War Department Senior Leaders Prioritize Western Hemispheric Security

March 17, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

The War Department is prioritizing security in the Western Hemisphere, which is integral to U.S. homeland defense, said Joseph M. Humire, performing the duties of assistant secretary of war for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, who spoke today during a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington.

Joint Task Force Southern Border helped seal the Southwest border in record time through deterrence and close partnership with federal law enforcement, he said, adding that "border security is national security." 

The department has deployed more than 12,000 service members along the border and has established six national defense areas covering 845 miles, or 42% of the border across Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.  

Border security is augmented by cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, including counter-unmanned aerial systems and additional miles of border barrier.

Over the last 14 months the department has helped reverse record illegal mass migration into the lowest recorded border encounters in history, Humire said. 

"This past January marked the fourth consecutive month decline in border apprehensions, with figures 93% below the historic average," he added.  

The department is also focused on issues beyond the border.  

"For the first time in history, the department is going on the offense against designated terrorist organizations and other major cartels in our hemisphere," he said. 

Operation Southern Spear is providing deterrence against narco-terrorism threats in the Americas. Since the operation began, there has been a 30% reduction of drug vessel movements in the Caribbean and a 25% reduction in the Eastern Pacific. 

Flows of fentanyl, which Humire called a "weapon of mass destruction," have dropped by 56% and cocaine flows by 20%. 

"That means there are less Americans dying from deadly drugs that have been poisoning our communities and our children for years. In fact, overall, inside the United States, we've seen a 20% decline in U.S. drug overdoses in the last year," he said.  

The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a partnership of South American and Caribbean nations formed earlier this month, is aimed at rooting out narco-terrorism threats through deterrence-focused operations, Humire said. 

As of last week, Chile became the 18th member of that coalition.

This month, Ecuador became the first country to conduct joint land strikes in Latin America against cartel infrastructure, bringing collective hard power against cartels and increasing burden sharing.  

The department is also securing "key terrain, from Alaska to Greenland in the Arctic to the Gulf of America and the Panama Canal and surrounding countries," Humire said. 

During the hearing, Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said NORAD and Northcom are taking on new missions and rapidly implementing innovative approaches to safeguard North America.

That approach includes deterring adversaries and defending against all threats in all domains, from intercepting long-range bombers off the coasts of Alaska and Canada, tracking advanced maritime platforms in the approaches to North America, and standing ready to defend against long-range missile attacks, the general said, providing some examples of Northcom's focus: 

• The stand-up of Joint Task Force Gold to address security posed by unmanned aerial systems. 
• The command is designated as the department synchronizer for counter-small UAS activities in the continental U.S. 
• Developed a rapidly deployable counter-small UAS fly-away kit to defend critical installations and employ innovative technologies to protect U.S. personnel. 
• Accelerated the development of new counter-small UAS technologies in partnership with industry, with the aim of providing security in the Arctic. 

The general said that Northcom and NORAD are participating in joint and combined exercises with allies and partners, such as Arctic Edge and Noble Defender. 

"Trusted relationships are a cornerstone of regional security and homeland defense," he added.

Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, spoke during the hearing about his command's development of four imperatives: 

• Strengthening hemispheric command and control by redesigning Southcom headquarters for strategic level operations at range, speed and scale.
• Imposing total systemic friction on drug cartels and terrorist networks with the help of partner nations.  
• Developing and fielding cost-effective technology for warfighters, who are aided by autonomous systems, human machine teaming and all-domain awareness and data sharing for U.S. and partner forces.  
• Denying adversarial footholds and undoing influence in the hemisphere, including preventing their ability to position forces or other capabilities that threaten the homeland or regional partners and challenge access to key terrain like the Panama Canal and its approaches. 

Two ISIS Supporters Charged With Attempting To Detonate Explosive Devices During Protests Outside Gracie Mansion

Avowed ISIS Supporters Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi Attempted to Detonate Two Devices During a Protest and Counter-Protest Outside Gracie Mansion, the Residence of the Mayor of New York

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Attorney General for the United States, Pamela Bondi, Deputy Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today charges against EMIR BALAT and IBRAHIM KAYUMI alleging that they attempted to detonate two explosive devices in the vicinity of Gracie Mansion, and that they were acting in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“As alleged, on Saturday, March 7, during protests taking place outside Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices amongst the protesters,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Moreover, after being apprehended by NYPD officers, both Balat and Kayumi stated they were aligned with ISIS.  Free speech and peaceable assembly are the bedrock of American democracy.  Violence is not protected speech, and it’s not protected protest.  In New York, violence—particularly acts of terror—will be met with swift justice.  This investigation remains ongoing, and we encourage anyone with further information to please contact tips.fbi.gov online or 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

“This was an alleged ISIS-inspired act of terrorism that could have killed American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.  “We will not allow ISIS’s poisonous, anti-American ideology to threaten this nation—our law enforcement officers will remain vigilant, as they were when these devices were brought to a protest.”

