TODAY’S TOP 5
1. Sergeant to receive Medal of Honor for 16-hour Afghanistan battle
(Army Times) High in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, the enemy ambush was quick and deadly.
2. Could Another Debt-Level Spike Cause More Defense Cuts?
(Defense News) Despite deep across-the-board cuts scheduled over the next decade, the US federal deficit is projected to again hit $1 trillion in just eight years. And already there are calls for additional steps, even as the defense sector continues dealing with sequestration.
3. I Served My Country. Then It Kicked Me Out.
(Howard Dean Bailey in Politico) At 6 a.m. on June 10, 2010, I answered loud knocks on our front door in my pajamas. Eleven armed immigration officers supported by state troopers were there with their weapons drawn, some wearing bulletproof vests. They stormed into my living room and put me in handcuffs while my wife came down the stairs, screaming, and my daughter, who was 12 years old, watched in horror. A few minutes later I was in their custody, just partially dressed, heading to the Hampton Regional Jail.
4. The Chinese Military Can 'Fight Any Battle and Win'
(Foreign Policy) In the days leading up to U.S. President Barack Obama's late April trip to the region, where is visiting Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Malaysia -- and pointedly not China -- there is a worrying amount of strain among China, Japan, and the United States. Are temperatures running so high that China might actually seize the Senkakus by force? Or are these worries overblown? We asked contributors to assess the risks in relations among China, Japan and the United States.
5. Pentagon plans major review of military justice system
(Los Angeles Times) The Defense Department, under pressure from Congress to reexamine the way it handles sexual assault cases, announced Tuesday a comprehensive review of the entire military justice system.
INDUSTRY
Lockheed to Lose 17 F-35s Under Automatic Pentagon Cuts
(Bloomberg) The Pentagon will cut 17 of the 343 F-35 fighters it planned to buy from Lockheed Martin Corp. in fiscal 2016 through 2019 unless Congress repeals automatic budget cuts, according to a new Defense Department report.
DoD Looking for Ways Not To Break MH-60R Helicopter Deal
(Defense News) The Pentagon will “look at options” so it does not break a multiyear helicopter contract with Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin that includes about 90 aircraft, a senior US Defense Department official said.
HII delivers new class amphibious assault ship to US Navy
(IHS Jane's 360) Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has handed over the lead ship of a new amphibious assault ship class designed to optimise operations of the US Marine Corps' MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors and the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters.
Interview: Chris Bernhardt
(Defense News) US defense support services provider DynCorp International opened for business in the United Kingdom last month as part of a strategy aimed at putting the fizz back in the performance of a company buffeted recently by the drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, reduced business in Iraq and government budget problems at home.
IAI on course for JSF wing deliveries
(IHS Jane's 360) Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is on course to begin delivery of a contracted 811 production-standard wing-sets for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in mid-2015, IHS Jane's was told in early April.
BAE Shifts Cyber Software Development to Malaysia
(Defense News) BAE Systems Applied Intelligence business is moving the center of its cyber software development activities to Malaysia as part of a strategy that will see the Southeast Asian location emerge as a key component of it growing security business, according to Richard Watson, the division’s Asia Pacific region managing director.
DNI Recommends Higher Resolution Imagery To White House
(Reuters) The U.S. intelligence community has thrown its support behind a bid by commercial space imagery provider DigitalGlobe Inc to sell higher resolution images from its satellites, the leading U.S. intelligence official said Tuesday.
Saab Offers Info on Gripen Lease to Malaysia
(Defense News) Saab has confirmed it has submitted proposals to the Malaysian government for the lease of Gripen fighters but said it wasn’t responding to a formal request for information.
CONGRESS
DoD told to quantify cost to victims of '09 Fort Hood shooting
(Military Times) Congress wants to put a dollar figure on what victims of the first Fort Hood, Texas, shooting have lost because the tragedy was classified as workplace violence.
Udall concerned military cuts could impact firefighting readiness
(Colorado Springs Gazette) Colorado's U.S. Sen. Mark Udall said the military is ready for another season of battling wildfires from the air, but remains worried that planned cuts could impact readiness.
