INDIANAPOLIS — Army Gen. Christopher LaNeve, vice chief of staff of the Army and acting chief of staff, emphasized the Guard’s indispensable, multidomain contributions to the joint force at home and abroad during an annual National Guard conference in Indianapolis Aug. 29.

Referencing the Army’s newly released strategy document, the Army Azimuth, LaNeve stressed the Guard’s essential role across all three Army priorities: defending the homeland, warfighting and projecting power on and from the land.

“You carry a heavy load of defending the homeland, whether that manifests in Joint Task Force Southern Border, D.C. Safe and Beautiful, or response efforts aligned with national disasters,” LaNeve said.

LaNeve thanked the National Guard for its ongoing support of D.C. Safe and Beautiful — a mission that has brought nearly 10,000 Guardsmen from around the country to support local and federal law enforcement efforts aimed at restoring order in the nation’s capital. As a result, Guardsmen have removed more than 1,400 illegal firearms from local streets, conducted more than 860 medical assistance interventions, administered naloxone to more than 375 people experiencing suspected overdoses and reunited more than 44 minors with their families.

“When I think about the National Guard, I think of individuals who are truly part of their communities, faces that folks recognize and can directly associate with service,” LaNeve said. “That’s a powerful force for good in our nation.”

As a young brigade operations officer, LaNeve witnessed the Guard’s tenacity in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. His unit conducted a relief in place, or RIP, for the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Iraq, whose Soldiers were serving their final weeks of deployment when one of the worst hurricanes in decades devastated their home state.

“The professionalism they displayed during that RIP will always, always stay with me,” LaNeve said. “In the face of absolute worry, they did not falter.”

That same professionalism and tenacity, LaNeve said, is rooted in Soldier fundamentals.

Returning to a “warrior mindset” across the force is critical for maintaining the Army’s position as the world’s most dominant land power. LaNeve outlined this as going back to the basics of rigorous physical training, knowing the mission-essential tasks associated with their military specialty and preparing their equipment.

“Each of us has a moral obligation to our nation and the Soldiers we serve to become the strongest, most lethal and most ready version of ourselves possible,” LaNeve said. “We must care about the basics today to keep our Soldiers alive on the battlefield tomorrow.”

With four Guard mobile brigades scheduled to conduct combat readiness exercises in fiscal year 2027 and Guardsmen currently serving in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, embracing a warrior mindset is more critical than ever, he said.

“You are in the fight.”

LaNeve praised the Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or IBCT, as the first Army National Guard brigade to participate in a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation ahead of the Army’s plans to convert 25 Army National Guard IBCTs to the mobile BCT structure by the end of fiscal year 2028.

“You are a critical part of our ability to be postured to respond immediately to crises and contingencies both at home and abroad,” he said.

Operation Epic Fury demonstrated how the Army remains the foundation of the joint force, he said. While the operation may appear to center on air power and a blockade, the Army — including the Army National Guard — has continued to provide critical warfighting functions in theater.

He cited the New York-based 42nd Infantry Division, which led Task Force Spartan and provided tactical mission command for land forces from February to May, and the Kansas National Guard’s 130th Field Artillery Brigade, which transitioned from supporting Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve to serving as the field artillery headquarters for U.S. Central Command forces and executed one of the longest deep field artillery strikes in Army history.

“You are a powerful part of our ability to project power on and from the land,” LaNeve said. “The National Guard generates combat-credible formations and helps strengthen the capacity of our allies and partners through the State Partnership Program.”

The Department of War’s National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program now encompasses 117 partnerships, connecting states, territories and Washington, D.C., with partner nations in every geographic combatant command.

LaNeve highlighted the Washington National Guard and Malaysia, which have partnered since 2017, for their recent weeklong working group focused on developing expeditionary amphibious capabilities and logistics planning.

“We must position ourselves favorably left of conflict, whether that be campaigning, building relationships or forward-basing,” he said. “Through the actions we take today, we are hardening lines of communication and reinforcing the forward areas of the future fight, and you are on the vanguard of this.”

LaNeve also described the Guard’s role in “endurance,” one of four elements of land power outlined in the Azimuth alongside convergence, strike and close battle. Together, they guarantee the Army’s ability to maneuver operationally on the battlefield and to deliver joint all-domain maneuver when integrated into the joint force.

“Endurance is about our ability as an Army to persist,” he said, “to ensure we can maintain posture, protection, projection of power across time, distance, and in the face of an unforgiving and persistent adversary. We use endurance to translate victory on the battlefield to victory in war.”

