Nation to Observe Vietnam War Veterans Day

 March 29, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

On March 29, Americans will come together to commemorate the service and sacrifices made by the nearly 3 million service members who served in Vietnam.

In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation, designating March 29 as the annual observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The signing of the proclamation marked the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last American troops from Vietnam — March 29, 1973. Only  U.S. embassy personnel and support staff remained in South Vietnam until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

"The Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds, colors and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission," the proclamation states. "It is a story of Americans from every corner of our nation who left the warmth of family to serve the country they loved. It is a story of patriots who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm's way to save a friend, who fought hour after hour, day after day to preserve the liberties we hold dear."

More than 58,000 Americans were killed and many thousands more were wounded and injured or determined to be missing.

The proclamation also states: "In one of the war's most profound tragedies, many of these men and women came home to be shunned or neglected — to face treatment unbefitting their courage and a welcome unworthy of their example. We must never let this happen again."

Although U.S. military advisors had been in South Vietnam since 1955, the proclamation states that Jan. 12, 1962, was the starting point of the war. This is the date when America's first combat mission, Operation Chopper, was launched.

On that day, U.S. Army pilots airlifted more than 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers to an area about 12 miles west of Saigon to capture a National Liberation Front stronghold. The NLF, also known as the Viet Cong, were communist fighters who were in South Vietnam.  

Some of the Significant Battles

The Battle of Ia Drang, which lasted from Nov. 14 -18, 1965, was the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the North Vietnamese Army. It took place in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam.

The battle saw the first use of a large scale helicopter air assault and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers being used in a tactical support role.

The Battle of Khe Sanh took place in northwestern Quảng Trị Province in South Vietnam, from Jan. 21 to July 9, 1968. The main U.S. forces defending Khe Sanh Combat Base from a much larger enemy force consisting of three NVA divisions were two U.S. Marine Corps regiments, supported by elements from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and South Vietnamese soldiers.

The Battle of Huế occurred within that same time period, Jan. 31 to March 2, 1968.

The battle was a major military engagement which was part of the larger Tết Offensive launched by the NVA and Viet Cong. After initially losing control of most of Huế, which was a major city in northern South Vietnam, the combined South Vietnamese and American forces gradually recaptured the city after more than a month of intense house-to-house fighting.

Besides ground campaigns, there were also air campaigns, with one of the most significant being Operation Rolling Thunder. The operation lasted from March 2, 1965, to Nov. 2, 1968, and involved a sustained aerial bombardment by U.S. and South Vietnamese air assets against targets in North Vietnam. The operation was designed to halt enemy supplies from reaching South Vietnam.

In 1972, another massive bombing campaign was conducted against North Vietnam, known as Operation Linebacker.

Other Proclamations

In addition to the presidential proclamation, there are also proclamations observing Vietnam War Veterans Day in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all five U.S. territories.

Most of these proclamations list March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day, but some, like California, observe March 30 instead.

Besides the Defense Department, other federal, state and local agencies observe Vietnam War Veterans Day, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration and nonprofit veteran service organizations.

Leaders Testify About DOD Installation Resiliency Efforts

 March 29, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Each of the service's top installation managers discussed installation preparedness in the face of natural and man-made disasters.

Army Installation Management Command Army Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Gabram, Navy Installations Command Navy Vice Adm. Yancy B. Lindsey, Marine Corps Installations Command Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Edward D. Banta and Air Force Materiel Command Air Force Brig. Gen. John J. Allen Jr. testified March 26 at a House Armed Services Committee HASC Readiness subcommittee hearing on "Installation Resiliency: Lessons Learned from Winter Storm Uri and Beyond."

Army

"I can assure you the Army takes very seriously the threats that climate change poses to our installations and facilities," said Gabram.

In February 2021, winter storms severely impacted Fort Hood, Fort Sill, Fort Polk and Fort Riley, he said, including damage to 1,366 privatized homes which had to be evacuated.

