Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES December 31, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. DoD braces for political battle over military pay (Military Times) The Pentagon is bracing for one of its biggest political battles in years as a blue-ribbon commission on military compensation and retirement nears the end of its two-year study and moves closer to releasing its proposals for change by Feb. 1.  2. Somalia Says Al-Shabaab Intelligence Head Killed in U.S. Strike (Bloomberg) A U.S. air-strike in southern Somalia killed the intelligence chief of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab Islamist militant Group three months after a similar attack eliminated the group's leader, Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency said.  3. The Tragedies of James Fallows (Cdr Salamander) It is easy at first blush to dismiss something by a speechwriter for Jimmy Carter being published in The Atlantic. That was my first reaction as well when I saw the headline from James Fallows's latest, The Tragedy of the American Military. The Atlantic. James Fallows. Yes, yes, yes; I know the terrain.  4. Green Berets cleared in Afghanistan friendly fire deaths (Washington Times) The Army's top special operations officer has cleared two Green Berets of wrongdoing in the worst case of "friendly fire" fatalities in the long Afghanistan war.  5. Congress Slaps Restrictions on Most Iraqi Training Funds (Defense News) Congress has approved an Obama administration plan to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State - but the White House won't get all the funds until it gives lawmakers a better sense of its plans.  ISLAMIC STATE 2-star on Iraq: 'Still a big fight going on here' (Army Times) U.S. and coalition forces have started to train Iraqi soldiers at four sites across the country even as more American troops prepare to deploy to join the growing fight against the Islamic State extremist group, a top general said Tuesday.  U.S. Troops, Back in Iraq, Train a Force to Fight ISIS (New York Times) The United States has begun training a first wave of Iraqi Army recruits, in recent days putting them through morning fitness exercises and instructing them in marksmanship and infantry tactics, in an effort to gather enough forces to mount a spring offensive against the extremists of the Islamic State.  The War Against ISIS, by the Numbers (Wall Street Journal) The numbers say a lot about the U.S.-led intervention in Syria.  Iraqi forces 'retake Dhuluiyah from ISIL' (Al Jazeera) Iraqi forces have completed the recapture of Dhuluiyah, parts of which had been held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for months, commanders have said.  Iran and Iraq Deepen Defense Ties, Sign Pact (Defense News) As the United States and a handful of allies begin flowing thousands of troops into Iraq to train and equip Iraqi and Kurdish army brigades, Baghdad and Tehran have signed an agreement to continue Iranian training of Iraqi units, according to a report from the Iranian Fars news agency.  Islamic State releases interview with captured Jordan pilot (Reuters) The hardline Islamic State group has released what it said was an interview with a Jordanian pilot captured last week after his plane crashed during U.S.-led coalition bombing in eastern Syria.  Iraqis bicker over liberating Mosul (Al-Monitor) Plans to liberate Mosul, a key stronghold of the Islamic State (IS), are gaining momentum in Iraq. Many Sunni Arabs who initially tolerated IS are now seeking revenge for its killing families and friends and confiscating their property. Sunni Arab forces are being organized, trained and armed in Erbil to counter IS with the cooperation of the Iraqi federal government, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the Mosul provincial council and the US-led coalition. Still, this effort is complicated by intra-Sunni Arab disputes over leadership and relations with Baghdad and the Kurds, as well as Kurdish disinterest in liberating and protecting Sunni Arab territories. These disputes highlight the challenges of not only degrading IS, but stabilizing Mosul in a highly fragmented Iraqi state.  INDUSTRY Defense 2015 Preview: Downturn Ends but Industry Troubles Not Over (National Defense) Pentagon contractors are entering the new year with a mix of caution and optimism. Military spending is about to hit bottom and is projected to inch up over the next several years. With Ashton Carter as defense secretary, the Pentagon gains a leader who has been an ardent critic of budget cuts and will again be on the front lines of that fight.   Navy orders laser mine detection system (C4ISR & Networks) Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $35.5 million Navy airborne laser mine detection contract.  Navy Advances Design for New Destroyer Radar (DoDBuzz) The Navy is making progress developing a more sensitive, next-generation radar system engineered to integrate onto new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers by 2023, service officials said.  Marty Meehan's D.C. links help fuel UMass Lowell's rise (Boston Globe) Since retiring from Congress in 2007 and taking over UMass Lowell, Meehan has presided over one of the most effective networks for securing taxpayer funds and corporate research dollars for a university, drawing especially from the Pentagon and defense companies such as Waltham-based Raytheon.  India Requires Russia, S. Korea to Partner With Local Firms in Helo Contest (Defense News) India's Defence Ministry has decided that South Korea and Russia must partner with Indian firms in order to take part in its helicopter competition, despite offers of complete technology transfer, according to an MoD source.  Saudi Arabia offers surplus F-5s for sale (IHS Jane's 360) Saudi Arabia is looking to offload its remaining Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II combat aircraft, according to a solicitation posted online on 18 December.  Report: Russia May Supply Su-24 Aircraft To Argentina In Exchange For Food (Defense News) Russia and Argentina are eyeing a deal under which Moscow would lease 12 Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer aircraft to Buenos Aires in return for beef and wheat, the London-based paper Sunday Express has claimed.  VETERANS A Veteran's Chemical Burns Expanded Military Doctors' Knowledge, but His Care Faltered (New York Times) Daniel Mould's sense of abandonment was profound.  Retired Marine sergeant major seeks answers for illness (Tampa Bay Times) The illness hit Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. William A. Hines in 2010 like no enemy he had ever experienced.  Veterans stunned by discovery of human remains on VFW grounds (Boston Herald) The grisly discovery of two sets of human remains on the grounds of a Brockton VFW has stunned members of the post, who say they've seen enough death.  All-terrain chair gives measure of freedom to wounded warrior (Fayetteville Observer) Injuries from a mortar blast that left a young soldier blinded and partially paralyzed, kept him from his favorite outdoor activities - until now.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Pentagon meets resistance on benefit cuts (The Hill) The Pentagon is planning another push to whittle down benefits for troops when it submits its 2016 budget to the White House in February over fierce opposition from military groups and some in Congress.  Pentagon, moving to close Guantanamo, sends five prisoners to Kazakhstan (Washington Post) The U.S. military has sent five detainees from the prison at Guantanamo Bay to Kazakhstan, the Pentagon announced late Tuesday, capping a year of intensified efforts by the Obama administration to shut down the detention center.  Pass-Through Contracts for War Zones Need Monitoring, GAO Finds (Government Executive) Three agencies working overseas that together spent $322 billion on contracting in fiscal 2013 need to improve guidance given contracting officers to reduce risk of overpayments, a watchdog found. Two-thirds of that money is funneled through prime contractors to smaller contractors who perform most of the work.  Intelligence, defense whistleblowers remain mired in broken system (McClatchy) When Ilana Greenstein blew the whistle on mismanagement at the CIA, she tried to follow all the proper procedures.  ARMY Virtual training upgrade with facial scans (Army Times) New technology, aimed at beefing up the Army's virtual training program, can capture vivid facial features down the pores of the skin.  Fort Carson exploring addition of armed drone unit (Colorado Springs Gazette) Under the plan, 12 Gray Eagle unmanned aerial systems and 128 soldiers would come to Fort Carson as part of a regiment that would belong to the post's combat aviation brigade. The Army is requesting public comment on the proposal, which details the aircraft, how and when they would operate and the necessary changes to accommodate them.  Ranger Regiment to decide whether weekend gunshots at JBLM lead to criminal charges (Tacoma News Tribune) The Army has not yet determined whether to pursue criminal charges against the soldier who reportedly fired a gun several times into the air at Joint Base Lewis-McChord early Sunday.  Hearing set for former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of rapes and murders; Ronald A. Gray is on military death row (Fayetteville Observer) A federal court in Kansas has set a February hearing for Ronald A. Gray, a former Fort Bragg soldier sitting on military death row for a series of rapes and murders that began nearly 30years ago.  NAVY LCS, P-8 Standing By to Help with Downed Airliner (DoDBuzz) U.S. Pacific Command has authorized the Navy's USS Fort Worth Littoral Combat Ship for potential assistance in ongoing search and recovery operations regarding AirAsia Flight QZ8501, Pentagon officials said.  Congress again denies SEALs "performance center" (Virginian-Pilot) For the second year in a row, Congress declined to pay for a couple of "Human Performance Centers" for Navy SEALs based in Hampton Roads.  U.S. allocates a whopping $65 million for new Guantanamo school (Miami Herald) The base with the most expensive prison on earth is getting one of the world's priciest schools - a $65 million building with classroom space for, at most, 275 kindergarten through high school students.  AIR FORCE Wing commander relieved of post in Germany (Air Force Times) The commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was relieved of command Tuesday over a loss of faith and confidence in his leadership.  Air Force captain dissents from military sex assault policy, and commanders take notice (Washington Post) With just a few weeks left in her Air Force career, Capt. Maribel Jarzabek decided to vent a little. She posted a few messages on a U.S. senator's Facebook page, supporting the lawmaker's push to overhaul the military justice system for sexual-assault cases.  