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Archive for the ‘Department of War’ Category

New App Aims to Unify Military Fitness Training Across Branches

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) —  

A newly developed fitness app is giving service members across the Department of War a single tool to build training programs tailored to their fitness test requirements at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Zachary Hicks, a family medicine physician and emergency medical services medical director at Yokota Air Base, developed the app to turn fitness requirements into actionable training guidance that service members can use to improve or maintain their readiness. The app goes beyond information and offers actionable guidance that members can use to improve or maintain their fitness. It also assesses a member’s current level, builds a starting program and adjusts over time, with an emphasis on improving weaker areas.

“There are apps for individual branches but none that unify them into one app, and this was something I wanted to solve,” Hicks said.

The idea traces back four years, when Hicks set out to create a more organized, actionable approach to fitness preparation. When updated fitness standards were released this year, he said it was time to build a solution.

“If you are doing well and you want to do great, then this app will help you,” Hicks said. “If you are doing great and wish to maintain that greatness, then this app will help you retain your fitness.”

The app has continued to expand since its development. Its most recent update added guidance for pregnancy and postpartum exercise, and Hicks is now developing nutrition guidance as the next addition.

To ensure the app aligned with official standards, Hicks transcribed each scoring calculator directly from service-specific scoring charts. He also built the training guidance using publicly available military resources, including the Air Force’s Warfighter Fitness Playbook.

“I did not feel the need to reinvent the wheel, but simply made it more accessible,” he said. For Hicks, the app’s purpose is simple: give every member, regardless of branch or starting point, a clear path to becoming stronger, more prepared and ready to reach their next fitness milestone.

By Senior Airman Tallon Bratton

374th Airlift Wing

Posted in Air Force, Department of War, Guest Post, Warrior Athlete | No Comments »

US Military Affirms SIG SAUER M17 and M18 as “Safe and Reliable”

Friday, August 21st, 2026

Results of unprecedented analysis, including inspection of nearly 114,000 pistols, “reinforce confidence and assurance” in the SIG SAUER firearm

NEWINGTON, N.H., (August 20, 2026) – Following an extensive inspection and analysis of the SIG SAUER M17 and M18, both the Department of War (DoW) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) confirmed the firearms are “safe and reliable.”

On August 7, 2026, DoW confirmed the SIG SAUER Modular Handgun System pistols, including the SIG SAUER M17 and M18, are safe and reliable, saying it underwent extensive testing where more than 1.5 million rounds were fired and “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.” The full DoW statement is available on the U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive website.

Following the inspection of 113,479 M18 firearms, DAF said the results “reinforce confidence and assurance that the M18 remains safe and reliable for DAF missions.” DAF’s inspection found “100% of the inspected weapons exhibited no signs of any condition that could have allowed the weapons to experience an ‘uncommanded discharge.’” The full DAF letter dated January 23, 2026, is available at Soldier Systems.

“The U.S. military analysis further validates the technology, engineering, and performance behind the P320,” said Phil Strader, VP of Consumer Affairs, SIG SAUER. “This was an unprecedented level of inspection, extensive for both the volume of firearms analyzed and for the level of evaluation on each product. Nearly 114,000 firearms were disassembled to methodically examine individual components and reassembled for final functional testing, and the product stood up to the test.”

Following an incident in July 2025, the Air Force Global Strike Command ordered an evaluation of the M18, which is a carry version of the P320 pistol, while the M17 is a full size. The initial evaluation showed that no weapon discharges were attributable to a malfunction. Global Strike Command reinstated the M18 in August 2025, while DAF completed its inspection, which is summarized in its January 2026 letter.

For more information, visit www.P320Truth.com, a website dedicated to accurate information on the P320.

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Department of War Orders Research Security Audits at 30 Academic Institutions

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026

The Department of War has issued formal notifications to 30 domestic academic institutions, directing them to initiate immediate and comprehensive reviews of their academic, financial and research collaborations with foreign entities of concern.

These notifications address active institutional ties and collaborations with foreign entities identified under Section 1286 of the FY19 NDAA, as well as organizations associated with rebranded Confucius Institutes. Executed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, this action is designed to protect American taxpayer-funded research investments from unauthorized technology transfer, intellectual property theft and adversarial exploitation.

“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “Institutions that receive funding from American taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of research security, and these mandated audits will ensure accountability across the board.”

To maintain eligibility for future federal research funding, the notified universities must complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations, assess the exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research, and implement strict mitigation plans, including the termination of problematic partnerships. Institutions are required to report their findings and actions directly to the Department no later than August 31, 2026.

“Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation,” said Dr. Joseph Jewell, Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology.

Through these audits, the Department of War will better anticipate emerging threats, adapt to evolving adversarial tactics and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation. The Department is pursuing this effort alongside partners in Congress.?Together with the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the Department continues to build a robust research ecosystem that protects critical discoveries from exploitation.

Posted in Department of War, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »