War on the Rocks · Oct 9, 2026

The Last Mile of Pentagon Reform Runs Through the Brigade

The 2025 drone and acquisition reforms and the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Strategy call for faster procurement, fewer integration barriers, open architectures, continuous experimentation, and greater access to emerging technology.Yet the experience of myself and fellow soldiers in the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (1/82), before and during its deployment in support of Operation Epic Fury shows…