Quantcast

Pentagon concerns halt planned Army MWR cuts
The Grafenwoehr Performing Arts Center cast of ''Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'' performs the song ''Oklahoma!'' during the Installation Management Command Europe Tournament of Plays Toppers awards ceremony in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Some Army community theaters across Europe were facing imminent closure due to proposed Army MWR cuts, but some of their futures still hang in the balance, while the Army reviews its planned cuts following concerns raised by the Pentagon. The theater at Grafenwoehr has been authorized to continue its program for the time being, according to a post this week on the theater’s Facebook page.<br>Michael B. Keller/Stars and Stripes

Steep reductions to Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs that were to begin next week are on hold, pending a top-level review prompted by a Pentagon official’s concern that the funding cuts may be too deep.

U.S. Army special forces and their NATO counterparts conduct an air assault on a small compound during Brave Warrior 2016 at Bakony Combat Training Center, Hungary, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016.<br>Jennifer Bunn/U.S. Army

Exercise Brave Warrior 16 ends with a bang in Hungary

U.S. cavalrymen fired anti-tank missiles during a show of power Thursday, marking the end of a war game in Hungary that serves as the latest signal of the Army’s increased focus on southeastern Europe.

Soldiers run during a physical-fitness test as part of the Army's 2016 Best Warrior Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., Sept. 26, 2016. Diagnoses of overweight and obese servicemembers rose 73 percent over five years across all age groups, according to the Defense Health Agency's latest monthly report.<br>Jada Owens/U.S. Army

Overweight, obesity diagnoses on the rise in military

Diagnoses of overweight and obese servicemembers rose 73 percent over five years across all age groups, according to the Defense Health Agency’s latest monthly report.

A screen shows the live broadcast of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar during a signing ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. <br>Rahmat Gul/Associated Press

Afghan president signs peace accord with reviled warlord

President Ashraf Ghani signed a peace agreement Thursday morning with insurgent leader — and U.S.-designated “global terrorist” — Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, founder of the militant group Hezb-e-Islami.

featured

more top headlines

A regularly scheduled water sample conducted by Installation Management Command in Wiesbaden, Germany, showed that the water from five sinks and drinking fountains in Child, Youth and School Services buildings on Clay Kaserne contained unsafe levels of lead. IMCOM said the faucets and drinking fountains have been replaced, or are awaiting replacement, and will be retested.<br>Stars and Stripes

Lead in water at Wiesbaden base being addressed

Five faucets at youth service buildings on Clay Kaserne have been replaced or will be replaced after drinking water from them tested positive for elevated lead levels during a routine examination by Installation Management Command Europe.

in case you missed it...

see more

veterans

Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald speaks to the crowd during the launch of the Hidden Heroes campaign for military caregivers. Hidden Heroes is a groundbreaking campaign created by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to call attention to the countries 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers.<br>Ken-Yon Hardy/Stars and Stripes

MILITARY UPDATE

VA chief sees Congress letting politics slow vet reforms

In an hourlong interview in his office overlooking the White House, VA Secretary Bob McDonald expands on the surprisingly sharp critique of Congress he delivered a week earlier while testifying on recommendations of the congressionally chartered Commission on Care.

u.s.
europe
mideast
pacific
africa
see more
Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes file photo

Gates warns against US isolationism

America needs only look to the rise of the Nazis after World War I and more recently the collapse of Syria to know what happens when a war-weary country retreats into isolation, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said on Wednesday.

Travelers board the Patriot Express rotator at Aviano Air Base, Italy, on Sept. 28, 2016. Beginning Oct. 1, 2016, the Patriot Express rotator mission will no longer be available into and out of Aviano Air Base.<br>R.J. Biermann/U.S. Air Force

Patriot Express flights from Aviano to Germany cut for fiscal 2017

A weekly chartered passenger flight from Aviano Air Base to Germany for onward flights to the United States has been canceled, the base announced this week.

This frame from surveillance video released by New Jersey State Police shows Ahmad Khan Rahami on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Rahami is a suspect in the bombings that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of New York and the New Jersey shore town Seaside Park over the weekend.<br>New Jersey State Police via AP

NY/NJ bombing suspect’s relatives detained in Afghanistan

The Afghan government has detained three relatives of the Afghan-American man accused of detonating bombs in New York and New Jersey as part of an investigation into the incident, an Afghan official said Thursday.

Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference in May 2016.<br>Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg

Top Philippine diplomat assures US after Duterte's remarks about maritime drills

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the president’s remarks referred just to ending joint military patrols in the disputed South China Sea. He said Duterte and the Philippines continue to respect all treaty arrangements and commitments with the U.S.