“These men allegedly sought to inflict mass casualties in service to ISIS with the hope of exceeding the carnage of the Boston Marathon bombing,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.  “We are tremendously grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who ran into harm’s way to apprehend these individuals and disarm the explosives before anyone was harmed.  Thanks to the quick investigative work by federal law enforcement, this Department of Justice will prosecute these men, who pledged allegiance to a foreign terrorist organization, to the fullest extent.”

“Inspired by ISIS, a designated terrorist organization, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi allegedly threw one improved explosive device, and attempted to toss another, into a crowd gathered on East End Avenue,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.  “Balat and Kayumi sought to incite fear and mass suffering through this alleged attempted terror attack.  Alongside the NYPD, the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force will not tolerate those who use violence against targets in New York City to broadcast their terrorist ideologies.”

“As alleged in the complaint, the crimes committed by Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were not random,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.  “This was an act of ISIS-inspired terrorism.  From the first moments since the attack, the NYPD has been working seamlessly with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and I am deeply grateful for their partnership in this investigation.  The men and women of the NYPD will continue to stand watch over this city and selflessly run towards the danger to keep the public safe.”

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

On or about March 7, 2026, a protest called “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” and a counter-protest called “Run Nazis Out of New York City” were held outside of Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, New York.  Gracie Mansion is the official residence of the Mayor of New York City.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., BALAT ignited and threw an explosive device (“Device-1”) toward the area where the protesters were gathered, as pictured below:

Immediately after throwing Device-1, BALAT ran to another location down the block and received a second explosive device (“Device-2”) from KAYUMI, as pictured below:

After apparently igniting Device-2, BALAT dropped Device-2 near where several NYPD officers were standing, ran away from the NYPD officers, and jumped over a barricade.  He was tackled and arrested by NYPD officers shortly thereafter, as was KAYUMI.  Pictured below are BALAT mid-flight and Device-2 hitting the ground:

Following his arrest, while en route to the NYPD precinct, BALAT stated to NYPD officers: “this isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action!  We take action!”; and “if I didn’t do it someone else will come and do it.”  Then, after arriving at the NYPD precinct, BALAT requested a piece of paper and, after being given a paper and pen, wrote the following: “All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds!  I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State.  Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar!  Emir B.” “Kuffar” is an Arabic term that refers to “non-believers” or “infidels,” and “Die in your rage” is a slogan used by ISIS.

Law enforcement officers later asked BALAT if he was familiar with the Boston Marathon bombing, and if that was what BALAT had hoped to accomplish.  BALAT responded: “No, even bigger.  It was only three deaths.”

After KAYUMI was arrested, and as he was being placed inside an NYPD vehicle to be transported from the scene to an NYPD precinct, an individual from the surrounding crowd yelled to KAYUMI and asked why KAYUMI had done this.  KAYUMI responded, “ISIS.”  Then, at the NYPD precinct, in response to a question from law enforcement about whether he was affiliated with ISIS, KAYUMI indicated that he was.  He further stated, in substance and part, that: (i) he has watched ISIS propaganda on his phone; (ii) his actions that day were partly inspired by ISIS; (iii) he did not feel comfortable holding the Devices earlier that day; and (iv) he would not feel comfortable if the Devices were in the interrogation room with him.

After BALAT and KAYUMI were arrested and the Devices were secured, an FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician (“SABT”) conducted a preliminary examination of the Devices and determined that they were each approximately the size of a mason jar; that they each had an attached fuse; and that they each had nuts and bolts attached to the exterior, surrounded by duct tape.  A preliminary analysis of Device-1, the device that BALAT threw into the crowd of protesters, showed that it contained TATP, a highly volatile explosive that is colloquially known as the “Mother of Satan” and extremely sensitive to impact, friction, and heat.  TATP has been used in multiple terrorist attacks over the last decade.

Pictured below are the contents inside Device-1 after it was opened by law enforcement:

On or about March 8, 2026, law enforcement officers located a parked vehicle registered to a family member of BALAT a few blocks from Gracie Mansion.  From inside the vehicle, law enforcement officers recovered a coiled green material consistent in appearance with hobby fuse, an empty metal can of the same approximate dimensions and appearance as the can recovered from inside Device-1, and a notebook containing handwritten notes.  One page of the notebook contains the note “TATP explosive”; another page contains a list of chemical ingredients, including “hydrogen peroxide,” “sulfuric acid,” and “acetone”; and a third page contains a list of components and quantities, such as “aluminum can x6,” and “a box of bolts ect [sic] 2x.”

*                *                *

BALAT, 18, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and KAYUMI, 19, of Newtown, Pennsylvania, are charged with attempted provision of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; use of a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; transportation of explosive materials, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; interstate transportation and receipt of explosives, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and unlawful possession of destructive devices, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the New York City Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI Newark Field Office, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky and Jane Y. Chong are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the Counterterrorism Section and paralegal specialist Juan Muñoz.

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the charging instrument to date constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

War Department Continues to Encourage Civilians to Augment Homeland Security Border Mission

March 11, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

Last year, the War Department announced a unique opportunity for department civilians to serve at the Department of Homeland Security and support DHS as it works to keep America safe.

Six months in, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wants department civilians and their supervisors to know this opportunity still exists; DHS still needs help. Supervisors across the department should ensure interested employees can participate whenever possible.

"I encourage all who are interested to volunteer for this detail opportunity. Supporting interior immigration enforcement actions, apprehending illegal aliens and securing our borders are vital to the national security of the United States," Hegseth said in a Feb. 19 memorandum. "I expect every supervisor to encourage their civilian employees to volunteer. Leadership must continue to promote this detail program and educate their civilian employees on its importance."

The secretary noted that supervisors must approve any volunteer requests that do not conflict with mission-essential functions. Any DOW civilian can volunteer, regardless of their job or skills; no resume is needed.

Department employees can sign up on the USAJobs website, where they will complete a short questionnaire and upload required documents. Details to Homeland Security last about 60 days, though volunteers have the opportunity to do a total of three 60-day details with the agency.

"Securing our border and defending the homeland are a whole-of-government effort that benefits from the diverse skill set of the department's civilian workforce," said Tim Dill, assistant secretary of war for manpower and reserve affairs. "We thank all employees who have answered the call to support our partners at DHS and encourage others to explore this opportunity."

Since the opportunity was announced in August 2025, nearly 1,000 DOW civilians have been added to the roster to assist DHS, and more than 200 have already been deployed.

Michael A. Cogar, the deputy assistant secretary of war for civilian personnel policy, noted those War Department civilians who have stepped up to help DHS have returned and said the experience was rewarding.

"I've gotten feedback from the department civilians who've returned from their deployments on how meaningful it has been for them to be a part of this mission," Cogar said.

War Department civilians who volunteer to work with DHS will be assigned to support roles within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, focusing on data entry, operational planning support, processing and throughput logistics, and logistical support.

Detailed employees may be deployed to a variety of locations in the U.S., including San Diego; Williston, Vermont; Chicago; and El Paso, Texas. Right now, Cogar said, the biggest need voiced by DHS is for volunteers to work at the call center tipline in Vermont.

The War Department and DHS both defend the homeland, he said. This makes War Department civilians well-suited for details at ICE and CBP.

"This detail program is unique to the Department of War and DHS," Cogar said. "It really goes back to what our Department of War civilians are capable of. They are out there every day supporting the warfighter in critical national security missions. They know exactly how to execute when it comes to supporting this requirement from DHS, to make sure that their agents have everything they need when it comes to logistics and administrative support, so they can go out there and execute in the field and help secure our nation's borders to protect our American citizens."

JIATF 401 Publishes Guide to Counter-Drone Technology and Privacy Protections

March 9, 2026 |

The Joint Interagency Task Force 401 today announced the publication of "Counter-UAS Operations: Safeguarding Freedoms and Preserving Privacy," a comprehensive guide to the sensor technologies used to detect and identify drone threats and the legal framework that governs their use.

As the threat from unauthorized and nefarious small unmanned aerial systems continues to evolve, JIATF-401 is leading the effort to deploy effective countermeasures while upholding critical privacy protections.

