Category: Military Intelligence

MIL-OSI Security: Man Who Concealed Croatian War Crime Charge Sentenced to Prison for Immigration Fraud

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

CLEVELAND – An Ohio man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for possessing a green card he illegally obtained by concealing that he had been charged with a war crime in Croatia prior to immigrating to the United States.

According to court documents, Jugoslav Vidic, 56, of Parma Heights, in applying to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, falsely stated that he had never been charged with breaking any law even though he knew he had been charged in Croatia with a war crime against the civilian population. Vidic also falsely stated that his only past military service was in the Yugoslav Army from 1988 to 1989, when, in fact, he fought with the Serb Army of Krajina and its predecessors during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. As a result of these materially false statements, Vidic was approved for lawful permanent resident status and received a green card.

“Jugoslav Vidic lied about war crimes charged against him in an attempt to escape his past and live in the United States unlawfully,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the dedication of prosecutors, law enforcement, and our international partners, Vidic will serve prison time in the United States followed by his removal. His sentence demonstrates that human rights violators will not be allowed to hide from their crimes in the United States.”

“Vidic committed serious human rights violations and was convicted of war crimes in Croatia as a result. Yet, he lied to U.S. immigration officials about his conviction and participation in a violent military force to claim refugee status and obtain a green card — becoming a permanent legal resident of our country — when he was not eligible to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Those who run away from violent crimes they commit elsewhere in the world and then enter our country by brazenly lying about their past will be held to account, as yesterday’s sentence demonstrates. Vidic’s deceitful actions are detestable, and unfairly hurt people in need who legitimately seek refuge to flee real harms in their home countries.”

“Our communities here in Ohio and across the U.S. are not safe havens for war criminals to escape accountability in their home countries,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “It is my hope that this sentencing provides some measure of solace to the victims’ families with the knowledge that despite the passage of time, the U.S. will seek justice.”

“Jugoslav Vidic intentionally circumvented the laws of the United States by lying on his green card application about his war crimes conviction in Croatia,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “This case should serve as a warning to others that the FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable those like Vidic who seek to violate U.S. law by fraud of any kind.”

“Jugoslav Vidic knowingly avoided the truth of his past to enjoy the freedoms and liberties of the United States for over two and a half decades,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “Yesterday’s sentence underscores the work of the FBI and its local, state, federal, and international partners and sends a clear message that people in the United States who take part in war crimes, regardless of when or where they occurred, or by masking their involvement, will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted.”

Vidic admitted in his plea agreement that he was charged with a war crime in Croatia in 1994 and convicted in absentia in 1998. The Croatian court found that during an attack by ethnic Serb forces in Petrinja, Croatia, on Sept. 16, 1991, Vidic cut off the arm of civilian Stjepan Komes, who died afterward. Vidic further admitted that he knew about the Croatian charges when he immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1999, applied to become a lawful permanent resident in 2000, and was interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and received his green card in 2005.

Vidic pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an alien registration receipt card knowing it had been procured through materially false statements. As part of the plea agreement, Vidic agreed to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States.

HSI and the FBI investigated the case with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, including the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia, which were both instrumental in furthering the investigation.

Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Jerome J. Teresinski for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.

Members of the public who have information about human rights violators or immigration fraud in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip form, or HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or through the ICE online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Raytheon Company to Pay Over $950 Million in Connection with Foreign Bribery, Export Control and Defective Pricing Schemes
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

Raytheon to Pay Approximately $300 Million to Resolve the FCPA and ITAR Investigations in the Eastern District of New York
BROOKLYN, NY – Raytheon Company (Raytheon), a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor RTX (formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation), entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Department of Justice in connection with a criminal information unsealed today in the Eastern District of New York charging Raytheon with two counts: conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for engaging in a scheme to bribe a government official in Qatar and conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) by willfully failing to disclose the bribes in export licensing applications with the Department of State.

Separately, Raytheon will enter into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed today in the District of Massachusetts charging Raytheon with two counts of major fraud against the United States. As part of that resolution, Raytheon admitted to engaging in two separate schemes to defraud the Department of Defense (DOD) in connection with the provision of defense articles and services, including PATRIOT missile systems and a radar system.

Both agreements require that Raytheon retain an independent compliance monitor for three years, enhance its internal compliance program, report evidence of additional misconduct to the Justice Department, and cooperate in any ongoing or future criminal investigations.

Raytheon also reached a separate False Claims Act settlement with the department relating to the defective pricing schemes. The Justice Department’s FCPA and ITAR resolution is coordinated with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In addition, the Justice Department’s resolutions ensure that the appropriate federal agencies can proceed with determining whether Raytheon or any other individuals or entities associated with the company should be suspended or debarred as federal contractors. Pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), when more than one agency has an interest in an entity’s potential suspension or debarment, the FAR requires that the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC) identify the lead agency for conducting government-wide suspension or debarment proceedings. In connection with this resolution, the Justice Department has referred Raytheon’s factual admissions to the appropriate officials within the Department of Defense to initiate the process with the ISDC to identify which federal agency will take the lead in such administrative proceedings, which occur independently of the Justice Department’s criminal and civil resolutions.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Kevin Driscoll, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kevin Driscoll of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Chad Yarbrough, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, announced the resolution.

“Over the course of several years, Raytheon employees bribed a high-level Qatari military official to obtain lucrative defense contracts and concealed the bribe payments by falsifying documents to the government, in violation of laws including those designed to protect our national security,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We will continue to pursue justice against corruption, and as this agreement establishes, enforce meaningful consequences, reforms and monitorship to ensure this misconduct is not repeated.”

Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Department of State for their work on the case.

“Raytheon engaged in criminal schemes to defraud the U.S. government in connection with contracts for critical military systems and to win business through bribery in Qatar,” stated Deputy Assistant Attorney General Driscoll. “Such corrupt and fraudulent conduct, especially by a publicly traded U.S. defense contractor, erodes public trust and harms the Department of Defense, businesses that play by the rules, and American taxpayers. Today’s resolutions, with criminal and civil penalties totaling nearly $1 billion, reflect the Criminal Division’s ability to tackle the most significant and complex white-collar cases across multiple subject matters.”

“International corruption in military and defense sales is a violation of our national security laws as well as an anti-bribery offense,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “Raytheon willfully failed to disclose bribes made in connection with contracts that required export licenses. Today’s resolution should serve as a stark warning to companies that violate the law when selling sensitive military technology overseas.”

“The Raytheon Company set out to intentionally defraud the U.S. government,” stated FBI Assistant Director Yarbrough. “This agreement highlights the importance of integrity when it comes to government contracting. The FBI, with its law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate these types of crimes that waste taxpayer dollars and prosecute all those who are intent on cooking up these major fraud schemes.”

“Raytheon Corporation engaged in a systematic and deliberate conspiracy that knowingly and willfully violated U.S. fraud and export laws,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker. “Raytheon’s bribery of government officials, specifically those involved in the procurement of U.S. military technology, posed a national security threat to both the U.S. and its allies. As this investigation reflects, national security continues to be a top priority for HSI New York. The global threats facing the U.S. have never been greater, and HSI New York is committed to working with our federal and international partners to assure sensitive U.S. technologies are not unlawfully and fraudulently acquired.”

The FCPA Case

According to admissions and court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York, between approximately 2012 and 2016, Raytheon, through certain of its employees and agents, engaged in a scheme to bribe a high-level official at the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), a branch of Qatar’s Armed Forces (QAF) that was primarily responsible for the conduct of air warfare, to assist Raytheon in obtaining and retaining business from the QEAF and QAF. Raytheon entered into and made payments on sham contracts for air defense operations-related studies to corruptly obtain the Qatari official’s assistance in securing certain air defense contracts. Raytheon also entered into a teaming agreement with a Qatari entity to corruptly obtain the Qatari official’s assistance in directly awarding a contract to Raytheon, without a competitive bid, to build a joint operations center that would interface with Qatar’s several military branches.

Under the terms of the DPA, Raytheon will pay a criminal monetary penalty of over $252.3 million, criminal forfeiture of over $36.6 million and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. In addition, as part of the resolution of the SEC’s parallel investigation, Raytheon will pay approximately $49.1 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a civil penalty of $75 million, $22.5 million of which will be credited against the criminal monetary penalty. The Department has agreed to credit approximately $7.4 million of the disgorgement Raytheon pays to the SEC against the criminal forfeiture.

As part of the DPA, Raytheon and RTX have agreed to continue to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in any ongoing or future criminal investigations relating to this and other conduct. In addition, Raytheon and RTX have agreed to continue to enhance Raytheon’s compliance program.

