Chièvres Air Base, Belgium –When U.S. Air Force firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) on Chièvres Air Base (CAB) and local Belgian firefighter recruits merge their contrasting tactics in the heat of a live burn, the result is an unbreakable partnership that guarantees mutual readiness.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighters join forces with firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) during a joint training on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed both countries to learn and teach different methods and tactics, improving readiness between Allies. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) show local firefighter recruits how to force open a door during a fire training on May, 6, 2026 on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The 424 ABS invited the firefighters to join them for training to give them hands on experience. (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
The 424th invited local firefighter recruits to participate in a joint fire training exercise on May 6, 2026, at CAB, Belgium. Rather than sitting in a classroom, the students were thrown into action, tackling a rigorous training day that included a tour of the fire station, a simulated burning building scenario, and critical search and rescue operations.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A firefighter from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS), monitors a building fire from within during a joint training with local firefighter recruits on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training offered the recruits an opportunity to leave the classroom and receive hands-on training extinguishing fires. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –A firefighter from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) lights a fire for a burning building training on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The 424 ABS invited local firefighter recruits to participate in a joint fire training exercise to give them an experience outside the classroom. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Staff Sgt. Zachary Gager, 424th ABS Fire Department crew chief, led the training but noted he walked away learning new tactics himself. He observed the stark differences in methodology, particularly how European crews focus heavily on calculated water conservation, contrasting with the traditionally aggressive approach of American firefighters.
“The great part about being on a NATO base is learning different tactics,” said Gager. “This is my second time leading it, and I really love it. It’s just a really humbling experience to teach youth about firefighting.”
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Cédric Reygaerts, USAG Benelux lead garrison fire protection specialist, teaches local firefighter recruits during a joint exercise with the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) firefighters on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed both local and military firefighters the opportunity to enhance communication skills despite the language barrier. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighter recruits prepare equipment before a joint fire training with the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The students had the opportunity witness U.S. Air Force firefighters in action and teach them more about Belgian methods. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Cédric Reygaerts, USAG Benelux lead garrison fire protection specialist, recognized the vital benefits for both sides. The 424th firefighters had the opportunity to learn more about their Belgian counterparts and improve interoperability, while the young trainees experienced the intensity of U.S. military firefighting firsthand.
“If something happens here on Chièvres Air Base, we need the Belgian firefighters. One purpose is to check the communication during a fire because we know the language barrier is an issue,” Reygaerts explained. “The training also allows the firefighter students to see what it is to be a firefighter on CAB and provides them a better understanding of cooperation. One day, they might even apply to work on Chièvres Air Base.”
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Local firefighter recruits joined the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) for a joint fire training on May 6, 2026, on Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The students left the classroom for a rigorous hands-on training that started with extinguishing a burning building. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –Gwenn Corbisier, USAG Benelux fire prevention inspector, talks through an exercise scenario during a joint fire training exercise on May 6, 2026 at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The joint training allowed local firefighter recruits and firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) the opportunity to teach and learn from each other. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
For Eden Lassoie, an 18-year-old Belgian firefighter student, classroom theories became reality the moment she stepped into the heat.
“My favorite part of today was when I saw the fire; I learned how to enter the burning building and learned how to extinguish it,” said Lassoie. “I loved learning the differences and getting to work with different people.”
Firefighters from the 424th Air Base Squadron (ABS) and local firefighter recruits communicate during a burning building training on May 6, 2026, at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. The training allowed the local recruits to practice breaking down a door and extinguishing fires in preparation for real world events. (U.S. Army photo by Kristin Savage, USAG Benelux Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Kristin Savage)VIEW ORIGINAL
Ultimately, the flames inside the burning building provided more than just a training environment—they served as a forge for a stronger, more unified cross-border Alliance, ensuring both nations are ready to answer the call together.
CHICAGO – U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Moises Garcia, assigned to the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, was recognized as the military honoree during a Chicago Cubs home game at Wrigley Field, against the Cincinnati Reds, May 5, 2026.
More than 34,000 fans rose to their feet and applauded as Garcia was recognized on the field for his 31 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve.
