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February 8, 2013

News for Reservists

Top Story

Congress to consider veteran status for reservist retirees
Legislation that would grant veteran status to reservist retirees who weren't called to active duty is set to be reintroduced this month. The legislation has twice been passed in the House before being stopped in the Senate. Stars and Stripes (2/7)

In the Pentagon

Pentagon supported plan to arm Syrian rebels
A plan backed by the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA to provide weapons to Syrian rebels was blocked last year by the White House, according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Panetta and Dempsey disclosed the information Thursday at a Senate hearing. The Wall Street Journal (2/7)

On the Hill

Lawmakers seek to fix glitch in reservist retirement pay calculations
Reservists who deploy overseas for at least 90 days are eligible for early retirement pay, but only if those 90 days fall within a single fiscal year. The system means that reservists whose deployments straddle multiple fiscal years lose out, says Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who is co-sponsoring a bill that would fix the glitch. Air Force Times (free registration) (2/7)

On the Home Front

Last American bayonet charge remembered
Veterans and active-duty service members at Osan Air Base in South Korea marked the anniversary Thursday of the last known American bayonet charge, which occurred in the Korean War at the Battle of Hill 180. "The significance of the event is to remember the last bayonet charge of this hill 62 years ago when then-Capt. Millett led a courageous bunch of kids up this hill to push back the enemy forces of the North Koreans and Chinese," said Shawn Watson, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post senior vice commander. Stars and Stripes (2/8)

Service Section News

Air Force expands Taser training for security forces
The Air Force is offering more training on the use of Tasers, which are replacing batons as the primary nonlethal weapon used by security forces on bases. Air Force Times (free registration) (2/7)

Reserve Strength

Pentagon to seek new round of BRAC, Panetta says
The Pentagon's 2014 budget request will include a proposal for a new round of base realignment and closure, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said this week. "You can't have a huge infrastructure supporting a reduced force," Panetta said. Stars and Stripes (2/7)

Reserve Life

VA should get $4.8B more funding in 2014, veterans groups say
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and AmVets are calling for an additional $4.8 billion to be added to the fiscal 2014 budget for health care, benefits administration and medical research at the VA, among other projects. The groups submitted their Independent Budget, which has the backing of 45 military, veterans and philanthropic groups, to Congress and the president this week. Army Times (2/6)

SmartQuote

If you want to make enemies, try to change something."

--Woodrow Wilson,
28th U.S. president

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