Thank You
Robert Serge
VVA 17 Member
Blog Master
To all my fellow veterans friends and family my we all remember
From: no-reply@navytimes.com
To: rserge1@outlook.com
Subject: Navy Times Early Bird Brief
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 04:31:59 -0600
COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES
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TODAY'S TOP 51. Blue Angels add XO, screening after misconduct report(Navy Times) In the wake of a high-profile misconduct investigation of the Blue Angels, the Navy's top aviator announced sweeping changes to the flight demonstration squadron's unique structure - changes officials hope will yield a better-run squadron. 2. Defense Firms to see $26B more in Outlays by Sept. 30, DOD says (Bloomberg) Revised Pentagon mid-year projections call for $26b more in procurement, research outlays by Sept. 30 than first estimates, according to newly disclosed figures. 3. Opinion: No need to go back to Iraq - the job may be done for us (Army Capt. David J. Lenzi II in Army Times) There seems to be an awful lot of people who think any excuse to travel to a foreign country and kill people is a good one. It's a shame that the two-edged sword of technologically enabled communication cuts in a way that provides them a platform from which to spew this nonsense. 4. China Defends RIMPAC Spy Ship (USNI News) Officials with the Chinese Ministry of Defense defended the presence of an electronic surveillance ship off the coast of Hawaii during the U.S. led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise. 5. US: No link to Russian gov't in plane downing (Associated Press) Senior U.S. intelligence officials said Tuesday that Russia was responsible for "creating the conditions" that led to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, but they offered no evidence of direct Russian government involvement. ISRAELI GROUND OPERATIONS IN GAZAF.A.A. Halts U.S. Flights to Israel(New York Times) The Federal Aviation Administration instructed American air carriers on Tuesday not to fly to Israel for 24 hours, and major airlines canceled their flights, after a rocket fell about a mile from Ben-Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv. Kerry in Israel to push for cease-fire (Washington Post) Secretary of State John F. Kerry flew to Israel Wednesday to push for a cease-fire in the 16-day-old conflict with Hamas militants. Israeli ambassador: We should be admired for showing restraint (The Hill) The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. on Tuesday defended Israel's military campaign in Gaza against critics who point to the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties. American Jews, other 'lone soldiers' serve Israel (Associated Press) The two Americans killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip followed in the footsteps of scores of Jews from around the world who have volunteered to fight for Israel. In West Bank, Israel revives punitive home demolitions in effort to deter Hamas (Washington Post) Said Kawasmeh received the order from Israel's military last week. His two-story house was to be demolished, and his large family had 48 hours to leave. Hamas Gambled on War as Its Woes Grew in Gaza (New York Times) When war between Israel and Hamas broke out two weeks ago, the Palestinian militant group was so hamstrung, politically, economically and diplomatically, that its leaders appeared to feel they had nothing to lose. INDUSTRYUSAF Space Head: Time Right for New Engine(Defense News) The outgoing head of the US Air Force Space Command said the time is right for a new rocket engine to be developed in the United States, regardless of whether current engine sales are cut off by Russia. Lockheed Martin Eyes End to F-35 Probe, Raises Earnings Guidance (Wall Street Journal) A senior Lockheed Martin Corp. LMT +3.00% executive on Tuesday said investigators are close to nailing down the cause of an engine fire that grounded the fleet of F-35 jet fighters and delayed testing on the aircraft ahead of its planned entry into combat service next July. United Tech elevator, jet-engine orders slow, shares drop (Reuters) United Technologies Corp posted tepid quarterly orders for its Otis elevators and Pratt and Whitney jet engines businesses, and shares of the diversified U.S. manufacturer fell nearly 2 percent on Tuesday. Rockwell Collins Q3 sales increase as divestment announced (IHS Jane's 360) Rockwell Collins increased sales by 12% to USD1.26 billion in the third quarter of its 2014 financial year, but saw net profit shrink by USD6 million to USD158 million in the same period. Lockheed Martin, Partners Aim To Cut Flyaway Cost (Aviation Week) In the long run, the F-35's absence from the Royal International Air Tattoo and Farnborough air show will have minimal impact on the program's long-term fortunes. In the mid-term, however, the