The Department reached this resolution with Raytheon based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Raytheon received credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which included:
- Providing information obtained through its internal investigation, which allowed the government to preserve and obtain evidence as part of its own independent investigation;
- Facilitating interviews with current and former employees;
- Making detailed factual presentations to the government;
- Proactively disclosing certain evidence of which the government was previously unaware and identifying key documents in materials it produced; and
- Engaging experts to conduct financial analyses.
Raytheon also engaged in timely remedial measures, including:
- Recalibrating third party review and approval processes to lower company risk tolerance;
- Implementing enhanced controls over sales intermediary payments;
- Hiring empowered subject matter experts to oversee its anti-corruption compliance program and third party management;
- Implementing data analytics to improve third party monitoring; and
- Developing a multipronged communications strategy to enhance ethics and compliance training and communications.
However, in determining the appropriate cooperation credit, the government also took into account the fact that, in the initial phases of the investigation, prior to in or around 2022, Raytheon was at times slow to respond to the government’s requests and failed to provide relevant information in its possession; for example, Raytheon withheld relevant, material information from the government and gave incomplete and misleading presentations regarding the nature and scope of a relevant third-party intermediary relationship.

In light of these considerations, as well as Raytheon’s prior history, which includes three prior civil or regulatory enforcement actions: (i) a 2013 consent agreement with the U.S. State Department concerning civil ITAR and Arms Export Control Act violations, in connection with which Raytheon agreed to hire an independent special compliance officer to oversee the four-year consent decree while at the same time engaging in the conduct described in the DPA; (ii) a civil settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency in 2007 concerning payments to clean up contamination sites; and (iii) a resolution with the SEC in 2006 concerning false and misleading disclosures and improper accounting practices, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 20% reduction off the twentieth percentile above the low end of the otherwise applicable Guidelines fine range.

The ITAR Case

According to admissions and court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York, between approximately 2012 and 2016, Raytheon, through certain of its employees and agents, engaged in a scheme to willfully violate the AECA and ITAR Part 130 by failing to disclose to the United States Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, fees and commissions paid in connection with two Qatar-related contracts – specifically, the bribes Raytheon paid to the high-level QEAF official through sham subcontracts.

The Department reached this resolution with Raytheon based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense. Raytheon received credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, which included:
- Gathering evidence of interest to the government and proactively identifying key documents related to willful ITAR-related misconduct;
- Making factual presentations concerning the ITAR-related misconduct; and
- Facilitating witness interviews and expediting the government’s ability to meet with witnesses.
Raytheon also received credit for remediation, which included, in addition to the remediation described above in connection with the FCPA case:
- Hiring additional empowered subject matter experts in legal and compliance;
- Developing a multipronged communications strategy to enhance ethics and compliance training and communications; and
- Making enhancements to its ITAR-related compliance program.
Raytheon did not receive full credit for its cooperation because in the initial phase of the investigation, it failed to provide information relevant to the ITAR violations beyond what was requested in the FCPA investigation.

In light of these considerations, the ITAR-related financial penalty of $21,904,850 includes a cooperation and remediation credit of 20 percent off the otherwise applicable penalty.

The Defective Pricing Case

According to admissions and court documents filed in the District of Massachusetts, from 2012 through 2013 and again from 2017 through 2018, Raytheon employees provided false and fraudulent information to the DOD during contract negotiations concerning two contracts with the United States for the benefit of a foreign partner — one to purchase PATRIOT missile systems and the other to operate and maintain a radar system. In both instances, Raytheon employees provided false and fraudulent information to DOD in order to mislead DOD into awarding the two contracts at inflated prices. These schemes to defraud caused the DOD to pay Raytheon over $111 million more than Raytheon should have been paid on the contracts.

Under the terms of the DPA, Raytheon will pay a criminal monetary penalty of $146,787,972, pay $111,203,009in victim compensation, and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. The Justice Department has agreed to credit the victim compensation amount against restitution Raytheon pays to the Civil Division in its related, parallel False Claims Act proceeding.

Pursuant to the DPA, in addition to the independent compliance monitor, Raytheon and RTX have agreed to continue to implement a compliance and ethics program at Raytheon designed to prevent and detect fraudulent conduct throughout its operations. Raytheon and RTX have also agreed to continue to cooperate with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts in any ongoing or future criminal investigations.

The Justice Department reached this resolution with Raytheon based on a number of factors, including, among others, the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct, which involved two separate schemes to defraud the U.S. government. Raytheon received credit for its affirmative acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with the department’s investigation, which included (i) facilitating interviews with current and former employees; (ii) providing information obtained through its internal investigation, which allowed the department to preserve and obtain evidence as part of its own independent investigation; (iii) making detailed presentations to the department; (iv) proactively identifying key documents in the voluminous materials collected and produced; (v) engaging experts to conduct financial analyses; and (vi) demonstrating its willingness to disclose all relevant facts by analyzing whether the crime-fraud exception applied to certain potentially privileged documents and releasing the documents that it deemed fell within the exception. However, in the initial phases of the investigation prior to March 2022, Raytheon’s cooperation was limited by unreasonably slow document productions.

Raytheon also engaged in timely remedial measures, including (i) terminating certain employees who were responsible for the misconduct; (ii) establishing a broad defective pricing awareness campaign; (iii) developing and implementing policies, procedures, and controls relating to defective pricing compliance; and (iv) engaging additional resources with appropriate expertise to evaluate and test the new policies, procedures, and controls relating to defective pricing compliance.

In light of these considerations, as well as Raytheon’s prior history, the criminal penalty calculated under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines reflects a 25% reduction off the tenth percentile above the low end of the otherwise applicable guidelines fine range.

The False Claims Act Settlement

Raytheon also entered into a civil False Claims Act settlement to resolve allegations that it provided untruthful certified cost or pricing data when negotiating prices with the DOD for numerous government contracts and double billed on a weapons maintenance contract.

Under the False Claims Act settlement, which is the second largest government procurement fraud recovery under the Act, Raytheon will pay $428 million for knowingly failing to provide truthful certified cost and pricing data during negotiations on numerous government contracts between 2009 and 2020, in violation of the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA). Congress enacted TINA in 1962 to help level the playing field in sole source contracts — where there is no price competition — by making sure that government negotiators have access to the cost or pricing data that the offeror used when developing its proposal. As part of the settlement, Raytheon admitted that it failed to disclose cost or pricing data, as required by TINA, regarding its labor and material costs to supply weapon systems to DOD.

Raytheon also admitted that by misrepresenting its costs during contract negotiations it overcharged the United States on these contracts and received profits in excess of the negotiated profit rates. Further, Raytheon admitted that it failed to disclose truthful cost or pricing data on a contract to staff a radar station. Raytheon also admitted that it billed the same costs twice on a DOD contract.

As part of the civil resolution, Raytheon received credit under the Justice Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases for cooperation provided by RTX. That cooperation included conducting and disclosing the results of an internal investigation, disclosing relevant facts and material not known to the government but relevant to its investigation, providing the department with inculpatory evidence, conducting a damages analysis, identifying and separating individuals responsible for or involved in the misconduct, admitting liability and accepting responsibility for the misconduct, and improving its compliance programs.

The civil settlement includes the resolution of a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit was filed by Karen Atesoglu, a former Raytheon employee, and is captioned United States ex rel. Atesoglu v. Raytheon Technologies Corporation, 21-CV-10690-PBS (D. Mass.). Ms. Atesoglu will receive $4.2 million as her share of the settlement.

* * * * *

In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including the FCPA.

The FCPA and ITAR investigation was conducted by HSI and the FBI’s International Corruption Unit. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Assistant United States Attorneys David Pitluck, Hiral Mehta and Jessica Weigel are prosecuting the case with Acting Assistant Chief Katherine Raut and Trial Attorney Elina A. Rubin-Smith of the Fraud Section, and Trial Attorneys Christine Bonomo and Leslie Esbrook of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from Eastern District of New York Paralegal Specialist Liam McNett.

The Defendant:

THE RAYTHEON COMPANY
Waltham, Massachusetts

E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-399 (RER)
MIL Security OSI –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Wicker to President Biden: Make Final Push for Ukraine Before Leaving Office

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, is demanding that President Biden exercise his responsibilities as commander-in-chief and give Ukraine the weapons it needs to make a “substantial difference” on the battlefield in the last 90 days of his term.
Senator Wicker specifically called on the president to provision Ukraine with weaponry at a much faster rate, deliver more vehicles, missiles, drones and counter-drone equipment, and increase defense industrial base cooperation between the United States and Ukraine, among other recommendations. The senator sent these detailed requests, along with more than five others, as a part of a detailed plan to enable Ukrainian success prior to the next presidential term starting.
These demands follow repeated, unsuccessful engagements with the White House since August. In the letter, Senator Wicker notes that he sent a classified letter to President Biden with suggestions on how to improve the military assistance program for Ukraine, and he later followed up with a September phone call to the president regarding the letter. Senator Wicker has also shared these ideas with senior national security officials but has yet to see them yield any significant results.
“I am frustrated – and mystified – that your administration has accomplished so little in the last three months regarding the war in Ukraine. You seem poised to leave the next president a weak hand,” Senator Wicker wrote.
For two years, Senator Wicker has led Senate Republicans in pushing President Biden to implement a more effective strategy for Ukrainian victory. In September, Senator Wicker criticized President Biden’s intention to drag out his use of Presidential Drawdown Authority. Senator Wicker has also repeatedly published a detailed timeline of many instances when President Biden failed to deliver support to Ukraine at a speed where they could make a difference on the battlefield. In a 2023 floor speech, Senator Wicker laid out his first principles as it comes to supporting Ukraine: “more, better, faster.”
Read the full October 18, 2024 letter here or below.
October 17, 2024
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
In early August, I sent you a classified letter, which identified steps you could take to support Ukraine more aggressively. The letter contained detailed recommendations, including policy changes and suggestions to improve military assistance delivery and defense industrial base cooperation. My goal was to highlight ways that your administration could use its remaining six months in office wisely – to put Ukraine in the most advantageous position possible for your successor, whomever the American people choose. I followed up with you in a phone conversation in mid-September, and I have attended meetings with senior national security officials.

