On Monday, February 3, 2025, at approximately 2 p.m., Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia, was placed on lockdown due to reports of a suspicious person on the base. The lockdown was initiated as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and security of personnel and facilities. Now, leadership at Hunter Army Airfield has shared new details surrounding what prompted the hours-long lockdown.

Hunter Army Airfield is Put Under Lockdown Monday Afternoon

Multiple sources have said that the lockdown was due to a suspicious person on base. The initial report released stated, “A lockdown order has been issued at Hunter Army Airfield.”

On Monday, just before 2 p.m., a lockdown order was issued, which told all on base to stay inside and close and lock all windows and doors. During the lockdown, all gates were closed to inbound and outbound traffic. After a brief period, officials allowed outbound traffic to resume, enabling individuals to exit the base while preventing entry.

The lockdown was eventually lifted at 5 p.m. On Tuesday morning, LTC Derick Taylor and CSM Keiven Favor shed light on why the lockdown occurred. 

According to LTC Taylor, someone who approached a security checkpoint, "indicated the presence of a weapon and willingness to do violence."

LTC Taylor said, based on that interaction, he made the decision to issue a lockdown and shelter-in-place order.

When asked about issuing the order, LTC Taylor said, "there is no step I won't take to protect the servicemembers, families, civilians and veterans of the Savannah military community. Stay vigilant."

 is located in Savannah, Georgia. The base has a 2020 population of 145,754. The base is located in the 5th largest city in Georgia and the 180th largest city in the United States.

Hunter Army Airfield provides support and services to approximately:

3,790 family members of reserve components

Pulaski Elementary School Is Put on a Precautionary Lockdown

As a result of the Hunter Army Airfield lockdown, nearby 

At 3:45pm, the following statement was sent to Pulaski Elementary School parents from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System:

“Good afternoon parents, This is a safety message to let you know that Pulaski Elementary has been placed on a precautionary lockdown today due to a lockdown at Hunter Army Airfield. Civilian car riders and walkers will be dismissed shortly, but all bus riders will be delayed due to the lockdown on post. In addition, military car riders and walkers who live on post will have a delayed dismissal once the situation on post is resolved.

Please know that the safety of our staff and students is our top priority. We thank you for your support of Pulaski Elementary School.”

A Statement Is Issued on Hunter Army Airfield’s Facebook Page

The following statement was released shortly after 2 p.m. on the base’s Facebook page:

"The Commander has issued a lock down order for Hunter Army Airfield. Lock down your facility immediately, stay inside, close and lock all windows and doors. Keep telephone lines open for information updates and monitor social media outlets for additional information. Report accountability to your leadership. An all clear message will be distributed when the emergency is over."

The base has released new information regarding why the lockdown was issued.

“The commander of Hunter Army Airfield issued an order to lockdown the installation after receiving credible threats against the security of Hunter Army Airfield. At approximately 1:50 p.m. an SUV with one driver and one passenger were stopped by security forces. When questioned, they expressed a threat to the installation and fled the scene. Military Police followed protocol which included initiating gate closures on Hunter. At approximately 2 p.m. today, all gates on Hunter Army Airfield were closed for entry and exit while law enforcement personnel conducted a search for the suspect(s) and vehicle.

Based on the recommendations of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, all gates resumed normal operating procedures.

At 5 p.m. the installation lifted the lockdown, however all exiting vehicles matching the suspect description were stopped and checked. A collaborative effort with multiple law enforcement agencies will continue to investigate the incident.

The safety of Hunter Army Airfield and the surrounding Savannah community is our number-one priority. Our civilian and military force protection organizations consistently train to safeguard the installation.”

"Parents of Pulaski K-8 and all Child Development Centers can proceed to pick up their children effective immediately. The Pedestrian Gate and outbound gates will be open at this time.

Access Control Points (inbound and outbound) will be open at 5 p.m. with 100 percent ID check.

"Stay safe, stay home, lock your doors": WJCL spoke to one person who was stopped at the gate for about 2 hours, during which she saw an ambulance exit the gate. 