The Guard’s ability to mobilize helps project power over time and distance, making it essential to the endurance of the Army’s land power. State partnerships build the relationships needed for posture and power projection abroad, and the Guard’s daily contributions to endurance directly support the Army’s ability to conduct operational maneuver, LaNeve said.

“We may have three compos, but we are one Army,” LaNeve told the audience, using a shorthand term for the Army’s active-duty, National Guard and Reserve components. “That Army is the foundation of our joint force.”

By MSG Sarah McClanahan

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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Imagine a car breaking down and having to be transported 7,000 miles for repairs. Now imagine that vehicle is a critical asset needed to keep families and neighbors alive.

For modern warfighters, this logistics bottleneck is not a hypothetical scenario. It is a harsh operational reality known as “the last tactical mile” – the high-stakes battlespace where a military capability is delivered and where its reliability and endurance matter most.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, a tremendous amount of cargo space on military aircraft was dedicated to moving repair parts forward or retrograding damaged equipment. In a contested near-peer conflict, however, uncontested airlift is not guaranteed. To survive and win on the modern battlefield, units must possess the technical data, tools, and authority to ‘fix forward’ at the point of conflict.

The “Black Box” Vulnerability

Taking the car breakdown example, a step further highlights the inherent risks of “black boxes.” Imagine if instead of being able to replace spark plugs or belts when they fail, all you can do is replace an entire engine. This is reality for maintainers when it comes to proprietary sub-components that only the Original Equipment Manufacturer can test and repair.

Early acquisition decisions frequently trade technical data rights for rapid delivery speed or immediate functionality. While these choices result in short-term acquisition wins, they inevitably create long-term sustainment nightmares. Trapped within proprietary information and supply stovepipes, the system effectively surrenders organic repair capabilities to private defense contractors for the duration of their operational life.

Upon deployment, tactical maintainers encounter modified or non-standard system configurations that they can neither troubleshoot nor repair. This gridlock extends all the way up the sustainment chain. Geographically anchored by costly and numerous OEM test stands and starved of proprietary technical data, organic depots find themselves facing the exact same constraints.

Retaining Rights to Repair/Freedom to Fix

While defense contractors argue that private industry is best suited managing the physical and digital details of complex defense platforms, logistical experts, who have visibility across several weapon platforms, argue that this creates severe operational and financial vulnerabilities.

Without sustainable maintenance pipelines, high-tech weapon systems quickly become liabilities. This vulnerability is especially acute for low-density, high-variety fleets that lack strategic spare parts, face complex modernization efforts, and suffer from extended repair cycle times.

Because the military unit — not the defense contractor — is evaluated on operational readiness and system reliability, any gaps between acquisition and sustainment are ultimately paid for with a decrease in combat power and readiness.

LEAD’s Digital Engineering Solution

To bridge this gap, LEAD is establishing a comprehensive engineering services framework for its customers. LEAD’s configuration management team works with product offices to organize all available technical information and define the baseline configuration within Windchill, an organic Product Lifecycle Management system. This baseline serves as the foundation for all sourcing, tracking, modernization, and decommissioning decisions.

While depots are not configuration managers, utilizing LEAD as a centralized hub ensures sustainment experts are integrated into the decision-making loop alongside community subject matter experts. This baseline technical data includes:

• Component attributes and engineering models
• Repair and theory of operation data
• System test documentation and effectivity records
• Parent-child assembly relationships, parts lists, and sourcing alternates

During any maintenance cycle at the depot, artisans create a digital twin of each asset as it is being built. These digital twins organize vast amounts of technical data into an intuitive and interactive owner’s manual of what will be delivered. The twin doesn’t just show what the parts are, but how they are routed throughout the system and how they connect and interact with each other. These twins serve to better connect warfighters and depot SMEs through a common operating picture during forward deployed operations.

The final phase of this digital rollout will make these digital twins fully interactive. By incorporating cyber secure physical sensors into fielded equipment, the Army can capture real-time material failures and eliminate contrived durability or planned obsolescence. The government would now have all the information necessary to place strategic spares and plan field upgrades. This continuous feedback loop eliminates the “dirty ledger” data mismatch (where physical configurations don’t match the digital databases) that typically plagues physical systems and their digital records.

This government-owned digital thread provides a single, continuous and traceable data pipeline that starts with configuration lock and utilizes a change management process to connect acquisition and sustainment throughout the lifecycle. When all phases are deployed the Army’s priorities become the only consideration for acquiring, modernizing, modifying, and repairing warfighter equipment.

