Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 03 Jun 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 02 Jun 2011
• Gates Cautions Against Ending U.S. Support in Libya AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- If the United States unilaterally ended support to the NATO mission in Libya, it would have enormous and dangerous long-term consequences, Pentagon officials said here today.
• Combat engineers promote IA Soldiers' route clearance abilities Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- 'Although violence in Iraq has decreased, the threat of improvised explosive devices still exist. Soldiers of A Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, are helping their Iraqi Army counterparts learn how to defeat this threat in an effort to make the streets of Anbar safer.
• US Military Warns Against Hasty Afghan Withdrawal VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce the size of an American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, within the next few weeks. U.S. military leaders are warning the reduction must not jeopardize the progress made in securing the country over the past year.
• Georgian Liaison Team assists 33rd Light Infantry Battalion during Afghanistan deployment USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Marines with the Georgian Liaison Team, Regimental Combat Team 8, are currently operating out of Shukvani, Afghanistan in efforts to support the Republic of Georgia's 33rd Light Infantry Battalion.
• Combat Center welcomes 3rd LAR home USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Marines from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion returned to the Combat Center this week to a hero's welcome.
• K9 deploys to Afghanistan USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Dogs are not only companions to many Marines, but are also a proficient aid in the war against terror. The Military Working Dog unit, with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, departed the Combat Center to join the fight in Afghanistan May 31, 2011.
• Prime BEEF improves living conditions in Afghanistan AFNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Recently, a small team from the 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron traveled to forward-operating bases to improve the quality of life for service members at combat outposts in Southeastern Afghanistan.
• Combined operation expands security in rural Afghanistan Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- As helicopters lifted off the moonlit field, Soldiers blended into the surrounding landscape. Slowly, each infantryman rose to his feet and scanned his sector of fire. As platoon leaders motioned to move out, night-vision optics revealed the flashing infrared lights attached to each Soldier as they formed a single line.
• Panjshir PRT helps bring Afghan village drinking water Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- The Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team civil affairs visited a village in Bazarak Municipality, Afghanistan, May 24, 2011, to assess the final stages of a system designed to supply clean drinking water.
• I Corps ready for challenges in Afghanistan Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- With its colors cased, America's Corps is ready for deployment to Afghanistan to help lead the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Kabul.
• Force Kills Two Insurgents, Detains Others AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents and detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Afghanistan's Baghlan province yesterday, military officials reported.
• Two Visions Of Talking To The Taliban RFE/RL 03 Jun 2011 -- There are few things more divisive in Afghanistan today than the question of talking to the Taliban.
• Tornado, Flood Response Jumps to 5,000 Guardsmen AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- In the aftermath of severe storms that brought devastating tornadoes to areas of Missouri and Massachusetts and major flooding across the Midwest and other parts of the country, the number of National Guard personnel who are answering the call for help has risen to about 5,000.
• Guard provides presence patrols in Minot's evacuated areas AFNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Members of the North Dakota Air National Guard's 219th Security Forces Squadron began a new mission June 2 as they continued with flood operations here.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pakistan, US to Resume Joint Intelligence Operations VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Pakistan and the United States will resume joint intelligence operations against Islamist militants, in a step toward mending strained relations between the two countries.
• Gates Says US, China Military Relationship on 'Positive Trajectory' VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanglie say they believe the military-to-military relationship between the United States and China is heading in the right direction.
• Remarks by Secretary Gates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Singapore DoD 03 Jun 2011 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates
• U.S., Chinese Leaders Note Progress on Military Ties AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- U.S. and Chinese defense leaders are pleased with the progress the countries are making in re-establishing good military-to-military relations.
• Gates Reaffirms US Ties With Allies at Asian Security Conference VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is meeting with several of his Asian counterparts Friday in Singapore, ahead of the start of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference. Gates says he hopes to relay to Washington's Asian allies that the United States remains committed to the region, no matter what.
• Marines train in COIN, learn to establish key links in community USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Moving across arid plains or through recently deserted city streets, today's Marines are tasked with balancing the conflicting roles of war-fighter and goodwill ambassador. As part of the Enhanced Mojave Viper training evolution, the men of Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, are building the skill set necessary to accomplish that goal.
• Marines ACE Black Sea Airspace USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Black Sea Rotational Force 11's mission to promote stability, engage in military-to-military training, and build partnerships with allied nations is no small operation, especially with 12 Eastern Europeans nations in the Black Sea, Balkan and Caucasus regions participating in the deployment.
• Allies conduct annual tour of training areas USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- The United States and Norway have been allies since 1949, working together to improve each other's military, store and maintain each other's equipment, and build stronger bonds between the nations through an agreement called the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program Norway.
• 'War Dogs' arrive to join 31st MEU USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- The 'War Dogs' of Twentynine Palms, Calif., have begun arriving here to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new battalion landing team, with the first flight landing June 3.
• Riverine Forces Make History with Well Deck Certification NNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Sailors from Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON) 2 and 3 made history when they successfully completed the first well deck certification for the Riverine Command Boat (RCB) and Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB) aboard USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) May 31.
