MIL Security Engine-1

Source: United States Army

FLORENCE, Ariz. — More than 20 teams from the Arizona Army and Air National Guard, joined by civilian partners from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, participated in the 2026 Adjutant General’s Match March 13-15 at Florence Training Site.

The annual event tested individual and team marksmanship across multiple weapons systems to sharpen combat proficiency and strengthen joint-force interoperability. The training supports the Arizona National Guard’s dual mission of providing ready forces for state emergencies while serving as an operational reserve for the U.S. military. The warfighting skills honed during the competition are essential whether service members are called to defend the homeland or deploy overseas.

For Soldiers, competing alongside Airmen offers a valuable perspective on the integrated nature of the Total Force, a key element of success in large-scale combat operations. It demonstrates how ground operations are enabled by synchronized effects from airpower and other domains. This joint environment helps sharpen individual lethality and build the interoperability needed to defeat a near-peer adversary.

“I think it’s important to train with our sister services because it gives us the hands-on experience needed to be a fully integrated force,” said U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Main, readiness noncommissioned officer for Detachment 1, B Company, 640th Aviation Support Battalion. “You end up connecting with people from different areas that you normally wouldn’t see when you come to drill.”

The event also prepares Airmen for the demands of Agile Combat Employment, where they must be ready to operate in austere environments alongside sister services. Small-arms proficiency is a key component of the mission-ready Airman concept, ensuring that Airmen can protect personnel and assets in contested environments. Training alongside Soldiers adds real-world context while strengthening the trust and procedural knowledge required for joint operations.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be able to represent the 162nd Wing. The team has given me the opportunity to develop my combat marksmanship skills, and being able to test those skills with our joint partners is always a blast,” said Air National Guard Master Sgt. Aaron Phillips, rifle squad leader. “As enlisted aircrew, these unique training opportunities are irreplaceable, giving me better perspective to help support the troops on the ground in my primary job.”

The TAG Match serves as a model for building the warfighter culture of the future. While top shooters are identified for national competitions and earn prestigious awards such as the Governor’s Dozen, the greater victory is the force’s enhanced readiness as a whole. By supporting continued joint training, the Arizona National Guard ensures Soldiers and Airmen are prepared to integrate and win as part of the Total Force.

“This competition is the very essence of our ‘Ready Today, Stronger Tomorrow’ priority. It’s where the fundamentals of lethality and readiness are forged under pressure,” said Brig. Gen. John Conley, Arizona adjutant general. “Seeing our Airmen and Soldiers competing shoulder to shoulder reinforces the joint-force mindset that is critical to meeting our combat readiness objectives. Each competitor’s dedication proves that the Arizona National Guard is a prepared, professional and formidable force, ready to defend the homeland and support missions in any environment.”

As a state entity, the Arizona National Guard provides trained personnel to respond to local emergencies and support civil authorities. As a federal reserve component of the U.S. military, it provides combat-ready forces for national defense objectives.

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

FORT HOOD, Texas — Fort Hood launched its annual Army Emergency Relief campaign March 10 with community events to raise awareness of resources and services available to Soldiers and their families.

The kickoff began at the Clear Creek Exchange food court, where Soldiers, family members and civilians gathered for the Takeover Tuesday event to learn more about the program and meet leaders supporting the campaign.

Soldiers, family members and civilians gather during a bowling event marking the Army Emergency Relief campaign kickoff March 10 at Phantom Warrior Lanes at Fort Hood. The event highlighted financial assistance resources available to Soldiers and their families.

Photo by Eric Franklin, Fort Hood Public Affairs

Michael “Tony” Grinston, CEO of AER and the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, joined Sgt. 1st Class Johnny Vargas, a social media personality known as Viva La Vargas, to speak with attendees about the role the organization plays in supporting the Army community.

“I served three and a half decades in the Army, culminating as the sergeant major of the Army,” Grinston said. “Now I get to serve as the CEO of Army Emergency Relief, and I love it. I love helping Soldiers and their families.”

AER is the Army’s nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Soldiers and their families facing unexpected financial hardship. Since its founding in 1942, the organization has provided financial assistance to millions across the Army community.

The program offers no-interest loans, grants and scholarships to eligible service members, including active-duty Soldiers, retirees and National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers serving on qualifying active-duty orders, as well as their family members and surviving spouses.

The organization can assist with urgent financial needs including emergency travel, housing costs, utilities, vehicle repairs, and medical or dental expenses.

For many Soldiers, the program becomes most meaningful during life’s most difficult moments.