Andrews Air Show to return in 2015 (Air Force Times) The popular Andrews Air Show will return in 2015, with a performance by the Air Force's Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.  Hans Mueh saying farewell to Air Force Falcons as athletic director (Denver Post) With a tip of his hat to the accomplishments of the Air Force football team this year, Hans Mueh is leaving his post as athletic director with peace of mind as well as anticipation of what will come in the next stage of his life.  MARINE CORPS IG investigation: Marine generals remain at odds over sniper video scandal (Washington Post) The recently retired commandant of the Marine Corps and a three-star general remain at odds over the handling of a scandal that bruised the commandant's reputation and led to allegations of abuse of power, according to the results of a Defense Department inspector general report obtained by The Washington Post.  Officer recommended for separation takes Marine Corps to court (Marine Corps Times) A New York district court judge has ordered the Marine Corps to answer allegations of wrongdoing in the administrative hearing of Maj. Jason Brezler, a Reserve civil affairs officer recommended for separation last year despite testimony from defenders who called him an exceptional Marine.  U.S. calls for release of Americans in Iran, denies swap deal (Reuters) The United States called on Tuesday for the release of U.S. citizens held in Iran, but denied a report that Washington had proposed a prisoner exchange for a former U.S. Marine.  Working dogs are Marines' new 'force multiplier' on ships (Marine Corps Times) Marine Corps military working dogs may be spending more time aboard ships after three highly trained canines returned from nearly nine-months at sea.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN McCain: Afghanistan on Verge of Becoming Another Iraq (Defense News) A top US senator is warning the Obama administration's plans for Afghanistan could lead to a repeat of the instability and violence that has plagued Iraq.  Afghans' War Remains Fierce After Coalition Ends Combat Mission (Wall Street Journal) For Haji Shir Khan, the war in Afghanistan has never been closer. In recent weeks, the Taliban beheaded his father and burned down his house as part of a violent offensive in his remote home valley.  Afghanistan conflict: Taliban declares 'defeat' of Nato (BBC) Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have declared the "defeat" of the US and its allies, a day after the coalition officially ended its combat mission.  Mumbai suspect rearrested in Pakistan (Associated Press) Pakistani police have rearrested the main suspect in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, officials said Tuesday, quashing expectations that he might soon be freed.  MIDDLE EAST Palestinian statehood resolution fails at U.N. council, U.S. votes against (Reuters) The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday rejected a Palestinian resolution calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state by late 2017.  Egypt-Qatar rapprochement rattles Hamas (Al-Monitor) At a time when Hamas is mending its relationship with Iran, Egypt and Qatar are also in the process of rapprochement after more than a year of tension. Resumed ties between them will likely have an impact on Hamas, but questions remain as to whether the Palestinian Islamist movement stands to gain or lose from this important regional development.  Saudi Arabia reportedly blocks arms shipment from Pakistan to Nigeria (IHS Jane's 360) Saudi Arabia is refusing to allow cargo aircraft loaded with defence items to fly from Pakistan to Nigeria through its airspace, This Day reported on 29 December.  Large Explosion Targets Yemeni Shiite Rebels (Associated Press) Witnesses say a strong explosion has struck a gathering of Shiite rebels in the central Yemeni city of Ibb.  EUROPE Russia threatens to halt cooperation with U.S. on Iran, Syria (Los Angeles Times) Russia warned Tuesday that it may halt cooperation with the United States on Iran and Syria in response to a continuing stream of U.S. sanctions.  Putin foe Alexei Navalny avoids jail but decries Kremlin for punishing his brother (Washington Post) President Vladi-mir Putin's foremost opponent defiantly challenged the Kremlin on Tuesday evening, hours after a court ruling that seemed cunningly designed to keep him in check.  Russia says Ukraine deal to buy U.S. nuclear fuel poses safety risks (Los Angeles Times) Russia's Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of endangering public safety in Europe with its decision to buy nuclear fuel for its Soviet-built nuclear plants from a U.S. supplier, saying Ukrainian leaders had failed to learn anything from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster about safe nuclear energy usage.  Backlash in Berlin over NSA spying recedes as threat from Islamic State rises (Washington Post) In a crescendo of anger over American espionage, Germany expelled the CIA's top operative, launched an investigation of the vast U.S. surveillance programs exposed by Edward Snowden and extracted an apology from President Obama for the years that U.S. spies had reportedly spent monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cellphone.  AFRICA 11 Wounded in Bombing Outside Libyan Parliament in Tobruk (Voice of America) A suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside the hotel where Libya's internationally recognized parliament was in session in the eastern city of Tobruk on Tuesday, wounding three deputies and at least eight others, the assembly's spokesman said.  Ansar al Sharia Libya showcases spoils of war, key personalities in video (Long War Journal) Ansar al Sharia, an al Qaeda-linked group in Libya, has released a six-minute-long video showing its spoils won during a recent battle against forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar. The group claims to have captured tanks and heavy armaments during a Dec. 26 raid on one of Haftar's camps.  'A Ground Invasion of the Capital Is Imminent' (Foreign Policy) All-out war is coming to Libya, as rebel militias and a government-in-hiding begin a battle for control of the country.  Gambia president returns home after reports of attempted coup (Reuters) Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh arrived back in Banjul on Wednesday, official sources said, one day after gunfire erupted around the presidential palace and the government denied media reports of a coup attempt.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Rebrand it however you want, but Afghanistan is still at war (Max Boot in The Los Angeles Times) Imagine President Franklin Roosevelt announcing at the end of 1944, after the liberation of France but before the final defeat of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, that World War II was over and that U.S. forces were ending combat operations. Instead we would support our allies, from Britain to China, in their fight against the Axis powers.  This Is The Way Afghanistan Officially Ends - With An Absolute Whimper (Brian Adam Jones in Task & Purpose) The war in Afghanistan, the longest war in American history, formally ended Dec. 28, 2014. Leaders of the International Security Assistance Force lowered and cased their flags in a quiet ceremony in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Should anyone wonder how the end of the war in Afghanistan impacts the American consciousness, they need look no farther than how the nation's publication of record, the New York Times, covered the occasion.  It ain't over 'til it's over. (Doctrine Man) Doctrine Man!!'s Photos  Kabul was eerie and dangerous under the Taliban. It feels that way again. (Pamela Constable in The Washington Post) Many winters ago, I stood in a vast, empty intersection of central Kabul. The only sounds were the jingle of passing horse carts and the ticking spokes of old bicycles. There were no other Westerners on the streets, and all eyes were upon me. Despite being wrapped in many layers of modest clothing, I felt naked.  The Afghan war that didn't really end yesterday ended in defeat (Dan Murphy in the Christian Science Monitor) None of the claimed long term objectives for the war in Afghanistan, either from the Bush or Obama administrations, have been achieved.   Blunt-Force Military Cuts Need Revisiting (Norbert R. Ryan Jr. in The Wall Street Journal) With new congressional leadership stepping into key defense oversight committees and subcommittees, this is the right time for Congress to address budget sequestration and its effects on military personnel. Balancing the nation's budget on the backs of those in the uniformed services is unacceptable.  Needed Now: A Realistic Strategy Force Structure for the 21st Century (Harlan Ullman in War on the Rocks) Congress has finally passed, and President Barack Obama signed, a defense bill for fiscal year 2015. With the base budget ($496 billion) and add-ons for overseas contingency operations (OCO) and a presidential increase, defense spending will come in at about $600 billion or so. And the Pentagon hopes that sequestration, which cuts half a trillion dollars from defense over 10 years, will be reversed.  Rethinking The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (Air Force Col. Robert S. Spalding III and Adam Lowther in Breaking Defense) The United States Air Force needs to replace the Minuteman III ICBM fleet at the three nuclear missile bases in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. Critics decry the cost of a proposed replacement, thought to be in the range of several hundred billion dollars. Their main argument against replacing ICBMs is not the cost of replacing the Minuteman III. The critics say we just don't need them. They are, they say, a "Cold War relic."  John Kerry won't call the Islamic State by its name anymore. Why that's not a good idea. (Shadi Hamid and Will McCants in The Washington Post) "Daesh claims to be fighting for Islam but its actions are an insult to Islam," Secretary of State John F. Kerry said recently, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.  Denial And Disinformation Will Shape Future Warfare (Bill Sweetman in Aviation Week) 2014 was a year in which world peace broke out as long as your standard for conflict was declared and open war between nation-states. The actual picture was very different, with two major wars in the Middle East and a European state facing the real threat of being dismantled.  Pie: Europe Must Cooperate on Research, Priorities (Jan Pie, secretary-general, AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe, in Defense News) Europe is not in good shape. The economic situation differs greatly among individual EU member states, but Europe as a whole was hard hit by the financial crisis and is still struggling to find its way back to sustainable growth.

