July 8, 2021
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with
Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar to continue discussions
over the ongoing drawdown in Afghanistan. The Secretary and Minister
shared views over security concerns and agreed to stay engaged with
respect to arrangements at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
A Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor flies in formation with a French air and space force F3-R Rafale near Oahu, Hawaii, June 30, 2021. The flight was part of Exercise Wakea, an effort to promote bilateral cooperation in the Pacific between the United States and France.
U.S. and Indonesian Marines conduct integrated training aboard combat rubber raiding crafts in Indonesia, June 11, 2021.
Army Cpl. Zachary Tallis works on the rear engine of a helicopter in a maintenance bay of the Connecticut National Guard in Groton, Conn., June 22, 2021. The chopper is undergoing a complete overhaul after being badly damaged from a hard landing in Iraq.
July 9, 2021 | , DOD News
The deputy secretary began her trip June 8 at Bath Iron Works in Brunswick, Maine, where she met with troops and toured the USS Daniel Inouye, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She traveled that afternoon to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
"How [ships] innovate is a huge piece, of course, of where the department is going today with different kinds of actors, research institutions, universities and startups …" she said of ship and submarine modernization.
Those elements are important to how DOD modernizes by ensuring shipyards have space availability and move with agility through repair work and understand software upgrades that are moving at a fast pace, Hicks said.
At Pease, the deputy secretary met with troops and toured the KC-46A Pegasus, a 2019 wide-bodied, multi-role tanker aircraft that can refuel all U.S., allied and coalition military aircraft that are in line with international aerial refueling procedures. The KC-46, used by the Air Force, can also carry passengers, cargo and patients, according to Boeing.
Traveling to Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hicks went to Harvard University's engineering school and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for innovation assessments and briefings. At Harvard, she met with former Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
DOD is building on the path Carter laid in his Defense Department career by working in partnership with the private sector and academia to quickly get innovation into the warfighter's hands on the battlefield.
At MIT, Hicks visited military and academic teams at the Air Force-MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, which is designed to make fundamental advances in AI to improve Air Force operations. She also went to the Army's Natick Soldier System Center at Draper Laboratory, a nonprofit engineering innovation company, and The Engine, a venture firm founded by MIT to support "tough tech" companies.
DOD has done well in the last decade to make clear its interest in embracing new technology, she said.
"Where we need to go next is knitting [everything] together so that we have an ecosystem in the department that doesn't crush the ability to have innovation in small teams because I think there's a lot to be gained from that," she said.
Hicks emphasized the need to have what she called feedback loops and the ability to understand what such teams are doing to share lessons learned and spread innovation to share with the warfighter.
"[Regardless] of what that pathway is, we need to hear those insights and lessons learned from those who are … deploying forward into the innovation base," Hicks said.
July 9, 2021
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, bonjour, and thank you for joining us today, Madam Minister. It's very good to see you again so soon after our last meeting in Brussels, and I'm delighted to host you here at the Pentagon. I've been looking forward to this for quite some time.
It's not lost on me that your visit falls between our prospective (sic) independence days, July 4th and July 14th. It's an honor to have the chance to meet with our first ally at a time of year when we celebrate the democratic values that we share. Our cooperation in NATO, the Sahel and the Middle East are a key to our long-standing partnership, which is grounded in common strategic interests, our shared understanding of the importance of diplomacy and a powerful interest in preserving the international rules-based order.
Today, as you well know, some of our competitors are working to undermine the stable and open order that we both support. So in the Indo-Pacific in particular, France is an ideal partner for the United States as we work to bolster our shared interests in the region. In Europe, we look forward to continuing to consult with France, as well as our other NATO allies and partners, as the Department of Defense moves forth with its strategic reviews and as we continue to confront an increasingly-aggressive Russia.
We'll also spend some time today discussing our cooperation in the Sahel, where France and coalition forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger work to bring peace and security to the region. The United States is proud to support our French and African partners.
