mission partners on milestones from the last year and upcoming goals.

“Events like these are important to us,” Southard said. “Because they remind us of something we never take for granted. We are guests in your communities. We are your partners in this region and friends in the shared future.”

Topics highlighted during the event included:

Safety and Emergency Response

In 2025, the Garrison Fire Department handled 666 incidents, aiding in 24 of them in the surrounding communities. A Mutual Aid Agreement is being updated to allow local fire departments to use the U.S. Army’s Installation Management Command – Europe Regional Fire Training Center. This joint training ensures a better-coordinated response during emergencies.

Economic Impact and Local Investment

The U.S. garrison community contributed significantly to the local economy in 2025, spending approximately 30 million euros overall, with 23 million euros directly benefiting Ansbach and Illesheim businesses. In September 2025, the garrison also began a $330 million modernization project at Barton Barracks. Looking ahead to 2026, projects include a $13 million elementary school, and the community anticipates the arrival of 940 additional servicemembers and their families.

Health Care and the Next Generation

The partnership extends to health care, with German medical facilities helping to welcome 66 new babies into the Army family in 2025. Local clinics, such as Ansbach Klinikum, treated 1,053 TRICARE patients, handling 844 outpatient visits and 209 hospital stays.

The event intended not only to list the garrison’s accomplishments but also to reinforce the values of communication and friendship.

“When the U.S. Army needs us, we are here, or when we need help, we train together,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jörg Seybold of the German 1st Company, Transport Helicopter Regiment 30, who has partnered with Americans in the Ansbach area for over 15 years. “This is very important to stay together in the world. For the soldiers, all the families, all the kids, to make the world a little bit better of a place.”

The social, along with events like the upcoming 250th Independence Day Celebration, showcases the long-standing relationships the USAG Ansbach community has with its host-nation partners.

“Two hundred and fifty years of the United States is a great thing,” said Lord Mayor of Ansbach Thomas Deffner. “It’s a great nation, and we have 80 years of partnership. That’s fantastic for Europe, for the United States of America, and especially for Germany.”

Southard finished his remarks with a message on behalf of the soldiers, families and civilian employees of U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach.

“Thank you for your cooperation and thank you for the friendship that continues to define the relationship between our Army community and the people of Franconia,” he said. “Our partnership is not just ceremonial. It’s lived every day on the roadways, in the clinics, the shops, the restaurants, the classrooms, and across kitchen tables where German and American families share meals, stories and life together. Thank you.”

Source: United States Army

USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – Students of Hohenfels Elementary School took the stage Feb. 10, 2026 at the Post Theater as part of the school’s annual spelling bee.

The students represented six classes from the third, fourth and fifth grades and stood before their classmates and others, who cheered them on, as they repeated each word and spelled them out.

The moderator read each word, differentiated certain words from any possible hominem, provided definitions as needed, and, when asked, gave the spellers examples of the word used in a sentence.

There to ensure neither the student misheard nor the student was misheard, a panel of judges took part in the event. These judges included Angela Lane, the deputy garrison manager for USAG Bavaria – Hohenfels; Michael Lane, active volunteer in the community and Lane’s spouse; and Kris Dohl, administrative officer for the Department of Defense Education Activity at Hohenfels.

Within the first round, two players misspelled their words (jumbo, nacho), and the crowd cheered on each speller until the moderator asked the audience to hold their applause for the completion of each round.

Robert Deverick, HES principal, helped oversee the studentry and cheered on the competitors.

“The spelling bee is one of those time-honored traditions in schools that gives kids a motivating factor to try harder and do better,” he said. “There are a couple of high fives and thumbs-up from all of the contestants cheering each other on. So it was fantastic.”

Another speller dropped out in the second round, another two in the third. Boycott, widget, dawdle, cricket, penguin and bestow proved too difficult so that the field of competition dwindled to just four.

The four remaining spelled out carnival, kangaroo, calzone and garment correctly. Then the following round three competitors misspelled ingredient, manifesto, jubilant, while one player spelled galaxy correctly.