With exceptional assistance from privatized housing partners, those residents will all be able to return to their homes within the next two weeks, he said.

"Our planning and preventive measures saved time and money, protected our force and maintained mission readiness," he said

"We also validated that our aging facilities and systems failed first and suffered the most damage Over time, our infrastructure has felt the effects of high use, and limited funding," he noted. 

Army senior leaders recognize this and are taking decisive steps to improve facilities, especially barracks.

With continued support from Congress, the Army will continue to modernize its facilities to increase resilience as outlined in the new Army Installation Strategy, which includes energy, water and the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.

Navy

Naval installations worldwide provide platforms to project power, said Lindsey.

"The capability and capacity of our installations to resist, adapt and recover from crisis or disaster whether natural or man-made is fundamental to the installation mission execution and support of the fleet, the warfighters and the community," he said.

The Navy is incorporating and executing resiliency into all aspects of installation operations in cooperation with state, county and local communities, including utility providers, he said.

"These partnerships are absolutely critical to the continued success of our resilience," he added.

Marine Corps

The Marine Corps has made significant improvements to its facilities, which will ultimately result in more resilience, said Banta.

"Installation resiliency is fundamental to enabling the operational readiness and warfighting capability of our force," he said. "We know our installations are vulnerable targets for not only a growing host of sophisticated kinetic and non-kinetic threats, but also to environmental factors that threaten our ability to generate readiness."

The Marine Corps is taking a number of different steps and approaches to address these threats, he said. 

Examples include building upon investments in smart grids and micro-grid technologies, incorporating the effects of climate change into all installation master plans, and planning and building new infrastructure to maximize energy. 

Air Force

All Air Force and Space Force missions start and end on an installation. Just as importantly, they are home to thousands of airmen, guardians, and their families, Allen said. That's why it's important that all installations be resilient.

The Air Force has developed a severe weather and climate screening risk assessment playbook, which it uses to conduct initial assessments of exposure and risk in severe weather and climate hazards, at all major installations, he said.

The results will be used to develop installation resilience complaint plans to be included in each installation development plans, he said.

Additionally, the Air Force has completed installation energy plans for 24 installations and plans to have another 20 complete by the end of this fiscal year, he added.

Joint Statement of Chiefs of Defense Condemning Military-Sponsored Violence in Myanmar

 March 27, 2021

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The following is a joint statement of the Chiefs of Defense of Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services.  A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting – not harming – the people it serves.  We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions.

International Chiefs of Defense Condemn Use of Lethal Force in Burma

 March 27, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined fellow chiefs of defense condemning the use of lethal force against the people of Burma.

The chairman joined with chiefs of defense from Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom in calling on the military junta in Burma — also called Myanmar — to follow international standards of military professionalism.

Navy Adm. Philip Davidson, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, also endorsed the statement.

"As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services," the statement says. "A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves. We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions."

The release of the joint statement follows concerns voiced by other countries in the region, including recent remarks made by military leaders in Singapore and Indonesia. The Joint Statement also echoes White House and U.S. State Department statements condemning the violence. 

The military launched a coup d'etat in Burma on Feb. 1.The junta arrested the democratically elected government headed by State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. They also arrested the ministers, deputies and members of Parliament. The military proclaimed a year-long state of emergency and declared Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlang as the government leader.

News reports from the Southeast Asian country indicate that thousands have been arrested since Feb. 1. The military has violently put down protests against the coup, and reporting indicates that over 350 people have been killed, including more than 20 children. This includes reports this past week that Burmese security forces shot a one-year-old in the eye with a rubber bullet and shot and killed a seven-year-old girl in her family home.

Related News Release: Joint Statement of Chiefs of Defense Condemning Military-Sponsored Violence in Myanmar

Vaccination Preparation

 

Service members join members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help residents get vaccinated for COVID-19 at a community vaccination site in Orange, N.J., March 15, 2021.

