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A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas has admitted in federal court that he distributed instructions for making bombs with the intention that his teachings would be used to commit violent crimes. Jarrett William Smith, 24, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to two counts of unlawfully distributing explosives information, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release. Smith was a private when he transferred to Fort Riley in July. The infantry solider joined the Army in 2017. Sentencing is scheduled for May 18, where Smith could face up to 20 years in federal prison...

A Kansas military base abruptly canceled an upcoming prayer breakfast that featured retired Lt. General Jerry Boykin after complaints were lodged that Boykin is anti-Muslim and anti-gay. Military Religious Freedom Foundation founder Mikey Weinstein told Army Times that Boykin’s invitation had caused great angst among soldiers at Fort Riley – leading some to break down in tears. “I have clients of ours weeping on the phone about this,” he said. Weeping? Oh, please. “I sincerely doubt that America can expect to win wars if the people who are tasked to do so are frightened by an old retired general with...

A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts in connection with a plot to plant a bomb outside an Army post in northeast Kansas. John T. Booker Jr., of Topeka, aka Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, changed his pleas to guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to use an explosive device to damage government property.

The arrest of two southern California men last week who were planning to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State brings the number of U.S.-based individuals involved in international terror-related cases this year to 40. (UPDATE: with the arrest of Houston-area Asher Abid Khan late Monday for supporting ISIS, the tally is now 41.)This number highlights the metastasizing Islamic terror threat in the American homeland. At the current pace, by the end of June — halfway through 2015 — the number of cases will exceed the number from the past two years combined (48). <-- PJM_300_by_250_middle --> The Islamic...

A 20-year-old Kansas man plotted to kill American soldiers with a vehicle bomb at the Fort Riley military base, an attack he planned to carry out on behalf of the ISIS terror group, prosecutors announced Friday. John T. Booker, also known as Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, was arrested as part of a lengthy FBI investigation. Federal authorities said he was arrested near the army base in Manhattan, Kansas, as he completed final preparations to detonate the bomb, which had, in fact, been rendered inert while he was under FBI surveillance. “As alleged in the complaint, John Booker attempted to attack U.S....

Washington (AFP) - The US Justice Department said Friday it arrested an Islamic State sympathizer who was plotting to carry out a suicide bomb attack on a US military base in Kansas. John T. Booker Jr, 20, is charged with "attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction... attempting to damage property by means of an explosive and one count of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant," the Justice Department said. Booker was arrested earlier Friday near the Kansas city of Manhattan "as he made his final preparations for his planned assault"...

Gen. Carter Ham is head of the U.S. African command. An Army brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., will begin helping train African militaries beat back a growing terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida. An Army brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., some 4,000, soldiers, will begin helping to train African militaries. The idea is to help African troops beat back a growing terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida. The American troops will head over in small teams over the course of the next year. The Dagger Brigade returned to Kansas last year from a deployment to Iraq, where it trained and advised that...

Via twitter - BREAKING CNN: 2 people are in custody after trying to get onto MacDill Air Force Base, the home of U.S. Central Command: Air Force spokeswoman

FORT RILEY, Kan., March 18, 2008 – The 1st Infantry Division’s commanding general yesterday welcomed home 37 U.S. servicemembers who served overseas for the past year as advisors with Afghan or Iraqi forces. Army Capt. James King and wife Alisha embrace at the end of the redeployment ceremony on Fort Riley, Kan., March 17,2008. Defense Dept. photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “The first thing that I will do is tell all the troops and their families that they have my personal thanks and my professional admiration for the service that they provide to...

FORT RILEY, Kan., March 18, 2008 – In simulated villages on the honey-hued Midwest prairie here, U.S. troops are learning to serve as military advisors to Iraqi and Afghan forces. Afghan National Army Sgt. Maj. Mostafa Rahmani stands guard at the doorway of a dwelling being searched by U.S. and Afghan soldiers during advisor training at Fort Riley, Kan., March 17. Defense Dept. photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Since 2006, soldiers of the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, based here, have trained 5,767 soldiers, 840 sailors and 1,172 airmen...

