Troops will begin heading home from Afghanistan, for good, on May 1. (Capt. Robyn J. Haake/Army)The are set to pull out of Afghanistan , but U.S. support to that country’s military is likely to endure.Though the Afghan government and its military/police organizations will be responsible for keeping the peace, that may , Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a NATO press conference on Wednesday.“We will look to continue funding key capabilities, such as the Afghan air force and Special Mission Wing,” he said. “And we will seek to continue paying salaries for Afghan security...…Troops will begin heading home from Afghanistan, for good, on May 1. (Capt. Robyn J. Haake/Army)The are set to pull out of Afghanistan , but U.S. support to that country’s military is likely to endure.Though the Afghan government and its military/police organizations will be responsible for keeping the peace, that may , Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a NATO press conference on Wednesday.“We will look to continue funding key capabilities, such as the Afghan air force and Special Mission Wing,” he said. “And we will seek to continue paying salaries for Afghan security...WW…

A senior administration official told reporters that the administration has "low to moderate" confidence that Russian intelligence offered to pay the Taliban for killing U.S. troops. (Rahmat Gul/AP)U.S. intelligence agencies aren’t particularly confident that Russia deployed to Afghanistan, a story that rocked the military and intelligence communities last summer.the issue, based on a June report from the New York Times. told lawmakers during a hearing in July that those reporters were not corroborated.“The United States intelligence community assesses with low to moderate confidence that...…A senior administration official told reporters that the administration has "low to moderate" confidence that Russian intelligence offered to pay the Taliban for killing U.S. troops. (Rahmat Gul/AP)U.S. intelligence agencies aren’t particularly confident that Russia deployed to Afghanistan, a story that rocked the military and intelligence communities last summer.the issue, based on a June report from the New York Times. told lawmakers during a hearing in July that those reporters were not corroborated.“The United States intelligence community assesses with low to moderate confidence that...WW…

Military explosives arranged in the shape of a swastika. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Feb. 3 called for a stand-down to confront extremism in the services. (Screenshot from Twitter account @Jacobite_Edward)Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called on the services to conduct a 60-day stand-down on the issue of extremism in the military, prompted by the and subsequent reports of both and attending a rally calling to overturn the 2020 election and the riot that ensued.Austin held a meeting Wednesday of the service secretaries and Joint Chiefs, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters,...…Military explosives arranged in the shape of a swastika. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Feb. 3 called for a stand-down to confront extremism in the services. (Screenshot from Twitter account @Jacobite_Edward)Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has called on the services to conduct a 60-day stand-down on the issue of extremism in the military, prompted by the and subsequent reports of both and attending a rally calling to overturn the 2020 election and the riot that ensued.Austin held a meeting Wednesday of the service secretaries and Joint Chiefs, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters,...WW…

Some children of service members born abroad are entitled to automatic citizenship once again. (MC3 A.J. Jones/Navy)Last year, put citizenship in jeopardy for a born abroad every year. Lawmakers decried the move and worked up legislation to fix the issue, and as of September, part of the policy has been rescinded.The , passed by Congress in March and first implemented this month, requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to recognize automatic citizenship once again for children born abroad who are in the legal and physical custody of at least one U.S. citizen service member...…Some children of service members born abroad are entitled to automatic citizenship once again. (MC3 A.J. Jones/Navy)Last year, put citizenship in jeopardy for a born abroad every year. Lawmakers decried the move and worked up legislation to fix the issue, and as of September, part of the policy has been rescinded.The , passed by Congress in March and first implemented this month, requires U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to recognize automatic citizenship once again for children born abroad who are in the legal and physical custody of at least one U.S. citizen service member...WW…

Polish ally soldiers conduct a security halt with 3rd Infantry Division soldiers at a checkpoint. (Sgt. Raymundo Prado/Army)Nearly 12,000 as soon as is feasible, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday, but the ones who will be may be called up for .Under the plan, troop levels in Germany would drop from 36,000 to just over 24,000, Defense Secretary Esper told reporters, with 5,600 of those re-positioned to other European countries and the remainder shifting to U.S. bases to be determined.“I want to note that this plan is subject to, and likely will, change to some degree as it evolves over...…Polish ally soldiers conduct a security halt with 3rd Infantry Division soldiers at a checkpoint. (Sgt. Raymundo Prado/Army)Nearly 12,000 as soon as is feasible, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday, but the ones who will be may be called up for .Under the plan, troop levels in Germany would drop from 36,000 to just over 24,000, Defense Secretary Esper told reporters, with 5,600 of those re-positioned to other European countries and the remainder shifting to U.S. bases to be determined.“I want to note that this plan is subject to, and likely will, change to some degree as it evolves over...WW…

The Pentagon’s top civilian and top uniformed official spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about recent reports that agency had fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, and both said that those intelligence reports are uncorroborated. said that he had never been specifically briefed on the proposition of Russia offering bounties to Taliban fighters.“It is the opinion of a number of intelligence entities, agencies, that could not corroborate the report,” he told the House Armed Services Committee.Both Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chairman, answered multiple questions...…The Pentagon’s top civilian and top uniformed official spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about recent reports that agency had fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, and both said that those intelligence reports are uncorroborated. said that he had never been specifically briefed on the proposition of Russia offering bounties to Taliban fighters.“It is the opinion of a number of intelligence entities, agencies, that could not corroborate the report,” he told the House Armed Services Committee.Both Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chairman, answered multiple questions...WW…

Marines prepare for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. (Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin/Marine Corps)The military services saw an overall decline in the total number of and aviation-related fatalities in 2019, reversing a trend in recent years that saw record-high numbers of serious aviation mishaps and deaths in recent years.Across the force, the total number of major mishaps — defined as those categorized as Class A though Class C, depending on the extent of damage or injury the individual mishaps caused — dropped slightly last year. The Pentagon reported 1,005 major mishaps in...…Marines prepare for takeoff at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. (Lance Cpl. Ashley McLaughlin/Marine Corps)The military services saw an overall decline in the total number of and aviation-related fatalities in 2019, reversing a trend in recent years that saw record-high numbers of serious aviation mishaps and deaths in recent years.Across the force, the total number of major mishaps — defined as those categorized as Class A though Class C, depending on the extent of damage or injury the individual mishaps caused — dropped slightly last year. The Pentagon reported 1,005 major mishaps in...WW…

Editor’s note: In mid-May 2020, the Defense Department updated its accessions guidance, removing policy barriers to COVID-19 survivors joining the services. Read about the most current guidance .As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing survivors into the services.A past diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter.“During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory...…Editor’s note: In mid-May 2020, the Defense Department updated its accessions guidance, removing policy barriers to COVID-19 survivors joining the services. Read about the most current guidance .As the Defense Department negotiates its way through the coronavirus pandemic and its fallout, are working with new guidance when it comes to bringing survivors into the services.A past diagnosis is a no-go for processing, according to a recently released MEPCOM memo circulating on Twitter.“During the medical history interview or examination, a history of COVID-19, confirmed by either a laboratory...WW…

Future sailors take the oath of enlistment into the Navy at the San Jose, Calif., military entrance processing station. (MC1 Meranda Keller/Navy)The command in charge of processing new recruits into the services has updated its , loosening restrictions banning anyone who has been diagnosed to only those who were hospitalized because of complications.The change came days after an circulated on Twitter, causing an uproar in the face of a that will touch millions of Americans, according to.That guidance was part of an “interim” memo, which characterized a as a no-go, updated on Wednesday, a...…Future sailors take the oath of enlistment into the Navy at the San Jose, Calif., military entrance processing station. (MC1 Meranda Keller/Navy)The command in charge of processing new recruits into the services has updated its , loosening restrictions banning anyone who has been diagnosed to only those who were hospitalized because of complications.The change came days after an circulated on Twitter, causing an uproar in the face of a that will touch millions of Americans, according to.That guidance was part of an “interim” memo, which characterized a as a no-go, updated on Wednesday, a...WW…

One of the last remaining patients at Javits New York Medical Station, N.Y., is being released and heading home May 1, 2020. The Pentagon will evaluate whether federal emergency funds for COVID-19 response were used properly. (Pfc. Nathaniel Gayle/Army)The Pentagon’s inspector general has received almost 300 tips and opened more than 200 complaints as of May 11, according to the oversight plan. More than half of the complaints were for alleged violations of social distancing policy.Those inquiries are part of that will look at the use of a $10 billion to help with COVID-19 response,...…One of the last remaining patients at Javits New York Medical Station, N.Y., is being released and heading home May 1, 2020. The Pentagon will evaluate whether federal emergency funds for COVID-19 response were used properly. (Pfc. Nathaniel Gayle/Army)The Pentagon’s inspector general has received almost 300 tips and opened more than 200 complaints as of May 11, according to the oversight plan. More than half of the complaints were for alleged violations of social distancing policy.Those inquiries are part of that will look at the use of a $10 billion to help with COVID-19 response,...WW…