An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender during Operation Octave Quartz above Africa, Jan. 9, 2021. The operation relocates U.S. forces in Somalia to other East Africa operating locations while supporting partner forces and maintaining pressure on violent extremist groups.
Jan. 15, 2021 | , DOD News
Two key concepts of the National Defense Strategy are partnerships and expanding the competitive space in all domains — and that's what the Defense Department is doing in the U.S. Southern Command and globally, said Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller.
Faller, commander of Southcom, said yesterday that those efforts include training and education with partner nations, security cooperation, fighting transnational criminal organizations, stopping illegal fishing, exercises, personnel exchanges, planning and intelligence sharing and having a military presence there to assist and reassure.
It's in everyone's interest in this hemisphere to have partners with strong military capabilities, Faller told virtual attendees of the Surface Navy Association Annual National Symposium.
He said one example is Colombia, which has a cutting-edge military force. Colombians are also producing quality vessels in their shipyards and selling them to other nations in South America and the Far East. Brazil, as well, has invested in a capable navy.
Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and other nations, including NATO allies, have taken part in the annual UNITAS exercises, he said.
Ecuador led UNITAS in 2020, despite COVID-19 and budget challenges that had caused the country to be absent from the global scene for over a decade.
"Our ability to target threats doubled," Faller said. "And our partner capacity went from about 48% to 60%. So, we've got to take care of today's threats to expand the competitive space."
Humanitarian missions are also an important aspect of strengthening partnerships, he said.
In November, a Category 4 and 5 hurricane slammed into Central America, and the DOD along with the Coast Guard assisted in saving more than 1,000 lives.
Additionally, the two Navy hospital ships routinely make port calls in Southcom, he added. They're treating many patients and spreading goodwill.
Faller said partnerships are important for everyone in this hemisphere.
China remains a significant threat to this hemisphere and is seeking deep-water ports in El Salvador, Jamaica and elsewhere, and the Chinese are trying to exert control over the Panama Canal. They're also trying to gain access to inland waterways in Brazil and neighboring countries through tugboat and dredging contracts, he said.
Chinese fishing fleets are harvesting illegal catches in many areas of Southcom, he added.
The Chinese are also trying to sell their 5G network equipment, which is also a threat to security, he said.
Besides China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Nicaragua are trying to destabilize democracies in the area and are spreading disinformation and engaging in criminal activities, he said.
Therefore, it's in the interest of partners in this hemisphere to remain united and to work together to maintain peace and prosperity for all, he said, noting that, after Asia, Latin America is the United States' largest trading partner.
Jan. 14, 2021
ACTING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHRISTOPHER C. MILLER: Okay, are you guys ready? My statement is just, I made some notes. I went out, you know, met with the General VanHerck today, and his team. Key tasks were, one, kind of get an update on, um, state of homeland defense, two, make sure that we were synced on not just the inauguration threat, because that’s really like…but at this point there’s a machine that’s cranking on that, but just made it…wanted to talk about the rest of the country, you know, and uh, then listened to his team on the stuff that they’re doing. They’re doing some really, really innovative stuff about, you know, competition and how we do things below the threshold of armed conflict, which I think is kind of really, really important. And, uh, it’s kind of the future of the department, even though a lot of people just want to continue doing the same old thing again and again. I think that’s the definition of insanity, isn’t it? Oh, did I say that out loud? Uh, so, and then, one of our key things that we wanted to do when we got here was, recognize transnational threats, counter narcotics, human trafficking, all that stuff, which, for the longest time was like, oh we have a program for this, a program for…It’s all…it’s…you all know at this point it’s international. Fentanyl coming in from China, has a component with human smuggling and all that. And one of the things we wanted to try to do was, kind of…not refocus, but there was a concern that we probably went too far on focusing on INDO-PACOM and China, trying to bring it back a little bit, recognize like, wow, NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, even AFRICOM has some real, significant challenges and also, just to recognize, hey, we probably need to look at these things globally as opposed to, you know, one, one area. So I had a really good conversation about that with him. And that was kind of the intent. Let’s see…I think I covered all my talking points.
[Crosstalk]
Q: So the D.C. Guard, said that on the 12th, they got authorization to be armed in support of the Capitol Police, protect the Capitol, members of Congress. How was that authority passed down? From whom to whom…
ASD MILLER: Right, right, very typical, very standard, typical thing. I felt strongly that, you know, it’s easier to just keep everything at my level and, like, I own it all, but that’s not how we work. And, at least, my upbringing was, you want to get your authorities. I have responsibility for everything, remember, if something goes wrong, I own it. Completely, 110 percent. But the authorities, you want to push down, where the people on the ground that are seeing things happen—when I’m sitting at the Pentagon, or in my plane. So I made that decision to push it down to, uh, Secretary of the Army McCarthy, who’s kind of down there on the ground, so that they could move faster.
