Marines participate in fire and rescue training at the airfield on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 17, 2021. Marines practiced how to control a fuel fire on a simulated downed aircraft.
Friday, September 24, 2021
Parachute Pro
Army Staff Sgt. Justin McNeil repacks his parachute at a drop zone in the Netherlands during Exercise Falcon Leap, Sept. 16, 2021. Falcon Leap is NATO's largest technical airborne exercise, with more than 1,000 paratroopers from 12 different nations.
Scout Tryout
An Army paratrooper carries his equipment to a marksmanship range during tryouts for his battalion’s Scout Platoon at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 15, 2021. Scout Platoon is a uniquely organized, trained and equipped unit capable of conducting reconnaissance missions in support of and in advance of the battalion.
Falcon Force
U.S. Air Force Academy mascot 'The Bird' hypes up fans before an Air Force football game against Utah State at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 18, 2021. Air Force lost to Utah State 49-45.
Deputy Secretary, German Defense Leader Meet for Talks
Sept. 24, 2021 | , DOD News
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks and Benedikt Zimmer, Germany's state secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defense, met at the Pentagon yesterday to reaffirm the U.S.-German bilateral relationship, a Defense Department spokesman said.
"Meetings like these with partners and allies help to build and reinforce the vital relationships which enable our missions worldwide. Today’s meeting with our German allies really reinforced the value of our shared security relationship," spokesman Eric Pahon said.
The two leaders exchanged views on defense and security priorities, including Afghanistan, the Indo-Pacific region, Russia and NATO. Hicks also shared updates on ongoing U.S. strategic reviews.
"[It was a] great meeting today with State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer. We discussed a range of shared security interests with our NATO ally, including support for the NATO alliance, Indo-Pacific security, space and emerging tech," the deputy secretary said in a tweet.
She also thanked him for Germany's support in evacuation operations in Afghanistan and Germany.
Hicks congratulated Zimmer on Germany's decision to acquire five U.S. P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, which will increase German capabilities to address shared security concerns, Pahon said.
The Boeing P-8 is a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, excelling at anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and search and rescue, according to a Boeing website. The P-8 can fly high — up to 41,000 feet, and "get to the fight faster" at 490 knots, the site noted.
Rifle Qualification
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Elizabeth Gordon shoots an M4 rifle during a rifle qualification aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Arabian Sea, Sept. 16, 2021.
Sea Scrub
Marine Corps Sgt. Kyle O'Neal, left, and Cpl. Luis Rodriguez wash down a AV-8B Harrier on the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima in the Mediterranean Sea, Sept. 22, 2021.
Training Ops
An Idaho National Guardsman performs maintenance on an aircraft during training operations in Boise, Idaho, Sept. 23, 2021.
Crowd Control
Marines participate in a nonlethal crowd control training at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 21, 2021.
DOD Says It's Time to Renew Extended ID Cards
Sept. 24, 2021 | , DOD News
The Defense Department is asking as many as a half-million ID card holders to go online now and make appointments to renew their IDs — many of which are past the expiration dates printed on them.
DOD extended the expiration dates electronically to account for the challenges of renewing them in an COVID-19 environment.
Last year when it became apparent that COVID-19 was going to dramatically affect the ability of individuals to congregate or wait in line at ID card offices, the Defense Department electronically extended the expiration dates for many ID cards for several months to allow cardholders a greater amount of time to get those cards renewed.
The extensions primarily benefited the dependents of active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard service members and their dependents, as well as retirees and their dependents.
Currently, there's a backlog of more than a half-million people who have ID cards that are past the expiration dates printed on them, and it's time to go online and schedule an appointment to get those cards renewed, said Stephen Wellock with the Defense Manpower Data Center.
Right now, the previously extended ID cards for dependents of active duty service members, as well as Reserve and National Guard service members and their dependents, can be used until Oct. 31, 2021. The cards of retirees and their dependents can be used until Jan. 31, 2022.
But Wellock also said some might not have the time they think they have.
For those service members and their dependents and retirees and their dependents whose ID cards expired after July 31, 2021 — there is no extension.
"You have no extension, your ID card is expired," he said. "You need to get it replaced, for both active duty, Guard and Reserve dependents, and for retirees. So, if a service member’s dependent is out there, and their ID card expired on Sept. 7, they don't have until October to get it replaced; their ID card has expired, and they need to make an appointment as soon as possible."
While some family members may have an expired ID card, Wellock said that just because an ID card expires doesn't mean health benefits expire. Those benefits are managed by a different system, he said.
"Their health care is managed by the fact that they're enrolled in DEERS, in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. That's what determines their eligibility for health care. So if somebody's ID card expires on Aug. 7, they don't automatically lose their health care because their card is expired."