Isabella Holden, fourth grade, played one solo round, spelling gelato correctly and becoming the spelling bee champion.

The bee, however, had not concluded.

Because three spellers dropped out in one round, those spellers would have to play further to determine second and third places. The first two tiebreaker rounds passed with no letter out of place, with words like aromatherapy, balderdash, cattail, guardian, inclusion and pellet. Then in the third round, Jaxon Dreger misspelled prejudice, leaving fourth graders Mary-Margaret Schnorf and Charlotte Blaha. Blaha spelled goliath and Schnorf misspelled riviera.

The final standing was:

• 1st: Isabella Holden
• 2nd: Charlotte Blaha
• 3rd: Mary-Margaret Schnorf.

The Hohenfels Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization organized the spelling bee this year, ensuring the event ran smoothly.

For more photos from this event, visit the link here.

Source: United States Army

strong>FORT IRWIN, Calif. – At the National Training Center, Black Jack Soldiers were reminded of a fundamental truth of modern warfare: the plan rarely survives first contact, and adaptation matters more than adherence.

During NTC Rotation 26-02, Soldiers from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division became the Army’s first armored formation to execute a full Transformation in Contact (TiC) rotation – an initiative designed to accelerate learning while units are already in contact with a thinking enemy.

“This rotation validated our warfighting methodology and our organizational changes,” said Col. José Reyes, commander of 2ABCT. “Our Soldiers learned to fight the enemy they saw, not the plan they started with.”

Unlike traditional rotations, TiC deliberately pushed the brigade to integrate emerging systems, evolving formations, and new organizational concepts under realistic combat pressure. The brigade employed multiple formation constructs and 39 modernized or emerging systems throughout the rotation.

To help units integrate unfamiliar capabilities, the Army authorized three days of early experimentation – limited-objective attacks – before the force-on-force fight began. That decision set conditions for rapid discovery and adjustment once the fight intensified.

Across the rotation, 1st Cavalry Division’s wave-based operational framework-detect, suppress, finish, and maneuver-allowed Black Jack to apply pressure across multiple points of contact and maintain tempo against a contemporary enemy.

Small observations drove major decisions.

Before crossing the line of departure, unmanned aerial systems identified enemy armor much closer than expected, forcing immediate changes to the scheme of maneuver. Later, when heavy winds grounded UAS, losses increased-reinforcing both the fragility and the decisive importance of unmanned reconnaissance in modern combat.

Other formations adapted internally.

By consolidating all 120mm mortars under a single headquarters troop, the reconnaissance squadron massed fires faster and more accurately. Leaders said the organizational change improved responsiveness while simplifying maintenance and training by concentrating expertise in one formation.

The opposing force added friction throughout the fight.

The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment aggressively jammed communications, forcing units to execute PACE plans and fight through degraded command and control. A real-world generator failure at a cellular tower further reduced communications for several hours.

Even in that contested environment, division and brigade leaders credited emerging network capabilities-such as Starshield satellite transport and Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) enabled cross-banding radios-with preserving voice and data connectivity across the NTC footprint and sustaining operational tempo.

While Black Jack executed the fight and the division provided the operational framework, the U.S. Army Operational Evaluation Command played a critical enabling role-helping commanders understand what was happening, why it mattered, and what required further experimentation while the rotation was still underway.

“For this rotation, OEC wasn’t just collecting data-we were providing ongoing assessment,” said Bill Rabena, lead OEC operations research and systems analyst. “That allowed leaders to adjust focus and refine learning objectives while the event was still unfolding.”

Historically, operational testing followed a deliberate, linear model: collect data during an event, archive it, and deliver results months later. TiC demanded something fundamentally different.

“The Army is changing rapidly, and the old model was simply too slow and too resource-intensive for where we’re headed,” said Lt. Col. Dan Ferenczy, a senior test analyst with OEC. “Transformation in Contact requires relevance now, not months later.”

