Qualification Course

 

Marine Corps recruits participate in a water survival basic qualification course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Jan. 25, 2021.

Rainbow Ride

 

Soldiers conduct sling-load operations with an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter during a training exercise in Monte Romano, Italy, Jan. 20, 2021.

Noble Defender

 

Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Matthew O'Brien practices radio communications in Southcentral Alaska, Jan. 21, 2021, during Noble Defender, a North American Air Defense Command Arctic air defense operation.

Seeing Sailor

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Tiffany Tumaliuan stands watch aboard the USS Essex in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 19, 2021.

Giving Gear

 

Air Force Airman Maria Jose Galvez-Bouroncle issues gear during a training exercise at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 11, 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Luca Harrinton, assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego, prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the central immunizations clinic, Jan. 13, 2021. The vaccine is in distribution phase 1b to include critical national capabilities, personnel deploying to overseas locations, and other critical and essential support personnel. The Defense Department is conducting a phased, standardized and coordinated strategy to distribute and administer the vaccines to protect the people, maintain readiness and support the national COVID-19 response. The vaccines are only available after they are demonstrated to be safe and effective in large, phase-three clinical trials and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration; in addition, they must be manufactured and distributed safely and securely.

Antigen Samples

 

Army Pfc. Jagher Jones, assigned to Alpha Company, 232nd Medical Battalion, tests COVID-19 antigen samples at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Jan. 15, 2021.

Vaccine Prep

 

Army Spc. Shaun Martin and Army Sgt. Travis Sinfellow, medics with the Oregon Army National Guard, work with Lane County Health and Human Services as they prepare to administer COVID-19 vaccines to Lane County residents during a mass vaccination clinic in Eugene, Ore., Jan. 23, 2021.

General Officer Assignments

 Jan. 25, 2021

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The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following general officer assignments:

Lt. Gen. (Promotable) Charles A. Flynn, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

Lt. Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, senior military assistant to the secretary of defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C., to commander, Joint Special Operations Command; and commander, Joint Special Operations Command Forward, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Maj. Gen. Steven W. Gilland, commanding general, 2d Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to deputy commanding general, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Omar J. Jones, commanding general, Military District of Washington; and commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, D.C., to deputy commanding general, Installation Management Command, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Edmond M. Brown, deputy director/chief of staff, Futures and Concepts Center, U.S. Army Futures Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to commanding general, Combat Capabilities Development Command, U.S. Army Futures Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Brig. Gen. Thomas R. Drew, military deputy, Talent Management Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to director, Talent Management Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Brett T. Funck, deputy commanding general (Operations), 10th Mountain Division (Light); and acting senior commander-Fort Drum, Fort Drum, New York, to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. Clair A. Gill, deputy commanding general (Support), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to director, Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Guy M. Jones, deputy commanding general (Maneuver), 2d Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to deputy director/chief of staff, Futures and Concepts Center, U.S. Army Futures Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Michael C. McCurry II, director, Army Aviation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to director, Force Development, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Mark C. Quander, commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to commandant of cadets, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.

Brig. Gen. Jeth B. Rey, director, J-6, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to director, Network Cross Functional Team, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Brig. Gen. William A. Ryan III, senior advisor to the Ministry of Defense, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Afghanistan, to chief of staff, U.S. Army Central, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Curtis D. Taylor, commander, 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to commanding general, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, California.

Brig. Gen. Joel B. Vowell, deputy director, Strategic Planning and Policy, J-5, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, to commanding general, U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward), Japan.

Monumental Moment

 

Army Lt. Col. Jeremy Smith administers the oath of reenlistment to Spc. Larry Santillian, a Nebraska National Guardsman, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2021.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Transgender Service in the Military

 Jan. 25, 2021

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I fully support the President’s direction that all transgender individuals who wish to serve in the United States military and can meet the appropriate standards shall be able to do so openly and free from discrimination. 

The Department will immediately take appropriate policy action to ensure individuals who identify as transgender are eligible to enter and serve in their self-identified gender. These changes will ensure no one will be separated or discharged, or denied reenlistment, solely on the basis of gender identity. Prospective recruits may serve in their self-identified gender when they have met the appropriate standards for accession into the military services. This revised policy will also ensure all medically-necessary transition related care authorized by law is available to all Service members and will re-examine all cases of transgender Service members that may be in some form of adverse administrative proceedings. 

Over the next 60 days, I look forward to working with the senior civilian and military leaders of the Department as we expeditiously develop the appropriate policies and procedures to implement these changes.

The United States Armed Forces are in the business of defending our fellow citizens from our enemies, foreign and domestic. I believe we accomplish that mission more effectively when we represent all our fellow citizens. I also believe we should avail ourselves of the best possible talent in our population, regardless of gender identity. We would be rendering ourselves less fit to the task if we excluded from our ranks people who meet our standards and who have the skills and the devotion to serve in uniform.

This is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing to do.