Q: Is that the call that you took during the briefing at the Tennessee National Guard?
A/SEC. MILLER: I don’t remember.
Q: Gen Fenton had a phone, came up and you were talking, and he said, was that…
A/SEC. MILLER: I think it was.
[Crosstalk]
A/SEC. MILLER: Oh yeah, right, so that was…you know, some people, some of the lawyers were like, oh my gosh, don’t do it, I’m like no, we trust our people, you gotta have them have what they need to move faster. And then, of course, and then my thing is like, you’ve got your left and your right limits. If you’re not comfortable, call me, I’ll give you some guides, but otherwise, get going and move faster. Yeah?
Q: Are you seeking any additional authorities for NORTHCOM for next week?
A/SEC. MILLER: No, they got everything they need. That was one of the conversations that we had. “Hey do you need anything?”…We talked through some scenarios, obviously. Yes ma’am?
Q: Um, yeah so I guess…at NORTHCOM, like what were you hoping to see? What…
A/SEC. MILLER: Uh, I needed to look the commander in the eye, because, you know, the president, SecDef, me…I, whatever the correct English is, you guys can clean that up. Should have paid more attention in high school. My wife would be ashamed of me not knowing the proper preposition—and then, uh General VanHerck. So, you know, you just, I said it before, you can have VTCs all day long, you know, but you wanna, like, I wanted to look the guy in the eye and get a sense for his soul and I think he probably needed to do that for me as well. So, you know, that was why I really felt it important to go out and sit down and have a cup of coffee with him, talk about it, small group, think through it, make sure we, kinda, had that mind meld.
Q: What’s the most important thing that you’ve learned about Russian activity beneath the threshold of armed conflict?
A/SEC. MILLER: Russian? I think they’re extremely…uh…I have professional respect for how they do things…I think they’re played a really bad hand of card very, very well. Declining population, single -- single source of economic revenue through natural resources. I kind of, you know, like professionally I’m like, wow, they’re doing pretty well, and they’re using a lot of irregular warfare concepts, information, all this stuff, in a way that, you know, like…good on them.
[Crosstalk]
Q: What is the most…the biggest challenge for the Department of Defense to fix, that you’ve learned about?
A/SEC. MILLER: The biggest?
Q: Yeah
A/SEC. MILLER: What do I think? I think it’s changing our mindset that is focused on…everybody says, ‘oh, all we’ve been focusing on is counter violent extremism, and the Chinese stole a march on us’…Historians will figure that one out…I think it’s not accurate. I think the biggest thing is, we have to come out of the mindset of the Cold War. I know we had that period, but big -- big units, big high-dollar weapons systems, you know, just this huge enormous complex. I think the key thing we need to do is we need to start paying attention. That’s why it was so cool at NORTHCOM, like, since they don’t get a lot of money, guess where they put their emphasis? What’s between your ears. And the information environment, domain awareness, using commercial stuff, you know, public-private partnership. That’s the future, you know. But still, it’s like no, we need to buy this many more…and those programs, you see them. Trillions of dollars over the course of…I’m like, come on. So I still think we have a hangover on a lot of that…high tech, very expensive weapons systems. And we need to go smaller, swarmy, mass over…quantity over quality, in some cases. That was my thinking.
[Crosstalk]
Q: I wanted to ask you…Joint Strike Fighter?
A/SEC. MILLER: Which one? F-35?
Q: Yep…say nothing of the littoral combat ship. It’s like the list of flawed acquisition programs…seems endless to me. What is your takeaway about these programs and the Pentagon’s acquisition process?
A/SEC. MILLER: I so…I mean, I cannot wait to leave this job, believe me. But part of me is like, I would have loved to have gotten involved in the acquisition process and try…and you know, talk about wicked problem. I wanted to take that one on….F-35s, the case study. Although, I gotta tell you, yesterday we were talking to some guy, some lieutenant colonel, or colonel, said ‘what are you flying?’ Said ‘F-35,’ I was like that’s a piece of…and he was like…and he laughed, and I was like, ‘no seriously, tell me about it,’ and he was…an F-16 guy, F-35, he said…’unbelievable aircraft,’ I’m not…I…that investment, for…that capability, that we’re never supposed to use, ‘well, we have to deter, blah blah bluh blah…Are we fifth generation? You know we…I think it’s hilarious, you know, right now, you know, ‘well we need to invest in the sixth generation,’ I’m like, we have created a monster, but you know that.