I am frustrated – and mystified – that your administration has accomplished so little in the last three months regarding the war in Ukraine. You seem poised to leave the next president a weak hand. Nonetheless, I maintain that a focused effort – directed by you – could make a substantial difference over your final 90 days as president.
Toward that end, I have included a list of 10 recommendations.
Recommendation 1: Increase the pace of weapons transfers to Ukraine. The current pace of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) usage would drag on through calendar year 2025. This is true despite the agreement between Congress and your administration that the authority granted in the National Security Supplemental would last through calendar year 2024. That tempo led your administration to seek a $5.5 billion extension of this authority last month.
The Secretaries of State and Defense exercised this authority to prevent its expiration, but your administration has said that the pace of deliveries will not change. Ukraine will continue to receive only about $400 million in military equipment per month for the next 14 months.
I am troubled that your administration is using U.S. military readiness as an excuse to “manage” the conflict in Ukraine. Officials are making decisions about strategic and military risk, but they are not consulting Congress. You should direct the Secretary of Defense to provide you a plan that would deliver the remaining $5.5 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to Ukraine immediately.
Deliver more vehicles. Ukraine needs many more heavy vehicles, such as M1A1 Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, to form the core of combined-arms brigades. Ukraine also faces a significant shortfall of general protected vehicles (such as up-armored HMMWVs, ambulances, and MRAPs) to protect troops from Russian drones and artillery. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps possess ample stocks of these vehicles. Our industrial base can easily replace those that are transferred. Additionally, there is no near-term need for massive stockpiles of vehicles given the degraded state of Russian ground forces.
Deliver more ATACMS. Ukraine has used U.S.-provided ATACMS responsibly and effectively, but it needs more. We have a sufficient inventory of serviceable long-range ATACMS. A significant number of these should go to Ukraine. Although there may be division within your administration on this recommendation, I urge you to push the Army and the combatant commands to aid Ukraine’s largely successful deep strike campaign.
Deliver more drones and counter unmanned aerial systems. U.S. attack drone and counter-UAS production can increase. The industrial base is expanding rapidly and has multiple solution options in each of these areas. Ukraine is quite receptive to using unproven systems.
Recommendation 2: Allow greater flexibility on restrictions for U.S.-provided munitions. One of Ukraine’s key asymmetric advantages against Russia is its ability to target high-value Russian military targets and to do so rapidly. Your administration has hamstrung this crucial advantage. You should immediately revise any policies that limit the use of U.S.-provided munitions, including ATACMS, to strike military targets inside Russia. Any restrictions should be placed on the types of targets, rather than on the distance from a border that Russia does not even recognize. Numerous allies and partners already allow their long-range munitions to be used for deep strikes.
Recommendation 3: Increase the cap of U.S. government non-military personnel allowed in-country. You should direct Secretary Blinken to allow more State Department, Defense Department, and other government agency personnel inside Ukraine. The current number of personnel cannot manage a military aid effort in the tens of billions of dollars while conducting planning for future improvements in the Ukrainian industrial base and economy. As a result, anything beyond the day-to-day management is not getting done. Current staff is overworked, and more U.S. government personnel are required to manage security assistance and to conduct accountability and oversight work. Numerous allies already have a much more risk-tolerant government presence in Ukraine.
Recommendation 4: Establish a regulated presence of U.S. military contractors inside Ukraine. You should allow a limited number of U.S. military contractors to operate in Ukraine – under strict conditions – to increase Ukraine’s ability to maintain its equipment. The current approach is too slow, as we remotely perform maintenance or move Ukrainian equipment to Poland for up-keep. The presence of U.S. contractors in-country would also help to mentor Ukrainian personnel to increase their self-sufficiency. U.S. contractors are well-prepared to execute such a mission. They have extensive experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. British, French, and Czech personnel are already in-country, or will soon be, to conduct similar missions.
Recommendation 5: Expand training for Ukrainian land forces. The United States should maximize the use of all available training capacity located in the European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility, and it should build up Ukrainian brigades capable of combined arms warfare. Currently, improved Ukrainian recruitment is outpacing Ukrainian and allied training. EUCOM almost certainly has the ability to train even more troops per month than it does now, which would help cover the number of troops that Ukraine does not have the capacity to train.
Recommendation 6: Deliver more shareable, commercially-derived intelligence. The administration should use processes already in place to increase the delivery of available unclassified information to Ukraine, including disposition of Russian forces and location data. The National Reconnaissance Office has contract vehicles in place for commercial satellite services (such as RF data) that are instrumental in providing Ukraine with services for tipping and cueing (i.e., targeting) of Russian radars, air assets, defense systems, and other threats.
Recommendation 7: Dramatically expand the Pentagon industrial base policy workforce. U.S. industrial base expansion and industrial base integration with Europe is not happening fast enough because we lack the personnel to plan and execute these activities. You should direct the Secretary of Defense, in the next 15 days, to reassign at least 100 capable and motivated DOD civil servants, moving them into these offices and asking Congress for new hiring authorities and supplemental money to pay for this expansion. The short-staffed office that runs the Defense Production Act illustrates the need. Only a handful of people staff that organization, which is tasked with finding ways to rebuild our supplier base for solid rocket motors, missile casings, and more. DOD industrial base offices can also help allies and partners expand their own production, such as the Storm Shadow and SCALP lines in the UK and France, respectively.
These U.S. offices include:
Joint Production Acceleration Cell
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International and Industry Engagement
Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (DPA & ICAM/IBAS)
Recommendation 8: Rapidly accelerate contracting timelines. I understand that many large contracts for Ukraine, especially those funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, are still taking a year or more on average. This is unacceptable. Section 1244 of the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA, as well as additional contracting authorities, grant broad flexibilities to the Department of Defense. By written instruction, you should formally direct the Secretary of Defense and the service acquisition executives to require all contracting officers to leverage – to the maximum extent possible – those contracting flexibilities. The Army has used section 1244 for the new 155mm artillery ammunition factory in Mesquite, Texas, and doing so brought it online two years faster than expected.
Recommendation 9: Hold monthly high-level defense industrial base meetings. You should direct the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Commerce to host monthly high-level defense industrial base meetings with Ukraine, key NATO allies, and defense industry officials. You should prioritize coproduction with Ukraine so it can better meet its own needs.
Recommendation 10: Deliver more DPICMs. In addition to ATACMS, Ukraine also has used Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICMs) effectively and responsibly. The U.S. inventory includes hundreds of thousands of serviceable 155mm DPICMs rounds. Each 155mm DPICMs round has the effect of 3–5 high explosive artillery projectiles. You possess the authority to send Ukraine $250 million of DPICMs today. There is simply no way to offset the artillery advantage of the Russians without using DPICMs.
Sincerely,
Roger F. Wicker
Ranking Member

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: More than a Miracle for These Mets Fans

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Since their inception in 1962, the New York Mets have long been enamored – and at times endured – by their supportive fan base.

Some of those followers have even taken their sporting devotion across the Seven Seas, from haze gray underway across ocean vastness to running silent and running deep in the briny depths.

There have been several Mets fans who have celebrated and commiserated during their time assigned to Naval Hospital Bremerton.

Brooklyn, New York native U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Uniszkiewicz, MD, MPH, became a Mets fan the day he was born.

“I have been a Mets fan my entire life. I watched games as a kid. It was how I spent time with my grandfather. Every year was going to be ‘our year.’ Even if it wasn’t, it still felt like it was,” reminisced Uniszkiewicz, stationed with North American Aerospace Command and U.S. Northern Command office of the command surgeon, force health protection division for public health threats.

Being a Mets fan is not for the faint of heart. Uniszkiewicz can attest to that.

“I cannot recommend being a Mets fan as the ups and downs they put you through will take years off your life,” Uniszkiewicz related. “For me though, it is the ups and downs that make them so enjoyable. Win or lose, they get up to play again tomorrow. I equate that to life, and military life in particular. The thrilling highs and sometimes challenging lows come to us all. It is how we deal with them that builds our character. Baseball teaches patience and resiliency.”

Many a servicemember knows that sports provide common ground at times to connect, discuss and parse. To a certain degree it can even level the hierarchy playing field.

