SOFWERX Seeks Juniors & Seniors across 16+ disciplines. U.S. Security Clearance eligibility required.
Spring evaluation window: submit before the end of March.
Apply at sofwerx.org/internships.
TacJobs – Internships with SOFWERX
March 9th, 2026Cana Provisions and Qore Performance Launch Water Data Decals for ICEFLASK® – Modular Thermoregulation with On-Body Water Treatment Reference
March 9th, 2026Huntsville, AL / Knoxville, TN — Cana Provisions, in collaboration with Qore Performance, Inc.,announces the release of the Water Data Decals for ICEFLASK® , a mission-critical evolution of the PRC-152-shaped handheld thermoregulation and hydration bottle. These detailed decals allow all ICEFLASK® users to add the same water purification protocols, treatment dosages, sanitization instructions and conversion tables directly to their ICEFLASK®.
Directly derived from the Water Data ICEFLASK® the ICEFLASK® Water Data Decals offer the user the ability to augment their standard, unmarked ICEFLASK® bottle with the same field-tested water treatment data.
Key Features:
- Permanent on-body reference: purification tablet dosing, chemical treatment ratios, boil times, filtration guidelines, common volume/weight conversions, and critical warnings.
- Modular thermoregulation that can be added to plate carriers and chest rigs for on-body cooling and heating capability.
- Zero additional weight or bulk
- Dimensions closely matching the PRC-152 radio for seamless fit in existing NATO radio pouches.
- 28-410 thread standard (Coca-Cola/Dasani compatible) for improvised field cap replacement and filter compatibility.
- Curved geometry optimized for body-worn comfort and pack pocket efficiency.
- Stackable design doubles as a replacement for single-use ice in coolers.
- 100% Made in the USA from US-sourced, FDA-certified, BPA-free HDPE.
- High-Tac Adhesive backing to withstand freeze/thaw cycles
- Heat, scratch, UV resistant
- Die cut with matte finish
- Legible under NVGs
- Decals are designed, printed, packaged in the USA
Designed for dismounted operations, disaster response, training environments, and austere expeditions where contaminated water sources are the norm, both the Water Data ICEFLASK® and ICEFLASK® Water Data Decals ensures users can treat, verify, and consume safe water without external reference.
“Cana Provisions built their reputation on providing the knowledge and tools to own water security in the worst places on earth,” said Austin Pitsch, Marketing Manager of Qore Performance, Inc. “Placing that expertise directly onto ICEFLASK® [either with the decals or printing directly on the bottle itself] removes one more point of failure: the right data is always there, exactly when and where it’s needed.”
The Water Data ICEFLASK® and ICEFLASK® Water Data Decals are now available now exclusively at Cana-Provisions.com
BFG Monday: Why Signature Management Matters More Than Ever
March 9th, 2026There’s a reason why soldiers in the early days of the Global War on Terror were spray-painting the stems of their safety glasses. It wasn’t about aesthetics or unit cohesion; it was about survival. A glint of light reflecting off glass or the distinctive silhouette of night vision devices could be the details that turn a concealed position into a target.
That reality hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s intensified. As optics improve and adversaries become more sophisticated, the margin for error shrinks. The things that make you visible don’t just compromise your position, they compromise your mission.
Blue Force Gear took all of this into consideration when designing the BNVD Slipcover. The Slipcover addresses a reality that many operators face: your night vision is an incredible tool, but those reflective lenses can also make you detectable during missions. The Slipcover simply slides over your NODs providing minimal protection and when worn during the day, doubles as a face-shade and most importantly, a key signature reducer.
Blue Force Gear is known for creating “elegant” designs that are simple for a reason. In an industry that often defaults to “more” – more attachment points, more pockets, more features – there’s something quite radical about equipment that succeeds by staying out of your way. The Slipcover adds virtually no weight and is incredibly easy to stow. The Slipcover was designed to work with the BNVD Pouch, and together they address the full lifecycle of your NODs.
Between movements, in staging areas, during transport—those are the moments when NODs need to be protected against damage that compound over time. The BNVD Pouch was designed around that reality. It keeps your devices shielded from the elements, impact, and scratches whether it’s mounted to your kit, stowed in your pack, or sitting on a shelf. That kind of reliable, ready availability means when the moment comes that you need your NODs, they perform.
The Pouch mounts to any MOLLE-compatible platform using BFG’s Helium Whisper attachment system, which means it integrates with your current MOLLE gear using the lightest, most durable attachment system available. The Fastex Buckle closure keeps everything secure and the padded, structured pouch keeps the NODs protected.
What makes the Slipcover and Pouch work as a system is the same principle that defines everything Blue Force Gear builds: every design decision serves the end user, not the other way around. The Slipcover is a great signature reducer while NODs are being worn, and the Pouch protects them when they’re not. Neither one gets in your way, adds meaningful weight, or asks you to compromise somewhere else to accommodate them.
