Federal Employees Receive Pay Raise
Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Leader’s owners or staff.
Federal employees will receive their first automatic pay raise in more than three years, reports the Washington Post. The 1 percent increase began Jan. 1 and was implemented by President Obama’s executive order which conforms to his 2014 budget proposal.
The USS Chancellorsville will require 6 months and $30 million to repair the damage caused when a Northrop Grumman BQM-74 target drone collided with the ship during the Navy’s Combat System Ship Qualification Trials, according to USNI News. Repairs will concentrate on the ship’s portside computer room which, “was heavily damaged by the impact of a test target at the Point Mugu range on Nov. 16.”
Working-age military retirees are angry about the provision included in the recent bipartisan budget deal that trims pension cost of living increases by 1 percent, reports the Washington Post. Veterans believe the US is “reneging on a solemn pact.” Many lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have pledged to eliminate the cut when Congress resumes work next week.
U.S. News and Word Report offers “5 Lessons for the Pentagon from 2013”. How can the nation’s military capably perform its worldwide mission when funding is under constant pressure? The need for a fully engaged military and the unrelenting demand on U.S. forces is summed up by Navy Admiral Thomas Moore, “We have an eleven-carrier Navy for a world that needs fifteen.”
In an effort to reduce data network cyber security breaches military agencies are cutting the number of points of entry and are centralizing the control and management of data, reports National Defense. Consolidating networks will foster more efficient monitoring and control which will simplify cyber defense efforts.
USNI News has consulted with its writers, service members and naval analysts to produce a compilation of the “most important military and maritime stories of 2013.” Topics include a shift in UCLASS requirements which is delaying drone procurement efforts which, in turn, negatively affects potential bidders such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and General Atomics.
The Navy has initiated testing for synthetic marijuana compounds during random urinalysis, reports the Navy News Service. The new Department of Defense testing policy was announced Dec. 31 by Navy officials and will be randomly conducted on samples submitted to all drug screening laboratories. Positive results will subject members to disciplinary action.
