Federal Watchdog: Reprisals Occurred Against Dover Whistleblowers

The US Office of Special Counsel found that three officials at the Air Force-run military mortuary at Dover AFB, Del., “retaliated against” four whistleblowers who warned of alleged wrongdoing in the handling of several fallen service members’ remains. “We expect...

Clapper: Global Threats Exceedingly Complex

The world of 2012 presents the United States with myriad security threats, perhaps to an unprecedented level, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Select Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. "Never has there been in my almost 49-year career in intelligence a more complex and interdependent array of challenges than what we face today," stated Clapper in testimony with leaders of the US intelligence community on their 2102 worldwide threat assessment. He continued, "Capabilities, technologies, know-how, communications, and environmental forces aren't confined by borders and can trigger transnational disruptions with astonishing speed, as we have seen." Clapper noted that "never before has the intelligence community been called upon to master such complexity on so many issues in such a resource-constrained environment." Among the discussion topics, Clapper told the committee that Iran "is certainly moving on [the] path" towards having a nuclear weapon. However, "we don't believe they've actually made the decision to go ahead with a nuclear weapon," he said. The cyber threat, including from state actors like China and Russia, "is one of the most challenging ones we face," said Clapper. (Clapper's prepared testimony)

Amphibious Exercise Helps Prepare for Anti-Access Fights

The Navy and Marine Corps this week kicked off Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest combined, joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise in a decade. A live and simulation-supported series of scenarios, the exercise will create a brigade-sized amphibious assault...

B-1 Adds Low-Collateral-Damage Bomb to Quiver

Members of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron said they successfully tested the compatibility of the BLU-129 low-collateral-damage bomb with the B-1 bomber at the Utah Test and Training Range. The BLU-129 is a 500-pound guided munition that features a...

Down to Bare Earth

Civil engineers will begin replacing the 13,197-foot runway at Minot AFB, N.D., later this year, launching the first phase of a $70 million project, according to base officials. “This will be the first time the runway has had a full-depth...

Kadena Airmen’s Work Towers Over Everything

Members of the 18th Communications Squadron’s cable and antenna systems shop at Kadena AB, Japan, have been replacing the base’s air-to-ground communication antenna towers since the beginning of the year. They are the Air Force’s largest such towers in Pacific...

Administrative Action Taken Against Airmen in Coffin Photo

A group of airmen received administrative action for a graduation photo from last August deemed inappropriate, announced service training overseers at Lackland AFB, Tex., a part of Joint Base San Antonio. Their “conduct brought discredit to both the military and...