Col. Amy Holbeck will become the first female wing commander in Georgia Air's National Guard Sunday as she takes control of its 116th Air Control Wing. "I'm looking forward to serving the men and women of the 116th Air Control Wing and partnering with the men and women of the 461st Air Control Wing," says Holbeck.

The White House says it supports a larger US Navy fleet, but top officials say growing the fleet will require funding. "If you're going to grow the force by 25 to 30 percent, and we started at 275 [ships], you need to have a top line that matches that," said acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly.

A RAND Corp. study commissioned by the Air Force recommends the support of three launch providers, but is not critical of the current decision by the Air Force to select two launch providers in 2020. A third provider would help secure access to space as commercial capabilities expand.

Congress has prohibited the 16-year cap on service members transferring college tuition assistance benefits to dependents proposed by the Pentagon. "The Defense Department's plan to restrict our longest-serving service members from transferring those GI Bill benefits falls far short of honoring their sacrifice," says Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn.

The Army Recovery Care Program has named two members of the Fort Campbell Warrior Transition Battalion staff among the best of 2019. Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Mercedes was named top Platoon Sergeant and LaToya Myers was awarded in the HR category for their work caring for wounded, ill and injured soldiers and their families.

The Defense Department expanded its commissary shopping privileges to Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, veterans with service-connected disabilities and primary family caregivers of eligible veterans effective Jan. 1. Personnel who have become newly eligible for commissaries will also be able to use military facilities such as golf courses too.