Flight Ops

 

Sailors rush toward an MH-60R Seahawk during flight operations aboard the USS John S. McCain in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 19, 2021.

Secure Soldier

 

A soldier assists another with equipment inspection before airborne operations at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 13, 2021.

Ocean Ops

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Andre Cajero performs maintenance on the tail of an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter in the hangar bay of the USS John in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 15, 2021.

Flying Falcons

 

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 17, 2020.

Midair Refuel

 

pilot controls the aircraft during a midair refueling mission over Southwest Asia, Jan. 4, 2020.

Loading Labor

 

Airmen help Army National Guardsmen load baggage onto an Air Force KC-46A Pegasus at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Okla., Jan. 17, 2021. The Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard deployed to support the presidential inauguration.

Water Work

 

Marines navigate a water obstacle during a squad competition at Camp Gonsalves in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 13, 2021. The weeklong competition tested jungle survival skills, basic infantry tactics and excellence in weapons handling.

Sea Splash

 

Sailors participate in a visit, board, search and seizure drill in the South China Sea, Jan. 15, 2021.

Filling Out Paperwork

 

Soldiers in the Maryland Army National Guard use fellow soldiers' backs in front of them to fill out their medical paperwork to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Capitol Complex in Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2021. National Guard soldiers and airmen from several states have traveled to the district to provide support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

COVID-19 Vaccine

 

Air Force Staff Sgt. Matthew Basa, 19th Medical Group aerospace medical technician, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Jan 14, 2021. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is given in two doses and is 94.1% effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Card Scan

 

An Army soldier assigned to the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, scans an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination card at the newly opened COVID-19 vaccination mega-site at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison, N.J., Jan 15, 2021. The guardsmen are supporting health care workers at the COVID-19 vaccination mega-site. The Edison facility is one of six mega-sites statewide.

Airborne Ops

 

Soldiers conduct an airborne operation from an Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft at Juliet drop zone in Pordenone, Italy, Jan. 13, 2021.

Administering Vaccine

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Corey Jackson receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Navy Seaman Wamsley at Flix Theater, Naval Station Rota, Spain, Jan. 15, 2021. Naval Hospital Rota has begun administering the vaccine to frontline health care and first responders as part of the vaccination campaign.

DOD Launches 'My MilLife Guide' Text Message Program to Boost Wellness

 Jan. 19, 2021 | BY Connected Health Communications Office

Finding the right support to ease the stress of navigating daily COVID-19-related challenges can be a challenge itself.

To support the military community, the Defense Department recently launched My MilLife Guide.

This new program sends text messages designed to help the military community boost overall wellness while navigating stresses related to COVID-19. The program is only available for a limited time in early 2021 and will allow service members and spouses to directly receive motivational messages and helpful resources on their phones.

My MilLife Guide was developed by one of the military's flagship support programs, Military OneSource, in partnership with the Military Health System. From now until Feb. 12, 2021, users can opt in to receive messages four times a week, for a total of eight weeks. To sign up, service members can text “MilLife SM” and spouses can text “MilLife Spouse” to GOV311, or they can visit MilitaryOneSource.mil/texts.

My MilLife Guide starts each week with a text asking users to set a small goal, such as accomplishing a task on their to-do list or taking a small step to improve their sleeping habits. Topics covered over the course of the eight-week program include:

• Stress relief
• Sleeping soundly
• Self-care
• Virtual health tools
• Strengthening relationships
• Managing finances
• Getting support
• Prepping for the future

These text messages are specifically tailored for navigating the unique circumstances of service members and spouses as they aim to improve their physical and emotional health.

"We are excited to begin 2021 by offering a new way for service members and spouses to get support for easing stress and navigating COVID-19-related challenges texted directly to their phones," said Lee Kelley, director of Military Community Support Programs for Military Community and Family Policy. "My MilLife Guide is like a portable health and wellness coach, supporting service members and spouses as they take care of themselves and their families."