Guard Assistance

 

Members of the Michigan Army National Guard help elderly members of the community receive the coronavirus vaccine during a vaccination clinic held at a high school in Gaylord, Mich., March 13, 2021.

Vaccine Time

 

Air Force Senior Airman Jaspreet Singh gets his COVID-19 vaccination at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Camp Foster, Japan, March 23, 2021.

Eye Wash

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Bellino rinses oleoresin capsicum spray off his face after completing security training in the Atlantic Ocean, March 23, 2021.

Cord Connection

 

An airman connects a generator cord into an Air Force B-1B Lancer at Orland Air Force Station, Norway, March 13, 2021.

Fitness Challenge

 

Army 1st Lt. Savannah Murray participates in a fitness challenge at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on March 24, 2021.

Artillery Fire

 

Soldiers fire an M109 Paladin during an artillery qualification exercise at the Dona Ana Range Complex, N.M., March 8, 2021.

Radio Ready

 

Navy Seaman Shannon Hagen uses a radio during a damage control drill aboard the USS John Finn in the Pacific Ocean, March 22, 2021.

Sea Sail

 

The USS Wichita conducts a bilateral maritime exercise with Dominican vessels in the Caribbean Sea, March 24, 2021

Force Focus

 

Navy Chief Petty Officer Christopher Morgan, left, instructs Petty Officer 3rd Class Nami Dyer through a simulated bomb building step aboard the USS Makin Island in the Arabian Sea, March 19, 2021.

Search and Rescue

 

A Navy MH-60S Seahawk conducts search and rescue training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., March 10, 2021.

Warrior March

 

Soldiers participate in a six-mile ruck march during the Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Williams, Utah, March 23, 2021.

Falcon Flight

 

An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off during a routine training event at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, March 24, 2021.

Medical Response

 

An airman briefs simulated victims during a medical training event at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, March 25, 2021.

Defense Department Linguist Pleads Guilty to Transmitting Highly Sensitive Classified National Defense Information to Aid a Foreign Government

WASHINGTON – A Minnesota woman pleaded guilty today to one count of delivering national defense information to aid a foreign government.  

According to court documents, Mariam Taha Thompson, 63, formerly of Rochester, Minnesota, worked as a contract linguist at an overseas U.S. military facility where she was entrusted with a top secret government security clearance. Thompson pleaded guilty to transmitting highly sensitive classified national defense information to a foreign national who she believed would provide the information to Lebanese Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“Thompson jeopardized the lives of members of the U.S. military as well as other individuals supporting the United States in a combat zone when she passed classified information to a person she knew was connected to Lebanese Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization which intended to use the information to hurt this country,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department's National Security Division. “To describe this conduct is to condemn it. She will now be held to account for this disgraceful personal and professional betrayal of country and colleagues.”

“The United States entrusted the defendant with highly-sensitive classified information regarding one of its most critical tools — human intelligence in an active combat zone,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips for the District of Columbia. “The defendant’s complete betrayal of that trust placed the lives of American men and women on the battlefield, and their allies, in grave danger. Thompson’s arrest and prosecution demonstrate that those who intentionally compromise classified information that is entrusted to them will face swift and dire consequences.”

“It’s astounding that an American working for the U.S. military overseas would abandon her country in favor of terrorists,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. for the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “The FBI and its partners placed a high priority on this case because the defendant provided classified defense information to a foreign terrorist organization, information that put members of the U.S. military in harm’s way.”

“Today’s plea is an example of the FBI’s work and commitment to protecting the United States and our national defense information,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono for the FBI Washington Field Office. “Holding a top secret government security clearance bears a responsibility and commitment to our nation, and betrayal of that trust will not be tolerated. The FBI is charged with safeguarding our nation’s information and will work diligently, along with our partners, to protect intelligence and national security information and relentlessly pursue those who choose to betray their country."

