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October 31, 2012

News for Reservists

Top Story

Military takes stock, aids cleanup after Hurricane Sandy
Military forces including the National Guard are helping support cleanup efforts in 11 states while rebooting operations at military bases along the East Coast that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Damage at most bases was limited to downed power lines and debris, officials said. Stars and Stripes (10/30) , Air Force Times(free registration) (10/30)

In the Pentagon

U.S. intelligence spending drops for second straight year
U.S. spending on spy activities fell to $75.4 billion in the past year, as activity in Iraq and Afghanistan slows. It's the second straight year of decline in the intelligence budget, which is coming down from a post-9/11 peak. Bloomberg Businessweek (10/30)

Navy moving resources to Mideast, Pacific
Navy officials are working to expand operations in the Middle East and in the Asia-Pacific region with additional deployments of equipment and personnel, according to guidance from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert. The additions include patrol ships, warships and mine-sweeping crews. The Hill/DEFCON Hill blog (10/30)

On the Home Front

NYU course asks students to plan hypothetical terrorist attack
Law enforcement officials are criticizing a New York University class on transnational terrorism that asks students to plan a hypothetical attack against the U.S. The course is taught by a former Navy investigator and involves examining how an attack would be planned, manned, executed and responded to. The Huffington Post (10/30) , United Press International (10/29)

Service Section News

Reserve's top enlisted soldier takes new position
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Schultz will leave his post as the top enlisted soldier in the Army Reserve this week to take up a new position as the senior enlisted adviser to the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs. Schultz took over as the Army Reserve's 11th command sergeant major in March 2010. Army Times (10/30)

Air Force plans fewer but heavier cargo flights
The Air Force is carrying more cargo in fewer trips, a sign of both the winding down of activities in Iraq and "increased efficiencies," Air Force spokeswoman Capt. Kimberly Bender says. So far in 2012, the Air Force has flown fewer than 30,000 sorties, the lowest number since 2004, but it has carried about 4,000 tons more each quarter than a year ago. Defense News (10/30)

Marine Corps shifts focus from land to sea
The Marine Corps is looking to return to its "amphibious roots" as land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close, officials say. More Marines now serve on Navy ships than in Afghan combat zones. MarineCorpsTimes.com (10/30)

Reserve Strength

Defense Department examines mix of active, reserve forces
Two studies to be released separately by the Pentagon and a Defense Department advisory group will examine the costs and benefits of shifting the military's mix of reserve and active-duty forces. The reports are expected to stir up controversy because of the complexity of the calculations and the lack of consensus among military leaders over the best places to shift active-duty and reserve forces. Army Times Prime(subscription required) (10/30)

Reserve Life

Pentagon revives immigrant-recruitment program
The Pentagon reopened late last month a program that allows legal immigrants with special skills to enlist. Immigrants with foreign language and medical skills -- in particular dentists, surgeons and psychologists -- are among those eligible for the program. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/27)

SmartQuote

One need not be a chamber to be haunted, one need not be a house; the brain has corridors surpassing material place."

--Emily Dickinson,
American poet

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