"Base officials say there is no estimate at this time as to when the lockdown will be lifted. They did not speak to what prompted the lockdown order."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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You can trace back modern efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives back to Executive Order 10925, passed by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and then again expanded upon due to Executive Order 11246, when President Lyndon Johnson issued it in 1965. At their core, DEI initiatives are simply aiming to make sure people aren’t discriminated against but for some, this can be a complex approach hindering operations. President Donald Trump has been busy in his first week, in part, getting rid of DEI initiatives for the federal government and military.

DEI initiatives look different for everywhere but are simply programs put in by organizations to help eliminate discrimination through promoting diversity, equal opportunities, and inclusion.

This includes training programs that provide education and information on how to implement such policies, improving hiring practices towards marginalized communities, and making workplaces fair for everyone.

Whether or not DEI initiatives work continues to be a subject of heated debate:

Some believe that DEI programs are good at what they do, by providing otherwise marginalized groups with equal opportunities.

Furthermore, proponents point to the way that diversity strengthens talent pools.

However, opponents of DEI often argue that they are programs that don’t work while themselves marginalizing other groups by design.

Additionally, opponents focus on the amount of funding DEI initiatives take away from the core goals of organizations.

The use of DEI efforts in the military aims to help those who are minorities, including women, people of color, and those within the LGBTQ+ community, have equality in all aspects of their service.

These initiatives increased during the Biden administration, which is due to policy changes and an increase in investment.

 would implement a new form of military education thanks to higher investments and requests of funds, which showcased “implicit bias” while also putting into place a system of agencies dedicated to DEI:

Implementing DEI initiatives have become commonplace throughout the leadership curricula of military branches and academies, including ROTC, using critical race theory (CRT), systemic racism, white privilege, and internal bias as subjects.

President Trump Eliminates DEI Initiatives for the Federal Government

Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” was issued by President Biden to further implement DEI initiatives for the federal government and despite such efforts being decades old, Trump’s administration isn’t a fan.

President Donald Trump wasted no time on his first day as President a second time to issue “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” which would effectively disintegrate these programs from the federal government.

Part of the EO states that, "The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government.

By doing so, more than 50 directives under Biden were dismantled, aiming to improve racial equality, climate policies, protection for troops serving within the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

As the week continued, federal employees involved with DEI were 

Military bases were told that they would be able to restore their original names after many were changed due to their connection with the Confederacy.

It should be noted that such changes could be much more than simply changing a few names back to their original form. The military has seen widespread changes to the names of buildings, roads, etc., as a part of these efforts, which could all be reversed.

Going back on the DEI initiative from the Naming Commission, could cost millions of dollars to do so.

Many continue to look to the end of DEI initiatives as problematic for marginalized military personnel but for supporters of Trump, the move will help put funding back into national defense rather than educational programs.

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Just outside of Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling a regional jet flying for American Airlines regional jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The event is still unfolding but no survivors are expected. The D.C. crash is still being investigated, which may be a complicated situation, considering the aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near the Reagan National Airport. Now, the Soldiers who died in the collision have been identified.

Soldiers Who Died in U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter D.C. Crash Identified

Three U.S. soldiers in Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion lost their lives in the D.C. crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, and Capt. Rebecca Lobach, were among the victims of this unfortunate tragedy.

Eaves, a former Navy Sailor who later became an Army UH-60 pilot, serving since 2007. O'Hara, a UH-60 Repairer since 2014, deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 after graduating from Parkview High School in Georgia, where he was a part of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

Capt. Lobach, a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, was a distinguished military graduate and was commissioned as an active duty aviation officer in 2019.

Unfortunately, the plane crash in D.C. has also been an event rampant with misinformation while the military community and families of the victims mourn their losses. Conspiracies and false claims incorrectly identified the third crew member as a Virginia National Guard Pilot, transgender pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2, Jo Ellis.