Q: Thank you.
Jan. 15, 2021
"The American people deserve transparency about the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2020. The DoD IG Report will be but one of many efforts to provide that transparency and the Department will do everything it can to ensure that review is fulsome, thorough, and holds parties to account. We are proud of the efforts of DoD personnel to secure the Capitol on January 6th when called upon on and throughout the Presidential Inaugural events next week."
Jan. 15, 2021 | , DOD News
While the defense industrial base is healthy, there are single points of failure and dependencies on overseas suppliers that must be addressed, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment said.
"Over a period of years, we have offshored many, many sources of supply," Ellen M. Lord said during an online discussion Thursday with the Hudson Institute. "It's not for one reason; it's for a variety of reasons, whether it be regulations, whether it be labor costs, whether it be government support of different industries."
The deindustrialization of the U.S. over the last 50 years, the end
of the Cold War and the focus it gave the U.S. on defeating the Soviet
Union, digital technology and the rise of China have all created
challenges to national defense.
In the newly released Fiscal Year 2020 Industrial Capabilities Report to
Congress, Lord said the department looked into those challenges and
their effects on the defense industrial base and proposed key actions to
address them.
First, Lord said, the U.S. must re-shore more of its industrial base — bring it back to the U.S. and U.S. allies.
"There are a couple [of] key areas there with shipbuilding, as well as microelectronics — fundamental to our capability," she said.
Development of a modern manufacturing and engineering workforce along with a more robust research and development base is also critical. Declines in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and industrial jobs hurt the ability of the defense industrial base to innovate, Lord said.
"We want to make sure that we have modern manufacturing and engineering expertise," she said. "We do not have nearly the number of scientists and engineers as China has. We need to make sure that we develop our talent to be able to leverage on these critical areas."
The department must also reform and modernize the defense acquisition
process to better meet the realities of the 21st century, Lord said.
"We've started with a number of those, but there's much further to go,"
she said. "We want to make sure that our traditional defense industrial
base is widened to get all of those creative, innovative companies. We
know the small companies are where most of our innovation comes from,
and the barriers to entry — sometimes to getting into the Department of
Defense — are rather onerous."
Lord said part of modernizing and reforming defense acquisition is the recently announced Trusted Capital Marketplace, which will match potential defense suppliers — many of them small companies that have never done business with DOD — with the investors they need to keep operating and innovating. The Trusted Capital Marketplace will vet investors to ensure foreign ownership, control and influence is nonexistent.
Finally, Lord said, the department must find new ways to partner private sector innovation with public sector resources and demand.
"We, as the government, I believe, need to work with industry to make sure that we diversify that industrial base and, also, that we much more quickly translate technological capability into features of current platforms and weapon systems, as well as incorporate it in new ones," Lord said.
Army National Guard Sgt. Joseph Miles sorts perishables and nonperishables for a food bank in Jackson, Calif., Jan. 14, 2021. Guardsmen assist at food banks throughout California as part of the state’s COVID-19 response.
Jan. 15, 2021 | , DOD News
The move is part of unified command plan changes.
When the Reagan administration set up Centcom in 1983, officials left Israel as part of Eucom. Arab nations, except Egypt, did not recognize the Jewish state. U.S. military coordination in the region — including multilateral exercises and operations — would have been complicated.
But as a result, Israel — though surrounded by nations that were in Centcom's area of operations — worked through the Eucom's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
Eucom and Centcom, of course, consulted often.
The need for this set-up has changed. Jordan joined Egypt in recognizing Israel in 1994, and those were the only two Arab countries that recognized Israel until last year when the Abraham Accords were signed at the White House. Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Sudan recognized Israel and opened full, diplomatic relations with the nation.
"The easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors subsequent to the Abraham Accords has provided a strategic opportunity for the United States to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East," DOD officials said in a written release. "Israel is a leading strategic partner for the United States, and this will open up additional opportunities for cooperation with our U.S. Central Command partners while maintaining strong cooperation between Israel and our European allies."
Air Force Cadet 2nd Class Emily Bardak performs the butterfly stroke during the Women's Quad Meet at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Cadet Natatorium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Jan. 9, 2021.
A Marine fires a .50-caliber machine gun during Fuji Viper at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Jan. 13, 2021. The exercise allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics.
A Minnesota National Guardsman signs out gear in Little Falls, Minn., Jan. 14, 2021, while preparing to support local law enforcement for Inauguration Day in Washington D.C.
Marines participate in an advanced marksmanship competition during Exercise Fuji Viper at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Jan. 13, 2021.
