Office Of The Under Secretary of Defense For Personnel & Readiness

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel & Readiness

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Latest News

Military Made: 3 of NASA's Newest Astronauts Talk Training, What's Next
11 Apr '24

After learning Russian and robotics and training in jets and spacesuits over the past two years, NASA's newest astronauts are ready to take a giant leap forward for space exploration.

SAVE Plan Helps Service Members, Civilians Alike with Student Loan Debt
10 Apr '24

The "Saving on a Valuable Education," or SAVE plan, announced in August 2023, is not just for civilians. Service members, family members and civil servants alike can also benefit from the program to help reduce or even eliminate student loan debt.

General Officer Announcements
10 Apr '24

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia. Borgschulte is currently serving as commanding general, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, San Diego, California.

Paratroopers Keep Choppers in Check
10 Apr '24

These paratroopers, assigned to 3-82 General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, perform maintenance on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter an an undisclosed location.

'Military Brat:' Do You Know Where The Term Comes From?
10 Apr '24

We've all heard the term "military brat" before. It pertains to those children who grew up in military families. "Brats" wear the name like a badge of honor, often because of the moves, stressors and cultural experiences that make them more resilient than their civilian counterparts.

American Survivor
10 Apr '24

The start of the 27th annual Bataan Memorial Death March was a raucous affair. Cannon fire sent 6,613 hard-charging and motivated athletes surging across the starting line and into the New Mexican desert under a vibrant orange and violet sunrise. They were whooping and cheering as they embarked on one of the most legendarily grueling sporting events in America.

Face of Defense: Science, Service Twin Passions for DOD Engineer
9 Apr '24

The man responsible for the oversight and advocacy of the Defense Department's science and technology enterprise retired after 50 years of government service, including 20 years in the Air Force.

Bataan Memorial Marchers Endure Grueling Reflection on Service, Sacrifice
9 Apr '24

Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher Sanders' face showed no sign of the torment each step brought as he carried his heavy pack bearing a photograph of his late father up the steep dirt trail scarring the New Mexico high desert.

Federal Laboratory Consortium Recognizes DOD Technology Transfer Award Winners at 50th Anniversary Celebration
8 Apr '24

Department of Defense organizations will take home nine awards for technology transfer at the national meeting of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) on April 9-11, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. This year's meeting marks the 50th anniversary of the FLC, the formally chartered, nationwide network of over 300 federal laboratories, agencies, and research centers. Since the consortium's inception,

Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Col. James E. Swett
8 Apr '24

Not many fighter pilots can say they became an ace on their first combat mission. Marine Corps Col. James Elms Swett is one of the few who can. During World War II, he destroyed seven Japanese bombers in his first 15 minutes of combat, contributing to Allied success in the Solomon Islands and earning himself a Medal of Honor in the process.

Air Force Chief Focuses on Threats, Empowering Airmen Who Defend Against Them
28 Mar '24

The Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Services (DCPAS) launched its first ever recruitment marketing campaign on social media to attract younger job seekers to a wide range of Department of Defense (DoD) civilian careers as recruiting civilian staff is a high priority for the Department.

Navy's Top Officer Credits Training, Logistics With Meeting Red Sea Mission
28 Mar '24

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti yesterday said she credits both a recent transformation in the Navy's surface warfare training regimen and the quality of logistics operations for the service's ability to successfully counter recent attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea.

Pentagon Official Spotlights Top Units, Leaders Drive Safety Across DOD
27 Mar '24

Peter I. Belk, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for readiness, said continuing to inculcate a culture of safety across the Defense Department is not only critical for mission success, but also has widespread impact on service members, civilian personnel and their families.

DOD Releases Usage Numbers for Reproductive Health Care Travel
26 Mar '24

Under a policy implemented last year, service members and eligible dependents may be authorized travel and transportation allowances to access noncovered reproductive health care services when timely access to those services is not available near a member's permanent duty station.

Civil War Pioneers: Meet Some of America's First Female Nurses
26 Mar '24

In Arlington National Cemetery's Section 1, you'll find a diverse mix of grave markers, from basic white headstones to massive, ornate monuments commissioned by generals and other U.S. leaders. Among them, you'll also find the graves of 23 pioneering female Civil War nurses.

General Officer Announcements
25 Mar '24

Air Force Maj. Gen. Case A. Cunningham for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region. Cunningham is currently serving as commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

General Officer Announcements
25 Mar '24

Medal of Honor Monday: Army 1st Lt. Stephen H. Doane
25 Mar '24

Army 1st Lt. Stephen Holden Doane could have remained in college during the Vietnam War, but he decided to serve his country instead. He was only 21 when he gave his life to save other soldiers around him. His valor and devotion earned him the Medal of Honor.