Rather than evaluating individual systems in isolation, OEC shifted toward continuous assessment and immediate feedback. Analysts delivered daily reports and structured analysis to senior leaders, highlighting emerging trends, system performance, and formation-level implications without disrupting training or slowing the fight.

A central challenge was translating Soldier experience into decision-quality information without overburdening the formation.

OEC refined division-developed surveys and applied established methodologies-including the System Usability Scale (SUS) and Usability Metric for User Experience (UMUX-LITE) – to capture Soldier assessments across the brigade. Results were standardized on a 0-100 scale, enabling commanders to quickly compare trends across multiple systems and formations.

“Our job is to decompose learning objectives into measurable data without drowning the unit,” Ferenczy said. “Collect too little and you miss the story. Collect too much and you slow the formation.”

Artificial intelligence tools assisted with survey development and analysis, but experienced analysts remained essential.

“AI can help speed things up, but it doesn’t understand context,” Rabena said. “You still need a human in the loop to catch bad assumptions and misleading trends.”

As commander priorities evolved, OEC analysts adjusted databases, survey timing, and collection methods to stay aligned with learning demands. Within 72 hours, OEC delivered additional data collectors, an operations research analyst, and a data manager to reinforce brigade learning objectives.

For Black Jack Soldiers, TiC reinforced a simple truth: modernization only matters if Soldiers can employ new capabilities under pressure and improve in stride.

For the Army, NTC 26-02 demonstrated that operational testing must evolve alongside modernization-shifting from delayed evaluation to continuous learning.

“Transformation in Contact has become a mindset,” Ferenczy said. “The Army is changing fast, and OEC’s core skills-measurement, validation, and Soldier feedback-are more relevant than ever.”

Together, Black Jack and Operational Evaluation Command showed that learning at speed is not just possible-it is essential to adapting faster, fighting smarter, and maintaining advantage against a contemporary enemy.

Source: United States Army

CINCU, Romania — In the rolling hills of central Romania, eight NATO nations gathered at the Land Forces Combat Training Center Getica with their eyes fixed on the virtual battlefield for the initial phase of Dynamic Front 2026.

This year, U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Multi-Domain Command Europe had the unique opportunity to train alongside NATO Allies and partners as they executed a command post exercise utilizing the Romanian simulation center in Cincu.

Modern warfare continues to shape artillery operations and requires a multi-domain approach to effectively fight and win. Exercises like Dynamic Front 26 are critical to test capabilities that counter anti-access/area denial and mass and momentum advantages through multi-domain kill webs.

Through numerous years of training, NATO allies and partners have proven their ability to execute live-fire missions together. As a result, Multi-Domain Command Europe has now shifted the strategic focus to simulation and command and control to test multinational integration of fires across a distributed battlefield.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Ayers, master gunner for launcher fires and a lead planner for the exercise assigned to Multi-Domain Command Europe, emphasized how Dynamic Front leverages technology to increase interoperability and maintain the advantage.

“The purpose of the exercise at this moment is to test artillery cooperation across Europe. Dynamic Front helps everyone to operate in a distributed battlefield through the Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities connections,” said Ayers.

ASCA is a software program designed to allow shared data using the same tactical internet network across multiple nations. The technology creates a common digital language, increasing the speed and accuracy of multinational fire mission processing and reducing the likelihood of errors.

“You can have missions going across multiple countries with one control. For Dynamic Front 26, we have our control here in Romania, but we have missions that can go to Germany, Poland and Spain. We can disperse across the entire theater and maintain that communication,” said Ayers.

During execution of the command post exercise, ASCA served as the universal translator and allowed NATO participants to act as a unified front to protect the alliance. Regardless of nationality or location on the battlefield, the exercise confirmed U.S. and NATO’s ability to share information instantly and accurately to deliver precision fires.

Spanish Armed Forces Lt. Col. Francisco Morejón, commander of the 1-63 Multiple Launch Rocket System Battalion, Field Artillery Command Spain, spoke on how his unit effectively utilized these systems to communicate over 1500 miles away.

