The U.S. Army is using a major training exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, to prepare soldiers for the speed, technology and coordination required on the modern battlefield.
Operation Hood Strike brought together active-duty Army units, reservists and National Guard troops for a realistic field exercise designed to test how quickly forces can move, build, communicate and fight in difficult conditions. Canadian troops also joined the training.
The exercise focused on a combat scenario requiring soldiers to cross Lake Belton and move closer to enemy territory. To complete the mission, Army engineers had to build a floating bridge system capable of carrying heavy military vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks.
Col. Justin Pritchard, commander of the 36th Engineer Brigade, said the training is important because different parts of the Army would have to work together during wartime.
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“We’re a total Army,” Pritchard said. “We will fight with them in wartime, so we have to train with them in peacetime.”
Engineers built a seven-float raft made up of two ramps and five bays. Capt. Bruce Burgener, commander of the 43rd Multi-Role Bridge Company, said that type of setup is necessary to move heavy armor across water.
“Anything less than that won’t move them,” Burgener said, referring to M1 Abrams tanks.
Burgener said the exercise was also important because his company has received many new soldiers. He described the training process as a crawl, walk, run approach, with the unit currently working toward greater speed and efficiency.
Once the equipment and personnel were in place, the water crossing began. Texas National Guard Chinook helicopters supported the operation by conducting reconnaissance and dropping bridge sections into the water.
Lt. Col. Travis Shahan, commander of the 961st Engineer Battalion, said air support is critical when heavy equipment must be moved into hard-to-reach areas.
The exercise also relied on digital mapping and tactical command systems to help soldiers understand enemy territory and their role in the mission. Commanders said planning is much easier in an office than executing the mission in the field with aircraft overhead and soldiers moving at night.
Operation Hood Strike is held annually at Fort Hood, but commanders said each year looks different because warfare continues to change.
Col. Adam Rasmussen, commander of the 420th Engineer Brigade, said the Army is working to reduce risks for soldiers by using automation, unmanned systems and artificial intelligence where possible. Still, he said war remains a human effort that requires trained soldiers who can adapt under pressure.
The training also comes as the Army continues focusing on recruiting and retention. In 2025, the Army exceeded its active-duty recruiting goal, bringing in 62,050 soldiers. The Army Reserve, however, fell short of its recruiting target.
Commanders said tough but rewarding exercises like Operation Hood Strike help remind soldiers why they joined the Army.
The units involved are not preparing for a specific deployment, but leaders said the training remains important for building readiness and helping newer soldiers gain real experience.
US Army 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) alongside US Air Force 24th STS (PJs) during a training operation in San Antonio, TX. pic.twitter.com/pRiwmAB0z6
— Special Ops Magazine (@specialopsmag) May 15, 2026