“Sports transcend ranks, rates, and all walks of life,” said Uniszkiewicz. “Baseball brought people like me and retired Navy Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Submarine Kevin Flatley together in ways we may never have otherwise.”

“When I was NHB Directorate of Branch Clinics leading chief petty officer and Dr. U took over as my boss we instantly connected over our shared fandom of the Mets. That blossomed into a wonderful friendship now that I have retired,” added Flatley. “It also keeps me connected to several friends I grew up with on Long Island even though I have not lived there in 28 years. The Mets have served as the glue that has brought me together with several important people in my life.”

That mutual formed bond over their chosen team has had Uniszkiewicz and Flatley savoring wins and lamenting loses.

“Met games are never boring. They prove to me over and over that nothing is guaranteed in life, but you have to get up and keep playing. Although nobody in my family will make the bigs, it is from the couch that I will get into every game,” Uniszkiewicz said.

Although he insists no family member will play in the big leagues, Uniszkiewicz did enjoy the unique opportunity of throwing out the first pitch at a Tacoma Rainier – Triple A farm team of the Seattle Mariners – home game in 2017.

“That’s remains a highlight of my life,” Uniszkiewicz said.

When the Mets traveled to Oakland in 2023 for a three-game series, Uniszkiewicz and Flatley took in one of the games. Not only did their team sweep the Athletics, 17-6, 3-2 and 4-3, Uniszkiewicz snagged a foul ball. The odds of that happening are one in a 1,000 chance.

“That was incredible. I take that ball everywhere. It’s my lucky charm each time the Mets play,” exclaimed Uniszkiewicz.

The cool memory of catching the foul ball and tossing out the first pitch join another cherished remembrance for Uniszkiewicz which is also intricately related to baseball.

“My dad took me to a game at Shea Stadium [home field of the Mets from 1964 to 2008] every year on my birthday,” said Uniszkiewicz. “He did this even though he has no interest in sports. He did it for me. I want to carry that on to my kids. Baseball fills me with joy even when it fills me with pain because of the close ties to family and so many friends.

For Flatley, he can trace his support to the Mets back to the mid-1980s. After finishing 98-64 in ’85, the Mets went on a roll in ’86, finishing with a 108-54 record, claiming the National League East by 21.5 games. After knocking off the Houston Astros to win the National League Championship Series, they took on the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. After dropping game one and two to the BoSox in the fall classic, they came back to claim the title in seven games.

“The Mets magical run to the World Series title in 1986 cemented me as a fan for life. Game six [Mets down by two runs, bottom of the tenth, two outs, no one on base, yet rallied for the win] is still one of my best childhood memories,” related Flatley.

“As a New Yorker, you have the Mets or Yankees. But my dad was a Mets fan,” Flatley continued. “He had rooted for the Giants growing up but was left without a team when they moved to San Francisco [for the 1958 season]. When the Mets brought National League baseball back to New York, he became a Mets fan. I simply followed suite.”

Flatley spent the majority of his Navy career on submarines. On those long silent service patrols, with confined working spaces and cramped living conditions, he would bring a little haberdashery of his team for a sporting dash of home. “I would typically bring a Mets hat and perhaps a t-shirt,” he said.

The 2024 Mets finished with an 89-73 record and claimed a National League wild card spot in the NL playoffs. They took two games out of three to knock off the Milwaukee Brewers before upending the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series three games to one to make it to the NL Championship Series.

“This year’s team has the magic,” stated Flatley. “At the beginning of the season, this was billed as a gap year, during which the team would be competitive but not necessarily compete for a championship. At the end of May, the Mets were 11 under .500 and just got swept by the Dodgers. At home. After a team meeting, they have the best record in baseball. They have carried that momentum into the playoffs. They have done so because they believe in themselves, have a steady manager, and because they don’t rely on any one player to get the job done.

The Mets currently trail the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in the NLCS, with the Dodgers slightly favored.

Yet not to steadfast fans like Flatley and Uniszkiewicz.

“They are truly playing as a team. The Mets have not enjoyed a lot of success over their history. I, along with most fans, tend to be pretty pessimistic. But this team has shown they can beat anyone. Will they win it all? I don’t know. But I plan to enjoy the ride as far as the team takes me,” said Flatley.

When asked for his prediction on the playoffs, Uniszkiewicz replied, “The Mets will go all the way.”

“Full disclosure,” noted Uniszkiewicz. “That’s my prediction every year.”

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: DTRA Trains Indonesian Military on Epidemiology and Health Security

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SURABAYA, Indonesia –

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) conducted an Intermediate Epidemiology Health Security Training for Indonesian Armed Forces Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) clinical and laboratory professionals from September 17th to 19th 2024. The event was held at RSAL Dr. Ramelan Navy Hospital in Surabaya, Indonesia, and provided 30 Indonesian personnel an expanded understanding of epidemiology principles and best practices, including skills that can be immediately applied at individual TNI military medical facilities. The training event incorporated lectures, interactive sessions, breakout group exercises, epidemiological analysis mentorship sessions and was part of a series of events which established an in-house cadre of trainers that will increase TNI training capacity and sustainability.

For DTRA BTRP, Navy LCDR Brittany Harris provided remarks commenting on the training and how it will improve specific aspects of health security such as helping laboratory technicians grasp how their work fits into the broader TNI health landscape and understanding the impact of their efforts on disease control and prevention.

Harris also commented on the significance of the training in Indonesia, stating, “This week represents an important milestone within our Health Security Training series and will further develop the initial Java-based cohort, enhancing proficiency and capabilities as health security resources and future TNI trainers.”

This week’s event marked the culmination of a whole year of training events aimed at reestablishing an in-house training cadre for TNI. Additionally, this event fulfilled the fourth and final 2024 bilateral training commitment made between TNI and BTRP in December 2023 at the annual U.S.-Indonesia Bilateral Defense Dialogue.

For more information on this facility and other DTRA programs, visit http://www.dtra.mil

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Lebanon/UNIFIL, Somalia, Cameroon & other topics-Daily Press Briefing (18 Oct 2024) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

-Secretary-General travels
-African Union – United Nations
-Lebanon/UNIFIL
-Secretary-General/UNIFIL
-Lebanon/Humanitarian
-Secretary-General/Gaza
-Occupied Palestinian territory
-Dag Hammarskjöld
-Somalia
-Cameroon
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Briefings

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVELS
On Sunday, 20 October, the Secretary-General will arrive in Addis Ababa, to take part in the 8th African Union–United Nations annual conference.
The high-level discussions, to be held on Monday, 21 October, will be co-chaired by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, along with Mr. Guterres. The meeting will focus on progress in the implementation of cooperation frameworks between the two organizations, but also on the joint action and challenges linked to peace, security, development, human rights and the impact of climate change on the African continent.
Discussions this year will also include the implementation of the Pact for the Future, as well as the operationalization of Security Council resolution 2719 (2023), which, as you will recall, establishes the framework for financing of African Union-led peace support operations through United Nations assessed contributions – something the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission had long advocated for.
The annual conference will conclude with a joint press conference by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat. It will be available on UN WebTV shortly after.
Later in the day, the Secretary-General will go to the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, where he will take part in the re-inauguration ceremony of Africa Hall, which is reopening after extensive renovations to transform it into a modern conference centre. We expect the ceremony to be webcast live on UN WebTV.
While in Addis Ababa, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to hold meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

AFRICAN UNION – UNITED NATIONS
Speaking of UN-African Union relations, I’d like to note that on 15 October, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission convened their 7th Annual Consultative Meeting at the ECOSOC Chamber here at UN Headquarters.
The meeting highlighted the collaborative peacebuilding efforts of the AU Peace and Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission for peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Africa, as well as the comprehensive review and progress of the status of implementation of outcomes of the 6th Informal Meeting in November 2023. They also noted that more work still needs to be done in supporting peacebuilding efforts. We have a note with more details on that meeting.

LEBANON/UNIFIL
Firing continued across parts of Lebanon and northern Israel today, with Israeli strikes in Saida, Nabatieh, Jezzine, Bekaa, and Mount Lebanon as well as the UNIFIL area of operations, while strikes by Hizbullah into northern Israel, including towards Haifa, and the Israeli-occupied Golan, also continued.
Our colleagues in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) report that the high levels of fire across the Blue Line have persisted, with UNIFIL detecting 966 projectiles over the past 24 hours. The vast majority of these projectiles originated from south of the Blue Line, primarily striking Ayta ash Sha’b in Sector West and Al Wazzani and Mays al-Jabal in Sector East, while 68 projectiles were recorded originating from north of the Blue Line. The Mission also noted 70 air violations by the IDF into Lebanese air space, breaking the previous day’s record for daily violations since October 2023. Furthermore, clashes on the ground between Hizbullah and the Israel Defense Forces within the UNIFIL area of operations continue, with fatalities reported on each side.
Additionally, this morning, peacekeepers reported that one of UNIFIL’s patrols that was resupplying a UN position in Sector East observed an impact less than 50 metres from its location. The patrol returned safely to its location of origin, and no injuries were reported. UNIFIL continues to reiterate the importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers and reminds all actors of their obligations in that regard.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=18%20October%202024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc1hJ2Eo9Ik

MIL OSI Video –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 26th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) Meeting Discusses Accelerating Industry-Academia Partnership for Research and Innovation in India

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 6:49PM by PIB Delhi

The 26th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) meeting was chaired by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood today (October 18, 2024) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe in New Delhi.