The soldiers who spray-painted their safety glasses understood something fundamental: in tactical operations, what you don’t show can be as important as what you bring. Blue Force Gear built that operational insight into equipment designed for the reality of modern combat—not as an add-on, but as a foundational principle.
Because the best gear doesn’t just protect your equipment. It protects you.
2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard Hosts the Norwegian Foot March for the Third Year
March 9th, 2026This year, members of 2nd Brigade, Texas State Guard, were joined by U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Sector Houston and the Houston Recruiting Office as they marched and jogged the Norwegian Foot March, a military endurance test organized by the Norwegian Defense University College of the Norwegian Armed Forces, which is comprised of a 30 kilometer (18.6-mile) long route, carrying a rucksack of at least 25 lbs while in uniform within a certain time frame, at Long Acres Ranch, Richmond, Texas, February 28, 2026.
The annual event was hosted by 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, and supported by 1st Battalion medical staff at first aid stations as well as general support and logistics personnel from each battalion and headquarters. A timed event, qualifiers performed within limits according to age and gender, from 4 hours and 30 minutes to 6 hours. The march prepares troops physically and mentally to handle challenges in the field as a team, supporting each other to reach a common goal. 2nd Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Jones explained, “Events like this reinforce that success is built on shared effort, disciplined leadership, and a team committed to taking care of one another. I saw leadership and teamwork on full display throughout the Norwegian Foot March: service members and leaders from all the battalions and HHC worked together, supported by the outstanding team at Long Acres Ranch.”
Three participants earned the Norwegian Foot March Badge: Graham Fuller, U.S. Coast Guard, Yeoman 1st Class Joanna Parsons, U.S. Coast Guard, both with bronze for their first event and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich with silver for a second successful completion.
Coast Guardsmen Matthew Jackett and John Griffin and Spc. Wyman Mizell, TXSG, also completed the 30K, earning the Texas State Guard Exemplary Service Medal.
Completing 20K (12.4 miles) to earn the Texas State Guard Commendation Medal: Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Smith, Cpl, Gevorg Sargsyan, Pvts Christopher Barry and Jacob Malnar, 1st Lts. Dustin Appel Omoefe Onoriobe, 1st Sgt. Philip Harralson and 1st Lt. Christian Constanzo.
All who attempted 10K (6.2 miles) completed the course in less than 2 hours, earning the Texas State Guard Achievement Medal. Congratulations to Pfc. Ian Hernandez, Sgt. Steven Garza, Sgt. 1st Class Jose Alfaro and Sgt. Paul Bostik.
3rd Battalion commander, Maj. Robert Connell remarked, “as the hosting commander, I really appreciate the effort put in by all the battalions of 2nd Brigade to pull this off. After our original event date was rescheduled due to the winter storm on Jan 28th, everyone compressed months of planning into only 3 weeks and made it happen. Special thanks to Long Acres Ranch, ATX Timing (for the tracking and timing system) and HEB. It just shows how well we can work with our communities and as a team to accomplish a goal.”
Col. Arthur Levesque, 2nd Brigade Commander, on hand to tour the grounds and congratulate all the participants, summarized, “The Norwegian Foot march was an opportunity for all participants to accept the challenge and test their mettle. Despite the delay of nearly four weeks due to freezing weather, the event was smooth and enjoyable for all.” He added, “This year we had participants from the U.S. Coast Guard for the first time with two of their personnel successfully earning the badge.”
Congratulations and well done all! 2nd Brigade is “Ad Omnia Parati” (Ready for Anything)
By Gregory Illich, Chief Warrant Officer 2, Texas State Guard
(Texas State Guard photos by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gregory Illich and Warrant Officer 1 Willie Grimes)
LifeCampUSA Opens Enrollment For Summer Camp Serving Children Of Fallen Heroes
March 8th, 2026TAKE A LOOK INSIDE LIFECAMPUSA
Founded by Mark and Jane Neumann, LifeCampUSA provides a multi-day camp experience that combines outdoor adventure, Christian mentorship, grief support, and daily spiritual encouragement, all at no cost to families. LifeCampUSA covers all lodging, meals, activities, and programming, ensuring that financial barriers never prevent a child from attending.
“Children who lose a father in service to our nation or community carry a unique weight,” said co-founder Mark Neumann. “LifeCampUSA exists to surround them with mentors, faith, and brotherhood and sisterhood that remind them they are not alone and give them lasting tools to honor their fathers.”