Amnesty alleges Sudan army used chemical weapons in Darfur

Darfur has been gripped by bloodshed since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination and neglect.

theaters

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes file photo

Gates warns against US isolationism

America needs only look to the rise of the Nazis after World War I and more recently the collapse of Syria to know what happens when a war-weary country retreats into isolation, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said on Wednesday.

Travelers board the Patriot Express rotator at Aviano Air Base, Italy, on Sept. 28, 2016. Beginning Oct. 1, 2016, the Patriot Express rotator mission will no longer be available into and out of Aviano Air Base.<br>R.J. Biermann/U.S. Air Force

Patriot Express flights from Aviano to Germany cut for fiscal 2017

A weekly chartered passenger flight from Aviano Air Base to Germany for onward flights to the United States has been canceled, the base announced this week.

This frame from surveillance video released by New Jersey State Police shows Ahmad Khan Rahami on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. Rahami is a suspect in the bombings that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of New York and the New Jersey shore town Seaside Park over the weekend.<br>New Jersey State Police via AP

NY/NJ bombing suspect’s relatives detained in Afghanistan

The Afghan government has detained three relatives of the Afghan-American man accused of detonating bombs in New York and New Jersey as part of an investigation into the incident, an Afghan official said Thursday.

Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a news conference in May 2016.<br>Veejay Villafranca/Bloomberg

Top Philippine diplomat assures US after Duterte's remarks about maritime drills

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said the president’s remarks referred just to ending joint military patrols in the disputed South China Sea. He said Duterte and the Philippines continue to respect all treaty arrangements and commitments with the U.S.

Amnesty alleges Sudan army used chemical weapons in Darfur

Darfur has been gripped by bloodshed since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the government in Khartoum, accusing it of discrimination and neglect.

air force
marine corps
army
navy
coast guard
see more
An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft on display at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's Heritage Park.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's future coming into focus under new commander

Preparing Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for a future that may soon begin to come into focus is the top priority of its new commander.

Raheel Siddiqui, 20, died at the Marine Corps recruit depot at Parris Island, S.C., while in initial training.<br>Courtesy of the Siddiqui family

USMC: Siddiqui's death didn't stop hazing, recruit abuse in his platoon

According to a copy of a Marine Corps investigation, Raheel Siddiqui's training platoon at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island continued to be plagued by a troubling “command philosophy.”

US Army Reserve and Active Guard sergeant first class promotion list for FY 2016

The U.S. Army has released a list of Army Reserve and Active Guard staff sergeants who have been selected for promotion to the rank of sergeant first class for Fiscal Year 2016

Ghosts, goblins and beer at USS Salem

The Ghost Ship Harbor team has agreed to donate at least $40,000 of the proceeds to the U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Museum.

Coast Guard gets Hawaii help hearing distress call from sinking sailboat

Two men rescued from a sailboat in the Gulf of Alaska Wednesday may owe their lives to a mariner off Hawaii, who heard an initial distress call when Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard members couldn't.

military branches

An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft on display at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's Heritage Park.<br>Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's future coming into focus under new commander

Preparing Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for a future that may soon begin to come into focus is the top priority of its new commander.

Raheel Siddiqui, 20, died at the Marine Corps recruit depot at Parris Island, S.C., while in initial training.<br>Courtesy of the Siddiqui family

USMC: Siddiqui's death didn't stop hazing, recruit abuse in his platoon

According to a copy of a Marine Corps investigation, Raheel Siddiqui's training platoon at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island continued to be plagued by a troubling “command philosophy.”

US Army Reserve and Active Guard sergeant first class promotion list for FY 2016

The U.S. Army has released a list of Army Reserve and Active Guard staff sergeants who have been selected for promotion to the rank of sergeant first class for Fiscal Year 2016

Ghosts, goblins and beer at USS Salem

The Ghost Ship Harbor team has agreed to donate at least $40,000 of the proceeds to the U.S. Naval Shipbuilding Museum.

Coast Guard gets Hawaii help hearing distress call from sinking sailboat

Two men rescued from a sailboat in the Gulf of Alaska Wednesday may owe their lives to a mariner off Hawaii, who heard an initial distress call when Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard members couldn't.

sports

A sellout crowd cheers on the kickoff at the Florida State vs. Ole Miss football game at Camping World Stadium, in Orlando, Florida on September 5, 2016. <br>Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel/TNS

ACC moves football championship game from North Carolina to Florida

The announcement comes two weeks after the ACC decided to pull all neutral-site championships out of North Carolina for the 2016-17 academic year in protest of the state's controversial "Bathroom Bill," or House Bill 2.