Along with the PM-STIAC members, the meeting brought together leaders from the government officials, academic institutions and industry bodies to discuss and gain a deeper understanding of the current state-of-play, plausible partnership models, their local contextualisation and effective implementation modalities.

The meeting was joined by key government officials including by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member S&T, NITI Aayog, Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Mrs Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Dr. S. Somnath, Secretary, Department of Space; Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research, and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, and Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy; Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.

Leaders from academic institutions included Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc Bengaluru; Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani Campuses; and Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar.

Industry bodies including NASSCOM (Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President, and Mr. Rajesh Nambiar, President-designate); Biocon (Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder), Invest India (Ms. Nivruti Rai, CEO & MD), FICCI (Mrs. Anandi Iyer, Co Chair, FICCI Innovation Committee), Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (Mr. Ashish Dhawan, Founder) and Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (Mr. Janak Nabar, CEO) shared their insights on the topic.

Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, former Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Dr Naushad Forbes, former Chairman, CII, sent their insights which were circulated and duly discussed.

In his opening address, Prof. Sood highlighted the need for strengthening industry-academia partnerships for advancing research and innovation (R&I) in general, and through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in particular. For this goal, he emphasized that the stakeholders – industry, academia and government – have to play a complementary role to get increased socio-economic benefits from the efforts made in the country for R&I activities.

Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member S&T, NITI Aayog, called for identifying priority areas where industry and academia can collaborate to accelerate research and innovation in the country. He advocated for prioritizing design and advancing academic research to make India a product-driven nation. He stressed on building expertise in frontier technologies, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, building trust in indigenous R&D and increasing exposure in academia to the industry as vital steps to enhance the R&D ecosystem in the country.

Presentations were made by the experts to highlight the triple helix model of industry-academia partnerships for research and innovation, facilitated by the government. The discussions centred on sector-specific models, challenges and recommendations for enabling and leveraging such partnerships in various domains like ICT, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, space and electronics. They aligned on identifying certain mission-critical priority areas where industry-academia partnerships can drive significant multiplier effects in the country’s growth. The importance of goal alignment between government, industry and academia to deliver impactful outcomes was also discussed.

After the presentations, the Chair invited interventions from special invitees and PM-STIAC members. They discussed expanding the triple-helix model to also include startups, accelerators and venture capital funds to drive industry-academia partnerships. They highlighted the government’s role as both a customer and facilitator, advocating for multidisciplinary approaches and increased mobility between academic research and industry. They suggested policies that support seamless movement between academia and industry, including research translation offices, and highlighted the significance of long-term government investment in both basic research and cutting-edge technologies.

In his concluding remarks, Prof. Sood emphasized the importance of aligning incentives across stakeholders to bring R&D capabilities to the forefront. He echoed the recommendations made by earlier speakers on the need to bridge the gap between existing resources and future demands, ensuring that research and innovation address the critical needs of the nation.

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MJPS/ST

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reed Announces Nearly $300,000 to Boost Support & Safety for RIers with Autism

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to strengthen resources, support, and services for Rhode Islanders with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today announced $296,673 in federal funds to support initiatives that spread awareness about challenges faced by individuals with ASD and to expand programs that provide support and resources for people with autism, their families, and the community.
The federal funds will flow through the Department of Justice (DOJ) Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities. This program provides up to $150,000 per award to advance comprehensive initiatives that prevent wandering or elopement for individuals with forms of dementia or developmental disabilities and reduce associated dangers and potential injuries that stem from wandering or elopement.
The Autism Project (TAP) will receive $149,994 for its work to increase awareness for first responders, families, and community members through specialized education on ASD and developmental disabilities and the associated dangers of wandering and elopement, with the goal of saving lives. Specifically, this funding will help TAP expand their educational programming and create new programs to reach underserved and Spanish-speaking communities.
National Autism Association, Inc. (NAA) will receive $146,679 to support its core safety program, the Big Red Safety Box, which provides preventative tools and educational materials for families and caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or developmental disabilities, so they are better prepared to prevent and manage crises stemming from wandering and elopement within underserved populations.
“Elopement and other dangers associated with ASD and developmental disabilities can be frantic, harrowing experiences for children and individuals with autism as well as for their family members, loved ones, and caregivers. These federal funds will equip law enforcement and first responders, families, and community members with new tools and resources to spread awareness, help limit incidents of elopement, and save lives,” said Senator Reed, who was recently recognized by the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island for his work with TAP to increase support and strengthen resources for Rhode Islanders with ASD. “I’m proud to help support the tremendous work being done by The Autism Project and National Autism Association in partnership with community-based organizations, first responders, and families across Rhode Island and the nation.”
According to TAP, about 22,000 Rhode Islanders have autism. TAP serves the entire state of Rhode Island, but much of this project will focus on assisting families and autistic people living in diverse urban areas of Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket.
“The Autism Project (TAP) is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue our work to prevent elopement at both the local and national level. Keeping autistic people safe is our highest priority, while simultaneously educating and empowering families and first responders involved in the prevention of and response to elopement,” said Joanne Quinn, executive director of The Autism Project. “With these new grant funds, TAP will have the ability to create a greater library of materials on safety, and to elevate the voices of autistic people and families from underserved communities. Without the generous funding from the Kevin and Avonte Program, this work would not be possible. We are resolute in our commitment to autistic people and their families, and are thrilled by the opportunity to continue our mission.”
Since 2011, NAA’s Big Red Safety Box program has provided free safety toolkits for nearly 75,000 families across the country in need of wandering-prevention tools. Recipients of these toolkits must be a primary caregiver of an individual with ASD. Each box includes educational materials, two door/window alarms, one identification bracelet or shoe tag, for adhesive “Stop Sign” visual prompts, one safety alert window cling for care or home windows, and one Child ID Kit from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. More information on NAA’s Big Red Safety Box program and how to request a box can be found here.
“The autism community has endured a harrowing summer – the most fatal on record for wandering-related emergencies. With nearly fifty heartbreaking losses this year, primarily nonspeaking children who died due to accidental drownings, our mission has never been more urgent. The funds provided by Kevin and Avonte’s Law will help us continue to provide families across the country with critical preventative tools, free of charge,” said Krystal Higgins, Executive Director of the National Autism Association. “We are grateful to be able to expand our programs, outreach, and partnerships with organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children so that we can continue to address the unprecedented need for safety programs, federal advocacy, and first responder trainings. We are committed to using these funds responsibly and effectively to make the biggest impact possible furthering our work in spearheading nationwide awareness and resources to help address the dire issues of wandering and drowning.”
Elopement refers to a common occurrence for children with ASD, who may wander away from caregivers or secure locations. According to the National Institutes for Health (NIH), elopement occurs in approximately 49 percent of individuals diagnosed with ASD. Additionally, accidental harm and injury is a serious risk during elopement incidents as drowning accounts for about 71 percent of wandering-related deaths among individuals with autism and close calls with traffic were reported in 65 percent of all elopement cases. Elopement can be a traumatic experience for a person with autism and their caregivers. It is imperative for first responders to be aware of how best to assist an individual with autism in these situations.
Senator Reed helped pass Kevin and Avonte’s Law in the 114th Congress. This law is named in honor of two boys with autism – 9 year-old Kevin Curtis Wills of Iowa and 14-year old Avonte Oquendo of New York – who perished after wandering away from supervised settings.
In 2022, Reed voted to reauthorize Kevin and Avonte’s Law for another five years as part of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The law has helped direct over $10 million to communities across the nation and includes an alert program to help notify communities about missing individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease, autism, and other developmental disabilities. It also enables the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants for state and local education and training programs to help prevent elopement and reunite caregivers with missing family members.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDIAN NAVY’S MOTORCYCLE EXPEDITION FLAGGED OFF

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 8:09PM by PIB Delhi

Vice Adm Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command flagged off a Motorcycle Expedition ‘Northeast Odyssey’ today from Shillong, Meghalaya in attendance of Lt Gen Sanjay Malik, GOC, 101 Area and Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, SASO, Eastern Air Command.

The expedition is being undertaken in association with TVS Motor Company in the Northeastern States of Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with the aim of enhancing awareness about the Navy in these vibrant states and to engage with the youth and civil society. The Navy has previously made similar successful efforts in the Northeast in 2022 and in Leh/ Ladakh in 2023.

