PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ — The U.S. Army’s XM204 interim top-attack munition was approved for Urgent Materiel Release (UMR) and successfully conducted initial fielding in Europe on December 4, 2025. Managed by Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS) at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ in partnership with Textron Systems of Wilmington, MA, the XM204 completed Low-Rate Initial Production in September of 2025. The munition was then fielded to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany for training.
New Equipment Training and Doctrine, Training and Tactics were provided to 2nd Cavalry Regiment to review the performance, reliability, and integrated safety features of the XM204 and prepare for use Army-wide.
Eight Observer Coach/Trainers from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center also attended the train-the-trainer course so those personnel can continue to guide other Soldiers on the effective use of the weapon system. The training was held at Grafenwoehr Army Base and at the conclusion of training/fielding, PM CCS and JPEO Armaments & Ammunition (JPEO A&A) achieved Initial Operational Capability milestone.
The XM204 is an anti-vehicle munition with standoff and top attack capabilities designed to support terrain shaping operations by supporting a number of counter mobility tasks such as blocking, disrupting, fixing, and turning an enemy force.
“Seeing the XM204 perform so successfully reinforces the strength of our development teams and the speed at which they can design, build, test and field critical munitions that can degrade enemy mobility and create tactical advantages for friendly forces,” said Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, JPEO A&A and Commanding General of Picatinny Arsenal. This new system addresses evolving battlefield demands and the ongoing need to produce safe, reliable, and lethal munitions for our Warfighters and international partners.
The XM204 can be rapidly emplaced and is highly portable; the system can be employed alone, in multiples or in tandem with other terrain shaping systems. The lightweight munition features a dispenser launcher module that autonomously deploys multiple submunitions. Each submunition is equipped with onboard sensors to detect enemy vehicles and utilizes an explosively formed penetrator to defeat those threats. If not armed, the system is recoverable which allows Soldiers to reposition it as needed.
The XM204 also includes tamper-resistant features, armed/safe indicators, and self-destruct timers, aligning with U.S. landmine policy on anti-personnel landmines and reducing post-conflict risks to civilians.
In addition to the XM204, the XM98 Emplacement Trainer was approved by U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in November. The XM98 training munition was also fielded to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany. The regiment is the longest continuously serving cavalry unit in the Army and plays a key role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s enhanced Forward Presence initiative.
By Michael Chambers
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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — When Soldiers took to the field for Project Flytrap 4.5, they were not only testing emerging counter-unmanned aerial system technology but also tackling a challenge facing multinational operations: how to move sensor data quickly, reliably and securely across networks.
Project Flytrap is a recurring C-UAS experimentation series in Europe focused on assessing passive and active sensors, and defeat capabilities against group 1-3 UAS in a coalition environment. Conducted by V Corps alongside U.S. and partner nation forces, the exercise series is designed to identify capability gaps, test new technologies and refine tactics under realistic operational conditions.
As part of the exercise, Army teams worked alongside V Corps to evaluate how the integrated sensor architecture, or ISA, could help address data sharing and interoperability gaps revealed during earlier iterations of the exercise.
Developed by Capability Program Executive – Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, ISA is a framework that connects sensors and networks across domains, services and coalition partners using standardized, open-architecture data formats. As demand for rapid, interoperable sensor data grows across Europe, ISA has emerged as a scalable, plug and play backbone for operations.
“The goal is a plug and play environment where partner nations can bring in their sensors and contribute to a common operating picture,” said Russell Nadler, a technical program integrator with CPE-IEW&S’ Integration Directorate. “ISA can be the enabler that helps pass sensor data seamlessly between allied and U.S. systems.”
Conducted over multiple iterations in recent months across locations in Germany and Poland, Project Flytrap supports the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line warfighting concept by bringing U.S. and partner-nation soldiers together to evaluate new technologies under realistic conditions. Previous iterations exposed limitations in existing networks, particularly when integrating multiple sensors and processing large volumes of data in real time.
“For us, Flytrap really highlighted the importance of having an architecture that could scale and adapt as systems were added,” said Maj. Oniel Rhooms, Project Flytrap network integration lead for V Corps. “By the time we got to 4.5, ISA had matured to a point where it could actually enable that integration instead of becoming another barrier.”
