The Intersect

Pentagon details state-by-state furloughs

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

The Pentagon has released figures showing the impact of the plan to furlough more than 700,000 civilian defense workers in order to deal with automatic budget cuts set to hit on March 1. The plan, which would involve one furlough day a week from late April through the end of the fiscal year in September, would save $4.6 billion in the United States and another $265 million overseas, for a total of $4.86 billion. States hit the hardest by the civilian defense worker furloughs are those that have a number of military facilities — and are neighbors of Washington, D.C., as well. Virginia would lose $660 million in payroll through the furloughs; California is next at $419 million, followed by Maryland at $359 million. Texas would lose payrolls valued at $290 million. Click here for the full state-by-state list as provided by the Pentagon.

32-day stretch of no US military combat deaths is longest in 6 years

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

No U.S. military personnel have died in combat since Jan. 20, a 32-day stretch that is the longest in six years and marks a welcome trend in the deadly 11-year war, the Department of Defense said. Sgt. Mark Schoonhoven of Plainwell, Mich., died last month from wounds suffered Dec. 15, 2012, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Kabul, but the 32 days since then marks the longest period without a fatal casualty since the 57 days between Dec. 15, 2006, and Feb. 8, 2007, the DOD said.

Texas bill would allow veterans to skip police training

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

Texas lawmakers likely will see a bill in the next legislative session allowing some military veterans to skip most police academy training en route to becoming a sworn police officer. The bill will be named for highly decorated Navy SEAL Chris Kyle who was working with the Dalworthington Gardens police chief and a Tarrant County constable on the idea before Kyle was shot to death Feb. 2. Kyle thought the proposal would be good not just for the police departments but for the veterans suddenly thrust into the civilian world.

Defense cuts no longer may be political sacred cow

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that the automatic spending cuts due to hit the Pentagon and other branches of government next week will damage U.S. national security. In a letter to Congress, he said those cuts would put the military on a path toward a "hollow force." But the warnings don't appear to be moving the needle with lawmakers or the American public.

The best jobs for veterans in 2013

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

New efforts to help America's population of active duty servicemen and women, reservists and veterans are effective and have opened up rewarding career paths in a range of fields, including information technology, manufacturing and transportation. Both U.S. government programs and private industry are heeding the call to assist those job seekers who made the ultimate commitment to country. First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden head the Joining Forces jobs initiative, which has brought together 2,000 domestic companies with the pledge of hiring 100,000 veterans, as well as the spouses of active duty military members, by the end of this year.

GOP senator's backing gives Hagel enough support to be Pentagon chief

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

Chuck Hagel has lined up the necessary votes for the Senate to confirm him to be the nation's next defense secretary, after a senior Republican lawmaker said he will back President Barack Obama's choice. Barring any new developments, five-term Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said he would vote for his fellow Republican and the former two-term Nebraska senator, with the expectation that Hagel will win Senate approval. If confirmed, Hagel would succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who is stepping down after four years first as CIA director and then Pentagon chief. "He's probably as good as we're going to get," Shelby told the Decatur Daily about Hagel.

Beale Air Force Base reserve squadron eliminated

22 Feb 2013 10:50:21 CDT

The 13th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base outside Marysville, Calif., will be deactivated in a budget-saving move. The reserve unit includes about 200 reservists including 80 full-time personnel who help fly and fix the Global Hawk unmanned drones at the base. The Global Hawk program has been on the chopping block before but Congress has funded the planes through 2014. However, the reserve squadron which flies missions every day in support of the 940th Wing based at Beale. Squadron officials say the reservists who maintain the plane are valuable because they remain on duty for years while active military personnel often come and go on a more regular basis.