“I understand some people have associated me with the crash in D.C. and that is false. It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda. They don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve this,” said Ellis in a video posted to Facebook.

Officials confirmed that no Virginia National Guard personnel were on board at the time of the tragic accident.

American Airlines Flight Crashed With a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter

An American Airlines regional jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C.’s 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

, crashing into the Potomac River with no expected survivors.

According to the Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region media chief, the helicopter involved in the collision was on a training flight, and belonged to the Army’s Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir in Virginia. According to officials, the Reuters helicopter flights have been paused for the Army unit involved in the collision.

The jet carried 64 passengers, while three were aboard the helicopter. The fuselage was found in three sections, partially submerged. Recovery crews have retrieved 28 bodies so far.

So far, it appears the crash could have been avoidable as both aircraft were in standard flight patterns during clear conditions.

Debris is being found in multiple states, including Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., leading to park and shoreline closures while recovery efforts are ongoing and officials work to determine what caused the crash.

Officials are looking into the height of the flight paths but the Black Hawk helicopter, which would need to be higher than 200 feet, seems to have been flying at around 350 feet.

Communications are also being investigated at this time, though clear conditions and an experienced military crew on board point to best practices likely being in place. The Soldiers were wearing night vision goggles at the time.

Fourteen figure skaters from U.S. Figure Skating’s national development camp were on the plane, heading from Wichita, Kansas.

This includes six from the Skating Club of Boston—athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane with their mothers, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, according to club CEO Doug Zeghibe.

Flight Paths Were Normal Before the Crash

Prior to the crash, flight paths for both the helicopter and the plane were normal, according to the Secretary of Transportation. In a statement he said, “This was not unusual with a military aircraft flying the river and an aircraft landing at DCA.”

Additionally, Duffy explained that investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration would analyze the debris.

The Black Hawk helicopter crash was the first major commercial air crash that has occurred in almost 16 years. The last crash occurred in February of 2009. This was when a Continental Airlines flight out of New Jersey crashed into a home as it was approaching an airport in Buffalo, NY. That plane was a Bombardier Q400, and 49 people died in that tragedy.

The last major American Airlines crash occurred in November of 2001, near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The flight crashed shortly after take-off, and killed 265 people.

According to military spokesman Ron McLendon II, the Army is joining an investigation into the crash that is being led by the National Transportation Security Board.

The Army has described the involved helicopter, UH-60 Black Hawk, as a “utility tactical transport helicopter.” According to the Army, the helicopter has improved military mobility because of its increased capacity to carry troops and cargo.

During the time of collision, the helicopter was on an “annual proficiency training flight,” explained Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to Hegseth, the crew was “fairly experienced” and was conducting a night evaluation. Night goggles were also on board.

American Airlines, U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter Crash, an Avoidable Tragedy

The mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter seems to have been avoidable, according to early findings.

President Donald Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy both agreed the accident should have been prevented.

Communication seems to have been in working order at the time of the crash, however, at the time of this writing, Duffy is only providing limited details.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

 along with the Army and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will lead the investigation.

So far, the American Airlines plane's black boxes haven't been recovered.

The cause of the American Airlines, U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crash will likely take time to conclude, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected by this unfortunate tragedy.

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Identification comes into play for a number of reasons and security is at the forefront of them. A new National Guard inauguration patch was used on January 20, 2025, as a way to differentiate Guardsmen from other military and law enforcement working the event. Although things were much different with Trump’s latest inauguration, security measures from previous ceremonies and evolving standards have produced a unique patch for those involved.

What's the Purpose of the National Guard Inauguration Patch?

There were plenty of organizations on display for support and as security for Donald Trump’s ceremony. The National Guard inauguration patch helped distinguish Guardsmen from the rest.

Under any circumstance, identification is important, especially when security is at hand. The new patch adds a unique look but also provides the Guard with an easy way to make them stand out.

