ROA SmartBrief

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/edxWCfbwoceXgKrNSBHi

December 28, 2012

Forward

Archive

Advertise

News for Reservists

Top Story

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, Gulf War commander, dies at age 78
Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, regarded by some as one of the greatest military leaders of his generation, died Thursday in Tampa, Fla., of complications from pneumonia. "Stormin' Norman" served two tours in Vietnam, led the U.S. invasion of Grenada and led U.S. forces in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Bloomberg (12/28) , Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (12/28) , Forbes (12/28)

In the Pentagon

U.S. hits setback in plan to help build Afghan air force
The Pentagon won't renew a contract with an Italian defense contractor to equip the Afghan military with 20 C-27A cargo planes, a U.S. Air Force spokesman said an e-mail. The decision is a major blow to the efforts to build a self-sufficient Afghan military, this article says. The Wall Street Journal (12/27)

Other News

Escalating violence spurs U.S. to close embassy in Central African Republic
FoxNews.com/The Associated Press (12/27)

On the Hill

Defense bill makes taps the National Song of Remembrance
The 2013 defense authorization bill, which was recently passed by Congress, includes a provision making taps the official National Song of Remembrance. The House version of the bill had included rules for how civilians and service members should conduct themselves while the bugle call is being played, but those rules were not included in the final bill. USA Today/Army Times (12/27)

Service Section News

General wants to overhaul Air Force training methods
Gen. Edward Rice Jr., head of the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command, says he wants to change the way the service trains its roughly 300,000 students each year. The reforms Rice wants to implement include more individually tailored learning modules and an increased use of technology such as video teleconferencing. Air Force Times (free registration) (12/27)

Reserve Strength

Pa. governor works to prevent closure of 911th Airlift Wing
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is expected voice opposition today to the closure of the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon, which employs about 1,900 personnel, including reservists. Corbett has sent Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, commander of the state's National Guard, to Washington, D.C., to lobby against the move and has formed a commission to help advocate on behalf of military installations in the state. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12/28)

OMB: Agencies can't protect programs in sequester
If sequestration takes effect next week, the Defense Department won't be able to choose which programs will be cut, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget. Agencies have to apply the cuts at the "program, project and activity" level, which means the Pentagon would have little flexibility in protecting specific programs. Bloomberg Businessweek (12/27)

Reserve Life

Troops healthier than in previous generations, research indicates
U.S. troops are healthier today than they were in previous generations, suggests research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers compared autopsy results on troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan with autopsies of troops killed in Vietnam and Korea, and found significant decreases in the rate of atherosclerosis, a key measure of heart disease. Stars and Stripes (12/27)

Post-9/11 GI Bill cap to increase next year
Veterans receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will be able to receive up to $19,198 in aid for the 2013-14 academic year, a 6.2% increase over the current limit. Navy Times (12/27)

Other News

VA launches 3D mammogram services in Md.
American City Business Journals/Baltimore (12/28)

SmartQuote

If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."

--Socrates,
Greek philosopher

Subscriber Tools

Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy

Advertise

Associate Publisher: Jim Eubanks (202) 407-7822