Built for Interoperability
By leveraging open data standards, ISA enables information from radar, optical, infrared and acoustic sensors — regardless of origin — to flow into a shared environment without custom re-coding or system-specific interfaces. This approach provides a more flexible and resilient way to integrate sensors across units and coalition partners.
“ISA wasn’t just part of the network, it was also part of how we validated vendors,” Rhooms said. “It helped us determine early on whether systems could actually connect and deliver what they claimed, which saved time and reduced risk once we went live.”
That flexibility extended beyond technology. Rhooms emphasized the importance of the ISA team’s on-site support, noting their ability to adapt quickly as conditions changed.
“The people mattered just as much as the technology,” he said. “They were able to pivot, solve problems on the spot, and make connections happen that otherwise wouldn’t have.”
Looking ahead
As adversary drone tactics continue to evolve, exercises like Flytrap remain essential for testing technologies under real-world stress. With Flytrap 4.5 demonstrating the value of a more integrated approach, V Corps and CPE-IEW&S will continue refining how ISA supports interoperable C-UAS and sensing operations across the European theater.
By Kay Edwards
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HOHENFELS TRAINING AREA, Germany – The Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) has been training its Observer, Controller/Trainers (OC/T) in new technologies to keep its world-class training ready for the future fight.
The OC/Ts from the nine “critter” teams are being trained in evolving tasks and technologies such as Maven, electronic warfare (EW), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and integrated tactical network (ITN).
“This OC/T recertification training is an opportunity for the OC/Ts to become proficient on some tasks that are constantly changing and new,” said Maj. Dustin Allen, deputy operations for JMRC. “It’s to meet higher headquarters’ intents of knowing new technologies so that we can better facilitate the rotational units as they come through ‘the Box’.”
One of the systems that the OC/Ts are training on is the Maven Smart System. The Maven Smart System is the Department of Defense’s most prominent artificial intelligence capability. Designed to process drone imagery and full-motion video, Maven integrates sensors with artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance battlefield awareness and support operations such as targeting, logistics planning and predicting supply requirements for deployed Soldiers.
“Maven is something that is near and dear to (U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s) heart,” said Allen. “We are trying to incorporate it into our daily battle rhythms, so that the critter teams are well versed in it. We also want to be able to teach the rotational units that come through that aren’t familiar with the system and get them better with it.”
OC/Ts have also been working with UAS. UAS training develops Soldiers’ abilities to operate and employ aerial systems in support of reconnaissance, intelligence collection, and mission planning, helping to facilitate the combined arms fight on the ground.
“UAS is a big push, especially in past rotations where we have seen a massive increase in UAS capabilities on the battlefield,” said Allen. “OC/Ts are going to have their own UAS so that they can send a drone up and inject it there, and watch the rotational units’ UAS.”
Another system that has been seen on the battlefield that OC/Ts are being trained on is EW. EW enhances commanders’ abilities to detect, disrupt and protect against enemy electromagnetic capabilities, enabling freedom-of-action across the battlefield.
“Big in current warfare is the introduction of electronic warfare,” said Allen. “During this time, we are giving the OC/Ts the opportunity to see and become familiar with the vastly growing EW capabilities.”
The last system that the OC/Ts are being trained on is the ITN. ITN delivers secure, resilient and expeditionary communications that connect Soldiers, platforms and command posts across the battlefield. ITN is designed to operate in contested and degraded environments, and enable timely data sharing and mission command to support multi-domain operations.
“You can interconnect the radios that we use for our communications network across Hohenfels and JMRC, so we can communicate more clearly across the box,” said Allen.
“Our OC/Ts are already world-class,” said Allen. “This training can help make them even better and have more systems that they are proficient in. We’re really going to see all this hard work they are putting in, be used in the next Combine Resolve we host, and I’m excited to see them use all these new systems we have.”
Story by SGT Collin Mackall
7th Army Training Command
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REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Lt. Gen. Sean A Gainey, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, is focused on transforming USASMDC into a warfighting headquarters as he closes out his second year in command.
One factor driving that transformation is the addition of the 263rd and 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Commands to USASMDC.
“We have gone through a significant change inside of the command, we now have two of the Army’s air and missile defense commands within SMDC,” Gainey said. “Defending the homeland has been a priority, and now the Army is putting additional resources into this command. We have a bright future as we transition into a warfighting headquarters.”
