Essex ARG, 13th MEU Conclude at—Sea Search for Missing Marine
AT SEA (NNS) -- After a deliberate, five-day search, the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) concluded their search and rescue operation for a missing Marine, Aug. 13. The Marine was reported missing and assumed overboard Aug. 9. At that time the ship was conducting routine operations in the Sulu Sea. Over the course of [...]
Defeat-ISIS Forces Make Progress, Require Continued Coalition Support
WASHINGTON -- Forces battling the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria continue to make progress. However, the environment in Iraq and Syria is complex and the defeat-ISIS forces require continued support, coalition officials said today. Army Col. Sean Ryan, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, spoke to Pentagon reporters about progress being made against the Islamic State of Iraq and [...]
Mattis Seeks to Deepen Relations with South American Partners
WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said the United States is seeking to deepen relations with hemispheric partners. The secretary told students at the Brazilian War College in Rio de Janeiro that the United States “will earn your trust daily. We want to be your partner; especially if trouble looms.” This is Mattis’s first visit to the region as [...]
President Trump Signs Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- President Donald J. Trump signed the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act at a ceremony at Fort Drum, New York, Aug. 13. The act – named for Arizona Sen. John S. McCain – authorizes a 2.6 percent military pay raise and increases the active duty forces by 15,600 service members. “With this new authorization, we will [...]
Thousands of Guardsmen Battle Western U.S. Wildfires
WASHINGTON -- Calling up the soldiers and airmen of the National Guard has become an unfortunate ritual of summer. Wildfires through the Western United States -- especially in California -- started earlier than normal this year and expanded faster than in past years. Thousands of airmen and soldiers of the Guard responded. These service members are helping firefighters and police [...]
Laboratory Technicians Examine Enemy Weaponry
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Most soldiers do not think much about what happens to improvised explosive devices once they are found and disarmed by friendly forces. Some may believe that IEDs are taken somewhere in a controlled environment to be safely detonated or disposed of properly. Sometimes properly disposing of IEDs is the only thing to do. However, most times, [...]
Troops Hone Warfighting Capabilities, Interoperability at Noble Partner 18
VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Georgia -- Anyone who’s ever played a game of chess knows what it takes to win a match: patience, concentration and a bit of foresight. Knowing the pieces’ capabilities and limitations for maximum effectiveness is crucial to checkmate the opponent’s king. Simply put, it takes skill. Skill is exactly what soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment [...]
Chinese rocket maker OneSpace secures $44m in funding; Expace prepares for commercial launch
HELSINKI — Chinese private launch vehicle maker OneSpace has secured $43.6 million in Series B financing as the company looks to its first orbital launch near the end of 2018. The financing was led by CICC Jiatai Equity Fund, followed by FinTrek Capital, with China Merchants Venture Capital, Qianhai Wande Fund and Qianhai Wutong M&A Fund also increasing their investment [...]
Face of Defense: Airman Continues Family’s Commitment to Service
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. -- After high school, Air Force Staff Sgt. Psalmbrea Noel Doss wanted to move away from Washington state in search of new experiences and a college education. After a year in North Carolina, Doss knew she wanted to join the military but wanted to be able to stay in the Pacific Northwest. She loved Washington and had [...]
Exos Aerospace reschedules first suborbital launch
GENOA, Nev. — Exos Aerospace, a Texas company developing a reusable suborbital rocket, now plans to carry out a first flight of its vehicle in late August as it sets its sights on a follow-on orbital vehicle. In a statement, the company said it’s planning a launch of its Suborbital Autonomous Rocket with GuidancE, or SARGE, rocket Aug. 25 from [...]
Mattis Thanks Brazilian Officials for Leadership in Defense Cooperation
WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis met with Brazil’s defense leaders today in Brasilia to reaffirm the defense relationship between the United States and Brazil, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White said. In a statement summarizing the meeting, White said the secretary met with Defense Minister Joaquim Silva e Luna, Adm. Ademir Sobrinho, chief of Brazil’s joint staff, and [...]
Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' meeting with Brazil Minister of Defense Silva e Luna, Chief of Joint Staff Adm. Ademir Sobrinho and the Brazilian service chiefs
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout:Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Brazil Minister of Defense Silva e Luna, Chief of the Joint Staff Adm. Ademir Sobrinho, and the Brazilian Service Chiefs Aug. 13 at the Ministerio da Defesa in Brasilia to reaffirm the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Brazil.The [...]
Military OneSource Benefits Extended to Vets, Families for Full Year After Separation
WASHINGTON -- Eligibility for Military OneSource benefits has been extended from the current 180 days to 365 days after separation or retirement from military service to ensure all service members and families have access to comprehensive support as they transition to civilian life, Defense Department officials announced today. This change goes into effect immediately, in accordance with the John S. [...]
President Signs Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Act at Fort Drum Ceremony
WASHINGTON -- President Donald J. Trump today signed the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act at a ceremony at Fort Drum, New York. The act – named for Arizona Sen. John S. McCain – authorizes a 2.6 percent military pay raise and increases the active duty forces by 15,600 service members. “With this new authorization, we will increase [...]
Military OneSource Is Now Available to Veterans and their Families for a Full Year After Separating from the Military
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C., (Aug. 13, 2018) —The Department of Defense announced today it will extend eligibility for Military OneSource benefits from the current 180 days to 365 days after separation or retirement from military service to ensure all service members and families have access to comprehensive support as they transition to civilian life. This change goes into effect today [...]