The new patches were brought in so that all of the Guardsmen who were a part of Trump’s inauguration would be easily recognizable. As stated as a caption for a post on the 

DC National Guard’s official Instagram page

“National Guard leaders have authorized the use of a special shoulder patch with the Guard motto ‘Always Ready, Always There,’ to ensure that people coming to the #inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday will know who is who.”

It’s a little unsure why there could be some confusion in identifying the National Guard during an inauguration or similar event.

Nevertheless, there were instances involving previous racial justice protests as well as the January 6th insurrection where it became reportedly difficult to identify which organization was which once multiple came together in one area.

During the 2025 inauguration, National Guardsmen stood out with a unique, bright patch that was underneath the American flag patch on their uniform’s arm.

Instead of the Guard’s camo look, you’ll notice a design similar to the American flag featuring our nation’s colors, red, white, and blue, with a Minuteman from the American Revolution standing in front of our nation’s Capitol.

On the top of the circle in white lettering against a blue background is the text “60th Presidential Inauguration” with “Always Ready, Always There!” below.

The two phrases are separated by five white stars on each side, with a white border surrounding the entire patch.

The National Guard Inauguration Patch Helped Fix Past Problems

In 2021, things were a bit different. There were around 25,000 Guardsmen at the inauguration, because of the insurrection that had occurred only weeks prior.

In 2025, fewer than 8,000 troops made their way as Trump became President once more.

Troops from 40 states were activated with some deputized to act as special police during the ceremony.

It’s worth noting that the National Guard has used other techniques in the past to help itself stand out from law enforcement and other military branches, including identifying themselves explicitly on the back of their black identification vests.

Even during the 2021 presidential inauguration, a special 

 was provided to Guardsmen who were a part of the ceremony.

Now that the event has run its course, the new National Guard inauguration patch has served its purpose but remains an interesting part of its history moving forward. It will be interesting to see if similar patches are adopted for similar causes in the future.

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The wildfires in California have dominated the headlines to the start of 2025, with the devastation brought about to the Los Angeles region reaching astounding levels. However, the debate surrounding the military’s role in containing these blazes, as well as the politics surrounding the wildfires, continues to rage on. There is a lot of finger-pointing amid the search for the truth as procedures are assessed and positions are challenged.

How Has the Military Helped Fight Wildfires?

There have been multiple ways the military helped with the wildfires in California, ranging from boots on the ground to planes up above.

The main example of military assistance was seen with the use of C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, which was used to suppress the flames devastating the Los Angeles metro and beyond.

Down on the ground, troops have been helping with security, firefighting duties, and much more with over 2,700 National Guard members alone hailing from California, Nevada, Wyoming, and beyond.

The presence of the military during the California wildfires has taken a horrible situation and prevented it from getting even worse than it already is.

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS)

 has been called upon heavily to kick off 2025, as Cali wildfires raged on.

MAFFS is used by the military by equipping C-130 aircraft with retardant-dispersing units, allowing rapid response with 3,000-gallon retardant drops.

Created following devastating fires in the 1970s, both the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units operate the MAFFS as needed to respond to disasters.

It’s a much safer, effective way of suppressing wildfires, allowing interagency firefighting efforts, and quick deployment, and is designed for easy reloading to save time.

With so many issues involving wildfire risks, Camp Pendleton's live-fire training ranges are staying on top of their prevention methods, as the nature of their installation creates a high risk for vegetation fires.

On average, there are 185 started each year by the base, which is why the post maintains 164 miles of fire breaks, considers weather, and regulates training based on the Fire Danger Rating, which looks at vegetation and weather conditions.

The Camp Pendleton Fire Department (CPFD) is staffed with 175 personnel across 11 stations and provides firefighting support using specialized equipment.

In case of a fire threat, locals can stay updated by following the base’s 

Wildfires in California Spark Debate Between Trump and Local Officials

Troops have been helping with the fires in California for a while now; however, there is a bit of a debate on what their role has been.

While President Trump claims he used emergency powers, allowing the military to turn on California's water to fight the wildfires, local authorities are disputing these claims.

