Innovative Readiness Training, 1000 Defense, Washington D.c., VA (2026)

05/28/2026

We are excited to share our May 2026 newsletter which features the current training portfolio for the 2026 IRT training season! This year, Service members and community partners will collaborate on 38 support activities to enhance readiness and provide no-cost services nationwide. From medical care to engineering, cybersecurity, and more, these projects truly make an impact. Don’t miss the full details!

👉 Read the full newsletter here! https://bit.ly/432D3lK

05/21/2026

Building Safer Communities Through Cybersecurity: Cyber Atlanta 2025-2026

From November 2025 to April 2026, the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Active Duty collaborated with the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to conduct an important support activity to enhance cybersecurity for systems serving millions of Georgia residents. This successful collaboration was conducted through the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program, which bridges national defense objectives with community support initiatives.

🚀 Details:
This multi-month operation involved Service members in advanced training across critical cybersecurity areas such as:
✅ Pe*******on testing
✅ Incident response readiness
✅ Network analysis and defensive operations
✅ Social engineering and phishing simulation activities

With DCH managing $21.8 billion in healthcare services and sensitive data, including Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), the stakes were high. Service members worked tirelessly to identify vulnerabilities, assess networks, validate defenses, and enhance overall security.

📢 By the Numbers:
💻 Over 6,200 total hours of training focused on advanced cybersecurity operations
💲 $660,000 worth of cybersecurity assessment and readiness services provided at no cost to the community
🌟 Millions of Georgians directly benefited from a more resilient and secure healthcare system

But the impact doesn’t stop there. This training proved to be not only a cornerstone of Total Force cyber readiness but also a testament to the power of real-world training environments that serve both the military and the community.

This is just one example of the transformative work made possible through IRT initiatives. Stay tuned to learn more about how the defense community continues to build resilient, secure, and connected communities nationwide.

💬 We want to hear from you! If you or your community has benefited from an IRT support activity, share your stories in the comments or tag us using these hashtags:

05/01/2026

Check out the April IRT Newsletter!

This month, we’re excited to share updates on Critical Infrastructure (CI) integration into Community and Military applications.

We’re also spotlighting Colonel Christopher Stanmire and Master Sergeant Jessica Doirion in this edition!

📖 Read the April newsletter here:

04/23/2026

Celebrating IRT Leadership Promotions!

The IRT program is excited to announce some amazing milestones within our leadership team. Let’s give a big round of applause to:

Commander Shaun Shillady (formerly Lieutenant Commander) – Navy Active Duty & Navy Reserve IRT Program Manager.

Captain Clayton Noble (formerly First Lieutenant) – Army National Guard IRT Deputy Program Manager.

Major Penny Cannon (formerly Captain) – Army Active Duty & Army Reserve IRT Program Manager.

These promotions highlight their dedication to IRT's mission: delivering essential training for military readiness while supporting communities across the nation. Their leadership is vital as IRT continues to grow and expand its impact.

Join us in congratulating Commander Shillady, Captain Noble, and Major Cannon on their well-deserved achievements!

04/16/2026

American Samoa Wellness 2025

From August 11–28, 2025, Service members across the military joined forces with the American Samoa Department of Health to bring no-cost healthcare services to underserved residents of the island of Tutuila, American Samoa.

This training brought together 90 Service members from the:
✔️U.S. Army Reserve
✔️Marine Corps Reserve
✔️U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve
✔️Air National Guard

The IRT Program delivered:
Optometry care: 1,333 pairs of glasses fabricated and 4,305 procedures performed
Pharmacy services: 867 medications dispensed
Medical care: 3,495 procedures for 1,345 patients
Behavioral health care: provided 68 procedures to 56 patients

Additionally, the support activity:
🩺 Fulfilled 1,350 days of training
✅ Completed 40 critical training requirements
📊 This operation provided an estimated $911,248 worth of care, bringing both community impact and real-world training for Service members!

Challenges, including limited transportation and shortages of critical supplies such as gloves, over-the-counter medication, and prescription pads, were successfully addressed through teamwork and coordinated efforts with the Active Duty Air Force Airlift team and local partners.

Officer in Charge LTC Hope Hashimoto “AMSAM Wellness is an incredible opportunity to bring quality health services directly to the people of our community, at no cost… This partnership with the Department of Defense allows us to meet critical needs for residents while helping our military personnel gain vital real-world training.”

American Samoa Wellness showcased the strength of civil-military partnerships, delivering no-cost healthcare to underserved communities while preparing Service members for operations in complex, distributed environments. Through the IRT program, this training reinforced readiness with purpose and strengthened our presence in the Pacific, ensuring adaptable, capable forces ready for the next fight.

🌟

04/09/2026

📣 Healthy Broome 2025: Real-World Training for Service Members and No-Cost Care for Broome County

From August 7-22, 115 Service members from the U.S. Army Reserve, Air National Guard, and U.S. Navy worked alongside local organizations to deliver no-cost medical, dental, optometry, behavioral health, and veterinary care to underserved residents and animals of Broome County, New York, while undergoing vital real-world training in a deployment-style environment.

The Results Speak Volumes:
✅ 1,766 patients served, and 316 animals cared for
✅ 22,108 healthcare procedures completed
✅ $242,546 in services delivered to the community
✅17,250 hours of real-world training completed

Services included:
✔️ Comprehensive medical exams 🩺
✔️ Behavioral health support with over 1,400 counseling visits 🧠
✔️ 1,398 dental treatments🦷
✔️ Vision care for 974 patients with 628 pairs of glasses distributed 👓
✔️ Veterinary care for animals, saving over $51,000 🐾
✔️ 17,101 prescriptions dispensed via the Pharmacy

This training was about more than just care. It was also a critical training opportunity for military professionals in a deployment-style environment. Service members gained 17,250 hours of hands-on training in logistics, medical procedures, and problem-solving under deployment conditions. These experiences refine skills needed for military readiness while building adaptability for future operations.