Closer to home, we'll also discuss implementing deliverables that we agreed upon at the NATO leaders summit and at -- and the U.S.-E.U. summit in June, and of course, we thank France for your contributions in Afghanistan since the very beginning of operations there in 2001. We thank the French people and the French military who served bravely alongside us for the last 20 years. And now it's time for us to end that war, and we appreciate the coordination we've had as together, we and our NATO allies have begun to transition to a new relationship with our Afghan partners.
I'm also looking forward to our -- to continuing our efforts in other areas and discussing new areas for potential cooperation, and to that end, I am especially pleased that later today, we'll be visiting USCYBERCOMMAND together, where the United States is working to develop our defenses and build up our resilience against adversaries in cyberspace. I know you have also made cybersecurity a top priority, and that France has developed a cybersecurity strategy to mitigate risk and increase its capabilities. Our countries have a strong shared interest in protecting our critical infrastructure and that of our allies, including cyber infrastructure, and that's a foundation for our future cooperation in the area of technological infrastructure more broadly.
And finally, I'm looking forward to signing the Special Operations Forces roadmap, which paves the way for enhanced cooperation between our Special Operations Forces, who have a long history of working together on a number of issues.
And so Madam Minister, I hope that your visit to Washington will be a memorable one. I'm looking forward to our time together and to deepening the U.S.-France partnership on defense issues.
Merci beaucoup.
FRENCH MINISTER OF THE ARMED FORCES FLORENCE PARLY: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.
I've been very (inaudible), because I want first and foremost to thank you very much for your warm welcome. I'm very delighted to continue the discussions we started in Brussels a -- a few weeks ago. Our cooperation is already very strong and deep, especially in the field of operations, and we want to seize every opportunity to strengthen it.
Intelligence, space and cyber are also domains where we cooperate more and more. I met, a few days ago, General Dickinson in Paris, and it was a -- a very good symbol of the relationship we are going to create more and more in the future.
I also want to thank you sincerely for your support in the Sahel. Today, President Macron unveiled the broad outlines of the transformation of Operation Barkhane. Your support will continue to be needed in the fight against terrorism and we are very grateful for it. France and the United States are known to be the oldest allies. These are not just pretty words; they reflect something real. We are allies in words and deeds.
Thank you.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johnathan Norton administers the COVID-19 vaccine to an employee at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, July 2, 2021.
July 8, 2021
Deputy Press Secretary Jamal Brown provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks visited Boston, Massachusetts, to meet with academic institutions, industry partners, and military innovation incubators to discuss and assess their efforts in support of Secretary Austin’s commitment to modernize and drive innovation across the Department of Defense.
The Deputy Secretary met with representatives from Harvard’s Science and Engineering Complex, including former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs retired General Joseph Dunford.
Following the visit, she visited the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), had lunch with Fellows at MIT-Lincoln Labs, and visited the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center at Draper Labs. While at Draper Labs, the Deputy Secretary spoke with soldiers and scientists involved in biotechnology and security and microelectronics about their work to advance and support America’s warfighting capabilities through rapid experimentation, innovative technologies, prototyping, and testing and evaluation.
July 9, 2021 | , DOD News
Mike Donley is an example of the way Washington should work.
Donley, a consummate defense expert, is one of those rare people who have been appointed to national security positions by both Democratic and Republican presidents. He served as the Defense Department's director of administration and management in the Bush Administration and as the Air Force Secretary under President Obama.
And now he is back with DOD serving for the second time as the director of administration and management. He says he is engaged in "worthy work" as the department moves forward.
Donley started his service in the Army and continued in civilian jobs with the Senate Armed Services Committee, DOD, the National Security Council and more. Throughout his career he has worked with many current defense leaders. "We are truly fortunate that Secretary Donley agreed to return to the Pentagon to serve as the director of administration and management," Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said in a written statement. "He embodies our core values of duty, integrity and honor. As we emerge from the pandemic and look forward to modernizing how we manage the department, we will benefit from his decades of expertise across multiple administrations. I look forward to working closely with him."
He hadn't expected to come back to the department. "I was watching this from a distance," he said during an interview in his E-Ring office.
