For more from Schwartz's exit interview, read:
Schwartz: Back to Talkin' Blue
Shake it Up
The F-22 and Clout Deficit
Legacies
New Wrinkle in the Total Force
Acquisition TLC Needed
undefinedJohn A. Tirpak
Obama Courts Military Families In Nevada Campaign Swing
(Washington Post) President Obama, resuming a three-day swing up the West Coast after pausing to visit victims of the deadly shooting in Colorado, turned on Monday to military families as he announced a new effort to help service members transition back to civilian life.
Obama Hits Emotional Notes In Speech To Veterans
(Washington Wire (wsj.com)) On Monday, in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the president opened his remarks on an emotional note, recognizing four members of the military who were killed in the Aurora, Colo., shootings, including Jonathan Blunk of Reno, age 26, "whose family and friends will always know that in that theater he gave his own life to save another." And he spoke at some length about the need to prevent military suicides, which he called an epidemic.
President Obama Announces Job Training Services For Veterans
(Las Vegas Review-Journal) Seeking the veterans' vote in hard economic times, President Barack Obama on Monday announced an overhaul of job training and transition services for the men and women returning from war, saying it's still too tough to find jobs despite the skills they learned in the military.
Local Organizations Donate To Blunk Family Fund
(Reno Gazette-Journal) After he and his wife separated, he moved to Aurora. Chantel Blunk said Saturday that the military would not ship his body back to Reno because he is not on active duty, so she must pay for it herself. The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization, which is currently holding its National Convention in town, announced Monday that it has raised more than $1,000 to donate to Chantel Blunk's fund.
Iraq Insurgents Kill At Least 100 After Declaring New Offensive
(New York Times) Al Qaeda in Iraq carried out one of the most coordinated and baldly sectarian series of attacks in years on Monday, aiming for Shiite targets with car bombs, checkpoint ambushes, and assaults on a military base and police officers in their homes in an offensive that its leadership appeared to equate with the Sunni-led uprising in neighboring Syria.
U.S. Commander Accused Of Stalling Afghan Hospital Abuse Probe
(Reuters.com) A top U.S. general in Afghanistan sought to stall an investigation into waste, abuse and mismanagement at a U.S.-funded hospital in Kabul for political reasons, a former U.S. military official will tell Congress on Tuesday.
Family, Friends Travel To Fayetteville For Start Of Pvt. Danny Chen Suicide Case
(Fayetteville (NC) Observer) More than two dozen activists, elected officials and friends of Pvt. Danny Chen left New York on Monday for Fayetteville. Once here, they will link up with local Asian-American groups ahead of the court-martial of Sgt. Adam Holcomb, which is scheduled to begin today on Fort Bragg.
Marines Drop Increase Of Kalaupapa Landings
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser) The plan was to boost military flights to 1,388 from 112 a year.
U.S. To Sell Six More C-130Js To India
(DefenseNews.com) The United States will sell six additional C-130J Hercules airlifters to the Indian Air Force on a government-to-government basis, Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony was informed during a July 23 visit by U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
Japan, U.S. To Hold Joint Talks To Tackle Safety Issues Of Osprey
(Kyodo News) Japan and the United States will hold joint talks in Tokyo on Thursday to discuss how to ensure safe operation of the U.S. Osprey military aircraft, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said Tuesday.
China Sends Troops To Disputed Islands
(New York Times) The Central Military Commission, China's most powerful military body, has approved the deployment of a garrison of soldiers from the People's Liberation Army to guard disputed islands claimed by China and Vietnam in the South China Sea, the state-run Xinhua news agency said Sunday.
China Plays Cards Close To Chest In Military Transparency Bid
(Reuters.com) China showed off an elite helicopter unit to foreign media on Tuesday in its latest bid to address concerns about its growing military might amid increasingly aggressive moves to assert its sovereignty over the South China Sea.
Foreign Minister Kim To Meet Senior U.S. Defense Official This Week
(Yonhap News Agency) Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan will meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in Seoul to discuss the bilateral alliance and North Korea, ministry officials said Tuesday.
N. Korea Deploys Attack Helicopters Near Border
(Yonhap News Agency) North Korea has placed about 50 attack helicopters at air bases near the western sea border in response to South Korea's Air Force placement in the Yellow Sea, South Korean government sources said Tuesday.
Aquino Vows To Stand Firm In South China Sea Dispute
(Singapore Straits Times) Philippine President Benigno Aquino has refused to budge on a territorial dispute with China, asking Beijing to respect Manila's rights in the South China Sea and announcing plans to upgrade the country's military capabilities.
CIA's Mission Impossible: Get A New Gym
(Wall Street Journal) Pentagon spokesman George Little said: "I'm not weighing in literally or figuratively on any gym comparisons."
Documents In Plain Sight, But Still Classified
(New York Times) Can a government document be both publicly available and properly classified at the same time?
