Military
WASHINGTON - In his first press conference as Pentagon chief, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said an end to U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan depends entirely on the Taliban reducing attacks on NATO forces. “Clearly the violence is too high right... Read More
WASHINGTON- A report from the Office of the Inspector General recommended that America make safeguarding women's rights in Afghanistan a top priority, describing the fragile nature of gains in equality in the region. The U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan... Read More
WASHINGTON — Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville shared updates and laid out the branch’s priorities in a virtual webinar discussion hosted by The Heritage Foundation on Wednesday. During the forum, McConville said the Army’s primary upfront investments will... Read More
WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Congressional "Afghanistan Study Group" released its report on unwinding American commitments in that country, recommending that diplomatic efforts attempt to delay the May 2021 withdrawal date of American troops from the region to... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to issue an executive order to reverse a Pentagon policy that largely bars transgender individuals from joining the military, dumping a ban ordered by President Donald Trump in a tweet during his... Read More
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Capitol Police on Friday pushed back at multiple media reports that the agency had banished National Guard troops to nearby parking garages following the Biden inauguration. According to Politico, thousands of National Guardsmen were allowed back... Read More
WASHINGTON -- Twelve U.S. Army National Guard members have reportedly been removed from the force providing presidential inauguration security after they were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or posted extremist views online. Officials have yet to provide... Read More
WASHINGTON - Russel Honoré, a retired lieutenant general best known for commanding the military relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, will lead an in-depth review of security at the U.S. Capitol Complex, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Friday.... Read More
WASHINGTON -- The Secretary of the Air Force announced Wednesday that Huntsville, Ala., will be the new headquarters of the U.S. Space Command. The announcement was welcomed in Alabama but criticized as an example of partisan politics by government officials... Read More
WASHINGTON - The boxes were recognizable to anyone who has spent a little time on Capitol Hill. Even from a distance, the white circle and black star emblazoned on the box inspired mouth-watering visions of sauce and melted cheese to... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid worry about renewed violence on Inauguration Day, the military's top leaders issued a written reminder to all service members Tuesday that the deadly insurrection at the Capitol last week was an anti-democratic, criminal act, and that... Read More
WASHINGTON - The National Guard said Monday it will increase troops in DC to at least 10,000 by Saturday to boost security ahead of the upcoming inauguration, and an additional 5,0000 could be requested from other states. The announcement came... Read More
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting 9/11 veterans, recently praised the 116th Congress for backing the National Defense Authorization Act. The passage of the NDAA comes after Congress recently overrode President Trump’s veto... Read More
The U.S. Defense Department changed course Sunday and sent an aircraft carrier to stand ready off the coast of Iran as tensions escalate with the United States. The USS Nimitz was heading home last week after a 10-month deployment in... Read More
WASHINGTON — Should a federal law that protects National Guard members and reservists from being fired from their private sector jobs while they are deployed also apply to state government jobs? Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court hinted it might weigh in on the issue.... Read More
WASHINGTON (AP) — Children of the world can rest easy. The global pandemic won't stop them from tracking Santa Claus' progress as he delivers gifts around the globe on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defense Command has announced that... Read More
WASHINGTON – Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan measure increasing funding to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to help combat corruption and illicit drug trafficking between the United States and Caribbean nations. Introduced by Reps. Adriano... Read More
WASHINGTON -- Defense analysts warned Congress Friday against the U.S. troop withdrawal in Afghanistan announced this week amid indications that radical Islamists could resume terrorist attacks. They said further proof is needed that Taliban fighters would not try to seize... Read More
WASHINGTON — Amid indications President Donald Trump will move to slash the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq before he leaves office, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attacked the idea in a blistering Senate floor speech Monday. McConnell has been almost unfailingly loyal to Trump, but the Kentucky Republican has openly pushed back... Read More
WASHINGTON — A senior Defense Department official resigned on Tuesday, opening the way for a longtime ally of President Donald Trump to take on a key leadership role a day after Pentagon chief Mark Esper was fired. James Anderson, the acting deputy undersecretary of defense for policy,... Read More
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's decision to fire Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday raised concerns that he may be planning far-reaching military moves in his final weeks in office — and is putting in place new leadership more inclined to go along. Trump named Christopher... Read More
Gen. David Thompson, the United States Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations, tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, the Department of the Air Force said in an email. Thompson was tested Oct. 28 after learning that “a close family member,... Read More
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Space Force recently launched its Space Operations Command, according to Air Force Magazine. Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting was introduced as the head of the operations command during a ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo.,... Read More
SAN ANTONIO – The military’s newest branch, the United States Space Force, swore in its first recruits Tuesday, Oct. 20. Seven recruits, five men and two women, will commence the force’s inaugural boot camp at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for... Read More
LANGHORNE, Pa. — Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, D-Pa., Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., and Gerry Connolly, D-Va., brought forth a bill that would ensure disabled veterans can fully utilize their benefits following disruptions in veterans’ health care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Back... Read More
WASHINGTON — Machine learning and artificial intelligence technology are fast-moving, complex technologies businesses and government agencies are increasingly putting to use to develop efficiencies of people and processes. Federal IT practitioners, in particular, are seeing the benefits of this technology... Read More
Although still far from happening, United States Space Command leader Maj. Gen. John Shaw said Space Force troops will eventually be sent to space. Shaw’s comments on the Space Force came during the AFWERX Engage Space Conference, which ran from... Read More
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would authorize the president to posthumously award U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe the Medal of Honor. Cashe was injured in October 2005 while deployed in Iraq when the... Read More
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships and aircraft, the military said Friday, the biggest such drills in the area since Soviet times. Russia's navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that... Read More
Only men can be drafted into the U.S. military, a federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled last week. The ruling was based on a lawsuit filed by the advocacy group National Coalition for Men and two men who alleged... Read More