DOD Identifies Navy Casualty
23 Mar '24

The Department of Defense announced today the death of one sailor who was supporting operations in the Red Sea.

Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Oriola Michael Aregbesola, 34, of Miramar, Florida, died March 20, 2024, as a result of a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.

DOD Policy Official Hosts Q&A for Dartmouth Students
22 Mar '24

Sasha Baker, acting undersecretary of defense for policy, hosted a question-and-answer session on defense policy for students and faculty from a Dartmouth College fellowship program yesterday at the Pentagon.

Pentagon Technology Officials Focus on Maintaining U.S. Edge
22 Mar '24

The Pentagon's senior technology officials provided an update to Congress today on the Defense Department's steps to ensure warfighters maintain the information and technology edge into the future.

DOD Develops STEM Talent Pool Through Scholarships, Internships
21 Mar '24

The most sophisticated weapons systems, computers and other technology are important to ensuring the U.S. military keeps its competitive edge. But also important is the talent pool — both military and civilian — that helps develop that technology and keeps it running.

Living Life on the Artic Edge
21 Mar '24

U.S. and Norwegian troops recently bundled up for frigid temperatures in Alaska to participate in Arctic Edge, a U.S. Northern Command exercise.

During the exercise, U.S. service members and Norwegian naval special operations commandos conducted high mobility artillery rocket system live-fire training, medicine exercises and experiments, water jumps, icy dives and more.

Logistics Modernization Figures Marine Corps' Future
20 Mar '24

New watercraft, including some that are autonomous, and new ways to work with partners figure into how the Marine Corps plans to improve the way it supplies itself through improved logistics.

Tomb Guard Makes Last Walk and Earns Badge
19 Mar '24

Conducting a final walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a high honor for a Tomb Guard assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," as is earning the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. However, to do both on the same day is a rare event. That's just what happened to Army Staff Sgt. Thomas Tavenner on March 11, 2024.

DoD Announces Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Awards
19 Mar '24

The Department of Defense awarded $17.6 million to 27 collaborative academic teams under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR). DEPSCoR is a capacity-building program designed to strengthen the basic research infrastructure at institutions of higher education in underutilized states and territories.

Flag Officer Announcements
18 Mar '24

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nomination:

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Joseph B. Hornbuckle for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Hornbuckle is currently serving as commander, Fleet Readiness Centers, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland.

General Officer Announcements
18 Mar '24

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James F. Glynn for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific; and commanding general, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific. Glynn is currently serving as the deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Quantico, Virginia.

Special Ops Builds on Strengths as it Charts Future
18 Mar '24

The strengths of the U.S. special operations community have always been agility, adaptability and innovation its service members demonstrated as they approached a mission. Special ops leaders are working to continue this process as the Defense Department drives forward, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane W. Shorter said.

Medal of Honor Monday: Army Tech. Sgt. Carlton W. Barrett
18 Mar '24

Army Tech. Sgt. Carlton W. Barrett is one of four soldiers who earned the Medal of Honor on D-Day when more than 160,000 Allied forces breached the shores of Nazi-occupied France as part of the biggest air, land and sea invasion ever executed. A lot of men died that day, but Barrett helped save as many as he could. For that, he earned the Medal of Honor.

A Journey of Inspiration, Leadership
15 Mar '24

In an exclusive interview, I had the pleasure of sitting down with U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, the fourth director of the Defense Health Agency, to delve into her extraordinary leadership journey. Throughout our discussion, she shared personal anecdotes and insights that have shaped her life as a leader, woman and an African American professional.

Department of Defense Announces New Director for Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
15 Mar '24

Today, the Department of Defense announced that David M. Cattler has been selected as the next director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. The appointment will be effective March 24, 2024.

Navy to Christen Submarine Idaho
15 Mar '24

The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony March 16, at General Dynamics Electric Boat, in Groton, Connecticut.

DACOWITS Releases 2023 Annual Report
15 Mar '24

DACOWITS provides the Secretary of Defense with recommendations, via a comprehensive annual report, on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the U.S. armed forces. The report is available online and includes detailed reasoning supporting each recommendation addressed by the committee.

Health Survey Will Be Used to Provide Better Care, Assess Readiness
14 Mar '24

The Defense Department is now fielding the 2024 Health Related Behaviors Survey to nearly 250,000 randomly selected active-duty service members.

The deadline for completion is May 3.

General Officer Announcements
14 Mar '24

Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Eric E. Austin for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Austin is currently serving as the commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Statement on the New Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer
14 Mar '24

Today, I'm pleased to announce that Dr. Radha Plumb will serve as the next Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer. Currently serving as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. Plumb has worked to tackle pressing acquisition matters related to DoD, including building out and maintaining a robust national security industrial base and supply chain.