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Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES December 30, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. Pentagon discloses airstrike against senior Somali militant leader (Los Angeles Times) The United States launched an airstrike against a senior Shabab militia leader in southwestern Somalia on Monday, a Pentagon spokesman disclosed.  2. U.S. allocates a whopping $65 million for new Guantanamo school (Miami Herald) The base with the most expensive prison on earth is getting one of the world's priciest schools - a $65 million building with classroom space for, at most, 275 kindergarten through high school students.  3. Allen: Degrading and Defeating ISIL (Retired Gen. John Allen in Defense News) In early June of this year, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters poured down the Tigris Valley. Multiple cities fell. The northern approaches to Baghdad were exposed to ISIL. Iraq was under siege, poorly governed and alone in the world.  4. Afghans are on their own in fight against Taliban (USA Today) The Afghans are hearing "no" a lot these days as they take over the 13-year-old war against the Taliban militants this week. "They're going to have to stand on their own," says Army Maj. Gen. John Murray, the deputy commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  5. The Tragedy of the American Military (The Atlantic) The American public and its political leadership will do anything for the military except take it seriously. The result is a chickenhawk nation in which careless spending and strategic folly combine to lure America into endless wars it can't win.  ISLAMIC STATE US-led forces hammer ISIS with 18 airstrikes (The Hill) A U.S.-led coalition on Monday carried out 18 airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to Defense Department officials.  Iraqi security forces recapture large sections of Dhuluiya town (Reuters) Iraqi security forces and pro-government militias took control of large parts of the Tigris River town of Dhuluiya north of Baghdad on Monday from Islamic State fighters, police and army sources said.  Backlash in Berlin over NSA spying recedes as threat from Islamic State rises (Washington Post) Over the past year, Germany has secretly provided detailed information to U.S. spy services on hundreds of German citizens and legal residents suspected of having joined insurgent groups in Syria and Iraq, U.S. and German officials said.  INDUSTRY Eighth GPS IIF satellite operational (C4ISR & Networks) Boeing has only four more launches to go.  Beretta wants to be U.S. Army's new gun. Again. (CNNMoney) Beretta is not going to step aside without a fight. It is entering the competition with a new design -- the M9A3.  Rethinking The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (Robert Spalding and Adam Lowther in Breaking Defense) The United States Air Force needs to replace the Minuteman III ICBM fleet at the three nuclear missile bases in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota.   Radar testing for JLENS aerostat (UPI) Raytheon is doing final testing of radars aboard a JLENS aerostat that will help protect the National Capital Region against cruise missiles, drones and other aircraft.  Battle info mobilizes with WIN-T, POP vehicles (C4ISR & Networks) If the Network Integration Evaluation 15.1, held in October and November at Fort Bliss, Texas, showed anything, it is that Warfighter Information Network - Tactical Increment 2 will greatly expand the reach of information in harsh conditions.  Lockheed opens MUOS development facility (C4ISR & Networks) Lockheed Martin offers MUOS terminal makers a collaborative development and testing environment.  Electric Boat gets biggest contract ever (The Day) In April, the Navy awarded the largest single shipbuilding contract in its history to Electric Boat for the construction of 10 Virginia-class nuclear-attack submarines.  VETERANS Wounded troops battle obstacles to sex and intimacy (Military Times) Aaron Causey is among an unprecedented number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans - 1,291 - who received devastating injuries to their groins, genitalia, bowels, buttocks and urinary tracts and lived to endure the recovery, from ongoing struggles with the psychological impact of losing all or a portion of one's penis or testicles to sexual dysfunction, infertility and other medical concerns.  Veterans look back on Afghanistan, Iraq odyssey with strong emotions (Stars and Stripes) With pride, weariness, nostalgia and some bitterness, veterans are looking back at a 13-year odyssey of war. Those deployed in Afghanistan have a front-row seat to a transition from a campaign that, along with Iraq, defined the post-9/11 military generation and permanently altered many veterans' lives, for better or worse.  Female veterans battling PTSD from sexual trauma fight for redress (Washington Post) Thousands of female veterans are struggling to get health-care treatment and compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the grounds that they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder caused by sexual trauma in the military. The veterans and their advocates call it "the second battle" - with a bureaucracy they say is stuck in the past.  WWII vet, 102, gets replacements for medals he lost (Tampa Tribune) No one is quite sure when Frank Bartlett lost the five medals he earned while serving in World War II, but Monday they were finally replaced.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Afghanistan War officially ends (Military Times) Operation Enduring Freedom, the worldwide combat mission launched shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that eventually became synonymous with the 13-year war in Afghanistan, officially ended Sunday.  Military pay commission poised to issue recommendations (The Hill) A congressionally appointed commission studying military pay and compensation reform is preparing to issue recommendations in the coming weeks, a spokesman for the panel said Monday.  Report: Payday lenders find loopholes in military loans (Military Times) Payday lenders with new loan products are again preying on military families and creating headaches for the armed forces, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said in a new report Monday.  McCain: Obama should ditch 'calendar-driven' Afghan withdrawal (The Hill) Fresh from spending Christmas Day in Afghanistan, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is urging the White House to abandon its strict schedule for the withdrawal of American troops from the country.  Keeping the Pentagon's Challenges in Perspective (Time) Given that this debate has teeter-tottered since the end of the Cold War, a quarter-century ago, without resolution, perhaps it's time to ask a different question: is the U.S. military spending its money on the right stuff?  ARMY Soldiers Relocate Wedding to Accommodate Obama's Golf Game (Bloomberg) Natalie Heimel and her fiance, Edward Mallue Jr., a pair of captains in the Army, were walking from their wedding rehearsal on Saturday at the 16th tee box at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course in Hawaii when they were informed they'd have to move their wedding, scheduled for the next day. President Barack Obama wanted to play through.  Army apps help spread sex-assault prevention message (Army Times) Smartphone apps designed to put suicide and sex-assault prevention information at a soldier's fingertips have rolled out at 15 Army installations, and more are on the way.  Dredging makes room for 'Army's Navy' at Fort Eustis (Daily Press) It's been more than 15 months since the 7th Transportation Expeditionary Brigade's largest ocean-going tugboat has been able to dock at Fort Eustis.  Army recruit overcomes small stature to be leader (Montgomery Advertiser ) Twenty-year-old Marie Sabillo, an enlisted Army recruit and a BrewTech graduate, had a rough start in military basic training, but her sights are aimed at becoming the first female Army general to earn four stars.  NAVY U.S. Destroyer Donald Cook Returns to Black Sea (USNI News) The forward deployed U.S. destroyer that was buzzed by Russian fighters in April has returned to the Black Sea, according to photographs of the ship crossing through the Bosphorus.  2015 outlook: SEALs to unveil decision on women's roles (Navy Times) Special warfare is the only Navy branch closed to women, but 2015 is the year in which officials hammer out whether they'll integrate female sailors into the elite SEAL and Special Warfare Combatant Crewman communities.  Navy destroyer joins search for missing AirAsia jet (Associated Press) The Navy said Monday it is sending a ship to the general search area to support search operations. The Navy's 7th Fleet said it is sending the USS Sampson, a San Diego, California-based destroyer that was already deployed to the western Pacific.  Navy Advances Design for New Destroyer Radar (DoDBuzz) The Navy is making progress developing a more sensitive, next-generation radar system engineered to integrate onto new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers by 2023, service officials said.  