Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn, said he has not seen any significant movement from the Libyan regime’s battered air forces, though he acknowledged that the Libyan fleet was already in poor shape even before coalition air and cruise missile strikes began last weekend. Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi “had a lot of equipment that was aged. Much of it was sitting parked on the runways and could not be used. He was, however, effectively employing a tactical air force . . . on the order of several dozen [helicopters],” said Locklear Tuesday from his command post aboard the USS Mount Whitney in the Mediterranean. He didn’t think Qaddafi’s remaining air assets would have any negative impact on the coalition. Locklear also said he continues to carefully monitor Qaddafi’s ground forces, especially the elite 32nd Brigade. (Locklear transcript)
Top Lawmakers Want 15 Percent Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops
April 19, 2024
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.