NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) January 28, 2013 -- Following a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) returned to Naval Station Norfolk today marking the successful conclusion of her maiden Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployment. The ship departed last April for the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 24, 2013) -- Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey signed a memo this afternoon, paving the way for more women to serve in direct combat roles and in more military occupational specialties that are now open only to males. The memo rescinds the 1994 DOD "Direct Ground Combat Definition … [Read more...]

Washington, D.C. January 24, 2013 Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to announce the lifting of the direct combat exclusion rule for women in the military, a senior defense official said today. The policy change will begin a process in which the services will develop plans to implement the … [Read more...]

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) January 24, 2013 -- The Navy announced plans Jan. 23 to promote safety and provide education and awareness on the dangers of irresponsible alcohol use and the negative impact it has on mission accomplishment, by introducing the use of alcohol detection devices (ADD) across the fleet. As part of the Secretary of the Navy's (SECNAV) 21st Century Sailor and … [Read more...]

1/23/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force released the results of the service-wide health and welfare inspections that were completed in an effort to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace. "Every Airman deserves to be treated with respect. They also deserve to work in a professional environment," said Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Air … [Read more...]