Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Army is 'failing in its efforts to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment,' says Gen. Ray Odierno.
By Gen. Ray Odierno Army Chief of Staff Over the last twelve years of war, our Army has demonstrated exceptional competence, courage, and resiliency in adapting to the demands of war and accomplishing the mission. Today, however, the Army is failing in its efforts to combat sexual assault and sexual harassment. It is time we take on the fight against sexual assault and sexual harassment as our primary mission. It is up to every one of us, civilian and soldier, general officer to private, to solve this problem within our ranks. The Army is committed to the safety and security of every soldier, civilian, and family member. Our Army is based on a bedrock of trust -- the trust between soldiers and leaders that we will take care of each other. …
The United States continues to call on North Korean leaders to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations.
By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to call on North Korean leaders to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Monday. North Korea fired five short-range missiles in the past three days, and reporters asked Little if this is a North Korean return to the provocative behavior earlier this year. “We have noticed broadly that North Korea has ratcheted back its provocative actions in recent weeks, and its bellicose rhetoric,” Little said. “We hope that that is a trend they hope to follow.” The missile launches “could be construed” as provocative, Little said, although “these short-range missile launches do not necessarily …
Monday, May 20, 2013
All service members are required to take training on how to recognize and report human trafficking, says deputy defense secretary
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON -- In a meeting at the White House Friday of the president’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said sexual assault and human trafficking will be met with “absolutely no tolerance” in the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today. In a statement on the deputy secretary’s participation, Little said Carter joined Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett and other senior administration officials in …
Russia's delivery of anti-ship missiles to Syria 'will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering,' says the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 17, 2013 – Russia’s planned delivery of advanced anti-ship missiles and the S-300 air defense system to Syria “is at the very least an unfortunate decision that will embolden the regime and prolong the suffering,” said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey during a Pentagon news conference today. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff went on to call the decision “ill-timed and very unfortunate.” Dempsey, speaking alongside Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, said the United States continues to try to find a way for the United States and Russia to work together to end the Syrian civil war. “One of the primary reasons that Secretary of State John Kerry went to Moscow was to find some … …
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sexual assault in the military is a problem that all military members at all levels will have to fight together, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says.
By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON -- Sexual assault in the military is a crime and a problem that all military members at all levels will have to fight together, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday. Read more: “This is going to take all of us,” Hagel said during a joint Pentagon news conference with Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hagel noted he and Dempsey, along with the service secretaries and chiefs of staff, attended an, “important, productive” White House meeting yesterday with President Barack Obama to address the situation, which Dempsey has termed a “crisis.” The meeting was important, Hagel said, because “It gave the president an opportunity to ask questions …
The Defense Secretary says President Obama intends to renew efforts to close the prison facility.
By Amaani Lyle American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin E. Dempsey said Friday the United States has an ethical responsibility to assure the health and well-being of detainees at the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where some have been on a hunger strike for several months. “We have a responsibility, an ethical responsibility, to assure the health and well-being of every detainee and certainly we’re doing everything we can to do that,” Hagel said in response to a question during a Pentagon news conference. He added that President Barack Obama said last month he intends to renew efforts to try to close the facility. “We’re doing everything we can …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directs managers to prepare to furlough most Defense Department employees for up to 11 days between July and September.
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Wednesday, May 15
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Tuesday that he has signed a memorandum directing defense managers to prepare to furlough most Defense Department civilian employees for up to 11 days between July 8 and the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. Here is the text of the memo in its entirety: This memo directs defense managers to prepare to furlough most Department of Defense (DOD) civilians for up to 11 days. The schedule for furloughs, and some specific exceptions, are described later in this memo and in the attachment. I have made this decision very reluctantly, because I know that the furloughs will disrupt lives and impact DOD operations. I, along with the senior civilian and …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Deputy defense secretary congratulates Afghan president on progress of national security.
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Tuesday, May 14
By Claudette Roulo American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter met Monday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Afghanistan’s presidential palace. In a statement summarizing the meeting, Defense Department officials said Carter congratulated Karzai on the progress of the Afghan national security forces and expressed his admiration for their performance and professionalism. The progress they’ve made, he noted, is enabling them to take the lead in security in more 90 percent of the country. The deputy secretary also reiterated the strong U.S. partnership with Afghanistan and emphasized the continued U.S. commitment to support the Afghan forces into the future. Carter also continued his assessment …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter meets with senior U.S. and Afghan officials to praise them for their efforts on the transition to Afghan-led security.
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Monday, May 13
By Claudette Roulo American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with senior U.S. and Afghan officials Sunday to praise them for their efforts on the transition to Afghan-led security, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said. Carter spoke with Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, the Afghan minister of defense, and Ghulam Mujtaba Patang, the Afghan minister of the interior, at their respective ministries. Carter congratulated the ministers on the progress made by Afghan forces as they move toward taking the lead for security throughout Afghanistan, Little said. The deputy secretary and the ministers “pledged to continue to work together on a number of important issues, including the sustained …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The 200 wounded, injured and ill service members and veterans competing in this year’s Warrior Games are the best of the best, says the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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Sunday, May 12
By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON -- The 200 wounded, injured and ill service members and veterans competing in this year’s Warrior Games are the best of the best, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Saturday during the event’s opening ceremonies in Colorado Springs, Colo. Winnefeld called the games, comprising volleyball, wheelchair basketball, archery, swimming, cycling, shooting, track and field including discus and shot put events, the “highlight of the year” in his keynote remarks. The games run through May 16 at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic Training Center, both in Colorado Springs. “You're here because of your willingness to overcome great …
