US Defends Affirmative Action Citing Military
Arguing before the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action, the government included service academies and civilian institutions alike, noting among other defenses of the inclusive policy: that a diverse officer corps is necessary for national security.
Still Time for Overseas Absentee Ballots for Nov. 8
Service members, their family members, and overseas US citizens voting by absentee ballot still have time to get their votes counted in the Nov. 8, 2022 midterm elections. If you’ve requested the absentee ballot and have yet to receive it, download the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, which works as a backup ballot.
Navy Brings Sail Drones to Mid-East Exercise
Three unmanned sail drones, and seven manned ships participated last week in the largest exercise so far of unmanned vessels operating with crewed ships in the Persian Gulf, The Saildrone Explorers, are commercially available watercraft powered by wind and solar panels. The Navy wants them to help patrol the vast waters in the Middle East, through which much of the world’s trade transits.
Carter Remembered for Opening Military to Women
Former DEFSEC Ash Carter, who died this week of heart attack at age 68, is remembered for his order to open to women all military jobs, including combat assignments. The decision came after years of study by military leaders and strong opposition from conservative groups.
Did Fat Leonard Gut Navy’s Pacific Leadership?
Fat Leonard cost the US Navy $35 million, and also some experienced Pacific leadership at a critical juncture. His arrest has produced at least 33 federal indictments and 22 guilty pleas. “China could never have dreamt up a way to do this much damage to the US Navy’s Pacific leadership.”
Mississippi R. Bottoming-Out
Critically low water levels in the Mississippi River prompts a change in ships’ draft limits in the key US export port at Baton Rouge, LA.
St. Mary’s Square Rehab Slated
St. Mary’s County Community Development Corp. has been awarded $250,000 from the Maryland Dept. of Housing and Community Development to revitalize the St. Mary’s Square parking lot on Great Mills Road to create a commuter-friendly, landscaped plaza, a bus transit stop with shelters and bike storage.
NAVAIR Grounds T-45C Goshawks
Discovery of an engine blade fault prompted NAVAIR to halt all T-45C Goshawk operations late last week. NAVAIR and Rolls Royce teams are conducting engineering analyses to identify the cause of the recent T-45 engine blade failure.
Pearl Harbor’s Water Still Unsafe
The Navy urged 93,000 residents of Pearl Harbor, HI, to boil water for drinking and cooking as a precaution against bacteria, and also continue to conserve water after a fourth water main break on Monday followed three breaks on Friday of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman system. These same residents faced fuel contamination of their water last year from fuel leaks from JBPHH. The Navy was to begin draining that fuel Monday, but the broken mains prevent that.
US, Canada Bolster Haiti’s Security
Canada and the United States have sent “security equipment” including tactical and armored vehicles, to the Haitian National Police to help tackle an immediate health and security crisis. Haiti PM Ariel Henry has asked the international community for military assistance to quell growing violence, gang shootouts, and looting.