“This exercise is very important because it demonstrates the interoperability we have in terms of fires and command and control systems. We receive fire missions from 8th Brigade (Romania) and we translate it into real targets using the same command and control systems to connect to our platoons in Spain,” said Morejón.

Through the simulation, NATO forces replicated realistic scenarios and tested their ability to operate collectively in complex, contested operational environments. The command post exercise affirmed U.S. and NATO’s commitment to deterrence and stability across the European theater.

Ultimately, Dynamic Front continues to demonstrate how allied forces fight as one team when it matters most. U.S. and NATO forces have now transitioned to the live fire portion across four different countries to validate the digital command and control with tangible, real-world effects.

Source: United States Army

LANDSTUHL, GERMANY — Native of San Antonio, Texas, serves as the Entomology Chief for Public Health in Europe, where his work plays a critical role in protecting the health and readiness of U.S. service members.

As a subject matter expert supporting the United States European Command region, Capt. Jordan Cornell provides assistance through vector surveillance, arthropod identification, and mitigation strategies that reduce disease risk for the warfighter.

Entomology, the study of insects and related arthropods, is a field many people rarely consider until its absence is felt. From pest control and vector-borne disease prevention to agricultural and environmental support, Cornell’s expertise spans far beyond a single specialty.

“There are so many crossover applications,” he explains. “Entomology touches more areas than people realize and it can do a lot of good.”

That passion began early. Cornell knew from a young age that he wanted to be an entomologist, even when others assumed it was a phase he would eventually outgrow. He never did. Instead, he sought out opportunities to learn more, including programs in Texas that allowed him to work alongside entomology professionals. Asking questions in the field and seeing real-world risk mitigation solidified his decision to pursue the career.

While he always knew he wanted to serve in the Army, it wasn’t until his freshman year of college that everything aligned. Hearing military entomologists speak about their role in public health and force protection made it clear that his two passions, science and service, could coexist.

“That’s when it clicked,” he said. “Entomology in the Army is preventative medicine. It directly impacts the lives of Soldiers.”

Cornell commissioned into the Army Medical Service Corps and later completed a master’s program at Texas A&M University. While academically challenging, he pushed through by focusing on the mission and the people his work would ultimately protect.

“School was hard,” he admits, “but I knew I had to do it. I wouldn’t be able to help to my full potential if I didn’t push through those tough moments.”

Education remains one of his greatest passions. He frequently volunteers with schools and Department of Defense programs, sharing his knowledge and helping others understand the importance of entomology.

“Entomology is intriguing because you can never know everything,” he said. “You’re always learning.”

Service also runs deep in his family. Cornell’s grandfather, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Medical Service Corps officer, helped build and redesign Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. He, too, earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M and shared a deep love of learning.

Their careers share striking parallels—from early assignments in the Washington, D.C. area to service in Germany. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his grandfather had the honor of commissioning him, a moment Cornell describes as profoundly meaningful.

Now continuing his Army career in Europe, Cornell looks forward to his grandfather visiting Germany so they can tour the old barracks where his grandfather once served.

Reflecting on his journey, the advice he would give his younger self is simple but powerful: be willing to show up, step up and continually work to better yourself and those around you.

Through dedication, expertise, and a passion for teaching, Cornell carries forward a vital mission and a proud family legacy.

Source: United States Army

TALLINN, Estonia – The Maryland National Guard participated in Crossed Swords, a comprehensive cyber defense exercise, with their Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program Estonian partners at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, or CCDCOE, last fall.

The exercise, held Oct. 27 through Nov. 7, 2025, hosted 240 participants from about 45 countries, including Airmen from the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group. Participants shared tactics and procedures to contribute towards a cohesive collective-defense strategy.

CCDCOE’s Crossed Swords is an annual cyber warfare training exercise that centers on operational-level military command elements and the enhancement of offensive and defensive cyber capabilities through simulated operations and crisis response. The exercise also focuses on advancing multi-domain operational competencies, including information warfare operations, legal perspectives and cooperation with Special Operations Forces.

