House Approves Defense Appropriations Bill

The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved its version of the Fiscal 2017 defense appropriations bill with a vote of 371 to 48. The $577.9 billion bill? provides a $5.2 billion increase over Fiscal 2016 enacted levels, but total FY17 defense...

Hyten Calls for Big Strategic Deterrence Vision

By Wilson Brissett
US Strategic Command boss Gen. John Hyten called for a fundamental shift in US thinking about strategic deterrence in his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. “Strategic deterrence in the 21st century is much bigger than nuclear deterrence...

30 More Enlisted Airmen Selected for Pilot Training

By Amy Hudson
The inaugural Enlisted Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot Selection Board selected 30 enlisted airmen from a total of about 200 applicants to fill pilot training slots for fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the service announced on March 8. The board, which...

Votel Takes Responsibility for Yemen Raid

By Wilson Brissett
US Central Command boss Army Gen. Joseph Votel on Thursday took full responsibility for the Jan. 29 raid on al-Qaeda forces in Yemen that resulted in the death of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens. “I am responsible for this...

AFRICOM Borrowing from CENTCOM to Fill Capacity Gap

By Wilson Brissett
US Africa Command is borrowing assets from US Central Command in order to make up for a capacity deficit, Marine Corps Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, chief of AFRICOM, told the Senate Armed Services committee Thursday. Waldhauser mentioned two occasions where AFRICOM...

Soft Power Necessary for Victory Against ISIS

By Wilson Brissett
The US cannot win the war against ISIS without diplomacy and humanitarian aid, top US commanders told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. “I don’t believe you can” win without soft power, US Africa Command boss USMC Gen. Thomas...