ROA SmartBrief

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

February 13, 2013

News for Reservists

Top Story

Obama lays out plan for troop cuts in Afghanistan
President Barack Obama announced in his State of the Union speech Tuesday that he plans to withdraw 34,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan in the next year, which would leave about 32,000 troops in the region. The withdrawal plans align with recommendations made by Pentagon leaders, including Gen. John Allen, the former top commander in Afghanistan. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/12) , The Hill/DEFCON Hill blog (2/12)

In the Pentagon

Pentagon considers cuts in UAV programs
The Pentagon is considering cutting back programs for unmanned aerial vehicles. The Department of Defense spent nearly $4 billion on UAVs in the past fiscal year. "We are trying to do the analysis and engage in the discussion to say at some point the downturn in operations and the upsurge in capabilities has got to meet," said Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command. SeattlePI.com/The Associated Press (2/11)

On the Hill

Senate Democrats prepare bill to avert sequestration
Senate Democrats plan to introduce a bill by Thursday to avert sequestration, sources say. The bill would include spending cuts and tax increases to replace the across-the-board budget cuts for the Pentagon. Sequestration is scheduled to take effect March 1. The Hill/On The Money blog (2/11)

On the Home Front

Photo of child's salute gets national attention
A photo of 3-year-old Daniella Moen saluting at military ceremony is being shared across the Internet and has been featured on CNN and NBC. Daniella's father, Capt. Dan Moen, was participating in a deployment ceremony at Fort Drum in New York when the photo was taken. Watertown Daily Times (N.Y.) (2/12)

Service Section News

Marine Corps units might soon lack readiness, Amos says
More than half of Marine Corps units will lack sufficient readiness to deploy if military spending limits aren't increased, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos said Tuesday. A continuing resolution that limits defense spending has already forced the Marine Corps to reduce spending on equipment and training, Amos said. The Washington Times (2/12)

Deployments could become longer under sequestration
Soldiers who deploy this year to Afghanistan will have to stay longer than 12 months if sequestration takes effect next month, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Tuesday. The Army would not have a sufficient budget to train the soldiers that would replace those troops, Odierno said. Military.com (2/12)

Reserve Life

Veterans with PTSD get psychiatric meds not supported by guidelines
Researchers looking at the records of 356,958 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder found that the majority of them were given psychiatric drugs not supported by guidelines developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Data showed that 65.7% of veterans were given selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, while 37% and 25.6% were prescribed benzodiazepines and second-generation antipsychotic medications, respectively. The study appeared in the journal Psychiatric Services. United Press International (2/12)

SmartQuote

Several excuses are always less convincing than one."

--Aldous Huxley,
British author

Subscriber Tools

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

Advertise

Associate Publisher: Jim Eubanks (202) 407-7822