House Passes $106 Billion War Funding Bill
from USA Today
War-funding legislation recently survived a fierce partisan battle in the House, a major step in providing commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan the money they would need for military operations in the coming months. The $106 billion measure, in addition to about $80 billion for military operations, provides for an array of other spending priorities, including $7.7 billion to respond to the flu pandemic and more than $10 billion in development and security aid for Pakistan and Iraq as well as countries such as Mexico and the nation of Georgia. More
Nevada Violated USERRA, Lawsuit Claims
from Air Force Times
The Justice Department has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Nevada, alleging that officials violated the rights of an Army Reserve colonel by refusing to reinstate him to his job when he returned from a mobilization in 2008, and retaliating when he filed a federal complaint -- by firing him and then backdating the firing.
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MILITARY UPDATE: Details of Pay Raise Under Discussion
from The Gazette
Active duty and reserve component troops are closer to landing a 3.4 percent pay raise next January, which would be the 11th consecutive annual increase set higher than private sector wage growth. But in approving a $550.4 billion 2010 defense authorization bill and $130 billion for wartime operations, the House Armed Services Committee couldn't find money to support President Obama's plan to extend "concurrent receipt" to 103,000 more disabled retirees.
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JSF Kills Best SAMs, Too: Heinz
from DoD Buzz
Some of the warplanes drawing the most attention at this year's Paris Air Show are some of the slowest. Aerospace and defense companies are trying to capitalize on the growing appeal of low-cost planes packed with high-tech surveillance gear and weapons. These planes are suddenly in vogue as the costliest warplanes are falling out of favor at the Pentagon.
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General: National Guard is key in Afghanistan
from Stars and Stripes
All this activity, however, raises a question: Between home-state obligations, frequent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and a growing list of training partnerships with foreign nations, when does the National Guard reach its breaking point?
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Levin Considers Buying More F-18s, But Not F-22s, C-17s
from National Journal (subscription)
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin said Monday he does not back congressional efforts to add more F-22 Raptor fighter jets or C-17 Globemaster III cargo planes to the Air Force's arsenal, but left the door
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Veterans' Preference Imperiled
from The National Law Journal
Raymond Marshall's 21 years in the Army undoubtedly steeled him for many of life's obstacles but probably not for his now five-year tour of duty in the legal arena for enforcing his right to get a federal job. More
Army Reserve Unit Provides Dental Care to Pine Ridge
from dvids
Little Wanbli had been crying for over a week. His father didn't know what was wrong with the child's teeth, or what caused him so much pain. Unfortunately, the local dental office was closed, and had been for a long time. More
Soldiers, Civilians Join Together to Combat 'Red Dragon' Crisis
from dvids
In the largest training exercise of its type in the nation, more than 2,300 Army Reserve Soldiers are helping civilian authorities respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks. Federal, state and local officials have joined military personnel in "Red Dragon," a simulation filled with life-threatening scenarios spread across southern Wisconsin. More
Gates Decries Congressional Efforts to Restore F-22 Funding
from Miami Herald
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was having "a big problem" with Congressional efforts to restore funding for the F-22, indicating that a showdown is looming between the Pentagon and Capitol Hill over the future of the one of the Air Force's most advanced fighter jets.
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House Panel Votes to Keep the F-22 Jet Fighter Alive
from The New York Times
Led by Republicans, the House Armed Services Committee voted 31 to 30 to keep the Pentagon's advanced F-22 fighter jet alive. The committee chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton, D- Mo., and the chairman of the air and land forces subcommittee, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, both voted against the measure, which would set aside $369 million to buy parts to build 12 more of the fighters.
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Defense Bill Includes More than $25 Million for Iowa Facility
from The Hawk Eye
The House Armed Services Committee mark up of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010 includes more than $25 million for a new readiness and maintenance facility in Middletown, Iowa.
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| RESERVE & GUARD MOBILIZED |
National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of June 16, 2009
from Defenselink
This week, the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard announced an increase in active reserves, while the Marine Corps and Air Force announced a decrease. The net collective result is 241 fewer reservists activated than last week. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. More
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