Army Gen. William Ward, deputy commander of US European Command, told defense reporters in Washington Friday that the Secretary of Defense had proposed to President Bush an alteration for the Unified Command Plan that “would look at Africa in a different way.” He emphasized the need to establish a “horizon of hope” within an increasingly unstable Africa, which under the current UCP falls under the umbrella of three commands: EUCOM, US Central Command, and US Pacific Command. Asked specifically about the terrorist group GSPC, Ward acknowledged the group is operating in Northern Africa and poses a threat to Europe. Creating a separate command for Africa has been debated for years, but it’s only within the past year that the Pentagon, working with other federal agencies, has begun a concerted planning effort. Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in December that he expected to see an Africa Command within two months. Ward would not hazard a timetable.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