Donley had been involved in discussions between the department and Capitol Hill on establishing the DOD chief management officer position in 2005. "I've always been interested in how does one manage one of the world's largest enterprises. It's a huge challenge for a secretary and deputy secretary of defense," he said.
When he was administration and management director the first time he learned a lot about a wide range of management areas. Congress established the chief management officer position, but then shut it down at the end of 2020. "There was a fair amount of turmoil associated with that, and it just looked to me like there was going to be a challenge to put things back together in some fashion," he said.
And many of the duties performed by the chief of management did not go away when the position disappeared. "Now there is a challenge to figure out where all the pieces go, and how the intention of the Congress and the department in creating this additional level of oversight across the department would be implemented," Donley said.
He had discussions with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks about the situation and he suggested some people who could do the administration and management job. "She eventually turned the discussion around and asked if I would do it. So I said, 'Yes,'" Donley said.
Donley advises the secretary and deputy secretary on organization and management aspects of the department. He also oversees a wide range of administrative, logistical and technological support for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and associated agencies and offices. Finally, Donley is responsible for running the Pentagon reservation.
The job is not going to be the same as it was in his first iteration. The elimination of the position of chief management officer is one reason, technology is another and necessity is a third. The CMO functions need to continue, and the office may pick up those for at least a time, Donley said. Once there is time to study them, the functions may go to another DOD agency [or] to one of the services, he said. New technologies often mandate new methods of doing things, and that, too, causes changes.
The professional challenge is one part of the reason that Donley came back to DOD. "The people is the other part about coming back," he said.
Many of those who worked with him originally have retired or moved on to other jobs, but there were a number of career civil servants whom he had worked with and trusted who are still in the organization. "It was good to see many people when I came back into the building," he said. "I know they are committed to the DOD mission, and that is something that unites really everybody in this building. In this community, no matter where we work, we share that deep commitment to serving the nation's defense and our men and women in uniform. It's always a privilege to be part of this mission."
July 9, 2021 | , DOD News
It is safe to say that without France, the United States would not have won independence in 1783. More than 200 years later, the two nations still work and fight together.
The two leaders also signed the Special Operations Forces roadmap, which enhances cooperation between French and U.S. special operators.
"Our cooperation in NATO, the Sahel and the Middle East are a key to our long-standing partnership, which is grounded in common strategic interests, our shared understanding of the importance of diplomacy and a powerful interest in preserving the international rules-based order," Austin said at the beginning of the meeting.
The meeting follows the NATO Summit and the two leaders discussed the ways the two nations will work together in NATO and bilaterally. The challenge from China was among the topics of discussion. "Today, as you well know, some of our competitors are working to undermine the stable and open order that we both support," Austin said. "So in the Indo-Pacific in particular, France is an ideal partner for the United States as we work to bolster our shared interests in the region.
Russian challenges in Europe and elsewhere also concern both nations and Austin promised the United States would continue to consult with France on this issue and more.
France is a bulwark in West Africa, and especially the Sahel region. Austin and Parly spoke about working with coalition forces from Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger to bring peace and security to the region. "The United States is proud to support our French and African partners," he said.
French and American service members worked shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan and Austin praised the French contributions. "We thank the French people and the French military who served bravely alongside us for the last 20 years," he said. "And now it's time for us to end that war, and we appreciate the coordination we've had as together, we and our NATO allies have begun to transition to a new relationship with our Afghan partners."
But the allies are looking to the future. After the meeting Austin and Parly went to Fort Meade, Md., to visit U.S. Cyber Command. "I know you have also made cybersecurity a top priority, and that France has developed a cybersecurity strategy to mitigate risk and increase its capabilities," the secretary said. "Our countries have a strong shared interest in protecting our critical infrastructure and that of our allies, including cyber infrastructure, and that's a foundation for our future cooperation in the area of technological infrastructure more broadly."
Parly wants the two nations to build on the very robust military-to-military relationship. "Our cooperation is already very strong and deep, especially in the field of operations, and we want to seize every opportunity to strengthen it," she said. "Intelligence, space and cyber are also domains where we cooperate more and more."
Parly specifically thanked Austin for American support in the Sahel. "Your support will continue to be needed in the fight against terrorism and we are very grateful for it," she said.
