Pentagon

• Congress asks Gates to halt terminations

  \"Our immediate concern is that the Defense Department will take precipitous action in the near term that would undercut Congress\' ability to pass judgment on the recommendations,\" according to the letter obtained by National Journal Daily.

  Federal Drive

  January 26, 2011
• 16 agencies sign on to help military families

  Caring for the families of military personnel requires a coordinated approach across the federal government, President Obama said Monday. He said agencies have made 50 separate commitments to coordinate programs designed to assist the loved ones of servicemembers.

  Budget

  January 25, 2011
• Chinese make stealthy move

  Was Chinese Premiers Hu Jintao in the dark on their stealth fighter? Earlier this month during a visit from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a very public demonstration of the plane took place and Mr. Hu appeared to be unaware of it. But was he? Some military officials have raised the specter of a divide between the Hu and military, but observers suggest that it was probably a part of an orchestrated power play --complete with plausible deniability for the Chinese leader considering the big meeting with President Obama was coming up.

  Defense

  January 21, 2011
• Army suicides drop and rise

  For the first time in seven years suicides among active duty soldiers dropped, but according to the Army the dip was supplanted by a stark rise in suicides in the National Guard and Reserve ranks. The Associated Press reports Army Vice Chiefof Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said those victims, \"are often geographically separated, removed from the support network provided by military installations.\" Chiarelli said. \"They lack the ready camaraderie of fellow soldiers and the daily oversight and hands-on assistance from members of the chain of command.

  Defense

  January 21, 2011
• Quake Hit Pakistan

  How will a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Pakistan impact the Afghan war? A U.S. military outpost in Afghanistan is very close to the epicenter of the quake, but there have been no reports of significant damage. A Pakistani government spokesman said there was minimal loss of life and property damage. Considering that many insurgents hide in the mountains around the area where the quake took place, NATO coalition troops are watching the situation to see if any movement or changes in behavior by the militants result from the quake.

  Defense

  January 21, 2011
• GAO tabulates costs of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

  A government analysis says that discharging gay service members cost the Pentagon nearly $200 million from 2004 to 2009. The money went mainly to recruit and train replacements.

  Federal Drive

  January 21, 2011
• Some Senior Mentors quit over disclosure rules

  Seven retired admirals and generals are going to leave their jobs as military consultants.

  Federal Drive

  January 20, 2011
• Plug pulled on border fence

  Obama administration is going to shut down problematic \"virtual fence\" designed to guard parts of the U.S. border with Mexico. The project, being run by Boeing Co involving video cameras, radar, sensors and other technologies was supposed to catch smugglers trying to cross the porous border. Bennie Thompson, the senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee said, \"The SBInet program has been a grave and expensive disappointment since its inception.\"

  Defense

  January 17, 2011
• Trouble in West Africa

  The Ivory coast is in serious turmoil. Forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo began attacking and burning U.N. vehicles in yesterday as tensions rise between Gbagbo and those who say he lost the election to Alassane Ouattra. The United Nations says Ouattara won the vote, but Gbagbo, who came to power in 2000, has rejected the U.N.-certified tally. There are reports of atrocities. A U.N. human rights officials says there are reports of mass graves around the capital of Abidjan.

  Defense

  January 17, 2011
• Pentagon involved in Giffords’ treatment

  The U.S military is playing a significant role in the treatment of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Dr. James Eklund, a retired Army Colonel who served in Iraq, one the most experienced with penetrating trauma in the U.S. Col. Geoffrey Ling, currently on active duty and acting chair of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, were sent the Tucson to help out. They have developed extraordinary expertise in treating some the most difficult and delicate trauma cases.

  Defense

  January 17, 2011
• USMC Commandant glad EFV is gone

  About 80 percent of the Corps\' tactical vehicle budget would have gone to the costly program.

  Federal Drive

  January 14, 2011
• Defense cost tools to be required Feb. 1st

  Defense Department employees have only a few weeks to get themselves familiar with a set of online tools designed to estimate the costs.

  Federal Drive

  January 11, 2011
• Mullen calls for military self-examination

  The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said now is the time to step back, assess the impact of 10 years of war and ensure the institution remains on course.

  Federal Drive

  January 11, 2011
• Defense to spend more on intelligence

  A planned reorganization of military intelligence will mean a boost in purchases of certain aircraft.

  Federal Drive

  January 10, 2011