Sustaining on the Tactical Edge

LEAD engineers and technicians have 80+ years of demonstrated commitment to supporting the warfighter. Reimagining the space beyond the depot gates and between maintenance intervals is just another example of how LEAD remains relevant and innovative. By pushing technical expertise directly to the tactical edge, LEAD extends equipment operational life, minimizes down-time, and directly increases the combat readiness of forward-deployed forces.

Just as you wouldn’t ship a broken car 7,000 miles for repairs, LEAD’s comprehensive engineering framework equips our warfighters to complete the mission efficiently and effectively right where they are.

——————–

Kate Williams serves as Letterkenny Army Depot’s Director of Strategic Management.

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FORT BENNING, Ga. — Maneuver Battle Lab Soldiers and capability developers gathered at McKenna Field Landing Site July 27 to Aug. 7 to assess modern tethered unmanned aircraft systems — known as Te-UAS — designed to give maneuver units the ability to overcome terrain limitations and conduct persistent reconnaissance, surveillance and extended communications.

Designed and executed by the MBL in collaboration with the Air Robotics, Dismounted Requirements Branch, Requirements Division, Maneuver Future Capability Directorate and Product Lead Strategic Spectrum Warfare, the assessment put two commercial Te-UAS capability surrogates through static, on-the-move and emergency scenarios.

During the trial, the tethered drones climbed to operationally relevant altitudes. The MBL timed ascent and retraction speeds and assessed the system’s “follow-mode” as the Te-UAS tracked above an Infantry Squad Vehicle-Utility maneuvering through the training area. Moving between designated target reference points, operators bounced communications over terrain obstacles, bypassed signal jamming and spotted targets from safe distances.

A tethered unmanned aerial system (Te-UAS) soars above the tree line while moving above an Infantry Squad Vehicle-Utility (ISV-U) during a Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) assessment at Fort Benning, Ga., Aug. 6, 2026. MBL Soldiers maneuvered the drones at various altitudes to measure the technology against the Army’s performance standards.

“The Maneuver Battle Lab’s mission is experimentation,” said Tollie Strode Jr., government oversight lead for the assessment and unmanned systems team chief at the MBL. “We take technology to the field, employ it in an operational context, look under the hood, kick the tires and report what we find to inform programmatic decisions.”

Unlike traditional free-flying drones that are limited by internal power supplies and require battery swaps, the Te-UAS receives continuous power and exchanges data through its physical tether, allowing it to remain airborne and provide capability to the force indefinitely.

“This is a great opportunity for long-endurance mission sets,” said Capt. Sarah Runion, MBL Live Experimentation Branch executive officer and assessment participant. “Tethered UAS bring a lot of pros to the force: we don’t have to worry about battery life or anything like that, which you see on other drones. It can go through different levels of height, and it can follow you along on whatever platform you deem it on.”

Another feature under evaluation was the system’s simple operational design, which allows users to deploy the Te-UAS rapidly without extensive specialized training.

“In a matter of minutes, I was able to get [the drone] launched up in the air … and then it’s a quick, easy one-step button to bring it back down,” said Runion. “This has been a user-friendly experience.”

Mark Pagliaro, a Product Lead Strategic Spectrum Warfare contractor, compared the setup to a portable, elevated sensor suite for a maneuver unit.

“It’s similar to a very high tower,” Pagliaro said. “Having a sensor up that high in their [area of operations] is going to influence [the maneuver unit] and allow them to extend ranges and see targets farther.”

Pagliaro added that the simple deployment is “pretty much hands-off,” freeing the user to focus on incoming camera feeds and data rather than piloting the aircraft.

Following the field iterations, the MBL compiles Soldier feedback, technical performance data and operational footprint details into a comprehensive final report. This package provides vital data for leaders to determine whether the Army should purchase the technology.

“When we develop a clear concept of operation and employment, it gives us credibility behind the numbers and information we provide to decision-makers,” Strode said. “It answers the ‘so what?’ and provides the essential analytical underpinning to determine if this technology should transition into a permanent Army program of record.”

By Maddy Gonzalez

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WASHINGTON — The Department of the Army is announcing today that the Janus Program has selected five nuclear energy vendors, and five initial locations.

In partnership with the Department of War Innovation Unit (DIU), the Army is awarding up to a combined $2.2 billion to own, construct, and operate nuclear microreactors on military installations.  These vendors will deliver safe, secure, and reliable nuclear power, strengthening the Army’s ability to project power globally, while supporting the revitalization of American industrial capacity and technological leadership. With the private sector funding expected along with these government dollars, the Army expects more than 20 total nuclear microreactors will be built and operated across Department of War installations.

