SOUTHCOM Caribbean Buildup: More Troops, 8 Ships, 1 Sub
The US is ramping up its counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean. The Pentagon says there are about 10,000 US forces there, most stationed in Puerto Rico. The Navy has eight ships in the region, along with one submarine. Meanwhile, the retirement of the admiral in charge of the operations was announced Thursday.
New Navy CNO Caudle Outlines Priorities
ADM Daryl Caudle, new US Navy chief of naval operations, was sworn in early last week and then held his first all-hands call Thursday aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. He outlined his priorities for the service, among them calling for an updated fleet design and discussing the importance of delivering a combat-credible fleet, taking care of sailors, and advancing readiness.
Restored Pax O’Club Mural Lands at Museum
A restored mural by local artist George F. McWilliams, honoring the role that NAS Pax River played in national space history, now hangs in the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
Key GOP Sen. Wants $55B Increase in Defense Spending
Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a plan calling for an additional $55 billion above the fiscal 2025 defense spending caps imposed under last year’s debt ceiling deal.
