Tag: Army

Guilty Plea: Soldier at Fort Riley Described How to Make Explosive Devices

Jarrett William Smith, 24, Ft. Riley, Kan., pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing instructions for making explosive devices over social media while he was a member of the U.S. Army, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.


Jarrett William Smith, 24, Ft. Riley, Kan., pleaded guilty today to unlawfully distributing instructions for making explosive devices over social media while he was a member of the U.S. Army, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Smith, described by prosecutors as a Satanist, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing information related to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction. Smith joined the Army June 12, 2017. He served as an infantry soldier and was trained in combat and tactical operations.

He was transferred to Fort Riley in Kansas July 8, 2019.

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The FBI received information that Smith gave out guidance to others on how to construct improvised explosive devices. He spoke to others on social media about wanting to travel to Ukraine to fight with a violent, far-right military group.

On September 20, 2019, from Fort Riley Smith sent a person working undercover for the FBI specific instructions for making an explosive device. He also provided a recipe for creating improvised napalm.

Smith signed a formal plea agreement with federal prosecutors and then entered his pleas verbally during a half-hour court hearing before U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree. He wore an orange prison jumpsuit and black athletic shoes and alternated between “Yes” and “Yes, sir” in answering questions from Crabtree.

“Did you provide this information with the intent that the person would use it?” Crabtree asked him.

Smith replied, “Yes.”

Sentencing is set for May 18. Smith could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. McAllister commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi for their work on the case.

Justice.gov; Armytimes.com (February, 2020) Guilty Plea: Soldier at Fort Riley Described How to Make Explosive Devices; ‘Satanist’ Fort Riley soldier pleads guilty to bomb plot charges

Perdue, Loeffler Push Fort Benning As Home Of New Army Corps Headquarters

U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are urging the U.S. Army to select Fort Benning as the Army’s fourth corps headquarters.


“Fort Benning is a crown jewel of the Army uniquely qualified to host the new corps headquarters.”

U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are urging the U.S. Army to select Fort Benning as the Army’s fourth corps headquarters.

The Army recently announced Fort Benning as one of three finalists to host the new headquarters, which is needed to fulfill requirements of the National Defense Strategy.

In a letter to Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, Perdue and Loeffler highlighted Fort Benning’s unmatched training, support, and command facilities and its ability to quickly activate the new headquarters.  

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“We commend your decision to realign forces under a new corps headquarters in support of the National Defense Strategy and strongly recommend that you consider Fort Benning for its basing. Fort Benning is a crown jewel of the Army uniquely qualified to host the new corps headquarters,” the Senators said.

“Fort Benning stands ready to meet all facility, deployment support infrastructure, and community support requirements needed for activation in October 2020. As the home to the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning provides unmatched training, support, and command facilities. It includes 26 million square feet of facilities and 102,000 acres of maneuver training areas capable of supporting all manner of maneuver operations, tactics, and training,” Perdue and Loeffler said.

Fort Benning Army post straddles the Alabama and Georgia border near Columbus, Georgia and  supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees on a daily basis.

View the full text of the letter here. 

Perdue.senate.gov (February, 2020) Perdue, Loeffler Push Fort Benning As Home Of New Army Corps Headquarters