Mastering the First Breath: Navy Medicine Research Prepares Warfighters Against Cold's Lethal Shock

March 11, 2026 | By Matthew Reyes, Naval Health Research Center |

The first plunge into icy water is a shock to the system. For a warfighter operating in extreme cold weather environments, a fall into near-freezing seas isn't a mishap; it's a life-or-death battle that is won or lost in the first few minutes. 
 
This research mission took Naval Health Research Center scientists to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California, where they spent six days doing research in the harsh Sierra Nevada winter. Working in air temperatures hovering at 19 degrees and with water temperatures at 34 degrees, the team focused on equipping U.S. warfighters with practical survival skills for extreme conditions.

The project, funded by the Office of Naval Research, is directly aimed at improving survival rates during a mass casualty incident at sea, such as a torpedoed ship in arctic waters. Researchers from the center's environmental and thermal physiology team are investigating cold-environment survival to understand and combat a silent killer known as the "cold shock response," a leading threat in sudden cold exposure scenarios.  
 
"Most people's first worry is hypothermia, but in order to actually become hypothermic, you have to survive the cold shock response," said Rebecca Weller, a research physiologist with the research center. "The initial moments in cold water are often the most dangerous, and how you control your breathing in those moments can determine whether you survive." 
 
That initial, involuntary gasp for air upon hitting cold water, the rapid and uncontrolled breathing, and the spike in heart rate and blood pressure are all hallmarks of the cold shock response — a series of immediate bodily reactions to sudden cold exposure. This physiological response can quickly lead to aspirating water, cognitive impairment and drowning. Research suggests that this response is the cause of death in up to 60% of accidental cold-water immersions, long before the body's core temperature begins to drop. 

 
The environmental and thermal physiology team, led by principal investigator Doug Jones, partnered with the warfare training center to conduct a vital study during its cold-weather medicine course. Students, mostly Navy hospital corpsmen, enrolled in the course prepared for the rigors of cold weather operations and also had the opportunity to volunteer as subjects in an experiment designed to find a simple, effective defense against cold shock. 
 
The day before a planned cold-water immersion, study participants underwent baseline testing for stress, anxiety and information recall. They also received specialized training in slow-paced breathing. 
 
The next morning, volunteers were fitted with an array of sophisticated data-collection devices — heart rate straps and core and skin temperature monitors. The most critical piece of equipment, however, was a spirometer, which measures the volume and rate of breathing.

The goal was to see if a simple breathing exercise could override the body's instinct to panic. 
 
"We are trying to develop a technique and strategy that can limit the stress associated with accidental cold-water immersion," Jones said. 
 
The research center is currently analyzing data from these tests. Based on a preliminary review of the data, the group trained in slow-paced breathing appears to have demonstrated a lower, more controlled breathing rate during the immersion than the untrained control group. They were actively using the technique to fight the body's involuntary response. 
 
The team is now analyzing how controlled breathing impacts the cold shock response and operational performance, such as completion of the nine-line task to determine if a patient needs to be evacuated. During the immersion, participants were tasked with performing the test — a standard military procedure that requires clear thinking and precise communication. The ability to perform such a task under the intense physiological stress of cold shock can mean the difference between life and death for a service member. 

 
Ultimately, the findings from this research will provide evidence-based data to validate and refine training protocols across the U.S. military. The ultimate goal is to provide the military with evidence-based tools that can be quickly taught to any service member and integrated into official guidance like the Navy's Cold Weather Handbook for Surface Ships, to add strategies for surviving the initial moments of cold-water immersion. 
 
"How you control your breathing in those initial moments of cold-water immersion can determine whether you survive it," Weller emphasized. "By practicing these techniques in a controlled environment, service members may gain the confidence and muscle memory to execute them when it counts." 
 
These findings will educate a new generation of warfighters — more prepared, more adaptable and more lethal — armed with the knowledge to conquer one of nature's most unforgiving environments. They are proving that in the face of the cold's deadly gasp, the most powerful weapon can be a single, controlled breath. 
 
Through a wide range of research, including its cold-water immersion studies, the research center develops strategies that enable the warfighter to overcome the many health and performance-related challenges they face in the course of their duties. This research provides the Navy, Marine Corps and joint forces with the opportunity to develop tools to maintain cognitive function and enhance survivability in the most extreme maritime environments.

IATF-401, FAA to Conduct Advanced Counter-Drone Laser Test at White Sands Missile Range

March 6, 2026 |

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Federal Aviation Administration will conduct a high-energy laser test on March 7-8, 2026, to continue advancing the safe use of counter-unmanned aerial systems in the United States.

This test is part of a long-term, multi-year partnership between the Department of War and the FAA to ensure counter-drone technologies are safely integrated into the national airspace. The plan has been jointly developed by a wide range of stakeholders, with support from the White House Task Force to Restore American Airspace Sovereignty. Key partners supporting the JIATF-401 laser test include the FAA, White Sands Missile Range, the Army Program Acquisition Executive-Fires, Northern Command, and Joint Task Force Southern Border.

"This is a critical step in making sure our warfighters have the most advanced tools to defend the homeland," said U.S. Army Brigadier General Matt Ross, Director of JIATF-401. "By working hand-in-hand with the FAA and our interagency partners, we are ensuring that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect Americans from emerging drone threats. Our measure of success is to quickly deliver state-of-the-art C-UAS capability to the warfighter, and this test furthers that mission."

The test is a continuation of extensive testing conducted by the DoW over the last few decades. Earlier tests provided valuable data, further refining the system's capabilities and advancing the collaborative effort between DoW and the FAA. This upcoming event will specifically address FAA safety concerns while gathering data about the laser’s material effects on aircraft surrogates, validating the functionality of automated safety shut-off systems, and informing analyses for aircrew eye safety.

To maximize collaboration, representatives from the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and the New Mexico National Guard will be in attendance. The test underscores an ongoing unified federal effort to counter threats posed by unmanned aerial systems while maintaining the sovereignty and safety of U.S. airspace.

U.S. Space Force Strengthens Partnerships at 45th Cobra Gold

March 2, 2026 | By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Giovanni Sims, 8th Fighter Wing |

Space Force guardians are participating in the 45th iteration of Cobra Gold for the first time in the exercise's history, marking a milestone for the service and further integrating space as a warfighting domain within one of the Indo-Pacific's largest multinational exercises, Feb. 23 to March 6.

The presence of guardians at Cobra Gold signals the continued evolution of the Space Force. It reinforces the U.S.-Thai alliance by enhancing multinational crisis response, mission effectiveness and capability across all domains.

"This marks a significant milestone for the United States Space Force," said Space Force Maj. Jonathan Brydie, a military exchange program embed assigned to the Joint Force Space Component, Headquarters Joint Operations Command. "As our service continues to mature, our participation demonstrates that we can support real-world operations and major multinational exercises simultaneously. It reinforces that space is a warfighting domain. Integrating space from the outset ensures the joint force operates with synchronized effects across air, land, maritime, cyber and space."

As the Air Force's newest military service, the Space Force was established to organize, train and equip forces to protect the United States and allied interests in, from and to space. Its integration into Cobra Gold reflects both operational necessity and the evolving character of warfare.

"Integrating space into Cobra Gold enhances the exercise by educating Indo-Pacific partners on the operational role of the space domain during conflict," said Space Force Capt. Nicholas Braga, Space Forces Korea chief of future operations. "It also opens dialogue on how nations can responsibly develop and integrate space capabilities that contribute to regional stability."

In support of Cobra Gold, guardians contributed expertise in space domain awareness, defensive and offensive space operations and operational-level space planning required to maintain space superiority. Rather than operating in isolation, Space Force personnel are embedded alongside air, land, maritime and cyber planners to integrate space effects into decision-making processes.

"We are ensuring space is a deliberate consideration at every decision point," Braga said. "Branch plans and contingency options are developed with space effects integrated from the beginning, giving commanders greater clarity and flexibility in achieving mission objectives."

The operational importance of space domain awareness was a central theme throughout the exercise.

"Most command and control systems rely on satellites and space-enabled networks," Brydie said. "Space superiority is now as vital as air superiority in modern conflict. Maintaining awareness of the space environment allows us to protect those systems and ensure the joint force can operate without disruption."

Beyond operational integration, Cobra Gold provided an opportunity for the Space Force to deepen relationships with regional allies actively developing their own space competencies.

"It has been a tremendous opportunity to collaborate with partner nations," Braga said. "The United States is not the only space-capable entity in this region. Working alongside the Republic of Korea and other allies strengthens trilateral and multilateral integration. The cohesion built here enhances deterrence and reinforces our collective posture across Indo-Pacom."

Coalition partners emphasize shared responsibility in the space domain is essential to regional stability.

"Participating in Cobra Gold demonstrates a shared commitment to the responsible and secure use of space," said Royal Australian Air Force Staff Officer Mark Wilson, wing commander of Joint Force Space Component, Headquarters Joint Operations Command. "It shows we are willing and capable of sharing information and operational experience to achieve common security objectives."

"For the U.S. Space Force, Cobra Gold 2026 serves as both a milestone and platform to demonstrate the service's ability to integrate seamlessly within a complex multinational environment while delivering operational advantage to the joint force," Braga said.

From space domain awareness to operational-level planning, guardians ensured space effects were integrated at every stage of execution reinforcing deterrence, strengthening alliances and advancing the service's role as an essential component of joint and coalition operations in the Indo-Pacific.

HoloLens Enables Remote Joint Inspection of Cargo

Feb. 26, 2026 | By Courtesy story, 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing |

A joint inspection is an important part of preparing cargo for transport on military aircraft. Nearly every day, there are aerial porters in the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, spread across multiple areas of responsibility, who inspect pallets of equipment and supplies to confirm proper packaging, weight, balance and preparation, ensuring the cargo can be safely transported via aircraft.

It's an efficient process, but what if these airmen couldn't inspect the cargo in person? 
 
That's the question that the 725th Air Mobility Squadron has been trying to answer since 2021. The HoloLens, an augmented reality headset enabling aerial port experts to aid and guide technicians by looking through their eyes, could be the solution.  

The squadron airmen have demonstrated how the augmented reality capability can be used to increase rapid global mobility in a variety of maintenance, air transportation, and command and control scenarios, increasing the speed of maneuver to sustain joint force lethality across the competition continuum.
 
Stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, the 724th Air Mobility Squadron regularly partners with users in the region to prepare their cargo for forward deployment. They received an opportunity to work with the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, to perform a joint inspection remotely using the HoloLens. To best test the utility of the device, the 724th AMS worked alongside the 725th AMS, the operations wings' foremost authority on the technology.

 
"We spent a year working with the manufacturer and experimenting with different add-ons to figure out the right software and process we needed to get to where we are today," said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Sewejkis, 725th AMS superintendent. "Now it's plug and play. We can connect [from] anywhere just using the HoloLens, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a laptop." 
 
From a conference room back in Aviano, Air Force Airman 1st Class Delaney Boehm, a 724th AMS aircraft services specialist, guided the personnel in Vicenza through the joint inspection, circling areas on her screen that she wanted them to focus on. 
 
"It was a great experience that showcased our squadrons' innovative approach to conducting routine inspections and allowed a technician in the field to work hands-free while receiving real-time guidance from a remote expert," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Devin Robert, 725th AMS noncommissioned officer in charge of network operations. "The ability to highlight individual objects in the technician's field of view goes beyond the capabilities of a traditional video call." 
 
Although the remote inspection was just a proof of concept, it demonstrated flexibility and ease of use to joint partners and to the headquarters Air Mobility Command staff.

"There is a push in the air transportation career field to explore new ways of accomplishing our mission, irrespective of geographical constraints," said Air Force Lt. Col. Katherine Wilson, 724th AMS commander. "We tried the HoloLens alongside a traditional video call, and the immersive hands-free component of the HoloLens experience streamlined communication and overall speed of the inspection." 
 
Leveraging this new technology, the 725th AMS is continuing to refine processes and enabling mission execution despite the geographical separation within the operations wing.

Soldiers Experiment With First-Person-View Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Feb. 25, 2026 | By Army Spc. Rebeca Soria, 3rd Infantry Division |

The Army's 3rd Infantry Division is revolutionizing how ground forces employ unmanned aircraft systems through specialized UAS operators assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which officials say is critical to winning on the modern battlefield.

Combat team soldiers have fundamentally changed how drones are used at the brigade level by spreading the technology across the entire force and establishing a hub for testing innovative capabilities, said Army Capt. William Langley, brigade collection manager. 

"UAS is important on the modern battlefield today because it is a very fast-paced battlefield," Langley said. "The faster you can receive information and sense the enemy, the faster you can react, and whoever reacts first wins."  

The unit combines electronic warfare, UAS and launch effects platoons — a reorganization that provides tactical advantages on the battlefield. Soldiers are experimenting with various payloads on drones, including electronic warfare sensors and advanced capabilities for operational missions.

Army 1st Lt. Declan McKeown, UAS platoon leader, said the combat team aims to improve operational effectiveness by using its platoons to gather intelligence and respond to threats faster than traditional methods allow. 

"The enemy wants to find us first, so it's a competition between the enemy and us to utilize our systems to be able to sense, track and maintain tactical advantage," McKeown said. 

The innovation comes as the 3rd ID participates in the Army's Transforming in Contact 2.0 initiative, which accelerates how combat formations test and adopt new technologies. The division has been designated as an initiative unit, positioning it at the forefront of procurement and experimentation with different platforms.

"Innovation is necessary for the 3rd ID to be successful because, as we have seen in recent conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and other places around the world, the way we fight battles is changing at a rapid pace, and we must continue to modernize to maintain our readiness for future operations," Langley said.

A recent training exercise at Fort Stewart, Georgia, during Spartan Focus 26, featured 6th Squadron soldiers conducting UAS training with C100 medium-range reconnaissance systems configured with 3D-printed training rounds. The exercise incorporated lessons learned from Ukraine, where low-cost quadcopter drones have been widely used in recent conflicts. 

The division's approach has significantly improved the decision-making cycle, allowing forces to gather and process intelligence much faster than previous methods, McKeown said, emphasizing the importance of soldiers maintaining situational awareness. 

"Whoever sees the enemy first can react first, and can respond more effectively, which leads to operational success," he said. 

Soldiers continue to experiment with electronic warfare payloads on medium-range reconnaissance systems and test various configurations on first-person-view drones to determine system limitations and capabilities. The ongoing innovation includes stressing equipment through rigorous training to understand what works best for operational units.

The division's 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade has also integrated unmanned systems manufacturing capabilities, training soldiers on expeditionary manufacturing cells that enable rapid 3D printing of drone components in the field. Soldiers printed more than 90 unique components in hours rather than waiting weeks for ordered parts. 

Langley said being a part of the 3rd ID during this transformative period presents unique opportunities. 

"This is an exciting time to be part of this unit, and it's a great time to test our new capabilities and to really release the creativity of soldiers at every level," he said. 

Securing Rare Earth Elements a National Security Imperative, Official Says

Feb. 24, 2026 | By David Vergun, Pentagon News |

Securing a resilient supply chain for critical minerals is fundamental to national security and the economy, said Michael P. Cadenazzi Jr., assistant secretary of war for industrial base policy, who testified today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington.