Man still paying for wife's portrait bought in 1951 (Virginian-Pilot) Listen up, married fellas. Norman Hammond has a story for you.Hammond was a newlywed in the early 1950s when he learned a lesson about marriage and forgiveness and, well, knowing a thing or two about your wife.The 90-year-old and his wife, Doris, 86, can laugh about it now; the mistake made when he commissioned a portrait of her during a Navy deployment to the Mediterranean about 64 years ago.  AIR FORCE Need to know, 2015: Bigger role for reserves (Air Force Times) The Air Force has a Feb. 2 deadline to tell Congress how it will reshape itself.  Need to know, 2015: SAPR training (Air Force Times) The Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, headed by Maj. Gen. Gina Grosso at the Pentagon, will not direct a stand-down day in 2015.  KC-46A Test Plane Completes First Flight (Defense News) The KC-46A Pegasus tanker program hit an important milestone Sunday with the successful first flight of its engineering test plane.  Air Guard readies for busy year, fight to stay relevant (The News Journal) It'll be the state Air Guard's busiest year since 2007, officials say.  MARINE CORPS Need to know, 2015: A new sergeant major (Marine Corps Times) Perhaps one of the most anticipated announcements early in the new year will be the selection of a new sergeant major of the Marine Corps  Family of murdered Marine suing military over alleged cover-up (Fox News ) The family of murdered Marine Greg Buckley just wants answers.   Troubled Marine vet featured in story about songwriting vets found dead (Associated Press) A New York man featured in an Associated Press account of veterans coping with trauma through songwriting was found dead Sunday, the same day the story was published.  The year ahead: What every Marine needs to know (Marine Corps Times) Here's a closer look at what's tracking for the drawdown, changes in aviation, women in combat, marksmanship training, and more in 2015.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN Taliban: U.S. Leaving Afghanistan in 'Defeat' (Foreign Policy) A day after the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force held a low-key ceremony in a heavily guarded military compound to mark the formal end of its combat mission in Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents on Monday mockingly accused the United States and its NATO allies of leaving the country in defeat after a long and costly 13-year military campaign.  Russia Drafts Agreement On Afghan Arms Supplies (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Russia is drafting a framework agreement that would govern supplies of weapons to Afghanistan.  Afghans decry economic and security woes (Al Jazeera) A day after a NATO-led coalition formally ended combat operations after 13 years of war, Afghanistan's government continues to struggle making basic governance decisions amid a worsening security and economic situation. Ordinary Afghans are increasingly becoming fed up.  Meet Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the Pentagon's new mission in Afghanistan (Washington Post) There's another related mission also now underway: Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement Sunday that will include two core components: working with allies and partners on Resolute Support, and continuing "counterterrorism operations against the remnants of Al-Qaeda to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used to stage attacks against our homeland."  MIDDLE EAST The Cost of the U.S. Ban on Paying for Hostages (New York Times) The challenge of dealing with hostages has grown more acute and complicated over the past year with the rise of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, which has beheaded hostages from nations that have refused to pay ransoms.  Palestinians to ask U.N. for recognition of statehood and demand end to occupation (Washington Post) Arab nations on Monday endorsed a Palestinian proposal for the U.N. Security Council to set a 2017 deadline for Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank, a return to the borders before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and recognition of a Palestinian state, according to Jordanian and Palestinian officials.  This Oil Map Answers The First Question Everyone Asks When Turmoil Hits The Middle East (Business Insider ) When turmoil hits the Middle East, one of the first questions everyone asks is: "How much oil is at risk?"  EUROPE No military solution to Ukraine conflict, country's president concedes (Los Angeles Times) Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko conceded Monday that his forces are unable to militarily defeat separatists backed by Russian mercenaries and armaments, and he called for a new attempt at negotiating an end to the fighting at an international summit on Jan. 15.  Secret papers: UK studied chemical weapons buildup in 1980s (Associated Press) Newly released official papers show that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government considered rebuilding Britain's chemical weapons arsenal in the face of a Soviet threat in the early 1980s.  US Adds Four Russian Officials to Sanctions List (Voice of America) The United States imposed sanctions Monday on four more Russian officials, including two in Chechnya, for alleged human rights violations.  ASIA-PACIFIC U.S. Filled Okinawa With Bases And Japan Kept Them There: Okinawans Again Say No (Doug Bandow in Forbes ) Washington is determined to preserve every base and deployment, no matter how archaic. Such as the many military facilities in Okinawa, which risks sinking under the plethora of American installations, runways, materiel, and personnel. No wonder the Okinawan people again voted against being conscripted as one of Washington's most important military hubs.  FBI briefed on alternate Sony hack theory (Politico) FBI agents investigating the Sony Pictures hack were briefed Monday by a security firm that says its research points to laid-off Sony staff, not North Korea, as the perpetrator - another example of the continuing whodunit blame game around the devastating attack.  Monument unveiled in Korea for Medal of Honor recipient Emil Kapaun (Stars & Stripes) A chaplain who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for refusing to abandon troops during combat finally has been recognized with a monument in the country where he died more than six decades ago.  AFRICA Cameroon bombs Boko Haram positions (Al Jazeera) Cameroon's air force has bombed Boko Haram positions in the Far North province of the country for the first time after the armed group from neighbouring Nigeria seized a military camp, the government has said  Liberia reports dozens of new Ebola cases on border (Associated Press) Dozens of new Ebola cases have erupted in Liberia, near the border with Sierra Leone, Liberian health officials warned Monday, marking a setback amid recent improvements.  After Slow Ebola Response, WHO Seeks to Avoid Repeat (Wall Street Journal) The tepid initial response to West Africa's Ebola outbreak exposed holes in the global health system so gaping it has prompted the World Health Organization to consider steps to prevent a repeat, including emergency-response teams and a fund for public-health crises.  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS The South Will Rise Again (Dafna H. Rand in Foreign Policy) Syria's civil war is heading toward a point of no return. Advances by the Islamic State (IS) in eastern and northern Syria and the resurgence of other jihadi organizations in northwestern Syria are pushing the remnants of the so-called "moderate" armed opposition squarely into the Syrian regime's line of fire. Any hope that a secular, nationalist movement can govern post-Assad Syria is rapidly waning.  Gun Trouble (Retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales in The Atlantic) The rifle that today's infantry uses is little changed since the 1960s-and it is badly flawed. Military lives depend on these cheap composites of metal and plastic. So why can't the richest country in the world give its soldiers better ones?  The Real Reason For The Poor State Of Military Morale (Task & Purpose) Recently, the Military Times published an article about the declining morale of the armed forces. It hit a big nerve, and rightfully so. A military with poor morale is a military that fights poorly. This should be a huge wake-up call to the senior uniformed and civilian military leadership.  Suffering in Silence (Medium.com ) I get why someone might be afraid to allow someone with "mental health" problems be in the military. As a leader, I can't be completely blind to the complexities.  Do buffer zones deter wars? (Lionel Beehner in USA Today ) In terms of diffusing the crises in Syria and Ukraine, a buffer zone, while attractive, is at best a Band-Aid solution. If Russia gobbles up Ukraine's eastern flank, that might prevent a wider war tomorrow, but it could just postpone conflict for another day. Similarly in Syria, a no-fly zone might ease tensions with Turkey in the short term, but that does not arrest the violence or do anything to bring President Bashar Assad to the table.