Gainey, who is dual-hatted and also serves as the commander of the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, expects changes within JFFC IMD, too. He said details are evolving on how team members will provide operational expertise to those organizations planning for homeland defense.
“JFFC IMD will transform to play a greater role in supporting air and missile defense protection of the homeland,” he said.
As USASMDC continues to evolve, Gainey said the integration of space, missile defense, and high-altitude capabilities to enable multi-domain operations will be crucial in addressing the complex challenges of the future battlefield.
“If you look at any conflict in a contested environment, the need to conduct over-the-horizon communication and provide command and control is critical,” he said.
The SMDC Technical Center’s and Space and Missile Defense Center of Excellence’s focus on pushing capability to warfighting formations quickly puts SMDC at the forefront of continuous transformation, Gainey said.
“We’ll continue to do the work we’re doing with U.S. Army Special Operations Command to validate high altitude platforms,” he said. “We’ll also continue to develop and refine our Tactical Integrated Ground Suite and some of our smaller form factor capabilities pushing those systems to the tactical edge of our warfighting formations.” When looking to deliver combat ready air and missile defense and space operations forces, Gainey, as the Army’s senior air defender and space operations proponent emphasized the importance of having trained and ready forces capable of global commitment.
“As you look at any conflict out there, space capabilities are a high priority,” he added. “In the current and future fight, the reliance on space is significant.”
Gainey’s focus on space operations included the development of the 40D space operations military occupational specialty which is expected to have its first enlisted members in October 2026.
“Now is the right time to have an Army space operations MOS and in the future a space branch inside the Army,” Gainey said. “The 40D MOS is going to give us more capacity to be able to leverage our space capabilities at the close tactical edge.”
Gainey said his role as the Army’s air and missile defense enterprise integrator takes on additional significance with the command’s expanded role as Army Service Component Command role to U.S. Northern Command for air and missile defense of the homeland.
While the Army is currently meeting AMD demand, Gainey said it’s coming at a cost to the AMD Soldiers. He said he’s focusing on finding ways to optimize the ability to globally provide trained and ready forces and ensure that AMD forces are adequately prepared to respond to emerging threats.
“The ability for the Army to be able to generate formations to support the COCOMs has driven our deploy-to-dwell rate to an all-time low,” he said. “We’re looking at other ways to provide forces to our combatant commands.” Spearheading this historic change to USASMDC is a team of professionals working together to meet the goals Gainey has set.
Gainey said it’s an exciting time to be part of the command.
“The efforts of our Soldiers and civilians strengthen the profession and embed the warrior ethos throughout SMDC,” he said, “We are starting to realize what this command was always intended to be, a warfighting headquarters that provides the Army and Joint Force with ready combat forces to deter aggression, defend the homeland against aerial threats, develop and deliver integrated space, missile defense and high-altitude capabilities, and dominate the land domain in conflict.”
Story by Jason Cutshaw
US Army Space and Missile Defense Command
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FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – In a milestone moment for the United States Army and U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Jeremy Chambers, of the Security Cooperation Division at the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), Fort Shafter, Hawaii, has shattered expectations and set a new precedent by becoming the first noncommissioned officer in Army history to commission directly as a U.S. Army Captain in the elite Foreign Area Officer (FAO) career field. His achievement marks a transformational step forward in Army talent management and showcases the extraordinary potential found within the enlisted corps.
Chambers’ historic transition did not arise overnight. For years, he has performed the duties and strategic coordination typically expected of a Foreign Area Officer—often at a level well above his rank. His proven track record is why multiple deputy commanding generals, beginning with Lt. Gen. Braga, now the commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command, have consistently advocated for his direct commission. Their support reflects a shared belief that Chambers had long been performing the duties of an FAO and deserved the formal authority and rank commensurate with his contributions.
“I can’t be thankful enough that the Army got it right when they chose to promote my husband,” said Sergeant Major Krystal Chambers, wife of Captain Jeremy Chambers. “I think he has accomplished something that not many will be able to do.”
The FAO program produces experts in regional studies, foreign languages, diplomacy, and international security cooperation. FAOs work alongside partner militaries, operate within U.S. embassies, and advise senior leaders at strategic levels. Entry into this field is highly selective and requires proven academic ability, operational experience, and strategic thinking.