US Lawmakers Press for End to NATO Cooperation With Russia
(Defense News) Eleven members of Congress sent another letter to Secretary of State John Kerry this morning urging the United States to push its NATO allies to “cease all trade involving military equipment with Russia” in response to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and continued destabilization of the Ukrainian government in Kiev.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Kendall: Pentagon Will Tie Budget Proposals To Needs, Not Budget Caps
(Defense News) The US Defense Department will continue sending Congress budget proposals that do not adhere to federal spending caps and will instead opt to develop budgets it believes are appropriate to defend the country, a senior Pentagon official said.
Your medical files may be at risk
(Military Times) After veteran Aaron Alexis shot and killed a dozen people at the Washington Navy Yard last September, the Air Force noted a spike in the number of personnel dipping into his electronic medical file.
From the Cloud to Your Pentagon-Issued Phone
(Nextgov) Defense officials are in the process of figuring out how to adapt Web-based collaboration tools into apps that can be accessed from any computer, including tablets and smartphones.
Tricare presents plan for re-enrolling some in Prime
(Military Times) Tricare announced Tuesday its plans for reinstating thousands of beneficiaries who lost eligibility for Tricare Prime last October, but by law, not all who were booted off Prime will be able to re-enroll.
ARMY
National Guard Association blasts Army over aviation plan
(The News Journal; Wilmington, Del.) The Army's recent dismissal of calls for an independent panel to assess its proposal to restructure aviation assets of the Army and Army National Guard has drawn a sharp rebuke from the National Guard Association of the United States.
Missing JBLM soldier found dead in Capitol Forest
(Tacoma News Tribune) Thurston County search and rescue crews have found the body of a soldier who went missing in Capitol Forest Sunday night.
What's The Right Size For The U.S. Army?
(National Public Radio) With the U.S. military out of Iraq and winding down in Afghanistan, the U.S. Army, which peaked with a force of around 570,000 a few years ago, was supposed to drop to around 490,000 troops. But U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that's still too big.
War of words - and videos - builds to Kennedy-Bisping fight
(Army Times)The build-up to Wednesday night’s UFC middleweight main event between Sgt. 1st Class Tim Kennedy and Michael Bisping has included, but has not been limited to: Ranger Up, the military-friendly apparel company and a long-time sponsor of Kennedy’s, putting out videos mocking Bisping’s mannerisms and prior bad behavior.
NAVY
Hue City crew doused major fire at sea
(Navy Times) The crew of the cruiser Hue City fought and defeated a major fire in one of the main engineering spaces Monday evening without suffering any injuries, according to a new report obtained by Navy Times.
USS Bonhomme Richard heading to capsized South Korea ferry
(Stars and Stripes) A U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship is en route to the site where a South Korean ferry sank Wednesday morning and will be ready to offer assistance if needed, according to the U.S. Navy.
Princeton U. welcomes back Navy ROTC for first time since Vietnam War
(The Star-Ledger; Newark, N.J.) It was 1971. Richard Nixon was president and Vietnam War protesters were a common sight on college campuses.
Navy releases March court-martial results
(Navy Times) Assault consummated by battery. Drug possession. Sexual assault. Violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Attempts to make child pornography.
Carrier Air Wing Three returning from nine-month deployment
(WVEC; Norfolk, Va.) Forty seven aircraft and about 178 men and women of Carrier Air Wing Three will return home to their families and friends Wednesday and Thursday following their nine-month deployment aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.
AIR FORCE
PM Interview: Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III
(Popular Mechanics) The Air Force chief of staff on cyberwar, the next generation of stealth, and the future of air warfare.
New early retirement window opens
(Air Force Times) The Air Force on Tuesday opened a new window for select airmen to apply for early retirement.
CIA's Pakistan drone strikes carried out by regular US air force personnel
(The Guardian) A regular US air force unit based in the Nevada desert is responsible for flying the CIA's drone strike programme in Pakistan, according to a new documentary to be released on Tuesday.
Disaster in the Sky: Old Planes, Inexperienced Pilots—and No More Parachutes
(Time) Putting young, inexperienced pilots into a 50-year-old Air Force plane seems like a risky idea. Even riskier? Getting rid of crew’s parachutes to save money.
MARINE CORPS
Tank officer who led Marines in 5-day battle to receive Leftwich Trophy
(Marine Corps Times) A tank officer who led his company to victory in a five-day battle against insurgents in Afghanistan last year will be honored with the prestigious Leftwich Trophy later this year.