The main objectives of the current initiative in the three North Eastern States include showcasing Indian Navy and conducting Awareness Drives at Schools/ Colleges about the career opportunities in Indian Navy, including the Agnipath Scheme. This drive upholds Nari Shakti, by including Women Officers and spouses, and also aims at interaction with Naval Veterans and Veer Naris in the region. The 15-day expedition would cover a distance of 2500 kms, passing through various cities in the states of Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In his address at the flag off ceremony, Vice Adm Rajesh Pendharkar, stated that the Navy has always been promoting adventure activities as these not only serve to inspire personnel to aim higher and achieve better, but also supports team building and strengthens camaraderie, which are crucial for efficient performance at sea. He congratulated the Riders for undertaking an expedition aimed at enhancing maritime consciousness and awareness about the Navy in an important part of the country that is distant from the seas but close to everyone’s hearts. He wished all participants a safe and memorable ride and also thanked TVS Motors for partnering with the Navy for an important cause.

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VM/SKY 214/24

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Having a Family and Being a Sailor Too: Command Advisory on Parenthood and Pregnancy Event at Naval Hospital Bremerton

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Command Advisory on Parenthood and Pregnancy Committee hosted an information event, October 17, 2024.

CAPP serves as an advisor on all things pregnancy and postpartum related and ensure Sailors receive the proper counseling and guidance to understand their responsibilities, rights, and resources afforded to them as parents in the Navy.

The inaugural occasion openly provided detailed insight to help Sailors better balance the demands of their naval career, family plans and obligations. They had direct access to information on convalescent and maternity leave, child youth programs, TRICARE registration, in addition to access with Fleet and Family Support Center representatives and more.

“If you don’t know about it, you aren’t going to use the resource,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jovana Losada, NHB CAPP command liaison, from Orlando, Florida.

Losada continued, “We want to bring everyone’s attention to the resources available so they can utilize them.”

CAPP has been steadily ensuring all Sailors are aware of the resources and services available to them as they transition into parenthood. Some of those services include adequate parking for expectant mothers at NHB and spreading awareness for programs like the Navy Exchange Service Command’s Maternity Uniform Pilot Program.

“I call MPP the sisterhood of the traveling uniform,” joked Losada. “It’s free. You borrow what you need for a time and return it, giving you financial peace of mind during an already stressful period of life.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Maria Gibson, from Huntsville, Alabama, was there to discuss information about children and youth programs available to service members with existing children.

“I have three kids ages 10 months to 4 years old,” said Gibson. “Information events like this were not readily available to myself when I became a mother 4 years ago. It’s extremely important to me to share this knowledge with everyone else I can.”

The event also hosted practical information any Sailor might have on services offered by Naval Base Kitsap Fleet and Family Support Center programs and Navy Housing.

“Base housing is set up to accommodate 25 percent of all the military in and around Naval Base Kitsap,” said Jim Junior, a representative of Naval Base Kitsap Navy Housing Center.

With the rotation of sea commands in and out of the area on base housing, occupancies can reach 98 percent, explained Junior. Navy Housing can give a Sailor options like adding them to a waitlist in advance of their growing family needs or utilizing homes.mil, which allows the Navy Housing Center to inspect rental properties available in the area where the Sailor is assigned.

“We want to be an advocate for new families,” Junior said. “We can provide Sailors with health and safety inspections and are available to liaison with the landlords.”

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Juan Sic, from San Antonio, Texas, attended the event to take information back to his Sailors.

“I have a lot of Sailors who are like myself, either first time parents or are trying to become parents,” said Sic.

CAPP organizers like Losada know that being a new parent is challenging enough. Adding the operational tempo of military life can make it even more so which is why CAPP can help Sailors realize and navigate all the various military parent benefits, as well as support them in transition.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith Statement on Death of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Smith released the following statement:

“Yesterday, the Israeli Defense Force killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. His death has been confirmed by DNA tests.

“Sinwar played a central role in the brutal October 7^th massacre in Israel that killed more than 1,200 men, women, and children — including 46 Americans — and kidnapped hundreds more. Many hostages remain in captivity, including several Americans.

“The challenge that now faces Israel is how to move from this moment to finally achieve a ceasefire, a return of the hostages, and deliver necessary aid to the people of Gaza to end the humanitarian crisis. There is a new opportunity to end Hamas’ grip on the Palestinian people of Gaza and a chance for Israel and civilians in Gaza to establish a lasting, secure peace in the region. A ceasefire agreement must be achieved.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: THINQ 2024 – COMPLETION OF ZONAL ROUNDS

Source: Government of India (2)

THINQ 2024 – COMPLETION OF ZONAL ROUNDS

THINQ 2024- The Indian Navy Quiz – Sail Beyond Your Horizon

Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 5:00PM by PIB Delhi

The National level, Indian Navy Quiz competition, THINQ 2024 achieved an important milestone with the completion of the Zonal rounds on 14 & 15 Oct 24. The Zonals saw top teams from all four zones (North, South, East and West) battle for a position in the semifinals. After a gruelling competition, four top teams from each zone qualified for the semifinals which is scheduled at the premier Naval training establishment, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala on 07 Nov 24. Amongst these 16 teams, eight teams would progress to the finals scheduled on 08 Nov 24.

The zone wise selected schools who have qualified for the semifinals are: –

North Zone

(a) Delhi Public School, Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh)

(b) Sheiling House School (Uttar Pradesh)

(c) Dr. Virendra Swarup Education Centre, Avadhpuri (Uttar Pradesh)

(d) Seth M.R. Jaipuria School, Goel Campus, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)

East Zone

(a) Sri Sankara Vidyalaya (Chhattisgarh)

(b) Teja Vidyalaya (Telangana)

(c) Delhi Public School Patna (Bihar)

(d) Johnson Grammar School Mallapur (Telangana)

South Zone

(a) Assisi Vidyaniketan Public School, Ernakulam (Kerala)

(b) Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

(c) Excel Public School, Mysuru (Karnataka)

(d) B.V. Bhavan’s Rajali Vidyashram, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)

West Zone

(a) Mushtifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School (Goa)

(b) Cambridge Court High School (Rajasthan)

(c) Jayshree Periwal High School (Rajasthan)

(d) St. Anthony’s SR Sec School (Rajasthan)

With the overarching theme of ‘Viksit Bharat’, THINQ24 has emerged as one of the flag ship events, which offers a stage for intellectual exchange and competition. The qualified participants will get the unique opportunity of visiting, state of the art training facilities at INA. Indian Navy extends best wishes to all the participating school teams as they embark on the final journey of this challenging quiz competition, THINQ 2024.

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VM/SKY

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Translation: 18/10/2024 Minister Sikorski met with the head of Italian diplomacy Tajani

MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

This was the first meeting of the heads of Polish and Italian diplomacy in seven years. The topics of consultations included, among others, defence within NATO and the European Union, migration policy, support for Ukraine and the EU enlargement policy. An example of very good bilateral relations is the cooperation between Poland and Italy in the field of security, related to the participation of the Italian Air Force and Navy in NATO operations on the territory of Poland and the presence of the Military Contingent in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the EU mission. Minister Sikorski emphasised that he and Minister Tajani see a threat to the Schengen system – previously it was a threat from the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkan route, and now also from the Belarusian border. – Belarus is waging a hybrid war using pseudo-migrants, but the effect of this is important – our societies must regain the belief that governments at both the national and EU levels enforce this foreign right to control migration – emphasized the head of the Polish MFA. The minister also appealed for broader Western assistance to Ukraine, especially in the field of weapons to defend airspace, and for the lifting of the ban on the use of Western long-range weapons in Russia. In addition, the head of the Polish MFA thanked his Italian counterpart for the joint protest against Israel’s attacks on the UNIFIL contingent in Lebanon. The interlocutors discussed the situation in the Middle East, expressing concern over the escalation of tensions in Lebanon and emphasizing the need for the international community to act in favor of a two-state solution. On the European agenda and enlargement policy, EU Minister Sikorski assured his interlocutor that progress in the area of EU accession of both the so-called The Eastern Trio (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia) and the Western Balkan countries will be one of the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. Minister Tajani thanked the head of Polish diplomacy for the proposal, cf. During the Polish Presidency in the first half of 2025, they traveled together to Africa, which is too important a continent to be exposed solely to the influence of Russia or China. At the end of the visit, Minister Sikorski paid tribute to the Polish soldiers who died in the Battle of Monte Cassino and are buried at the Polish War Cemetery located there. This year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of the battle, in which 923 Polish soldiers died, 2,931 were wounded, and 345 were reported missing. The Minister laid a wreath under the Virtuti Militari Cross at the Cemetery, where 1,048 Polish soldiers are buried – in addition to those who died during the fighting, soldiers of the 2nd Polish Corps who died before the assault and who gave their lives in further fighting in the massif, mainly in the battles for Piedimonte, are also buried there.

Photo: Konrad Laskowski/MSZ

MILES AXIS

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

MIL Translation OSI

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INS SHARDUL CONCLUDES PORT VISIT AT DUBAI

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 5:29PM by PIB Delhi

INS Shardul as part of long range training deployment concluded its visit to Port Rashid, Dubai, UAE, on 16 Oct 24. The visit marked another important milestone in strengthening maritime cooperation between India and UAE. During the port call, the key engagements included interactions with UAE Navy, cross training visits, and community outreach activities.