Navy Seabees deliver food to an orphanage in Dili, Timor-Leste, Jan. 6, 2021. Seabees are deployed across the Indo-Pacific conducting humanitarian missions to support U.S. and partner nations in the region.
Jan. 15, 2021
The United States has made a change to the Unified Command Plan. The 2020 UCP shifts Israel from the U.S European Command area of responsibility to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. DOD reviews the UCP every two years and reassesses all boundaries and relationships against the operational environment. We structure boundaries to best mitigate risk and protect U.S interests and partners.
The easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors subsequent to the Abraham Accords has provided a strategic opportunity for the United States to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East. Israel is a leading strategic partner for the United States, and this will open up additional opportunities for cooperation with our U.S. Central Command partners while maintaining strong cooperation between Israel and our European allies.
Air Force airmen perform scheduled maintenance on a C-130H Hercules at Great Falls, Mont., Jan. 10, 2021.
Marines raise the American flag at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 13, 2021. The Marines were performing their daily duties of executing a ceremonial flag raising alongside Japanese security guards. The ceremony with the host nation symbolizes the cooperation and joint effort of American and Japanese forces throughout Japan.
Jan. 15, 2021
The Defense Department is proud to announce the appointment of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Barre R. Seguin as the new Director for the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Seguin retired in October 2020 after more than 30 years of active service. He succeeds retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith W. Dayton who has served in the position for more than ten years. Dayton’s current term will end on May 31, 2021.
Seguin was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1988 through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps after graduating from the State University of New York at Potsdam. During his time on active duty, Seguin held leadership positions both in the U.S. and abroad, including six assignments in Europe, one of which was as a Fellow with the Marshall Center. His final assignment in the Air Force was as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Employment for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Seguin’s assignments with NATO, SHAPE and U.S. Africa Command ensures he is uniquely qualified for the role of Director.
The Marshall Center was established in November 1992 by former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. On December 2, 1994 the Marshall Center officially became a German-American partnership between EUCOM and the German Ministry of Defense.
The mission of the Marshall Center is to enable solutions to regional and transnational security challenges through capacity building, access and a globally connected network. The Marshall Center contributes to security cooperation with tailored, professional education and research, dialogue, and the persistent, thorough and thoughtful examination of issues that confront our region and the world both today and in the years ahead.
The Department wants to express its gratitude to retired Lt. Gen. Dayton for his continued service and leadership over the last ten years as the Director and wishes him well in future endeavors.
Air Force airmen secure a training munition during a weapons load competition at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 8, 2021. Two weapons load crews competed to see who could load four 2,000 pound bombs fastest, safest, and most efficiently.
Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller walks with the commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, at Northcom headquarters, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Jan. 14, 2021.
Jan. 15, 2021 |
A DC-8 cargo aircraft from Samaritan's Purse landed at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base carrying supplies for the construction of an emergency field hospital at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, California.
The field hospital will be set up to support the Antelope Valley community by treating COVID-19 patients. The effort is spearheaded by Samaritan's Purse, a faith-based humanitarian aid organization that has provided physical aid to victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine.
To support the effort, Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale has allowed use of its airfield for delivery of the initial components as well as resupply missions. The 412th Test Wing leadership at Edwards Air Force Base, California, has also requested for volunteers to help staff the emergency field hospital.
"Plant 42 is often referred to as the 'downtown' Air Force. Our location puts us strategically in the heart of the Lancaster/Palmdale communities in the Aerospace Valley," said Dr. David Smith, Air Force Plant 42 director. "As such, our personnel and more importantly our thousands of mission partners call this home. We are delighted to extend medical care to our community as it directly impacts our 'home team' area of operations. This care facility also directly supports our own personnel's medical needs, which in turn directly support the warfighter."
Samaritan's Purse's Assistant to the Vice President of Programs and Government Relations, Edward Graham, was accompanied by Plant 42 and NASA Armstrong leadership as the DC-8 arrived and its contents were off-loaded by NASA and Samaritan's Purse crews. They have partnered with Lancaster Baptist Church and Antelope Valley Hospital to construct the 70-bed field hospital. The field hospital will serve COVID-19-positive patients who do not need the support of a ventilator.
Plant 42 is no stranger to supporting the local community, from providing support to STEM engagements at local schools to executing mutual aid for major wildland fires and nearby vehicle accidents, Smith explained.
"The entire Plant 42 team is delighted to support our community. This is our home, so the dedication and selfless service from our personnel and our mission partners is most satisfying," Smith said. "Service is a core value of our Air Force, and the folks at the plant exemplify this valued characteristic."
(Giancarlo Casem is assigned to the 412th Test Wing.)
Paratroopers clean a 60mm mortar during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Jan. 11, 2021.
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