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BUDGET Pentagon plans steps to reduce budget and jobs The New York Times    Share    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that he would close a military command, restrict the use of outside contractors and reduce the number of generals and admirals across the armed forces as part of a broad effort to rein in Pentagon spending. More Air Force Village West A retirement community located in Riverside, California for military officers and federal government officials (GS7 and above). AFVW offers great benefits and on-campus health care facilities. MORE ADVERTISEMENT Recess sets aside several controversial defense issues The Hill    Share    Congress will face several controversial defense issues when it returns from the summer recess, beginning with the annual defense spending bill, the industry's bread and butter. A crucial test for defense lobbyists, companies and lawmakers alike will be how many earmarks make it into the Senate's version of the bill. The Senate this year appears to be the only conduit for for-profit firms and their congressional benefactors to add funding for projects the Pentagon has not requested. More Advisory panels: Military benefits unsustainable Montgomory Advertiser    Share    A consensus is building among current and for mer military lead­ers and defense industry execu­tives that rising military person­nel costs threaten the viability of the all-volunteer force. In July, two separate advisory groups reached the same general conclusions regarding what needs to be done to sustain the force. In the nearer term, they say, one step that must be taken is to make mili­tary retirees pay more out of pock­et for their health-care benefit. More NATIONAL SECURITY McKinley reviews National Guard's contribution U.S. Department of Defense    Share    In response to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' effort to find efficiencies throughout the services, the National Guard is taking a hard look at how it operates. Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, kicked off the Guard's effort by releasing a report titled, "The National Guard: A Great Value for America," which will guide efforts to improve efficiency at the bureau and push resources to the operational force. More Former enemies US, Vietnam now military mates Associated Press via Google News    Share    Cold War enemies the United States and Vietnam demonstrated their blossoming military relations as a U.S. nuclear supercarrier cruised in waters off the Southeast Asian nation's coast — sending a message that China is not the region's only big player. The visit comes 35 years after the Vietnam War as Washington and Hanoi are cozying up in a number of areas, from negotiating a controversial deal to share civilian nuclear fuel and technology to agreeing that China needs to work with its neighbors to resolve territorial claims in the South China Sea. More HEALTH CARE Army strives to reduce suicide, mental health issues United States Department of Defense    Share    The Army is striving to reduce soldier suicides and mental health problems by giving troops more dwell time between deployments, identifying tell-tale symptoms more quickly and eliminating the stigma of seeking help, the Army vice chief of staff said. Army Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli recapped findings of a task force he commissioned to reduce soldier suicides and mental-health problems during an interview with Christiane Amanpour on ABC's "This Week." More SERVICE SECTIONS Reservists boost Coast Guard's efforts to clean up Gulf Government Executive    Share    Just as the recreational boating season was hoisting its sails this spring, the Coast Guard - responsible for marine safety in U.S. waters - was faced with one of its biggest challenges in its 220-year history. The BP oil spill that began April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico required the Coast Guard - also charged with protecting the marine environment - to deploy more than 2,000 personnel, about 20 cutters and nearly two dozen aircraft to take charge of the cleanup. More F-22s fly 'bittersweet' final missions at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico The Year in Defense    Share    It had to be a bittersweet moment when Col. David "Kooler" Krumm took over command from Col. Jeffrey "Cobra" Harrigian of the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. The 49th has a long tradition as one of America's premier fighter groups. In the South Pacific in World War II, it produced America's top air aces, P-38 Lightning pilots Maj. Richard I. Bong and Capt. Thomas McGuire. In Korea, F-84 Thunderjets of the 49th pounded enemy installations in air-to-ground strikes. More Boeing may get $7 billion for upgrades as Lockheed JSF stalls Bloomberg    Share    Boeing Co. may receive $7 billion to extend the use of the Navy's older fleet of F/A-18 jets, partly because of delays in Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. In its 2012-2016 budget proposal, the Navy is considering spending the money to upgrade about 300 F/A-18 A and D fighters and lengthen their service lives by about 16 percent to 10,000 flight hours, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report. More RESERVE & GUARD MOBILIZED National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of Aug. 3 United States Department of Defense    Share    This week the Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army and Navy announced an increase. The Coast Guard reported no change. The net collective result is 683 more 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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