This year, participants focused on two cyber headquarters, simulating fictional nations for the scenario.

“The combination of strategic decisionmaking, tactical AI‑assisted execution and immediate coordination with critical infrastructure owners created a drill that felt less like a training scenario and more like an actual national defense operation, something no previous exercise that we have participated in had ever achieved,” said Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Bob DeLuca, flight commander for the 175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron.

The exercise focused on five objectives related to simulating the life cycle of a modern cyber conflict. These included strategic‑level command and control, tactical cyber operations, multi‑domain integration, public‑private partnership testing and technology validation.

“Exercises like this continue to build upon and expand the partnership of over 30 years,” DeLuca said. “The Estonian Defense Force led the Command Headquarters and led many of the team leader positions as well as staffing many technical roles, while our Guardsmen were participants on their teams.”

Maryland Airmen, alongside their Estonian counterparts, had the chance to step outside their comfort zones by operating in two emerging domains: information operations and AI‑driven cyber tools.

“We have to adapt to the reality of today’s cyber threat landscape, where complex, multi-domain operations and hybrid tactics are the norm. It has become clear that in cyberspace, we need to adopt a wartime mentality, including strong offensive cyber capabilities,” said Tõnis Saar, director of NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

This year, teams had the opportunity to adapt in stressful scenarios where their capabilities were tested, ultimately elevating NATO’s alliance’s abilities from initial cyber threat detection to critical action and preserving crucial online services and functions.

“This exercise provided a means for our members to measurably improve their leadership, planning, detection, assessment and response to sophisticated cyber-attacks,” DeLuca said. “Participating in CrossedSwords2025 sharpened our unit’s mission‑readiness on every level, and the team performed amazingly.”

http://www.nationalguard.mil

https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

https://x.com/USNationalGuard

https://www.nationalguard.mil/Leadership/Joint-Staff/J-5/International-Affairs-Division/State-Partnership-Program/

Source: United States Army

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — For Soldiers assigned to the Wyoming National Guard’s Training Center Command, understanding how a wildfire moves can mean the difference between a controlled response and a dangerous situation that shifts without warning.

That reality was at the center of the S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior course held at the Southeast Wyoming Wildland Academy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Feb. 7–8, 2026. The 40-hour course strengthened participants’ ability to safely evaluate and predict wildfire behavior during emergency operations, skills that directly support missions across the state.

Developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, the course focuses on how weather, topography and fuels interact to influence fire behavior — factors that can change rapidly and place firefighters at risk if not properly understood.

“Understanding fire behavior is about keeping Soldiers safe while they accomplish the mission,” said Craig Heilig, spokesman for the Southeast Wyoming Wildland Academy. “This course gives our personnel the tools to make informed decisions in rapidly changing wildfire environments.”

Soldiers from Training Center Command operations and firefighting sections attended the training, building a shared understanding that strengthens coordination during real-world wildfire response efforts. Those skills are particularly critical at Camp Guernsey, where Guard personnel routinely support firefighting and emergency operations during wildfire season.

The S-290 course emphasizes recognizing early indicators of changing fire behavior, helping firefighters anticipate hazards before they escalate. This advanced level of situational awareness is a key factor in reducing risk on the fireline and preventing accidents during suppression operations.

Beyond immediate safety benefits, completion of S-290 also supports long-term professional development. The course is a prerequisite for leadership positions such as Firefighter Type 1, Crew Boss, Engine Boss, and Incident Commander Type 5, preparing Soldiers to assume greater responsibility during complex incidents.

As a nationally recognized qualification under the National Interagency Incident Management System, S-290 ensures Wyoming National Guard Soldiers can integrate seamlessly with local, state and federal partners during multi-agency wildfire responses.

Ultimately, the training supports a mission that extends beyond the fireline. By applying these skills during wildfire operations at Camp Guernsey and across Wyoming, trained Soldiers help protect lives, property and the natural landscapes communities depend on.

http://www.nationalguard.mil

https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

https://x.com/USNationalGuard