"France and the United States are known to be the oldest allies," the minister said. "These are not just pretty words; they reflect something real. We are allies in words and deeds."
Navy Petty Officers 3rd Class Jeremiah Rivera, left, Brandon Lester, center, and Arthur Cataag fold an American flag aboard the USS Ross during Exercise Sea Breeze in Odessa, Ukraine, July 6, 2021. The annual exercise brings together military units from several countries to enhance their warfighting capabilities and build strong relationships.
Arizona National Guard soldiers help prepare donations at a food bank in Phoenix, July 7, 2021, to support COVID-19 relief efforts.
A soldier assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” walks the mat at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a rainstorm at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, July 8, 2021.
Army Reserve soldiers load .50-caliber ammunition into a holding can on top of a Stryker vehicle before a live-fire night gunnery training exercise at Fort Stewart, Ga., June 25, 2021.
Airmen perform an expedient multiple unexploded ordnance disposal walk during training at Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 2, 2021. Airmen cleared simulated ordnance from a mock airfield during the event.
Sailors inspect the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for debris during flight operations in the Arabian Sea, July 3, 2021.
Army Sgt. Keeiaru Lee fires an assault rifle during a qualification for the Schuetzenschnur, the German Armed Forces badge of marksmanship, at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 7, 2021.
Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys conduct refueling operations at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 7, 2021, during Summer Fury, an exercise designed to enhance Marine Air-Ground Task Force integration and increase aviation operations proficiency.
Airmen participate in a quick response training event at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, June 12, 2021.
July 9, 2021
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met France Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the deep cooperation between our governments and militaries.
The leaders discussed the importance of transatlantic cooperation and unity, particularly as strategic competitors contribute to increased security challenges worldwide. They also discussed bilateral cooperation and opportunities for continued engagement in the Middle East and Africa, where France and the United States have a long history of working together to address common challenges.
Secretary Austin committed to continuing consultations with France and other NATO Allies on strategic reviews, including the National Defense Strategy. Minister Parly conveyed appreciation for the United States’ reinvigorated engagement with NATO Allies and EU partners, noting the recent NATO and EU Leaders Summits attended by President Biden.
Secretary Austin and Minister Parly concluded their meeting with a signing ceremony of the U.S.-France Roadmap for Increased Cooperation in the Area of Special Operations. The Roadmap signals U.S. and French intent to identify areas where increased special operations coordination and cooperation is possible.
After their meeting, Secretary Austin and Minister Parly visited U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland, where they discussed shared interests, opportunities, and initiatives in cyberspace to deepen the enduring U.S.-France bilateral partnership.
Last night, anticipating an easier drive I set my phone alarm for 7AM. I learned early this morning that the previous occupant of my hotel room had set the hotel alarm clock for 5:45AM. After a quick hotel coffee I was packed and on the road at 630AM.
As I ate breakfast I remembered that my Grandmother, Rose, was born in Gibson, Illinois. A quick check and I found I was only 90 minutes from Gibson. I was tempted to make the side trip, but a three hour detour without proper research on what to look for or at, didn’t make sense. I also remembered that I had at least one great uncle who lived for a time in Effingham. I overheard the information on Effingham and Gibson over 50 years ago and just couldn’t remember much of the substance nor context. As I was eating I used the phone to research Effingham and found that I was only a half mile or so from the Effingham Masonic Lodge.
The construction of the Lodge was very interesting. The exterior looks as if they only thing it houses is
Back on to the highway. The southern tip of Illinois is pretty flat. Small towns and hamlets are dotted between flat farm land consisting of acres and acres of corn. I think corn fields are creepy. Nothing good (except the corn) happens in corn fields. Think Casino or The Get Away. I crossed over the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and was in St. Louis, Missouri.
About the time I crossed into Missouri the Dodgers began to play Tampa Bay. Coffee, Baseball and cruise control for three hours and I arrived in Kansas City, Missouri. My hotel is in the northeast part of the city, right across from “Worlds of Fun” and “Oceans of Fun.” I can see giant roller coasters looping in the sky from my hotel room. Thus, the area is filled with families. It feels like I am staying in a hotel in Anaheim across from Disneyland.
