US military

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Marines to Be Court-Martialed for Hazing

Humiliated fellow Marine shot himself in Afghanistan

(Newser) - Three Marines accused of hazing a fellow Marine so harshly that he committed suicide are to be court-martialed, the Marine Corps says. Harry Lew, a 21-year-old from Hawaii, shot himself in a foxhole in Afghanistan earlier this year after he was allegedly attacked and humiliated by the trio. The three...

Marines: Let Us Wear Memorial KIA Bracelets

Troops frustrated at inconsistent ban

(Newser) - Lance Cpl. Glenn Payne used to wear a bracelet carrying the name of a close friend who was killed in action in Afghanistan—until he was ordered to take it off. Marine Corps policy sees such KIA bracelets as unauthorized jewelry, but the ban on them is enforced inconsistently—and...

'Kamikaze' Mini-Drones Added to US Arsenal

'Switchblade' drone can fit in a soldier's backpack

(Newser) - There's a new drone about to join the American military's arsenal—and it's a suicide bomber. The "Switchblade," small enough to be carried in a soldier's backpack, is designed to hover in the sky before flying itself into a human target and detonating a...

McChrystal: US View of Afghan War 'Frighteningly Simplistic'

Now we've only met half our goals, he says

(Newser) - After a decade of fighting in Afghanistan, the US and its NATO allies are only "a little better than" halfway to meeting their war goals, Gen. Stanley McChrystal warns. The former commander of coalition forces says the slow progress is largely due to the US not knowing what it...

Prince Harry in Calif. This Week for Training

'Capt. Wales' to be treated like any other pilot

(Newser) - Prince Harry will arrive in California this week but he won't be getting the red-carpet treatment his brother received earlier this year. The prince is coming to America for two months of helicopter gunship training at bases in California and Arizona, CNN reports. "He will be Captain Wales...

Just 1 in 3 Vets Say Iraq, Afghanistan Wars 'Worth It'

Another 1 in 3 disagree: Pew Research Center poll

(Newser) - Friday marks the 10th anniversary of the US invasion of Afghanistan; with an eye on the decade-long effort, the Pew Research Center asks veterans: Were the Afghanistan and Iraq wars worth it? Just 34% of post-Sept. 11 veterans say yes, while another 33% say no (Afghanistan is considered slightly more...

Discharged Gay Soldiers Suing for Full Severance

Fight over half-pay has outlived Don't Ask, Don't Tell

(Newser) - "Don't Ask Don't Tell" wasn't cold in its grave before Obama administration lawyers were in court opposing giving full severance pay to service members honorably discharged under the policy. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the case on behalf of 142 people discharged under the policy...

US Military Amputees Increase in Afghan War

Numbers are up as more go on foot patrols

(Newser) - A new Pentagon report has some rough stats, mostly from the Afghan war:
  • The number of troops who have had amputations rose from 86 in 2009 to 187 last year. The pace continues this year, with 147 so far.
  • The number of troops who lost two or three limbs rose
...

US Expanding African Drone Network

New bases to target Islamic militants, pirates

(Newser) - The Obama administration is creating an expanded network of drone bases in Africa, which officials say will help the US target Islamic militants in Somalia and Yemen. A new drone base is being built in Ethiopia, and the US is already deploying drones over Somalia and Yemen from its base...

Navy Officer, Partner Wed as 'Don't Ask' Ends

Pair marry in Vermont the minute policy becomes history

(Newser) - Navy Lt. Gary Ross, like every other gay and lesbian service member, was free to disclose his sexuality as of midnight—and he did it in style. The 33-year-old lieutenant and his partner of 11 years traveled from their home in Arizona to Vermont so they could marry as the...

Costly News: US Military's Equipment Is 'Geriatric'

Average F-15 is 25 years old

(Newser) - Precious few Americans drive cars manufactured in 1964—the same isn't true of the US Air Force. The average age of an Air Force plane ranges from 25 years for an F-15 to 47 years for refueling aircraft, the Wall Street Journal reports in a look at a pricey...

Meet &#39;America&#39;s Secret Army&#39;
 Meet 'America's Secret Army' 
Sep 2, 2011 5:04 PM CDT

Meet 'America's Secret Army'

JSOC has grown tenfold since 9/11: Washington Post

(Newser) - The super-secret Joint Special Operations Command first came to most people's attention when its members killed Osama bin Laden. The Washington Post provides new details on the group it calls "America's secret army" and its explosive growth in size and importance since 9/11. For one thing, JSOC...

A First: No US Deaths in Iraq in August

Iraqi crackdown, US strikes helped

(Newser) - As the US approaches its end-of-year deadline for withdrawing all troops from Iraq, August saw a milestone: It was the first month since the US-led invasion began in March 2003 that saw no American military deaths. The previous record was one soldier death in December 2010, and a military spokesperson...

Pentagon OKs Gay Military Magazine at Bases

OutServe will show up day DADT is repealed

(Newser) - The Pentagon will formally repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell on Sept. 20, and gay service members will be able to quickly read all about it. Defense officials have agreed to allow OutServe magazine, a new publication whose target audience is gay members of the military, to go on...

For US Forces in Afghanistan, August Deadliest Month Yet

Killing of 30 in helicopter spiked death toll

(Newser) - With 66 American troops killed in Afghanistan so far in August, this month has been the deadliest for US forces since the war began in 2001, reports the AP . Before this August, the deadliest month had been July 2010, when 65 US soldiers died. Nearly half of this month's...

Inside the Army's Rules for Twitter, Facebook

Guess what? A lot of them should be followed by the general public

(Newser) - The US Army has some rules for social media use—but even if you’re not a soldier, you might do well to adhere to some of those rules. From the Atlantic Wire :
  • On Facebook: DO “spell check every post prior to posting; the Army’s reputation is at
...

US Troops May Stay in Afghanistan Until 2024

Telegraph : Deal would keep 'thousands'

(Newser) - The US already has spent a decade fighting in Afghanistan, and the Telegraph suggests it might spend a decade or so more. The British paper reports that US and Afghan officials are close to a deal that would keep "thousands" of US troops in the country until 2024—not...

Pentagon Eyes Huge Military Retirement Overhaul

Switching to 401(K)-style plan could save $250B

(Newser) - The Pentagon is considering a major overhaul of the military pension system that would save $250 billion over 20 years. Under the proposal, the system in which service members can retire after 20 years with half their salary would be replaced by a 401(K)-style plan, CBS reports. Service members would...

Cheating Rampant in Navy's Submarine Crews: Report

Commander, tenth of USS Memphis crew fired

(Newser) - The Navy discovered cheating so widespread among one of its nuclear submarine crews that it fired the commander of the USS Memphis and 10% of its crew, according to a report obtained by the AP . Sailors were emailed the answers before qualification exams and openly asked their officers for answer...

Obama Visits Dover to Salute Fallen SEALs

He will meet privately with troops' families today

(Newser) - President Obama made an unannounced visit to Dover Air Force Base today to be on hand as the coffins of 30 US troops were carried off a plane, reports USA Today . The ceremony was closed to the press. The troops, many of them members of an elite Navy SEALS unit,...

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