US Firms Celebrate: $7.5B Foreign Military Sales
It was a happy Independence Day for American defense companies, with news approval of almost $7.5 billion in potential foreign military sales approved by the State Dept to five different countries announced Monday.
Hike in Hazardous Duty Pay Proposed
A proposal in the House NDAA would give servicemembers a 10% increase in hazardous duty pay next year. The proposal has the potential to add up to $300 a year in extra pay for tens of thousands of troops stationed in imminent danger areas or performing dangerous jobs like flight deck duty or demolitions work.
Task Force to Study Racism in the Navy
The US Navy has created Task Force One Navy, a group that will seek to “address the issues of racism, sexism and other destructive biases and their impact on naval readiness.”
More Contractors Than Troops Fight and Die in the Middle East
Since 2001, an estimated 8,000 military contractors for US companies have died on duty in the Middle East. That figure is 1,000 more than US troops who have been killed. About 53,000 US contractors were in the Middle East last year, compared with 35,000.
Sahara Dust Plume Due in MD on Sunday
The Sahara dust plume is was 5,000 miles long by the end of June. The swirling dust headed toward the United States off the Sahara Desert is expected to move into the southern Mid-Atlantic and sections of the Carolinas toward the end of the weekend. NASA imaging shows another dust plume now off the coast of Africa and following the same path.
Coronavirus Cases Spike Among Troops
The downward trend of COVID-19 cases among DoD-affiliated personnel has ended. Cases spiked 18% over the previous week among all employees and 20% among troops.
Weekend Intercept 6th Time This Month for US Fighters
US aircraft scrambled on Saturday to intercept four Russian reconnaissance jets off Alaska. The intercept was the sixth time US fighters have intercepted Russian military aircraft near Alaska this month and the 10th time this year.
More Top Pentagon Officials Resign
Mike Griffin, who became the DoD’s first undersecretary of research and engineering in early 2018, and his deputy Lisa Porter have resigned. Of 60 Pentagon positions requiring Senate confirmation, only 43 are currently occupied.
Protocols Reduce Hypoxia – But No Clear Cause
The Navy has substantially reduced hypoxic-like events in its fighters and trainers through implementation of new protocols and techniques. After spending $50 million and producing 8,000 pages of technical documentation, no single reason can be identified as the cause of hypoxia-like events.
New NAVSEA Commander Takes Helm
VADM Bill Galinis took over command of Naval Sea Systems Command last week. He relieves VADM Thomas Moore, who is retiring after 39 years in the service.
