By Megan McCloskey
Published: October 29, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. _ The title of HBO's new documentary, "Wartorn: 1861-2010," suggests a bit of a boring history lesson, but instead the unflinching look at PTSD reveals just how universal the struggles of today's servicemembers really are.
The sobering documentary, which will air on Veterans Day, opens with the story of a Civil War soldier who enlisted with stars and stripes in his eyes. His letters over the years grow less enthusiastic about the cause and more troubled by the daily death of comrades. He is eventually hospitalized and sent home, where he kills himself.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 29, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany: The Obama administration's decision on Monday to waive Yemen, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad from the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 — a law then Sen. Barack Obama co-sponsored — raised a few eyebrows among human rights advocates this week.
But the Foreign Policy blog, “The Cable,” obtained a State Department document on the decision to continue with military assistance to these offending countries, giving insight into the administration's rationale for working with these troubled nations. The document offers several justifications for continued engagement with the four countries.
By Megan McCloskey
Published: October 28, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. — President Barack Obama will assess the progress in Afghanistan this December, but a senior NATO commander said whether the coalition’s main offensive in the heart of Taliban territory has had “genuine success” can’t be determined until June.
British Army Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, the top commander in Kandahar, said Thursday that despite encouraging signs, the coalition won’t be able to truly measure progress in the region until the summer when the traditional fighting season rolls around.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 28, 2010
Department of Justice officials this week announced that eight states and the District of Columbia will accept military overseas ballots arriving after the Nov. 2 election because of problems surrounding when that absentee paperwork was mailed.
Last year Congress approved the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, which included language requiring all states to send requested absentee ballots to overseas military voters no later than 45 days before a federal election. Five states received hardship waivers to that new rule (Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington) but at least 10 others were pressured by the Department for violating the rule.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 28, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany: The U.S. has given more than $200 million in aid over the past couple years to Somalia’s embattled transitional government, but accounting for all that money and assistance must be tricky.
In the annual “Corruption Perceptions Index,” compiled by the Berlin-based Transparency International, Somalia once again ranked as the most corrupt land on earth. The virtual failed state finished last out of 178 nations, according to the report released earlier this week.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 27, 2010
WASHINGTON -- Designers are working on a seat for military vehicles that could absorb the impact from bumps and blasts. Made by QinetiQ and with a suspension system made by the company Active Shock, the seat uses a combination of springs and fluid to mitigate the force of an impact.
The seat can tell how much you weigh and calculate how much force it needs to absorb to give you a smooth ride, according to Scott Martino, director of business development for Active Shock.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 27, 2010
WASHINGTON -- Democratic Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said he has waited more than two months for Pentagon officials to turn over staffing data related to the closing of U.S. Joint Forces Command, with no response. So his decision this week to put a hold on hundreds of military and civilian defense nominees was his only recourse, he told reporters at a press event this morning.
"This would never have happened when I was at the Pentagon," said Webb, a former secretary of the Navy. "There's a lot of slow rolling going on ... and it needs to stop. It's a lack of respect for Congress."
By Megan McCloskey
Published: October 27, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. — Neighborhood watch programs, typically the domain of riled-up, would-be crime stoppers in community associations across America, are apparently catching on in the Marjah district of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
The top U.S. commander there told the Pentagon press corps Tuesday that Marines are seeing increasing interest among residents in organizing formal groups to keep an eye on villages.
By Derek Turner
Published: October 26, 2010
Are you happier than Mickey Mouse? Would you trade your kevlar helmet for a career that offered a sweet set of mouse ears and free entry to the Magic Kingdom? You might think so, but don’t toss out your MRE just yet.
The Christian Science Monitor this week reported on a study that ranked the most “blissful places to work.” And though the military features such potential job hazards as incoming mortars and roadside bombs, every single branch — and the Army National Guard — ranked above Disney. And Microsoft, for that matter.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 26, 2010
WASHINGTON -- Late Monday, Pentagon officials announced the release of a free smart phone application designed to help servicemembers and veterans to track their emotional health, with a focus on their return from deployments. The T2 Mood Tracker (from the National Center for Telehealth and Technology) is available for download here.
The program, which was honored earlier this year during the military's Apps4Army competition, allows users to quickly chart their stress and happiness levels on a daily basis. That information can be later shared with doctors and therapists, who can use the trends in their treatment recommendations.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 25, 2010
WASHINGTON – A senior Army commander who was strongly rebuked for writing a letter to Stars and Stripes urging troops and families to voice their opposition to repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law said he was sorry about the incident.