F-35's export hiatus may hobble the program's economics. ASV and QinetiQ team up for target practice (IHS Jane's 360) Defence science and technology company QinetiQ has established a Marine Surface Target Service in partnership with unmanned marine systems manufacturer Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASV). KAI Picked To Build S. Korean Light Armed Helo (Defense News) Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has been tapped to develop a 10,000-pound helicopter to be used for civil and military purposes, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Australia seeks participation in Kongsberg's JSM (IHS Jane's 360) Australia is seeking expanded engagement in Norway's air-launched anti-ship Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM) programme, the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra confirmed to IHS Jane's on 21 July. Defying allies, France to deliver first warship to Russia (Reuters) President Francois Hollande won broad domestic applause on Tuesday for defying allies Britain and the United States by confirming plans to deliver a helicopter carrier to Russia, with one backer dismissing the objections as hypocritical. Austria FM: EU to Prepare Defense-Sector Sanctions Against Russia (Agence France-Presse) The European Commission will shortly begin work on defense sector sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said. Cut Ties With Ukraine Cost Russian Defense Industry $940 Million (Moscow Times) The Federal Space Agency, or Roscosmos, estimates that Russia will need to spend about 33 billion rubles ($940 million) through 2018 to offset the losses from cutting military ties with Ukraine, Kommersant reported Tuesday, citing a letter between Roscosmos officials. MBDA in advanced talks for Marte ER (IHS Jane's 360) The Italian arm of European missile house MBDA is looking to secure a launch customer for its new Marte ER (Extended Range) anti-ship missile by the end of 2014. VETERANSVA nominee: 'Change can be achieved'(Military Times) At Bob McDonald's confirmation hearing Tuesday on his nomination to become the next Veterans Affairs Secretary, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, joked that he didn't want to scare McDonald away by listing all the scandals facing VA. Sen. Moran pleads for action on VA fix (The Hill) Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) on Tuesday urged his colleagues to resolve negotiations on overhauling the Veterans Affairs Department before lawmakers leave for August recess. Anonymous vet sends 'Slender Man' stabbing victim Purple Heart medal (The Today Show) An anonymous military veteran has given away his Purple Heart medal to the young Wisconsin girl who was stabbed 19 times on May 31 by two 12-year-old classmates trying to win favor from a fictional online character named "Slender Man." Amy Van Dyken credits survival to workouts with trainer (USA Today) Todd Honea discovered his calling, partly out of necessity, while in the Marines: to get fit and help others to do the same. But he could never imagine, after graduating as Ironman from Platoon 2082 Hotel Company boot camp, that eventually his fitness regimen would help to save the life of an Olympian. CONGRESSSen. Levin Green-Lights Work on 'Fallback' Bill Should Senate Fail on NDAA(Defense News) US Senate staffers have the "green light" to start preliminary talks about a compromise version of a Pentagon policy bill that could quickly pass both chambers later this year. Jones: Congress should 'stop wasting money' on Afghan war (The Hill) Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) said Tuesday that Congress should stop funding the war in Afghanistan. Issue Tracker: Senate Appropriations Stalemate (Defense News) Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., vowed late last year to begin passing annual spending bills, but it has not happened. Atheist group urges Congress to allow humanist military chaplains (Military Times) More than one in five service members do not identify with a particular religion, according to Defense Department statistics. To better serve them, an organization is working to expand the Chaplain Corps to include clergy who don't believe in a god. US Official: Al-Qaida Still Wants to 'Blow Up Airplanes,' Eyes Non-Metallic Bombs (Defense News) Al-Qaida remains intent on attacking airliners and is developing explosive devices capable of eluding airport metal detectors, says a senior US lawmaker. Progress Hard to Gauge on Homeland Antimissile Program: Auditors (Global Security Newswire) Congressional auditors are complaining that a dearth of data is making it difficult to judge progress in improving a key homeland antimissile system. Senate moves to rein in career colleges popular among troops (Stars & Stripes) Troops should think twice before enrolling in one of the country's largest for-profit university chains as