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March 14, 2013

News for Reservists

Top Story

Air Force will continue operating Pa. Reserve base
The 911th Airlift Wing in Pennsylvania will continue operating at least through September 2014, the Air Force announced Wednesday. Eight C-130s originally slated to be cut will remain at the base. "We're going to spend the next two years to make the base stronger and so appealing to the Air Force that officials wouldn't even want to consider closing the 911th ever again," said U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (3/13) , Air Force Times (free registration) (3/13)

In the Pentagon

Drawdown in southern Afghanistan will be slow, commander says
A "gentle reduction" in U.S. artillery and air support is expected in southern Afghanistan, according to Army Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams. The military will also reduce the number of teams training and advising the Afghan National Security Forces throughout the country. Critical operations will remain in place. "We're not going to thin out our ability to conduct transportation operations," Abrams said. The Hill/DEFCON Hill blog (3/13)

Southern Afghan villages rebel against Taliban
Villagers in southern Afghanistan have staged an uprising against Taliban fighters in the region, driving them out of all but about four villages. "This is absolutely the first time that we have seen this sort of an uprising," said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Abrams. The uprising began about a month ago. The Associated Press (3/13)

On the Hill

Democrats propose cuts, tax increases to chop sequester
Senate Democrats have put forward a budget that would cut the Defense Department's sequestration hit in half by raising revenue through corporate tax increases and spending cuts. The measure, which Republicans criticize for the revenue increases, would leave the Pentagon with about $240 billion in cuts, instead of the $500 billion called for under sequestration. Defense News (3/13)

Reserve Life

CEOs need to hire more veterans, Michelle Obama says
First lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday told the Business Roundtable, which represents the CEOs of the 200 largest U.S. companies, that executives need to do more to hire veterans. "Think outside the box, take real risks and work together to make big, bold commitments to hire our veterans and military spouses," she said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press (3/13)

Former VA doctor says department manipulated health data
A former Veterans Affairs Department researcher told Congress on Wednesday that the VA had suppressed or manipulated information that would have supported veterans' claims of having contracted illnesses from "burn pits" and other forms of environmental pollution in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. The researcher also accused the VA of doing a poor job following up with veterans who had expressed suicidal thoughts. Air Force Times (free registration) (3/13) , Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (3/13)

ROA News

ROA helps save 911th Airlift Wing
With the 911th Airlift Wing safe from the chopping block, ROA is celebrating a major legislative victory. Through a tireless campaign to correct a series of misstatements and inaccurate information, local ROA members in Pennsylvania's western region effectively armed their congressional delegation with the numbers and knowledge they needed to take a stand against the closure of one of the most efficient, skilled and mission-ready airlift units in the country. "Today's announcement is a great victory for the Pittsburgh Reserve community," said ROA's executive director, Maj. Gen. Andrew Davis, USMC (Ret). Read more.

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