APPLY HERE TO BE A CAMPER OR MENTOR
Enrollment for the upcoming camp season is open now. Each year, LifeCampUSA partners with top-tier family camps and guest ranches across the United States, including locations in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Sites are selected for the quality of their lodging, food, natural beauty, and available outdoor activities. From archery and swimming to team games and nightly worship, LifeCampUSA creates a safe, adventure-filled environment where grief meets community and children rediscover joy.
For more information or to apply, visit LifeCampUSA.org.
Armed Forces Bank Earns Top Honors for Advancing Veteran Financial Well-Being
March 8th, 2026LEAVENWORTH, Kan., March 4, 2026 — Armed Forces Bank – a full-service military bank committed to serving those who serve since 1907 – was selected as a Veteran Saves Week “Community Impact Award” recipient and a “Designation of Savings Excellence” Award winner by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA). The awards recognize Armed Forces Bank’s exceptional leadership in improving the financial well-being of veterans, service members, and military families through measurable outcomes, sustained engagement and community-focused financial education.
Veteran Saves Week is a program under the America Saves umbrella, coordinated by the CFA. The campaign encourages veterans to take the Veteran Saves Pledge while empowering organizations to promote savings year-round.
Out of more than 900 participating organizations nationwide, Armed Forces Bank received the sole 2025 Veteran Saves Week “Community Impact Award” and was named one of only two banks to earn the “Designation of Savings Excellence” Award.
Community Impact Award
The Veteran Saves Week “Community Impact Award” recognizes the organization that most effectively leveraged the Veteran Saves Pledge to encourage savings behavior and goal setting within its community during the annual campaign.
According to CFA, Armed Forces Bank’s approach helped translate participation into action by providing veterans with clear, accessible savings pathways – an important factor given that individuals with a defined savings plan are twice as likely to successfully reach their goals.
“We’re honored to recognize Armed Forces Bank with the Community Impact Award for the second year in a row,” said Krystel Spell, program manager at Veteran Saves. “During Veteran Saves Week, Armed Forces Bank demonstrated a thoughtful approach to supporting the Veteran Saves Pledge by ensuring the message reached veterans in ways that felt clear and actionable. That level of care and consistency helped translate participation into real progress toward savings goals.”
Designation of Savings Excellence Award
The CFA also awards the Veteran Saves Week “Designation of Savings Excellence Award” to financial institutions that demonstrate outstanding performance and measurable impact during the Veteran Saves Week. Armed Forces Bank was one of only seven financial institutions nationally – and just two banks – to receive this distinction for the campaign, which took place in November 2025, as part of National Military Family Month and Warrior Care Month.
Measurable Impact During Veteran Saves Week 2025
During Veteran Saves Week 2025, Armed Forces Bank executed a comprehensive, multi-channel outreach campaign that delivered meaningful and measurable results, including:
- 50,642 individuals reached through email, social media, branch communications, website promotion, flyers and community events
- 100% retail branch participation nationwide, reinforcing a unified, organization-wide commitment
- $1.9 million+ in savings account growth, driven by deposits from 6,776 individuals
- 85 new savings-type products opened, contributing more than $1.75 million in new deposits
- 55 Veteran Saves Pledges completed
- 44,792 emails sent and nearly 4,000 social media engagement views
Collectively, the work of all Veteran Saves Week award winners and participating organizations contributed to significant financial progress for service members and veterans. During the four-day period leading up to Veterans Day (November 4 to 7, 2025), these institutions reached more than 1.5 million individuals nationwide, encouraged nearly $1.9 million in deposits into new and existing accounts, and inspired veterans to pledge $370,000 toward future savings goals.
Leadership Perspective
“These recognitions reflect our long-standing commitment to helping military families build financial confidence and resilience,” said Tom McLean, senior vice president and regional military executive for Armed Forces Bank. “We understand the unique financial realities that come with military life, and we work every day to meet service members and veterans where they are – providing practical tools, trusted guidance and consistent support no matter where duty takes them.”
“It is truly a privilege to serve the military community,” said Paul Holewinski, CEO of Armed Forces Bank. “Every product, service and education effort we offer is designed with their unique needs in mind. We appreciate the recognition from the Consumer Federation of America, but the greatest reward is seeing our clients strengthen their financial footing and achieve the goals that matter most to them.”
Air Force Modernizes Physical Fitness Program to Bolster Readiness, Long-Term Health
March 8th, 2026
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
The Air Force announced an update to its Physical Fitness Readiness Program (PFRP) in a Directive Type Memorandum introducing new standards and scoring models designed to better align with the demands of modern warfare and promote the long-term health of every Airman.
The modernized program is anchored in scientifically grounded health measures and a more rigorous assessment model. The goal is to enhance warfighter readiness by encouraging Airmen to build durable fitness habits that support sustained, career-long performance.
“Our new standards are designed to help Airmen build fitness habits that will serve them throughout their careers and hopefully a long life,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “This update is not just about increasing the physical fitness test standards; it’s about ensuring our warfighters are fit, ready, and prioritizing their long-term health.”