• Defense Secretary Visits Battleship Missouri NNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates toured the Battleship Missouri Memorial during a stopover on Oahu enroute to a summit in Singapore, May 31.
• Change in Law Results in Retroactive Benefits for Non-OEF/OIF Injuries NNS 03 Jun 2011 -- The Department of Veterans Affairs announced June 3, Sailors who suffered a qualifying injury on or after Oct. 7, 2001, may be eligible beginning Oct. 1, for a payment of $25,000 to $100,000 regardless of where the injury occurred.
• USNS Comfort Arrives in Colombia NNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Tumaco, Colombia, for its fourth mission stop during Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11), June 2.
• VT-9 Welcomes New CO NNS 03 Jun 2011 -- A new commanding officer took command of Training Squadron Nine following the official change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., June 2.
• Pentagon acquisition chief talks 'better buying power' AFNS 03 Jun 2011 -- The undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics spoke to the electronic systems center workforce May 25 regarding Defense Department budget challenges, efficiency initiatives and their impact.
• Raven Claw forges future warrior-diplomats AFNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Trainees faced decisions ranging from eating fish heads full of teeth to providing the host nation with night-vision goggles and satellite imagery.
• Officials Suggest New Role for More Capable Reserve Force AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- Capabilities gained from a decade of combat have transformed military reserve components into a full-spectrum operational force that should be integrated into the active fighting force, a defense official said today.
• Fleet Commander Cites Importance of Forward Presence AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confers with his counterparts at an Asia security summit in Singapore, the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet emphasized the importance of the U.S. forward presence in the region to support humanitarian crises and deter aggression.
• ARRA: Sacramento District transforms barracks into energy-efficient, comfortable quarters Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- Listen to old soldiers reminiscing and you may hear a lot of things, but you probably won't hear stories about the wonderful living conditions they experienced.
• DOD, Homeland Security Collaborate in Cyber Realm AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- Recognizing the huge national security implications of compromised U.S. computer networks, a senior Pentagon official said the Defense Department is working hand in hand with the Department of Homeland Security and others to shore up vulnerabilities against an increasingly sophisticated threat.
• Service members train on unmanned aircraft Army News 03 Jun 2011 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service members trained on small unmanned air vehicles at White Sands Missile Range the Week of May 23rd.
• Captain shares Student Flight knowledge to help unit build program AFNS 03 Jun 2011 -- Capt. Bryan Williams, the Student Flight coordinator for the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., helped establish the new Student Flight training program for the West Virginia ANG's 130th Airlift Wing here.
• Navy Strives to Build on Expertise Gained Since 9/11 AFPS 03 Jun 2011 -- Committed to preserving and building on expertise garnered during the past decade of conflict, the Navy is hard at work institutionalizing lessons learned as the military draws down in Iraq and looks toward a drawdown in Afghanistan as well, one of the fleet's top training officers reported.
• Marines live, operate on vital training island USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- A large volcano-shaped rock pierces the sky; small patches of land below it cover the horizon -- no building stands higher than a few stories. Tucked a few miles beyond the port exists an open patch of land, a few buildings speckle its surface. It resembles a home on a farm -- open and expansive. A tight-knit squad of Marines inhabit this patch. To them, Ie Shima is more than their work environment, it is their home.
• US, Thai militaries begin non-lethal training USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Marines and sailors with Special Operations Training Group and Military Police Support Company, both from III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, and nearly 150 personnel with the Thai military and police forces, began training May 30 as part of the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar 2011.
• Marines train with RED HORSE Airmen, learn rapid runway repair USMC News 03 Jun 2011 -- Kadena Air Base's Detachment 1, 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operationsl Repair Squadron Engineers Squadron, 36th Contingency Response Group, 36th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, recently partnered with Marines from Engineer Operations Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, to conduct joint training at Kadena's Silver Flag site.
• Fire, Explosions At Russian Military Base Force Evacuations RFE/RL 03 Jun 2011 -- A fire at a military base in the Russian republic of Udmurtia is causing a series of strong explosions, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of people, RFE/RL's Russian and Tatar-Bashkir services report.
• 57 injured in Russian arms depot blasts RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2011 -- The number of people injured in explosions and a fire at an artillery arsenal in Russia's Volga region Republic of Udmurtia has climbed to 57 with 25 hospitalized, the Emergency Situations Ministry said on Friday.
• Czech Republic wants to join NATO missile shield project RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2011 -- Czech Republic would like to join the NATO European missile shield project, but no practical schemes have been discussed so far, First Deputy Prime Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said.
• June 3, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 03 Jun 2011
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest aboard Air Force One en route Toledo, Ohio The White House 03 Jun 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 03, 2011
• BAE Systems Inc.'s FNSS Joint Venture Receives $559 Million Award from DEFTECH to Provide AV-8 Vehicles for the Malaysian Armed Forces BAE Systems 03 Jun 2011 -- FNSS of Turkey, a joint venture between BAE Systems, Inc. and Nurol Holding of Turkey, has received and signed a $559 million letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) from DEFTECH of Malaysia for the design, development and manufacture of 257 DEFTECH AV-8 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles and Integrated Logistics Support for the Malaysian Armed Forces.
