Gen. Martin Dempsey on Monday became Army Chief of Staff, succeeding Gen. George Casey. “Whatever challenges confront us in the future, your Army will respond with the same courage and resolve with which it has responded over the past 235 years,” said Dempsey at his assumption-of-command ceremony at Fort Myer, Va. Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised Dempsey at the event for his “keen mind, strategic vision, quiet confidence, and the energy he brings to every assignment.” Dempsey comes to the Army Chief post from Army Training and Doctrine Command, which he led since December 2008. Prior to that, he was US Central Command’s deputy commander and then acting commander for six months after Navy Adm. William Fallon resigned in March 2008. Casey, who had been Army Chief since April 2007, is retiring after more than 40 years in uniform. (AFPS report by Jim Garamone)
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.