This new guide provides insight into the passive, non-intrusive sensor technologies — such as Radar, Electro-Optical/Infrared, and Radio Frequency Detection — that allow security personnel to maintain airspace awareness without interfering with civilian drone operations.

"Countering drones is not just a battlefield problem — it's a homeland defense imperative," said Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. "Our goal is to integrate sensors, effectors and mission command systems in a distributed network that protects service members and American citizens alike."

Brig. Gen. Ross noted, "This guide is part of our commitment to transparency, ensuring that as we deploy these critical technologies, we do so in a way that is responsible, respects privacy, and maintains public trust."

A key focus of the document is explaining how these systems operate in compliance with Federal Surveillance Law. By analyzing only the physical properties of a signal — its "signal fingerprint" — and not the content of a transmission, these C-UAS systems can effectively identify the type of drone and its location without infringing on individual privacy.

"Our approach is to safeguard privacy by design," said Col. Scott Humr, deputy director of science and technology for JIATF-401. "The technologies we are fielding are engineered to be effective while adhering to strict privacy principles. By focusing on data minimization and secure handling processes, we collect only what is necessary to identify a potential threat. This allows us to protect critical infrastructure and public safety without compromising the civil liberties that we are sworn to defend."

The publication of this guide is part of JIATF-401's broader mission to synchronize C-UAS efforts across the Department of War and with interagency partners, rapidly delivering capabilities to the warfighter and protecting the homeland.

Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference

March 5, 2026 |

Today, the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted defense and security leaders from 17 countries across the Western Hemisphere in Doral, Florida, for the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference. By bringing together defense ministers, senior officials, and security leaders from across the region, this conference advances President Trump's commitment to peace through strength and to working with partners to confront cartel networks and malign actors that threaten the safety and security of our nations. 

Participating countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, sovereignty, and stability in our shared neighborhood. Recognizing the growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, partner nations committed to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation and deepening collaboration on key security priorities, including border security, countering narco-terrorism and trafficking, and protecting critical infrastructure. 

The Department of War values the strong partnerships that make collective action possible to prevent external powers from interfering in our neighborhood and confronting shared threats. We look forward to working with these committed nations to support efforts that strengthen regional cooperation and advance a safe, secure, and prosperous Western Hemisphere. 

Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing

Feb. 20, 2026 |

The Department of War invites media to cover pre-trial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, scheduled for May 4 - 29, 2026. The defendants are charged in connection with their alleged roles in the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States.

The proceedings will be conducted at the Expeditionary Legal Complex located in Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) Cuba and will be transmitted to a closed-circuit television site at Fort Meade, Md.

Media choosing to travel to NSGB will pay round-trip airfare ($800); coverage window is determined by flight schedule. Specific ground rules for coverage at NSGB will follow registration.

The primary purpose of this invitation is to cover the military commissions. Tours of the detention facilities are not available. Requests for reporting on Guantanamo Bay topics unrelated to the military commissions - such as the naval base facilities or personnel - must be coordinated in advance.

Coverage windows, including travel days:

• May 2 – 9
• May 9 – 16
• May 16 – 23
• May 23 – 30

*Media may elect to attend more than one week.

Registration: Click here for registration. Please select the “Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al” case from the drop-down selection on the registration form. Enter the specific requested dates as outlined above.

Deadline: All requests must be received no later than noon EST, Friday, Feb. 27. Additional details of travel logistics will be provided separately. By submitting the online request form, interested media will begin the travel process, and the Office of Military Commissions (OMC) will contact the media to assist in travel preparation.

CCTV Site: Media desiring to view this hearing from the media-designated viewing site at Fort Meade, Md., must send requests via email to osd.mc-alex.OMC.mbx.omc-pa@mail.mil with e-mail subject line matching the court case and the following information: name, position, news organization and contact information.

Contact Mr. Ron Flesvig, OMC Public Affairs, for additional questions at ronald.flesvig2.civ@mail.mil or (571) 372-3713.

Case information can be viewed at the Office of Military Commissions website: https://www.mc.mil

Department of War Announces Groundbreaking of New Munitions Campus in Indiana

Feb. 20, 2026 |

The Department of War (DoW) announces the February 19 groundbreaking on the Munitions Campus in Bloomfield, Indiana. This public-private partnership is designed to expand domestic munitions and energetics production and strengthen the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base.