it faces the government-supervised sale of its campuses and charges it preyed on the military, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., warned Monday. In Washington, Spotlight Shifts to European Response to Malaysian Airliner Shootdown (Defense News) Senior US lawmakers are increasingly saying European powers must act to punish Russia for its role in the shootdown of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane in eastern Ukraine. DEFENSE DEPARTMENTMilitary suicides declined slightly in 2013, Pentagon says(Military Times) Suicides in the military dropped by 6 percent last year, a decline that Pentagon officials hope signals a reversal in a tragic trend - but that some advocates say does not reflect the true scope of the issue in the military and veterans' community. Gates: Agencies must break bad habits to modernize IT systems (C4ISR & Networks) Agency leaders need to break down cultural barriers and engage employees in order to succeed in modernizing IT systems, according to former Defense secretary Robert Gates. Study uses EEGs to guide treatment for depression (Military Times) Electroencephalograms, or EEGs, which measure electrical activity in the brain, show promise in improving treatment for depression - and consequently lowering post-traumatic stress symptoms and suicidal tendencies, a new military medical study has found. ATandT tasked to upgrade embassy, consulate telephony (Federal Times) The U.S. Department of State has awarded Vienna, Va.-based ATandT Technical Services Company, Inc. a task order to convert 290 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to advanced and secure IP telephony. ARMYStaff Sgt. Ryan Pitts inducted into 'Hall of Heroes'(Army Times) Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts, amid one of the bloodiest battles of the war in Afghanistan, was badly injured and fighting for his life, when he paused to comfort his comrade as he lay dying, Sgt. Israel Garcia. Army has big plans for pocket-sized device (C4ISR & Networks) The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) in Natick, Mass., has established the Cargo Pocket Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance program, or CP-ISR. Update: Sgt. mauled by bear in Alaska in stable condition (Army Times) A safety briefing that included what to do during a brown bear encounter likely saved a guardsman's life Sunday in Alaska. NDU update: General Martin steps down (Foreign Policy) I just got a statement from the Pentagon that reports that Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin has "stepped aside" as president of ND August 1st lt. promotions are out (Army Times) These soldiers have been selected for promotion to first lieutenant in August, the Army announced: Promotions to CW2 for August are out (Army Times) These soldiers have been selected for promotion to chief warrant officer 2 in August, the Army announced: NAVYFleet's oldest deployable warship nears retirement(Navy Times) The fleet's oldest deployable warship is nearing its goodbye. Jesse Ventura trial: Who's telling the truth? Jury gets case (Pioneer Press) It would take 11 witnesses and a decorated Navy SEAL lying under oath for Jesse Ventura's defamation claims against Chris Kyle to hold up, defense attorneys said Tuesday. Navy spouse fighting back to keep fitness program she founded (Stars & Stripes) Christina Landry has earned kudos for DumBell Fitness, her boot camp-style classes tailored for military spouses in the Honolulu area. AIR FORCEAirman killed in Fort Bragg accident 'wanted his life to make a difference'(Fayetteville Observer) Timothy Wright had been making final checks on his hiking equipment as he prepared to set off with his brothers for a 10-day backpacking tour through the picturesque hills of Canada. Bringing up the rear: The 5 worst bases in the Air Force (Air Force Times) Based on Air Force Times research, these are the five least-popular bases - from fifth worst to worst - to be stationed in the Air Force: Air Force launching satellites to spy on other satellites (Stars & Stripes) The Air Force is about to put a new advanced satellite into space to spy on other countries' satellites. MARINE CORPSSergeant major portrayed in 'Generation Kill' faces child sex charges(Marine Corps Times) A retired battalion sergeant major who was depicted in the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill," was arrested in Yuma, Arizona, and charged with sex offenses involving a minor. It's the second time in a month he has faced child sex abuse allegations. MIA Rush Marine to rest in Arlington (Daily Independent; Ashland, Ken.) Finding Dottie McCoy's uncle after 71 years was the biggest part of the struggle. Officer in segregated Marine Corps laid to rest in Roseburg military cemetery (News-Review; Rosenburg, Ore.) A World War II white officer who trained the country's first black Marines was laid