“The first time I needed it was an emergency to get home for a funeral, so it definitely helped out,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jaquan Eggleston, a combat medic, 13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command. “Later, when I was a drill sergeant, I was able to help one of my Soldiers get the same kind of support.”

Grinston said expanding grant support has been a priority since he became CEO, so Soldiers facing emergencies do not have to rely on high-interest credit.

“Last year we had the highest dollar amount of grants in the history of Army Emergency Relief,” he said. “We gave away a little over $13 million in grants and about $6.6 million in scholarships. A lot of people think we only do loans, but we also provide grants so Soldiers can get help and not have to pay it back.”

Grinston said his own experience inspired one of the organization’s most significant recent changes: making emergency travel assistance a full grant rather than a loan.

“My mother passed away when I was the sergeant major of the Army,” Grinston said. “I had to buy a plane ticket, fly down to see her, come back, then fly back again when she passed away. Then my flight got delayed and I had to get a hotel. I remember racking up all those bills and thinking how a Soldier would pay for all that.”

Grinston said stigma surrounding financial struggles can sometimes prevent Soldiers from seeking help.

“I really think the biggest barrier for Soldiers is the stigma of asking for help,” he said. “They don’t want to tell their chain of command they’re struggling financially.”

Later in the afternoon, the campaign continued at Phantom Warrior Lanes, where Soldiers and families gathered for a bowling event featuring prizes and giveaways while learning more about available resources.

Spc. Ashley Billings, secretary for the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program at Fort Hood, said programs like AER are important because financial challenges can affect anyone.

“It’s important for Soldiers to know about programs like Army Emergency Relief because even if you’re single or married, financial issues can still come up,” Billings said.

The annual AER campaign runs through June 14 and encourages voluntary donations from Soldiers, civilians and families across the Army community.

Grinston said the most important message for Soldiers is simple: help is always available.

“We’re going to be here for Soldiers 365 days a year,” he said. “If you need financial assistance, don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Donations are encouraged during the Fort Hood AER campaign but are welcome year-round.

To donate, visit give.armyemergencyrelief.org/site/TR/Events/General?pg=team&team_id=1722&fr_id=1060.

More information about AER and its programs is available at armyemergencyrelief.org.

Source: United States Army

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A request from higher headquarters crackled over the radio of a Texas National Guard drone team: U.S. Border Patrol agents needed immediate aerial support.

A nearby homeowner had reported two people moving through thick brush in the dark near the Rio Grande. Border Patrol agents searched the area on foot without locating the individuals, who were suspected of an unlawful border crossing.

Within minutes, a Soldier and an Airman with the Texas Guard’s 640th Technology Integration Cell deployed their unmanned aircraft system.

The cell carries out observation flights along the border as part of Operation Lone Star, a Texas Guard mission to deter illegal border crossings and interdict drug smuggling and other criminal activity along the border in support of state and federal agencies.

“When I called you up, we were about to call it quits,” a Border Patrol agent said to the team.

The observation drone’s rotors buzzed as it lifted from its landing pad, the sound softening as it climbed several hundred feet into the night sky. Operators used its thermal cameras to scan the riverbank and dense brush below, monitoring the live feed on a tablet display.

“Our teams directly support Operation Lone Star task forces through small, unmanned aircraft systems and observation vehicle capabilities,” said U.S. Army Capt. Stephen Landrum, a drone pilot and officer in charge of C Flight, 640th TIC. “We integrate with state and federal partners across multiple mission sets, from border security to disaster response, ensuring commanders and agencies have the information they need to make decisions.”

From that elevated position, the drone team assessed in seconds areas that would take ground personnel significant time to search on foot, providing real-time information to partner agencies.

“That extra vantage point lets us expand coverage into areas they can’t see and react more quickly,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mark Clemente, a drone pilot with the 640th TIC.

The rough terrain in the Rio Grande Valley presents challenges for ground elements, especially at night. Aerial overwatch allows information to move quickly to those who need it.

“Anything that looks suspicious gets passed directly to our partners,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sara Ramon, a drone pilot with the 640th TIC. “From there, they take action.”

Texas Guard units began integrating small, unmanned aircraft systems into border operations in 2023. That year saw roughly $1.8 million in narcotics confiscations, with similar results in 2024 and 2025, said Texas Guard officials.

This year, with an increased focus on small drones, confiscations have already exceeded $5.8 million. Texas Guard officials said the added aerial perspective has helped partner agencies apprehend members of transnational criminal organizations and prevent narcotics from moving farther into the U.S.