“I do regret having put Army senior leadership on the spot with my response in the Stars and Stripes,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, head of U.S. Army Pacific, at a media roundtable on Monday.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 25, 2010
WASHINGTON — A British firm has developed ballistic underwear known as “Blast Boxers,” which are designed to protect troops’ most sensitive regions.
“The tagline on the product is: Protection for your privates, both literally and figuratively,” said Edward Schmitt, of BCB International, which makes the protective gear.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 22, 2010
WASHINGTON – Gen. James Amos became the 35th commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps on Friday, taking command of a force that has roughly 20,000 Marines deployed at war in southern Afghanistan while at the same time is being tasked to question its own future by civilian defense leaders.
"If I said I was about to jump out of my skin, it would be an understatement," Amos said eagerly, as soon as he took the microphone.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 22, 2010
In the past week, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have recorded anti-gay bullying messages, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates is not expected to join in.
Following a number of youth suicides linked to bullying, the “It Gets Better” campaign has received huge national support from celebrities and political leaders. Harassment of gays is one of the underlying concerns behind the deliberate pace of repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell," though it is rarely openly discussed by top Pentagon officials.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 22, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany: Could the militarization of the Arctic be the best way to ensure peace in this resource-rich region where Russia, Canada and the United States all have territorial claims?
Yes, says a new report on Arctic security from the Royal United Services Institute in London. The report makes the case that an international military presence is a prerequisite for security in this frozen-but-melting part of the world and should not be demilitarized.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 21, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. – Citing the continuing “legal uncertainty” swirling around the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, Defense Secretary Robert Gates ordered on Thursday that only the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force have the power to discharge openly gay servicemembers from the military.
“Effective immediately and until further notice,” Gates wrote, no servicemember may be discharged without their service secretary’s personal approval and in consultation with the Defense Department’s top lawyer, General Counsel Jeh Johnson, and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 21, 2010
WASHINGTON -- Even though the mission in Iraq may have a new name, U.S. troops will not get a new campaign medal if they take part in Operation New Dawn.
“The current Iraq Campaign Medal campaign phase, ‘Iraqi Sovereignty,’ which took effect Jan. 1, 2009, describes both the initial phase of Operation New Dawn and the final phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez said in an e-mail. That means no new medal is needed for the shift away from non-combat operations that occurred in August.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 21, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Navy has announced the first four submarines that will accept 24 female officers beginning December 2011. Until then, crew "docs" are getting refresher courses on women’s health.
The first boats are the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729), out of Kings Bay, Ga., and the USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Ohio (SSGN 726), from Bangor, Wash. The Trident boats are Ohio-class, nuclear powered, guided and ballistic missile submarines. Each has two crews, and each crew be assigned three female officers, according to a Navy release.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 21, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany -- Truckers departing from Germany recently arrived in Bagram, Afghanistan, successfully testing a new ground supply route through rough terrain, according to the U.S. military.
U.S. European Command completed the so-called “proof of principle” involving two trucks, which completed the journey in less than 50 days. In November, EUCOM will conduct a second test —this time involving a convoy of trucks.
“The route took 49 days, a significantly lower time than most current routes into Afghanistan, and highlighted some areas for improvement that could reduce the delivery time by another 19 days,” the Defense Logistics Agency stated in a news release. The initial trip involved trucks from an international carrier carrying two 20-foot containers, according to the report.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 20, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Kevin O'Brien notes that even the biggest career fairs struggle to attract more than 1,000 job seekers, because of the space and logistics involved. But he's hoping to attract more than 15,000 to his job fair next month.
O'Brien, vice president of business development for UBM Studios Milicruit, is behind the company's upcoming Veteran's Day Virtual Career Fair, set to launch Nov. 4. The event, a partnership between his company and the Military Officers Association of America, will feature more than 60 employers with 5,000 potential job openings, as well as presentations about government jobs and GI Bill opportunities.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 19, 2010
UPDATED, 1:10pm -- ARLINGTON, Va. -- Gunfire hit the Pentagon Tuesday morning, shattering two windows and setting off a search for the culprit, Pentagon officials said.
At 4:55 am a Pentagon Force Protection Agency officer reported hearing five to seven shots fired from the south parking lot, near I-395. Several off ramps lead into the parking lot. Officials closed off access to the entire building and grounds to investigate, said Steven Calvery, PFPA director.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 19, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- White House officials announced late yesterday that President Barack Obama will award Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta his Medal of Honor on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at a White House ceremony. Military officials said his wife, Jennifer, his parents, Steven and Rosemary Giunta, and other family members will be on hand to "commemorate his example of selfless service."
