Majority of Caregivers Report Negative Impact from Pandemic
More than half of caregivers report being less effective during the coronavirus than usual, and almost 80% say the pandemic has had a negative impact on the person they care for, according to a survey by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Everyone is more stressed out in...
ADC: COVID-19 Crisis Requires ‘One Community’ Approach
The Association of Defense Communities recently sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper outlining the imperative of linking bases with surrounding communities during the coronavirus pandemic. In order to achieve efficient collaboration strategies to combat this...
Pentagon Halts Reporting COVID-19 Cases for Individual Units, Bases, Combat Commands
Department of Defense Press Secretary Alyssa Farah provided updated department-wide guidance “to ensure continued public reporting of cases of COVID-19 positive DOD personnel.” Farah said that each of the services would provide a daily public update and the Pentagon...
Kilmer: ‘We Are All in This Together’
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) expressed optimism Tuesday that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted late last week will provide relief to struggling communities in his home state and across the country, adding that work is already...
After Captain’s Plea, Carrier Unloading Sailors in Guam
The Navy is working with officials in Guam to accommodate several USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members who have tested positive for COVID-19 and thousands more who may have been exposed, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told CNN Tuesday. The carrier’s commanding...
Next Phase of Stimulus Likely to Focus on Infrastructure
Congress is already talking about the next round of stimulus policy – often referred to as “phase 4” – and it is expected to focus on infrastructure development, according to several panelists at a COVID-19 Military Support Initiative town hall Tuesday. “The economy...
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PAST STORIES
Gillis: Missing Housing Rights to be Enacted by May 1
During his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Jordan Gillis, nominee for assistant secretary of defense for sustainment said that three missing protections from the DOD’s Tenant Bill of Rights will be added by May 1, military.com reports. The missing provisions are:...
Senators Pass Immigration Policy for Children of Military and Civil Service Members
The U.S. Senate recently passed the bipartisan “Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act” which ensures children (including stepchildren and adopted children) of military and civil servants born while stationed abroad will have a path to...
Norquist: Majority of OEA Funding Comes from Congressional Interest
In a House Budget Committee hearing for FY 2021 for the Defense Department on Tuesday, Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist discussed Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) funding with Rep. Jimmy Panetta of California. “The OEA has provided a tremendous value to...
Military Child Care Priority to Begin June 1
The DOD recently published a memorandum outlining new policies with regard to priority access to child care for military members. “I have directed changes to the current child care priorities to clarify situations where military families will be afforded priority...
BRAC Analysis: Pentagon Needs Updated Report on DOD Infrastructure
A new round of base realignments and closures (BRAC) could save the Department of Defense $2 billion annually, but naming “winners and losers” may cause controversy, Heritage Foundation’s Center for National Defense analyst Frederico Bartels explains in a recent...
New PCS Rules Take Effect on May 15
Officials at U.S. Transportation Command are planning on enacting seven new rules to facilitate and reduce problems in the permanent change-of-station period, reported military.com. New rules include: movers passing background checks, giving service members the option...
DOD Awards $39.8 Million for Mobile Nuclear Minireactor Development
Three companies have been awarded contracts to develop a prototype for a mobile nuclear reactor which the Pentagon is calling “Project Pele.” Annual power usage of the DOD is 30 terawatt hours, and the services uses over 10 million gallons a fuel per day. “A safe,...
Inhofe Running for Fifth Senate Term
U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe, current chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced he will seek reelection, CQ reported. The 85-year-old Republican has been a senator in Oklahoma since 1994. As of Dec. 31 Inhofe had $2.3 million in his campaign account....
Lawmakers, DOD Officials Debate Military Health Clinic Changes
Members of the House Committee on Appropriations discussed the FY 2021 military health system budget recently, particularly about the plan to transition to Defense Health Agency management, reported military.com. There are plans in progress to cut funding for staff...
U.S. Marine Stationed in Virginia Tests Positive for Coronavirus
A Marine assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA has tested positive for COVID-19, the department said in a press release on Saturday. DOD said the service member had recently arrived after traveling overseas on business. Secretary of...