"Our service members and their families deserve the best possible care. I want to utilize all available tools to ensure their health, wellness and readiness records are easily accessible," said Army Col. (Dr.) Neil Page, deputy and military chief, Clinical Support Division, Medical Affairs at the Defense Health Agency. "The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that sometimes these tools are best provided through digital health services. We in the Military Health System are excited to partner with Military OneSource to provide a text-based wellness program that puts valuable resources at our beneficiaries' fingertips, in a new and innovative way."

My MilLife Guide participants are encouraged to provide feedback on the program. The DOD will use this insight to help inform the development of possible future evolutions of similar text-based initiatives.

Part of the DOD, Military Community and Family Policy offers a suite of programs, tools and services – including the My Military OneSource app and MilitaryOneSource.mil – that connect the military community to resources they can use every day, from relocation planning and tax services to confidential non-medical counseling and spouse employment. These initiatives contribute to force readiness and quality of life by providing policies and programs that advance the well-being of service members, their families, survivors and other eligible members of the military community.

Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that is both a call center and a website providing comprehensive information, resources and assistance on every aspect of military life. Service members and the families of active duty, National Guard, and reserve (regardless of activation status), Coast Guard members when activated for the Navy, DOD expeditionary civilians, and survivors are eligible for Military OneSource services which are available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost to the user.

Sports Heroes Who Served: From Lacrosse Captain to Army Leader

 Jan. 19, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Sports Heroes Who Served is a series that highlights the accomplishments of athletes who served in the U.S. military.

Like many veterans, Edward C. Meyer was inspired to serve by a family member, an uncle who was in the Navy.

In 1948, Meyer entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York. He played lacrosse all four years at the academy and excelled. As captain, he led his team to take the Wingate Trophy, winning the national championship in 1951. He was also a two time all-American.

But Meyer loved the Army even more than lacrosse and decided to make it a career. During the Korean War, he earned the Bronze Star and Silver Star medals for valorous actions, 1952 to 1953. During the war he served with the 224th Infantry Regiment, where he moved up from platoon leader to company commander and then battalion staff officer. 

In 1965, he deployed to Vietnam as deputy commander of 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and later as commander of 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment in 1966. 

He served a second tour in South Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 and was commander of the 2d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) and later division chief of staff.

During his Vietnam War tours, he was awarded the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart.

In the 1970s following the Vietnam War, the service was often referred to as the "hollow Army" because it suffered from shortages of personnel and equipment, deficiencies in maintenance and disciplinary issues. 

At the time Meyer became the Army chief of staff in June 1979, he said just six of the 10 Army divisions were combat ready. He quickly set about making improvements, such as improving unit cohesion and introducing lighter and more mobile vehicles to make the Army more expeditionary. He retired in June 1983 with Army readiness levels greatly heightened.

Some interesting facts about Meyer include:

• His nickname was "Shy" — unusual because he was talkative and outgoing.
• Despite leaving a promising lacrosse career behind, Meyer continued to be a physical fitness advocate. While serving as Army chief of staff, he was the Pentagon handball champion.
• Unlike almost all of today's military leaders, Meyer lamented the end of the draft in 1973. In 1983, he said, "I have great concern about the future of a nation in which there is no responsibility for service placed upon the people."

Among  his most famous quotes are:

• "The community of Army people — the soldiers, their families and our civilian workforce — constitute a mosaic of individual talents, concerns and capabilities united by a shared sense of purpose."
• "Close bonds and a special relationship must endure between the military and society if we're to be an effective instrument of national power."
• "Invariably, when a soldier has a problem, it's his first-line supervisor or first-line leaders who determine whether the soldier thinks the Army cares."

Meyer died at his home in Arlington, Virginia, on Oct. 13. He was 91.

More Stories of Sports Heroes Who Served

DOD’s Military OneSource MilTax Offers Free Tax Services to Service Members, Families

 Jan. 19, 2021

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The Department of Defense announced today the annual launch of Military OneSource’s MilTax suite of 100% free tax services for the military community, including personalized support from tax consultants, easy-to-use tax preparation and e-filing software, and current information about filing taxes in the military.

MilTax tax preparation and e-filing software is now available through mid-October for service members, their immediate families, and surviving spouses. Provided exclusively by the Department of Defense and powered by an industry-leading tax service provider, the software was designed specifically with the military in mind. From addressing combat and training pay to deployments, housing and rentals, the secure and confidential MilTax software walks users step-by-step through a series of questions to help them complete and file their federal return and up to three state tax forms.