“My hope with this entire direct commission was to help create a legacy and a pathway for other NCOs. Still, it’s more important now that we’ve created an opportunity for other NCOs, other enlisted Soldiers, to recognize that there’s another thing they can do,” Capt. Chambers said. “Your hard work can be recognized, and things can be done if you accomplish all of your tasks and do your job. The most significant impact, whether they have a specialized skill or not, is that they recognize your talents and abilities, and reward them in creative ways, as you see today.”
Throughout his distinguished enlisted career, Chambers excelled in key leadership roles, guided Soldiers through complex missions, and supported operations that required both tactical skill and strategic insight. These experiences positioned him uniquely for the FAO program’s rigorous demands.
As he begins his journey in the FAO program, Chambers will complete advanced academic studies, regional cultural training, and intensive language development. He will be prepared for future assignments, including embassy roles, multinational coordination, and high-level international engagement missions. At the ceremony, U.S. Army Gen. Ronald Clark, commanding general of the U.S. Army’s largest Service Component Command, U.S. Army Pacific, highlighted the years of strategic leadership and mentorship that contributed to this significant milestone.
“We all know that the promotion comes from the determination by senior leaders who individually possess the potential for increased responsibility,” Clark said. “I have to give credit to the number of senior leaders at this headquarters who have gone to other assignments or are in retirement, who have shaped this action, which took many years to develop. It started with Lieutenant General John Braga, who had the tremendous idea to commission Jeremy as an officer.”
Chambers’ commissioning represents not only a historic achievement for the unit but a powerful symbol of what dedication, excellence, and vision can accomplish within the Army’s ranks.
By SGT Qishaunia Hawkins
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Since assuming the Army’s top civilian role, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll has made one message abundantly clear: the Army must innovate faster, transform deeper, and fundamentally accelerate the pace of acquisition if it intends to win the wars of tomorrow.
During an address at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference in October, Driscoll underscored the urgency behind his vision. “Nobody can predict the next war,” he said, “but we cannot wait to innovate until Americans are dying on the battlefield. We must act now to enable our Soldiers.”
XVIII Airborne Corps leading the charge
The XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, North Carolina, are in lockstep with the Secretary’s priorities. On Dec. 1, 2025, the Corps held the soft opening of the Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost – a collaboration hub designed to rapidly translate emerging technologies into battlefield overmatch.
“Here we are, day one of the JIOP opening, and we’re already connecting small businesses to the military ecosystem,” said Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps. “We coordinated for a product demonstration and now we have a proposed solution to an Army wide problem. That’s the power of the JIOP – creating an avenue to connect small businesses and academia to the Army to help solve operational problems.”
The JIOP model removes barriers, shortens timelines and brings Soldiers, academics, industry leaders and decision-makers together early in the development process to create impactful solutions that close capability gaps and support the Corps’ mission as America’s Contingency Corps.
Coinciding with the JIOP soft launch was an industry showcase at Oak Grove Technology Center, a 200-plus-acre kinetic training range about an hour west of Fort Bragg. During the two-day event, four small businesses demonstrated systems ranging from counter-sUAS tools, handheld radio frequency detection devices, and a next generation dynamic target system designed to replicate enemies ducking behind cover.
A major theme across the event was the rising threat of unmanned systems. As Driscoll stated in a November interview with Reuters, “Drones are the future of warfare, and we must invest in both offensive and defensive capabilities against them.”
One of the companies demonstrating solutions was Drone Rounds, based in Gilbert, Arizona. The team showcased a kinetic counter-sUAS round fired from a standard 5.56 mm rifle. Instead of firing a single projectile, the round disperses in-flight like a shotgun shell, significantly increasing hit probability on fast-moving drones.
On multiple occasions throughout the day, Conor Schnepf, owner of Drone Rounds, reiterated the value of the JIOP and how it enables non-traditional defense companies the opportunity to get in front of the Army. He lauded the JIOP’s emphasis on prioritizing innovation and speed, reinforcing the direction set forth by Army senior leaders.
Setting the conditions
Another priority for Driscoll is challenging legacy contracting practices that restrict units from maintaining or repairing their own equipment, a concept often referred to as the right to repair.
He emphasized this point in a recent interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, where he referenced a 101st Airborne Division artillery maintenance effort where he personally empowered Soldiers to take whatever actions necessary to restore howitzers to the firing line.
By underwriting the potential legal risk, Driscoll reinforced that lethality and readiness come first, and that commanders and Soldiers are empowered to solve problems at the point of need.