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Early Bird Brief

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COMPILED BY THE EDITORS OF DEFENSE NEWS & MILITARY TIMES December 29, 2014 THE EARLY BIRD BRIEF Get the most comprehensive aggregation of defense news delivered by the world's largest independent newsroom covering military and defense. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S TOP 5 1. In 2015, Army will lose nearly 20,000 soldiers in drawdown (Army Times) The Army stands to lose 18,200 soldiers in the drawdown plan for 2015, through attrition and reduced accessions, but also with retention screening boards that may lead to soldiers being forced out.  2. Bin Laden 'Shooter' Under Investigation for Leaking Secrets (The Daily Beast) The former Navy SEAL who ignited a controversy when he publicly claimed credit for killing Osama bin Laden is under investigation for possibly leaking official secrets, The Daily Beast has learned.  3. U.S. slow to support Iraqi tribes in the fight against the Islamic State (David Ignatius in The Washington Post) Watching events unfold in Iraq this year has been like viewing a slow-motion train wreck. Iraqi tribal leaders have been warning since spring about the rise of the terrorist Islamic State and pleading for American help. But after months of slaughter, the United States is only now beginning to build an effective tribal-assistance program.  4. Fired Phoenix VA chief Helman took secret gifts (Arizona Republic) As Arizona military veterans waited months for doctor appointments in a broken health-care system, then-Phoenix VA hospital Director Sharon Helman went on a weeklong vacation to Disneyland secretly financed by an industry lobbyist, according to an administrative-law judge and documents obtained by The Arizona Republic.  5. Inside the War Against Islamic State (Wall Street Journal) A retired four-star Marine Corps general, now the U.S. 'special envoy' in the war against the terrorist army, on reasons for optimism even as a long fight looms.  DEFENSE NEWS WITH VAGO MURADIAN Lessons from World War I (Defense News) Harlan Ullman, author of "A Handfull of Bullets," discusses how the first World War affects us today.  Top Books for the New Year (Defense News) Ryan Evans, editor of the "War on the Rocks" website, discusses his top books to check out in the new year.  Leadership Lessons from Adm. Rickover (Defense News) Retired Navy Rear Adm. Dave Oliver, author of "Against the Tide," discusses what we can from Adm. Hyman Rickover, the "Father of the Nuclear Navy."  Vago's Notebook: Rickover's Vision (Defense News) Nuclear-powered US Navy ships are a testament to Adm. Hyman Rickover's success.  CONGRESS Confirmation hearings for Ash Carter tops Senate agenda (Military Times) The top issue on the Senate agenda to kick off the new congressional session in 2015 will be confirmation hearings for Ash Carter, President Obama's nominee to replace Chuck Hagel as his defense secretary, a process that is expected to move quickly - but not necessarily calmly.  Lone opponent of Afghanistan war feels vindicated (The Hill) Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was the lone 'no' vote in Congress against the war in Afghanistan in 2001, voting against an authorization for use of military force (AUMF) shortly after the 9/11 attacks.  Inhofe: Gitmo release will 'embolden terrorists' (The Hill) Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) is bashing President Obama for releasing four more Guantanamo Bay detainees, arguing that the move will "embolden terrorists."  ISLAMIC STATE Islamic State kills Qods Force general in central Iraq (Long War Journal) An Islamic State sniper gunned down a general in Iran's Qods Force who was advising Iraqi troops and Shiite militias in the battleground city of Samarra in central Iraq.  The U.S. and Iran are aligned in Iraq against the Islamic State - for now (Washington Post) Iranian military involvement has dramatically increased in Iraq over the past year as Tehran has delivered desperately needed aid to Baghdad in its fight against Islamic State militants, say U.S., Iraqi and Iranian sources. In the eyes of Obama administration officials, equally concerned about the rise of the brutal Islamist group, that's an acceptable role - for now.  Worse than Islamic State? Concerns rise about Iraq's Shiite militias. (Christian Science Monitor) A former aide to General David Petraeus warns that as the Pentagon prepares to send another 1,500 US troops to Iraq to help "destroy" the Islamic State fighters, there may be an even greater danger that forces face: Iranian-backed Shiite militias.  In Battle to Defang ISIS, U.S. Targets Its Psychology (New York Times) Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought help this summer in solving an urgent problem for the American military: What makes the Islamic State so dangerous?  In Kurdistan, McCain vows efforts to arm Peshmerga (Rudaw) In a meeting with the Kurdish prime minister on Saturday, US Senator John McCain applauded the Peshmerga forces and the people of Kurdistan for their resistance against the Islamic State (ISIS).  McCain: 'We are literally doing everything the Iraqi government has requested.' (Washington Post) Once a proponent of sending in specialized troops to help the Iraqi army battle the Islamic State, McCain, after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said ground troops are "not what they [the Iraqis] need."  Official: Jordanian pilot shot down by Islamic State (Defense News) A Jordanian security official has confirmed to Defense News that a Jordanian pilot was shot down by Islamic State forces in Syria Dec. 24.  Anti-ISIS Operation Gets Its Own Inspector General (Government Executive) Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military's campaign of airstrikes coupled with training of local troops to degrade the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, now has its own inspector general to watch for waste in the effort.  No Way Out for Iraqis Who Helped U.S. in War (Wall Street Journal) The first emails from Iraq landed in John Kael Weston 's inbox while he was eating breakfast at a Utah ski resort. Islamic Statefighters had just seized Fallujah, and the former State Department diplomat fired off a worried message to the Iraqi policeman who helped him over and over again during the war's darkest days.  Islamic State executed nearly 2,000 people in six months: monitor (Reuters) The Islamic State militant group has killed 1,878 people in Syria during the past six months, the majority of them civilians, a British-based Syrian monitoring organization said on Sunday.  The Islamic State is failing at being a state (Washington Post) The Islamic State's vaunted exercise in state-building appears to be crumbling as living conditions deteriorate across the territories under its control, exposing the shortcomings of a group that devotes most of its energies to fighting battles and enforcing strict rules.  Grisly finds in Iraqi Yazidi village wrested from militants (Associated Press) After he fled from this tiny northern Iraqi hamlet four months ago, Hayder Khalef got panicked phone calls from his relatives who had remained behind. They were at that moment being led by Islamic State group gunmen toward a checkpoint on the edge of town.  Inside Isis: The first Western journalist ever to be given access to the 'Islamic State' has just returned - and this is what he discovered (The Independent) The first Western journalist in the world to be allowed extensive access to Isis territories in Syria and Iraq has returned from the region with a warning: the group is "much stronger and much more dangerous" than anyone in the West realises.  Iraq faces new crisis as winter descends on millions uprooted by Islamic State (Washington Post) For three years, he worked closely with U.S. forces in Iraq. Now Ammar Younes sits in his frigid tent in a camp in Iraq's Kurdish region, using a scalpel to gouge pieces of shrapnel out of his mangled legs as his young children look on.  The Child Soldiers Who Escaped Islamic State (Wall Street Journal) Jomah, a 17-year-old Syrian who joined Islamic State last year, sat in a circle of trainees for a lesson in beheading, a course taught to boys as young as 8.  INDUSTRY Army Awards AMPV to BAE Systems, Future Fights Loom (Defense News) The US Army surprised no one by awarding BAE Systems a contract on Dec. 23 potentially worth $1.2 billion to begin building the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)  General Atomics wins Reaper, Predator support contract (C4ISR & Networks) General Atomics has won a $375.2 million Air Force contract to support the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs.  The Military Wants Smarter Insect Spy Drones (Defense One) The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency put out a broad agency announcement this week seeking software solutions to help small drones fly better in tight enclosed environments. The Fast Lightweight Autonomy program, the agency said, "focuses on creating a new class of algorithms to enable small, unmanned aerial vehicles to quickly navigate a labyrinth of rooms, stairways and corridors or other obstacle-filled environments without a remote pilot."  Air Force seeks electronic warfare roadmap (C4ISR & Networks) The Air Force is searching for a roadmap for new electronic warfare receivers.  