“I’m truly humbled and grateful to be recognized for my service here today,” Garcia said. “This moment is bigger than me. It honors the sacrifices of everyone who served before me and beside me.”
A Chicago native and lifelong Cubs fan, Garcia said his father, Gregorio, introduced him to baseball by taking him to games and teaching him how to play. Garcia later played little league for the Blue Jays at Hanson Park on Chicago’s west side while his father cheered from the stands.
“Throughout this game, my heart has been with my dad, who I know is watching from above,” Garcia said.
After graduating from Charles A. Prosser Career Academy in 1995 Garcia enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, beginning a military career that has now spanned more than three decades.
Garcia has served on five deployments in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Djibouti.
His awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star.
Garcia currently serves as a human resources sergeant with the 85th USARSC in Arlington Heights, Illinois; in his civilian career, he serves as a staff administrative specialist with the 16th Psychological Operations Battalion at Fort Sheridan, Illinois.
NIANTIC, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard is hosting Cyber Yankee 2026, the National Guard’s premier annual regional cyber training exercise, at Camp Nett in Connecticut, May 4-15.
Started in 2015, Cyber Yankee partners military cyber warriors with cyber experts from local utility companies to collaborate and train on responding to credible cyber threats against critical infrastructure.
“Cyber Yankee puts real operators from the Guard, federal agencies, and private utilities in the same room, working the same problem, before a real attack forces that meeting,” said Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon Jr., the adjutant general and commander of the Connecticut National Guard. “Gas, water, and electric systems do not defend themselves. It takes a skilled team that knows how to work together to keep us safe. That’s what this exercise is all about.”
The two-week exercise begins with a week of classroom training, followed by a week of tactical-level defensive cyber operations exercises. These exercises split the participants into groups: blue groups are military personnel, orange groups are civilian partners, and red groups are malicious actors such as hackers, hacktivists or foreign state actors.
What makes Cyber Yankee unique compared with other military cyber events, such as Cyber Shield, is that this event focuses on civilian infrastructure, such as natural gas, electricity and water, rather than Department of War infrastructure, such as its computer network.
During the exercise, red groups will actively attempt to infiltrate the infrastructure to cause harm. It is the responsibility of the orange and blue teams to implement mitigations to prevent these actors from gaining access, identify any breaches and respond to them to prevent damage to critical infrastructure.
“There are credible threats to the United States critical infrastructure,” said Air Force Col. Cameron Sprague, the Connecticut National Guard’s cyber operations officer and director of Cyber Yankee 2026. “Unfortunately, there are threats to the United States that seek to use cyber means to degrade or deny us those industries—or at least be prepared to do that in the event of a conflict with us. Cyber Yankee is all about being able to defend ourselves against that.”
Since the inception of Cyber Yankee, the exercise has grown significantly. The first iteration of Cyber Yankee, hosted in Massachusetts, consisted of about 100 participants split into two teams — one from Massachusetts and one from Connecticut.
This year’s event, the 12th iteration, includes six teams and more than 360 personnel, including service members from the National Guard in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee. It also includes representatives from the Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard and international partners from the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, including Cyprus, Brazil, El Salvador, Kenya, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada and Sweden.
Local, state and other civilian participants include 10 private industry companies, the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Energy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“Cyber is a team sport,” said Sprague. “it’s all about collaboration and if the event happens where we’re attacked by a nation state against our critical infrastructure and services are taken down, we’ll need to work together to restore and defend them.”
As society becomes more dependent on digital assets for everyday functions, cyberattacks inevitably become a greater threat. The training at Cyber Yankee helps cyber warriors combat these threats in real time.
One example was a ransomware attack against the city of Hartford, Connecticut, in September 2020. A hacker disrupted critical systems in the city’s school system, causing delays that rippled through many families’ daily routines.
As a result of this attack, the Connecticut National Guard’s cyber team was activated. In conjunction with the city of Hartford, the threat was isolated and ultimately fixed. This attack exposed several vulnerabilities in the city’s cybersecurity. However, the training from Cyber Yankee allowed the Guard team to remain calm and focused during this high-stress event and deliver results.
Although Cyber Yankee’s proven track record of success has laid the foundation for this exercise to grow into something much larger, Sprague said one of its greatest strengths is its limited size and regional focus on building relationships with cyber teams and industry experts who would work together in the event of a serious cyber incident.