The event will be the first time the nation's top political leaders will be able to shake hands with a living Medal of Honor recipient from the current wars. Giunta is the fourth man to be awarded the honor for actions in Afghanistan, but the other three were all posthumous ceremonies with families fighting back tears.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 18, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Late last week the White House released a statement calling for Congress to approve another round of Social Security economic recovery payments, because "many seniors are struggling in the face of the economic downturn, having seen their savings fall." The push came the same day the Social Security Administration announced it would not provide a cost-of-living adjustment for the second year in a row.
Like the payouts that were delivered in 2009, this round of economic recovery payments would sent $250 checks to all seniors receiving Social Security, including about 2 million veterans. Eligible veterans would not have to do anything to receive the money, but would have to live in the United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam) to qualify for the money.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 18, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany -- About the time U.S troops were wrapping up a training mission with an elite group of soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo in September, other elements of the DRC military could have been involved in a series of atrocities again women in the country, according to a new United Nations report.
Just last week, the UN reported that hundreds of women who were raped by rebels in the DRC three months earlier now appear to face similar abuses from government troops. “There is already some information from (UN) peacekeepers on the ground that rapes, killings and lootings have been perpetrated by FARDC (the government) soldiers,” said Margot Wallström, the UN’s special Representative on sexual violence and conflict, on Thursday.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 15, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Just a few moments ago the Pentagon's top personnel official, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley, issued a new memo warning gay troops serving silently in the ranks not to change their behavior because of the injunction this week which has temporarily halted enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" law:
Yesterday, the Department of Justice filed an appeal from this injunction and the court’s earlier decision that supports it, and is seeking a stay of the injunction while the appeal is pending. In the interim, the Department of Justice will abide by the terms of the injunction. It is possible that a stay of the injunction could be issued very soon, perhaps in a matter of days. In that event, I will issue additional guidance. The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall ensure immediate compliance with this memorandum.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 15, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new survey of 800 U.S. servicemembers by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's Investor Education Foundation found encouraging news about military member's financial literacy. Military families are better than their civilian counterparts at keeping up with monthly expenses, calculating how much they need for retirement, shopping around for the best deals and checking their credit scores.
The bad news? Despite those findings, the FINRA reports that military families often carry more debt and pay more penalties than civilians, and could face long-term financial problems as a result.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 15, 2010
STUTTGART, Germany -- Since pirates operating off of Somalia’s immense coastline—it equals the distance from Maine to Miami— began operating in earnest a couple years ago, hundreds of vessels have been attacked or hijacked by these seafaring bandits. Perhaps the most famous of those attacks was the one launched in April 2009 on the Maersk Alabama, which as it turns out is the only U.S. flagged ship to be taken control of since the piracy wave started in 2008. In this case, it didn’t end well for the young bandits: U.S. Navy snipers killed three of the pirates and others who survived during the operation were taken into U.S. custody and prosecuted in New York.
Did the robust response serve as deterrent against future strikes on U.S. ships? It’s hard to tell. However, the U.S.’s top diplomat for Africa, had some tough words this week for many in the international community, who take a more hands off approach.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- By this summer, soldiers in Afghanistan should all be wearing the Army’s new Multicam camouflage pattern uniform, but that’s a temporary solution. The Army is preparing to come up with separate new options tailored to the desert, woodlands and somewhere in between.
In 2004, the Army adopted the Army Combat Uniform which features a grey digital camouflage pattern that supposedly works in both desert and woodland environments. But troops complained the camouflage pattern didn’t work well in Afghanistan’s terrain, prompting the Army to adopt a Multicam pattern uniform specifically for Afghanistan.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 14, 2010
UPDATE, 3:35pm -- Pentagon officials just issued this statement to the press, announcing that they've instructed service officials to abide by the terms of the court injunction halting enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" law:
Earlier today, the Staff Judge Advocate Generals from the Military Services, in consultation with the OSD Office of General Counsel, sent to their Service Staff Judge Advocate counterparts in the field an e-mail informing them of the ruling by Judge Virginia Phillips of the Central District of California, issuing an injunction barring the enforcement or application of 10 USC 654, commonly known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute. The e-mail noted that the US Government is contemplating whether to appeal and to seek a stay of the injunction.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- While the Supreme Court ponders the possible implications of the Stolen Valor Act, a state lawmaker from South Carolina thinks he's found a better solution for dealing with military fakers: May them pay.