Thales Picks New Chaiman, CEO (Defense News) Thales has appointed Henri Proglio as chairman and Patrice Caine as chief executive, with the appointments to be confirmed at a shareholders meeting in February, the defense electronics company said Tuesday.  Seafort Advisors buys shipyard from ThyssenKrupp (IHS Jane's 360) German companies Seafort Advisors and ThyssenKrupp announced on 23 December that they had reached an agreement for the sale of the Emder Werft und Dockbetriebe shipyard in Emden. The two did not disclose terms of the deal, although a press release said it is expected to close during the first quarter of 2015.  Thales, MBDA Close in on Polish Missile Defense Deal (Defense News) Thales and European missile maker MBDA have signed two letters of intent for cooperation with their local partner Wojskowe Zak��ady Uzbrojenia (WZU) as part of a joint bid for Poland's Wisla air defense system, the defense electronics company said Monday.  German Gunmaker Looks to South African Exports (Wall Street Journal) German government restrictions on arms exports are squeezing the country's defense industry. But weapons maker Rheinmetall AG is sidestepping politicians in Berlin by investing in a new munitions development center in South Africa.  Poland's submarine replacement plan now 'very difficult to execute', says squadron 2i/c (IHS Jane's 360) The deputy commander of the Polish Navy's Submarine Squadron has warned that the force faces a bleak future - and possibly even disbandment - if the government fails to order new vessels soon.  Israel Navy to Expand Undersea, Surface Force (Defense News) The Israel Navy is finalizing plans to integrate a fifth Dolphin-class submarine and a new fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) into its operational force structure in the first few months of the coming year.  Raytheon receives much-awaited Qatari Patriot contract (IHS Jane's 360) Raytheon has been awarded a long-anticipated USD2.379 billion Foreign Military Sales contract to provide Qatar with 10 Patriot fire units and spares.  Israel, Germany Seal Offshore Patrol Vessel Deal (Defense News) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel has concluded a long-awaited naval procurement deal with Germany.  Taiwan shows off UAVs (C4ISR & Networks) Taiwan's military displayed its unmanned capabilities this week.  Turkey Receives Second A400M (Defense News) Turkey has received its second A400M tactical transport aircraft, the country's procurement office announced Tuesday.  Indonesia mulls Be-200 amphibious aircraft for maritime patrols (IHS Jane's 360) The Indonesian Air Force (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) has submitted a request to President Joko Widodo to acquire at least one amphibious jet for the service, TNI-AU Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Ida Bagus Putu Dunia told local reporters on 22 December.  Iveco Cuts 80-Vehicle Deal With Lebanon (Defense News) Italy's Iveco has signed an agreement to sell 80 military and police vehicles to Lebanon, an Italian industrial source has said.  VETERANS General Chiarelli's Brain Crusade (Politico) How one Army officer raised the nation's consciousness about head injuries.  Post-retirement MBA leads to infantry vet's global job (Military Times) As director of security operations at Boston-based Global Rescue, Retired Army Lt. Col. Scott Hume is part of a team that assembles emergency support for a range of circumstances worldwide  Key JPAC scientific experts to be cut in reform (Associated Press) A program that provides dozens of scientists and other experts to the Hawaii-based Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command is being cut.  Aviator-turned-CEO carved a path to his dream job (Military Times) How do you launch a successful startup in a floundering economy while still having fun and staying true to yourself and your family?  Former Fort Bragg Gen. Dan McNeill helps bring his fallen brother home at last (Fayetteville Observer) A chilly rain bounced off the tarmac as former Fort Bragg Gen. Dan McNeill watched an honor guard unload his brother's flag-draped coffin from a 737.  Bringing POW's journey through hell to light (Military Times) Opening on Christmas Day, the movie "Unbroken," which marks Angelina Jolie's directorial debut, is based on the book of the same name about Louis Zamperini, whose World War II experiences bring a new definition to the word "harrowing."  Makers of 'American Sniper' press ahead to tell a tale of war and home (Los Angeles Times) Jason Hall had just turned in his first draft of a script about Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. Bradley Cooper, who was producing the film and had agreed to star, was at a screening of "Silver Linings Playbook" for a group of veterans in Washington.  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IG: Investigations of military child deaths flawed (Military Times) In a review of how the military investigates child deaths, the Pentagon's Inspector General found that 71 percent of criminal probes of child fatalities were flawed because investigators did not follow all required procedures, according to a new IG report.  Pentagon Set to Resume Special Foreign-born Recruiting Program (Military.com) After a months-long hiatus, a special immigration program designed to attract recruits with certain skills will be up and running once more in the next several weeks.  Defense Secretary Nominee Forms Circle of Advisers (Defense One) The Pentagon has already announced the formation of a transition team for Ashton Carter, nominated to replace Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, including Hagel Chief of Staff Rexon Ryu and an Assistant Secretary of Defense, Michael Lumpkin. But Defense One's The D Brief has been told that Carter has designated his own small team of advisers, three people who will assist him from outside of the building through a confirmation process that is expected to run through at least the third or fourth week of January.  Can Carter make a defense difference? (Politico) Ash Carter faces a double-barreled challenge if he's the next Defense secretary: leading a Pentagon handicapped by a Congress unwilling to go along with military-proposed spending reforms and working within the Obama administration that's notorious for managing military affairs from the White House.  Preparing to ship POVs in 2015 (Military Times) After all the problems service members had getting their personal vehicles shipped during overseas permanent change-of-station moves in 2014, U.S. Transportation Command officials intend to avoid a repeat in 2015.  Rivals in military religious freedom dispute say rule is unclear (Stars & Stripes) Faith in Jesus might not be your solution, an Army Ranger chaplain told members of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion in a mandatory suicide prevention briefing last month, but that's what helped him through his struggle with depression.  ARMY SFCs get disqualification notices by mistake (Army Times) An administrative error has resulted in several sergeants first class of the Regular Army being erroneously notified they are not eligible for consideration by the fiscal 2015 active-component master sergeant promotion board that convenes Feb. 10.  Utah Guard soldier among first women headed to elite Ranger school (Associated Press) A Utah National Guard solider will be among a handful of women going to the grueling U.S. Army Ranger school as part of the first steps toward integrating the elite combat unit.  Bergdahl's case offers few options for Army (Military Times) As Army leaders consider how to handle the former Taliban captive who is accused of misconduct, their options are narrowed by an obscure personnel regulation: Because the former prisoner of war's term of enlistment expired during his five years in captivity, the Army must now grant him an honorable discharge or launch a court-martial.  Army data shows rarity of desertion prosecutions (Associated Press) The U.S. Army has prosecuted about 1,900 cases of desertion since 2001, despite tens of thousands of soldiers fleeing the service in the face of deadly combat, long and multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and strains on military families.  Personnel files to reflect sex-related offenses (Army Times) Soldiers in the ranks of private through general who are convicted of sex-related offenses under federal law can expect those actions to be documented in the performance and disciplinary section of their official personnel file.  Clint Lorance's lawyer seeks freedom for former Army officer (Fayetteville Observer) The lawyer for Clint Lorance, the former Army officer in military prison for the slayings of two Afghan nationals, has filed more papers to try to persuade the 82nd Airborne Division commander to set Lorance free.  2015 deployments: Back to Europe, Iraq, other hot spots (Army Times) In 2015, soldiers will deploy to hot spots around the globe, with more going to Europe and some to the Pacific.  Soldiers from Fort Bragg's 3rd Brigade Combat Team prepare for Iraq mission (Fayetteville Observer) The first group of 3rd Brigade Combat Team paratroopers to deploy for Iraq is slated to follow a narrow security mission, but is ready for whatever is asked of it.  7th ID reorganizing to be deployable, Army announces (Army Times) The 7th Infantry Division headquarters, which was reactivated in 2012 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, will reorganize into a deployable unit, the Army announced Tuesday.  