During today’s plea hearing, Thompson admitted that, beginning in 2017, she started communicating with her unindicted co-conspirator using a video-chat feature on a secure text and voice messaging application. Over time, Thompson developed a romantic interest in her co-conspirator. Thompson learned that the unindicted co-conspirator had a family member who was in the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior, and that the unindicted co-conspirator claimed to have received a ring from Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Lebanese Hizballah.

In December 2019, while Thompson was assigned to a special operations task force facility in Iraq, the United States launched a series of airstrikes in Iraq targeting Kata’ib Hizballah, an Iranian-backed foreign terrorist organization. These airstrikes culminated in a Jan. 3, 2020, strike that resulted in the death of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Suleimani, as well as the founder of Kata’ib Hizballah, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Following Suleimani’s death, the unindicted co-conspirator started asking Thompson to provide “them” with information about the human assets who had helped the United States to target Suleimani. Thompson admitted that she understood “them” to be Lebanese Hizballah, including an unnamed high-ranking military commander.

After receiving this request for information in early January 2020, Thompson began accessing dozens of files concerning human intelligence sources, including true names, personal identification data, background information and photographs of the human assets, as well as operational cables detailing information the assets provided to the U.S. government. Thompson used several techniques to pass this information on to the unindicted co-conspirator, who told her that his contacts were pleased with the information, and that the Lebanese Hizballah military commander wanted to meet Thompson when she came to Lebanon.

When she was arrested by the FBI on Feb. 27, 2020, Thompson had used her access to classified national defense information to provide her co-conspirator with the identities of at least 10 clandestine human assets; at least 20 U.S. targets; and multiple tactics, techniques and procedures. Thompson intended and had reason to believe that this classified national defense information would be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of Lebanese Hizballah.

Thompson faces a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. The sentencing of a defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Today’s guilty plea was the result of the significant cooperation between law enforcement, the Department of Defense and the intelligence community in the successful resolution of this investigation led by the FBI Washington Field Office.

National Security Division Trial Attorneys Jennifer Kennedy Gellie of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Jennifer Levy of the Counterterrorism Section, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia John Cummings are prosecuting the case.

Security Scanners

 

Soldiers conduct a security scan during a simulated downed aircraft exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., March 10, 2021.

Sailor Security

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Estrella Martinez provides security with an M240 machine gun aboard a landing craft while training in the Atlantic Ocean, March 15, 2021.

Illuminating Strategy

 

Soldiers work on a strategy to fire illumination rounds during an artillery qualification exercise at the Dona Ana Range Complex, N.M., March 8, 2021.

In-Line Heave

 

Sailors heave in line aboard the USS Mitscher as the ship prepares to depart Souda Bay, Greece, March 24, 2021.

Truck Transport

 

Airmen load a truck onto a C-5M Super Galaxy during loadmaster training at Dover Air Force Base, Del., March 9, 2021.

Being Diagnosed

 

Air Force Senior Airman Olivia J. Matthews, a lab technician, performs a pipette calibration on Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., March 16, 2021. Mathews, who's assigned to the 377th Medical Group, is involved in COVID-19 response and ensuring COVID tests are properly and safely interpreted.

Residents Get Vaccinated

 

Army Pfc. Taegan Goldsby administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a patient at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, March 23, 2021. Goldsby is a 68C practical nursing specialist student assigned to the 264th Medical Battalion, 32nd Medical Brigade, Army Medical Center of Excellence. He has completed Phase 1 of his advanced individual training and helps Brooke Army Medical Center inoculate patients.

Tranquil Transit

 

The USS Carter Hall travels through waters after offloading a landing craft utility for training in the Atlantic Ocean, March 15, 2021.

Construction Zone

 

Marine Corps Cpl. Marina Lopez helps construct an expeditionary landing zone at Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Camp Nihonbara, Japan, March 17, 2021.