“We are excited to once again offer this easy-to-use, convenient and accurate tax service to our service members and their families,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy Kim Joiner. “The Department of Defense is committed to providing the military community with personalized support and resources at no cost, and MilTax is a benefit they have rightfully earned with their service.”

MilTax services include unlimited access to tax consultants trained to help with complex tax situations specific to service members and their families. Tax consultants are available year-round to answer questions related to extensions and deadlines, refunds for surviving family members, the 2020 Social Security tax deferral, and more.

For more information, call 800-342-9647 or start a live chat anytime to schedule an appointment to speak with a MilTax consultant, or visit Military OneSource to get started filing your taxes.

About Military Community and Family Policy 

Military Community and Family Policy is directly responsible for establishing and overseeing 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.

About Military OneSource

Military OneSource is a DOD-funded program that is both a call center and a website providing comprehensive information, resources and assistance on every aspect of military life. Service members and the families of active duty, National Guard and reserve (regardless of activation status), Coast Guard members when activated for the Navy, DOD expeditionary civilians, and survivors are eligible for Military OneSource services, which are available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free to the user.

Statement on Carrier Strike Group 2021 Joint Declaration Signing

 Jan. 19, 2021

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Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller and UK Secretary of State for Defense Ben Wallace have co-signed the Joint Declaration for the Carrier Strike Group 2021 deployment. 

The Joint Declaration enables the deployment of U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy personnel and equipment, including a detachment of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft and the Navy’s USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG-68), as part of a UK-U.S. combined carrier strike group, led by the UK’s aircraft carrier, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. 

This deployment underscores the strength of our bilateral ties and demonstrates U.S.-UK interoperability, both of which are key tenets of the U.S. National Defense Strategy.

The leaders look forward to seeing the culmination of nearly a decade of U.S.-UK carrier cooperation when Carrier Strike Group 2021 sets sail from Portsmouth, UK later this year.

Statement by Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on National Guard Support in Washington, D.C.

 Jan. 18, 2021

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As is normal for military support to large security events, the Department will vet National Guardsmen who are in Washington, D.C.  While we have no intelligence indicating an insider threat, we are leaving no stone unturned in securing the capital.  This type of vetting often takes place by law enforcement for significant security events.  However, in this case the scope of military participation is unique.  The D.C. National Guard is also providing additional training to service members as they arrive in D.C. that if they see or hear something that is not appropriate, they should report it to their chain of command.  We appreciate the support of the FBI in assisting with this task and for each of the more than 25,000 Guardsmen who answered their Nation’s call and rapidly deployed to the NCR.

Pence Thanks Fort Drum Soldiers for Accomplishments, Sacrifices

 Jan. 18, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

Vice President Mike Pence thanked the troopers of the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York, for their service around the world and said they will be coming back to the North Country.

Pence gave his last speech as vice president, yesterday, to the soldiers and families of the most deployed division in the U.S. Army. 

"With thousands deployed every day, 10th Mountain brigades have served a combined 46 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan," Pence said. "The first conventional units to deploy into Afghanistan after 9-11 came from right here at Fort Drum. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team and the 10th Sustainment Brigade are deployed in Afghanistan even as we speak."

Units of the 10th were the first conventional units in Afghanistan and division units may be the last conventional forces that must deploy to the country, the vice president said. 

"Your mission in Afghanistan has been vital to the security of the American people," he said. "This year, we'll mark 20 years since the forces of radical Islamic terror plotted and perpetrated the deadliest attack on the American homeland in the history of our country. From the safe haven of Afghanistan, the terrorists of al-Qaeda struck the United States."

Because of their service in Afghanistan, there has not been another major terrorist attack on America in the intervening 19 years, he said. "And you've given the Afghan people the hope of freedom, a chance to determine their own destiny (and) to chart a better future," he said. "Today, Afghans are in peace negotiations. I'm proud to report with gratitude to the 10th Mountain Division: Not a single American combat casualty has occurred in Afghanistan since February of last year."

