1. Airstrikes Kill 14 in Iraq and Syria
The U.S. Military reported that a series of deadly airstrikes in Iraq and Syria killed 14 civilians between July 2015 and April 2016. The deadliest of the airstrikes occurred on April 29th in Mosul, Iraq and killed four civilians.
2. F/A-18 Hornet Pilot Killed in California Crash
Maj. Richard Norton, with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, was tragically killed on July 28th, 2016 during a training mission around Twentynine Palms, California. Maj. Norton was stationed at Marine Air Station Miramar and was commissioned as a Marine second lieutenant on March 25, 2005. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.
3. Want a Chance to See if You Have What it Takes?
Fort Jackson is inviting civilians to get a taste of what basic training is like during a daylong tour on August 4th. The tour will give civilians a chance to see what the first few days of a new soldier’s life is like in the military, give them a chance to try out their marksmanship on an M16 Simulator and they will get the opportunity to meet drill sergeants. Lunch is included for only $5.55 and the event is open to anyone 13 or older.
4. The U.S. and Russia are Looking to Hold Hands…
Or join hands that is, to strengthen the truce in Syria and hopefully help end the civil war currently taking place. Doubts were expressed recently by the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on if a truce could be made on this potential military partnership with Russia, but U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said progress is being made after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took place in Laos on July 26th, 2016. While no specifics have been given on any kind of progress made, Kerry has said that he hopes to have a tangible result from the discussions within 10 days following the meeting.
5. Soldier Charged with Murder Also Sentenced for Child Porn.
Michael Walker, who is currently facing charges for conspiring with his lover Ailsa Jackson to kill his wife, was sentenced on July 30th for possessing child pornography and soliciting payment for sex. Walker pleaded guilty on Saturday, July 30th. He stated that he advertised and paid for sex for multiple times, saying that his “purpose was to find people to have sex with and at the same time to give me money.”
6. U.S. Says No Support Was Provided for Turkish Coup.
On July 29th, 2016 the Pentagon rejected suspicions raised by Turkey’s president that the U.S had it’s hands in the recent failed coup that rocked the country. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook denied suggestions that the U.S. provided support for the coup and stated any such suggestion was absurd and wrong. In turn, the U.S. was assured that the ongoing battle against Islamic State militants won’t be affected by the country’s recent political turbulence.
7. B1-B Bombers to be Sent to Guam for the First Time in 10 Years
For the first time in 10 years, Pacific Air Forces will be sending B1-B Bombers to Guam to patrol the skies. These bombers will replace B-52 bombers from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and will be sent to Andersen Air Force Base on Aug. 6 for the first time in 10 years since their last rotation.
8. The Next Generation IED’s are Here
As weaponry advances every day due to ever changing technology, the U.S. is coming up with new and innovative ways to stay on top of new and diverse threats. One such way is the new, approved Symphony Block 40, Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) counter-improvised explosive device system, which provides enhanced capabilities, for maximum effectiveness, strength and stamina that will give soldier’s the latest technology to respond to ever-changing threats.
9. U.S. Drone Stroke Successfully Tracks Down and Kills Pakistan Militant
On July 13th, 2016, a Pakistan Taliban Militant died in a U.S. Drone Strike in Afghanistan, Pakistani. Omar Narai, also known as Omar Khalifa and Khalid Khurasani, was wanted for his role in a school massacre in the northwestern city of Peshawar by the Taliban in December 2014 that killed more than 150 people, primarily children. According to Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook, Omar “was killed along with four other enemy combatants in a US Forces-Afghanistan air strike targeting Islamic State [Daesh]-Khorasan Province members.”
10. U.S. Coordinated with France in Response to Tragically Deadly Nice Attacks
After a lethal terror attack in Nice by a truck that killed over 84, and injured another 202 people, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter met with his French counterpart at the Pentagon the following week to coordinate a military response. Details on what the response will be haven’t been released yet, but after the deadly Parisian terror attacks last November, France bombed the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria and sent their aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle to the Gulf.