Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

www.stripes.com January 31, 2023 | View in browser   US hypersonic missile passes test, puts ‘exclamation point’ on development program  The U.S. has successfully tested another hypersonic missile, bringing the military a step closer to having an operational version of the weapon in its arsenal. Read more > Biden orders study of military pay and benefits to ensure troops are properly compensated The study — known as the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation — is conducted every four years to examine whether military pay and other benefits are suitable. The review is Biden’s first as president. Read more > Navy’s ships spend less time at sea amid persistent maintenance delays, report says A review of 151 surface warships by the Government Accountability Office showed worsening maintenance delays, more breakdowns requiring repairs and a rising number of working ship parts removed and used elsewhere due to parts shortages. Read more >   Army unveils new parental leave policy, becoming last service to expand to 12 weeks The Army on Tuesday expanded its Congress-mandated parental leave policy, granting 12 weeks of leave after welcoming a new child to all soldiers regardless of gender. The Marine Corps announced its new policy Monday. Read more >   ‘Unacceptable situation’: DOD civilians in Japan demand health care answers from Pentagon execs Defense Department civilian employees facing reduced health care options in Japan jeered Pentagon officials who provided few clear answers and no immediate solutions during a town hall Tuesday. Read more > Air Force secretary calls for investigation into managing of domestic violence cases Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has directed a new review on the handling of domestic violence cases after the service’s inspector general found problems in the early stages of managing reports and investigations, according to a letter addressed to troops.    Read more >   Air Force founds ROTC scholarship for all eligible college upperclassmen, reduces aid for high school grads It provides up to $18,000 per year for tuition or $10,000 annually in housing assistance. All cadets who have successfully completed field training and entered the Professional Officer Course at the start of their junior year and who are not already receiving ROTC scholarship money are eligible. Read more >   Expect higher exercise tempo from US and South Korean forces, Austin says in Seoul The U.S. military presence in South Korea will be more visible in the near future due to North Korea’s continued threat to regional security, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Read more >   VA pays $201 million in retro benefits to ‘blue water’ vets under 2020 court ruling The VA recently informed the National Veterans Legal Services Program that since 2021 it had paid that amount in back benefits to 6,922 Navy veterans who served on ships in open sea off the shore of Vietnam, the NVLSP said in a news release. Read more >   US Coast Guard bust in Middle East nets $33 million in drugs The bust was the first in 2023 for Combined Maritime Forces, a 38-member multinational task force focused on countering smuggling, piracy and other illegal operations. Read more >   Super Bowl flyover will showcase Navy’s ‘Carrier Air Wing of the Future’ The Super Bowl is a high-profile opportunity for the Navy to show off its most technologically advanced aircraft on one of the world’s biggest stages. Read more >   FOLLOW US STRIPES.COM | EUROPE | JAPAN | KOREA | OKINAWA | GUAM © 2022 Stars and Stripes · 633 3rd St. NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20001-3050