All articles tagged with #military training
Late-night military exercises featuring helicopters, simulated gunfire and flash grenades were staged in vacant Pasadena hospitals and other Southland sites with minimal advance notice, prompting resident complaints and city officials to question federal training priorities and potential intimidation in neighborhoods still recovering from a major fire.
Authorities in Stewart County, Tennessee are pursuing 53-year-old Craig Berry, an Army veteran accused of shooting his wife, with a manhunt hampered by rugged terrain—steep hills and deep ravines—and Berry’s extensive survival training. Last seen in camouflage after the Dover incident, Berry may be in the expansive Land Between the Lakes area, a 175,000-acre forested region, and could have extra ammo. Weather, wildlife hazards, and the large search area could prolong the effort, which officials say may require multi-directional sweeps and potentially federal help from the Marshals Service.
The U.S. Army announced a new Combat Field Test (CFT) to update its physical readiness program, with implementation beginning in April 2026 for active-duty Soldiers in 24 designated combat specialties. The seven-event test must be completed in 30 minutes while wearing the Army Combat Uniform, boots and a brown T‑shirt, and includes runs, push-ups, a sprint, 40‑lb sandbag lifts, 40‑lb water-can carries, a movement drill with high crawl and a quick rush, and a final mile run. It runs alongside the Army Fitness Test, and combat personnel must pass one of each annually (non‑combat Reserve personnel have a diagnostic 365‑day period and may reclassify if unable to meet the standard). The Army will provide prep support through command-led training, Holistic Health resources, and a CFT microsite, underscoring a focus on readiness and lethality on the modern battlefield.
Two soldiers from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska were injured when a brown bear attacked during a land-navigation training exercise. Both soldiers carried bear spray and are receiving medical care; investigators say the attack was likely defensive after the bear emerged from a den, but the bear has not been located and details of injuries are not yet released as the investigation continues.
As Russia’s invasion enters its fifth year, Ukraine has rolled out a mandatory “Protecting Ukraine” program training more than 385,000 teenagers in weapons handling, battlefield tactics, emergency medicine, mine safety, and radio communication, alongside lessons on defense and resilience. The Education Ministry says the aim is to form a defense-minded civilian population as the country awaits potential peace talks while facing ongoing attacks.
In Sentry South 26.1 off Savannah, two KestrelX aircraft (KX-2/JSX-2) simulated Shahed-136 drones to train U.S. fighter pilots against long-range, low-signature UAV threats and cruise-missile–like attacks, backed by AFWERX and capable of emitting representative signals with modular pods, providing flexible, repeatable training to improve detection, identification, and engagement against drone threats in contested airspace.
Finland plans to acquire anti-personnel land mines and begin training staff, conscripts and reservists after exiting the Ottawa Convention, aiming to have the first mines and training equipment ready by 2027. The program will be developed with the domestic defense industry, with a goal of manufacturing the mines in Finland; they will not be laid in peacetime and would be used only in emergencies.
For the first time in over two decades, US Marines and soldiers are back in Panama to conduct jungle warfare training, focusing on survival, navigation, and combat tactics in dense tropical environments, in collaboration with Panamanian forces, as part of a renewed focus on Latin America.
The Pentagon has resumed sending ground forces to Panama for jungle training, marking a shift in US military focus in Latin America, primarily aimed at regional security and signaling a strategic message regarding Venezuela, with plans to expand the program over the next year.
The U.S. National Guard in all 50 states and territories is being ordered to develop rapid deployment forces trained in crowd control and civil disturbance tactics, reflecting the Trump administration's plans to deploy military resources more readily on U.S. streets, with units expected to be operational by January 2026.
The IDF killed Hezbollah anti-tank commander Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to dismantle Hezbollah's terror infrastructure, following recent strikes on key Hezbollah operatives. Israel also conducted extensive military training on its northern border in preparation for potential conflicts with Hezbollah amidst ongoing tensions over disarmament in Lebanon.
Qatar plans to build a training facility at Idaho's Mountain Home Air Force Base to host its F-15 pilots and enhance military cooperation with the U.S., reflecting a deepening partnership and strategic military collaboration.
Documents suggest Russia is assisting China by providing training and technical support to Chinese airborne units, leveraging battlefield experience to prepare for rapid operations potentially targeting Taiwan.
Four soldiers from the U.S. Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment died in a helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, during a routine training mission. The crash, which caused a small wildfire, is under investigation, and the soldiers' identities are being withheld out of respect for their families. This incident marks the second deadly crash involving this unit in recent years.
A Yale University report reveals Russia's extensive network of sites where Ukrainian children are being reeducated and trained militarily, including at cadet academies and schools for children as young as 8, with over 210 locations identified across Russia and occupied Ukraine. The investigation highlights the systematic stripping of Ukrainian cultural identity and the militarization of thousands of children, with estimates suggesting up to 35,000 children are affected. Ukraine insists that the return of these children must be part of any peace negotiations, and the issue has garnered international attention as a potential war crime.