U.S. Says Russia Attack on Ukraine Seems Likely; ‘We’re Ready,’ National Security Adviser Says
Ukraine says Russia has “almost completed” a force build-up that could mean an attack is imminent, CNN reported early Wednesday, echoing Biden administration concerns. “We believe we’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine,” White...
Report: Extremism Up Sharply in Recent Years among Troops, Veterans
More than 450 individuals with backgrounds in the U.S. military have been charged with or convicted of criminal acts “motivated by their political, economic, social or religious goals,” according to a new study from the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for...
VA Plans Backlog Catch-Up Using More Staff, New Automation Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs is testing a new automated system that can process an individual claim in a couple days that may have otherwise taken more than 100 days, Federal News Network reported. “Automation is the way that we’ll really break through this...
Milley, Berger Test Positive for COVID
Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger both tested positive for COVID earlier this week. Their symptoms are said to be mild, and they are working in isolation. Milley most recently had contact with President Joe Biden last...
Former Acting SECDEF Miller Talks to Jan. 6 Committee
Chris Miller, the acting defense secretary on Jan. 6, 2021, met Friday with the House panel investigating that day’s riot at the Capitol, NBC News reported. It is not clear what was discussed, including why there was a hold-up on deploying the D.C. National Guard to...
In Our Communities
CBS News talked with families at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, decades after water contamination impacted families and discussed ongoing efforts to address the impact…. The North Florida Land Trust has acquired 157 acres of the Ocala to Osceola, O2O corridor, News4Jax...
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PAST STORIES
Appropriators Leave Thursday Meeting with Plans to Talk Again
The top four appropriators on Capitol Hill met Thursday for the first time since November, restarting talks about spending levels for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1. House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told CQ that her focus is to pass an...
Army Reprimands Thousands for Vaccine Refusal
The Army has written almost 3,000 reprimands for soldiers who have refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, it announced this week in a press release. About 97% of active duty soldiers are vaccinated, and the service is still processing thousands of religious and medical...
In Our Communities
Hunt Companies reached a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to pay $500,000 to resolve fraud allegations involving its military housing operations at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Air Force Times reported…. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said this week that people...
Long-Term CR Would Impact Service Members, DOD Leaders Tell Lawmakers
Congressional appropriators are scrambling to reach a deal on an omnibus spending package to fund the government for the current fiscal year. The current continuing resolution expires Feb. 18. The tight deadline raises the possibility that they will be forced to pass...
Army Boosts Recruitment Bonus Cap
The Army will now pay up to $50,000 in signing bonuses to new recruits – up from the previous $40,000 cap – as it tries to recover from recruitment losses in recent years. “We are still living the implications of 2020 and the onset of COVID, when the school systems...
House Passes Measure Expanding GI Bill Benefits for Guardsmen, Reservists
The House passed a bill Tuesday that would give National Guard members and reservists more opportunities to receive GI Bill benefits. The measure gives them eligibility toward tuition benefits any day they are paid and in uniform on federal orders, including for...
Next Week: Learn How to Become a Great American Defense Community
ADC is hosting a webinar Weds., Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. ET to provide an overview of its Great American Defense Communities program and how communities can apply to be part of the 2022 class of Great American Defense Communities. To join the webinar or learn more, email...
DOD IG to Audit Extremism Screening Procedures
The Pentagon’s inspector general is beginning an audit this month “to determine whether military service recruiting organizations screened applicants for supremacist, extremist and criminal gang behavior, according to DOD and military service policies and procedures,”...
Five More States Stop Taxing Military Retirement Pay
Military retirees in Arizona, Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina and Utah will no longer have to pay taxes on their military retirement pay, according to a Military.com review of new state laws. Indiana and Nebraska retirees’ tax-free status will kick in for the 2022...
Six Military Communities in Texas Get State Grants
Six communities have received grants through the Texas Military Preparedness Commission’s Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant program. The total of this round of awards is $15.3 million, according to a news release. The grants are going to: Abilene for 5G and...
Waltz, Lamborn Get New HASC Subcommittee Roles
To become ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) is leaving his role as the top Republican on the Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee. That spot will now be filled by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), who’s currently the...
Austin Back at the Pentagon after COVID Recovery
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to in-person work at the Pentagon this week after a negative COVID-19 test. He announced Jan. 2 that he’d tested positive after feeling symptoms the day before and then worked from home for several days, following CDC...
In Our Communities
U.S. military bases are still housing about 19,500 Afghan refugees looking to resettle in the U.S., Military.com reported, citing Department of Homeland Security figures. Almost half of those are at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. The others are at Fort...
White House to Delay FY23 Budget Release
The Biden administration is likely to delay the release of the fiscal year 2023 budget request, and “congressional staff have been told to expect release sometime in March at the earliest,” CQ reported. One reason seems to be the ongoing negotiations about the current...
ADC Live: Robert Hale and John Conger on Continuing Resolutions
Congress now has less than six weeks until the current continuing resolution expires. If lawmakers can’t reach a deal on appropriations bills for the year that started Oct. 1, they may have to pass yet another CR. ADC Executive Director Matt Borron talks about the...
Navy to Expand Boot Camp to Reinforce Character-Building, Leadership
The Navy is expanding boot camp for new recruits from eight weeks to 10 weeks, the service announced Friday. Much of the two additional weeks will cover life skills training, addressing sexual harassment, sexual assault, hazing and suicide, AP reported. Rear Adm....
Final Week to Nominate a Defense Community Champion
Friday is the deadline to nominate someone as a Defense Community Champion, ADC’s program to recognize the individuals who make a difference in the communities our military call home. Any ADC member can nominate a community member. Selection criteria include their...
More than a Year Later, Questions Remain about Jan. 6 Guard Delay
In solemn speeches, ceremonies and interviews about the Jan. 6 insurrection on its anniversary Thursday, National Guard members were hailed as heroes for supporting law enforcement that day and in the months that followed. But, as Military.com’s Rebecca Kheel wrote...
ADC National Summit: Final Day to Save
Friday is the last day to take advantage of early bird registration rates for the 2022 Defense Communities National Summit. The event is taking place March 7 to 9 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, near the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, Arlington...
In Our Communities
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) has nominated Harry Roberts to become the state’s new military advocate. “I am humbled to be selected by Governor Parson to the role of Missouri Military Advocate,” Roberts told On Base. “It is an honor to serve the men and women in our...
Austin to Provide Closed-Door Testimony on Afghanistan
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will testify Tuesday at a closed, top secret hearing about the war in – and U.S. withdrawal from – Afghanistan. It will be a joint hearing of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations...
Navy Dismisses 20 Entry-Level Sailors for Vaccine Refusal
The Navy has terminated the first 20 sailors due to refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, the service announced Wednesday, as Military Times reported. They were all in initial training within their first 180 days of active duty. “The Navy said a total of 5,268 active duty...
In Our Communities
Maryland is among the states to send National Guard members to help state and local health officials dealing with a COVID-19 surge, at the direction of Gov. Larry Hogan (R), according to a Maryland National Guard story. “If one characteristic has epitomized the...
Two More Days to Save for ADC National Summit
Friday is the deadline to get Early Bird pricing for the Defense Communities National Summit, taking place in the D.C. area March 7-9. The Summit site is the best place to register and learn everything about the event, including COVID-19 mitigation protocols.
Texas Gov. Sues over Guard Vaccine Punishments
On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) filed his own federal lawsuit saying DOD does not have authority to penalize the state’s National Guard members who refuse to get the vaccine. “The federal courts have the power to decide whether President Biden violates the U.S....