There are currently 2,500 U.S. service members in Afghanistan and 2,500 in Iraq.

Pence went on to describe the Trump administration's efforts to make "the strongest military in the world, stronger still."

America is the freest and strongest nation in the history of the world. You secure that freedom. And you are that strength."

Vice President Mike Pence

He noted that the Trump administration inherited a military hobbled by readiness woes caused by sequestration and other budget cuts. The world in 2017 still had the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria controlling large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Iran was sponsoring terror groups throughout the Middle East. NATO nations were slow to live up to their pledge to budget 2 percent of gross domestic product to defense. 

Budget cuts stopped ships from sailing, aircraft from flying and troops from training.

In 2021, this has changed. "With the support of our allies in Congress, we're once again giving our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guard and guardians, the resources and the support that you need to accomplish your mission and defend this nation," Pence said. "And we also provided the largest pay increase in the last 10 years, and you deserve every penny."

The military is recovering from its readiness woes and "is now better equipped, better supplied, better trained than ever before," the vice president said. "We've upgraded our tanks, artillery, our rocket systems, we bolstered our fleet of attack helicopters and fighter planes."

U.S. leaders built on the U.S. commitment to convince allies to pay their fair share. "Since 2016, our NATO allies have increased their contribution to our common defense by more than $130 billion," he said.

Pence reached back to Roman times for the truism of "If you want peace, prepare for war." The United States has strengthened its national defense posture and is prepared to use that force in defense of America's vital interests. "I'm proud to report with just a few days left in our administration, our administration is the first administration in decades that did not get America into a new war," he said.

Pence thanked the troops for their accomplishments and willingness to sacrifice for others. "America is the freest and strongest nation in the history of the world," he said. "You secure that freedom. And you are that strength."

Related News: Pence Lists Administration's Accomplishments, Thanks Service Members

Pence Lists Administration's Accomplishments, Thanks Service Members

 Jan. 17, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

In what amounted to a valedictory speech, Vice President Mike Pence touted the Trump administration's defense achievements and thanked sailors at Lemoore Naval Air Station, California, for their service.

Pence urged the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden to keep a watchful eye on China to ensure a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

"Today, the People's Republic of China is determined to expand Beijing's influence across the region through military provocations and debt diplomacy," Pence said during a speech on the air station's flight line. "And so I urge the incoming administration to stay the course, do what we've done, stand up to Chinese aggression, and trade abuses, stand strong for a free and open Indo-Pacific and put America and our freedom loving allies first."

Pence spoke about how the administration helped the military recover from the damage caused by sequestration and budget shortfall. He emphasized budget increases that provided pay raises for personnel, new military capabilities, improved maintenance and spare parts and the uptick in readiness.

"History teaches that weakness arouses evil," Pence said. "And our history has proven that a strong America deters. Our administration has always understood that if you want peace, prepare for war. With that renewed American strength, we've defended this nation and America's vital national interests around the world. I'm proud to say with just a few days left in this administration, that this is the first administration in decades, not to get America into a new war."

Pence touted efforts in the Middle East, including the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights — captured from Syria in the 1967 war. He also spoke of the four Arab nations — Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco — that recognized Israel.

The vice president also pointed to the success of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. In 2017, the terror group controlled an area in Iraq and Syria the size of Pennsylvania. U.S. forces working with Iraqi and Syrian allies devastated the group taking back all the territory lost. "I'm proud to report now [that] more than a year ago, we crushed their caliphate, captured the last inch of territory under the black flag of ISIS and took down their leader without one American casualty," he said.

"As my time in office draws to a close, allow me to thank you for the privilege of serving as your vice president these past four years," he said. "It's been the greatest honor of my life. And it's been a special privilege to serve men and women like all of you, the members of the armed forces of the United States. 

"I truly believe as long as we have men and women like you with the courage and the selflessness to step forward and serve, as long as we have heroes willing to put your lives on the line, as long as we have patriots willing to defend our nation, I know our country will be safe. Our freedom will be secure. And the best days for the greatest nation on Earth are yet to come."

Pence will travel to Fort Drum, New York, today before returning to Washington for the inauguration.