FORT POLK, La. — Soldiers from the Florida Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment trained alongside the 82nd Airborne Division during a combat training center rotation 15-20 March, marking the first time a Guard unit has integrated into an active-duty rotation under the National Guard’s new Minuteman Rotation concept.

The Minuteman concept aligns National Guard annual training with combat training center rotations, allowing units to meet their 15-day requirement while operating alongside active-duty formations. Leaders said the approach increases readiness and interoperability across the total force.

Senior Army National Guard leaders visited the rotation March 19-20, including Director of the Army National Guard Lt. Gen. Jon M. Stubbs, Command Sgt. Maj. James (Brian) Kendrick, along with Florida Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John D. Haas and Command Sgt. Maj. Robert F. Sweat. The visit highlighted the integration of Guard forces into active-duty training and the expansion of opportunities for Guard units to train in high-intensity environments.

“This is about building a total force that can close with and destroy the enemy,” Stubbs said during the visit. “What we are seeing here is a National Guard battalion fully integrated with an active-duty brigade, delivering a capability that is critical on today’s battlefield.”

At JRTC, often referred to as “the box,” units contend with a near-peer opposing force, limited resources and extended operations. The environment tests a unit’s ability to operate under stress while maintaining command and control across dispersed terrain.

The Florida battalion provided short-range air defense capabilities during the rotation, focusing on countering unmanned aircraft systems and low-altitude threats. Soldiers employed Sentinel radar and Avenger air defense systems while repositioning with maneuver elements to protect command posts, logistics nodes and key terrain.

A live battery moved with the brigade throughout the exercise, while the battalion headquarters operated as a division-level air defense element in a simulated environment. Leaders said the integration allowed the unit to train as it would fight in a real-world conflict.

Army Lt. Col. Adam Bailey, commander of 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery, said the unit prepared for the rotation through multiple command post exercises with the 82nd Airborne Division before arriving at JRTC.

“Coming to JRTC, we rapidly integrated into division’s scheme of maneuver and protection plan. That enabled us to execute a true [Short Range Air Defense] mission in support of a division,” he added.

The Panther Brigade’s dispersed operations increased exposure to aerial threats, particularly small drones capable of disrupting command and control or target sustainment operations.

Army Col. Daniel Leard, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said the Army Guard unit filed a critical capability gap.

“Air defense is a critical enabler — we could not have executed our mission without them,” Leard said. “The Soldiers of 3-265 ADA integrated with our team on the fly. They were experts on their systems and that made an immediate impact.”

The Army National Guard’s Minuteman Rotation aligns annual training with combat training center rotations, enabling units to build readiness in a high-intensity environment alongside active-duty forces.

Kendrick, who previously served as the command sergeant major of the Florida National Guard, said the training reflects how the force will operate in future conflicts.

“This is exactly where our Soldiers need to be,” Kendrick said. “Training at this level, with this kind of realism, ensures they are ready to deploy and fight as part of a larger team.”

The approach does not replace traditional Army National Guard rotations but expands access to high-end training while supporting Soldiers’ civilian careers, education and communities. Stubbs said the goal is to integrate a Guard element into every combat training center rotation.

For junior soldiers, the experience highlighted the pace and complexity of modern warfare.

Army Sgt. Jason Dumervile, Headquarter and Headquarters Battery, said the experience changed how he views his role.

“You see how everything connects,” he said. “We are not just protecting ourselves — we are protecting the whole brigade so they can accomplish their mission.”

Florida leaders said the battalion’s performance demonstrated the value of integrating Guard units into active-duty training environments as the Army adapts to evolving threats.

“I’m incredibly proud of our Florida Guardsmen,” said Haas. “They’re highly disciplined and have benefitted from great leadership to ensure they’re trained and ready.”

By Lt. Col. Carla Raisler