• Boeing Awarded Additional C-130 Modernization and Training Contracts by US Air Force Boeing 03 Jun 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has received a $61 million U.S. Air Force contract for two more C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) kits and two Aircrew Training System devices as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract that was awarded in 2010.

Other Conflicts

• 3 June 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Jun 2011
• Yemen President Wounded, Gives Audio Address VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- An audio recording attributed to Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been broadcast on state television, hours after an attack on a mosque in his presidential compound. Yemen state media say the attack killed three guards and an imam.
• Yemen's President Blames 'Gang' for Attack VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has blamed a 'gang of outlaws' for a rocket attack on Friday that killed seven people and left him wounded.
• US Condemns Yemen Violence, Urges Peaceful Transition VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- The United States is strongly condemning the upsurge in violence in Yemen including Friday's shelling attack on the presidential compound in Sana'a that wounded President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The State Department called for an immediate end to hostilities and fulfillment of a Gulf peace plan that calls for President Saleh's departure.
• Yemen's President Wounded After Shells Strike Presidential Palace RFE/RL 03 Jun 2011 -- Yemen appears to have moved a step closer to all-out civil war following the wounding of embattled president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, on June 3.
• Yemen: UN refugee agency voices alarm at increasingly bloody violence UN News Centre 03 Jun 2011 -- The United Nations refugee agency today voiced alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, where hundreds of people have died in clashes pitting Government forces against peaceful demonstrators and armed groups seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
• Mladic Refuses to Offer Plea to War Crimes Charges VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- The former military commander of the Bosnian Serbs, Ratko Mladic, made his first public appearance at the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia after 16 years as a fugitive. During his arraignment, he refused to plead to the 11 counts against him - including genocide, extermination and murder.
• Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect refuses to enter plea at UN tribunal UN News Centre 03 Jun 2011 -- Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic today appeared before the United Nations tribunal trying those responsible for the worst crimes committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s but did not enter a plea on what he called the 'monstrous' charges levelled against him.
• Bosnian Serb Genocide Suspect Mladic Faces UN Tribunal RFE/RL 03 Jun 2011 -- Bosnian Serb wartime army commander Ratko Mladic has declined to enter a plea in his first appearance before a UN war crimes tribunal, dismissing the genocide and war crimes indictments against him as 'monstrous words' and 'obnoxious charges.'
• Sudanese military forces must withdraw from Abyei, Security Council says UN News Centre 03 Jun 2011 -- The Security Council today demanded that the Government of Sudan withdraw immediately from Abyei, the disputed area which is contested by both north and south Sudan.
• SUDAN: Battling to bring aid to thousands of Abyei displaced IRIN 03 Jun 2011 -- Warrap State in Southern Sudan is becoming the focus of efforts to assist thousands of people fleeing the disputed central-southern region of Abyei after it was attacked on 21 May by the northern Sudanese army, aid workers say.
• UN envoy proposes setting benchmarks to move Somalia to next political phase UN News Centre 03 Jun 2011 -- The United Nations envoy for Somalia has proposed the setting up of benchmarks and a monitoring mechanism to encourage the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) to abide by obligations requiring them to prepare the country for a new political phase beyond August, when the current interim arrangement expires.
• LIBERIA: Food stocks low for hosts and refugees IRIN 03 Jun 2011 -- Liberian host families and the Ivoirian refugees staying with them are resorting to eating rice seeds intended for this year's crop as food stocks dwindle in eastern Liberia, according to aid agencies.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Hiding out in Abidjan IRIN 03 Jun 2011 -- People from ethnic groups seen as pro-Laurent Gbagbo are hiding out, using aliases in public and fearing for their lives, amid attacks by government forces in the main city Abidjan, residents told IRIN.

News Reports

• UN chief voices alarm at escalation of violence in Syria UN News Centre 03 Jun 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his alarm at the escalation of violence in Syria, which has reportedly claimed at least 70 lives over the past week alone, and called for independent and transparent investigations into all the killings.
• Syrian troops shoot unarmed civilians - TV RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2011 -- Government troops shot dead at least two unarmed civilians in the city of Ankahal on Friday as President Bashar Assad's regime continued its violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests, the Al Arbiya TV channel said.
• At Least 27 Killed in Syria as Protests Rage Nationwide VOA 03 Jun 2011 -- Syrian rights groups say security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters in the city of Hama, killing at least 27 people.
• Boeing Announces Workforce Reductions in Space Exploration Division Boeing 03 Jun 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today issued 60-day advance layoff notices to approximately 510 employees in its Space Exploration division, resulting primarily from the planned completion of the Space Shuttle program.
• European ATV-2 space freighter readjusts ISS orbit RIA Novosti 03 Jun 2011 -- Russia's Mission Control raised the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by 3.74 km (2.3 miles), to 346,4 km (215.2 miles), a Mission Control spokesman said on Friday.
• Press Conference by France on Its Priorities for G-20 Presidency United Nations 03 Jun 2011