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Obama Hammers Defense Waste
from DoD Buzz
Speaking to an audience of military veterans, President Barack Obama called for cutting wasteful defense spending and for reforming the way defense industry does business. "Every dollar wasted in our defense budget is a dollar we can't spend to care for our troops or protect America or prepare for the future," he said.
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VA Simplifies Compensation Rules for Post-traumatic Stress
from Defense Link
The Veterans Affairs Department is taking steps to help veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced. "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its transformation to the 21st century," Shinseki said.
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QDR: It's Over, Barring Surprises
from DoD Buzz
The QDR is pretty much finished and the major decisions made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on April 6 are likely to comprise most of the review's major decisions. "It appears to be essentially over:" that's the judgment of a Pentagon official with detailed knowledge of the review. this source said.
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Obama Congratulates Afghans on Election
from Defense Link
President Barack Obama praised the courage of the Afghan people for participating in the national election despite threats by the Taliban to disrupt the process. "Over the last few days we've seen acts of violence and intimidation by the Taliban, and there may be more in the days to come," the president said. "We knew that the Taliban would try to derail this election. Yet even in the face of this brutality, millions of Afghans exercised the right to choose their leaders and determine their own destiny. As I watched the election, I was struck by their courage in the face of intimidation, and their dignity in the face of disorder."
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Source: Prosecutor to Investigate CIA Interrogations
from CNN
Attorney General Eric Holder has asked federal prosecutor John Durham to examine whether CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists were illegal, the Justice Department said. Durham has been investigating the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes since January 2008. He was initially appointed to do so by then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
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The Mysterious Strandings of California’s Sea Lions
from NOAA
The first sign of trouble began in May. Residents along the California coast began to see an unexpected onslaught of beached California sea lions. The huge numbers of starving, emaciated young sea lions reached crisis levels in May and June, as marine mammal rehabilitation facilities exceeded capacity.
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National Guard Joins Forces with the Army Reserve Employer Partnership
from The Army Reserve
In a move the first of its kind, the Army Reserve struck a partnership with the National Guard to better provide employment opportunities for Soldiers returning home from deployment. Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve, and Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Indiana Adjutant General, signed an agreement that the two components would work together with employers to acquire better job resources for troops.
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18th Air Force Welcomes New Commander; Prior Chief to Retire
from bnd.com
Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert R. Allardice took control of the 18th Air Force from Air Force Maj. Gen. Winfield W. Scott III during a ceremony at Scott Air Force Base. Allardice is the fifth commander of the 18th Air Force since it was reactivated in 2003. Before his new position, he served as director of strategy, plans and policy for U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
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Elmendorf Reservists Meet Tuskegee Airmen at Convention
from Air Force Reserve Command
Ten reservists from the 477th Fighter Group traveled to Las Vegas where they met living history at the Tuskegee Airmen's 38th Annual Convention. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first American black military pilots and crewmen. They served during World War II fighting enemies overseas and discrimination at home. Several of the original Tuskegee Airmen attended the convention.
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Electric Barrier: Initial Testing Complete
from Chicago Sun-Times
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has completed initial safety testing for navigation on the electric Aquatic Nuisance Species Dispersal Barrier in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard. The barrier went to full time operation at the higher operating parameters of two volts per inch, 15 Hertz frequency and 6.5 milliseconds pulse rate. Navigation safety testing began shortly thereafter.
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| RESERVE & GUARD MOBILIZED |
National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of August 18, 2009
from Defenselink
This week the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force announced an increase in activated reservists, while the Navy and Coast Guard announced a decrease. The net collective result is 692 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.
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