Helping Hand

 

Soldiers and airmen with one of the Alabama National Guard's mobile vaccination teams operate a pop-up vaccination clinic in Enterprise, Ala., March 24, 2021. The team provided free COVID-19 vaccines for more than 800 local residents. The process included a health screening, provider consultation, vaccination and an observation period. The mission is part of a partnership between the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Emergency Management Agency and local governments aimed at making vaccines available to rural communities in 24 Alabama counties.

Continued Vaccinations

 

Soldiers and airmen of the Alabama National Guard's mobile vaccination teams operate a vaccination clinic in Enterprise, Ala., March 24, 2021. The team provided free COVID-19 vaccines to more than 800 people. The process consisted of a health screening, provider consultation, vaccination and an observation period. The mission is part of a partnership between the Alabama National Guard, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Emergency Management Agency and local governments to make vaccines available to rural communities in 24 Alabama counties.

Sea Ring

 

Navy Seaman Monica Smith directs a test of a helicopter on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Mediterranean Sea, March 19, 2021.

Welding Warrior

 

Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jennifer Spedoske performs a gas metal arc welding at the Naval Engineering Department in Alameda, Calif., March 5, 2021.

Cybercom's Partnership With NSA Helped Secure U.S. Elections, General Says

 March 25, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Being both the commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency improves the ability to provide the nation with speed, agility and flexible responses to adversaries who are increasingly modernizing, getting quicker and getting more sophisticated, the agencys' director said.

Army Gen. Paul M. Nakasone testified today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2022 and the future years defense program.

"We operate in a domain that changes rapidly, and this change is measured in weeks rather than months. Being able to rapidly react to that, as we've been able to prove in the security of elections in 2018 and 2020, is empowered by that relationship," he said, referring to his dual-hatted role.

To defend against foreign interference in elections the Election Security Group was created, he said, noting that it consists of a combined team from Cybercom and NSA. 

Nakasone also mentioned the importance of partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Guard Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which involves sharing information with those who need it as quickly as possible. 

Cybercom conducted more than 2,000 operations to get ahead of foreign threats before they interfered or influenced the 2020 elections, Nakasone said. 

The general said he wanted to make three important points: "First, Cybercom must be and is able, ready and willing to act. Second, Cybercom's partnership with NSA remains the foundation of our success. And third, we enable our domestic industry, allies and partners by providing critical threat information and insights, which improve their ability to act under their unique authorities."

Cybercom is building on recent guidance from the department, seeking to promote readiness, improve training and attract and retain high-end talent, Nakasone said.

Even with COVID-19 impacts and lengthy security clearance timelines that impact the entire department, Cybercom was able to attract a number of high-end talent to the force, he said.

Nakasone mentioned that Cybercom seeks to attract diversity in its force and to root out extremism in the ranks through education, monitoring and good leadership.

"We owe it to ourselves, our workforce and our nation to set and to be the example," he said.

General Officer Assignments

 March 25, 2021

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The chief of staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:

Lt. Gen. James E. Rainey, commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. (Promotable) Maria R. Gervais, director, Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Team, Orlando, Florida, to deputy commanding general/chief of staff, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

Maj. Gen. Richard E. Angle, deputy commander, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, deputy chief of staff, G-6, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Maj. Gen. James B. Jarrard, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to chief of staff, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

Maj. Gen. Mitchell L. Kilgo, commanding general, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, to deputy, The Inspector General, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Gen. Joel K. Tyler, director, J-3 operations/cyber, U.S. Africa Command, Germany, to chief of staff, U.S. Africa Command, Germany.

Brig. Gen. Shan K. Bagby, commanding general, Brooke Army Medical Center; and deputy market manager, San Antonio Military Health System, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to commanding general, Regional Health Command-Central, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Edward H. Bailey, command surgeon, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific; and market manager, Puget Sound Enhanced Multi-Service Market, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Brig. Gen. William M. Boruff, deputy commander, Combined Security Command-Afghanistan, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Afghanistan, to program executive officer, U.S. Army Joint Program Executive Office, Armaments and Ammunition; and commanding general, Picatinny Arsenal, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.

