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U.S. Army Reserve Public Affairs Soldiers Test AI-Driven Exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
On June 8‑11, 2026, the 361st Theater Public Affairs Support Element (TPASE) of the U.S. Army Reserve rolled out a hybrid tactical and media operations center exercise—Iron Forge—at Joint Base McGuire‑Dix‑Lakehurst in New Jersey. The drill fused AI‑generated scenarios with a simulated online information environment to gauge the unit’s capacity to support commanders through strategic communication, media engagement and information analysis.
Iron Forge was built to close a long‑standing training gap for the TPASE. Maj. Jordan Owens, the element’s executive officer, explained that the exercise forced staff to perform tasks normally reserved for deployed settings, such as backing a joint task force headquarters and a three‑star commander with theater‑wide messaging. Participants had to react to evolving media activity, regional instability and information operations in real time—a departure from traditional drills that pause after key events.
A centerpiece of the exercise was GenAI, the Department of War’s approved generative‑AI platform. Owens noted that GenAI let planners construct a multi‑layered scenario in hours that would usually require weeks. Capt. Gregory Carvajal, the TPASE operations officer, said AI freed planners from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on creative aspects of the exercise and giving soldiers more bandwidth for judgment and ethical considerations.
The Information Operations Network (ION) was another critical component. Managed by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Training Technology Center, ION creates an isolated, immersive digital environment that simulates social media and other online platforms on closed networks. Benjamin Buzzard, the ION project manager, explained that the platform lets units experience an emulated internet tailored to the exercise, providing realistic media activity that evolves over time. Friendly, neutral and adversarial content was generated, enabling soldiers to monitor information flows, assess audience reactions and adapt communication strategies in real time.
During the exercise, TPASE products were fed into AI systems that generated responses on the fly, creating a feedback loop that illustrated how messages would perform in the information environment. Owens said this process helped soldiers understand the impact of their communication products and how they could influence operations. Pfc. William Young, a public affairs specialist with the 354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, said the exercise clarified how individual communication products support broader messaging objectives and improved his understanding of the command’s projection goals.
The drill highlighted the importance of human judgment in an AI‑enhanced environment. While GenAI accelerated scenario development and inject creation, soldiers remained responsible for analyzing information, making decisions and producing communication products. Carvajal emphasized that the capacity to critically assess draft products before release was enhanced by the AI‑driven workflow.
Iron Forge demonstrates how emerging technologies can improve training while reinforcing the need for adaptable, creative, and ethically aware soldiers. Owens concluded that the exercise prepared the TPASE to identify threats in the information environment and react in real time, a capability that aligns with the Army’s emphasis on information operations.
By the end of the drill, the 361st TPASE had practiced supporting commanders in a contested information environment while balancing speed, accuracy and credibility. The exercise underscored that in the information space, the worst outcome is inaction, and that soldiers must be prepared to communicate with confidence and integrity.
The exercise was reported by the U.S. Army Reserve and documented on the Department of War’s official channels. It reflects ongoing efforts to integrate AI tools into military training and to prepare public affairs units for the evolving demands of modern information operations.
Iron Forge was built to close a long‑standing training gap for the TPASE. Maj. Jordan Owens, the element’s executive officer, explained that the exercise forced staff to perform tasks normally reserved for deployed settings, such as backing a joint task force headquarters and a three‑star commander with theater‑wide messaging. Participants had to react to evolving media activity, regional instability and information operations in real time—a departure from traditional drills that pause after key events.
A centerpiece of the exercise was GenAI, the Department of War’s approved generative‑AI platform. Owens noted that GenAI let planners construct a multi‑layered scenario in hours that would usually require weeks. Capt. Gregory Carvajal, the TPASE operations officer, said AI freed planners from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on creative aspects of the exercise and giving soldiers more bandwidth for judgment and ethical considerations.
The Information Operations Network (ION) was another critical component. Managed by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Training Technology Center, ION creates an isolated, immersive digital environment that simulates social media and other online platforms on closed networks. Benjamin Buzzard, the ION project manager, explained that the platform lets units experience an emulated internet tailored to the exercise, providing realistic media activity that evolves over time. Friendly, neutral and adversarial content was generated, enabling soldiers to monitor information flows, assess audience reactions and adapt communication strategies in real time.
During the exercise, TPASE products were fed into AI systems that generated responses on the fly, creating a feedback loop that illustrated how messages would perform in the information environment. Owens said this process helped soldiers understand the impact of their communication products and how they could influence operations. Pfc. William Young, a public affairs specialist with the 354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, said the exercise clarified how individual communication products support broader messaging objectives and improved his understanding of the command’s projection goals.
The drill highlighted the importance of human judgment in an AI‑enhanced environment. While GenAI accelerated scenario development and inject creation, soldiers remained responsible for analyzing information, making decisions and producing communication products. Carvajal emphasized that the capacity to critically assess draft products before release was enhanced by the AI‑driven workflow.
Iron Forge demonstrates how emerging technologies can improve training while reinforcing the need for adaptable, creative, and ethically aware soldiers. Owens concluded that the exercise prepared the TPASE to identify threats in the information environment and react in real time, a capability that aligns with the Army’s emphasis on information operations.
By the end of the drill, the 361st TPASE had practiced supporting commanders in a contested information environment while balancing speed, accuracy and credibility. The exercise underscored that in the information space, the worst outcome is inaction, and that soldiers must be prepared to communicate with confidence and integrity.
The exercise was reported by the U.S. Army Reserve and documented on the Department of War’s official channels. It reflects ongoing efforts to integrate AI tools into military training and to prepare public affairs units for the evolving demands of modern information operations.
