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August 12, 2021

 

Pentagon to send three infantry battalions to Afghanistan to help evacuate US diplomats The United States is sending three infantry battalions to the international airport in Kabul within the next two days to help evacuate U.S. diplomats as the Taliban continues to capture cities throughout Afghanistan, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Thursday. READ MORE

Army lieutenant general gets fourth star, SOUTHCOM command and becomes second female combatant commander in history Army Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson, who now leads U.S. Army North, will receive a fourth star before taking command of SOUTHCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations across South and Central America and the Caribbean. She will become just the second female four-star general in the Army’s history. READ MORE

VA extends vaccine mandate to more VA employees, volunteers and contractors The Department of Veterans Affairs will require more employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, extending the mandate to nearly everyone who works at VA hospitals or visits them. READ MORE   Marine Raider to receive Navy Cross for heroism during gunbattle in ISIS cave complex Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Jones will receive the Navy Cross later this month for his heroism during an operation to clear ISIS positions in mountain caves in northern Iraq and in an ensuing five-hour firefight. READ MORE   ‘Something had to be done’: Marine honored for lifesaving swim on Okinawa Sgt. Maj. David Potter, 42, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on August 4 at Camp Hansen. READ MORE

‘Close to the danger zone’: Security experts warn about increasing possibility of war over Taiwan Mounting tensions follow increasing reunification rhetoric from Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province that should be reunited, possibly by force. READ MORE   Blast from the past: Cold War artillery command in Germany resurrected and restructured A two-star general will lead a new European theater command in Germany that will oversee efforts to coordinate artillery and other advanced weaponry focused on hitting more distant targets.  READ MORE   Japan adds more military bases to long list of spots where personal drones can’t be flown Soon it will be illegal to fly drones near or above more military bases in Japan, including several US installations. READ MORE   Recent Patriot Express delays don’t dent contractors’ reliability record Over the past 1 ½ years, the air service has a better than 90% on-time flight reliability, when issues only controlled by the contractor, such as maintenance problems, are considered, according to a spokesman for U.S. Transportation Command. READ MORE   No Olympic golden ticket to exit military for South Korean high jumper  Pfc. Woo Sang-hyeok, 25, of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, placed fourth in the men’s high jump category after clearing a 2.35-meter bar. READ MORE   Lock your vehicles, police say in wake of thefts near Ramstein Air Base Thieves hit eight vehicles in Kindsbach between 9 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from the Landstuhl Police Department.  READ MORE

 

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