The sea trainees of INS Shardul participated in organized visits to Naval Officers Training Academy and UAE Naval Ship providing opportunity for professional interactions and productive discussions on shared knowledge & training practices. Joint training sessions, yoga activities, and friendly sports fixtures were the other highlights of the visit. A formal reception was hosted onboard INS Shardul which was attended by personnel and officials of UAE Navy, diplomats and distinguished members of the Indian community.

On departure from Dubai, INS Shardul participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the UAE Naval ship Al Quwaisat. Both ships executed a series of naval maneuvers, communication drills, and coordinated movements, demonstrating mutual coordination and interoperability.

The visit of Indian Naval ship to Dubai underscores the importance of India-UAE maritime relations and commitment to capacity enhancement in maritime domain aligned with the vision of SAGAR in IOR.

****

VM/SKY

(Release ID: 2066123) Visitor Counter : 54

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Vice President Harris Before a Campaign Rally | Grand Rapids, MI

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
Riverside ParkGrand Rapids, Michigan
2:03 P.M. EDT
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hi, guys.
Well, we’re back in Michigan, and it’s good to be back. And again, we have a situation where the former president is insulting the people of the state — this time saying that autoworkers — that their important and good and highly skilled work could be performed by a child — which is just further evidence that Donald Trump comes from a place where he really does not appreciate or understand how most people in our country work very hard for all that they have and that there is great dignity in their work.
In addition, I’ve — you know, I’ve been hearing reports that his team, at least, is saying he’s suffering from exhaustion. And that’s apparently the excuse for why he’s not doing interviews and, of course, he’s not doing the CNN Town Hall. He refuses to do another debate.
And, you know, look, being president of the United States is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world. And so, we really do need to ask: If he’s exhausted being on the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job? And I think that’s a question that is an open-ended question that he needs to answer.
     Q    Madam Vice —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.
     Q    Madam Vice President, there’s a lot of —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Oh, sure.
     Q    You’re in a state where there’s a lot of opposition to you from pro-Palestinian voters. In light of the recent news this week in the Middle East, I mean, does your message to them change? What’s your message to them in the final few weeks?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, my message remains, first of all, we have got to end this war. And I think that what has happened now with the — the killing of Sinwar creates an opportunity for us to end this war and bring the hostages home. And I think everyone wants this war to end, and this is an opportunity to actually get there.
     Q    Madam Vice President, can you explain why it’s — sort of the race still remains incredibly tight? I know you’ve been out campaigning. What’s your, sort of, like, thesis of the case of why it remains so tight?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Looks, it’s — it’s an election for president of the United States. It’s not supposed to be a cakewalk for anyone. There are very important issues at play.
And I am clear and I think the people that you hear right now in the background are clear that Donald Trump is unfit for the office, he is unstable, and he, frankly, is a danger to our democracy, as has been described by his former chief of staff, secretaries of Defense, national security advisor, and former vice president.
     Q    The former president has been critical of you not attending the Al Smith dinner last night. As you were talking about him being exhausted, do you think that that’s one reason why he chose to go to New York City rather than come out here on the campaign trail?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m beyond getting into the head of Donald Trump, but I will say it should be a concern. If he can’t handle the rigors of the campaign trail, is he fit to do the job? I think it’s a legitimate question.
     Thank you all.
                             END                2:06 P.M. EDT

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Holds a Press Conference

Source: United States Department of Defense

SABRINA SINGH, DEPUTY PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: OK, everyone, good afternoon. Thank you for being here today. It is my pleasure to introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The Secretary will deliver some opening remarks, and then we will have time to take a few questions. I will moderate those questions and call on journalists.

With that, Mr. Secretary?

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Thanks, Sabrina.

Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to be back at NATO. But I wanted to start with just a few words about the Middle East.

As you all know, Israel yesterday killed Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. That’s a major achievement, and it opens a major opportunity for progress.

Sinwar was the architect of the October 7th terrorist assault on Israel. His plot left 1,200 people dead, including civilians from more than 30 other countries, and that includes the United States. He was responsible for the deaths of many Americans over the years, including more than 40 Americans murdered on October 7th and four murdered American hostages.

Sinwar devoted his life to wrecking the chances of peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He’s finally been brought to justice, and that removes a huge obstacle.

Our top priority is the 101 hostages still kidnapped in Gaza, including our own American hostages. They have been through hell, and so have their families, and the hostages should not have to suffer one more hour in captivity, and those who are holding hostages should release them immediately.

Sinwar’s death also provides an extraordinary opportunity to achieve a lasting cease-fire to end this awful war and to rush humanitarian aid into Gaza. Our forces in the region stand ready to assist in Israel’s defense, to deter aggression and to reduce the risk of all-out war, and we will continue to drive hard to bring all of the hostages home and to end the conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through principled diplomacy.

Now, let me turn back to our work here at NATO. This has been an historic defense ministerial for three reasons. First, this is our new Secretary General’s inaugural ministerial meeting, so I want to thank Mark Rutte and his staff for convening us. And I also look forward to working very closely with Mark and his team.

Second, this is our first defense ministerial with NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea, and that just underscores the importance of working with our partners in the Indo-Pacific on boosting industrial base resilience, combating disinformation and much, much more.

And third, this ministerial is the first high-level NATO gathering since our 75th anniversary summit in Washington back in July. The summit was a major success. We welcomed Sweden as a NATO ally. We endorsed a NATO industrial capacity expansion pledge, and that will strengthen the defense industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic and increase large-scale multinational procurement and help deliver capabilities swiftly and securely. We also launched the NATO security assistance and training for Ukraine, or NSATU. Now, that’s our military effort to plan, coordinate and arrange delivery of the security assistance that Ukraine needs to prevail against Russian aggression. We strengthened NATO’s deterrence and defense. We deepened ties with our global partners, especially in the Indo-Pacific, and we celebrated 75 years of the strongest, most successful defensive alliance in history.

I’m proud of all this progress, but we’ve still got work to do. Our priority is implementing the important agreements from NATO’s recent summits, and today, we continued our progress. We’re forging NATO’s most robust defense plans since the end of the Cold War, and that will help ensure that we have the forces and capabilities to meet any contingency. That includes air and missile defense, which are crucial for defending the allied airspace, and earlier this month, General Cavoli directed a reinforcement of NATO air surveillance in Romania to monitor Russian military activity.

NATO allies continue to make robust investments in air and missile defense, but we must invest in many other areas to meet our requirements, so I’m glad to say that we’re sharing the burden of collective defense more than ever. In this year, a record 23 NATO allies are hitting or topping our shared commitment to spend at least two percent of GDP on defense. But we still need each and every single ally to meet this mutually-agreed-upon obligation as soon as possible, and that will let us fulfill the requirements of our new plans and hit our capability targets. And by investing in our trans-Atlantic defense industrial base and scaling up military production, we can send a long-term demand signal to industry.

AUSTIN: You know, we also met yesterday with our Indo-Pacific partners and with the European Union. It was a very productive meeting, and it underscored the profound links among Euro-Atlantic security and Indo-Pacific security.

We’re concerned by the PRC’s increasingly coercive behavior in the Indo-Pacific, which has profound implications for the whole world. We’re also troubled by the growing alignment between Russia and the People’s Republic of China, including the PRC’s support for Putin’s indefensible war of choice against Ukraine, and that makes our close cooperation with our Indo-Pacific friends more vital than ever.

We also held a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting yesterday. Minister Umerov gave us some great insights, and we made clear our enduring commitment to a free and sovereign Ukraine.

Like countries of goodwill around the world, our NATO allies continue to stand up for Ukraine’s sovereignty and self-defense, and the United States and our allies and partners are determined to stand by Ukraine for the long haul, and we’ll stand by one another.

The foundation of NATO is a collective defense commitment in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The U.S. commitment to Article 5 remains ironclad, and we will defend the sovereignty in the territory of every member of this alliance. Whatever changes lie ahead, we will tackle them together, and that solidarity is the reason why NATO is the greatest defensive alliance in history.

And thanks again, and with that, I’ll be glad to take some questions.

SINGH: Great, thank you. Our first question will go to Phil Stewart from Reuters.

Right here in the middle. Yeah. No, you’re OK.

QUESTION: OK, thank you. So you were saying that Israel has an opportunity to end the war in Gaza, but Israel’s prime minister is vowing today to keep fighting. Do you support Israel’s new campaign to, quote, “stop the axis of evil,” end quote, as Netanyahu put it? Or is Israel missing an opportunity here?

And on — on Ukraine, President Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that a formal invitation to join NATO is the only way Ukraine can survive Russia’s invasion. Do you agree with that assessment? And more broadly, do you endorse his victory plan? Thank you.

AUSTIN: So which one of those questions do you want me to answer, Phil?

(LAUGHTER)

All right, let’s start with the question as to whether or not there is an opportunity available with respect to Gaza. Of course there is, and we would hope that we can work together to take advantage of that opportunity.

