U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Mattas, the battle non-commissioned officer with the 63rd Aviation Brigade, explains the battle space to Brig. Gen. Joseph D. Lear, the Kentucky National Guard's land component commander, during Vibrant Response 2026 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Apr. 24, 2026. Lear was there as part of a distinguished visitor visit to VR-26, which is a large-scale U.S. military exercise designed to prepare forces to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents within the homeland and held April 13-29, 2026. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)