Soldier arrested after early morning gunshots at JBLM (Tacoma News Tribune) Military police Sunday morning arrested a soldier who reportedly fired several gunshots in the air in a parking lot on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  Reserve surprises: Time commitment, pay, career boost (Army Times) There are some things you may not know about serving in the Guard or reserves. Some of it is good news - some less so. In any case, it's always best to look before leaping. Some lesser-known aspects of service in the Guard and reserve service:  Belleville West graduate loses 100 pounds to join the Army (Belleville News-Democrat; Ill.) Alex Rodgers wanted to join the U.S. Army so much that he lost 100 pounds to get in.  Army gets new chief, top enlisted soldier in 2015 (Army Times) The Army will get a new chief of staff in 2015 as Gen. Ray Odierno completes his tenure in September.  NAVY The year ahead: What sailors need to know for 2015 (Navy Times) 2015 is set to be a big year for sailors. Four new uniforms will be decided upon. Physical Fitness Assessment changes are on the table. And advancement rates are projected to rise.Sailors will start moving aboard the future aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, while fleet flattops sail on 10-month deployments. Navy leaders hope to bring the standard deployment down to seven months by 2016, unless massive sequestration cuts derail that plan later in 2015.  Navy discriminated against Muslim over beard, suit says (San Francisco Chronicle) A Muslim civil rights group has sued the government on behalf of a former Navy enlisted man from Northern California who says he was the target of ethnic slurs, was reassigned to a menial job, and was later denied re-enlistment after seeking permission to wear a beard for religious reasons.  2015 outlook: The next CNO (Navy Times) Adm. Jon Greenert will come to the end of his three-year tour as chief of naval operations at the end of fiscal 2015 and, barring an appointment to chairman or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he'll likely retire.  Widow of 'American Sniper' author to appeal Ventura verdict (Minneapolis Star Tribune) The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has been asked to overturn the verdict in the defamation case of former Gov. Jesse Ventura, who was awarded $1.8 million in August by a federal jury in St. Paul.  2015 outlook: Fleet faces op tempo, repair challenges (Navy Times) The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will be the lead ships of the new Optimized-Fleet Response Plan that starts in 2015. The plan aims to lock in more predictable deployment schedules and to boost crews' time at home from 50 percent to 68 percent during each 36-month cycle.  MQ-8C Fire Scout makes first sea flight (C4ISR & Networks) Tests demonstrate important capabilities for the Navy  2015 outlook: 4 new uniforms coming (Navy Times) There are lots of new threads headed your way.  AIR FORCE By the numbers: Air Mobility Command's worldwide missions (Air Force Times) Air Mobility Command began 2014 at breakneck speed in support of the country's ramped-up drawdown in Afghanistan. By year's end, AMC had taken on two more major - and unanticipated - missions: the fight against the Islamic State group and response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa  Newest U.S. Stealth Fighter '10 Years Behind' Older Jets (The Daily Beast) When the Pentagon's nearly $400 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter finally enters service next year after nearly two decades in development, it won't be able to support troops on the ground the way older planes can today. Its sensors won't be able to see the battlefield as well; and what video the F-35 does capture, it won't be able to transmit to infantrymen in real time.  Need to know, 2015: Missions worldwide (Air Force Times) As the new year approaches, airmen are active on missions worldwide.  First tanker test plane does taxi tests at Paine Field (The Herald; Everett, Wash.) The first test plane of Boeing's aerial-refueling tanker program ran through taxiing and ground tests Saturday ahead of its first flight, which is slated for Sunday.  Need to know, 2015: The fleet (Air Force Times) Despite tight budgets, expect some fleet modernization projects to continue in 2015. Here's the latest:  Airman gets creative in airport proposal. Internet, smartphone users love it. (FlightLines) Airman 1st Class Jon Greko wanted to make the most of it when he saw his girlfriend Emma for the first time since basic training.  Maternity ABU to be updated this year (Air Force Times) The Air Force is updating its maternity airman battle uniform for better fit and function, using a new stretch material and adding pockets, Air Force spokeswoman Rose Richeson told Air Force Times.  MARINE CORPS Gen. Joe Dunford to give his plan for the Marine Corps (Marine Corps Times) Three months into the job he hasn't said much about the direction he plans to lead the Corps, but that will change early this year as he releases a blueprint for his time leading the service.  Ex-US Marine held in Iran suspends hunger strike (Associated Press) The family of an ex-U.S. Marine imprisoned in Iran says he's temporarily suspending a hunger strike after authorities agreed to re-examine his case.  HMLA-367 gets new CO after former boss relieved (Marine Corps Times) The Marine Corps has named a permanent replacement to lead Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 367 after relieving its previous commander of duty earlier this month.  Afghan interpreter finds refuge at Marine's home in Champaign (Chicago Tribune) Every morning, Dinar sits in a folding chair in a second floor bedroom of a house in this university town and Skypes with his family a world away.  Disaggregated MEUs likely to become more common (Marine Corps Times) Operating in multiple theaters and under separate chains of command likely will become a more common experience for troops deployed with Marine expeditionary units.  Futenma plan 'quickest solution' to Ginowan safety threat, new defense chief says (Japan Times) New defense chief Gen Nakatani repeated Friday that the purpose of moving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa is to get it out of crowded Ginowan, stressing that keeping it in the prefecture will make sure it remains a deterrent in the Asia-Pacific region.  V-22 to get a tanker option (Marine Corps Times) The V-22 Osprey is getting topped-off with a new capability. An aerial refuelling system is being developed for the tilt-rotor aircraft, turning the cargo and personnel carrier into a tanker that can provide fuel to other aircraft, mid-flight.  US Marine Corps receives first carrier variant F-35C (IHS Jane's 360) The US Marine Corps (USMC) has received its first carrier variant (CV) Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), the company announced on 22 December.  AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN U.S. airstrikes remain crucial to Afghan forces in Taliban battles (Los Angeles Times) For several days, Taliban fighters barricaded on a mountaintop lobbed rockets at the remote town of Sangar in the valley below. Residents fled while police holed up in their outposts and begged superiors for help.  Afghan police lead insurgent fight at high cost (Associated Press) When brothers Amir and Mosha Jan joined Afghanistan's police two years ago they believed that their patriotic duty was more important than obeying their father, who did not want his only sons joining the ranks of a police force on the front lines of the war against the Taliban.  Suspected U.S. Drone Strikes Compounds in Pakistan (Wall Street Journal) Pakistani intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. drone fired missiles at two compounds in the North Waziristan tribal region, killing at least seven alleged militants.  After years of delays, Pakistan cracks down on violent Islamists (Washington Post) After pledging for years to crack down on violent Islamists, Pakistani authorities are now taking exceptional steps to do so, with a major military operation against the militants and a vow to rein in radical propaganda.  MIDDLE EAST Qatar Scales Back Role in Middle East Conflicts (Wall Street Journal) This tiny emirate made plenty of foes in recent years by intervening in an array of regional conflicts. Now, faced with some hefty political costs, it is moderating its big-power ambitions.  Israel's top court orders West Bank settlement demolished (Los Angeles Times) Israel's Supreme Court has ordered the government to demolish the West Bank settlement of Amona within two years and relocate its 300 Jewish residents, moving to end a years-long legal battle.  Hamas Turns Back 37 Gaza War Orphans From a Bridge-Building Trip to Israel (New York Times) Thirty-seven young war orphans from Gaza set out on Sunday for a rare visit to Israel. They got as far as the Erez border crossing at the northern end of the Palestinian coastal enclave. There the Hamas authorities turned them back, barring the visit at the last minute.  Yemen senior intelligence official kidnapped (Associated Press) Suspected Shiite rebels kidnapped Yemen's second highest intelligence official from his house in the capital Sanaa Thursday, security officials and a close associate of the general said.  Al-Jazeera suspends Egyptian channel Mubasher Misr (BBC) The Qatari-owned al-Jazeera network has suspended its Egyptian channel, whose coverage angered Egypt's government.  