PUYALLUP, Wash. — In preparation for Washington’s upcoming wildfire season, aviation crews assigned to the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, partnered with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue to conduct water bucket training May 7.
Throughout the exercise, firefighters and aviation crews rehearsed aerial wildfire response operations, practicing bucket drops, air-to-ground communication procedures and coordination between firefighters and aircrews ahead of Washington’s annual fire season.
Using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, aircrews conducted multiple water-bucket drops while ground-based firefighters coordinated target locations and evaluated the effectiveness of each drop. The training focused on communication, timing and precision in environments that can quickly become hazardous during wildfire response operations.
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard conducts a water bucket drop during wildfire response training with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue near Puyallup, May 7, 2026. The training prepares aviation crews and firefighters to coordinate aerial firefighting operations during Washington’s wildfire season. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay) (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
“Air assets have become a critical asset in fighting these fires,” said a representative from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. “These are very fast-moving fires, especially when the weather’s playing into it with the wind, and it’s extremely difficult for us on the ground and extremely hazardous sometimes for us to get even close enough to attempt to extinguish these fires.”
Fire officials said helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft often provide firefighters additional access and suppression capabilities in areas that may be difficult or unsafe for crews operating on the ground.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jarin Trakel, company standardization instructor pilot, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington National Guard, emphasized the recurring partnership helps firefighters and aviation crews build familiarity and communication before responding to real-world emergencies.
“We kind of try to bridge that gap by putting a face to the radio before anything actually happens,” Trakel said. “That way they know what to expect when they call the Washington Guard.”
Trakel said the joint training also allows both organizations to better understand each other’s capabilities, communication procedures and operational limitations before responding to wildfire incidents together.
Firefighters from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue observe a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, conducting water bucket operations during joint wildfire response training near Puyallup, May 7, 2026. The exercise emphasized air-to-ground coordination and communication during aerial firefighting missions. (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
For Washington Army National Guard aviation crews, water bucket operations require annual certification and ongoing proficiency training to ensure pilots and crew members remain prepared to respond when activated to support wildfire suppression missions across the state.
Trakel described water bucket operations as one of the more demanding aviation mission sets conducted during domestic operations training.
“This is kind of the varsity league of training,” Trakel said. “The aircraft, we put it pretty close to its limitations when we’re picking water up, moving the aircraft around in tight spaces, at low airspeed with a high power setting.”
He added that the mission requires experienced crews and constant communication and coordination among pilots, crew chiefs and ground firefighters. During real wildfire responses, military aviation crews often integrate with multiple civilian rotary-wing aircraft operating from the same water sources and along the same flight paths.
“It takes a lot of coordination,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Martin Hays, battalion aviation mission survivability officer, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, Washington National Guard. “You’re dealing with firefighters on the ground and additional weight with the water bucket.”
Hays said wildfire response operations remain among the more demanding domestic mission sets conducted by Guard aviation crews due to terrain, smoke, wind conditions and the coordination required between ground personnel and aircraft.
During the exercise, firefighters and aircrews practiced identifying targets, coordinating water-drop locations, and maintaining positive communication throughout the operation.
“The first thing that we do is try to identify our ground contact to make sure we have positive communication with the crews,” said the battalion commander for Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. “Obviously, the priority is actually stopping any forward progress towards residential structures or life hazards.”
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, flies near a Central Pierce Fire and Rescue engine during a joint water bucket training near Puyallup, Wash., May 7, 2026. The Washington Army National Guard partnered with local firefighters to rehearse aerial wildfire response operations ahead of fire season. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay) (Photo Credit: Capt. Andrew Phommavongsay)VIEW ORIGINAL
Fire officials said the partnership has continued to grow through recurring joint training opportunities between firefighters and Guard aviation crews.
“It’s extremely rare to find helicopters that are willing to train with us,” a firefighter said. “We decided this was a great opportunity for us to get some training out of this too.”
