DOD has launched the 14-member—seven military, seven external—taskforce that Congress mandated in the Fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill should contemplate the future of military healthcare. The Pentagon recently stated that it would be revamping medical operations but not creating a single medical command. Congress has charged this task force primarily with focusing on the matter of rising health care costs, having successfully fought off—this year—the Administration bid to raise Tricare premiums for military retirees. (The list of task force members is in this news release.)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
