Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday began a 10-day trip to Hawaii, Singapore, Vietnam, and India—his second to the Asia-Pacific region since April. While in Hawaii, Carter will attend change-of-command ceremonies for US Pacific Command and US Pacific Fleet, said Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren in a May 27 DOD release. He will then travel to Asia “where he will emphasize a regional approach to maritime security, build relationships with key partners, and seek out new areas of defense cooperation, all as part of the ‘next phase of the rebalance,’” states the report. Carter will visit “critical security areas” and partner militaries before meeting with government officials “to advance bilateral relationships,” states the report.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.