Brig. Gen. Winston P. Brooks, commandant, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to deputy chief of staff for operations, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, NATO, United Kingdom.

Brig. Gen. Timothy D. Brown, director, J-2, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida, to director, J-2, U.S. European Command, Germany.

Brig. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard, commandant of cadets, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, to deputy chief of staff, operations, Resolute Support Mission, NATO; deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; and commander, U.S. National Support Element Command-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Afghanistan.

Brig. Gen. Jack M. Davis, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific; and market manager, Puget Sound Enhanced Multi-Service Market, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to deputy chief of staff, quality and safety, U.S. Army Medical Command, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Johnny K. Davis, chief of staff, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas, to commanding general, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Brig. Gen. Christopher L. Eubank, commanding general, 7th Signal Command; and deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Gordon Georgia, to commanding general, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Huachuca, Arizona.

Brig. Gen. Wendy L. Harter, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Central, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. John D. Kline, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to senior advisor to the Ministry of Defense, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Afghanistan.

Brig. Gen. Mary V. Krueger, deputy chief of staff, G-1/4/6, U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia, to commanding general, Regional Health Command-Atlantic, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Michael B. Lalor, commanding general, Army Medical Logistics Command, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland, to commandant, U.S. Army Ordnance School, U.S. Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Michelle M. Letcher, commandant, U.S. Army Ordnance School, U.S. Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, Virginia, to chief of staff, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Paula C. Lodi, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Atlantic, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to deputy commanding general (Support), U.S. Army Medical Command, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Joseph A. Ryan, deputy chief of staff, operations, Resolute Support Mission, NATO; deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; and commander, U.S. National Support Element Command-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Afghanistan, to commanding general, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Brig. Gen. Michael J. Talley, commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and Fort Detrick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, to deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia.

U.S. Army Reserve

Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Mosser, commander (Troop Program Unit), 377th Theater Sustainment Command, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, to deputy commanding general (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Brig. Gen. John W. Aarsen, commander (Troop Program Unit), 451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Wichita, Kansas, to deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 79th Theater Sustainment Command, Los Alamitos, California.

Brig. Gen. Christopher Z. Barra, deputy commanding general – Support (Troop Program Unit), 63d Readiness Division, Mountain View, California, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Wichita, Kansas.

Brig. Gen. Mark E. Black, commander (Troop Program Unit), 350th Civil Affairs Command, Pensacola, Florida, to director of operations, (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), J-3 (Wartime), U.S. Forces Korea, Republic of Korea.

Brig. Gen. Aida T. Borras, commanding general (Troop Program Unit), Military Intelligence Readiness Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to deputy commanding general, Southern European Task Force – Africa, Vicenza, Italy.

Brig. Gen. Timothy D. Connelly, commander (Troop Program Unit), 9th Mission Support Command, Honolulu, Hawaii, to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7 (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), Office of the Chief of Army Reserve, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Joseph D’costa, Reserve vice director (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), J-7, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., to deputy commander - Support (Troop Program Unit), 412th Engineer Command, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Brig. Gen. William B. Dyer III, assistant judge advocate general - operations (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general (Troop Program Unit), U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey M. Farris, commander (Troop Program Unit), 352d Civil Affairs Command, Fort Meade, Maryland, to deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), Charlotte, North Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Stephanie Q. Howard, deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), Charlotte, North Carolina, to commander (Troop Program Unit), U.S. Army Reserve Sustainment Command, Birmingham, Alabama.

Brig. Gen. Robert T. Krumm, Reserve deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, Fort Hamilton, New York, to deputy commanding general - operations (Troop Program Unit), 81st Readiness Division, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Brig. Gen. Susie S. Kuilan, deputy commanding general - operations (Troop Program Unit), 200th Military Police Command, Fort Meade, Maryland, to commander, (Troop Program Unit), 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training), Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Brig. Gen. Jonathan C. Moyer, deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 335th Signal Command (Theater), East Point, Georgia, to commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 335th Signal Command (Theater) Operational Command Post (Forward), Operation Spartan Shield, Kuwait.