An additional change is that while currently cards were previously issued to dependents as young as 10 years old, going forward, cards will only be issued to those dependents who are 14 or older.
Wellock said the department is not planning any further extensions on the renewal of expired ID cards. He said cardholders should begin scheduling appointments now to get their cards renewed. Appointments can be made online to renew ID cards, he said, and cardholders don't need to limit their appointment to the card office they typically visit — there are many locations that can handle renewals, and many provide a "walk-in" service capability. The DOD ID card facilities are managed and operated by the local installations, so if service members are having difficulty making appointments, they should inform their chain of command.
For more information, click here.
Sunset Flight
National Guardsmen conduct night training operations over Boise, Idaho, Sept. 23, 2021.
Dashing Daria
Air Force Senior Airman Justin Collins works with Daria, a military working dog, during a K-9 demonstration at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 10, 2021.
Security Scan
Army Sgt. William Mullins scans the area for simulated opposing forces at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Sept. 19, 2021, during Saber Junction, an exercise designed to assess readiness and promote interoperability with allied and partner nations.
Mustin Ops
Navy Lts. Grant Kelley, left, and John R. Morgan III coordinate anti-submarine warfare operations aboard the USS Mustin in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 21, 2021.
Fast Rope
A Marine fast-ropes from an MV-22B Osprey, not pictured, during training in the Persian Gulf, Sept. 21, 2021.
2021 U.S.-Republic of Cyprus Security Cooperation Dialogue
Sept. 24, 2021
Principal
Director for Europe and NATO Policy Andrew L. Winternitz led a U.S. Department
of Defense delegation September 24 for the inaugural U.S.-Republic of Cyprus
Security Cooperation Dialogue. The Cypriot delegation was led by the Head of
Defense Policy and International Affairs Department, Commander Demetris Kasinis
and hosted at the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus.
Since the United States signed a Statement of Intent on Security Cooperation
with the Republic of Cyprus in 2018, both countries have taken remarkable steps
to strengthen their security and defense bilateral relationship. The growing
cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus and our shared
interests in the Eastern Mediterranean aim to tackle emerging transnational
threats and contribute to regional stability and security. Recent developments
in the relationship include the first Cypriot students participating in the
U.S. International Military Education and Training program, and increased
combined training activities and exercises between the Cypriot National Guard
and the U.S. military.
DoD Authorizes a Temporary Increase to 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates for Certain Locations
Sept. 24, 2021
The Department of Defense has temporarily authorized increases in the 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for 56 housing markets (commonly referred to as Military Housing Areas, MHAs) across the U.S. Uniformed service members who have incurred increased housing costs above their current BAH may be eligible to apply and receive BAH at the temporarily higher rate. The increased BAH rates for affected active duty (and full-time National Guard duty) Service members in these MHAs will take effect October 1, 2021 and expire on December 31, 2021.
Rental housing market data collected by the Department of Defense from March-August 2021 indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on rental housing costs in the 56 affected markets. Notably, low availability and turnover of rental housing stock during the spring and summer months led to rental cost increases in many locations.
To help ease the financial burden of rising housing costs facing Service members moving to new duty stations or signing new leases, the Department moved quickly to assess market changes across the U.S., develop a list of the most affected markets, and evaluate and implement potential solutions.
Service members who are receiving BAH in one of the affected 56 MHAs and have verifiable housing cost increases may be eligible for the temporary BAH rate increase, subject to Service specific implementation guidelines and approval of individual applications. Members who may be eligible for the higher BAH rates will receive an email in the coming days with additional information on how to apply for the higher rates with their Service. Additionally, each Service will publish information related to how to apply in administrative messages and other media channels. These higher BAH rates will be replaced by 2022 BAH rates on January 1, 2022.
Because not all segments of a housing market increase or decrease at the same rate, the BAH rates for calendar year 2022 (effective as of the first of January) may differ from the temporarily increased 2021 rates. In some cases, 2022 BAH rates may be more than the temporarily increased 2021 BAH rates. In other cases, the 2022 BAH rates may be the same or may be less. BAH rate protection, which normally protects members from decreases in housing market costs, does not apply to temporary rate increases. Therefore, members should not assume these rate increases will continue into 2022.
The Department is committed to the preservation of a compensation and benefit structure that provides members with a suitable and secure standard of living to sustain a trained, experienced, and ready force now and in the future. The temporary BAH increase is a reflection of this commitment.
The temporary BAH rates that will be in effect October 1 through December 31, 2021 for active duty, and full-time National Guard duty, members are located at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/BAH_Temporary_Increase_Rates_Changes_Only.pdf. They are shown for members with and without dependents.
For more information on the Basic Allowance for Housing, visit https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm.
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