TheRepublic.com - Armed forces News

Joint Chiefs chairman visits embattled nuke base

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:32:15 -0400

MINOT, North Dakota - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reassured hundreds of airmen Monday that recent nuclear weapons missteps at their North Dakota base would be corrected, but he didn't elaborate on the "failures of leadership" he blames for causing the problems.

Military plans would put women in most combat jobs

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:37:11 -0400

WASHINGTON - Women may be able to start training as Army Rangers by mid-2015 and as Navy SEALs a year later under plans set to be announced by the Pentagon that would slowly bring women into thousands of combat jobs, including those in elite special operations forces.

EU, US agree to start free trade talks at G-8

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:09:23 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - The European Union and the United States will open negotiations next month on a long-sought deal to create free trade between the world's two mightiest economic regions, an effort designed to create millions of jobs that could take years to transform from dream to reality.

Syria's Assad: EU will pay price for arming rebels

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:37:57 -0400

BEIRUT - Syria's president warned that Europe "will pay a price" if it delivers weapons to rebels fighting to topple him, saying in an interview published Monday that arming them would backfire as the "terrorists" return to their countries with extremist ideologies.

RI National Guard retiring 2 small cargo aircraft

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:05:12 -0400

NORTH KINGSTOWN, Rhode Island - The Rhode Island National Guard is retiring two cargo aircraft known in the state for supporting the U.S. Army Black Knights parachute demonstration team.

Afghans poised to take security lead from US, NATO

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:35:07 -0400

JALALABAD, Afghanistan - One of the most significant turning points in one of America's longest and costliest wars is imminent: Afghanistan's fledgling security forces are taking the lead for security nationwide, bringing the moment of truth on the question of whether they are ready to fight an insurgency that remains resilient after nearly 12 years of conflict.

Israel PM: Sanctions on Iran should increase

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:47:26 -0400

JERUSALEM - Israel on Sunday warned the international community against easing sanctions on Iran following the election of a reformist-backed president, saying the country's nuclear efforts remain firmly in the hands of Iran's extremist ruling clerics.

First woman takes over as Northwest Navy commander

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:23:09 -0400

BREMERTON, Washington - For the first time, a woman is taking over as commander of Navy Region Northwest.

Guilty verdict in classified Cambodia papers case

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:11:07 -0400

HONOLULU - A military jury on Friday convicted a Hawaii-based Army officer of unauthorized possession of classified documents and giving a document with classified assessments of Cambodia to a person not entitled to have it.

APNewsBreak: Report criticizes West Point leader

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:43:34 -0400

ALBANY, New York - The top official at the U.S. Military Academy improperly allowed subordinates to give driving lessons, didn't properly compensate those who worked at a charity dinner and misused his position to obtain cat care, according to a report from Pentagon investigators.

Marines land Osprey aircraft on Japanese ship

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:47:24 -0400

SAN DIEGO - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft made an unprecedented landing Friday on a Japanese naval vessel off the California coast.

Agents: Fuel-saving measures hamper Border Patrol

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:16:43 -0400

McALLEN, Texas - Budget cuts have hampered the U.S. Border Patrol's work in its busiest sector on the Southwest border, agents said Friday, with the agency introducing fuel conservation measures in the Rio Grande Valley that have agents patrolling on foot and doubling up in vehicles.

Judge bans Fort Hood suspect's defense strategy

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:39:28 -0400

FORT HOOD, Texas - A uniformed Army psychiatrist had no justification for gunning down U.S. troops and won't be allowed to tell jurors that he was protecting Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, a military judge ruled Friday, appearing to clear the way for the Fort Hood murder trial to begin.

NY Air Guard abuse claim gets senators' attention

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:55:48 -0400

ALBANY, New York -

APNewsBreak: NY Air Guard unit being investigated

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:59:29 -0400

ALBANY, New York - A high-profile New York Air National Guard airlift wing has promoted sexual abusers instead of punishing them, according to the retired officer who handled claims of sexual assault in the unit.

OSS commander at Minot Air Force Base relieved

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:32:06 -0400

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, North Dakota - Officials at Minot Air Force Base say the 91st Missile Wing's operations support squadron commander is being replaced because a loss of confidence in his ability to provide necessary leadership.

Military sends aircraft, trucks, crews to CO fire

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:37:06 -0400

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The military is providing 10 aircraft, more than 40 firefighters and multiple fire trucks to help civilian agencies fight the Black Forest wildfire.

Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman to visit ND base

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:11:01 -0400

BISMARCK, North Dakota - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is slated to visit the Minot Air Force Base on Monday.

Fort Greely official suspended over investigation

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:18:40 -0400

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The U.S. Army this week suspended the missile defense commander at Fort Greely over his handling of reported sexual misconduct at the base in Alaska.

National Guard group to hold convention in Hawaii

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:32:37 -0400

HONOLULU - A private association of National Guard members plans to hold its annual conference in Honolulu this year, even though some officials at the Pentagon have questioned the wisdom of meeting in a vacation destination.

Navy releases removed commander's emails

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:25:27 -0400

SAN DIEGO - The Navy has released a San Diego commander's flirtatious cellphone texts and emails that were sent to female sailors under his command.

Syria, Mali groups on UN list of child recruiters

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:30:30 -0400

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations has added three Malian militias and Syria's main rebel force for the first time to an annual "list of shame" of armed groups that recruit children.

Fort Hood soldier accused of paying for sex

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:07:13 -0400

FORT WORTH, Texas - Authorities on Wednesday charged a Fort Hood sergeant with paying for sex with a soldier in a prostitution scheme allegedly arranged by a low-level coordinator of the Texas Army post's sexual assault prevention program.

Syrian rebels press US and allies to send weapons

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:47:00 -0400

BEIRUT - With President Barack Obama weighing the issue, increasingly desperate Syrian rebels are pressing the U.S. and its allies to send weapons to even their odds now that Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah guerrillas are fighting alongside the regime.

UN chief: Syria threatens Golan ceasefire

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:34:14 -0400

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is recommending that the 911-member U.N. peacekeeping force in the Golan Heights be bolstered to 1,250 troops.