Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 06 Oct 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 05 Oct 2011
• Ministers determined to pursue operation in Libya as long as threats persist NATO 06 Oct 2011 -- NATO Defence Ministers and Partners involved in Operation Unified Protector today in Brussels discussed the prospects for ending the mission for Libya.
• Panetta Details Guidelines for Ending Libya Mission AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- Consensus exists among NATO members about how to decide when to end Operation Unified Protector in Libya, based on guidelines that can be used to evaluate conditions on the ground there, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.
• NATO Vows to Continue Libya Campaign VOA 06 Oct 2011 -- French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet says the NATO campaign in Libya will continue as long as there are pockets of resistance, and until the provisional government asks for the airstrikes to end.
• DOD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Toolan and Michael O'Neill via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 06 Oct 2011 -- Presenter: Commander, Regional Command Southwest Maj. Gen. John Toolan Jr., and Michael O’Neill, Head of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and UK Senior Civilian Representative in Southern Afghanistan
• Taliban See Writing on the Wall, U.S. Commander Says AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- The success of Afghan government-led efforts to reintegrate former insurgents into society indicate the success of government and coalition forces in Afghanistan, a U.S. commander told Pentagon reporters today.
• Forces Kill Insurgents in Eastern Afghanistan Firefight AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed three insurgents in a firefight yesterday in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province, military officials reported.
• Afghanistan operational air update UK MOD 06 Oct 2011 -- RAF and Royal Navy personnel conducted numerous missions across southern Afghanistan in the week of 26 September to 2 October 2011. Here follows an operational update.
• Pakistan to Afghanistan: Stop 'Playing Politics' VOA 06 Oct 2011 -- Pakistan is calling on Afghanistan to refrain from 'playing politics' following Afghan allegations of Pakistani involvement in recent high-profile attacks.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy Names New Joint High Speed Vessel DoD 06 Oct 2011 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus joined Ackerman, Miss., Mayor Dick Cain to announce today that the name of the Department of the Navy's next Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) will be United States Naval Ship (USNS) Choctaw County, during a brief ceremony today at Ackerman High School, Ackerman, Miss.
• DoD Announces Return of Facilities in Turkey DoD 06 Oct 2011 -- The Department of Defense announced today that in the city of Eskisehir, Turkey, it will return the unaccompanied housing area to the Turkish Government.
• Panetta Cites Progress, Gaps in NATO Defense AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- Countries of the NATO alliance must work together to defend common security interests now and in the future, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.
• 'Tactically Savvy' Force Must Reframe, Commander Says AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- After 10 years of war, the Army needs to 'reframe' itself beyond tactical capabilities, and focus on areas that have had to take a backseat to counterinsurgency training, the commander of U.S. Army Europe said yesterday.
• DOD Readies Financial Managers to Meet Goals AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- Recognizing the importance of people in its financial management improvements, the Defense Department is exploring new ways to recruit, retain and train its financial management workforce, a senior defense official told Congress today.
• Army in Europe Has 'Unique Opportunity,' Commander Says AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- While the future number of U.S. forces in Europe remains undecided, the NATO operation in Libya and past contingency events in Africa prove the advantage of basing troops there, the U.S. Army Europe commander said yesterday.
• AFSOC's first MC-130J Combat Shadow II arrives at Cannon AFB AFNS 06 Oct 2011 -- Airmen assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing held an aircraft acceptance ceremony Sept. 29 on the flightline here for the arrival of Air Force Special Operations Command's first MC-130J Combat Shadow II.
• USS Bremerton Returns from Western Pacific Deployment NNS 06 Oct 2011 -- Los Angeles-class submarine USS Bremerton (SSN 698) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Oct. 5, after a scheduled six-month deployment.
• Greenert Stops in Bahrain on First Trip as CNO NNS 06 Oct 2011 -- The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited Sailors at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Oct. 6.
• ARRA Dormitory Project Open on Shaw Air Force Base NNS 06 Oct 2011 -- Shaw Air Force Base held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 26 to mark the official turnover of the new 144-person dormitory that will serve airman and soldiers on Shaw AFB to include the 20th Fighter Wing, 9th Air Force, and 3rd Army in Sumter, S.C.
• NAVFAC Southwest Awards $28 Million Water, Wastewater Systems Contract NNS 06 Oct 2011 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest awarded a $28 million contract, Sep. 26, for water and wastewater systems at Marine Corps Bases throughout California and Arizona.
• 63rd EOD Battalion redeploys to Fort Drum Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- The Army's explosive ordnance disposal units are among the most highly trained personnel in today's force, and any Soldier who has served in Iraq or Afghanistan can attest to the significance of the life-saving skills that EOD personnel bring to combat with them.
• 10th Mountain Division headquarters Soldiers redeploy, uncase colors Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- After a year of being separated from their Soldiers, loved ones filled the bleachers of Magrath Sports Complex Oct. 2, patiently awaiting the homecoming of 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers. As the 30 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion marched across the floor, Families' and friends' cheers echoed throughout the gym -- a scene repeated several times as nearly 600 HHBN Soldiers redeployed over the past month.
• Outfitting Soldiers head to toe Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- Scientists, engineers, textile technologists, clothing designers, retired military equipment specialists and experts in other fields at Natick take Soldiers' apparel and equipment quite seriously. They work daily to improve their functionality, durability and comfort.
• Paratroopers get mountain training at Ranger School site Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- Paratroopers with Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne Division concluded two weeks of mountain training Sept. 30 at Camp Frank D. Merrill, the site of the U.S. Army Ranger School's notorious mountain phase.
• Army Reserve center opens at Fort Campbell Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- A new US Army Reserve center on the Tennessee side of Fort Campbell had its ribbon cutting ceremony on October 1. The new Reserve center will be the home for three Mobilization Support Battalions, the 1108th, 1109th and 1110th, as well as the 2nd Battalion, 399th Regiment, an element of the 100th Division (Institutional Training). The MSBs were stood up in 2008.
• Army Corps Construction helps revitalize Dover Air Force Base Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- we're very excited to move in,' she said. 'The increased space is probably the biggest improvement because it will enable us to run more programs and classes.'
• Budget crisis, less military spending may impact NATO's post-ISAF mission Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- The worldwide economic crisis is having an impact on the NATO mission militarily as the alliance transitions to a post-International Security Assistance Force environment, said the commander of U.S. Army Europe during a bloggers roundtable today.
• Nightstalkers add heavy assault aerial platform Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- When special operations forces need to move a large component to a target by air, they often look to the heavy assault Chinook helicopter to do the job.
• Army ready to face budget challenges Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- Budget challenges loom in the Army's future -- in fact, just about any portion of the federal budget could be cut to help the United States reduce its yearly deficit.
• Deploying Soldiers to receive ballistic briefs Army News 06 Oct 2011 -- Deploying Soldiers will have several new items in their kit when they deploy, including ballistic underwear designed to mitigate some of the effects of an IED blast.
• Carter Takes Office as Deputy Defense Secretary AFPS 06 Oct 2011 -- Ashton B. Carter was sworn in as deputy secretary of defense in a private Pentagon ceremony this morning.
• Russia threatens stop to missile defense cooperation RIA Novosti 06 Oct 2011 -- Russia warned on Thursday it may stop cooperation with the United States on a missile shield in Europe.
• India non-committal on Ayni air base in Tajikistan IRNA 06 Oct 2011 -- India, Tajikistan and Russia are in negotiations on Joint use of Ayni Air Base, close to the Tajik capital Dushanbe which is set to acquire strategic significance after US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• October 6, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Oct 2011

