First Black General Installed as Head of Air Force Academy
The U.S. Air Force Academy installed Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark as superintendent of the institution, Air Force Times reports. He is the first black superintendent in the school’s 66-year history. “I am honored and privileged for the opportunity to give something...
AT&T to Provide 5G Capability at 3 Air Force Installations
Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. will receive a 5G upgrade by the end of 2021, AT&T announced on Wednesday. “We’re proud and honored to bring AT&T 5G and other highly innovative commercial...
Half of Military Installations Worldwide Lift Coronavirus Restrictions
As of Monday, the Pentagon announced that 117 of 231 installations, or about 51%, have lifted travel restrictions, Stars and Stripes reports. The Department of Defense deems installations where local health protection conditions are below “Charlie" as being secure...
Military Health System to Expand Prescription Pick-up Lockers
The Military Health System announced the expansion of its "ScriptCenter" program, self-service medical prescription lockers, Military.com reports. ScriptCenter is available to Active-duty military, dependents, retirees and all authorized Defense Department ID holders....
Military Families File Class Action Lawsuit Against Camp Lejeune for Poor Living Conditions
A class action lawsuit was filed on Sept. 18 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on behalf of three Marine families for poor housing conditions at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, The Daily News reports. According to the...
DCIP Provides $7.5 Million for Fort Polk Area Schools
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the U.S. Department of Defense awarded 7.5 million to develop technology-enhanced learning centers at five Vernon Parish schools that serve thousands of families supported by the U.S. Army’s Fort Polk. “We are grateful for this...
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PAST STORIES
Senators Propose Joint Base Charleston as New AFRICOM Headquarters
Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott (R-SC) wrote to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Monday suggesting the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Headquarters should be relocated to Joint Base Charleston (JBC). AFRICOM HQ is currently is based in Stuttgart,...
Randolph Elementary School Breaks Ground on $15.5 Million Facility
A groundbreaking ceremony held on September 17th marked a "new chapter" for the school which has served Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph for more than six decades. “This project is exciting, as our beautiful old building was definitely showing its age,” said Dr....
Congress Continues to Question DoD’s Use of PFAS Foam
Over 700 U.S. military installations have reported the presence of the contaminants stemming from the use of a The firefighting foam containing the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, known as PFAS. Lawmakers in the House Armed Services Committee met on September...
Fort Eustis Soldiers Pitch in to Clean Slave-Era Hampton Burial Grounds
A recent call for 5-10 volunteers to clean burial grounds at Bassette and Elmerton ended up yielding a community effort of over 75 soldiers from Fort Eustis, Daily Press reports. The overgrown cemetery dates back to the 1800's, where it historically was a burial...
House of Representatives Unanimously Passes Six Bipartisan Veteran Bills
Six pieces of legislation have been passed by the House of Representatives introduced to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. H.R. 3010- Honoring All Veterans Act (Rice, Mast): directs VA to modify its current exclusionary motto to recognize the...
Austin Community College to House Army Futures Command’s New Software Factory
A new software factory at Austin Community College will support a training pipeline for soldiers and ACC students, providing a platform for participants to solve real-life problems through advanced software development processes. “I can’t wait to get Army soldiers in...
DoD Awards $25 Million in Grants to Six Defense Manufacturing Community Support Programs
The Department of Defense announced on Monday six grants totaling $25 million under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DCIP) by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). The details of the award recipients are as follows: $5 million to Catalyst...
DoD Announces DCIP Award Recipients
The Department of Defense announced on Monday sixteen grants totaling approximately $50 million under the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot (DCIP) Program by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). The following communities received DCIP grants: 1.) $959,831 to...
In Our Communities
Army Futures Command has chosen Austin Community College as the home base for its new Software Factory training initiative... A union representing teachers and other staff members of schools worldwide operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity is calling...