to rest Monday at the Roseburg National Cemetery Annex. Maj. Joseph Giesel, 94, of Dorena died June 20 of age-related causes. Photos, details emerge of U.S. commandos working off new combat ship (Washington Post) The Marine Corps began preparing its Special Operations component in earnest for life after Afghanistan last year, joining a war game overseen by U.S. Special Operations Command designed to assess how its elite troops could better fit into U.S. maritime operations. Osprey to make rare EAA Oshkosh appearance (The Oshkosh Northwestern) What's been described as "one of the world's most unique military aircraft," the MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor, will return after a four-year hiatus at this year's AirVenture. IRAQIslamic State touts training camp in northern Iraq(Long War Journal) The Islamic State released several photographs of what it said are its training camps in Iraq's Ninewa province. The images are the latest in a propaganda effort by various terror groups in both Iraq and Syria to promote their training camp infrastructure. Iraqi Leader Maliki Loses Backing of Shiite Figure and Iran for New Term (Wall Street Journal) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is losing political support for his bid for a third term from core backers, including the country's Shiite religious establishment and ally Iran, say Iraqi officials. Iraqi Police Use Detentions to Blunt Militants (New York Times) The Iraqi security forces on Tuesday said they had briefly detained a woman near the city of Samarra who was said to be a relative of the leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, in part of intensifying campaign to find a lever against the advancing militant group. Iraq: Death toll from Baghdad attack rises to 31 (Associated Press) Iraqi officials say the death toll from a late night suicide attack targeting a police checkpoint in Baghdad has climbed to 31 people, most of them civilians. Najaf, Qom take different approaches in Iraq (Al-Monitor) Najaf and Qom have taken two different approaches in dealing with general political affairs in Shiite communities since the introduction of the idea of ??velayat-e faqih. AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANReport: Open-air burn pits still in use in Afghanistan(Military Times) Two incinerators at a joint Afghan-U.S. airbase have been underused, needlessly exposing troops to toxic pollution generated from open-air burn pits still in operation, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has found. Von der Leyen visits Afghanistan with pullout looming (Deutsche Welle) German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has landed in northern Afghanistan for an unannounced troop visit. Her second trip comes months before German soldiers are set to withdraw from the country. 13 suspected militants killed in fresh North Waziristan airstrikes (Dawn.com) At least 13 suspected militants were killed and their hideouts were destroyed Wednesday in air strikes carried out by fighter jets in the Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan. US: Pakistan's Offensive Pushes Out Haqqani Network (Voice of America) A top American diplomat says the United States believes Pakistan's counterinsurgency operation in North Waziristan has pushed the militant Haqqani network out of the country's restive tribal region in the northwest. EUROPEShelton: Russia's doubt over U.S. satellite capabilities shows 'desperation'(Air Force Times) Russian claims that the U.S. could not produce satellite images that show a surface-to-air missile shooting down the Malaysia Airlines jet on July 17 are statements of "desperation," the top Air Force space official said today. NATO commander: Equipment movement points to Russian role in plane crash (Stars & Stripes) NATO'S top military commander repeated U.S. claims that evidence linked Russian-backed separatists to the downing of a Malaysian passenger jet and said Russia provided military equipment and training to the rebels. In Washington, Spotlight Shifts to European Response to Malaysian Airliner Shootdown (Defense News) Senior US lawmakers are increasingly saying European powers must act to punish Russia for its role in the shootdown of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane in eastern Ukraine. Malaysia Flight 17 prosecution faces major evidentiary and legal obstacles (Washington Post) Despite mounting evidence that Russian-backed separatists downed a commercial aircraft over Ukraine last week, Western diplomats and law enforcement officials face significant obstacles prosecuting the culprits, according to current and former U.S. officials. Putin Warns Of Strengthening NATO Forces (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of NATO forces strengthening positions closer to Russia's border. The Polish Case For Tougher Russia Sanctions (National Public Radio) In the wake of the Malaysian airliner's downing, many Europeans are now calling for tougher sanctions against Russia. Among them is Radek Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, who explains to Robert Siegel why the West should ratchet up sanctions. Royal Navy's Illustrious Passes the Torch, Ends Career (Defense News) Illustrious, the second most famous commissioned warship in the Royal Navy, returned to Portsmouth naval base for the last time July 21, marking the end of a 32-year career for the helicopter carrier. ASIA-PACIFICJapan to Join U.S.