State Rep. Chip Limehouse, a Republican from Charleston, last week introduced legislation that would levy hefty fine against state and federal politicians who lie about their military records while campaigning in South Carolina. The first offense would cost the liars $10,000. The third offense would jump up to $30,000.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 14, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. -- U.S. national security leaders in Brussels on Thursday applauded the first draft of a new 10-year strategy for NATO they say meets the dramatic changes facing the Alliance since the last decade.
At a meeting of NATO ministers, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the Strategic Concept a “pivotal document” that reshapes a larger and deployed NATO to focus on contemporary threats, citing terrorism, (nuclear) proliferation, and cyber. At her side, Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged NATO countries gathering at the Lisbon summit next month to move forward with many of requirements laid out in the document, especially missile defense of Europe.
By Megan McCloskey
Published: October 13, 2010
FORT HOOD, Texas — The opening day of testimony in the pretrial hearing for Maj. Nidal Hasan was emotional and detailed, with many of the wounded speaking about the shooting publicly for the first time.
One soldier who had been shot five times intensely stared down Hasan, locking eyes with him repeatedly. A medical technician broke down when her 911 call was played and had to leave the courtroom. Another soldier talked about having PTSD and needing anger management courses.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 13, 2010
At a conference earlier this week, Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, head of Program Executive Office Soldier, said that too often he hears reports of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan worn out from the weight of the gear they're carrying. "I tell people in my office, 'Stop hanging stuff on the kids like they're Christmas trees.'"
A recent study showed that medics and mortar operators in Afghanistan are carrying the most weight of any troops, about 133 pounds on a typical three-day mission. But even troops on routine patrols can carry close to 100 pounds of body armor, weaponry and mission-specific gear.
By Megan McCloskey
Published: October 13, 2010
FORT HOOD, Texas -- The Article 32 for the Army psychiatrist accused of murdering 13 people and wounding 32 others here last year has been postponed twice. Today, the investigating officer will decide whether that should happen one more time.
Lawyers had until midnight yesterday to file briefs outlining why they needed more prep time to defend Maj. Nidal Hasan. The hearing, which is held to decide whether there is enough evidence to go forward with a court martial, was supposed to start March 1. It was delayed until June 1, then again, until Oct. 12. Hasan's lawyers have now asked the judge to move it back to Nov. 8.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 12, 2010
On Monday the Department of Veterans Affairs launched it's newest campaign to educate veterans on their post-military benefits and encourage them to take advantage of the resources. The ad (at right) will air in six major media markets -- Norfolk, Raleigh, Savannah, Seattle, Watertown, and El Paso -- with large young veteran populations.
The move will cost the Department about $1 million, but officials say it's an important step in getting to veterans before problems arise. Research shows veterans who seek VA health care shortly after separation from the military face fewer long-term problems than those who have little contact with the Department.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 8, 2010
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Military officials frequently try to promote energy-efficiency stories to Pentagon journalists, usually without much luck. (Bases install solar panels, LEEDS buildings are built.)
But thanks to a half dozen attacks on NATO fuel trucks in Pakistan, suddenly there’s reason to reexamine how the armed forces use energy. The military long has said it hoped that energy innovations would result in fewer fuel convoys across hostile territory of Kuwait and Iraq, or Pakistan and Afghanistan. The convoys were frequent targets during the Iraq war.
By John Vandiver
Published: October 7, 2010
A German government official, without naming names, is taking issue with countries for sounding the alarm about potential terror threats in Europe, saying that travel warnings help terrorists in their goal to intimidate and scare populations. “We are taking things seriously. But public accompanying music is also something that terrorists use, because they want to spread fear,” German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told radio station Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday. “We are working without talking a lot.”
On Oct. 3, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory, which provided no specifics but urged Americans to be aware of their surroundings. Do such warnings do any good? Is it the public’s right to know about terror threats, no matter how vague? Some people have criticized the recent advisory, saying a warning without any specifics and spans an entire continent merely conveys one thing: the world is a dangerous place.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 6, 2010
With a new military agreement on the defense of the Korean Peninsula in hand, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and South Korea's National Defense Minister Kim Tae-young lead two days of talks beginning Thursday that are aimed at establishing a framework for a five year-long to do list.
This year’s 42nd annual Security Consultative Meeting will focus on synchronizing the components of new U.S.-South Korean security plan, “Strategic Alliance 2015,” -- SA2015, if you’re nasty -- that was announced in September following the North Korean attack on the South Korean naval ship Cheonan earlier this year.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 6, 2010
The White House awarded Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller his posthumous Medal of Honor Wednesday afternoon, in front of a crowd a government leaders and Miller's family and friends. But in his remarks President Barack Obama also singled out the men Miller saved for their bravery in bringing their fallen comrade back home.