A Kansas military cemetery has run out of space after the burial of another casualty of the Iraq war, officials said on Thursday. "We are full," said Alison Kohler, spokeswoman for the Fort Riley U.S. Army post, home of the 1st Infantry Division. U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, both Kansas Republicans, on Thursday sent a letter to William Tuerk, the under secretary for memorial affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, urging for full funding for a new cemetery for Fort Riley. "While a new cemetery would not be completed in time to alleviate this situation immediately, it...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH — Iraqis and American troops broke bread together during a luncheon on Aug. 1 when Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment from Fort Riley, Kan., handed over their area of operations in Baghdad’s Al Jadia neighborhood to members of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, based out of Fort Benning, Ga. Both units are currently attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The luncheon started off with a gathering of Soldiers and their Iraqi counterparts in Lt. Col. Audil’s office, where water was served. Audil is the commander of the armor battalion...

Kansas State football players form a tight bond working out with Army unit now stationed in Iraq.

FORT RILEY, Kan, Feb. 5, 2007 — Iraqi Army Chief of Staff General Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari visited Fort Riley training areas Jan. 26 to observe transition team training, meet with post leaders and conduct a press conference for local and national reporters. "We hope and we envision that by March '08, the vast majority of the American troops will be able to leave the country and be withdrawn, save for some bases - American bases outside the city limits - which can be used and relied upon when need be," Gen. Babaker Shawkat B. Zebari Zebari, who was selected...

FORT RILEY, Kan., Nov. 10, 2006 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld stopped here yesterday to view the training of military transition teams preparing to deploy to Iraq and assist Iraqi security forces. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld addresses students attending cultural awareness training at Fort Riley, Kan., Nov. 9. The soldiers are preparing for deployment to Iraq. Photo by James M. Bowman  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Stopping here after delivering the Kansas State University Landon Lecture, Rumsfeld saw firsthand a language lab, an improvised-explosive device display, and an Iraqi culture class soldiers go through before deploying....

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2006 – America is a nation that keeps its promises, and so U.S. troops deployed in Iraq are continuing to fight terrorists there as the new Iraqi government gets onto its feet, Vice President Richard B. Cheney told soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., yesterday. Vice President Richard B. Cheney talks with U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., during his visit to the post April 18. Photo by April Blackmon  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. President Bush has vowed that the United States won't quit the war against global terrorism, Cheney said during his remarks....

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. And I appreciate the warm welcome to America's War Fighting Center, Fort Riley, Kansas. (Applause.) Don't hold back. (Laughter.) I'm also glad your Congressman, Jim Ryun, is able to join us today. I want to thank General Hardy, Colonel Smith, Colonel Perkins, Command Sergeant Major Dean, and the outstanding musicians of the 77th Army Band from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Above all, ladies and gentlemen, I want to thank the soldiers of the 24th I.D. -- the "Victory Division" of the United States Army. (Applause.) This great Army post has an important...

I know, I know - sorry for the vanity thread! Today's a slow day hopefully, so you won't mind. Our daughter and Son-in-law are in the Army and stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. She's expecting her second son in February, and Mrs. COBOL2Java and I will be out there for two weeks to assist, and help usher in our next grandson. We checked flights, and discovered that the cost of a plane from Kansas City airport to Manhattan Regional airport was more expensive than the flight from Reagan National Airport to Kansas City, so we're flying to KC and then...

Machine guns found near Kansas creek The Associated Press MILFORD -- A fisherman found a heavy machine gun on the ice of a creek near Fort Riley, and Geary County sheriff's deputies later found two more. The three Browning .50-caliber guns were all in working condition, Sheriff's Lt. Sandy Popovich said, but none was loaded. Sheriff Jim Jensen said he didn't know how the guns got there, and the Army's Criminal Investigation Division is looking into the matter. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the land, Jensen said, and soldiers from Fort Riley have used it for training. The...

Honorary Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Shriver renders his best salute. The 7-year-old was Soldier on Fort Riley for a day as a result of having his wish granted by Fort Riley and the Make a Wish Foundation of Kansas. Gary Skidmore Fort Riley grants ill youth wish to be Soldier By Gary Skidmore September 27, 2004 FORT RILEY, Kan. (Army News Service, Sept. 27, 2004) -- Seven-year-old Phillip Shriver has a new guardian angel -- a little bear angel with red, white and blue wings, wearing a helmet. Shriver who has a life threatening illness, leukemia, received the memento during...