The five selected vendors and installations are as follows:

Antares Nuclear, Inc. – Fort Bragg, North Carolina

BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC – Fort Campbell, Kentucky

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems – Fort Hood, Texas

Radiant Industries, Inc. – Fort Benning, Georgia

Westinghouse Government Services – Fort Drum, New York

“Since launching the Janus Program, our mandate from President Trump and Secretary Hegseth has been clear: secure the power our warfighters need to train, deploy and win,” said Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army. “Awarding these contracts accelerates our ability to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations. We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids.”

“The Janus Program is grabbing the baton from Project Pele and the [Department of Energy’s] Reactor Pilot Program,” said Dr. Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. “We are seeking not just reactors capable of turning on for a brief demonstration, but rather systems able to deliver power with high-capacity factors for years of operation. The Janus Program will be a complete success when and only when we have assisted multiple nuclear companies in developing truly reliable and affordable nuclear microreactors which they can sell to other buyers beyond just the military.”

After gathering technical and operational information from industry via an Area of Interest released by DIU, the Army down-selected potential industry awardees for negotiation of Other Transactions Authority-based agreements. A decision board and panel of top nuclear and technical experts from the Department of Energy, national laboratories and representatives across the services provided deeply rigorous input on the technical risks, financial situation, and management capabilities of the solutions. The close collaboration with technical experts and service representatives ensured selected vendors would provide solutions to enhance energy resilience for specific operational needs at military installations.

“When DOE created an authorization pathway for the demonstration of advanced reactor designs, we quickly began to realize how valuable these technologies could be for fortifying our national defense infrastructure,” said Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish. “We are honored to work in lockstep with the Army to leverage nuclear energy innovation in support of our country’s military operations at home and abroad.”

The alignment of these vendors with Army installations represents the culmination of a year-long effort to evaluate and prioritize installations based on a multitude of factors from energy needs to seismic and hydrological considerations, all with a primary focus on safety. As the Janus Program moves forward, it is intended that these vendors will also site nuclear technologies on other service installations for continued energy resilience across the entire DOW. Additional Army and other Service sites will be announced at a later date. The Army continues to drive towards the September 2028 target outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order 14299 for operation of a first reactor, regulated by the Army, on a military installation.

“The Army is leading the nation in its return to nuclear preeminence via the Janus Program,” said Jason Craft, Janus Program manager. “Our selected industry awardees represent the most viable technologies to achieve this capability, setting conditions for both installation energy resilience and operational energy solutions.”

Using a milestone-based payment model, vendors will receive government funding only after successfully hitting specific technical goals. This investment model brings together approximately $2.2 billion across FY2027-2031 along with significant capital investment from each vendor. This technology development model will speed up the delivery of next-generation energy solutions to the warfighter and promote innovation while ensuring accountability. The prototype reactors will be contractor-owned and operated.

“We need more power. We need it delivered faster and cheaper, and we need it to be more reliable,” said Owen West, director, DIU. “With Janus, DIU is assisting the Army’s micro reactor build — speeding military energy production to protect the nation.”

Collaboration with utility providers is essential to the success of Army’s nuclear power strategy and the Janus Program. The Army will work closely with serving utilities and privatized utility providers on the Janus Program to ensure the best possible outcomes. The Army also invites continued collaboration with utilities both now and in the future on utility-scale, grid-facing power generation opportunities sited on Army installations.

“The Army’s Janus Program has my full support, said Emil Michael, the War Department’s Chief Technology Officer. “The War Department is acting swiftly to implement President Trump’s Executive Order, Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, to deploy a nuclear reactor on a military installation by September 2028. We are unleashing America’s domestic nuclear industrial base to ensure a more resilient and secure energy supply for the joint force.”

Reliable energy underpins national defense. The down-selection to these five vendors represents a critical step forward in securing the operational readiness of our forces. The Army is committed to fortifying the defense and strength of the nation now and for future generations.

U.S. Army Communication and Outreach Office

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Eight Army National Guard information operations officers graduated from a newly developed Psychological Operations Qualification Course July 24 at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, marking a significant milestone in Army transformation. For the first time, Soldiers from all three components — Regular Army, National Guard and Army Reserve — are training together to combat modern cognitive warfare threats.

As adversaries increasingly rely on sophisticated disinformation campaigns and information warfare to undermine global stability, the Army recognized a need for a unified response. The new integrated training model ensures that Army psychological operations and information operations professionals across the Total Army share a common baseline of skills and strategic understanding required to counter these evolving nonkinetic threats on the battlefield.