Tomorrow a tour of the Truman Presidential Library followed by a relatively short drive to Wichita, Kansas.
July 7, 2021
Deputy Press Secretary Jamal Brown provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks met with representatives from Bath Iron Works in Brunswick, Maine, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to discuss and assess efforts to bolster U.S. warfighting capabilities and maintain maritime dominance.
While in Brunswick, Deputy Secretary Hicks visited the Bath Iron Works operations as well as the DDG 118 (USS Inouye) and met with troops.
In Portsmouth, Deputy Secretary Hicks spoke with key personnel at the structural shop at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the future Waterfront Support Facility, toured a KC-46 display at Pease Air National Guard and spoke with troops.
Today’s visits underscore Secretary Austin’s commitment to modernizing the Department of Defense to meet future threats.
It should have taken 9 hours to drive from Lamar, Pennsylvania to Terre Haute, Indiana. It took 12. The first problem happened a half hour into the drive with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation decided to close the turnpike. The car’s nav saw the red-lined highway and suggested an alternate route. Off the highway and through the Pennsylvania countryside.
It was early and I was rested. No problem. Windows down, sunroof open and I drive 30 minutes through beautiful Pennsylvania farm country. Seemed like a bonus, not an omen. Back on to the highway in a couple of hours I was at the Ohio border. I buzzed through Ohio: Youngstown, Canton, Columbus and Dayton. Then I got to Indiana.
On 70, in an area called Spiceland the two-lane highway came to a complete stop. There were signs warning of construction, but there have been a lot of areas of construction on the entire trip. There was no sign that said they were going to close the highway for about an hour. There I sat, me and hundreds of big rigs. I checked the car’s nav. It gave the error message “There are no alternative routes.” That is Kia’s way of saying you are “f’d.” It was that kind of stop on highway where people got out of their trucks and cars. The next off ramp was AFTER the stoppage eight miles ahead and the previous off-ramp (presuming you could 4-wheel drive over the marshy looking meridian) was 5 miles back. After an hour it started to move. But, a wagon train of big rigs moves glacial rate. Finally, I hit the open road about 200 miles from tonight’s stop.
As I approached Indianapolis, the nav said to take the 65 south. As I approached the transition, I could see signs that said the 65 was closed, but usually the nav compensates. When I got up to transition, I could see that the 65 was not only closed, it was gone. There was nothing but concrete columns and debris. It wasn’t under construction, it was under destruction. The nav was still saying take the 65 south. The Kia Nav hates me. I had two options: North to Chicago or follow the train of cars and trucks off the freeway into downtown Indianapolis. I was already in the downtown lane.
Down the ramp and into truck driver hell on Ohio Street in downtown Indianapolis. The nav adjusted and wanted to follow the line of trucks. Like 50 of them, all waiting to make a left turn onto some street that paralleled the highway that wasn’t there. One truck at a time, they made the left turn. Slowly they turned, truck by truck.
That’s it. I turned off the nav. Time to go old school. As I sat there I looked at the map. I could see that if I went 12 blocks west and then south on Capital Street I could pick up the highway. But how do I get around 50 trucks? There was no lane, but there was space. I drove in the gutter between the wall of massive big rigs and the sidewalk filled with pedestrians. I crept forward and made the first block. One more to go. The light turned green and I kept to gutter. I looked in the rear-view mirror and I was now leading a parade of a dozen passenger cars. We got through.
West to Capital Street and about 8 blocks south and I was back on the highway. I made it to Terre Haute, Indiana.
Six-hour drive tomorrow to Kansas City, Missouri. That is the staging stop for the visit to the Truman Library. I have tickets for Friday Morning. The short drive to Wichita for overnight.
July 7, 2021
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Turkish Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar to discuss bilateral cooperation and our ongoing drawdown in Afghanistan.
Both leaders reasserted the importance of adequate security at Hamid Karzai International Airport and agreed to speak again in the near future on the topic.