Miller was killed during a combat reconnaissance patrol near Gowardesh, Afghanistan, in January 2008. When his team was pinned down by enemy fire in a pre-dawn ambush, Miller ran into the fight to draw pressure off of his men, allowing them to reach cover. His bravery eventually cost him his life, and his men fought for nearly two hours to recovery and remove his body from the battlefield.
"This is the story of what one American soldier did for his team, but it’s also a story of what they did for him," Obama said. "Two of his teammates braved the bullets and rushed to Rob’s aid. In those final moments, they were there at his side -- American soldiers there for each other.
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Published: October 6, 2010
A very interesting piece here about troops struggling with for-profit college programs available to them under the revamped post-9/11 GI Bill.
Bloomberg’s Daniel Golden reported late last month that since the new GI Bill with expanded education benefits took effect in August 2009, for-profit colleges have snagged $618 million, or 35 percent, of the nearly $1.8 billion in tuition and fees spent by U.S. taxpayers on veteran education.
Disabled Iraq veteran Chris Pantzke tells Bloomberg that since enrolling in an online program with the for-profit Art Institute of Pittsburgh, he’s failed or dropped half of his 18 classes and has had a hard time getting face-to-face help.
By Geoff Ziezulewicz
Published: October 6, 2010
A new Air Force command dedicated to the service's nuclear arsenal reached full capability on Sept. 30.
The Global Strike Command, the first new service command in 27 years, was stood up to better align Air Force nuclear resources, according to an Oct. 1 press release. This latest command was created in 2008 after several nuclear missteps in recent years, including a 2007 incident when a B-52 Stratofortress flew cross-country with six nuclear cruise missiles on board, without the crew’s knowledge.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 5, 2010
The Pentagon is trying to arrange a meeting in Vietnam this weekend between Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and his counterpart, China’s Gen. Xu Caihou, in what would be the first contact between the two defense leaders in one year. Gates likely would visit not visit Beijing until early next year, due to his schedule.
The meeting would mark "the first substantive" talks between the U.S. and Chinese militaries since China imposed a freeze in relations earlier this year in protest of arms stale to Taiwan, said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 4, 2010
For years, the Westboro Baptist Church has been picketing troops’ funerals because they believe that God is exacting divine revenge for the United States’ tolerance of gays and lesbians.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments whether the church is protected under the First Amendment or whether it can be sued for inflicting emotional distress.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 4, 2010
Officials from the Department of Labor and Chamber of Commerce late last week announced a new 14-state pilot program to help veterans find not just jobs but "meaningful careers" upon finishing their military service.
The effort, an expansion of the Chamber's "Hiring our heroes" initiative, also includes efforts to educate employers about the value of hiring veterans, who often boast military skills that aren't always easily explained in job interviews. Unemployment among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans dropped to 9.4 percent in August, an improvement over the double-digit rates seen throughout the summer but still well above the 7.4 rate for all veterans seeking work.
By Jeff Schogol
Published: October 1, 2010
The makers of the latest “Medal of Honor” game have removed an option allowing people to play as the Taliban, but they can still kill U.S. troops as the “Opposing Force.”
Concerns about allowing players to assume the role of the Taliban prompted the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to decide not to sell the video game in its stores or online.
By Kevin Baron
Published: October 1, 2010
The military has had since June 2009 to get U.S. Cyber Command up and running at “full operating capability” by October, its self-imposed deadline.But Friday morning, a Cybercom spokesman released a statement saying that senior Defense Department leaders are still figuring out what they need to do to reach that goal, and what they’ve already done.
“DoD senior leadership is currently evaluating the criteria for "Full Operating Capability (FOC)" and reviewing the milestones that U.S. Cyber Command has already met in order to determine its FOC status," said a statement from CYCBERCOM spokesman Col. Rivers Johnson. Johnson appeared to push back at the notion that their deadline was the first day of October, writing, “October 2010 is the month identified" in a June 2009 memo from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
By Leo Shane III
Published: October 1, 2010
In a last minute piece of business before heading out on pre-election recess, the Senate gave final confirmation for Gen. James Amos to become the new Marine Corps Commandant and for Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford to serve as his deputy.
Amos, who had been serving as deputy, takes over the job at a time of potential upheaval for the Corps. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has pledged a re-examining of the role and future of the Marines as part of his cost-savings and efficiency initiatives. And the service could soon be dealing with a repeal of the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" law, which Amos has publicly backed.
