This Week in DOW: Honoring Heroes, Patrolling Oceans, Uncovering Truth, Out There

View Online This Week in DOW: Honoring Heroes, Patrolling Oceans, Uncovering Truth, Out There Feb. 27, 2026 |  By C. Todd Lopez During his State of the Union address, Feb. 24, President Donald J. Trump assured Congress and Americans that the United States remains as tough as it has ever been.  "I say tonight, members of Congress, the state of our union is strong," said the president, who used part of the address to acknowledge a handful of American men and women who have helped keep America strong.  "During this year's State of the Union, President Trump awarded several honors to our brave service members," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said today in the War Department's Weekly Sitrep video. Among those were Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, who received the Medal of Honor for his role as the lead helicopter pilot during Operation Absolute Resolve. "Slover was wounded multiple times during the mission, but despite his injuries, he kept the helicopter flying and helped deliver the agents who arrested [Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro]," Wilson said.  Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams also received the Medal of Honor for his combat actions in 1952, during the Korean War.  "Capt. Williams was in a dogfight against seven Soviet [aircraft]," Wilson said. "He was outgunned and outmanned by enemy jets. But against the odds, and while taking damage to his own aircraft, he led a victory over the enemy, taking down four Soviet [aircraft] while ensuring not one American aircraft was lost. Some military experts refer to Capt. Williams' story as one of the greatest feats in aviation history." The president also presented Purple Hearts to two National Guardsmen who were shot while on patrol protecting the streets of the nation's capital in November 2025.  "The Purple Heart was awarded to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolf and posthumously to Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom — members of the National Guard who were ambushed while patrolling Washington, D.C.," Wilson said. "We are so proud to see these brave men and women honored for their acts of service, protecting American citizens."  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth continued his Arsenal of Freedom tour this week with a visit to Denver, Feb. 23.  "[The secretary] delivered remarks to the hardworking patriots of True Anomaly and Sierra Space, reminding them that they work shoulder to shoulder with our warfighters, providing real-time solutions that continue our advantage at sea, on land, in the air and in space," Wilson said. The nationwide Arsenal of Freedom tour, which Hegseth launched seven weeks ago, demonstrates the department's support for the defense industrial base by delivering a call to action to revitalize America's manufacturing might and reenergize the nation's workforce.  During the visit, Hegseth also administered the oath of enlistment to recruits at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado.  "Congratulations to the true 1% of this nation," Wilson said. "Welcome to the Department of War."  Wilson also noted that, as part of the Arsenal of Freedom tour, Hegseth visited with personnel at General Dynamics and L3Harris in Camden, Arkansas, this week.  The department this week also continued to patrol the oceans around the United States and around the world to keep America free from narcotics and to prevent violations of Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels.  "This past week, at the direction of [the commander of U.S. Southern Command], [Marine Corps] Gen. Francis Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted multiple lethal kinetic strikes on separate vessels operated by designated terrorist organizations," Wilson said. "Intelligence confirmed both vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations."  According to Wilson, six narco-terrorists were killed during the strikes, while no U.S. forces were harmed. She said U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction and boarding of the crude oil tanker MT Bertha, Feb. 24, without incident in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.  Wilson said a total of three vessels have tried to defy Trump's quarantine, adding that "all three have been captured."  Finally, Trump has directed federal agencies, including the War Department, to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to aliens and unidentified anomalous phenomena.  "Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the secretary of war, and other relevant departments and agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects, and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important matters," the president wrote on his social media account.  Wilson said the department is working now to make that happen.  "The Department of War's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or ARRO, is working in close coordination with the White House and across federal agencies to consolidate existing [unidentified anomalous phenomenon] records collections and to facilitate the expeditious release of never-before-seen UAP information," Wilson said.  Since the ARRO was established, Wilson said it has made progress in making UAP information available and in transferring those records to the National Archives in accordance with federal law.  Earlier this week, Hegseth said the department is ready to do what the president has asked and make public the truth about UAPs and UFOs.  "We've got our people working on it right now," he said. "I don't want to oversell how much time it will take; we're digging in. We're going to be in full compliance with [the president's request]. We're here to provide that for the president. There will be more coming on that as far as the process of what we'll do."  When asked if he believes extraterrestrial life exists or not, the secretary said he was unsure, but he looks forward to finding out.  "We'll see," he said. "I get to do the review and find out along with you."

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Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on 'Aligning Senior Service College Opportunities With American Values'

View Online IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on 'Aligning Senior Service College Opportunities With American Values' Feb. 27, 2026 On February 27, 2026, the Secretary of War signed the "Aligning Senior Service College Opportunities with American Values" memorandum, directing the Department of War to strategically refocus the education of senior military leaders to ensure alignment with the warrior ethos, the National Defense Strategy (NDS), and American values. The Department will discontinue selected graduate-level Professional Military Education fellowships and certificate programs beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, including programs at Harvard University and other legacy Senior Service College (SSC) fellowships that no longer meet the Department's standards for rigor, realism, and mission relevance. Service members and Department civilians currently enrolled in affected programs will be allowed to complete their courses of study. This action builds upon the Secretary's February 6, 2026, memorandum, "Rebuilding the Warrior Ethos in Professional Military Education," and reflects the Department's commitment to ensuring taxpayer resources are invested in programs that strengthen warfighter readiness and develop strategic leaders capable of critical, independent thought. These actions continue the Department's broader "Rapid Force-Wide Review of Military Standards," reinforcing the Secretary's commitment to high standards, educational excellence, and the development of military leaders prepared to win the Nation's wars. The memoranda can be found here.

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Daily Wrap 27 February 2026

Guterres slams international failure to manage safe migration A 2018 agreement that aims to strengthen international cooperation on migration management must become reality, the UN Secretary-General said on Friday in New York.  Read more Migrants and Refugees UN unveils bold overhaul of strained humanitarian system On Friday the General Assembly was briefed on the latest developments of the UN80 Initiative – a system-wide reform effort to make the organisation more effective and fit for the future – including progress on the New Humanitarian Compact and on training and research reforms. Read more UN Affairs World News in Brief: Epstein scandal highlights 'silencing' of women, Danish breakthrough on HIV transmission, Belarus rights update UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned on Friday that the Epstein and Gisèle Pellicot scandals are an illustration of intensifying threats to women and girls forced to suffer in silence. Read more Human Rights Forgotten conflict in South Sudan at 'a dangerous point', Türk warns South Sudan was the focus of debate in the UN Human Rights Council on Friday as escalating violence and political tensions – alongside a massive humanitarian emergency and war in neighbouring Sudan – threaten efforts to achieve lasting peace.  Read more Human Rights Fears grow for ordinary Afghans after further clashes with Pakistan Reports on Friday that major cities in Afghanistan have been bombed by the Pakistan military in a new escalation between the two countries have raised fears for civilians already struggling under the harsh rule of the de facto Taliban authorities. Read more Peace and Security

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