Ramon attributed the increase in narcotics interdictions and related apprehensions to unmanned systems becoming part of routine border operations and partner coordination. Continued presence in the same areas has also allowed UAS crews to become familiar with the terrain and movement patterns, thereby increasing deterrence.

“We work the same areas repeatedly,” Ramon said. “You start recognizing patterns and understanding where activity usually happens.”

That familiarity allows crews to reposition aircraft more quickly and communicate specific locations and landmarks more precisely with partner agencies.

Clemente, a Rio Grande Valley native, said serving in the region carries personal significance.

“It feels like you’re protecting your hometown,” he said. “You don’t want violent offenders or drugs coming into your community.”

The same unmanned systems used in border operations are also deployed during Texas Guard hurricane and flood responses and statewide search and rescue missions. In July 2025, members of the 640th TIC were part of a quick reaction force that responded to catastrophic flooding of the Guadalupe River in central Texas.

“These platforms support multiple missions,” Ramon said. “We train so they’re ready whether it’s border security, storm response or search and rescue.”

That multifaceted capability reflects how Guard units support both state and federal missions nationwide.

While border security and disaster response are domestic missions, Texas Guard UAS pilots, instructors and maintenance personnel train first and foremost for the combat mission. The training and equipment that prepares them for overseas deployments, force protection and reconnaissance operations under federal authority also enable those same teams to respond when communities and partner agencies need support at home.

National Guard leaders reinforced that approach during the National Guard Drone Dominance Forum in January, emphasizing the need to embed unmanned systems into daily operations rather than treat them as specialized capabilities.

“Drone dominance is no longer theoretical. It’s operationally relevant today,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Todd A. Hofford, vice director of operations, National Guard Bureau.

In December, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum directing the War Department to prioritize drone dominance and accelerate the integration of unmanned systems across the force.

Hofford noted that Guard units in all 54 states and territories are expanding unmanned aircraft training and employment as part of Army and Air Force doctrinal shifts. Operator and instructor courses have been built to sustain training pipelines, and units have hosted capability integration events to test tactics and share best practices.

At the Pentagon, Army acquisition leaders are focused on modernization.

Lt. Col. Mike Carroll, product manager for small, unmanned aircraft systems with Program Executive Office Aviation, said this includes accelerating fielding timelines and adapting to evolving operational environments.

“The character of war has changed,” Carroll said. “We have to continue to be innovative and adaptable to stay at the speed of relevance.”

Texas Guard leaders said readiness depends as much on disciplined training and repetition as on equipment.

“Capabilities alone do not create readiness,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Zuwiyya, a UAS operations officer and drone pilot instructor with the Texas Army National Guard. “We have to invest in training and integration, so these systems become part of how we operate.”

Back in Texas, the buzz of small rotors amplified as Clemente guided the drone back to its landing pad. The individuals they were searching for were not located that night, but aerial overwatch enabled partner agents to search the terrain more efficiently and continue operations along the Rio Grande.

For the drone team, it was a mission built on combat training and applied nightly in service to their home state.

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

At the center of this effort is Ray Domenech, the USAG Wiesbaden installation emergency manager. He joined the Garrison team about a year and a half ago, bringing with him over three decades of Army emergency management experience.

Although this is the Garrison’s third exercise in the last year, Domenech explained that this one is unique because it involved multiple situations that need to be addressed simultaneously.

“It’s pretty intense,” Domenech said. “It gives the staff a lot of work; it gives the staff a lot to think about. Because in real life, incidents are not always isolated. Sometimes it happens one on top of the other. So, we need to be ready to react.”

On one occasion during the exercise, the Garrison was faced with a notional water outage, death on the installation, and fire at the Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic—all within a few hours.

A critical piece to the Garrison’s preparedness arsenal is its host nation partnerships. During the exercise, the Garrison’s Emergency Operations Center welcomed first responders with Technisches Hilfswerk, the German federal civil protection agency, who shared information about their mission and capabilities.

The Garrison was also visited by German Air Force representatives with Landeskommando Hessen, who provided an overview of their response protocols and shared their experience with real-life downed aircraft incidents.

“There are circumstances in which we need their support,” Domenech said. “So, training with them is the right way to understand their capabilities, and for them to understand how we operate and what we can offer them in case we’re the ones supporting them.”

The weeklong exercise culminated in a simulated aviation crash Thursday on the Wiesbaden Army Airfield.

