Innovation at the Speed of Relevance: Fielding Blast Overpressure Solutions Now

The U.S. Armys new mobile brigade combat team (MBCT) is faster and leaner but lacks sufficient organic massed firepower, but upcoming technologies present a revolutionary opportunity. The author contends that the Army should not just replace old mortars but fundamentally rethink their organization.

By LTC John Leisinger

This article, written from the perspective of senior NCOs in the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, details leadership lessons from two deployments—one to Djibouti in 2017 and another to the Middle East in 2024. The central argument is that maintaining high standards, strict discipline, and continuous training is crucial for mission success, especially when units operate away from their parent battalion.

By CSM Abraham Lewis, 1SG Jacob Morash, and 1SG Christopher Stone

The Army’s SUAS-MT course at Fort Benning is expanding from basic drone training to producing expert instructors who integrate systems like the RQ-28A into combat. Updated with real-world lessons, it now emphasizes EW resilience, scaling drone use, and advanced tactics like swarming.

By SFC Derrick Guyton

National Guard IBCTs face a unique challenge as they transition to MBCTs. They must harness their limited training time and resources to learn to fight as an MBCT before receiving MBCT equipment.

By MAJ Kyle Bennett and MAJ Jeffrey Edgar

This article outlines a training framework to prepare National Guard units for these simultaneous demands, given a drill weekend to integrate attack and defense, civil disturbance, and HADR training. By leveraging doctrinal resources, urban training centers, and experiential learning, units can develop the agility to transition more seamlessly between mission sets.

By MAJ Colin S. Davis

Authors argue that integrating company-level drones with fire support personnel provides beyond line of sight (BLOS) sensing, keeps Infantrymen engaging the enemy in the close fight, and reduces fire support personnel requirements in the aggregate.

By MAJ Lacie Hutchins, MAJ Nicholas Bowers, CPT Colleen A. Gargiulo, and SFC Christian K. Kastrinakis

Rejecting "lethality" as a buzzword, this article redefines it for the MBCT as sustained overmatch through integrated sensors, decisions, and effects — and introduces the ILRP framework to institutionalize resilience when systems fail.

By MAJ Austin Hultman

A light infantry battalion commander shares 10 areas of attention gleaned from six months training and fighting alongside an armored force.

By LTC Dan Krueger

This article provides a detailed after-action review of a dismounted Stryker troop's experience at the Korea Combat Training Center (KCTC). The author emphasizes that success in KCTC's unique and challenging terrain hinges on dismounted proficiency, adaptability, and a mastery of infantry fundamentals. During the rotation, the troop found the defensive phase relatively quiet but was heavily utilized in the offense.

By Matthew Colvard

Article introduces a new course for mortar NCOs - the Infantry Master Mortar Trainer Course to train NCOs to assist unit leaders by planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive unit training program for mortars.

By CPT Patrick M. Elsenbast and 1SG Ryan D. Shaw

TC 3-20.33's complete overhaul standardizes mortar training Army-wide — introducing DA scoring forms, external evaluations, digital and analog proficiency requirements, and shifting from rigid round counts to crew-based qualification standards.

By SFC Jessie E. Lauritzen and SSG Charles W. Pferrer

LTG Anderson provides a description of what he believes formations who might engage in close fighting should to be able to achieve. This article is meant to help leaders visualize the types of skills Soldiers need to develop at the tactical level to hedge against uncertainty.

By LTG Gregory K. Anderson

Leaders in the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), 4th Infantry Division leveraged data analytics to generate insights to identify “undervalued players” that can increase crew lethality while conserving time and resources. The authors analyzed data from the Ivy Raider Brigade’s February 2025 Stryker mounted machine gunnery (MMG) to identify factors that were tied to first-time Table VI qualification (Q1) and improved Table VI scores.

By TC Jon Bate, CPT Mitch Brown, 1LT Ben Lopez, and SSG Nicholas Lammert

Proposes integrating unmanned aerial systems sections into infantry companies following the proven model of mortar sections to enhance lethality and provide immediately available kinetic munitions for close combat operations.

By CPT Timothy J. Naudet, MAJ Ian Baird, CPT Nathan Rosenberger, CPT Thomas Canchola and CPT Avery Austin

Proposes creating a Joint Exportable Training Package for Existing Urban Terrain (JET-PEUT) to train divisions and corps for large-scale combat operations in urban environments, addressing a critical gap in Army readiness for multidomain operations.

By MAJ Elliot L. Corey