Defense Industry

• U.S. Marine Corps Selects ATK's BLACKHAWK! SERPA Holster System ATK 06 Oct 2011 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced that its BLACKHAWK! branded SERPA holster system was chosen for a $3.5 million U.S. Marine Corps contract. ATK will deliver over 27,000 SERPA holster kits and nearly 3,000 maintenance kits to SEK Solutions, which secured the Marine Corps contract. Work will be performed in Bozeman, Montana and initial orders are expected to ship in December of 2011.
• BAE Systems Receives $270 Million for Bradley Upgrade Materials BAE Systems 06 Oct 2011 -- BAE Systems will purchase material items in preparation for the conversion of 245 Bradley Operation Desert Storm Situational Awareness (ODS-SA) vehicles through a $270 million contract from U.S. Army Contracting Command – Warren.
• BAE Systems Receives $21.9 Million Contract to Provide MRAP Maintenance in Afghanistan BAE Systems 06 Oct 2011 -- BAE Systems received a $21.9 million contract award from the U.S. Marine Corps for ongoing maintenance, updates and repairs to Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The award will be used to expand the universal MRAP maintenance workforce in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
• General Dynamics Awarded $78 Million to Enhance U.S. Army’s Command Post of the Future General Dynamics 06 Oct 2011 -- The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics C4 Systems a two-year contract for the continued development and enhancement of the Command Post of the Future (CPOF) system. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a maximum potential value of $78 million. The original contract for Command Post of the Future was awarded to General Dynamics in 2007. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• Egypt Becomes 13th International Customer for Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pod Lockheed Martin 06 Oct 2011 -- Egypt is now the 13th international customer for Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP), which provides precision targeting and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (NTISR) in a single lightweight system.
• Lockheed Martin’s JLTV Meets Mine-Resistant Vehicle Protection Levels at 40 Percent Less Weight Lockheed Martin 06 Oct 2011 -- Recent government blast tests demonstrated that Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE:LMT] Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) meets protection standards for IED-protected vehicles, while weighing approximately 40 percent less than other all-terrain models deployed in theater.

Other Conflicts

• 6 October 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Oct 2011
• UN warns of further tension as Sudan and South Sudan maintain troops in disputed area UN News Centre 06 Oct 2011 -- Neither Sudan nor South Sudan have fulfilled their pledges to withdraw their forces from the disputed Abyei area, threatening a 'serious deterioration' in tensions between migrating herders and displaced farmers returning to plant their crops, the United Nations warned today.
• Press Conference by Outgoing Special Coordinator for Lebanon United Nations 06 Oct 2011
• Strong political will needed to avoid future violence in southern Lebanon – UN official UN News Centre 06 Oct 2011 -- Southern Lebanon has seen its longest period of stability in years, but strong political will is needed to avoid future violence, a senior United Nations official said today, calling for Lebanon and neighbouring countries to work together to achieve a permanent ceasefire.

News Reports

• SYRIA: Concerns over 'rampant torture' IRIN 06 Oct 2011 -- Six months into pro-democracy protests in Syria, allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by supporters of President Bashar al-Assad's regime proliferate.
• Clinton: UN Security Council 'Abrogated Its Responsibility' On Syria RFE/RL 06 Oct 2011 -- The United States has continued for a second day to criticize the United Nations Security Council for failing to pass a resolution condemning the Syrian regime's deadly crackdown on protesters
• Death toll from Syrian violence tops 2,900, UN human rights office says UN News Centre 06 Oct 2011 -- The death toll from months of violent clashes between Syrian Government forces and pro-democracy protesters has now climbed to 2,900, the United Nations human rights office said today.
• Four Scenarios For Putin 2.0 RFE/RL 06 Oct 2011
• China urged to stop opposing Taiwan's bids to join U.N. bodies CNA 06 Oct 2011 -- Premier Wu Den-yih said Thursday that China should not veto Taiwan's bids for membership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as both organizations concern the fundamental human rights of safety and health.