Plumes of smoke, actors covered in fake blood, and even a fake military working dog added to the realism as Garrison firefighters rushed to extinguish a fire and evacuate the injured. U.S. Army Soldiers with the Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic and Military Police also responded by assessing the casualties and triaging personnel.

At the end of the exercise, USAG Wiesbaden Commander Col. Troy Danderson thanked his staff and reminded them about the importance of their work.

“In the event of a crisis, the Garrison’s immediate job is to keep the community safe,” Danderson said. “But the missions of the units we serve must continue. We must continue to support them under any circumstance. It’s a balancing act that takes continuous practice and preparation.”

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – The Euro-Atlantic security architecture is currently undergoing transformation while U.S. allies work to strengthen the European pillar in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Cultural and Area Studies Office hosted the fourth panel of the academic year to discuss U.S. and European partner perspectives on these topics March 12, 2026.

“If Russia were to move rapidly against the Baltic states, could NATO effectively defend its territory? What is next for the Euro-Atlantic security architecture by 2027 and beyond?” Dr. Mahir J. Ibrahimov, CASO Director, asked rhetorically as he set the stage for the discussion.

Colonel Thibaud Thomas, French Embassy Military Attaché, highlighted key points of the 2025 French National Strategic Review and shared concrete examples of the country’s commitment to NATO’s collective security.

“Basically, we believe that there is no major security threat to Europe that wouldn’t concern France and we agreed with Germany and other European partners to have a political, operational, and technical dialogue on the nuclear issues,” Thomas said.

In addition to nuclear deterrence, Thomas discussed countering the Russian ‘Dark Fleet’ and being one of 35 nations in the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in support of Ukraine.

“France is investing in its defense. We heard the call for an increased burden sharing and we think that makes sense. We are committed to contributing to an increased European strategic awakening,” Thomas said.

Dr. Eike Buellesbach, German Embassy Deputy Branch Head, emphasized the importance of the U.S.-German relationship, strengthening the European pillar, and keeping the alliance strong.

“Germany has initiated significant changes in its security policy. It’s an ongoing process which was initiated after the Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2022,” Buellesbach said.

This includes heavy increases to German defense spending through significant investment in its army and equipment while also actively engaging in NATO vigilance activities.

“The best example for us to showcase that Germany is putting an emphasis here is the 5,000-troop brigade that we will be deploying to Lithuania to protect NATO’s eastern flank to contribute to NATO’s deterrence. This will start by 2027 and it’s well underway,” Buellsbach explained.

LTC Jamal A. Khan, a Eurasian Foreign Area Officer and CGSC instructor, explained the diminishing Russian influence in the South Caucasus, the Russian Federation’s role as the primary driver of instability in the region, and implications for NATO.

“Russia often positions itself as both the arsonist and firefighter, starting crises in the region and then magically appearing to solve them for everyone else, but the invasion of Ukraine has reduced Moscow’s bandwidth to do so,” he said.

Fraught relationships in the region have created a power vacuum, providing opportunity for nations like Turkey, Iran, and China to expand military and economic ties.

“For the U.S., the question is ‘whose influence will shape this region’s future?’” Khan said.

Recent diplomacy efforts and economic initiatives by the Trump administration were offered as solutions to reinforce stability in the region where military dominance has failed.

LTC Drew Shealy, FAO [H(1]and CGSC instructor discussed the current state of the NATO alliance and highlighted ongoing successes in Euro-Atlantic security.

“Despite the headlines we see today, the alliance is arguably stronger now than it has been in decades and the United States continues to see it as central to our security strategy,” Shealy stated.

Shealy explained that calls for Europe to increase its own defense efforts and discussions about burden sharing and strategic autonomy are not new or a sign of failure, but a sign of adaptation.

“The 2026 National Defense Strategy makes it clear that the United States must prioritize homeland defense in Indo-Pacific while expecting allies to take a greater responsibility in their regional security,” Shealy said.

The U.S. will continue to provide critical capabilities.

“Europe is becoming a more capable security partner and the alliance as whole remains one of the most successful and durable security arrangements in modern history. So, if we think about the future of Euro-Atlantic security, the question is not whether NATO will endure. History suggests it will. The real question is how the alliance will continue evolving to meet the next generation of security challenges together.” Shealy concluded.

The CASO panel series is conducted regularly with partner organizations to provide CGSC constituents with expert analysis and informed discussion. The series goal is to enhance collective understanding of the global and regional geopolitical dynamics, to enhance leaders’ understanding of the security environment and enable them to make informed decisions and drive effective solutions.

The full panel can be viewed on the CGSC YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@USArmyCGSC/streams