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Pennsylvania Guard Expands Drone Training Mission

Wednesday, June 24th, 2026

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Training and Innovation Facility soon will undergo modernization changes that will strengthen its readiness to train Soldiers, including creating an innovation classroom, a high-tech classroom, a simulator room, a locker room and a mock urban village for training.

Plans also call for the facility to eventually have a drone racecourse and host competitions.

“We are building this facility out so that everybody is going to get a better level of education,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea, the facility’s officer in charge. “We truly are trying to embrace building smarter Soldiers for the future Army. In addition, we’re giving them the tools and training them how to use those tools. The more tools we can put in their back pocket as they move forward, the more ready they’re going to be for future fights.”

The facility has been a beehive of activity over the last few months. On Feb. 19, a team of Soldiers from the facility won the innovation competition at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Alabama. Since then, activity at the facility has “exploded,” Shea said.

“We’re going through a massive amount of changes,” said Shea, who is assigned to M Company, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “This facility has become a massive hub for training, and our lab space has never been busier.”

Since the Best Drone Warfighter Competition, the UAS Training and Innovation Facility has been designated as a training site for the 15X military occupational specialty transition course and as the primary training site for drones selected in the Department of War’s Drone Gauntlet competition.

As a result of these additional programs, construction is underway on upgrades to the facility, and the number of full-time employees has increased from six to 16.

“We’ve had a lot of new people come in, a lot of building changes and a lot of equipment changes,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr, course manager for the 15X MOS transition course. “There’s been a lot of big changes here.”

A ‘heavy lift’

The UAS facility was established in 2007. Initially, it was home to 28th Infantry Division units that used the RQ-7 Shadow, a fixed-wing UAS with a 20-foot wingspan, designed for surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition.

The Army stopped using Shadows in January 2024, and Soldiers at the facility then began experimenting with small, first-person view, or FPV, drones as they awaited a new mission. New missions arrived this year in the form of the 15X MOS-T course and the Drone Gauntlet training program.

Pennsylvania was selected to be one of two states, along with Mississippi, to host the 15X MOS-T course for the reserve component. The course is part of the effort to merge two MOSs, 15W (Shadow UAS operator) and 15E (UAS maintainer), Shea said.

“The idea moving forward is an operator and a maintainer will be the same thing, and that’s where we get the 15X,” Shea said.

The first class is expected to begin in October, and Shea expects six classes per year to be conducted at the UASTIF.

The Drone Gauntlet competition, meanwhile, is part of the Department of War’s “Drone Dominance” guidance issued in 2025. Through the program, the Unmanned Aircraft System Training and Innovation Facility, or UASTIF, will receive eight drones that are selected during the Drone Gauntlet, and Soldiers at the facility will receive training on the drones from their manufacturers.

The Soldiers will then train Soldiers from active- and reserve-component Army units selected to receive the drones.

The UASTIF was selected for this program because of its close relationship with Tobyhanna Army Depot in northeast Pennsylvania and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, as well as the work the facility was already doing in the drone space, Shea said.

“We get the new equipment training from the vendor, and then our job is to train all of active duty as well as some National Guard that have been selected for it,” Shea said. “It’s quite the heavy lift as we go through this.”

Upgrades on the horizon

With the new programs, significant changes are coming to the facility. A maintenance area that was previously converted into an innovation lab will be expanded to become an innovation classroom. The lab currently has several soldering stations and three 3D printers, with two more printers on the way.

“It’s a space where we can instruct in soldering skills, printing skills, everything like that,” Shea said. “It’s designed to be lab space for Soldiers to receive instruction and give our own people the space to work, tear apart systems, repair systems and everything else along those lines.”

The 3D printers are used to prototype drone parts or to print repair parts that may have broken on an existing drone.

Elsewhere in the facility, a high-tech classroom, a simulator room and a locker room are being added, as well as office space for the facility’s full-time personnel.

In addition to changes inside the UASTIF, several upgrades are underway outside. The facility has had an indoor drone obstacle course for about a year and recently built an outdoor course. They are both made primarily from construction materials such as lumber and PVC pipe. The indoor course is where Soldiers first start learning to fly drones, and the outdoor obstacle course was designed to mimic flying through windows and doors in an urban setting, Shea said.

