Inconclusive Findings in Report on UFOs
An unclassified report from the US Office of National Intelligence reveals very little about strange aerial sightings reported by military pilots over the past few decades.
Army Mini-Drones Join the Afghanistan Mission
82nd Airborne Division used the Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance System last week to support a foot patrol in Kandahar province — it marks the entry of mini-drones into counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan.
Japan’s 1st F-35 Crashes in Pacific
The jet was less than a year old with a total of 280 hours in the air; it had been aloft 28 minutes before contact was lost. This is the second F-35 to crash since the jet’s first flight in 2006 and could reignite concern about the F-35 having only one engine.
VA Health Care Could Merge with DoD’s
Parts of the VA health care system are being considered for merging into the DoD health care system, potentially impacting 19 million military personnel, retirees, dependents, and vets.
Navy’s First Female Jet Pilot Dies
The US Navy’s first female jet pilot, Rosemary Mariner, died last week. She was 65.
VA Leaves Millions Unspent for Suicide Outreach
Veterans Administration has spent only $57,000 out of $6.2 million set aside for suicide prevention and suicide outreach in the media in fiscal 2018, less than 1 percent, while a respected, retired Marine colonel becomes the fifth suicide since 2013 at the same Florida VA complex.
Retired Marine Col. Jim Turner became the fifth veteran at Bay Pines Department of Veterans Affairs in Florida to take his life, reports Military.com. He put on his dress uniform and medals and drove to the complex. He got out of his truck, sat down on top of his military records and took his own life with a rifle. He left a suicide note blasting the VA for failing to help him. He was remembered as a professional and a leader.
Navy Suicides Still Highest of All Services
Suicide rates in the Navy have climbed rapidly since 2015 with a 53 percent spike from 2016 to 2017, more than among active duty service members in any other branch of the military. Although more modest than the Navy’s rate, suicide rates continued to rise for all duty service members in 2017.
Services Acquisition Reform Out this Month
Acquisition reform in the Pentagon and the Defense Authorization Bill in the Senate are shaking up the defense budget.
Morning Coffee: Pentagon Cuts 8 JSFs
Sources report the Pentagon will cut 8 F-35s from the FY15 budget and the White House will seek a $36 billion DoD plus-up in the FY16. Budget expert calls out-year projections “fiction.”
Education Groups Out-lobbying Defense on Sequestration
Universities out-lobby defense on sequestration and all branches meet recruitment goals.