Space Force Chief Says Shift to Warfighting Posture Continues Despite Slight Budgetary Decrease
13 Mar '24

While discussing the current state of the Space Force during a broad-ranging, half-hour interview with Defense One yesterday afternoon, Gen. Chance Saltzman said the approximately $600 million reduction from the Space Force's FY 2024 budget isn't holding the agency back from focusing on areas necessary to face off against potential adversaries.

Actor Chuck Norris Was in the Air Force During the Cold War
13 Mar '24

Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris got his start in the martial arts while serving in the military.

In 1958, Norris enlisted in the Air Force and was given the military occupational specialty of air police, which today is called Air Force security forces. His goal was to have a career in law enforcement.

Leaders Discuss Security Priorities for Western Hemisphere
12 Mar '24

The 2022 National Defense Strategy states that the department's top priority is defense of the U.S. homeland against the growing multidomain threats posed by China and Russia, said Rebecca Zimmerman, who testified at a House Armed Services Committee posture hearing today.

Comptroller Michael J. McCord and Vice Adm. Sara A. Joyner Hold a Press Briefing on President Biden's Fiscal 2025 Defense Budget
11 Mar '24

STAFF: Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. I'm Christopher Sherwood, OSD Public Affairs. Today's briefing is on the Department of Defense's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request. Speaking with you today are Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer Michael J. McCord and director for structure resources assessment with the joint staff, Vice Admiral Sara A. Joyner.

DOD's 2025 Budget Request Provides 4.5% Raise for Service Members
11 Mar '24

Department of Defense Releases the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Budget
11 Mar '24

"The President's budget request for the Department of Defense is once again rooted in our 2022 National Defense Strategy, which continues to enable us to match our national resources to our national objectives. This request will bolster our ability to defend our country, paced to the challenge posed by an increasingly aggressive People's Republic of China.

DOD Amends Assisted Reproductive Services Policy for Seriously, Severely 1II or Injured Active Duty Service Members
11 Mar '24

Under the amended policy, active duty service members with a qualifying illness or injury may now access this extended benefit regardless of their marital status, and they may now use donor gametes (sperm, egg, or both) and embryos, when procured at their own expense.

Medal of Honor Monday: Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger
11 Mar '24

Many military men and women do heroic things that they can't get credit for because they're involved in classified missions. For Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Loy Etchberger, he finally did get credit in the form of the Medal of Honor 42 years after he lost his life saving others during the Vietnam War.

DOD Remains Committed to Protecting Health of Service Members, Learning from Effects of Covid-19
8 Mar '24

Four years removed from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, a pair of Defense Department health officials on Thursday testified that DOD remains committed to protecting service members' health, while also continuing to monitor and learn from the effects of COVID-19.

Green Berets, Greek Paratroopers Participate in Trojan Footprint
8 Mar '24

Army Green Berets joined Greek special operations forces for a joint military freefall exercise during Trojan Footprint 24 in the skies above Greece. The special ops training is part of Steadfast Defender — NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War.

DOD Remains Committed to Protecting Health of Service Members, Learning from Effects of COVID-19
8 Mar '24

Navy Clears Return to Flight for V-22 Osprey Aircraft
8 Mar '24

Naval Air Systems Command has cleared the tiltrotor V-22 Osprey to return to flight.

The aircraft have been grounded since Dec. 6, 2023. That followed the crash of an Air Force V-22 Osprey off the coast of Japan that killed eight airmen on Nov. 29, 2023.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks Remarks for International Women's Day
8 Mar '24

Last year, the Department of Defense celebrated the 75th anniversary of the integration of women in the armed services. Although women have played a role in our nation's defense since its founding, the full inclusion of women in our military has often been met with resistance. But because of this historic step, and the progress we've continued to make as a nation, our military is stronger and more effective than ever.

New Scientist Helped Develop GPS
8 Mar '24

Gladys West was among a small group of women who did computing for the U.S. military during the early days of the Cold War, including Defense Department work that eventually became the basis for the Global Positioning System.

Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Sgt. William Harrell
4 Mar '24

World War II's Battle of Iwo Jima is considered one of the bloodiest ever fought by Marines. Marine Corps Sgt. William George Harrell's story embodies the grim fortitude and exceptional valor put forth that day. Harrell lost both of his hands while fending off the Japanese. His fighting spirit despite those terrible wounds earned him the Medal of Honor.

U.S., Jordanian Forces Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Civilians in Gaza
2 Mar '24

The U.S. Defense Department and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza to deliver critical relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.