In the coming weeks, a mock urban village made from shipping containers will be moved from elsewhere on Fort Indiantown Gap’s grounds to the facility’s grounds to create a UAS-specific urban operations site. Eventually, Shea said, the facility will have a drone racecourse and host competitions.

An exciting time

Wehr, who has worked at the UASTIF for six years and has been involved in UAS operations for his entire 12-year military career, said it’s an exciting time to be at the facility.

“Shadow was fun back in the day,” said Wehr, who is assigned to M Company, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “It was a more standard schedule, but with all these changes it’s definitely more exciting and more hands-on than it used to be.”

Today’s UAS operators have to know more than just how to fly one; they need to be able to fix them as well, Wehr said. The UASTIF will help Soldiers learn to do both.

“I think it’s a great facility,” Wehr said. “It’s a perfect place to learn how to fly and how to fix drones.”

The UASTIF was already a great facility, Shea said, and with all the changes coming, it’s going to be even more technologically advanced. He noted that six months ago the facility didn’t have any 3D printers or soldering stations, and its classroom space was limited.

By Brad Rhen

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Training | Comments Off on Pennsylvania Guard Expands Drone Training Mission

Army Secretary Highlights UAS Marketplace, Acquisition Reform at Eurosatory 2026

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

PARIS — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll called for faster acquisition, stronger interoperability and closer cooperation with allies and partners during a statement of intent signing ceremony held June 16, during the second day of Eurosatory 2026. The agreement is intended to expand the Uncrewed Aircraft System Marketplace granting allies and partners access to counter-drone capabilities that have been proven on today’s battlefields.

The ceremony brought together U.S. Army leaders and representatives from NATO Allies including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Lithuania to address one of the most urgent challenges facing modern militaries: how to move faster against the uncrewed aircraft systems threat.

The statement of intent affirms Allied commitment to streamline counter-UAS acquisition and training while helping participating nations identify, evaluate, and field capabilities at the pace required on today’s battlefield.

For Driscoll, the agreement is part of a larger effort to change how the Army connects battlefield needs with industry solutions.

“What we’re fundamentally trying to do here is bring in the same market portals that have made so many companies successful in our country and yours, and just get our government and other governments’ regulation out of the way,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll described the UAS marketplace as a practical way to make acquisition more transparent, responsive, and informed by the Soldiers and operators who use the equipment. He said the model is designed to give allies and partners access to user feedback, allow vendors from participating nations to compete in the same environment, and help governments scale systems that prove effective.

“What we think will work is to allow everyone here to offer their products to Soldiers around the world and us to just listen to Soldiers, get their feedback, and then scale the things that work,” said Driscoll.

Uncrewed aircraft systems continue to reshape the battlefield, creating new requirements for force protection, air defense and rapid adaptation. Small drones, one-way attack systems, and other uncrewed platforms have increased the demand for layered detection, tracking and defeat capabilities that can be fielded quickly and integrated across allied formations.

Driscoll said the challenge is not only acquiring better equipment, but also making sure those systems can work together across nations and services.

“What we know is this inflection point of war is going to require us to create compatible systems,” Driscoll said. “To do things like air defense, we need all of our equipment to be interoperable at a minimum.”

Interoperability was a central theme of the event. Leaders described the effort as more than a procurement initiative, framing it as a way to help allied and partner forces share information, compare capabilities, align requirements, and reduce barriers that can slow the delivery of emerging technologies to the force.

Driscoll pointed to Operation Jailbreak, a U.S. Army effort aimed at improving how Army systems share data, as one example of the service’s work to remove technical barriers. He said the Army reviewed about 100 systems in 30 days and identified a larger requirement to ensure Army equipment can transmit and receive data through common digital interfaces.

The Army is also preparing to apply similar lessons in Europe through the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, known as EFDI. Driscoll said the goal is to help vendors build to allied requirements from the beginning, making systems more useful, more compatible, and easier to field.

