Military & Veterans News Vet News: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Becomes Operational The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) officially merge today into the newly established Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in ceremonies at both locations.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of January 13, 2015 The Marine Corps Reserve announced an increase activated National Guard members and reservists this week, while the Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve announced a decrease of activated National Guard members and reservists. Coast Guard Reserve numbers did not change from last week. The net collective result is a decrease of 808 activated National Guard members and reservists in comparison to last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of September 30, 2014 The Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve announced a decrease in activated National Guard members and reservists this week, while the Navy Reserve and the Air National Guard announced an increase of activated National Guard members and reservists. The net collective result is a decrease of 485 activated National Guard members and reservists in comparison to last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of April 29, 2014 The Army Reserve, Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve announced this week a decrease in activated reservists, while the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve announced an increase of National Guard members and activated reservists. The Coast Guard Reserve announced no change in the number of activated reservists. The net collective result is 63 more activated National Guard members and reservists in comparison to last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of April 15, 2014 The Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve announced this week a decrease in activated National Guard members and reservists. The net collective result is 557 fewer activated National Guard members and reservists in comparison to last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Army Releases November 2013 Suicide Information Among active-duty soldiers, there were 14 potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and 13 remain under investigation. For October 2013, the Army reported 10 potential suicides among active duty soldiers: two have been confirmed as suicides, and eight are under investigation. For calendar year 2013, there have been 139 potential active duty suicides: 74 have been confirmed as suicides, and 65 remain under investigation. Updated active duty suicide numbers for calendar year 2012: 185 (184 have been confirmed as suicides, and one remains under investigation).

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Statement from Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta on the Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Partners "Seventeen months ago, the United States military ended the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  We have implemented the repeal of that policy and made clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation has no place in the Department of Defense.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Army Releases October Suicide Data The Army released suicide data today for the month of October.  During October, among active-duty soldiers, there were 20 potential suicides:  five have been confirmed as suicides, and 15 remain under investigation.  For September, the Army reported 15 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers:  four have been confirmed as suicides, and 11 remain under investigation.  For 2012, there have been 166 potential active-duty suicides:  105 have been confirmed as suicides, and 61 remain under investigation.  Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides, and no cases under investigation.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated The Air Force and Marine Corps announced this week a decrease in activated reservists while the Army, Navy and Coast Guard announced an increase. The net collective result is 205 additional reservists and National Guard members activated in comparison to last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Redesigned Transition Assistance Program Announced Today President Obama announced the launch of the redesigned Transition Assistance Program developed by an interagency team from the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Education, and Homeland Security as well as the Office of Personnel and Management and the Small Business Administration.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DOD to Host Vietnam War Commemoration Ceremony at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta will host a ceremony on Monday, May 28, 2012, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to thank and honor America’s Vietnam Veterans on behalf of a grateful nation.  This ceremony will serve as a public kickoff of efforts to partner with communities across the United States.  Invited guests include thousands of Vietnam Veterans, their loved ones, Gold Star families and leadership from the military services, Cabinet and Congress.  There will be a limited viewing area open to the general public.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Secretary of the Navy Announces LHA 7 Will Be Named USS Tripoli Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the selection of USS Tripoli as the name for the Navy’s next large-deck amphibious assault ship (LHA 7).

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Statement on U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement “I strongly support the U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement signed by President Obama and President Karzai in Kabul.  This agreement affirms the long-term commitment of the United States to Afghanistan, and it is a further expression of our shared goal of defeating al Qaeda and its extremist affiliates.  It is a tangible sign of the strength and the resilience of the partnership that has been built between the United States and the Afghan people, and the significant progress that has been made by American, international and Afghan forces in building an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself.  The transition to Afghan security lead has commenced and it is on track.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Integrated Disability Evaluation System Failing America’s Wounded Warriors WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) held a hearing to review the progress made by the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) in implementing the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, or IDES. A servicemember is referred to IDES when their active duty status is questioned through either physical or mental injuries incurred on active duty. IDES was put in place upon the recommendations by several commissions—including the Dole Shalala Commission—in 2007 to better assist America’s recovering warriors and their families’ transition from active-duty to VA. Former commission members and DoD and VA officials testified before the Subcommittee.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DOD Launches Mobile App Development Challenge The Defense Department announced today the launch of a challenge to develop innovative mobile applications that provide science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning tools.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Allen: Troops Will Accomplish Afghan Mission Recent incidents have been deplorable, but they will not stand in the way of accomplishing goals in Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force commander said here.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of March 20, 2012 This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced decreases in activated reservists while the Air Force and Coast Guard announced an increase.  The net collective result is 235 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Final R&R Flight to Arrive at DFW Airport March 14th The Army announced today it will officially close the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Personnel Assistance Point (PAP) with a ceremony on March 14th, marking the arrival of the last Rest and Recuperation (R&R) flight that will use that airport as a hub for service members returning from theater on R&R.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of February 14, 2012 This week the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Coast Guard announced no change.  The net collective result is 960 fewer reservists activated than last week.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: DOD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for Fiscal 2012 The Department of Defense announced today recruiting and retention statistics for the active and reserve components for fiscal 2012, through December.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Army Moves Forward with Civilian Reductions In July, the Army announced a planned reduction of approximately 8,700 positions by Sept. 30, 2012.  These cuts are based on Department of Defense resource decisions as reflected in the fiscal 2012 President’s Budget and require a reduction of Army civilian employees to comply with decreased funding levels. 

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Navy Christens Submarine Mississippi The Navy christened its newest attack submarine Mississippi, Saturday, Dec. 3, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn. The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, delivered the ceremony’s principal address. Allison Stiller, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for ship programs, is the ship’s sponsor.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: Aircrew Missing in Action from WWII Identified The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 10 servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Military & Veterans News Vet News: U.S. & North Korea Conclude POW/MIA Talks The Department of Defense announced today that the United States and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials reached an arrangement to resume recovering the remains of American servicemen missing from the Korean War.