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October 14, 2021

 

Marine officer pleads guilty to disrespecting senior officials, says his life spiraled down after posting viral videos Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, testified that he knew he was defying orders and that his life began "spiraling" after he posted his first video in August. He said his wife left him, fellow Marine officers turned their backs on him and the Marine Corps opened an investigation into his actions. READ MORE

Navy announces discharge details for coronavirus vaccine refusers Active-duty sailors who are not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus after Nov. 28 without a pending or approved exemption request will be forced out of the Navy for failing to obey a lawful order, according to the statement. For Navy Reserve sailors, the deadline is Dec. 28. READ MORE

Americans to broaden footprint in Greece under revised defense agreement The United States will gain greater access to Greek military bases under an updated defense cooperation deal between the countries, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday as he called Greece “a pillar of stability in the region.” READ MORE   For the first time in a century, visitors may walk along the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza  For the first time in a century, visitors may walk along the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza, an honor typically reserved for soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Arlington National Cemetery announced Thursday.  READ MORE   VA will hire 2,000 new staffers as it seeks to cut back on increasing backlog of claims VA officials hope the new hires will help them slow the backlog which they expected to grow from about 204,000 overdue claims at the end of September to some 260,000 by the end of October, according to a VA statement. READ MORE

Marine Corps finds no evidence contaminated water in Okinawa town flowed from nearby base The Marine Corps said it was unable to find the source of toxins reportedly discovered last year in the drinking water of a community adjacent to a Marine base on Okinawa, according to a statement. READ MORE   South Korean officials launch last-ditch effort with US to formally end Korean War South Korean government officials confirmed they were holding discussions with the United States about formally ending the Korean War. READ MORE   Defense experts put forward three responses to Chinese exercises targeting Taiwan A trio of military affairs analysts disagree on the best U.S. response to a recent Chinese military exercise that appeared to be a dress rehearsal for an invasion of Taiwan. READ MORE   Quad nations join for second phase of Malabar naval exercise off India’s coast Naval forces from the United States, India, Australia and Japan kicked off the second phase of Exercise Malabar in the Bay of Bengal this week with an armada led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. READ MORE   Idaho senator wishes Navy a happy birthday with photo of Chinese-made warship Sen. James Risch, an Idaho Republican, sits on the Select Committee on Intelligence and is the ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations. READ MORE   Americans vanquished, China triumphant: 2021′s hit war epic doesn’t fit Hollywood script In a climate of ascendant nationalism tinged with anti-American sentiment, it’s easy to see why “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” better known to Americans as the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, is a hit in China. The film has capitalized on demand for gory action movies that celebrate the Chinese Communist Party’s rise. READ MORE

 

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