Posts

Posted on

Defense News: Kentucky Guard Soldiers build readiness through foundational training

Source: United States Army

GREENVILLE, Ky. – Soldiers with the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion strengthened combat readiness March 20-21 at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, qualifying on weapons systems and refining the logistical capabilities essential to sustaining operations in any environment.

The battalion focused on maintaining overall readiness through a series of demanding exercises.

“This weekend we had our Soldiers qualify on their rifles, pistols, and crew-served weapons,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Emily O’Conner, the battalion’s personnel officer. “Staying qualified and skilled at shooting is a basic soldiering task that improves our unit readiness.”

Sixty-seven Soldiers qualified on the M4 carbine, M17 pistol and crew-served weapons throughout the weekend. Weapons qualification remains a fundamental soldiering task critical to ensuring operational effectiveness and lethality.

“We completed our officer evaluation reports, as well as our non-commissioned officer evaluation reports this weekend, which let us evaluate leaders in the organization and guide their development,” she said.

The training also tested the battalion’s logistical capabilities, with Soldiers successfully managing supply, maintenance and distribution operations under demanding conditions.

“It’s this behind-the-scenes work that truly enables the rest of the units we train to support focus on warfighting tasks,” said O’Conner. “I’m grateful for the hard work of our Soldiers; their dedication to mastering these essential support roles is the foundation of our success.”

The training reinforced that mastering the fundamentals is the foundation of readiness. The successful execution of logistics, maintenance and range operations reflected a shared commitment to excellence from every Soldier. That dedication to the basics ensures the 103rd BSB remains a ready, lethal and prepared force capable of meeting missions at home and abroad.

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

Posted on

Registered sex offender arrested on multiple new child pornography charges

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Peterson, 42, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography by a person with a prior child pornography conviction, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $250,000 fine. 

Posted on

Illegal Alien, a Convicted Cocaine Dealer Previously Deported Five Times, Sentenced to 122 Months

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Damion Alexander Peddie, 54, a Jamaican citizen who previously had been convicted of multiple drug trafficking offenses and removed from the United States on at least five prior occasions, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 122 months in federal prison in connection with possessing a cache of weapons and narcotics and for illegally re-entering the country.

Posted on

Tuba City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Wyatt Op Maloney, 24, of Tuba City, Ariz. was sentenced on March 26, 2026, by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Maloney previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. 

Posted on

Colorado Springs Man Sentenced To 46 Months After Being Convicted On Charges Arising From Hate Crime Hoax

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derrick Bernard, 36, of Colorado Springs was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment after being found guilty by a federal jury for conspiring to threaten or convey false information about a threat when he burned a cross in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign defaced with a racial slur and publicized the threatening activity.  The cross burning took place on April 23, 2023, just over three weeks before the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election was being held.