The groundbreaking is an important milestone for the Munitions Campus, for which the DoW announced in September 2023 the award of $75 million in Defense Production Act Title III funds to ACMI Federal (ACMI) - with the goal of strengthening the munitions supply chain and accelerating munitions production by stimulating private capital for specialty facilities. Established as a pilot initiative to scale production for defense manufacturers, the project introduces a shared-infrastructure model that helps U.S. companies reduce operating costs. As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Prometheus Energetics LLC (Prometheus) also broke ground on its new headquarters and solid rocket motor (SRM) manufacturing facilities as the anchor tenant for the Munitions Campus.

The campus will centralize key elements of the munitions supply chain by collocating manufacturers of major components and subcomponents, while providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and manufacturing resources.

By clustering industrial production capacity in one location, the campus will enable faster, more cost-effective, and efficient scaling of munitions and energetics output including Tomahawk, Javelin, and Stinger missiles, along with the Guided Multi-Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and other weapons systems.

Located on a portion of ACMI’s National Security Industrial Hub (NSIH), a 1,100-acre advanced manufacturing development in Bloomfield, Indiana, and in close proximity to both the Crane Army Ammunition Activity and Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, the Munitions Campus will enhance collaboration between the DoW and private industry. The DoW’s investment in the Munitions Campus serves as the catalyst for the broader NSIH, which is projected to generate more than $600 million in private investment, driving long-term regional growth and advancing national security priorities through industrial collaboration. Prometheus’ headquarters and primary production operations will occupy 600 acres of the NSIH site, leveraging the campus’s shared infrastructure and advanced manufacturing ecosystem to accelerate domestic production of critical systems.

"The Munitions Campus Program represents a critical step toward modernizing America’s defense industrial base," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi. "By investing in shared infrastructure and increased manufacturing capacity, the Department of War is ensuring the United States remains ready, resilient, and capable of meeting future national security challenges."

Aissa Tovar, Director, Defense Production Act Purchases within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, added, "Our federal investment is the key that unlocks the $600 million in private capital making all of this possible."

Major construction efforts are progressing and will continue to increase as the project moves toward phased opening and operations beginning in 2027. The Department will continue working with ACMI, as well as state and local partners, to ensure the project aligns with regional workforce development and infrastructure goals.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the war fighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also uses the Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical supply chain resiliency focus areas. This OTA underscores the Department’s ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and promptly giving our warfighters the materials and technologies they need to accomplish their missions. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.

Portable Decontamination System Reduces Logistical Burden for CBRN Operations

Feb. 20, 2026 | By Kelly Burkhalter, Capability Program Executive Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense |

Addressing a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear event is a highly complex situation. In some cases, even a small exposure to CBRN agents can quickly spread and contaminate the environment, equipment and warfighters.

 
In CBRN environments, warfighters contend with additional stress and burden because they must wear personal protective equipment. Capabilities that reduce their risk of CBRN agent exposure and allow them to quickly and safely remove their PPE are key to achieving mission success. 
 
The Capability Program Executive for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense's Joint Project Manager for CBRN Special Operations Forces is delivering a "system of systems" decontamination capability to warfighters whose missions place them in austere, hostile, operational environments.

The Forward Area Mobility Spray System enables service members to decontaminate equipment as close to the spot of exposure, or far forward, into mission space and return it to service quickly, ensuring it is clean enough to reuse and eliminating the need for warfighters to wear PPE during the decontamination process. 
 
The system has three variants: man portable, small variant and large variant. The man portable is a battery-powered backpack that holds 5 gallons of decontamination solution. The small variant is designed to be mounted onto the rear bed of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and contains one 50-gallon tank. It is powered by either integrating the host vehicle's battery source, a generator or shore power. The large variant is also designed to be mounted onto the rear bed of a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and powered the same way, but it contains two 50-gallon tanks.

All three variants provide special operations forces with an air-droppable or mobile capability that allows them to go far forward into mission territory to perform a host of decontamination operations. The man portable system achieved full operational capability in May 2025, nearly three years ahead of schedule; the small variant and large variant are also expected to reach it early as well.  

The Forward Area Mobility Spray System team attributes the delivery speed to direct and frequent interactions with the user community. 
 