The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of the longstanding U.S.-Turkey defense relationship and thanked the Minister for his continuing communication.
When I left Augusta, Maine at 630AM it was a 52 degrees with a wet, light fog. Straight through Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York I drove without stopping. About 200 miles. With the driver assist (speed, lane and distance from the car ahead) engaged, I listen to podcasts and nurse a large Dunkin coffee.
Just over the Pennsylvania border with New York I stopped in the Poconos Mountains. Well, if you live in the Western States you know there really not “mountains.” I had not been paying attention to outside temperature so when I got out of my car I was surprised by the 92 degree humid Pennsylvania weather. Forty degrees was an unexpected and drastic change.
I got Fuel, coffee and a sinker. If you don’t know what a “sinker” is – too bad for you. Back onto the Pennsylvania Highway and I set the driver assist to 76MPH. The speed limit is 70MPH. I set the “car ahead” to six car lengths.
After about an hour, I was travelling the two-lane highway on a steep downgrade. I was in the number one lane when my car detected I was within six car lengths from the car ahead. The car began to slow itself. As I felt the slight weight shift forward, I saw a Pennsylvania State Trooper in the median, pointing his radar gun right at me. I flip off the driver assist and the car began to slow a little more rapidly. By the time I am 100 yards past him I am going to the speed limit.
The fastest he pinged me would have been 76, but more likely 75. I figure that’s not ticket worthy, But I watch the rear view mirror. Damn, I see him pull into traffic and he is obviously accelerating rapidly. He is coming on fast, right behind me. Hoping against hope, I pull into the number two lane to let him go by. He slows and gets right into my right rear quarter panel. Okay, I am prey.
Fortunately, I planned for just such a scenario. I knew I wasn’t going to crazy speed on the trip. However, I also planned on roughly always 8% over the speed limit. On a day like today, a nine-hour drive, that 8% is at least 30 minutes. And, I figure at 8% over the limit I was at best a “Wobbler.” Its not 90MPH, a clear speeder. Maybe you cite, maybe you warn, that’s a wobbler.
The cruise control is my first line of defense. It is set and compensates for downhill/uphill, etc. It keeps me in the wobbler zone. My second line of defense is my license plate frame.
My license plate frame says “Veteran” “United States Coast Guard.” That’s true, I am a veteran of the USCG. I was hoping that the license plate frame would be my thumb on the scales of justice. Flipping the wobbler my way; no cite.
After 30 seconds in my rear quarter panel he zooms off. I don’t know if it worked or not. I think so.
Tomorrow is a little longer drive to Terre Haute, Indiana.
An Air Force MC-130J Air Commando II takes off during Teak Action at Royal Australian Air Force Base Richmond, Australia, June 30, 2021. The bilateral exercise focuses on sharing tactics and procedures to foster increased interoperability across the Indo-Pacific.
July 6, 2021
The Department of Defense recently released the results of the 2019 Survey of Reserve Component Spouses. The survey is conducted every two years, and along with the Survey of Active Duty Spouses, represents the scientific “gold standard” of surveys intended to identify the needs of military spouses.
The Survey of Reserve Component Spouses provides valuable insight into issues and trends among Reserve Component spouses. These findings help DOD better understand how its programs, policies, and resources might better support and impact this important demographic.
As part of the 2019 survey, more than 50,000 Reserve Component military spouses across Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve were invited to participate, with about 15% responding.
Survey topics covered many key indicators, to include spouse support to stay in the military, employment and finances, activation and deployment, reunion and reintegration, and spouse and child well-being. Because the survey was completed in 2019, the effects of COVID-19 were not captured in the survey.
Many findings, for example spouse health and financial status, have remained consistent since 2017, but are important indicators to understand.
“The survey shows that 62% of Reserve Component spouses indicated that their health is very good or excellent, and 68% of Reserve Component spouses reported that they are financially comfortable,” said Dr. Paul Rosenfeld, director of the Center for Retention and Readiness within the Office of People Analytics.
The survey also indicated that current levels of personal stress are higher than average at about 37%, and that stress and loneliness were concerns among National Guard and reserve spouses whose husband/wife had been deployed in the past 24 months. These themes are also reported among active-duty spouses.