Strategic Logix, a Georgia-based UAS manufacturing company, attended the Oak Groves showcase, and reiterated throughout their demonstration that right to repair is their default maintenance plan for its UAS systems.
The pivot toward continuous transformation is reshaping outdated procurement systems, and senior-level momentum is providing the roadmap for industry partners that want to engage.
“The paradigm is shifting in the Army with innovation and transformation, it’s palpable and great news for the JIOP,” said Rob Braun, chief technology Officer, XVIII Airborne Corps. “Not only are industry partners ecstatic to work with us, but we now have a dedicated space to innovate at the pace of industry to enhance lethality for our warfighters.”
The way forward
The JIOP will serve as the intersection of innovation, technology and warfighting for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. It will also function as the innovation nexus for multiple transformation initiatives already underway.
Dragon’s Lair, modeled after the TV show Shark Tank, is an innovation competition that provides a platform for service members of all ranks to propose and pitch creative solutions to challenges faced by XVIII Airborne Soldiers.
The installation also hosts Scarlet Dragon.
“Scarlet Dragon is our innovation exercise,” said Braun. “It’s our platform to bring new technologies and new approaches to solve operational capability gaps and requirements that we derive from different operational plans around the globe.”
The JIOP is more than just an office space. It’s the Army’s new engine of rapid experimentation – where ideas become prototypes, and prototypes become battlefield overmatch.
“I’m going to continue to push the acquisition process to go faster and faster in order to keep up with current operational tempo,” said Col. Thomas Monaghan Jr., JIOP director. “We have people across multiple offices already surging to get the right outputs for the way forward.”
Organizations, researchers, and technology developers interested in learning more about the JIOP may contact the program office here: [email protected].
By XVIII Airborne Public Affairs
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The Next Generation Constructive (NGC) Team, in collaboration with vendors and the XVIII Airborne Corps Operational Data Team (ODT), successfully participated in Synthetic Dragon 2025 from Dec. 15-19, at Fort Bragg’s Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP).
This critical event focused on integrating NGC capabilities, preparing for the upcoming Risk Reduction Event (RRE) 1.0, and demonstrating the NGC rapid prototyping of Atom Engine simulation engine’s capabilities within the Enterprise Cloud Management Agency (ECMA) cloud environment.
A significant milestone achieved during Synthetic Dragon was the Authority to Operate (ATO) granted by the Army Chief Information Officer (CIO), enabling the successful demonstration of NGC capabilities streamed from the Army Cloud. This achievement underscores NGC’s readiness for the January RRE and highlights its potential to support future operations.
“This milestone was made possible through the strong partnership and support of the Army CIO and ECMA,” said Brent Bell, NGC product director at Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (CPE STRI). “Their support enabled the NGC minimum viable product to operate in the cloud, allowing real-time assessment and development during Synthetic Dragon with the XVIII Airborne Corps through the JIOP.”
Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation during the event, Bell said this type of teamwork accelerated feedback, reduced risk, and delivered operationally relevant capability to the warfighter.
According to Bell, Synthetic Dragon provided a hands-on opportunity to integrate, iterate, and evaluate NGC into the cloud environment, address technical challenges, and transparently showcase its current capabilities to key stakeholders. This included active participation across several NGC vendor teams, Amazon Web Services, Combined Arms Center-Training (CAC-T), XVIII Airborne Corps staff, and others.
During the event, NGC successfully provisioned an instance of its capability in the ECMA IL5 Development Environment and deployed the simulation engine as a virtual machine instance to the IL5 Production Environment using a limited local hardware footprint that is a radical shift from legacy on-prem hardware intensive approaches. This deployment enabled an end-to-end fires thread connection with the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), validating the system’s end-to-end connectivity and operational readiness.
In addition to the fires demonstration, Bell said NGC showcased its capabilities across space, cyber, and intelligence domains. The team also conducted load testing of warfighting functions by scaling users into the simulation engine, further demonstrating the system’s scalability and ability to support operational demands.
According to Bell, this was coupled with capturing agile feedback on new, fresh capabilities to inform future program increment backlog planning. The ability to directly, and with hands-on approach, iterate with developer and users in a common setting sets the conditions for future constructive training transformation.
