US military members will get an average 3.5 percent increase in their basic allowance for housing pay, reports American Forces Information Service. The increase, which starts Jan. 1, will provide, on average, $44 more per month for servicemembers with families. The pay increase works out to $300 million more in 2007 than was paid in 2006.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.