Flag Officer Assignments
1 Mar '24

The secretary of the Navy and chief of naval operations announced the following assignments:

Rear Adm. Anthony C. Carullo will be assigned as director, Warfare Development, N72, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Carullo is currently serving as director, Plans and Policy, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

General Officer Announcements
1 Mar '24

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the President has made the following nominations:

Air Force Col. David W. Kelley for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Kelley is currently serving as the director, Strategic Religious Affairs, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC.

Face of Defense: Army Bodybuilder Brings Muscle to Battlefield
1 Mar '24

Army Capt. David B. Winne, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is an explosive ordnance disposal officer and instructor at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The graduate from Liberty University in Virginia routinely demonstrates his commitment to physical fitness by participating in bodybuilding and CrossFit competitions.

JFHQ-DODIN Officially Launches its New Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment Program
1 Mar '24

Over the past four years, JFHQ-DODIN has made significant changes to the Defense Department Command Cyber Readiness Inspection program, transforming mindsets from an inspection compliance to an operational readiness underpinning mission assurance. To enunciate this significant shift, the program has been renamed to the Cyber Operational Readiness Assessment.

Austin Tells Congress There Was No Lapse in Authority, Command, Control During Hospital Stay
29 Feb '24

When the secretary of defense was admitted last month to the hospital for complications related to surgery in December, his authorities and responsibilities were temporarily transferred to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

Flag Officer Announcements
29 Feb '24

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Mark D. Behning for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Behning is currently serving as director, Undersea Warfare Division, N97, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

General Officer Announcements
29 Feb '24

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the President has made the following nominations:

Air Force Brig. Gen. AnnMarie K. Anthony for appointment to the grade of major general. Anthony is currently serving as the director, Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

Military Leaders Say Maintaining U.S. Strategic Edge Requires Continued Investment
29 Feb '24

Air Force Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, U.S. Strategic Command commander, and Space Force Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, U.S. Space Command commander, said recent investments by Russia and China underscore the imperative to maintaining the United States' strategic edge.

Flag Officer Announcements
29 Feb '24

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced today that the president has made the following nominations:

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Dennis E. Collins for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Collins is currently serving as reserve commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics, Williamsburg, Virginia.

State Liaisons Advocate for Military Families Throughout U.S.
28 Feb '24

With frequent moves and deployments that accompany a parent's military career, military children often face unique challenges throughout their academic careers that their civilian peers may not encounter.

From Pilot to Pageantry: Meet the 1st Active-Duty Miss America
28 Feb '24

Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh made big plans for herself when she was young, although she never really factored becoming Miss America into that equation. However, after a tough competition in January, Marsh became the first active-duty service member to earn the crown. The 22-year-old U.S. Air Force Academy graduate is now learning to navigate life as a military member, a cancer research scholar and a public figure.

Top Air Force General Discusses Plan to Reoptimize for Future Warfare
28 Feb '24

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said deterring conflict in the emerging era of great power competition while maintaining capabilities to win against legacy threats calls for bold decisions and a commitment to adaptation.

Assistance Available to Help Transitioning Service Members, Families
28 Feb '24

The Defense Department's Military-Civilian Transition Office is responsible for designing, overseeing and evaluating DOD transition and reintegration programs, which are available to all eligible military members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families.

DLA Senior Enlisted Adviser Highlights Black History, Share Goals
28 Feb '24

"That's the very spot where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated," Dyer's father told him and his older brother, pointing to the Lorraine Motel, where King was fatally shot on the balcony of his second-floor room in 1968. The civil rights activist was in town to support sanitation crews striking for better working conditions and higher wages.

School's in Session: Report to the Tower
28 Feb '24

During air assault school, soldiers train on rotary wing aircraft, aircraft safety, aeromedical evacuation procedures, pathfinder operations, principles and techniques of combat assaults, rappelling techniques and sling-load operations. These trainings prepare soldiers to make use of their helicopter skills in combat.

Department Releases Unclassified Review Summary Following Austin's Hospitalization
26 Feb '24

In addition to the summary is a memorandum detailing actions to be taken that will ensure that Defense Department officials more clearly understand and are better prepared to handle an unexpected transfer of authority from the secretary to the deputy secretary or other official.

Review of Notification Process for Assumption of Functions and Duties of the Secretary of Defense
26 Feb '24

Today, the Department of Defense released the "Review of Notification Process for Assumption of Functions and Duties of the Secretary of Defense". The Sec. of Defense's Chief of Staff directed a 30-day review to identify the relevant facts and circumstances during the period of January 1-5, 2024, and to evaluate the processes and procedures through which the Deputy Sec. of Defense was notified that she would carry out the functions and duties of the Sec. of Defense. The full review is available here: