Soldiers with the 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion took a break from digging trenches in the training area at Fort Chaffee to conduct a combat field test, June 3, 2026. Interview 1: Cadet Abigail Lewis, 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion Interview 2: Pvt. Jayden Thomas, 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion Interview 3: Capt. Joshua McCormick, commander, company B, 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion The combat field test is a mandatory annual physical assessment specifically for Soldiers serving in 24 high-demand combat military occupational specialties. This test does not replace the standard Army Fitness Test. Soldiers serving in combat occupational fields must pass both assessments to maintain their status. The CFT enforces a strict, gender-neutral, and age-neutral standard, meaning every soldier must meet the exact same physical benchmarks. Soldiers perform the entire evaluation in their standard combat uniform with combat boots, removing only their headgear, body armor, and helmet. The assessment requires participants to complete a demanding sequence of seven events back-to-back within a continuous 30-minute time limit. The seven-event sequence is designed to simulate tactical battlefield movements and physical exhaustion. It begins with a 1-mile run, immediately followed by 30 dead-stop push-ups and a 100-meter sprint. Soldiers then transition to heavy lifting by hoisting a 40-pound sandbag 16 times onto a 65-inch platform, carrying two 5-gallon water cans for 50 meters, and executing a high-crawl and rush movement drill before finishing the circuit with a grueling final 1-mile run. (U.S. Army National Guard video by 1st Sgt. Jim Heuston)

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade conducted live fire exercises at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas during their annual training, May 7, 2026. The day's live fire showcased both the M109 Paladin and the M270 Multi Launch Rocket System. Interview 1: Spc. Audrey Wells, Gunner, 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade Interview 2: Sgt. Dakota Williams, Section Chief, 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade

CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the Arkansas National Guard ceremonially enlisted 250 Arkansas National Guard recruits, April 11, 2026, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Speaker 1: Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, adjutant general of Arkansas “This ceremony recognizes America’s 250th birthday in Arkansas while honoring the military service that helped secure our independence,” said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “The colonial militias — the predecessors of today’s National Guard — stood against the British Army at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, and the Continental Congress established the Army two months later on June 14, 1775. Arkansas also has a direct Revolutionary War connection through the 1783 battle at Arkansas Post, recognized as the only Revolutionary War battle fought in present-day Arkansas.” The 250 recruits are representative of the nearly 1,300 Guardsmen the Arkansas Army National Guard and Arkansas Air National Guard recruit annually into their respective brigades and wings. The Arkansas National Guard traces its roots to 1804, one year after the Louisiana Purchase. “The legislative body governing the Indiana Territory, of which Arkansas was a part, enacted a law making most males liable for military service,” according to the Arkansas National Guard Museum’s website. More information about the Arkansas National Guard’s history is available here: https://arngmuseum.com/history/national-guards/ Throughout its history, the Arkansas National Guard has answered the call in times of war, natural disasters, and other domestic emergencies. Its legacy reflects the service of Arkansans who have balanced civilian lives with military duty, exemplifying the citizen-soldier ethos that has defined the nation since its founding.

CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the Arkansas National Guard ceremonially enlisted 250 Arkansas National Guard recruits, April 11, 2026, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Speaker 1: Major Chance Hall, master of ceremonies Speaker 2: Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, adjutant general of Arkansas Speaker 3: Gov. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, governor of Arkansas “This ceremony recognizes America’s 250th birthday in Arkansas while honoring the military service that helped secure our independence,” said Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ adjutant general. “The colonial militias — the predecessors of today’s National Guard — stood against the British Army at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, and the Continental Congress established the Army two months later on June 14, 1775. Arkansas also has a direct Revolutionary War connection through the 1783 battle at Arkansas Post, recognized as the only Revolutionary War battle fought in present-day Arkansas.” The 250 recruits are representative of the nearly 1,300 Guardsmen the Arkansas Army National Guard and Arkansas Air National Guard recruit annually into their respective brigades and wings. The Arkansas National Guard traces its roots to 1804, one year after the Louisiana Purchase. “The legislative body governing the Indiana Territory, of which Arkansas was a part, enacted a law making most males liable for military service,” according to the Arkansas National Guard Museum’s website. More information about the Arkansas National Guard’s history is available here: https://arngmuseum.com/history/national-guards/ Throughout its history, the Arkansas National Guard has answered the call in times of war, natural disasters, and other domestic emergencies. Its legacy reflects the service of Arkansans who have balanced civilian lives with military duty, exemplifying the citizen-soldier ethos that has defined the nation since its founding.