Hurricane Sally Causes Damage at NAS Pensacola
Military and civilian crews are responding and assessing damage at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Category 2 Hurricane Sally landed in Gulf Shores, Alabama on Wednesday morning. “We’re very fortunate,” said Jason Bortz, public affairs officer for the base, to Military...
Key Takeaways from Annual DOD State Liaison Office Conference
The Department of Defense State Liaison Office held its annual conference this past week. DOD State Liaison Office works with state leaders on key quality-of-life issues and assist by: Providing "best practice" legislation from other states Providing background...
In Our Communities
Support the Enlisted Project (STEP), in partnership with KMG Psychiatry Group, is providing urgent food and household items to active duty and Veteran families in crisis on Saturday, September 19 from their offices in Scripps Ranch... A recent economic impact analysis...
Pearl Harbor Munitions Depot Expansion Raises Local Concerns
Plans for a new munitions storage complex at the annex within Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is raising fears among local residents, stemming from an explosion at the facility which occurred in 1944, as reported by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “The plan contains too...
Military Recruitment “Increasingly Difficult” During Pandemic
Limited access to public spaces is causing a strain on armed services recruitment goals, Military.com reports. "Right now, the trend is in the wrong direction," said Maj. Gen. Edward Thomas Jr., Air Force Recruiting Service's commander. "I'm confident that we will be...
One-Third of Air Force Workers May Remain Remote Permanently
Speaking at AFA’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Sept. 16, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson said a large portion of Air Force employees may continue telework even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. “They may show up to work in a work...
TODAY: Join the Annual Military Spouse Employment Summit [virtual]
Today is the annual Military Spouse Employment Summit hosted by Hiring Our Heroes (HoH). The event will be held September 17th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Author Tina Brown will host this year's event. Military spouse and anchor of CNN Right Now, Brianna Keilar, will...
Lawmakers Introduce ‘I am Vanessa Guillén Act’ to Combat Sexual Abuse and Missing Persons
A new piece of legislation responds to sexual harassment and abuse in the military services, led by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Congressman Markwayne Mullin. "The legislation responds to these...
Michigan National Guard Opens Joint Innovation Center
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 11 marked the unveiling of the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center at Selfridge Research Park. “The purpose of the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center is to provide opportunities (and a location) for all...
Recent Army Memo Identifies Climate Change as National Security Threat
Amidst wildfires raging on the west coast and hurricanes threatening the east coast, Army officials released a new directive to installations for resilience measures against rising extreme weather conditions. "This practice will enhance installation readiness and...
Gulf Coast Military Prepare for Hurricane Sally
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that the upcoming category 1 hurricane moving towards the coast of Biloxi may cause “extreme life-threatening flash flooding likely through Wednesday.” “Responding to these events typically requires...
NAWS China Lake Awards $737.84 Million Contract for Earthquake Recovery Effort
A contract for design and construction of the South Airfield Complex at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake to the Environmental Chemical Corporation. The installation was greatly impacted by a 2019 earthquake. The disaster caused approximately $5 billion in damages...
Wyoming National Guard Deploys to Fight California Wildfires
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has deployed the Wyoming Army National Guard's G Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment to help assist in the firefighting effort currently ongoing in California. "Our highly trained and experienced Soldiers continue to be a sword and...
CMSI Working Group Discusses Pandemic’s Impact on Military Family Education
A recent event by the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative led by The Military Child Education Coalition, a key member of the White Oak Collaborative, discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on K-12 education. “The pandemic and resulting school closures have...
NGA, Department Of Defense Launch Initiative To Unlock Economic Potential Of Defense Assets
A new two-year initiative between the National Governors Association (NGA) and Department of Defense will help "help states develop and execute strategic, evidence-based action plans for promoting a resilient national defense industry, economic vitality and increased...
Report: Fort Drum Provides $1.9 billion Economic Impact, 6,500 Jobs in the Region
An economic model by Advocate Drum (also known as the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, or FDRLO) found Fort Drum in New York provided a economic output of $1.7 billion for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. “Those are jobs not on Fort Drum, but that...