“The Army National Guard’s information warfare transformation is fundamentally prompted by the need to stay ahead of our adversaries’ ever-changing threats through continuous innovation,” said Brig. Gen. Isaac Martinez, assistant director of the Army National Guard for aviation, intelligence and information. Martinez explained that the constant threat of adversarial action drives changes to information operations, creating a need for Guard officers who can conduct rapid, strategic analysis and act accordingly.

“Graduation from the 10-week pilot program at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School is part of the National Guard’s modernization effort in information warfare by introducing psychological operations officers to the Army National Guard landscape to conduct information warfare overseas,” said Maj. Shaun Neil, information warfare branch chief for the National Guard Bureau.

Despite conducting information operations for more than 20 years in support of conventional and special operations, this effort will close the Guard’s gap between planning and execution.

“Historically, military information operations have suffered from technological operational delays,” Martinez said. “Strategic planners would design operational packages and then wait on specialized execution groups to implement them.”

In the swiftly shifting space of digital information, these delays often rendered tactical responses obsolete before they could be fully deployed.

“The course aims to prepare cross-functional leaders who can address planning and execution simultaneously, supporting faster decision-making on the battlefield,” said Col. Kirsten Roy, commander of the Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade and Information Forces Modernization lead for the National Guard Bureau.

Roy emphasized that this approach is fundamental in an environment where fast decision-making can determine mission success or failure. Developing leaders capable of managing planning and execution in real time is essential.

“Speed is critical to mission execution,” Roy said during a recent roundtable discussion about the Guard’s broader modernization efforts. “The newly structured training has undergone two iterations and empowers officers to consolidate a wide array of previously disjointed capabilities, including intelligence gathering, data analysis, cyber warfare and electromagnetic warfare, and integrate them with psychological operations units. These newly minted officers are comprehensively equipped to implement the changes required to operate at the speed that modern, digital-first threats demand.”

By SFC Daisy Broker

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American Rheinmetall, Auburn Hills, MI, has successfully delivered the first of eight Lynx XM30 combat vehicle prototypes to the U.S. Army, marking a pivotal step in the competitive program to replace the legacy M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Following its delivery, the initial prototype immediately enters government-led developmental and performance testing. This critical evaluation is a key component of the program’s broader Phase 3/4 Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract valued at approximately $764 million, which encompasses digital design, physical prototyping, and full-system validation.

“Delivering our first prototype to the Army is an important step as the XM30 Combat Vehicle program enters a more visible phase,” said Matt Warnick, CEO of American Rheinmetall. “Team Lynx now has the opportunity to show the Army that we can deliver on the promise of a modern replacement for the Bradley.”

Later this year, American Rheinmetall will deliver the remaining seven prototypes, which will be used for operational unit training. This rollout runs parallel to the technical evaluations as part of the Army’s Transformation in Contact (TiC) 2.0 initiative, a modernization effort aimed at rapidly prototyping, testing, and fielding cutting-edge technology directly to deployed and training units. Once the vehicles clear initial military safety checks, Soldiers will immediately launch into active field maneuvers, an intensive training phase that culminates in large-scale combat simulations.

“Executing a parallel evaluation timeline requires a level of industrial agility that Team Lynx was built for,” Warnick noted. “We are proving that the U.S. Defense Industrial Base can move at the speed of operational relevance, stripping years off traditional development timelines to get the right capability to the Warfighter.”

The advanced prototype deliveries rely on a tightly orchestrated, multi-state production pipeline that underscores the agility and resilience of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Work begins with precision turret fabrication in Plymouth, Michigan, before sub-systems transition to Slidell, Louisiana, for final hull and chassis integration. Completed vehicles then enter comprehensive automotive shakeout trials to guarantee mechanical readiness, before returning to Louisiana for final paint and detailing. Integrating these separate facilities into a singular pipeline ensures strict quality control, with the process culminating in a joint inspection alongside the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) prior to official government acceptance.

The Lynx XM30 is engineered to excel in complex operating environments that increasingly feature drones, precision weapons, and electronic warfare. In support of rapid technology integration over its service life, the platform incorporates a modular design and an adaptive open architecture. Most notably, the vehicle introduces a first-ever hybrid-electric powertrain to optimize power generation and battlefield mobility. As a digitally integrated fighting system with secure, real-time connectivity, the Lynx XM30 embeds the advanced intelligence required to ensure the crew and infantry squad maintain absolute battlefield survivability.

As the prime contractor, American Rheinmetall leads Team Lynx, an elite industrial coalition that combines the specialized capabilities of Textron Systems, Raytheon, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission, and Anduril Industries, supported by a rapidly expanding network of domestic suppliers.

