Military installations and related industry make up about 11% of South Carolina’s economy, according to a new report from the South Carolina Military Base Task Force, the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. One out of nine jobs in the state is military-connected, with an average salary about 20% higher than the average job in the state, the report said….

The Military Women’s Football Championship kicked off this week at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington. The tournament, hosted by the U.S. Armed Forces Women’s Soccer Team, is sponsored by the International Military Sports Council, according to a DOD press release. Games run through July 22….

Corvias has kicked off the third phase of a solar energy program that will power more than 40% of homes at Fort Riley, Kansas, according to a press release. “The Fort Riley solar program is a great example of how the Military Housing Privatization Initiative can contribute to the greater goals of the Army such as providing 100% carbon pollution-free electricity for installation needs by 2030.” When the phase is complete, the Corvias solar program will be delivering more than 38 megawatts of power across Fort Riley, Fort Meade, Maryland, and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, Corvias said….

Work has started at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky to eliminate chemical weapons as the U.S. nears ridding itself of its entire chemical weapons stockpile, AP reported. Kentucky’s stockpile and other chemical weapons in Colorado make up the remaining 10% of the nation’s original stockpile of about 30,000 tons of chemical weapons. “Once they finish, safely, America will be totally free of stored chemical weapons,” said Doug Hindman, chair of the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission.

South Carolina National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roby Di Giovine