Matthew McGinley, an assistant program manager assigned to the JPM CBRN SOF, said that open communication allows his team to understand the user's needs, listen to their feedback and rapidly apply changes. McGinley said engaging with the user community enabled incremental delivery, which contributed to the accelerated timeline, and his team worked with users to prioritize and deliver an enhanced, agile decontamination capability quickly and incrementally. 
 
"The user community is more risk-tolerant," McGinley said. "Getting a capability into their hands today is very important toward giving them the competitive advantage and eliminates the need to spend years in additional development and testing seeking a perfect solution." 
 
Army Sgt. 1st Class Marchello Walters, a senior chemical noncommissioned officer assigned to the JPM CBRN SOF, said users appreciate the modularity of the system and its ease of use.

 
The  Forward Area Mobility Spray System is designed to have a much smaller logistical footprint than currently fielded spray systems by integrating seamlessly into the bed of their host vehicle, operating off battery power, containing their own storage tanks, incorporating siphon features to replenish water from any source and built-in recirculation features that keep the decontamination solution thoroughly mixed. 
 
"I have a totally complete and mobile system that does it all — no need to transport fuel, generators, or water, or haul equipment on trailers, which is amazing," Walters said. 
 
All variants of the system are "decon agnostic," meaning they can use any decontaminant solution chosen by the warfighter. They each come with two spray nozzles: a stream nozzle to blast off contamination and a fan nozzle to apply the solution. 
 
"Although the [systems] are currently being fielded only to special operations forces, the word is quickly spreading throughout the CBRN community about this new capability, and I've received a lot of feedback from some of my military counterparts and in the Chemical Corps expressing great interest in the system," Walters said.

 
The system's reduced physical and logistical burden supports the War Department's priority of promoting warfighter lethality by decreasing disruptive factors. Carrying less equipment allows warfighters to focus on remediating threats that could negatively impact their mission in real time. The accelerated delivery also aligns with DOW's priority to reform acquisition by using incremental delivery to accelerate fielding and ensure that warfighters have the latest equipment when they need it. The Forward Area Mobility Spray System allows warfighters to decontaminate faster and closer to the site of exposure, containing and eliminating the threat of agent contamination. 
 
The team will begin developing a new aircraft variant in the upcoming fiscal year to decontaminate the sensitive instruments on board. 

Training for the Unthinkable: Task Force 2 Validates Domestic Response Readiness

Feb. 17, 2026 | By Army Pvt. James Hernandez, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |

Soldiers from units across the force converged at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Feb. 10-12, to validate their readiness as part of Task Force 2 under the Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Response Force.

The training ensures the soldiers remain prepared to deploy on no-notice orders in response to a potential weapon of mass destruction attack within the United States. The culminating exercise brought together chemical, medical, engineering and military police units to simulate a large-scale domestic response following a catastrophic chemical or biological incident.  

The training evaluated the task force's ability to secure a contaminated site, conduct technical rescues and decontaminate mass casualties under realistic conditions.  

"The purpose of this exercise is to ensure we are ready for no-notice deployments in case any city in the United States is attacked with a weapon of mass destruction," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Alvaro Madrigal, the senior enlisted leader for Task Force 2. "We are essentially 911 in case something big happens."

The task force operates under the U.S. Northern Command as part of the DCRF mission, which provides rapid-response capabilities to support civil authorities during domestic CBRNE incidents. It is composed of three primary operational components: hazardous materials reconnaissance, urban search and rescue and mass decontamination.  

The hazmat element, led by the 21st Chemical Company, 48th Chemical Brigade, conducts reconnaissance of the affected site to determine contamination levels and establish safe operating zones.  

The unit continuously monitors conditions to ensure the safety of responding forces and civilians. Following a site assessment, the urban search and rescue component, composed primarily of soldiers assigned to the 50th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, conducts technical rescues in structurally compromised environments, in the event of a detonation, collapsed building or contaminated structures that cause trapped civilians to require a specialized extraction operation.

"If there is a detonation, there will be structural damage and people sheltering in place who can no longer leave," said Army 2nd Lt. Galina Gordon, a team leader for the 50th Multi-Role Bridge Company. "We conduct those technical rescues for however long it takes." 

Once victims are extracted, the mass decontamination team processes affected personnel to remove hazardous contaminants and prevent further exposure. The soldiers are trained to rapidly decontaminate large numbers of individuals, enabling medical personnel to provide follow-on treatment and move civilians to safety. Supporting the operation is the 602nd Medical Company, 44th Medical Brigade, responsible for treating service members and civilian casualties.  