-India Military Exercises(Wall Street Journal) Warships from India, Japan and the U.S. will participate in joint exercises in the Pacific Ocean near Japan starting Thursday-a sign of greater maritime cooperation among nations in Asia as they face a more assertive China. In China, Joining the Army Will Cost You (Bloomberg) To enlist in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), potential recruits have to take tests. To make sure their sons and daughters pass, families pay up. Parts of Chinese city in quarantine after plague death: Xinhua (Reuters) China has sealed off parts of its northwestern city of Yumen after a resident died of bubonic plague last week, state media reported on Tuesday. With the Election of Joko Widodo, Indonesia Writes a New Chapter (Time) Indonesians woke up Wednesday morning to something completely new: a President who did not hail from the political or military elite. AFRICABoko Haram gains ground(Long War Journal) Over the weekend, Boko Haram continued its assault on Damboa in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state, gaining ground while sending local villagers running for their lives. 11 parents of Nigeria's abducted girls die (Associated Press) In the three months since Islamic extremists kidnapped more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls, 11 of their parents have died, town residents say. Nigeria Air Force Helicopter Crashes In Restive Region (Agence France-Presse) A Nigerian helicopter crashed on Monday in an area where the military is battling Boko Haram Islamists, killing two of the three people on board, a statement said, but there was no indication the chopper was shot down by insurgents. Deadly suicide blasts hit Benghazi army base (Al Jazeera) At least four people have been killed in a double suicide bombing at an army base in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a security source has told Reuters news agency. COMMENTARY AND ANALYSISUnfinished business for former Iran hostage(Lynn Sweet in the Chicago Sun-Times) After 444 days as one of 52 hostages held captive in Tehran, seized by Iranian militants, Marine Sgt. Paul Lewis was released on Jan. 20, 1981. Lewis was soon back in Homer, the small Illinois town about 20 miles east of Champaign-Urbana where he was raised. The day after the town threw Lewis a parade, I interviewed him in his parents' living room about his ordeal. U.S. Military Superiority Requires Broader Supply Base, Real Acquisition Reform (Former Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn in Breaking Defense) The U.S. defense industry, being reshaped by declining post-war budgets, globalization, and the increased pace of technological change, must work with the Pentagon and take proactive steps to maintain our historic preeminence on the battlefield. How to save Iraq (Former Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Kenneth M. Pollack in The New Republic) The most important thing to understand about Iraq today is also the hardest. The country has fallen once more into civil war, a recurrence of the civil war of 2006-2008. In 2007-2008, the United States committed tremendous military and economic resources to pull Iraq out of that first instance of civil war. This time around, Washington has made clear that it will not devote anything like the same resources and there is no other country that can. A Cure For America's 'Iraq Syndrome' (Chris Miller in Cicero Magazine) America finds itself sitting on the fence in the debate over the use force in not one but two conflicts: Iraq and eastern Ukraine. Transforming NATO for Next Generation Challenges (Kathleen J. McInnis in War on the Rocks) As NATO's Heads of State and Government prepare to meet in Wales in September of this year, the organization truly finds itself grappling with a number of pressing strategic challenges. How to Target China's Vulnerabilities (Robert Sutter in Real Clear Defense) The Obama government's nuanced and multifaceted rebalance initiatives mesh well with regional priorities and promise growing security, economic, and political ties. By contrast, China, the only other possible competitor for regional leadership, pursues conflicted policies at odds with key regional concerns of independence, sovereignty, and stability. | |||||
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