Alabama Marine killed in hit and run on Hwy 82
(The Clarion Ledger; Jackson, Miss.) The Mississippi Highway Patrol is looking for a vehicle which struck and killed a Marine from Alabama on Sunday morning.
Prowler aircraft damaged after leaving runway during landing at Cherry Point
(Marine Corps Times) Marine officials are investigating a mishap involving an electronic warfare aircraft stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., that has resulted in at least $1 million in damage according to a report from the Naval Safety Center.
Inpatient mental health care improved aboard Camp Lejeune
(The Daily News; Jacksonville, N.C.) For close to 30 years, the inpatient psychiatric ward at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune lacked security and an environment conducive to healing. That all changed Monday.
Barrett: Fiscal discipline good for both Corps and Marines
(Marine Corps Times) Nobody wants less. That’s the message from Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Mike Barrett following heated backlash stemming from a comment he made at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee April 9 that appeared to imply that the reduced pay raise and possible cuts to benefits Marines face in the coming year would serve to promote better discipline in the ranks.
VETERANS
Patients rate VA medical centers high for satisfaction
(Military Times) Patients at Veterans Affairs medical centers remain satisfied with the care they receive and complaints are down, a new survey released Wednesday by the American Customer Satisfaction Index found.
Feds talk: How do you feel about veterans’ preference for federal hiring?
(Washington Post) The Partnership for Public Service this month released a report calling for controversial civil-service reforms, including changes to the federal government’s hiring practices.
Vets home director pushed out
(San Diego Union-Tribune) The director of the state’s veterans home in Chula Vista has been forced to resign for undisclosed reasons.
Europe pulling all stops to mark 70th anniversary of key WWII events
(Stars and Stripes) Some townspeople here still remember that day in April 1944 when a burning American B-17 screamed low overhead, crashed and exploded in a nearby field.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Says NATO Airstrike in East Killed Civilians
(New York Times) Afghan officials said that a NATO airstrike in eastern Afghanistan killed a woman and two children on Tuesday, again raising the issue of civilian casualties at a time when both the presidential election and the future of the Western troop presence are unresolved.
Afghan economy faces serious revenue shortfall amid tenuous political transition
(Washington Post) When the next president of Afghanistan takes office later this year, he will inherit a growing budget shortfall that could leave tens of thousands of civil servants unpaid and force key public programs to shutter.
Effort to Help Afghanistan Collect Customs Revenue Found Lacking
(Government Executive) The ongoing U.S. effort to leave war-torn Afghanistan self-sufficient depends in part on the Kabul government’s ability to collect customs revenue, a dual federal agency project that could benefit from clear performance metrics, auditors found.
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Intel Chief Relieved of Duties
(Defense News) The Saudi Arabian intelligence chief, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, has been “exempted from his duties” today, according to a Royal decree issued by King Abdullah Bin Abdel Aziz.
Iraq Shuts Down the Abu Ghraib Prison, Citing Security Concerns
(New York Times) The Iraqi government said Tuesday that it had closed the Abu Ghraib prison, the site of a notorious prisoner abuse scandal during the American occupation of Iraq, because of fears that it could be overrun by Sunni insurgents who have gained strength over the last year.
Video shows brazen outdoor meeting of al-Qaeda fighters
(Washington Post) A video that recently surfaced on Islamist militant Web sites shows a large group of al-Qaeda fighters — including the terrorist network’s second in command — taking part in a brazen open-air gathering, apparently unconcerned about the prospect of being struck by a U.S. drone.
Australian, New Zealand Men Killed in November Yemen Drone Strike
(Wall Street Journal) Two Australian men, one of whom held dual citizenship with New Zealand, were killed in Yemen in late 2013 during a counterterrorism operation, the Australian and New Zealand governments confirmed Wednesday.
EUROPE
NATO Treads Carefully on French Deal With Russia
(Defense News) France has the right to decide whether to deliver a controversial helicopter carrier to Russia, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. But the opinions of allies also count.
General and Former Defense Official Urge Nonlethal Military Aid for Ukraine
(New York Times) Ukraine’s military has an urgent need for nonlethal military assistance like body armor, night-vision goggles, communications gear and aviation fuel to defend against a potential Russian attack, according to a new analysis by a former NATO commander and a former Pentagon official.