He noted that there is a growing demand for U.S. capabilities from allies and partners, such as fifth-generation aircraft, precision-guided munitions, satellite constellations and next-generation naval vessels. Cadenazzi said those capabilities all depend on a reliable supply of rare earth elements, including gallium antimony and germanium, as well as dozens of others.

"For decades, we have outsourced and offshored mining and processing, creating a strategic vulnerability of the highest order. Today, our primary strategic competitor, China, controls the global supply chain for numerous critical minerals," he said.

On heavy rare earths alone, China controls 95% of global output, with the United States importing almost 100% of what it uses, 90% of that coming from China.

"This control provides Beijing with the ability to weaponize these supply chains, threatening to disrupt our defense industrial base and compromise military readiness in a crisis; this is not a theoretical risk. It is a clear and present danger to our national security," Cadenazzi said.

To address this vulnerability, the War Department developed a comprehensive, multiyear strategy designed to create a secure, resilient and sustainable supply chain ecosystem, Cadenazzi said.

Included in that approach is a commitment to reshore and onshore the production of critical minerals. Congress provided funding to do this, he said, utilizing the Defense Production Act.

Cadenazzi said his office partners with colleagues in the Office of Strategic Capital to offer loans, loan guarantees and debt financing options to bring mineral supply chains to friendly shores.

"Through these tools, we are sending a clear and sustained demand signal to the industrial base. We are working across the entire value chain, from mine to front line, to build our resilience," he said.

Although DOW prioritizes domestic production, Cadenazzi said no single nation can achieve complete self-sufficiency. Therefore, the supply chain includes allies and America's closest partners.

The department is also aggressively investing in research and development to mitigate demand for the most heavily contested minerals.

"Our scientists at [the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] and other service research labs are pioneering the development of next-generation materials and novel manufacturing techniques that can reduce or eliminate the need for certain rare earths and other critical inputs," Cadenazzi said.

He noted that other DOW strategies include funding the development of advanced recycling technologies to recover rare earth from systems and materials being retired, and modernizing the national defense stockpile to ensure it serves as an effective buffer against near-term supply chain shocks.

"We are conducting a rigorous, data-driven analysis of our strategic requirements for 21st-century contested environments and [we] are taking action to acquire materials that face the most acute supply chain risks," Cadenazzi said.

Forecasting the Fight: How Meteorology, Oceanography Marines Support Operational Planning

Feb. 24, 2026 | By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kindsey Calvert, III Marine Expeditionary Force |

Weather, while it cannot be controlled, can be predicted, which helps commanders make informed decisions about planning exercises and troop movements. Meteorology and oceanography Marines support battlefield capabilities through forecasting and predicting how weather will impact operations.

These Marines are trained meteorologists and oceanographers who look at the current state of the environment and create weather forecasts that support operational planning and execution. They create routine forecasts, 96-120 hours out, using satellite data and weather patterns, in addition to future forecasts for exercise planning, using historical weather data over a 20-year period.

"Out here in the Pacific, weather can determine both friendly and adversarial pacing of operations," said Marine Corps Sgt. Priya Hasham, a meteorology and oceanography analyst forecaster with the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

To learn this field, Marines attend a yearlong program where they are taught basic physics, develop an understanding of the atmosphere and how it affects the weather and gain the ability to interpret weather radar data to create forecasts. 

In creating a forecast, satellite imagery, radar and data from weather stations around the world can be used. Pattern recognition also plays a significant role in forecasting, making personal experience an important factor. Since weather is influenced by local terrain, the longer a Marine has been in an area, the more familiar they are with local weather patterns, improving their ability to create accurate predictions.

Most Marine Corps installations have these specialized Marines, whose responsibilities vary between units. At the III Marine Expeditionary Force, their weather predictions support intelligence and battlespace awareness by looking at the big picture of air, land and sea operations to inform commanders as to how assets will operate in various weather conditions.

"Forecasting is an art and science," Hasham said. "There is a lot of technical skill involved."