US Opposes Psych Test In Military Shootings Case
(Norfolk Virginian-Pilot (pilotonline.com)) Federal prosecutors in Virginia are objecting to a request for a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation for a man who admitted to firing shots at the Pentagon, the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico and other military buildings.
Rocket Engine Maker Is Sold
(Los Angeles Times) Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, the pioneering rocket engine manufacturing business in the San Fernando Valley, has been sold by its parent company of seven years to Sacramento aerospace and technology firm GenCorp Inc. for $550 million.
EADS Sees U.S. Interest In Eurocopter's High-Speed X3
(Reuters.com) Europe's biggest aerospace company, EADS, on Monday said prospective U.S. commercial and military customers showed great interest in its X3 high-speed helicopter, which the company says has revolutionized helicopter technology.
A Sagging 'Strategic Partnership'
(Business Standard (India)) US Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter's ongoing tour to Japan, Thailand, India and South Korea illustrates Washington's "rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region" that President Barack Obama first enunciated on January 3. In that momentous policy speech, India alone was mentioned as a strategic partner that had to be courted.
For Iran, Learn From Iraq 1991-94
(Politico.com) If the decision to apply force were made, the international community can prevent an Iranian nuclear rebirth through inspectors who have the authority to destroy remaining nuclear contraband. Farfetched? Not at all. The global community actually did it before in Iraq 1991-1994. This could repeat in Iran. History provides perspective.
Give Treasury Its Proper Role On The National Security Council
(NYTimes.com) THE National Security Act of 1947, which created the National Security Council, the Defense Department, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Central Intelligence Agency, turns 65 on Thursday. But it's not ready for retirement; it needs, instead, to be rejuvenated by making the Treasury secretary a statutory member of the National Security Council, rather than an invited attendee.
Osprey's Arrival Foments Distrust
(Japan Times) Twelve MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft were unloaded from a transport ship at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Monday amid protest from Iwakuni's conservative Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda and local residents
Cyber is Not Yet the Answer: It's far too early to make the case that cyber weaponsundefinedsuch as the so-called "Stuxnet" worm that reportedly derailed Iran's nuclear weapons programundefinedcan substitute for kinetic force structure, said outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. The shift from kinetic to cyber weapons is "not like major transitions in weaponry in the past," such as from horse-drawn to motorized artillery, or the change from "piston to turbojet," he said in a mid July exit interview. There is "a transition under way," acknowledged Schwartz, but "it is not yet clear, I don't think, even to those who are most knowledgeable, where the cyber capabilities will ultimately end up." Just as in the transition from manned to remotely piloted aircraft, there will be "an indefinite period" when kinetic and cyber weapons will operate side by side, "because there are advantages and disadvantages to both" as well as "complications in terms of employment of both," said Schwartz. The consequences of using kinetic weapons is well understood, but cyber is "nascent in that regard," said Schwartz. He added, "We're far from a point where we're going to rely on cyber as a principal means of securing US national interests."
undefinedJohn A. Tirpak
Uniform Religion: The Air Force has addressed the issue of religious proselytizing that was occurring when outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz assumed his post in 2008, Schwartz told the Daily Report. During a mid July exit interview, Schwartz said his concern was that "there were people in leadership rolesundefinedcommanders' rolesundefinedwho did not appreciate sufficiently . . . the need to exercise care in how they articulated their faith." While everyone has the right to religious freedom, Schwartz said he was worried that when those with command authority "appear to promote" certain beliefs, those under their command could feel they'd be "at a disadvantage if they did not align accordingly." Service members must feel free to exercise their own religious beliefs "without concern for whether it will affect their promotability, their assignments, whether they will remain equally competitive with others, and so on," asserted Schwartz. These are "serious matters that relate to unit cohesion and discipline" and "commanders need to be smart about this," he said. Schwartz thinks the Air Force has "sensitized our commanders to their obligations in this regard." He added, "I think that's healthy for the Air Force."
undefinedJohn A. Tirpak
Every Mistake is a Lesson in Disguise: The "Buckshot Yankee fiasco" of 2008, in which software carried on a thumbdrive infiltrated the Defense Department's networks, was a pivotal moment for the Air Force because it helped shape the service's "proactive defense posture," said Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, the Air Force's information dominance chief. This strategic and tactical shift had huge implications for combat in the cyber realm, Basla told reporters during a Pentagon briefing on July 20. "Heretofore, cyber defense in a legacy communication system was really after the fact," he said. For instance, when a circuit disruption occurred, network operators reported the interruption and investigated it. "I would do some triage and find out what happened," explained Basla. Now, sleuthing in the network is part of the operators' day-to-day tasks. "Proactive defense means we are not waiting for something to happen," he said. "We are out in the Air Force network and we are asking, 'Is this normal traffic?'" (For more from Basla's briefing, read Information is Operations.)