The marketplace initiative begins with counter-drone systems, but Driscoll described a broader vision that could eventually include drones, radars, sensors, tanks, helicopters and other major capabilities. The long-term goal is to create a trusted environment where allied nations can identify, evaluate and procure equipment more efficiently while giving industry clearer insight into operational demand.

Additionally, the ceremony highlighted the role of industry in helping the Army and its partners keep pace with emerging threats. Driscoll said acquisition reform depends not only on government action, but also on sustained collaboration with companies that can deliver tested, practical capabilities.

Testing was another focus of Driscoll’s remarks. He said the Army is working to expand access to ranges and reduce delays that prevent vendors from rapidly proving their systems. Faster testing is essential to helping governments determine what works and move effective capabilities into the hands of Soldiers and allied forces.

Following the signing, Driscoll linked the agreement to the trust and speed required in modern conflict. He said interoperability will shape how allies work together in the future and described the agreement as a first step toward systems that support decision-making at the speed of war.

Eurosatory, a major international defense and security exhibition, provided a setting for the signing by bringing together military leaders, government officials, and industry representatives from around the world.

Driscoll’s remarks placed the signing within a larger Army modernization effort focused on speed and Soldier-informed innovation. As uncrewed systems continue to evolve, Army leaders said the ability to move quickly with allies and partners will remain central to deterrence, readiness, and operational advantage.

The counter-UAS statement of intent represents an early step in that effort, one focused on reducing friction, expanding cooperation, and helping allied forces move from shared requirements to fielded capability faster.

By MAJ Alexander Watkins

Posted in Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Army Secretary Highlights UAS Marketplace, Acquisition Reform at Eurosatory 2026

BFG Monday: Why the Rifle Sling Matters More Than Most Shooters Realize

Monday, June 22nd, 2026

A Soldier steps off the vehicle at first light. The rifle hangs across his chest as he checks equipment, adjusts his ruck, and moves into formation. Hours later, the rifle is still there. Through movement, briefings, security halts, vehicle operations, and countless tasks that have nothing to do with pulling a trigger, the weapon remains attached to him.

Most of the time, a rifle is not being fired. It’s being carried.

Photo by Army National Guard SGT Lianne M. Hirano

Whether during military operations, law enforcement duties, training classes, or long days on the range, the same reality applies. The sling often has more impact on day-to-day rifle handling than almost any other piece of equipment on the weapon.

That often gets overlooked when people discuss rifle setups. Most conversations focus on optics, lasers, suppressors, and other components mounted directly to the rifle itself. The sling is usually treated like an afterthought. Something added once the important decisions have already been made.

But for most of the day, the sling is what controls the rifle.

Every step over rough terrain. Every climb into a vehicle. Every radio transmission. Every casualty evacuation. Every ladder climb. Every moment spent opening doors, moving equipment, or helping another member of the team.

When the rifle is not actively being fired, the sling determines where the weapon sits, how it moves, how secure it remains, and how quickly it can be brought back into action.

A poorly designed sling turns the rifle into a constant distraction. It swings into knees, catches on equipment, shifts unexpectedly, and requires constant adjustment. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, the user ends up managing the weapon.

Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Olivia Bithell

A good sling does the opposite.

It keeps the rifle secure, predictable, and accessible without demanding attention. It allows the user to transition between tasks while maintaining positive control of the weapon.

Modern adjustable two-point slings, like the Vickers Sling™, give users the ability to quickly tighten or loosen the rifle depending on the situation. That adjustment matters more than most people realize. It helps secure the weapon during movement, improves retention in confined spaces, and creates additional stability when it is time to shoot.

That becomes increasingly important as fatigue sets in over time. A rifle that constantly shifts or pulls against the body creates unnecessary physical and mental strain. A properly designed sling reduces that burden and helps the user maintain consistent control throughout the day.

Experienced users understand this because they have lived with a rifle for long hours, long distances, and demanding environments. They know the value of a sling is not measured by appearance alone. It is measured by how effectively it supports the rifle when conditions deteriorate, and attention must remain focused elsewhere.