State water officials claim that despite receiving help from the military during the wildfires in California, troops did not turn on the state’s water enabling them to use the resources.

The California Department of Water Resources clarified that while the federal water pumps were offline for maintenance, they were simply restarted.

Furthermore, State Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire dismissed Trump's claims, noting that the Pacific Northwest water Trump is claiming to have provided access to doesn’t even flow to the Central Valley.

Trump's comments followed his executive order directing federal agencies to find ways to increase water deliveries to Southern California and the Central Valley but he may not have properly represented the role of the military at this time.

Additionally, Trump has threatened to withhold federal disaster relief to the devastated region if California doesn’t address its voter ID laws and water access procedures.

Thankfully, after weeks of issues, the wildfires in California look as if they are beginning to be under control. The military had a role in helping make this a reality, but as far as disputed water control measures…things remain a bit unclear.

 are coming in. Trump signed a series of executive orders on the evening of January 27, 2025, including one that would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from the military. He has now also signed an order that prevents transgender people from enlisting and serving openly. He has signed another that cracks down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military.

The White House also said that Trump signed an order that eliminated “gender radicalism” from the military. Despite support from almost every segment of the U.S. population and a majority of Republicans, President Trump opposed the Equality Act.

Hours after being sworn in for his second term, Trump signed an order revoking the Biden administration’s move to allow transgender members to serve. Trump's executive order includes new military standards regarding gender pronouns and state that mental and physical readiness requires transgender service members be banned from the military.

The order does not yet ban transgender military officers but directs the Pentagon to create a policy for transgender members of the military.

“Yes, Trump has taken many ‘unprecedented’ steps, but those steps have been to undermine and eliminate rights protecting LGBTQ people, not empower us. Appointing a small handful of gay people out of thousands of nominations and making very few - and unfulfilled - pledges can hardly qualify as accomplishments. Don’t gaslight us.” Alphonso David, the Human Rights President, said.

Another order Trump signed reinstated Soldiers who were expelled for refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Trump also signed an executive order to establish a process to build a short-range missile defense system akin to Israel’s Iron Dome, where it would take years to build.

The orders were signed on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s first day. Hegseth, who 

 enough votes to be confirmed, said he planned to make major changes in the Pentagon. He did not rule out making changes to the top brass.

Many individuals on the left have taken the stance that President Donald Trump is a threat to the LGBT community because of the transgender ban in the military. However, the LGBT community has said that this was “nothing new” to them. 

During his first term in 2017 until 2021, he 

made discriminatory measures aimed at limiting protection for LGBT people

 across the United States. Since then, state legislatures around the country have continued to pursue or pass bills to limit the presence of LGBT people in public life.

A Lawsuit is Filed by Transgender Military Officers

With Trump potentially doing the ban for the transgender troops, it has continued the fire that started during Trump’s first term. A group of military soldiers has 

. This includes, six transgender military officers, and two transgender individuals who want to enlist.

The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, and their call is that the ban on transgender military officers violates the constitutional rights of the people.

“A bare invocation of ‘national defense’ simply cannot defeat every motion for a preliminary injunction that touches on the military. On the record before the court, there is absolutely no support for the claim that the ongoing service of transgender people would have any negative effect on the military at all,” U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said.

The New Order Could Lead to Workplace Discrimination

Justice Neil Gorsuch has said that the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in the workplace also applies to all kinds of genders, in this case, transgender military officers.

“Across the world today, countless transgender service members are defending our nation’s freedom; at the very same time, their freedom is being taken away from them. These sailors, marines, airmen, and soldiers serve our country with the utmost honor, and many have served long, successful careers. Prohibiting transgender individuals from service undermines our nation’s values and readiness at the very moment our military is needed. Whether they serve in the Red Sea, the Asia-Pacific region, or here close to home, they serve so that so many Americans do not have to,” Alaina Kupec, a transgender Veteran and former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer, said.

The LGBT community is still fighting for their rights, even though it's for serving the country. Nevertheless, our transgender military officers have the heart to do so.

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