Overcoming Challenges:
As with any deployment, training in a real-world environment comes with its challenges. The team encountered logistical issues, including food-delivery delays and room-key malfunctions, which allowed them to develop solutions in the field. A challenge specific to veterinary operations involved securing the appropriate Fee-Exempt DEA registration for veterinarians to properly handle controlled substances. These hurdles provided training scenarios mirroring the complexities of deployments, demonstrating the adaptability and problem-solving skills of the participating teams.

🤝 Beyond training, Healthy Broome strengthened the military’s relationship with the local community. Service members not only gained practical deployment skills but also left a lasting positive impact, changing lives and fostering goodwill.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar summed it up best:
“Healthy Broome is an incredible opportunity to bring quality health services directly to the people of our community, at no cost…This partnership with the Department of Defense allows us to meet critical needs for residents while helping our military personnel gain vital real-world training.”

🩺✨

04/02/2026

📜 Exploring Our Nation’s History: A Powerful Reminder of Resilience and Community

On March 12th, the Office of the Secretary of War’s (OSW) Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) team had the privilege of touring the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. This visit was more than a history lesson; it was a day of reflection, connection, and personal growth for Service members and our supporting staff.

The experience was guided by Dr. Cohen, Chair of the Division of Military & Society and Curator of Early American History, and Major Blazich, Ph.D., Curator of Military History, Division of Military and Society, whose expertise brought the exhibits to life and deepened our understanding of how history connects to service, leadership, and national identity.

The day began with team members exploring exhibits across three insightful floors, each with a unique theme: The Engine of Transformation, The American Ideal and Lived Experience, and Leadership, Legacy, and National Identity. Historical artifacts ranging from agricultural machinery and railroad innovations to the revered Star-Spangled Banner flag fostered personal connections among participants, sparking reflections on their family histories and communities.

💡 A key highlight of the tour was the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit, which inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the iconic song during the War of 1812. Service members described the moment as profound and humbling, emphasizing the flag’s symbolism as a beacon of resilience and unity for the nation.

In the final hours of the tour, the team was privileged to engage with extraordinary artifacts highlighting courage and sacrifice in times of conflict, including a softball used to smuggle radio equipment for prisoner-of-war escapes, a war drum captured from British forces during the War of 1812, and a piece of molten debris from Hiroshima.

These powerful moments strengthened our team’s connection to the broader American identity, inspiring us to reflect on how history shapes leadership, values, and our civil-military partnerships.

🚀 We’re deeply grateful to Captain Noble, Dr. Cohen, and Major Blazich, Ph.D., for creating this meaningful experience.

To learn more about how IRT is fostering partnerships, strengthening readiness, and serving local communities through innovative initiatives, visit irt.defense.gov.

03/26/2026

🌲 From May 27 – August 29, 2025, the Air National Guard partnered with the National Park Service and Air Force Reserve to support Operation Build California in Redwoods National Park.

Together, 241 Service members refurbished 6 cabins at Wolf Creek Outdoor School, poured 120 yards of concrete for walkways, restored logging roads, installed new plumbing at the visitor center, and even removed two bridges to improve park safety.

This Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) support activity not only delivered $1.6M in cost savings to the community but also provided 19,617 hours of training for military engineers and food service specialists.

💬 Michael Houseworth, Superintendent of the Yurok Tribe construction company shared:
"Having the members who protect our nation come here to work in our small community is something I never dreamed of, but I now have a special appreciation for those who serve to protect us!"

👉 Learn more about IRT: irt.defense.gov

03/19/2026

🐾 MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: MILITARY VETERINARY TEAMS SERVE ST. THOMAS! 🐾

From June 15-30, our U.S. Army Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve provided critical animal care services to the St. Thomas community in the U.S. Virgin Islands!

Working alongside the USVI Department of Health and the Humane Society of St. Thomas, our dedicated service members delivered IMPRESSIVE RESULTS:
📊 562 animals treated
📊 215 pet sterilizations completed
📊 724 vaccinations administered
📊 462 medical procedures performed
📊 $168,870 worth of veterinary services at NO COST to the community
📊 162 readiness training requirements completed

“Our doors are always open for any animal that we can legally accept,” said a representative from the Humane Society of St. Thomas. “This partnership has made a lasting impact on our community, and we are grateful for the dedication and expertise of the military team.”

The IRT program continues to strengthen military readiness while serving communities in need. That's what we call a win-win!

👉 Have you or your pet benefited from an IRT mission? Share your experience in the comments!

👉 Visit irt.defense.gov to learn more.

03/12/2026

🛠️ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: U.S. Army Reserve Engineers Transform Vieques Airport!

From July 14 to August 11, the Army Reserve partnered with the Puerto Rico Port Authority to enhance security and safety at Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport in Vieques.

Over 116 Soldiers from multiple engineering companies, civil affairs, signal, and support units cleared 30+ acres of dense vegetation and repaired 450 linear feet of perimeter fencing, delivering approximately $150,000 in services at no cost to the community!

"Aircraft previously could not land properly, but with this additional clearing of the airport grounds, it allows all aircraft to land safely and securely. With increased air traffic, we can now facilitate faster and more efficient operations here in Vieques" said Norberto Negrón Díaz, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Port Authority.

Despite challenges with transportation and facilities, our troops completed 13,920 hours of valuable training while making a real difference for the people of Vieques. This is what are all about!

Have you seen IRT projects making a difference in your community? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Learn more about IRT missions: irt.defense.gov

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