“Understanding trends among spouses and what really matters most helps DOD improve and prioritize policies, programs and resources to help military families thrive,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Patricia “Patty” Montes Barron. “We are committed to engaging and listening to our military spouses. COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for us to reimagine processes for families and I want to ensure the voice we use is inclusive of military spouses.”
For important information about the military community, including survey results, infographics, research reports and demographics, visit Military OneSource.
About Military Community and Family Policy
Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing quality-of-life policies and programs that help our guardians of country, their families and survivors be well and mission-ready. Military OneSource is the gateway to programs and services that support the everyday needs of the 5.2 million service members and immediate family members of the military community. These Department of Defense services can be accessed 24/7/365 around the world.
July 6, 2021
Today, I have approved a plan by the Department of the Navy that will permit former Naval Academy midshipman Cameron Kinley to play professional football in the NFL.
This plan will see Cameron enlisted in the Inactive Ready Reserve for the duration of his football career. Upon completion of his playing time, we look forward to welcoming him back inside the ranks as a naval officer.
In the meantime, we know Cameron will take every opportunity on and off the field to ably represent the Navy and the military to the American people and to assist us in our recruiting efforts. I applaud Navy leadership for finding this way to showcase both Cameron's athletic prowess, as well as the quality and professionalism of our student athletes and our personnel.
Non-driving day spent with family. The warm day was a stark contrast to yesterday and it facilitated two meals with two families. Essentially, my daughter’s in-laws. We would need a white board and a half hour to diagram out all the people with whom I became reacquainted or met for the first time. Everyone was welcoming and gracious. The meals were cooked and served outdoors. My daughter and I talked a lot and we watched my grandson do eight-year old stuff.
Between the early brunch and afternoon dinner, I left Grace and Justin to their last minute errands for their trip south. I tried to get the oil changed. No go. Charlie’s KIA in Augusta, Maine is only accepting appointments. Despite the service bays being completely empty, there was no room for a walk-on customer from California. I was too tired to be frustrated. Figured I would get the car washed, at least.
I haven’t seen a California Style car wash where they actually wash your car since I left California. I’ve looked. They are all some configuration of an automatic wash. However, just inside Augusta, I saw a sign for a “Golden Nozzle” car wash. Well, I have never had a Golden Nozzle. When in Maine……
As I drove up the drive into the parking lot of the Nozzle I had to drive past a quick oil change type place. There were three twenty-something oil change guys smoking at the corner of the building. They looked in my direction as I began to drive toward them and they started motioning me to stop. They were insistent that I stop; I thought maybe some part of the car was falling off. They had never seen a Kia K5, they had only read about it. We popped the hood, the trunk, opened the all the door. They climbed all over the car and had great time.
I drove up to the Nozzle tunnel and the guy asked me what I wanted. While there are no people to wash your car, this long dark tunnel with its lights, mists and soft cloth brushes is controlled by a real human being who dials in your every wish, for a price. I paid for hot walk, rim cleaning, underbody rinse and the soft cloth special. After all that, you have to do your own vacuuming.
I worked out rewinding. The highlight of which will be a visit to the Truman Library.
|
date |
location |
miles |
time |
|
|
|
6-Jul |
Tuesday |
Lamar PA |
566 |
9 |
|
|
7-Jul |
wed |
Terre Haute, Indiana |
604 |
9 |
|
|
8-Jul |
Thur |
Independence, Missouri |
400 |
6 |
|
|
9-Jul |
Friday |
Truman Library |
2 |
|
|
|
9-Jul |
Friday |
Wichita, Kansas |
219 |
4 |
|
|
10-Jul |
Saturday |
Alburqurque, NM |
596 |
9.5 |
|
|
11-Jul |
Sunday |
Home |
760 |
11 |
Tomorrow, when Justin and Grace leave for New York City, we are going to meet up and caravan (they have two cars to transport). My grandson will ride with me as far as Hartford, Connecticut and then we will put him in Grace’s car and they will continue south while I turn west.
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