A US service member died of “suspected natural causes” on March 29 in Syria, US Central Command announced Wednesday. The name and service of the military member was not released, and there was no other information provided in a CENTCOM release. The US has deployed hundreds of troops to Syria to help allied forces in their advance against ISIS. The death is the second announced by the Pentagon, following the November death of Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