During the exercise, local community role players replicated injuries consistent with a weapon of mass destruction scenario, adding realism to the training environment.

The 41st Military Police Company, 89th Military Police Brigade, serves as a general-purpose force, providing additional manpower where needed, from assisting with casualty movement and litter carries to augmenting decontamination and rescue operations. Observer-controllers evaluated the training event, assessing performance across all warfighting functions. Following the exercise, leaders conducted an after-action review to identify strengths and areas for improvement ahead of a larger-scale validation exercise.  

Task Force 2 will next participate in Guardian Response at Camp Atterbury, Indiana — an annual large-scale exercise that brings together multiple regional response forces in a highly immersive disaster scenario. The training environment features collapsed structures, overturned vehicles and complex rescue lanes designed to replicate real-world devastation.  

"Guardian Response is much more immersive," Madrigal said. "You'll see buildings torn down, vehicles upside down and victims requiring rescue from difficult environments. It's a larger-scale event where multiple task forces come together to validate readiness."

Each DCRF-aligned task force is assigned responsibility for a specific region of the country, ensuring rapid response coverage nationwide. The integration of chemical, medical, engineering and military police capabilities enables the force to operate as a synchronized, lifesaving element during domestic emergencies.  

"These reps are important," said Army 2nd Lt. Galina Gordon. "When it's game time, there is no room for failure. We have to know how to work together and understand what each unit brings to the fight."  

Through realistic training and interagency coordination, Task Force 2 continues to strengthen its ability to protect and support the American people in the event of a catastrophic CBRNE incident.

JIATF-401 Expands Counter-Drone Training, Bolsters Homeland Defense

Feb. 17, 2026 | By Army Lt. Col. Adam Scher, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 |

As small unmanned aircraft systems become cheaper, more accessible and increasingly weaponized, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 is expanding its efforts to strengthen the military's ability to counter the growing threat at installations in the United States and abroad.

"Unmanned systems are a defining threat of our time," said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, task force director. "Drones are prolific, inexpensive, evolving quickly and increasingly accessible to nonstate actors and individuals."

At the center of the effort to train the joint force for this growing threat is the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft System University at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, a critical component of JIATF-401. The university develops and validates counter-UAS curriculum for the War Department and serves as the task force's hub for instruction, mobile training teams and technical integration.

Rather than focusing solely on individual operators, the university is shifting to a train-the-trainer model designed to multiply expertise across the force. JCU students will now receive advanced training and return to their units to build local capability, reducing reliance on centralized courses and accelerating the spread of counter-UAS knowledge. The university will continue to offer its counter-UAS planner's course to support the protection of installations and other defense critical infrastructure.

Ross said the approach is intended to create a sustainable training ecosystem as drone threats continue to evolve.

That philosophy was recently put into practice in Guam, a U.S. territory in the Indo-Pacific region that serves as a key hub for American military operations. JCU instructors deployed to the island to provide hands-on, counter-UAS training to Task Force Talon and Guam National Guard Security Forces, working alongside base defense forces to integrate detection and mitigation procedures into routine security operations.

"Our mission is to ensure every warfighter has the skills to defend their post, wherever that may be," Ross said. "We must recognize that the homeland extends beyond the continental United States; defending Guam is defending the homeland."

While new sensors and mitigation systems remain important, Ross emphasized that "Hardware alone is not sufficient. We need to train service members and work in concert with interagency partners and local law enforcement to ensure that we're all pulling together to accomplish the same mission."

Building full capability also requires clearly defined authorities, rules of engagement, sustainment plans, maintenance support and integration into daily operations.

Army Lt. Col. John Peterson, JCU director, said instructors are adapting curriculum to reflect emerging threats and operational lessons learned.

"Whether it's in a classroom at Fort Sill or on an airfield in Guam, our job is to support JIATF-401's priorities," Peterson said. "We are improving joint force training to ensure our service members have the skills they need to defend every inch of the homeland."

Through forward deployments and its evolving training model, JIATF-401 aims to deliver more than equipment. Ross noted that the goal is to build enduring counter-drone capability across the joint force — from installations in the continental United States to strategic outposts in the Indo-Pacific region — ensuring service members are prepared to detect, disrupt and defeat one of the fastest-growing threats in modern warfare.