Brig. Gen. Robert S. Powell, Jr., director J6/8/9 (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), Cyber National Mission Force, U.S. Army Element U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland, to deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 335th Signal Command (Theater), East Point, Georgia.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey D. Pugh, commander (Troop Program Unit), Mission Command Support Group, 88th Readiness Division, Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 350th Civil Affairs Command, Pensacola, Florida.

Brig. Gen. David M. Samuelsen, deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), 80th Training Command (The Army School System), Richmond, Virginia, to deputy commanding general - operations (Troop Program Unit), 200th Military Police Command, Fort Meade, Maryland.

Brig. Gen. Charles S. Sentell III, commander (Troop Program Unit), 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training), Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to deputy commanding general - support (Troop Program Unit), 377th Theater Sustainment Command, Belle Chase, Louisiana.

Brig. Gen. Katherine A. Simonson, commander (Troop Program Unit), 2d Medical Training Brigade, Salt Lake City, Utah, to director, research and development (Individual Mobilization Augmentee) Defense Health Agency J-9, Falls Church, Virginia.

Officials Describe Special Operations Forces' Contributions to National Security

 March 25, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Although U.S. Special Operations Command makes up just 3% of the joint force, it has suffered over half of all combat casualties over the past few years, said a Defense Department official.

Christopher P. Maier, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, testified today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2022 and the future years defense program.

The special operations forces, or SOF, community's priorities, he said, are to defend the nation, take care of its people and succeed through teamwork. 

"We continue to adapt the unique capabilities and problem solving expertise of our special operators to the challenge of great power competition with Russia and China, while strengthening the alliances and partnerships that enhance our ability to compete," Maier said, adding that protecting Americans from terrorist organizations is also a top priority.  

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, SOF continue to maintain a high level of operational readiness, he said. "We remain focused on and are making progress in easing the strain of high rates of overseas deployments." 

Maier said he is concerned about incidents of serious moral and ethical failings within the SOF community. He added that last year, Socom had conducted a comprehensive review of SOF culture and ethics. 

The SOF community is also committed to enhancing diversity, he said. "As we compete against different and more capable adversaries, a more diverse force empowers us to draw upon broader perspectives, different lived experiences and new ideas." 

Army Gen. Richard D. Clarke, the commander of Socom, also testified. He noted that SOF continues to deter and disrupt persistent threats by terrorist and extremist organizations worldwide.

Below the level of armed conflict SOF teams support a wide range of U.S. policy objectives, and generate options to counter China, Russia and other competitors, Clarke said. 

As SOF forge partnerships and build partner capacity, it gains access, placement and influence to counter terrorist extremist organizations, he added.

"Today, as we sit here, nearly 5,000 special operators stand vigilant in almost 60 countries. Their commitment to American security and prosperity is inspirational and their enthusiasm to learn, adapt and serve is infectious. It is my honor to lead them," Clarke said.

Related Video: Senate Committee Reviews Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022

Climbing the Course

 

Navy Seaman Megan Kearns climbs on the forward course yard during training aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle in the Atlantic Ocean, March 9, 2021.

Full Circle

 

Sailors aboard the USS Laboon refuel a French helicopter in the Arabian Sea, March 18, 2021.

Recovery Mission

 

Service members with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency build dirt screening stations during a recovery mission in the Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, Feb. 8, 2021. DPAA’s mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing U.S. military personnel in countries around the world.

Ashland in Action

 

The USS Ashland fires a rolling airframe missile during a live-fire exercise in the Philippine Sea, March 20, 2021.

Window Watching

 

A Navy air-cushioned landing craft approaches the well deck of the USS Essex during routine operations in the Pacific Ocean, March 20, 2021.