Defense authorizers are poised to toss out the effort to elevate the stature of the chief of the National Guard Bureau and to weaken state control, leaving the Senate’s National Guard Caucus and other Guard advocates incensed. Sen. Kit Bond...

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico told attendees at this week’s National Guard Association of the United States conference that he speaks for all governors when he calls the Congressional move to allow the President to summon the Guard without...

Another issue stirring controversy and—according to the New York Times—delaying action on the 2007 defense authorization bill centers on religion in the military. Proponents of a House provision want military chaplains to be able to pray in their own fashion,...

The head of the National Guard Bureau, Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Blum, says that the National Guard provides “real, critically needed skills and real capabilities, not just some PowerPoint slide promises.” Blum, who was speaking at the National Guard Association...

House and Senate conferees working on the 2007 defense authorization bill have agreed to include money for the Army-Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft program, reports the Congressional newspaper The Hill. The Senate had voted to cut the funds, sparking dismay...

Army Gen. John Abizaid, US Central Command commander, says there are three weapons moving into Iraq that give him cause for concern. Speaking with defense reporters in Washington Tuesday, the commander said he is seeing brand new Chinese-manufactured rockets that...

Al-Anbar province in Iraq is a problem and will have to be dealt with over time, says Army Gen. John Abizaid. The CENTCOM chief told reporters Tuesday that securing Baghdad is still the coalition’s priority, despite the growing difficulty of...

An Air Force accident investigation board has decided that pilot error led to the crash of a B-1B bomber on May 8 at a forward deployed location. According to an Air Combat Command release, the pilot and co-pilot each thought...

According to CENTCOM boss, Army Gen. John Abizaid, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan killed up to 500 enemy fighters during Operation Medusa, the two-week offensive in Southern Afghanistan that ISAF officials called a “significant success.” Abizaid told defense...

Troops flying into Southwest Asia are met with calls for volunteers to assist the scarce aerial porters of the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron in unloading baggage. The 8th EAMS calls it a simple necessity to handle the flow of...

The Air Force and Boeing are on the verge of inking a launch services deal, while the Federal Trade Commission could signal approval of the proposed Boeing-Lockheed Martin launch services merger within a couple of weeks, reports Reuters news service....

Air Mobility Command has issued contracts totaling more than $2.3 billion to 11 airlines and teams to provide airlift services during Fiscal 2007 under the Air Force’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet program. These 11 CRAF contractors have committed to support...

Sept. 18, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 13 4 17 CAS/Armed Recon 38 62 100 Airlift 180 180 Air refueling 42 42 Total 51 66 222 339 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance