NDAA May Reverse COVID Vaccine Mandate
The final version of the National Defense Authorization Act is “likely” to rescind Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s August 2021 memo requiring all service members to get the COVID-19 vaccine, CQ reported Tuesday morning, citing “a source familiar with the matter.” The...
Appropriators Set Omnibus Defense Level but Make Little Overall Progress
House and Senate negotiators working on an omnibus spending plan have agreed to allocate $858 billion for defense and national security – the same amount expected to be authorized in the NDAA that will be released soon, according to CQ. But talks have stalled on the...
Troops to See Biggest-Ever Jump in Food Allowance
Service members will get an 11% increase in their monthly basic allowance for subsistence starting Jan. 1, Military Times reported. The new monthly rate for enlisted members will be $452.56, an increase of more than $45 from this year’s rate. For officers, the rate...
Navy to Accept Recruits with Lower Test Scores
The Navy could begin accepting thousands of recruits who fall into the lowest aptitude test percentile allowed by military standards, Military.com reported. The service’s new guidelines would allow it to recruit up to 7,500 prospective sailors who have high school...
House to Vote on NDAA This Week
The House is planning a vote this week on a House-Senate negotiated version of the National Defense Authorization Act, CQ reported, citing House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer. If it passes there, the bill will go to the Senate. The language of the compromise bill was...
HASC Chair Smith Says Transparency Doesn’t Have to Slow Ukraine Aid
House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said that some Republicans’ push for more oversight of Ukraine support “makes me a little crazy,” according to Defense News. “Ukraine is spending the money really well; that’s why they’re winning,” he added....
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PAST STORIES
In Our Communities
A new barracks for soldiers at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin is opening soon, according to a DVIDS story…. Louisiana State University Alexandria now has its own branch of STARBASE at Fort Polk, Louisiana, according to KALB. “This program allows us to leave a positive and...
Snap of the Week
An airman carries a donated Christmas Tree at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Nov. 17. The Red Spruce, nicknamed “Ruby” was harvested in the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina. It will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol. Check out the gallery showing the tree’s...
McCarthy Wants to Delay NDAA until New Congress to Remove ‘Wokeism’
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), poised to be the new House speaker, told reporters he wants to delay further action on the National Defense Authorization Act until Republicans take control of the House. “I’ve watched what the Democrats have done on...
DOD Fails Fifth Audit; McCord Sees Progress
DOD failed its latest audit, the fifth failure in a row, as Defense News reported. “I would say we failed to get an ‘A,’” DOD Comptroller Mike McCord said. “I would not say that we flunked. The process is important for us to do, and it is making us get better. It is...
In Our Communities
Fort Meade Alliance has partnered with Fort Meade, Maryland on a new Education and Resiliency Center that has its grand opening today, the Baltimore Sun reported. The center will be a hub for wellness and mental health services available to service members in a...
Biden Requests $37.7 Billion More for Ukraine; Hill Transition Leaves Aid Request in the Air
The White House is asking Congress to approve $37.7 billion in additional aid to Ukraine, as The Hill noted. Of that amount, $21.7 billion would be used to provide more equipment to Ukraine and replenish DOD’s weapons inventory. The other $14.5 billion would go toward...
Hill Leadership Update: McCarthy Gets GOP Backing but No Speaker Gavel Yet
The House Republican Conference voted Tuesday to nominate House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker when the new Congress convenes, but 31 of his fellow Republicans voted against him in the secret vote, as Reuters reported. With the growing...
Rep. Calvert, Top GOP Defense Appropriator, Wins Re-Election
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) has won re-election in his southern California district, the LA Times reported, based on AP election projections. Calvert is a member of the Appropriations Committee and is in line to chair that panel’s defense subcommittee if Republicans...
Conservative Groups Urge Holding More Ukraine Aid Until New Congress
Thirteen conservative-leaning groups are urging Congressional leaders not to approve additional aid for Ukraine in the lame duck session, as Axios reported. They wrote in a letter to Congressional leaders that the next Congress should determine how much to send to...
