In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Special Operations Forces have seen increased interest from allies and partner nations in Europe and the Pacific in learning techniques for “resistance” and information war in the event of a foreign occupation of their land, said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, the Army’s SOF commander. Braga described an uptick in requests for training and assistance in crafting what special operators call a “resistance operations concept”—i.e., a plan for how to fight from the inside after an invasion—in particular from allies and partners in the European and Indo-Pacific theaters.
The first two satellites of Amazon’s space-based internet constellation will launch in early 2023 on the maiden flight of a new rocket being developed by one of the Space Force’s biggest contractors. Amazon said it will hitch a ride on the new Vulcan rocket being developed by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
“Addressing the top national security challenges presented by China and Russia often boils down to protecting key networks and ensuring supply chains for critical defense capabilities. Limiting the loss of sensitive information, maintaining access to reliable electronic parts and critical minerals and protecting our network of satellites is fundamental to our most pressing national security missions. They are also all connected to a common challenge: tackling various forms of waste,” writes former U.S. Rep. Glen Nye, president and CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.
The first SpaceX Falcon Heavy flight in more than three years is set to take place at the end of October, carrying a national security mission for the Space Force. The mission is codenamed USSF-44 and has been delayed for two years due to issues with the payload. Those issues have now been resolved, with no further details provided.
The Army missed its recruiting goal by about 15,000 new Soldiers in 2022, coming up 25 percent short of its goal at a time when each of the services were struggling to meet their benchmarks. Military officials worry that all of the branches have had to reach deep into their pools of delayed entry applicants, a move that puts them behind in recruiting for the new year. Military recruiters have leaned on tried-and-true factors to explain the challenges, including low unemployment and a dearth of applicants up to physical, educational, and behavioral standards. But the truth is, no one keeps detailed data on what’s stopping America’s youth from signing up.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of the Air Force and the Republic of Korea Air Force signed a first-of-its-kind Terms of Reference document establishing a forum for the two nations to collaborate in the areas of land, air, and space weather. The signees, Brig. Gen. Charles B. McDaniel, U.S. Air Force director of Weather, and Col. Hwang Jae Don, ROKAF Weather Wing commander, committed to inform each other on key lines of effort and to identify specific areas where the two nations can build stronger partnerships.
Veterans Affairs officials are again delaying further deployment of their new electronic health records system amid ongoing issues with the new software, this time pushing back any new site rollouts until June 2023. In a message to the VA workforce, Undersecretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal said the delay is needed “to address challenges with the system and make sure it is functioning optimally for veterans and for VA health care personnel.”
Ukraine’s swift counter-offensive owes much to U.S. weapons, planning, and intelligence help. But the U.S. is benefitting as well: by learning how to move intelligence much faster from satellites to ground units. Part of the answer is planning: making sure satellites are available to gather data when and where commanders need it, said Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, the commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
The Chinese government accused Washington of “Cold War thinking” and appealed for efforts to repair strained relations after President Joe Biden released a National Security Strategy that calls for “out-competing China” and blocking its efforts to reshape global affairs. The foreign ministry also accused Washington of trade protectionism after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States would reinforce its global supply chains to guard against “geopolitical coercion” by China, Russia, and other governments.
Service members who win medals at the Olympics or Paralympics would be allowed to wear them in uniform, and all who compete in the quadrennial athletic competitions could get a special service ribbon under a plan advanced in the Senate. An amendment attached to the Senate's version of the annual defense policy bill would require the military departments to update uniform and insignia policies to add references to Olympic and Paralympic medals "where applicable."