The sling’s role extends beyond simply carrying the weapon.

Army marksmanship doctrine identifies stability as one of the fundamental elements of accurate shooting. Before accurate fire can be delivered, the rifle must first be controlled. An adjustable sling allows the shooter to create tension between the weapon and the body, reducing unnecessary movement and supporting a more stable shooting platform across a variety of positions.

Proper sling use can also reduce reliance on muscle tension and help minimize shooter-induced movement, both of which contribute to more consistent accuracy.

The best equipment often goes unnoticed because it simply works.

The rifle may be the weapon system.
But the sling is what connects that weapon to the user.

That is not an accessory.
That is a critical part of the system.

For units seeking to increase survivability and operational performance through reduced load carriage by upgrading to Helium Whisper, contact the Blue Force Gear Military Department or visit BlueForceGear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Press Release | Comments Off on BFG Monday: Why the Rifle Sling Matters More Than Most Shooters Realize

Army Innovators Automate Path to Zero Trust with Artificial Intelligence

Sunday, June 21st, 2026

The Communications-Electronics Command Army Software and Innovation Center in partnership with the Warfighting Acquisition University and the C5ISR Center, has developed an artificial intelligence tool that significantly accelerates the Army’s transition to a Zero Trust cybersecurity framework. This supports the Department of War’s mandate to achieve Target Level Zero Trust by Fiscal Year 2027.

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy based on the idea that networks are always at risk. Instead of trusting devices within the network, it requires every user and device to be authenticated and authorized before accessing data. Rolling out this approach across all Army systems is a big challenge, but it is necessary for operational readiness.

“Many organizations know they need Zero Trust, but I believe they’re overwhelmed by not knowing where to begin,” said Farhat Shah, a cybersecurity subject matter expert with CECOM ASIC.

Shah discussed this challenge and its corresponding solution during the Warfighting Acquisition University event, “Operationalizing Zero Trust – Leveraging Risk Management Framework and Artificial Intelligence,” held on May 13.

During the presentation, Shah explained that the team started with a five-month project to crosswalk the 91 Zero Trust activities to the thousands of Control Correlation Identifiers in the Army’s Risk Management Framework. This method aligns efforts down to the CCI level, which Shah calls “critical, because CCIs are actionable, testable elements that we use during our RMF assessments.” This helps system owners use their existing compliance work to check their Zero Trust status.

“Our goal is to reduce duplication of effort,” Shah said. “We want to save time and resources by leveraging existing work, and most importantly, reducing risk in a manageable and sustainable way. It is about aligning strategy, governance, and technology.”

The core innovation is “AI Flow,” an AI environment developed by CECOM ASIC. This tool processes a system’s RMF test results and automates the analysis to generate a Zero Trust baseline profile. In a pilot assessment of the Army Food Management Information System, the AI completed the review in about five minutes, compared to a week for a human expert. The assessment found that the AI was 89% accurate.

This system works with two agents. The first agent checks for compliance. If a system is noncompliant, the second agent investigates further, identifies specific gaps, and provides clear guidance, including references to the relevant policies and required documents. This transforms a simple compliance check into a step-by-step engineering process.

With the FY 2027 deadline approaching, CECOM ASIC seeks to partner with additional system owners to expand the tool’s capabilities and help them quickly assess their Zero Trust posture.

“As we continue to refine this process, we’re not just improving the tool; we are shaping a repeatable and scalable approach to support Zero Trust adoption across the enterprise,” said Shah. “If you are interested in advancing Zero Trust automation or want to see how this approach can benefit your organization, I invite you to partner with CECOM ASIC to evaluate and refine this process.”

This integration of existing frameworks and artificial intelligence provides a scalable, data-driven roadmap, that enables the Army to secure its systems and protect its data amid evolving digital threats.

For those who missed the May 13 session, the presentation and materials are available online. Personnel in the Defense Industrial Base, academia, and IT or cyber communities can access the recording and slides to learn how the Army is advancing cybersecurity. Watch the full presentation here: events/operationalizing-zero-trust-leveraging-rmf-and-ai

For inquiries or collaboration, contact ASIC Cybersecurity & Electromagnetic Warfare Directorate at Usarmy.apg.asic.mbx.zero-trust@army.mil.

By SCOTT HOCHENBERG

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Army Innovators Automate Path to Zero Trust with Artificial Intelligence

7th ID Conducts Redesignation Ceremony

Saturday, June 20th, 2026

Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division and 1st Multi-Domain Task Force held a redesignation ceremony June 18 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, to case the 1st MDTF Headquarters and 7th ID Headquarters Support Company colors and uncase the 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion colors, marking a major organizational shift.

The redesignation honors the Bayonet Division’s legacy while establishing the 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) as theArmy’s newest theater-enabling command, built to integrate maneuver, fires, air defense, cyber, space, electronic warfare, intelligence, unmanned systems, sustainment, and command and control in support of the Joint Force across the Pacific.

“We are merging the operational endurance, flexibility, and protection of our proven Stryker formations with the long-range sensing and precision fires of our multi-domain task force,” said Maj. Gen. Bernard J. Harrington, commanding general of 7th ID (MDC-PAC).

7th ID (MDC-PAC) is an operational-level formation designed to operate forward, develop situations, disrupt enemy systems, and complicate adversary planning.

It supports the Army’s transformation initiative by unifying 7th ID’smaneuver assets and 1st MDTF’s multi-domain capabilities under one command, streamlining mission command across complex operations.

Central to7th ID (MDC-PAC)is the Cross-Domain Contact Layer, a system that integrates intelligence collection, electronic warfare effects, and artificial intelligence to support rapid command decisions within a continuous operational framework.The CDCL allows forces to disperse over large areas to maintain pressure on adversaries both in close and deep areas.

“Through our emerging Cross Domain Contact Layer concept, our division will employ capabilities such as unmanned surface vessels; long-range, one-way attack drones; and launched effects to penetrate the adversary’s anti-access/area-denial network,” Harrington said, “Every radar that emits, every node that transmits, every headquarters that commands, we aim to hold continuously at risk alongside our joint Partners and allies.”

Harrington now leads the Army’s newest multi-domain headquarters, which will refine the CDCL model during upcoming combined, joint and multinational exercises.

The CDCL organizes modern battlefield capabilities into four components: sensors that capture information across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace; precision weapons paired with affordable unmanned drones; digital networks and software that help leaders make faster decisions; and robust military units able to operate even when disrupted by enemy action.

Harrington stressed that alongside Partners and allies, the division aims to prevent conflict, and the common thread connecting all efforts is the Soldiers.

“Technology does not win wars,” he said, “our people do.”

The ceremony also reflects the Army’s pushto distribute sensing, fires, electronic warfare, space, and cyber capabilities across maneuver formations to increase effectiveness in contested environments.

“Our hourglass patch went to France in World War I and helped defeat the Germans in the largest battle in American history,” Harrington said, noting the division’s long tradition of adaptation, “Later, it trained as a motorized infantry battalion, then amphibious assault, then light infantry. The Bayonets went ashore in the frozen Aleutians in 1943. They fought in the jungles of Laite. In Korea, they landed and fought at Incheon at the Chosin Reservoir, and by the end of that war, had served a staggering 850 days in continuous combat.”

Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, emphasized the division’s commitment to future training and Indo-Pacific readiness.

Clark outlined U.S. Army Pacific’s focus: delivering combat-ready forces, strengthening Partnerships and alliances, and advancing innovation to maintain a competitive edge in the Pacific.

“With this transformation, the 7th Infantry Division is poised to plan and execute complex multi-domain operations across this region,” Clark added. “Bringing the full strength and resources of a division in support of the joint force.”

These changes build on years of Indo-Pacific experimentation, including 1st MDTF deployments, ground-based long-range precision fires, and combined efforts with regional Partners such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“These Soldiers have invested wholeheartedly in experimenting, deploying, and employing capabilities that work from the heavens to the earth, from the air to the sea, and flow with all the digits that go in between,” said Col. Charles W. Kean,7th ID (MDC-PAC) deputy commanding officer-effects andformer 1st MDTF commander,“It has truly been inspirational to watch them in action.”