LinkedIn Names Top Ten Regions for Vets’ Career Advancement
LinkedIn tracked military veterans’ public profiles to see where in the country they were advancing the furthest in their post-service careers, as Military.com reported. Veterans appeared to have most success reaching senior positions in these regions: Colorado...
In Our Communities
Hundreds of people at or near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii are still reporting health problems about a year after the Red Hill jet fuel leakage. Army Times reported on the newest survey by Hawaii state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and...
Lame Duck Session Starts this Week
Congress returns to D.C. this week for about five work weeks before the end of the year. The top priority will be funding the federal government. The current continuing resolution expires Dec. 16. If appropriators aren’t able to pass an omnibus spending bill, they may...
Top Army Leaders Go Back to School to Push Recruitment
Three senior Army leaders have been fanning out across the country to talk with students and school officials as the service has struggled to connect with Gen Z, Military.com reported. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth met with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s...
In Our Communities
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are looking into whether service members and others stationed at the former Fort Ord, California, were exposed to cancer-causing toxins, AP reported. An AP investigation found that drinking water at the base...
Biden Vows to Keep Supporting Ukraine, Disputes McCarthy’s ‘Blank Check’ Characterization
President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. will continue sending aid to Ukraine as it fights off Russia’s invasion, no matter who controls Congress. Biden was asked at a press conference about past remarks by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who may...
Seven Texas Defense Communities Awarded Project Grants
The state of Texas announced $13 million in new grant funding to communities from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission’s Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant program. The recipients are: City of Abilene: $300,000 for Security Sensor Installation at Dyess...
Watch: In Virginia, A Forward Focus on Listening and Inclusion
The Northern Virginia region is committed to ensuring its community is welcoming and inclusive of service members of all backgrounds, embracing the “One Military, One Community” approach. The diversity and inclusion listening sessions and data-informed roadmap for the...
In Our Communities
Soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Carson, Colorado and Hunt Army Airfield, Georgia will deploy to Europe later this year to replace other U.S.-based units supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve, as Stars and Stripes reported. The deployments will keep American troop...
Snap of the Week
Army Staff Sgt. Jessie Leek, left, and Spc. Jeremiah Long, with the New Jersey National Guard, hold the U.S. flag alongside other service members and veterans at MetLife Stadium Nov. 6 at the New York Jets’ “Salute to Service” game. See the gallery. Army National...
Luria Loses Seat, Kaptur Wins, Kelly Leads, Rubio Wins
It was unclear by early Wednesday morning which party will control either chamber of Congress next year. Here are updates on the closely watched races of a handful of lawmakers who hold key defense seats, based on AP results at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Rep. Elaine Luria...
Austin Not in Talks with White House about Leaving His Job, Pentagon Says
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not had discussions with the White House about leaving his position after the midterms, when there is often Cabinet-level turnover. “I’m not going to...
Now Online: America’s Defense Communities Magazine
The November 2022 issue of America’s Defense Communities magazine is now available for digital download. The magazine includes stories from across the countries and “explores the ideas of how innovation is unleashed from every angle—communities, military and...
Navy Raises Enlistment Age
The Navy is now accepting new recruits up to age 41. Until Friday, the maximum enlistment age was 39. “As we continue to navigate a challenging recruiting environment, raising the enlistment age allows us to widen the pool of potential recruits, creating opportunities...
Space Force Teams Up with Johns Hopkins University
Instead of establishing its own war college from scratch, the Space Force is partnering with a private university, as Military.com reported. Starting next year, selected Space Force officers, civilians and other members of the military will take classes at the Johns...
Watch: Antelope Valley Organizations Pitch in to Help, Train Vets
The Antelope Valley, also known as Aerospace Valley, is located in Los Angeles County. ADC spent a day with two of the region’s grassroots organizations that are helping veterans of all ages. Watch their stories. Antelope Valley was honored at last week’s Installation...