This entry was posted
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The U.S. Army has awarded Anduril a $65 million delivery order for production in support of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) program. The award was made through the Army Enterprise Agreement, which provides a streamlined contracting mechanism for the Army to procure Anduril products and capabilities. Under the delivery order, Anduril will produce and integrate hardware subsystems and mission shelters for TITAN, with Palantir serving as the program team lead.

Army units pull sensor data from a variety of satellites, aircraft, and ground systems. Processing and combining different forms of data traditionally relies on large, fixed infrastructure that is difficult to move and vulnerable to detection or attack. TITAN brings that capability into a mobile ground station.

TITAN fuses diverse sources of data into a common intelligence picture while in the field with combat units. This allows Soldiers to receive and act on real-time data in austere environments, rather than routing it back to a fixed command post. TITAN is designed to accelerate targeting and strike, freeing dependencies on older data processing methods.

Under the award, Anduril will deliver hardware for eight TITAN systems—four TITAN Advanced and four TITAN Basic. TITAN Advanced offers greater processing and integration capability, while the Basic variant provides greater mobility for rapid deployment.

Anduril will manufacture the ruggedized, vehicle-mounted systems and integrate the power, thermal, control, and operator subsystems that enable TITAN to function in the demanding environments in which Soldiers operate.

This award marks TITAN’s transition from prototyping to production.

Anduril has supported the program since 2021, serving as the lead hardware systems architect and incorporating Soldier feedback throughout the design and testing process. TITAN hardware is built at Anduril’s facility in Costa Mesa, California.

As the Army plans additional TITAN orders in FY27, Anduril is prepared to scale production and meet growing demand.

This entry was posted
on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 at 13:00 and is filed under Army, Contracts, ISR, Press Release.
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“Field Tested” immerses audiences in the field environments where Soldiers build confidence, teamwork, and skills for the Army and beyond

At a Glance

The U.S. Army’s new marketing campaign, “Field Tested,” immerses audiences in the real-world training environments where Soldiers gain hands-on experience and proven skills that prepare them to take on whatever comes next.

“Field Tested” speaks to young adults who are navigating an uncertain landscape by showing how Army training equips Soldiers with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed in any future.

Three headlining films follow real Army Soldiers through the field as they demonstrate leadership, problem-solving, and camaraderie while operating advanced technology including drones, geospatial systems, and coding tools, giving audiences a firsthand view of the Army’s training environments.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2026 — At a time when many young Americans feel uncertain about the future, the U.S. Army today announced “Field Tested,” a new marketing campaign that immerses audiences in the real training, discipline, and challenges that mold possibilities into capabilities and unshakeable confidence.

The latest chapter in the Army’s “Be All You Can Be” brand story, “Field Tested” immerses audiences in the field—the Army’s unmatched, real-world training environment where Soldiers learn by doing. The campaign shows how these experiences help Soldiers solve complex problems, lead under pressure, and rely on one another to overcome challenges.

“Young adults are entering a world defined by uncertainty—from a changing job market to rapid advances in AI—and many are looking for a tangible path forward,” says Brig. Gen. Scott C. Woodward, Army Chief Marketing Officer. “We cannot predict what comes next, but we can prepare for it. ‘Field Tested’ shows how Army training helps Soldiers build the confidence, adaptability, and skills needed to meet the changing demands of the battlefield and beyond.”

Through real Soldier stories and authentic training environments, “Field Tested” also highlights the Army’s modernization, showing evolving careers and capabilities, from drone operations and geospatial analysis to coding and intelligence.

Creative Approach to “Field Tested”
“Field Tested” offers an unfiltered view of how the modern Army operates by capturing training as it unfolds. The three films follow real Army Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana, operating in authentic environments, based on the real-world training that develops Soldiers into strong communicators, sharp problem-solvers, and unfailing teammates:

“The Field is the Teacher” follows Soldiers building real-world skills using drones, mapping technology, coding, and problem-solving in the field. The experience gained here prepares them to lead and operate under pressure wherever they go next.

“The Field Takes a Team” follows Soldiers coordinating across roles, relying on each other in the field, and building bonds that last beyond the mission. Working together, they learn to communicate, support one another, and move as one team.

“The Field Makes Us Stronger” follows Soldiers being tested by the terrain, cold, heat, night, and every obstacle the field puts in front of them. Each challenge builds the strength to handle whatever lies ahead.

“Some of the most profound lessons I’ve learned in the Army didn’t come from a briefing room, they came from the field,” says Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. “The austere environment is where we operate and strip away the non-essentials. The field builds the mental and physical toughness you need to endure the challenges of the battlefield. This campaign is a call to those ready to be tested.”

