Transition of Power: Top Pentagon Positions Named by Incoming Administration
Defense News released a list of Pentagon officials that are slated to run the Department of Defense when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office. According to officials the list "pre-decisional" and "not everyone on it has been officially secured into the...
Austin Stresses Importance of Civilian Control of DoD During Senate Hearing
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of civilian control of the military, addressing extremism within the ranks, and the military's posture towards the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward...
![In Our Communities [1/20/2021]](https://defensecommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/600x375_q75-1-e1611116548879-400x250.jpg)
In Our Communities [1/20/2021]
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest awarded $750 million to multiple contractors for new construction, repair, and renovation of waterfront facilities at various government installations in the region... Naval Station Norfolk held a ribbon...
DoD Scraps Proposal to Extend Exchange Shopping Benefits to DoD Civilians
A proposal pushed forward by Department of Defense officials in October to extend exchange shopping benefits to the department's civilian workforce of over half a million employees has been suddenly dropped, Military Times reports. “DoD is not pursuing military...
Over 1 Million Tricare Beneficiaries Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine
Military retiree and spouses over the age of 75 who are Tricare for Life beneficiaries are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but supply varies on location and availability, Military Times reports. Officials say that recipients should contact their local...
DoD Seeks to Expand AI Capability Across Military in 2021
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael Groen, director of the Department of Defense's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) is hoping the services will embrace and adopt innovation across the force this upcoming year, CQ reports. “What we're trying to do is generate...
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PAST STORIES
Pittsburg County Sign Agreement to Improve Infrastructure Near McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
Pittsburg County commissioners signed an agreement on Monday which will lead to an $800,000 grant to improve a road leading to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in Oklahoma, McAlester News reports. The $800,000 grant is only the beginning of funding which is needed,...
City of Salina to Receive $65 Million for Pollution Cleanup at Former Kansas Installation
The City of Salina in Kansas will soon receive a one-time wire transfer payment of $65.9 million to cleanup underground pollution at the former Schilling Air Force Base.in Saline County, Kansas, KSAL reports. "We still have a little bit of work to do before we start...
In Our Communities [1/6/2021]
Kirtland Air Force Base held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commence the opening of a Welcome Center facility at the New Mexico installation... Department of Defense officials will soon release request for proposals for 5G testing at its Tranche 2 facilities......
Three Virginia Military Installations to be Renamed in Response to NDAA Provision
One of the more contentious provisions of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the plan to rename 10 military installations currently named after Confederate generals. Congress' recent override of President Trumps veto on the NDAA means the Army...
Please take a Moment to Participate in ADC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey
Our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Survey closes on Friday, Jan. 8th. We want to hear from you! The survey is part of our new initiative One Military, One Community, which aims to explore and better understand current sentiments about racial equality in defense...
Lawmakers Push for Exceptional Family Member Program Reforms in NDAA
Congress recently overturned President Donald Trump's veto on the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), thus voting to enact the $741 billion defense policy bill. “Not only does this bill give our service members and their families the resources they need,...
National Security Activity Provides $181 Billion Economic Impact in California
Findings from the California Research Bureau's 2020 "California Statewide National Security Impacts" found national security agencies representing 5.7% of the state's economy and generating 820,000 full-time jobs for its residents. The report was generated using...
DoD Reports ‘Minimal’ PFAS Contamination at Fort Knox
Results from Department of Defense testing for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA at seven locations at Fort Knox earlier this year found "minimal environmental contamination" at the Kentucky installation. “The test results do not...
ADC Board Nominations Open Until Jan. 8
ADC is accepting nominations to fill up to four board seats that will be open when the ADC Board of Directors begins its new term this summer. The nomination form and information on the application process are available on the ADC website. Nominations will be accepted...
Share Our Survey: Help ADC Measure Racial Equality Views Across Defense Communities
ADC has extended the period for responses to its One Military, One Community Initiative survey to Jan. 8 to get more feedback from service members, military families, veterans and DOD civilians about their views on racial equality in defense communities. Please...
Congress on Standby to Override Possible NDAA Veto
House and Senate leaders are planning a post-Christmas session if Congress needs to override a veto of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. President Donald Trump has through Wednesday to veto the bill, which passed Congress by wide bipartisan...
Last-Minute Deal in Congress Funds DCIP, Other DOD Priorities
Most media reports have focused on the pandemic response portions of Congress’ last-minute, $900 billion omnibus spending deal reached this week and signed into law by President Donald Trump. But almost $700 billion of the deal was defense-related appropriations...
Four Year-End IGSAs Building Strong Community Partnerships
The following is an abridged excerpt from the Air Force Community Partnership Program's end-of-year newsletter Goodfellow AFB Dormitory IGSA Goodfellow AFB partnered with Angelo State University (ASU) to providing immediate, quality housing for incoming Airmen while...
Navy Hires Special Education Lawyers to Expand Exceptional Family Member Program
Part a three-year initiative to assist military families who participate in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), the Navy recently hired two civilian attorneys to ensure special needs children have access to required services throughout the country. The Navy...
Military Health System COVID-19 Vaccine and Social Media Toolkits
The Military Health System has developed a series of COVID-19 Vaccine and Social Media Toolkits—which include information, messaging and graphics to educate and inform your community members and stakeholders about the vaccine’s distribution and administration. The...
Travis AFB Partners with Commercial Drone Company for Autonomous Perimeter Security System
Travis Air Force Base in California is becoming the first Air Force installation to deploy an automated drone-based monitoring and perimeter security system in the United States. The new technology is being deployed in partnership between the 60th Air Mobility Wing,...
DoD Basic Housing Allowance Rates to Increase an Average of 2.9% in 2021
The Department of Defense recently released its 2021 basic housing rates (BAH) which will take effect on January 1, 2021. According to the DoD, the service will pay approximately one million service members $23 billion in the compensation package for the upcoming...
USACE Pittsburgh Signs Partnership Agreement for Sewer-System Repairs
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District recently signed a $200,000 project-partnership agreement with the city of McKeesport to complete storm sewer-system repairs at several locations around the city. “A partnership agreement signing is always an...
DOD Frontline Health Workers are Among First to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller joined medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Maryland on Monday to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, marking the DoD's mass effort to fight to coronavirus pandemic. "Our service...
REPI Program to Fund Living Shoreline Along Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program announced it will award $1 million to fund the planting of 2,100 linear feet of living shoreline along the Neuse River bordering the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,...
First Batch of Female Recruits to Begin Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Approximately 60 female recruits will begin training at the San Diego Marines training post in February, Military.com reports. The decision is part of a congressional mandate requiring the U.S. Marine Corps to make its entry-training coed. Previously all female Marine...
Fort Campbell Begins Construction on $53 Million Maintenance Complex
The new Army Field Support Battalion Installation Maintenance Division complex at Fort Campbell will consolidate the installation's maintenance shops in one complex, instead of spread across 28 buildings in 11 different locations on post. “This facility is greatly...
Lack of Available Housing Affects Military Families at JBLM
A recent survey conducted by the South Sound Military Community Partnership shows the housing challenges facing service members and their families at Joint Base Lewis-McCord in Washington State. The U.S. Army asks its service members to live within a 30-minute commute...
In Our Communities [12/14/2020]
The Okaloosa County School District, which services Eglin Air Force Base, was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity to benefit the district's STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)... DOD's...
Little Rock AFB Establishes Airmen’s Diversity Forum
The Diversity and Inclusion Airmen’s Forum recently was started at Little Rock Air Force Base to help foster a more inclusive environment at the Arkansas installation. “The Diversity and Inclusion Airmen’s Forum is an awesome initiative that gives folks the...