Desperate for soldiers, Assad's government imposes harsh recruitment measures (Washington Post) The Syrian regime has intensified efforts to reverse substantial manpower losses to its military with large-scale mobilizations of reservists as well as sweeping arrest campaigns and new regulations to stop desertions and draft-dodging.  EUROPE Russia's Revised Military Doctrine Sees Major Threats from NATO, US (Voice of America) President Vladimir Putin approved a new military doctrine Friday outlining the threat Russia says is posed by NATO's expansion and military buildup closer to its border.  Russia to station additional combat aircraft in Belarus (IHS Jane's 360) Russia is to permanently deploy an additional eight Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker' fighters to Belarus, as relations with the West remain tense, state media announced in mid-December.  Russia says NATO pushed Ukraine to give up neutral status (Reuters) Russia said NATO pushed Ukraine to give up its neutral status as Kiev seeks closer ties with the Atlantic bloc and said the move, approved by Ukraine's parliament this week, would "complicate the situation".  Italy's Defense Budget Less Than Forecast (Defense News) Italy's defense ministry will have a budget of 13.58 billion euros in 2015, almost one billion euros less than it predicted it would have in a three-year provisional budget issued in 2013.  Frightening airborne rescue for stricken ferry passengers (Washington Post) Rescue teams working through the night and battling gale-force winds and monster waves began bringing the victims from a ferry fire ashore to safety Monday, Italian officials said. At least one person is confirmed to have died in the risky rescue operation and several injured.  ASIA-PACIFIC U.S. Bolsters Missile-Defense Presence in Japan (DoDBuzz) The U.S. is bolstering its ability to intercept ballistic missiles fired from North Korea with the deployment of another missile-defense radar in central Japan.  SKorea, US, Japan to share intel on North Korea (Associated Press) South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will sign their first joint intelligence-sharing pact next week to better cope with North Korea's increasing nuclear and missile threats, officials said Friday.  Taiwan Navy Takes Delivery of First Stealth 'Carrier Killer' Corvette (USNI News) The Republic of China Navy has taken delivery of what could be the first of a new class of stealth corvettes, according to local press reports.  Indonesian Agency Says Missing AirAsia Jet Probably Sank (New York Times) The head of the Indonesian agency searching for a missing AirAsia jet carrying 162 people said Monday that he believed the aircraft was "at the bottom of the sea" and warned that the country lacked adequate equipment to conduct an underwater search.  India Puts Military Assets on Standby for Missing AirAsia Jet (Wall Street Journal) India has put on standby three warships and a maritime patrol aircraft to join in the search for missing AirAsia Flight 8501.  Pentagon: Claim U.S. shot down MH370 'ridiculous' (Military Times) A former French airline executive is speculating that the American military downed a civilian Malaysian Airlines flight in March because the plane was headed to a remote U.S. base in the Indian Ocean.  AFRICA Captured Shabaab official previously identified as group's 'chief of intelligence' (Long War Journal) There has been some confusion over Hersi's role within Shabaab. A report by the UN in 2013 describes Shabaab's Amniyat as "the special clandestine division of" the group. The Amniyat operates "under the direct leadership of Ahmed Godane [Shabaab's now deceased emir] and operational command of Mahad Mohamed Ali, a.k.a. 'Karate'."  Murky Arms Traffic Plagues Somalia (Wall Street Journal) Since leaving Somalia in the 1990s, Musa Haji Mohamed Ganjab has been a landlord and entrepreneur and served as a representative of the Somali government, which the U.S. is backing to fight the jihadist group al-Shabaab.  U.N. Set to Cut Force in Darfur as Fighting Rises (New York Times) Under intense pressure from the government of Sudan, the United Nations is planning to shrink its floundering peacekeeping force in Darfur, even though renewed fighting there has chased more people from their homes this year than during any other in the past decade.  Libya Strikes Militias After Oil Tank Attacks (Voice of America) Libya's foreign minister warned Sunday that a coalition of extremist groups is making a push to seize the troubled country's oil resources, after an assault on eastern terminals set storage tanks ablaze, destroying 800,000 barrels of crude  COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS Campbell: The New Mission in Afghanistan (Army Gen. John Campbell,commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, in Defense News) The year 2014 proved to be a time of critical transition in Afghanistan. Defying Taliban intimidation, more than 7 million Afghans participated in two nation-wide elections to select a new president, marking the first peaceful, democratic transition of power in Afghanistan's history.  Stopping the Next Cyberassault (Rep. Mich Rogers, R-Mich., in The Wall Street Journal) In 10 years on the House Intelligence Committee I've watched a range of national security threats grow and evolve, but none as quickly as cyberwarfare. Two recent examples suggest the magnitude of the present and future danger.  Organizing for War: Overcoming Barriers to Whole-of-Government Strategy in the ISIL Campaign (Nathan White in Small Wars Journal) With much needed emergency operations well underway in Iraq and Syria, many are calling for a more comprehensive strategy to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the long-term. If these calls are heeded, the result will be yet another attempt at an interagency, coalition effort by the United States Government that seeks to integrate a wide array of capabilities to achieve policy objectives, albeit with limited numbers of American boots on the ground. Yet, in recent overseas missions, the U.S. regularly struggled to coordinate the various tools of state power to achieve desired strategic end-states. Post-9/11, civilian and military personnel achieved many tactical and operational gains in several places, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. But many pitfalls prevented these impressive, often heroic, efforts from leading to strategic success.  Strianese: Maintaining US Lead in a Time of Challenges (Michael Strianese, L-3 CEO and chairman, Aerospace Industries Association, in Defense News) The widely held perception is that US aerospace and defense companies have weathered sequestration. But even if true, the consequences to our nation of arguably reckless budget cuts are troubling.   Will Fracking, Climate Change, Solar Reshape US Security? (Jared Anderson and Colin Clark in Breaking Defense) The global oil market is going through an upheaval, with non-OPEC production led by North American producers surging while OPEC's traditional price-setting role changes. First, US oil production and proven oil reserve growth over the past several years is astonishing. Despite the current oil price decline, US oil production growth in 2015 is expected to grow around 1 million barrels per day. However, those growth rates probably won't be sustained over the long term.  Veterans face a national lack of empathy (Adin Dobkin in The Hill) Veterans from combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and countless other one-off endeavors around the globe face a crisis of empathy once they return to the United States. While this crisis is not without historical precedent, current factors in the composition and operations faced by our armed forces make the transition back to civilian life all the more difficult. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) run rampant and although medical research has leapt forward since previous major combat operations, proper diagnosis and treatment leaves much to be desired.  The Injury Afflicting Veterans That No One Wants to Talk About (Tessa Poppe in Task & Purpose) We need to start talking about how severe injuries, to include post-traumatic stress disorder, affect veterans' sexual function, fertility, and ability to be intimate.  De Giorgi: Flexibility Is Key to Future Navy Ops (Adm. Giuseppe De Giorgi, chief of the Italian Navy, in Defense News) The Italian Navy operation Mare Nostrum launched after a boat carrying migrants from Africa sank just off the Italian island of Lampedusa in October 2013, drowning more than 350 people.  Seeing The Interview doesn't hurt North Korea and Kim Jong Un - it helps them (Max Fisher in Vox) The fact that North Korea's English-language propaganda has been hammering for weeks at the idea that The Interview is an insult to Kim and attack on North Korea should tell you something: North Korea really wants for you to believe that The Interview is an insult to Kim and an attack on North Korea.  Rae: India Must Target Foreign Investment, Indigenous Capability (Vivek Rae, former chairman of India's defense procurement board, in Defense News) There has been renewed vigor in the Indian defense establishment since the inauguration of the Narendra Modi government in May. This started with a more liberal policy on foreign direct investment (FDI), which increased the cap from 26 percent to 49 percent, and also allowed FDI beyond 49 percent in cases that allow access to state-of-the-art technology.

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