undefinedSeth James Miller
Air Force Surgeon General Retires: Lt. Gen. Charles Green retired as Air Force surgeon general, ending 34 years of uniformed service. Green had been the Air Force's top doctor since August 2009. Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presided over Green's retirement ceremony at JB Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., on July 19. Schwartz said Green had a remarkable career and earned the respect of airmen at every post throughout his Active Duty medical service, which began at Eglin AFB, Fla., in June 1978. Schwartz presented Green with the Distinguished Service Medal, along with a letter of appreciation and letters from President Obama and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, according to a July 20 release from the surgeon general's office. Among his 17 assignments, Green served as the command surgeon for three combatant commands and as the Air Force's assistant surgeon general for health care operations. Lt. Gen. Thomas Travis has succeeded Green as the Air Force's surgeon general. (Anacostia-Bolling report by Jon Stock)
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Recruiting Strong Across the Board: Air Force recruiting remained robust across the Total Force three-quarters of the way through Fiscal 2012, according to the Pentagon'snewest recruiting numbers, issued on July 23. The Air Force's Active Duty component attracted 21,332 accessions, matching its fiscal-year-to-date goal through June, the data show. The Air National Guard brought in 6,453 new recruits through June, 14 more than its target. The Air Force Reserve met its goal by accepting 6,458 accessions. Meanwhile, the Army's, Marine Corps', and Navy's Active Duty components all met or exceeded their year-to-date accessions goals through June, as did each of their reserve components, according to the recruiting figures. June marked the first month in Fiscal 2012 that the Army National Guard has met or exceeded its year-to-date recruiting target. (See also our coverage of May's recruiting figures.)
Warthogs Rock the Boat: Four A-10s deployed from Barksdale AFB, La., bombed, strafed, and sank the USNS Niagara Falls, a decommissioned naval supply ship, during the massive ongoing Rim of the Pacific exercise off the coast of Hawaii. "I think they underestimated the ability of the A-10," said Maj. Grant McCall, a pilot with Air Force Reserve Command's 47th Fighter Squadron, in a July 20 Barksdale release. He added, "Other groups were supposed to shoot at the target . . . but never got the chance because we sank it" during the July 14 mission. The A-10s hit the ship with four inert 2,000-pound laser-guided bombs, one of which penetrated the hull, before pummeling the ship with cannon. "The 30 millimeters were pounding the ship and sending monster geysers of water up in the air. It was a spectacular sight, like something out of old World War II footage," added Lt. Col. Jim Travis, 47th FS commander. Last year, A-10s struck maritime targets in combat off Libya. (Barksdale report by SSgt. Ted Daigle) (See also Navyrelease.)
Dacian Deliverance: A-10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, flew top cover for Romanian air force helicopters in rescue scenarios during exercise Dacian Thunder, at Campia Turzii AB, Romania. In one of the combat search and rescue scenarios practiced on July 19, the A-10s located a US airman and guided a Puma helicopter carrying Romanian special forces to retrieve this mock survivor. "If a coalition contingency operation happens, we already have unified tactics, techniques, and procedures established. We won't have to establish these in a real-world situation because we're already familiar with one another," said Capt. Maureen Hartney, 81st FS executive officer, in a July 23 release. British and Romanian airmen as well as US marines are participating in the month-long exercise, alongside pilots; support personnel; and survival, evasion, resistance, and escape specialists from Spangdahlem, according to the release. (Campia Turzii report by SrA. Natasha Stannard)
More assistance expected with update to TAP
President Obama will announce Monday the 22-year-old Transition Assistance Program is about to take a leap into the 21st century, with more individualized assistance to help separating service members with their personal post-military goals. There will be more one-on-one counseling, separate tracks for those attending college, wanting to start their own businesses or to immediately convert their military-learned skill into a civilian job, more focus on the mechanics of getting a job and more follow up, both at the end of the scheduled classes and after leaving the service, according to White House officials. [ Read More ]
Nellis teaching the shadowy art of cyber war
LAS VEGAS undefined Flying above the clouds in hostile territory, a U.S. Air Force F-15E fighter pilot checks his computer to make sure he’s on course, trying to steer clear of a no-fly zone.
But can he trust the information that comes up on his screen? Can he complete his mission without creating an international incident? Could a cyber-terrorist network have hacked his data? [ Read More ]
Reservist receives check to cover lost pay
WINONA, Minn. undefined A Minnesota teacher says he’s “overwhelmed” after receiving a check to cover pay lost while he was stationed in Afghanistan in the Air Force Reserve. [ Read More ]
Air Force offers cash to some to stay overseas
Airmen doing a tour at an overseas base have a shot at earning extra cash or extra time off if they’re willing to extend their tour by 12 months. [ Read More ]
Allen: Afghanistan drawdown halfway done
KABUL, Afghanistan undefined The top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan said Sunday that this year’s pullout of 23,000 American troops is at the halfway mark. But he cautioned against putting too much emphasis on the drawdown, saying that foreign troops will fight through 2014 when the NATO combat mission ends undefined and beyond. [ Read More ]
First U.S. Ospreys to arrive in Japan next week
A welcoming home for our Troops.
