SASC Approves Policy Bill

By Amy Hudson
The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday announced details of its markup of a $602 billion Fiscal 2017 defense authorization bill, which includes $59 billion in overseas contingency operations funds for the wars against ISIS and in Afghanistan. The bill...

McCain: NDAA Really a Reform Bill

By Amy Hudson
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters on Thursday the Fiscal 2017? defense authorization bill was really a “reform bill” that touched on acquisition, military, and management reform while “still investing in crucial military capabilities.” The...

2016 Invictus Games Come to a Close

The 2016 Invictus Games—a sporting competition that drew more than 500 wounded service members from 14 countries—came to a close Thursday. The athletes took part in 10 sporting events during the competition in Orlando, Fla., this week, according to a...

WASP Bill Passes Congress

By Jennifer Hlad
A bill to allow Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery has been approved by Congress and is awaiting a signature from President Obama. The legislation, championed by Air Force veteran Rep. Martha McSally...

Aegis Site in Romania Declared Active

A US ballistic missile defense system in Deveselu, Romania, is now active. The “Aegis Ashore” site—meant to protect against threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area—was declared online during a ceremony Thursday, according to a May 12 NATO release. It joins...

US Conducts Airstrike in Somalia

By Jennifer Hlad
The US conducted a defensive airstrike against about 20 Al Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia on Thursday morning, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters. US Special Forces on the ground in Somalia in an advise and assist role...

House Appropriators Release Draft Bill

The House Appropriations Committee this week released the subcommittee draft of the 2017 defense appropriations bill, which includes $58.6 billion for overseas contingency operations funding. That money is intended to fund Operation Inherent Resolve and the war in Afghanistan through...

Danish Leadership Recommends F-35 Buy

Denmark’s leadership wants to buy 27 F-35s, announced the NATO partner’s prime minister and defense minister on Thursday morning, according to a Lockheed Martin release. The government also considered replacing its F-16 fleet with F/A-18F Super Hornets or Eurofighter Typhoons,...

Carter: Air Force Careers are “Pretty Exciting Stuff”

The Air Force is “involved in everything that I’m certain is going to be part of our future, whatever it holds,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter told cadets at the Air Force Academy on Thursday. During a question and answer session...