‘T’ is for troops | Headlines

Manufacturing problems are dashing the U.S. Army's plans to boost production of urgently needed 155-millimeter howitzer shells, a Pentagon watchdog has warned

Despite a goal of 100,000 rounds per month by October 2025, the Army had only managed to produce 36,000 rounds per month as of March 2026, according to a report published this month by the Department of Defense Inspector General

Shell production requires first building the projectile at a metal parts factory

followed by packing the shell with explosives at another facility. However, the Army has not been able to forge enough metal parts to ramp up production of projectiles

with the report noting, quote, Projectile metal part production is the limiting factor for reaching the 100,000 round-per-month goal

for 155-millimeter artillery rounds. After investing $469 million, the Army opened a modular metal parts factory in Mesquite, Texas, in 2024

The Universal Artillery Projectile Lines Facility, operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems

was supposed to use, quote, modern manufacturing practices, high levels of automation, and digital data capturability

to forge large numbers of large-caliber metal parts for shells, the Army announced at the time

But that optimism proved premature. The report noted that some Army officials had concerns regarding an older ammunition plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, citing timeliness and maintenance

Scranton is one of three existing Army plants, with the others in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Ingersoll, Canada

Amid voracious expenditure of 155mm rounds by Ukraine that depleted US stockpiles

DOD issued a congressionally mandated plan in 2022 to modernize howitzer ammunition production

DOD 2025 National Defense Industrialization Strategy implementation plan aimed at churning out 100 155mm shells per month by October 2025 The Army efforts have borne some fruit with production nearly tripling from 14 shells per

month to 36,000. By modernizing the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and creating two new facilities

in Kansas and Arkansas, the Army hopes to load, assemble, and pack 140,000 155 millimeter rounds

by December 2027. The Pentagon will begin annually screening service members for testosterone

deficiency, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced recently, citing the need to ensure

troops maintain the, quote, biological foundation to fight. Our most decisive tactical advantage will

always be the individual warfighter. We have a sacred duty to maintain that advantage

which is why we must constantly look for new ways to optimize your performance, your resilience, and your long-term health

And to meet that commitment today, I'm authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency

Under the new program, the Secretary said service members age 30 and older will be tested yearly for testosterone deficiency as part of routine health assessments

Troops under 30, meanwhile, will have the option to be tested, he said

If treatment is recommended, it's entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy

This initiative, it's not about artificial enhancement. It's about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity

and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight

Military Times asked the Pentagon whether DOD will also give female service members annual hormone screenings

screenings and access to testosterone replacement therapy to raise levels to those of a typical

male service member, if desired. The Pentagon declined to provide additional details beyond

Hegseth's announcement