Amit Kapadia, chief engineer at Project Manager Synthetic Environment (PM SE) at CPE STRI, highlighted the value of field engagement and real-world testing.
“Modern delivery of capability means moving out of your comfort zone, your office, and getting out into the field to show nascent capabilities and provide opportunities for iterative feedback and transparent review,” said Kapadia. “That is exactly what we did with the Program Office, multiple vendors, XVIII Airborne Corps Soldiers, operators, and others. This is a dynamic game-changing approach that will allow us to deliver more rapid and relevant capabilities in for the modern, high OPTEMPO battlefield.”
Representatives from U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USREUR-AF) and the Center for Army Analysis (CAA) also attended the event to gain deeper insights into the status of NGC capability development. Following these discussions, the NGC team agreed to integrate CAA into its sprint process and initiate efforts to assess the demand signal and requirements for supporting the broader analysis community.
The Synthetic Dragon experiment demonstrated CPE STRI, PM SE, and NGC’s commitment to delivering innovative solutions and advancing operational capabilities. By addressing technical challenges, incorporating stakeholder feedback, and validating its systems in real-world scenarios, NGC is ensuring readiness for future challenges and maintaining alignment with critical timelines.
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, CPE STRI is comprised of a highly skilled and diverse workforce of more than 1,100 Soldiers, Army civilians and contractors, who work with Army partners to enhance operational readiness and support the Army’s modernization efforts by fielding and sustaining the next generation of multi-domain operations testing, training and information operations capabilities.
Via Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation
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JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – Beginning in Calendar Year 2026 (CY26), all brave volunteers will be greeted by the iconic campaign hat, as the U.S. Army has canceled all future procurement of the women’s bush hat and authorized the campaign hat to be worn by all current, and future, drill sergeants.
“There’s a single standard when screening and certifying Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) for service as a drill sergeant, a single standard that we hold all serving drill sergeants to, and moving forward, there will be a single standard drill sergeant uniform” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael McMurdy, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training. “Drill sergeants are the standard bearers for the Initial Military Training environment, and we solicited, consolidated, and incorporated their feedback to improve the Drill Sergeant Program moving forward”.
Drill sergeants are non-commissioned officers (NCOs) within the U.S. Army who are tasked with building the next generation of warfighters every day. These NCOs epitomize the Army Values, live the Warrior Ethos, and instill discipline in the individuals who volunteer to serve within the world’s greatest fighting force.
These NCOs are authorized to wear the campaign hat and the Drill Sergeant Badge to identify themselves as masters of all Skill Level 1 Tasks and some of the nations most qualified Soldiers placed in positions of responsibility tasked with transforming volunteers into U.S. Army Soldiers.
The campaign hat’s origin dates to 1872, when American Soldiers wore the hat to protect themselves against sun, wind, and rain. In 1964, the U.S. Army established the Drill Sergeant Program and authorized the campaign hat as the official headgear of currently serving Drill Sergeants. In 1971, the Chief of Staff of the Army approved the expansion of the Drill Sergeant Program to include female soldiers. In February 1972, six Women’s Auxiliary Corps NCOs were enrolled in the Drill Sergeant School (now known as the Drill Sergeant Academy) located at the Army Training Center, Fort Jackson. Upon their graduation from the Drill Sergeant School, these six NCOs were authorized to wear the “women’s drill sergeant hat” designed to model the Australian bush hat.
Since 1964, over 142,000 NCOs have proudly served as drill sergeants, with over 38,000 of those donning the bush hat.
Sgt. 1st Class Sarah Escarcega, 2023 Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia Drill Sergeant of the Year (DSOY) is glad to see the standardization occurring. “When I was the Maneuver DSOY, the bush hat distinguished female drill sergeants who were held to the same standard as their male counterparts yet had a separate uniform”, said Escarcega. “Standardizing the headgear for all drill sergeants is directly aligned with every other standard that NCOs are held to when they serve as drill sergeants. I’m glad that Army Senior Leaders decided to listen to current and past drill sergeants to move away from the bush hat and continue putting our people first”.
Annually, the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training conducts multiple surveys of currently serving drill sergeants and drill sergeant candidates on ways to improve the Drill Sergeant Program.
Consolidated data since Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23)
-Roughly 70% of the drill sergeants surveyed expressed a desire to switch from the bush hat to the campaign hat.
-Over 60% of drill sergeants surveyed believed that the campaign hat had a more professional appearance compared to the bush hat.