Since 2012, the Washington National Guard has supported wildfire suppression efforts alongside the Washington Department of Natural Resources throughout the state. In 2024, aviation crews flew more than 75 firefighting hours and dropped nearly 300,000 gallons of water in support of multiple wildfire responses across Washington. According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, 1.2 million gallons of water were delivered via aviation assets with an average response of 16 minutes in 2025.
In recent years, Washington Army National Guard aviation crews have been activated to support wildfire response operations across the state.
“The more we get to go out and do this, the better,” Trakel said. “It just makes us safer, more capable to give back to the state when called upon.”
As Washington prepares for another wildfire season, Guard aviators and local firefighters continue building the relationships, communication and operational readiness needed to protect communities across the state.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The Department of Justice, acting on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the Attorney General of Illinois and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today the filing of a civil complaint to stop an Illinois company and its owner from deceiving consumers in connection with the sale of home repair and improvement services in violation of federal and state law. The matter was investigated by the FTC and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
The Department of Justice filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, against B.E.S.T. GDR, LLC, doing business as Premium Home Service, and its founder and CEO, Yosef Bernath. As alleged in the complaint, the defendants orchestrated a nationwide scheme which deceived consumers who sought local home services, such as plumbing, heating, or electrical work. According to the complaint, the defendants fabricated local identities nationwide by creating over 15,000 fake business profiles on Google Search and Maps. These profiles allegedly used brick-and-mortar addresses often belonging to unrelated businesses and local phone numbers that routed to overseas call centers. The complaint further alleges that the defendants posted fake consumer reviews which praised their fake business profiles. In doing so, the defendants allegedly misappropriated the images of people from the staff directories of unrelated websites.
According to the complaint, the defendants collected fees by claiming to be a local company that provided services directly to the consumer. Instead, the defendants referred the work to third-party contractors. Posing as the defendants’ employees, many of these contractors lacked proper qualifications, performed substandard work, arrived late, or failed to appear at all. The complaint alleges that this conduct violates the FTC Act, the FTC Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials, the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Additionally, the complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act because they obtained consumers’ debit and credit card numbers by making false statements or representations about the nature and value of the defendants’ fees.
“When Americans shop for home services, they are not just choosing the lowest price; they are investing in their home and assessing the reliability of the person they let through the front door,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with the FTC to protect consumers from businesses that misrepresent their identities and the quality and reliability of their services.”
“Premium Home Service’s use of fake business profiles and reviews violates federal and state laws, harming consumers and businesses,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Trump-Vance FTC is committed to addressing deceptive conduct that harms the American people and undermines competition.”
“Premium Home Service spent years establishing fake businesses with fake reviews to lure in customers who were in need of home repairs,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “Individuals who scam the unsuspecting public have no place in our communities, and I appreciate the partnership of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in working to hold this company accountable.”
The complaint seeks a permanent injunction to prohibit the defendants from future violations, monetary civil penalties, and redress for injury caused to consumers.
The United States is represented in this action by Assistant Director Patrick R. Runkle, Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson, and Trial Attorneys Cadesby B. Cooper and Colin W. Trundle, from the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch. The FTC is represented in this action by William J. Hodor and Karen D. Dodge. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General is represented by Assistant Attorneys General Amanda Palmer, Dale Lichtenstein, Thomas P. James, and Janice Parker.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Orlando, Florida – Matthew Leach (41, Tennessee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to 65 months in federal prison for the transportation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The court also ordered Leach to forfeit a cellphone, which was used to commit the offense. Leach pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EZEQUIEL LARA-REYES (“LARA-REYES”), age 27, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment charging a Canadian illegal alien and his alleged co-conspirator for their roles in a cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that caused more than $13 million in losses.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Jackson, TN – On May 5, 2026, after a 3-day trial, a federal jury found Vinson Brent Taylor, 46, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, guilty of two counts of federal drug trafficking offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.The trial was bifurcated and proceeded in two phases. According to evidence presented in court during Phase I of the trial, on the night of August 8, 2024, an officer with the Dyersburg Police Department was on patrol duty when he encountered two men fighting in front of…
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, Florida – Desiree Doreen Segari (41, Sarasota) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Katheryn Kimball Mizell to 14 months in federal prison for interstate communication of a threat to injure. A federal jury found Segari guilty on January 13, 2026.