Ukrainian forces push back separatists
(Washington Post) The Ukrainian military on Tuesday secured an airfield threatened by Russia sympathizers, signaling the start of a campaign to counter militants who have stormed official buildings in at least 10 eastern cities.
Audit Finds Obstacles to Operating U.S. Antimissile Assets in Europe
(National Journal) A new audit has found that the U.S. military is likely to encounter hurdles in the operations of deployed antimissile assets in Europe.
Russia Will Begin Sea Trials of New Nuclear Subs this Summer
(U.S. Naval Institute) Borey-class Vladimir Monomakh nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and the Yasen-class attack boat (SSN) Severodvinsk will depart the Sevmash shipyard in Northern Russia, pending ice melt.
French Women To Crew Ballistic Missile Sub Fleet
(Defense News) The French Navy plans to send three women officers to sail in the ballistic missile submarine fleet, a first for the French service, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said April 15.
Spain Asks U.S. for More Help to Fix Flawed Sub
(U.S. Naval Institute) In a recent U.S. visit, the Spanish Secretary of State for Defense Pedro Argüelles asked American officials for more help to correct design problems with its S-80 diesel-electric submarine program.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Indonesia equips frigates, corvette with stealth radars
(IHS Jane's 360) The Indonesian Navy (Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut: TNI-AL) will equip a total of four Ahmad Yani (Van Speijk)-class guided missile frigates and one Kapitan Pattimura (Parchim I)-class corvette with low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) naval radars.
South Korean assembly expected to vote on funding to support US troops
(Stars and Stripes) South Korean lawmakers this week are expected to vote on a controversial defense cost-sharing agreement that has sat untouched for months in the National Assembly, even as the resulting funding shortage has forced the U.S. military to take drastic steps to avert mass furloughs of its Korean employees.
Malaysia’s Military Set to Go Shopping
(Wall Street Journal) The Malaysian military is looking for solutions to its most urgent capability problems, exposed in part by the disappearance last month of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
Malaysia Advances With 8-Wheeled Armored Vehicle
(Defense News) Malaysia’s top armored vehicle manufacturer, Deftech, has begun the qualification stage for its eight-wheel-drive AV-8 armored wheeled vehicle and will produce 257 units with 12 variants for the country’s Army when tests are concluded, said Deftech CEO Amril Samsudin this week at the Defence Services Asia exhibition here.
Japan's indigenous stealth jet prototype 'to fly this year'
(IHS Jane's 360) Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera has reaffirmed the nation's plan for a 2014 first flight of the Advanced Technology Demonstrator-X (ATD-X) fighter: a prototype for a future fighter to replace the Japan Air Self-Defence Force's Mitsubishi F-2.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Veterans and White Supremacy
(Kathleen Belew in The New York Times) When Frazier Glenn Miller shot and killed three people in Overland Park, Kan., on Sunday, he did so as a soldier of the white power movement: a groundswell that united Klansmen, neo-Nazis and other fringe elements after the Vietnam War, crested with the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995, and remains a diminished but potent threat today.
U.S. should send troops to quell Ukraine crisis
(James Jeffrey in The Washington Post) Despite much diplomatic effort, the situation in Ukraine worsens. A coordinated Russian campaign, including an invasion threat, special operations destabilization in eastern Ukraine patterned on the Crimea model, and warnings of gas cutoffs document ever more clearly Vladimir Putin’s aim to cripple the Ukrainian government and control much or even all of this strategically vital European country.
The Slaughter Bench of History
(Ian Morris in The Atlantic) War is mass murder, and yet, in perhaps the greatest paradox in history, war has nevertheless been the undertaker’s worst enemy. Contrary to what the song says, war has been good for something: over the long run, it has made humanity safer and richer.
Planning for Withdrawal in Afghanistan May Be Smart, But It’s Not Wise
(Daniel Markey in Defense One) Votes are still being counted in Afghanistan’s presidential election, but preliminary results suggest that no candidate won a majority. If these results hold up and no backroom deals are cooked up between Afghan politicians, a runoff poll will follow and the victor will not likely be declared until late summer. That timeline is making U.S. and NATO military planners very nervous.
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