In recent years, manufacturers have struggled to provide a quality product of bush hats that meet the U.S. Army standard and to date no industry partner has been willing to accept the contract to produce more. This problem has been plaguing the female drill sergeant population for nearly a decade, forcing the Army to solicit feedback from the force on ways to improve.
As the 2010 U.S. Army Reserve DSOY Sgt. Maj. Melissa Solomon is glad to see the standardization occurring. “When I served as the DSOY, the bush hat distinguished female drill sergeants that successfully completed the course and served honorably with their male counterparts. With deep respect to the bush hat history, I believe a change is necessary to mitigate product quality issues I witnessed first-hand as the Drill Sergent Academy Deputy Commandant and reinforce uniformity during the critical transformation of a civilian into a Soldier”.
Consolidated data beginning in 2023 informed U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM), who, with support from the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, presented a solution to the Army Uniform Board (AUB). The 158th AUB convened in 2025 and decided to recommend the unified drill sergeant campaign hat. The AUB’s annual process ensures issued uniforms align total force requirements.
Female drill sergeants currently serving on the trail are authorized to draw two campaign hats to wear with a single effective date of 2 Jan 2026. This change eliminates trainee confusion and enables an efficient and effective transition from civilian to U.S. Army warfighter.
“Every member of society understands the importance of the U.S. Army drill sergeant and the iconic headgear associated with the time-honored position as a symbol of excellence.”, said 2024 U.S. Army DSOY Samuel Matlock. “This single standard will eliminate any confusion among the training population, the American public, and cadre regarding all standards for serving as a drill sergeant”.
By Hunter Rhoades, U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army has established a new career pathway for officers to specialize in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), formally designating the 49B AI/ML Officer as an official area of concentration. It advances the Army’s ongoing transformation into a data-centric and AI-enabled force.
Full implementation of the new career field will be phased. The first selection of officers will occur through the Army’s Volunteer Transfer Incentive Program (VTIP) beginning January 2026. The officers will be reclassified by the end of fiscal year 2026.
“This is a deliberate and crucial step in keeping pace with present and future operational requirements,” said Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard, U.S. Army spokesperson. “We’re building a dedicated cadre of in-house experts who will be at the forefront of integrating AI and machine learning across our warfighting functions.”
Initially, the 49B AOC will be open to all officers eligible for the VTIP. Those with advanced academic and technical backgrounds in fields related to AI/ML will be particularly competitive candidates. The Army is also exploring expanding this specialized field to include warrant officers in the future.
Officers selected for the 49B AOC will undergo rigorous graduate-level training and gain hands-on experience in building, deploying, and maintaining the Army’s cutting-edge AI-enabled systems. Their primary role will be to operationalize these advanced capabilities across the range of military operations.
The strategic purpose of this new MOS is to provide the Army with a core group of uniformed experts who can accelerate the integration of AI and machine learning. These specialists will apply their talents to a wide range of applications, including:
- Accelerating battlefield decision-making: Enabling commanders to make faster, more informed decisions in complex environments.
- Streamlining logistics: Optimizing supply chain and maintenance operations.
- Supporting robotics and autonomous systems: Fielding and managing the next generation of battlefield robotics.
“Establishing the 49B AI/ML career path is another key investment to maintain our decisive edge as an Army,” said Howard. “Ultimately, it’s about building a force that can outthink, outpace, and outmaneuver any adversary.”
By U.S. Army Communication and Outreach Office
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Our Nation’s warfighters encounter many known and unknown hazards on the modern battlefield including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Hand-held detection and identification capabilities enhance situational awareness and enable early warning and mitigation, but they can also be time intensive and physiologically burdensome. Additionally, some environments pose too great a risk or are simply inaccessible to warfighters. This is where the use of critical integrated layered CBRN defense assets like autonomous systems comes in.
In CBRN defense, an autonomous system refers to a capability that can independently detect, identify, and/or mitigate CBRN threats by leveraging sensors, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automated decision-making algorithms. The key feature lies in its ability to function independently, acting as an intelligent partner, and keeping the warfighter at a safe distance, therefore enhancing force protection.
Currently, the Capability Program Executive Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (CPE CBRND) manages autonomous system efforts including the CBRN Sensor Integration on Robotic Platforms (CSIRP) and the Autonomous Decontamination System (ADS).