In Our Communities
Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex and leaders of Houston County, Ga. announced the opening of a new software engineering building at Warner Robbins. The project is expected to add 150 jobs to the local workforce... Thirty-five members of the 131st Bomb Wing Missouri...
DOD Looks to Develop Miniature Nuclear Reactors for Emergency Power
Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief Ellen Lord provided an overview of DOD plans to develop “small, modular nuclear reactors” used by domestic installations during emergencies, Air Force Magazine reports. Lord told reporters the power supply would be a “bridge...
Esper: Pentagon May Shift MILCON Funding for Border Wall
Defense Secretary Mark Esper told lawmakers recently the Trump Administration is considering reallocating military construction (MILCON) funding to pay for the border wall, reported CQ. This funding shift would be in addition to the Pentagon’s plan to reprogram...
Submit Nominations for 2020 Defense Community Awards by March 30th
Join the Association of Defense Communities in nominating outstanding defense community leaders throughout the United States for its Defense Community Awards Program. This is an opportunity to highlight and honor key decision-makers from Congress, Department of...
In Our Communities
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed bill HB 30 “Expedited Licensure for Military Families and veterans,” legislation that speeds up the process of obtaining occupational licenses for military dependents arriving in New Mexico... The Army announced it will not follow...
Report Highlights Compatible Land Use Partnerships Between Counties and DOD
A recent publication by the National Association of Counties (NACo) provides an overview of community development and coordinated land use decisions between U.S. counties and neighboring military installations. The document cites the U.S. Department of Defense’s...
Air Force: SPACECOM Basing Decision to be Announced in Spring
At a recent House Committee on Armed Service budget request meeting for the Department of Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett discussed the upcoming basing decision for US Space Force Command (SPACECOM). “As we redesign the system, we are going to...
19 States Join Lawsuit Against Diverting Military Funding to Border Wall
A lawsuit opposing the diversion of $3.8 billion to the border wall says it "will cause damage to their economies, harming their proprietary interests" and the decision violates Congress' appropriation powers, reports Politico. States currently involved in the lawsuit...
Coronavirus: Congress Approves Emergency Spending, Navy Imposes Quarantine
-Lawmakers approved an $8.3 billion emergency spending package on Wednesday to fight the recent coronavirus outbreak, reported CQ. $6.5 billion will go to HHS, and $3.1 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for stockpiling medical supplies,...
Army Looks to Private Industry to Recapitalize Housing for Military Families
Secretary of Army Ryan McCarthy answered questions regarding military family housing at a House Armed Services Committee budget hearing on Tuesday. In particular Rep. Chrissy Houlahan questioned McCarthy on the service’s plan to increase personnel while decreasing the...
Space Force Announces 16 Military Job Specialities
Director of Space Force Planning Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier announced personnel specifics of the new military service, which will total a staff count of about 15,000, military.com reports. The branch will focus on five technical areas of support: space operations,...
Army Awards Eight Environmental Service Programs
Alex A. Beehler, The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment recently announced five installations and three programs contributing to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Winners include a natural resources conservation...
Lawmakers Ask the Pentagon to Expand Tenant Bill of Rights
A statement issued by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), Subcommittee on Readiness Chairman John Garamendi, and Ranking Member Doug Lamborn urged the DOD to expand provisions in their recently released...
Four Former US Secretaries of Defense Issue Warning about Artificial Intelligence
William Cohen, Leon E. Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Ash Carter recently submitted a column cautioning the U.S. relationship with China and development and application of artificial intelligence (AI), Defense One reported. The authors wrote that as AI-driven...
Coronavirus: Pentagon Restricts Base Access, Travel and Exercises at Certain Locations
Defense Secretary Mark Esper outlined provisions to contain the spread of coronavirus on Monday, Federal News Network reported. Examples include all leave and liberty travel to and within CENTCOM. “My number one priority remains to protect our forces and their...