“Field Tested” combines multiple forms of media capture—including handheld and cell phone footage, digital photography, disposable cameras, drone cinematography, and documentary-style moments—so the camera behaves like a participant, capturing on-the-ground moments where real Soldiers operate advanced technology, solve problems under pressure, and support one another.

Where to Find “Field Tested”
“Field Tested” will connect with audiences nationally and locally through a mix of social, digital, gaming/streaming, and customized email channels, as well as high-impact media channels including Twitch, YouTube, Meta, Reddit, LinkedIn; broadcast platforms including Paramount, NBCU, and ESPN; and GoArmy.com.

For more information on “Field Tested” and opportunities available in the Army, visit GoArmy.com/FieldTested.

Supplemental Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the “Field Tested” campaign?
A: “Field Tested” is the U.S. Army’s newest marketing campaign designed to show young Americans how real-world skills and confidence are built in the field—the Army’s unmatched, real-world training environments where Soldiers gain hands-on experience and proven skills.

Q: What can audiences expect to see in the “Field Tested” campaign?
A: “Field Tested” offers an unfiltered view of how the modern Army operates by capturing training as it unfolds. Three films follow real Soldiers operating in authentic environments, based on the real-world training that develops them into strong communicators, sharp problem-solvers, and unfailing teammates.

Q: What is the “field”?
A: The field is the Army’s ultimate training environment, where Soldiers step outside of their routines and classrooms to practice the skills of their Army job in a realistic setting. Lasting anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, Soldiers use the time they spend in the field to simulate the exact challenges, conditions, and environments they may face when they are called upon for a real mission. While in the field, Soldiers participate in a variety of training tactics, such as developing unit cohesion and readiness, operating modern technology, establishing secure communication systems in remote areas, or simulating large scale combat operations. In the field, Soldiers are trained to navigate every obstacle that comes their way—from braving harsh weather elements to troubleshooting equipment failure. It is also a place where the deepest Army bonds are built, as it is crucial for Soldiers to rely on one another to succeed in every field training environment.

Q: Where can I learn more about “Field Tested”?
A: For more information on “Field Tested” and opportunities available in the Army, visit GoArmy.com/FieldTested.

About the Army Enterprise Marketing Office: AEMO is the U.S. Army’s national marketing, marketing research and analysis, and accessions analysis organization. AEMO develops innovative and effective ways to connect with the American public to make the Army more accessible and understood, increase awareness of both the benefits and value of Army service, and motivate the most qualified candidates to choose the Army as their service of first choice.

This entry was posted
on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at 00:00 and is filed under Army, Guest Post.
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TAMPA, FL – (Sept. 3, 2026) –  The U.S. Army has awarded Global Military Products a $12.9 million contract for the procurement and integration of Scorpion Light mobile mortar systems under the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework. The award supports the integration of Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar systems with U.S. Army digital fire control technologies and government-furnished M253 mortar barrels onto the Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle–Utility (ISV-U) platforms. 

Designed to enhance expeditionary indirect fire capabilities, the next-generation Scorpion Light system delivers a highly mobile, digitally enabled mortar platform capable of rapid emplacement, autonomous targeting and precision engagement in support of distributed operations. The integration of advanced fire control architecture significantly accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain, enabling faster target acquisition, digital fire mission processing, and rapid engagement of multiple targets with reduced crew workload and increased survivability.

“The enhanced capabilities provided by the next-generation Scorpion mobile mortar system directly support the Army’s Transformation Initiative and its transition toward smaller, more agile and highly lethal combat formations prepared to address emerging threats in complex operational environments,” said James Knight, director, Global Military Products. “Over the past two years, we have worked closely with Army stakeholders and soldiers to continuously evaluate, iterate and refine the Scorpion platform based on operational feedback. This contract award reflects the success of that collaboration and our commitment to delivering a fully integrated mobile mortar capability that increases lethality, improves operator safety, and provides unmatched tactical mobility for the warfighter.”

Over the past two years, the U.S. Army and Global Military Products have collaborated through Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) initiatives and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) efforts to refine, test, and incorporate direct soldier feedback into the development of the Scorpion Light Mobile Mortar System. These iterative efforts have significantly advanced the platform’s mobility, lethality, survivability, and operational effectiveness.

The latest evolution of the system integrates advanced digital fire control capabilities and the Nett Warrior (NW) networked communications architecture, enabling rapid target acquisition, precision fire missions and near instantaneous re-aiming with minimal crew intervention. This fully digital architecture streamlines and accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain by enabling seamless target handoff between systems, digital fire mission processing and autonomous mortar engagement capabilities. For the first time, soldiers can rapidly prosecute multiple targets with a highly mobile, digitally enabled autonomous mortar platform, significantly increasing responsiveness, accuracy and operational tempo in contested environments.

Most recently, soldiers assigned to the Multi-Purpose Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, evaluated the ISV-based 81mm Scorpion Autonomous Engagement System during Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines. During live-fire operations, soldiers successfully fired 20 rounds from two separate systems in under two minutes, demonstrating the platform’s speed, precision, and ability to deliver responsive indirect fires in support of distributed combat operations.

This entry was posted
on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026 at 19:00 and is filed under Advertiser, Army, Contracts, Press Release, weapons.
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PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ  –

Despite public speculation and online misinformation regarding the pistol’s safety, Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), the Department of War’s official lead for the Modular Handgun System (MHS), confirms that there has never been a mechanically-caused accidental discharge. All investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled.

Rigorous Testing and Safety by Design

The MHS, comprised of the M17 (full-size) and M18 (compact) 9mm striker-fired pistols, is a thoroughly tested, safe, and reliable weapon system for the modern Warfighter. Since the first systems were fielded to the 101st Airborne Division in 2017, the MHS has replaced the legacy M9 and M11 pistols and is now in service with over 400,000 pistols across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

The MHS was designed with four internal safety mechanisms (primary sear notch, secondary sear notch, striker safety lock, and a disconnector safety mechanism) and features an external ambidextrous manual safety, bringing the total number of safety mechanisms to five.

Before fielding, the MHS underwent extensive Production Verification Testing, where over 200 pistols fired more than 1.5 million rounds. This testing regimen included evaluations for reliability, durability, accuracy, rough handling, drop safety, and performance in extreme environmental conditions. Early in this process, engineering changes were implemented to address and rectify all initial drop-test concerns, and these updates were applied to every  MHS pistol before it was fielded.

To ensure quality and safety during production, the government performs Lot Acceptance Testing (LAT) for each production lot. During LAT, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Quality Assurance Representatives (QARs) randomly selects a statistically significant number of samples from each production lot to undergo LAT. If any weapon fails LAT, the entire lot is rejected. All lots of weapons produced to date have passed LAT prior to being fielded to warfighters.

Investigating Field Incidents

When a potential uncommanded discharge is reported in the field, the Army follows a stringent investigation protocol to determine the cause. According to the Army Safety Management Information System 2.0 (ASMIS 2.0), reported firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all MHS pistols issued.

When a report is filed within ASMIS, the weapon is promptly shipped to the contractor in the same configuration as it was when the incident occurred. Once the weapon arrives at the contractor’s facility, the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Small/Medium Caliber Weapons Branch Chief is notified. DCMA will have the contractor open the box to verify the serial number.  After the serial number is verified, the weapon is escorted and secured under U.S. Government property control pending the investigator’s arrival. Once the investigator is present, the weapon is brought out of the property cage and the investigation begins.

The investigation process is meticulous:

1. Visual inspection of the weapon in its current state
2. Examination of the weapon to check all safeties, internal and external, are functioning correctly
3. The weapon is taken into the range where it is functionally tested with live ammunition.  At least 1 (One) 21 round magazine is used to verify proper function of all safeties.
4. After the range, the weapon is moved back to the armorer’s bench where the striker operation is thoroughly tested
5. Finally, the weapon is broken down to each individual part to ensure all the parts look normal.
6. After this, the weapon is cleaned and returned to the original unit.

To date, all investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled, and not due to an issue with the firearm. Investigators have been unable to induce a discharge without disengaging the manual safety and pulling the trigger.

Joint Service Confidence

Most recently, a review of the MHS was initiated after the Air Force reported a potential “uncommanded discharge” involving the tragic loss of an Airman. As the lead for the MHS program, PM SL immediately engaged with our Air Force partners to assist in developing and implementing a Supplemental Inspection Criteria (SIC) as a precautionary action to investigate the incident and validate the weapon’s integrity.

The USAF’s SIC effort mandated a 100% inspection of the DAF’s “in-use” M18 inventory. It is confirmed that of the nearly 114,000 pistols inspected to date, none exhibited any conditions that could have led to an uncommanded discharge. 

PM SL is confident that the MHS pistol continues to meet and exceed that standard for the entire Joint Force. The DAF’s Director of Security Forces, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler, affirmed this, stating, “It can now be stated that the M18 is safe and reliable for DAF missions.”

By CPE Ground Army

This entry was posted
on Friday, August 21st, 2026 at 00:00 and is filed under Army, Guest Post, weapons.
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