In conjunction with the updated program, score charts have been updated with increased minimums for each scored component, as well as separate charts now available for Occupationally Specific Physical Fitness Assessments. These adjustments are intentional and directly align with the program’s renewed emphasis on long-term health, readiness, and overall warfighter effectiveness.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Air Force will implement a baseline window for Airmen to take diagnostic tests starting March 1, 2026. This period is designed to give Airmen time to understand the new standards, assess their current performance against the updated charts, and adjust their training focus before scoring becomes official on July 1, 2026. The baseline period will also provide the data required to assess and refine score charts in advance of full implementation of the new standards. Airmen who complete the Physical Fitness Readiness Assessment (PFRA) during the baseline period may elect to record their diagnostic test score as an official fitness test score. This may be especially beneficial for Airmen in cold-weather locations who wish to align their next due-date to a time when weather is more conducive to outdoor testing in their region.
Airmen may reference the PFRA Due Date Matrix on MyFSS in the Knowledge Base application to learn more about testing timelines.
Body composition will return as a scored component assessed in the PFRA. Airmen may elect to take this component of the test up to five duty days before assessing the remaining PFRA components.
Airmen and commanders are encouraged to make full use of diagnostic testing during this baseline period. This phase will provide valuable data to ensure the updated PFRP is implemented in a manner that is fair, accurate, and effective across the force. To support the force through this transition, a robust set of resources will be available:
- Master Fitness Leaders: These trained experts will be available at installations to guide unit-level Peer Fitness Leaders and Airmen through safe and effective conditioning, reconditioning, and adaptive fitness programs.
- The Warfighter Fitness Playbook: This guide offers detailed guidance on workouts, recovery strategies, sleep optimization, and nutrition—all interconnected elements essential for sustained performance.
- The Pregnancy & Postpartum Performance Training Guide: To ensure comprehensive support for all Airmen, this guide provides tailored physical training and wellness recommendations for pregnant and postpartum Airmen.
The certification of the 2-mile run tracks to ensure all Air Force tracks meet official standards is in progress. Final guidance on measurement specifications (e.g. meters, feet, yards, etc.) will be published in AFMAN 36-2905.
“Airmen are the heart of the Air Force, and their readiness is essential to mission success,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David R. Wolfe. “Our new standards are designed to prepare them for the demands of today and the future fight. They give every one of our Airmen an opportunity to grow in an important part of their lives.”
Additionally, as previously announced, PFRA scores will become part of an Airman’s annual evaluation to incorporate a full picture of an individual’s performance and contributions. Official guidance in AFI 36-2406 released this week for implementation.
This evolution of the fitness program represents a deliberate investment in the force, ensuring that Airmen are not only prepared for the challenges of today, but are also physically sustained for a long and healthy career.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Chemring plc Appoints Baroness Kate Rock as an Independent Non-Executive Director
March 7th, 2026Chemring today announces the appointment of Baroness Kate Rock as an independent non-executive director. Upon joining the Board, Kate will become the Senior Independent Director and a member of the Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees. She will join the Board with effect from 1 April 2026.
Kate is an experienced non?executive director with a board portfolio covering technology, engineering, construction and infrastructure. Underpinned by a strong background in corporate communications and strategy, she combines deep engineering sector knowledge with a strategic understanding of how innovation and technology enhance productivity, together with wide-ranging experience working across government.
On 1 December 2022 Kate was appointed Non-Executive Chair of the UK infrastructure solutions company Costain Group PLC. Since that time Costain has seen a near five-fold increase in its share price and has re-entered the FTSE 250 index. In September 2018 she joined the Board of FTSE 250 Keller Group plc (the world’s largest geotechnical specialist contractor) and is now the Senior Independent Director, serving on the Audit & Risk, Nomination & Governance, Remuneration and Sustainability Committees.
Having been appointed a Life Peer in 2015, she sat on the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee until January 2023. She was also a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence from 2017 to 2018 and was Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Autism between January and November 2025.
Until January 2023, Kate was a Board member of the world’s first Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and was, until November 2017, a non-executive director of Imagination Technologies plc, the former global FTSE 250 high technology company.
Tony Wood, Chairman of Chemring, commented:
“Following an extensive selection process, I am delighted to welcome Baroness Rock to Chemring. Kate brings considerable experience within the fields of technology, infrastructure and innovation, as well as government and strategic communications. Her strong understanding of the construction and infrastructure sector will also be of value to the Group as we further progress our organic growth strategy and investment in increased capacity. I am certain that she will make a strong contribution to the continued development and performance of the Group.”
There are no further disclosures required to be made in accordance with UKLR 6.4.8 of the FCA’s UK Listing Rules sourcebook.