CSIRP is a rapid prototyping and fielding effort led by the CPE CBRND’s Joint Project Manager for CBRN Sensors (JPM CBRN Sensors) that focuses on integrating modular CBRN sensor solutions to enhance Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles. It exploits advances in sensing, AI, machine learning, autonomy, and communications to enable timely and accurate detection, early warning, and reporting of CBRN hazards, benefiting the warfighter by reducing response times and limiting risk of exposure to CBRN threats.
The CSIRP SkyRaider UAS CBRN Hazard Mapping system is an example of CSIRP in action. The CSIRP SkyRaider UAS is a drone with modular detection equipment or sensors attached that can display CBRN hazard information on mapping, targeting, and communication devices. Once launched from the ground or platform, it is capable of autonomous operation beyond line-of-sight and can complete the programmed mission even through loss of GPS or communications. It is capable of self-navigating to the target, maneuvering in tight spaces, and avoiding obstacles.
Likewise, the ADS program, led by the CPE CBRND’s Joint Project Manager for CBRN Protection (JPM CBRN Protection) will provide increased safety and efficiency of chemical and biological (CB) decontamination operations by utilizing automated, semi-autonomous, and/or autonomous processes to mitigate contamination on critical mission equipment, infrastructure, and terrain. ADS reduces reliance on warfighters’ manual labor and optimizes resource consumption.
To illustrate how these autonomous systems benefit the warfighter and Joint Force mission, imagine a platoon situated in a contested environment. The adversary launches a missile armed with a chemical warfare agent nearby and the dispersal pattern is unpredictable due to the terrain, wind conditions, and the missile’s detonation characteristics. Manned detection slows contamination mapping and poses risk to the Force, so rather than putting warfighters at risk, the platoon leader would deploy the SkyRaider UAS equipped with chemical sensors to quickly self-navigate and assess the broader area. This unmanned, rapid assessment minimizes personnel exposure and enhances force protection by communicating to leaders the timely information needed to make informed decisions. In this case, the platoon leader might deploy an ADS to decontaminate any equipment or areas the platoon will need to traverse, mitigating the risk of exposure to the warfighters through robotic means and reducing the time and logistical burden required to conduct decontamination operations.
Mark Colgan, CSIRP lead systems engineer for JPM CBRN Sensors, states, “Currently, warfighters have to suit up, do their mission, and then decontaminate their protective gear, equipment, vehicles, and more. We can now skip some of those steps by automating the process. They get the same results while remaining safe and completing the mission faster.”
The CSIRP effort is in constant pursuit of advanced sensing capabilities and improvements to leverage autonomy, specifically through its use of algorithms. To keep pace with advancing technologies, JPM CBRN Sensors and JPM CBRN Protection leverage CPE CBRND’s Joint Enterprise Technology Tool (JETT), a web-based platform designed to facilitate communication between the U.S. Government and industry members, for market research and to gain a better understanding of what industry is developing and their focus areas as they relate to program needs. The JPM CBRN Sensors team has utilized JETT to identify and engage with more than a dozen vendors with capabilities relevant to CSIRP. Colgan states, “JETT has proven valuable in answering the questions of ‘What else is out there?’ and ‘What’s coming next?”
This aligns with the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy, which, in part, acknowledges that industry often outpaces the Defense Industrial Base and that the Department “must adopt an industry-driven environment for companies to share their product and service offerings to accelerate and scale capability delivery,” as well as “enable industry to better understand the Department’s needs and demonstrate mature products and services early in the acquisition process.”
To date, improvements have included software designed to operate with CPE CBRND’s CBRN Support to Command and Control (CSC2), which integrates CBRN sensor data and information into a common operating picture and provides actionable information to Commanders throughout the battlespace; flight software and sensor-driven algorithms that enable a number of unmanned systems to autonomously team up and relay messages among themselves and with their human counterparts; algorithms that synthesize data; and more.
As it stands, autonomous systems provide a decisive warfighter advantage by performing standoff detection of CBRN threats and critical decontamination functions so the warfighter can focus—at a safe distance—on the larger mission at hand. Looking ahead, AI and technology advancements will continue to optimize the role autonomous systems play in CBRN defense, enabling our warfighters to operate in a CBRN contested environment with more confidence.
By Vashelle Nino CPE CBRND Public Affairs
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