He noted that their dedication has propelled the division into its next phase of transformation, adding that this progress is only the beginning as the organization adapts to new operational demands.

“This merger isn’t an ending,” Kean said. “It’s just another milestone as we continue to move at the pace of relevance. We built something historic, and we’re continuing to build something historic, something consequential, and something that could potentially stop the next war.”

Story by SFC Monik Phan

7th Infantry Division

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post | Comments Off on 7th ID Conducts Redesignation Ceremony

Eyes on the Skies

Saturday, June 20th, 2026

The 820th Base Defense Group (BDG) conducted counter-small unmanned aerial system (CsUAS) training, May 7, 2026, reinforcing its focus on preparing air base ground defense Airmen to operate in an environment increasingly shaped by unmanned aerial threats.

The training emphasized the purpose, intent and significance of CsUAS integration into base defense operations. Instructors highlighted the growing use of small unmanned aerial systems for reconnaissance, surveillance and potential payload delivery, stressing the importance of early identification, rapid decision-making and integration of CsUAS considerations into existing defensive planning.

“My desire is for the Airmen to understand the importance of this system, with the additional understanding that we are trusting them to execute all battle drills in a moment’s notice to protect the base,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher DeLong, 822nd Base Defense Squadron (BDS) operations officer. “My Airmen, along with sister service members, will be responsible for ensuring our airspace is secured and defended from any hostile drones, so they must understand the enhanced responsibility they have.”

The purpose of the instruction was to establish a shared baseline of understanding across the force. Airmen were briefed on common small unmanned aerial system characteristics, threat indicators, employment methods and hands-on simulated incident instruction. The course also reinforced how CsUAS awareness must be incorporated into routine defensive posture and not treated as a standalone capability.

“Day 1 consists of CsUAS basics and system familiarization. This is the foundation of a member’s ability to work the system efficiently to give leaders the best picture of the battlespace during a quick reaction to a CsUAS incident,” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Eichner, 822nd BDS flight sergeant and CsUAS course instructor. “Days 2-5 consist of hands-on training through a simulator. The Airmen worked through several battle drills to ensure they are capable of relaying vital information up the chain and supporting and carrying out the decision to implement kinetic and non-kinetic defense measures. This is vital to the protection of personnel and PL assets.”

The intent of the training was to standardize knowledge and improve overall readiness across defensive teams. Instruction focused on how CsUAS capabilities fit within a layered defense approach, integrating sensors, communications networks and both kinetic and non-kinetic response options.

The significance of the training lies in its contribution to installation protection and mission assurance. As small unmanned aerial systems become more accessible and more frequently employed in contested environments, base defense forces are required to adapt their tactics, techniques and procedures to maintain effectiveness against emerging threats.

“My three main takeaways focus on teamwork, military advancement and adapting to threats,” said Staff Sgt. Sawyer Logan, 822nd BDS CsUAS program manager. “First, successful operations require a strong team of skilled operators working together to make fast, high-stakes decisions. Second, the military is constantly innovating and fielding new systems to better protect our bases and personnel. Finally, as our enemies improve their capabilities, we must also adapt to find faster, more efficient ways to counter them.”

The 820th BDG’s emphasis on CsUAS training reflects a broader shift toward integrated base defense operations that combine awareness, detection and response capabilities into a cohesive framework. By increasing Airmen’s understanding of the threat environment and available response options, the unit strengthens its ability to protect critical assets, maintain operational continuity and reduce reaction time during potential incursions.

The training concluded with a reinforcement of key principles and an emphasis on continued professional development as CsUAS capabilities and threat systems evolve.

Story by Senior Airman Iain Stanley

93rd Air Ground Operations Wing

Posted in Admin, Air Force, C-UAS, Guest Post | Comments Off on Eyes on the Skies

FirstSpear Friday Focus: ADS Warrior East 2026

Friday, June 19th, 2026

Come see us next week at ADS WARRIOR EAST over at booth #733 from Wednesday, June 24th, through Thursday, June 25th. Check out our product line-up and catch up with our team to learn more about what’s yet to come in 2026 and beyond!

To request an estimate click image above or visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement and those who train. For more information visit First-Spear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Warrior Expo | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus: ADS Warrior East 2026

Army Software Factory NCOs Become Warrant Officers

Friday, June 19th, 2026

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — Army Software Factory noncommissioned officers marked a milestone in their careers as they became software operations warrant officers, graduating from Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker on June 10.

The software operations technician military occupational specialty, known as 280A, is the Army’s newest functional area.

“We realized the operational power of having Soldiers who have software operations skills paired with Soldiers with artificial intelligence skills to solve problems for commanders,” said Howard K. “Howie” Brewington, deputy director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence based at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The Army Software Factory is an Army Transformation and Training Command unit that enables Soldiers to reach global mission outcomes through software operations. They find hidden tech talent in the Army to build proficiency and mastery in commercial technologies and processes. This results in an upskilled technical force that enables the Army to be better prepared for software-centric and dynamic contested environments.

The traditional path for transitioning an NCO to warrant officer was too slow to support the rapid transformation needed, so the Mission Command Center of Excellence encouraged exceptional NCOs with the Army Software Factory additional skill identifier to submit their packets for the Functional Area 28 software operations selection panel in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.

The NCOs were selected through a rigorous multi-stage interview process, which examines military performance records and experience, civilian experience and technical aptitude. The NCOs then received 12 months of training and real-world operational experience on a Software Development Team.

Brewington said Soldiers with a passion for software operations now have a path to continue serving their nation, whereas a year ago, the Army was losing NCOs with these skill sets to industry.

“…Same thing with warrant officers, same thing with officers. We said this is important enough that we need to have a specialty called Software Operations, a functional area. Functional Area 28 includes Area of Concentration 28A software operations officer and MOS 280A software operations technician,” he said.

Standing up a functional area that includes officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers who want to become warrant officers, benefits the operational force, the Soldier and Army recruiting and retention goals.

“If you think about a Venn Diagram with three circles: the needs of the Army; the knowledge, skills, attributes and other characteristics of the Soldier/Leader; and the desires or preferences of the Soldier, you find the place where those three circles overlap, you color that in, put a Soldier there, and they will stay in our Army forever,” he said.

Warrant Officer DJ Barroga, a product designer who previously served as a 25B IT specialist, was serving as an NCO in an Army operations and training office in Hawaii when he saw the message that went out, and he applied.

“I am the empathizer-in-chief: I go around talking to different users and stakeholders and discovering…is it a software solution for them, or an issue with their process? I relay that information to their battalion commander or their company commander, and then synthesize all that information to bring it back to our team, the project manager, software engineers, so we can discuss what is the best course of action to solve their problem,” Barroga said.

He explained that the Army Software Factory has four tracks — product managers, product designers, software engineers and platform engineers.

“We all work in Agile teams,” Barroga said. “We’ll get tasked from our product office with some issues that go to our Army Software Factory site. Those issues come from the force. The product office will review all these problem sets and figure out if it’s something we can work on that’s not enterprise, because the Army pays for applications and we don’t want to do double dipping. They’ll give us a problem set, and the team will go out and start doing the discovery and framing application process.”

Barroga said he likes the uniqueness of the job. In communicating with leaders and Soldiers he gets a better look at the actual issue the user is having, which enables him to translate that to leaders and develop a path forward.

“You’re able to build that connection and say, ‘Hey, sir or ma’am, what you’re saying is valid, but your Soldiers down the line are having a totally different issue, so I think we should go this way’,” he said.

He anticipates that becoming a warrant officer likely will not change his duties, but rather impact how he is able to do the job.

“I think I’m going to have more of that presence, and be able to talk to these leaders and they will take what I say into consideration more because of what a warrant officer is and that status a warrant officer holds,” the former staff sergeant said.

The next step for the group of warrant officers is Warrant Officer Basic Course.

By Kelly Morris

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | Comments Off on Army Software Factory NCOs Become Warrant Officers