The first thing, Phil, that we need to focus on is a return of the hostages. Again, you heard Prime Minister publicly state yesterday that anyone who has control of hostages, he would encourage them to return them, and — and again, I would hope that they would do so.

Beyond that, you know, I think there are other opportunities, and we will see how things evolve. But clearly, there are opportunities for a change in direction, and we would hope that, you know, parties would — would take advantage of that both in Lebanon — in Gaza and in Lebanon.

The second question was — as I recall, Phil, was about the victory plan and whether or not we endorse the victory plan. Again, the victory plan is President Zelenskyy’s plan, and we’re going to do everything that we can to provide the security assistance to support the president as he tries to accomplish his objectives.

But what we all want to make sure that we continue to do is to link military objectives to strategic objectives, and, you know, that dialogue continues. And you know, I just met with Minister Umerov today. We talked through a number of those things. Again, our focus is going to continue to be on doing everything that we can to support the victory plan, or support President Zelenskyy. It’s not my position to evaluate publicly his plan. We have been supporting him by providing security assistance in a major way for over two and a half years. We’re going to continue to do that.

Next question.

SINGH: Thank you. Thank you. Our second question will go to Andrey Smolyakov, Novaya Gazeta Europa.

Right here in the back, in the middle. Yeah.

QUESTION: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, Ukrainian military has been able to carry out some effective UAV strikes deep into Russian territory, but there have been reports, especially in Russian and Ukrainian-language media, that the U.S. has discouraged those attacks. Is there any substance to those reports? And if so, is the U.S. willing to support such operations in the future?

AUSTIN: Actually, Andrey, we’ve seen the Ukrainians use their long-range UAV strike capability to great effect, and we saw recently that they were able to take out a number of strategic-level ammunition supply points, which has had an impact on the battlefield.

I think what’s important to point out here, Andrey, is that they were able to produce these UAVs in Ukraine. They were able to scale that production rapidly. The UAVs have proven to be very effective and accurate. And again, when you consider the fact that one precision-guided missile costs, in some cases, close to $1 million, depending on what it is, and these UAVs, they can produce in great numbers at a fraction of the cost. So when you look at the balance sheet and the effects that are being created on the battlefield, I think this is a great capability. How they use that capability that they’re producing is going to be their call, Andrey, so…

SINGH: Thank you. Our next question will go to Phil Green, right here, Air & Space Magazine. Right here, in the blue.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

SINGH: I’m sorry — Chris Gordon. I said “Phil”. Sorry, sorry.

QUESTION: Thank you, Sabrina. Thank you, Mr. …

AUSTIN: You’re Phil now…

SINGH: Yeah, you’re…

AUSTIN: I’m kidding, Chris. I know you’re Chris, so…

(LAUGHTER)

SINGH: Yeah.

QUESTION: Good to hear. Sir, the world is in a very difficult situation, and I have two questions regarding that situation. First, if there is a settlement in Gaza, is the Pentagon prepared to provide logistical support and military advice to an Arab-led stabilization force if there are no U.S. boots on the ground?

And then secondly, to put a finer point on my colleague’s question earlier, President Zelenskyy’s repeatedly appealed to the U.S. to use ATACMS to strike a broader range of targets inside of Russia and to do so more quickly than drones. The Biden administration has not allowed this. Have Putin’s nuclear threats worked?

AUSTIN: Regarding Putin’s nuclear threats, again, you’ve heard me say a number of times that I think any kind of nuclear saber-rattling is reckless and dangerous, and we would call upon Putin and others to not employ that kind of language.

In terms of whether or not we would participate in any kind of stabilization efforts in Gaza, I think that that’s going to require the contributions of a number of countries. Hopefully, countries in the region will step up. There quite possibly is, can be a part for the United States to play in that, as well. What part that would be and what that would look like, Chris, we’re going to have to work with our allies and partners to scope that out. And I certainly would not have any announcements to make on anything like that.

The first step though is we’ve got to get to some sort of ceasefire, and then we need to make sure that we’re putting the right things in place to stabilize the area and provide for some sort of security going forward. But that’s left to be defined yet.

SINGH: Thank you. And our last question will go to Teri Schultz, Deutsche Welle.

QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary Austin. I’m — I’m very interested in the future of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group that you yourself created. I mean, what is the future of this, given that nobody knows what’s going to happen after November under either administration that would take over? What will happen with this group? How do you consolidate what you have done, what has been done under your leadership? But even more of interest to the Ukrainians, do you have a sense after this last meeting that there’s — there’s enough momentum to provide enough to help Ukraine tilt the balance on the — on the battlefield as is necessary, you yourself say, to some day moving to discussions about ending the war?

AUSTIN: Yeah, thanks, Teri. So we’re — we’ve been doing two things simultaneously. We’re providing — focused on providing Ukraine what it needs to be successful on a battlefield today as it tries to defend its sovereign territory, and it’s been very successful at that. And I would remind everybody that Ukraine has taken on the largest military in Europe, and for two and a half years it has successfully defended its territory.

And Putin has not achieved, not one strategic objective that he set out to achieve. Kyiv still stands. The Ukrainian government did not fall. And I could name a number of other things, but they have been very, very successful. So helping them defend the — in the current fight is one objective.

The other objective is making sure that we help them get what’s necessary to be able to defend against aggression in the future and deter aggression as well. And that’s what the capability coalitions have been designed to do.

As you know, we have an Air Force Capability Coalition. It was focused initially and still is focused on helping Ukraine get a fighter aircraft capability. And as you know, Ukraine now has F-16 capability. It will — we will continue to build upon that.

There’s an artillery capability coalition that’s also being very successful, and it’s helping Ukraine acquire the artillery systems and the munitions that it needs not only for today but for the long haul as well.

There’s an IT coalition that helps make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to be able to function in the information space, in the information domain and be effective. That IT coalition has been very, very effective, very impressive.

There’s a drone coalition.

And so these coalitions are designed to ensure that, at the end of the day, Ukraine has what it needs to be able to deter aggression and defend itself going forward. And thank you for bringing it up because it’s a thing that not many people pay attention to. But every day, we are building long-term capability for Ukraine.

And, you know, I have to applaud the work of our allies and partners who are leading some of these coalitions and rallying support for Ukraine and, you know, digging deep to provide them what we think they’ll need going forward.

So I think that will help to spell success for Ukraine in the long haul, and I appreciate you bringing it up, Teri.

SINGH: Thank you, everyone. That concludes today’s press conference.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Thailand: Authorities must urgently enforce arrest warrants for Tak Bai suspects

Source: Amnesty International

Ahead of the 25 October expiry of the statute of limitations in a case in which 85 people died during and after protests in the Tak Bai district of Narathiwat province, Thailand in October 2004, Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said:

“The Thai authorities must take urgent action – before it is too late – to ensure long-delayed justice for the victims of human rights violations committed by state officials violently suppressing a protest in Tak Bai two decades ago.

“A landmark court decision to accept the lawsuit initiated by the victims and their families in August was a beacon of hope amid entrenched impunity for violations against protesters in Thailand. But days ahead of the expiry of the statute of limitations for these crimes, the legal case raised by victims is in jeopardy.
“Defendants in this lawsuit, who are all former or current high-ranking officials – including individuals allegedly in Japan and the United Kingdom – have failed to present themselves at court. Unless at least one of them does so before 25 October 2024, this lawsuit will be dismissed.

“The Thai authorities must take all necessary steps to ensure there is no impunity for those suspected of criminal responsibility for grave human rights violations in this case. This includes by enforcing arrest warrants against suspects and presenting them in court before 25 October 2024 to enable the victims and their families to have the opportunity to pursue criminal accountability in this case.”

Background

On 25 October 2004, more than 2,000 protesters gathered in front of Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat province, one of Thailand’s southern border provinces, to demand the release of six Malay Muslim men who were believed to be arbitrarily detained by Thai authorities.

Security forces used tear gas, water cannon and live ammunition, killing seven protesters instantly – five of whom were shot in the head. After the crackdown, about 1,370 detained Malay Muslim men were transported to Ingkayut Borihan Military Camp in Pattani, 150km away. Forced to lie on top of one another in army trucks, 78 died from crushing or asphyxiation during transit. Many survivors suffered severe injuries and permanent disabilities.

An independent fact-finding committee, established by the then-government, condemned the use of excessive force and poor judgment in the transportation of detainees. Despite compensation for victims, no officers identified by the committee have been brought to justice so far.

In August 2024, the Narathiwat Provincial Court ruled in favour of a request from victims and their families to file a criminal lawsuit against officials suspected to be responsible for human rights violations during the Tak Bai protest, including former high-ranking military and police officers.

Out of the nine officials sued by the victims and their families, the Court determined there is sufficient evidence to pursue a lawsuit against seven of them under the offences of murder, attempted murder, and illegal detention.

Despite having been summonsed, none of the seven officials have appeared at the Narathiwat Criminal Court for witness questioning and evidence examination. There are outstanding arrest warrants for all seven persons, including individuals alleged to be in Japan and the United Kingdom.

The statute of limitations for the case is set to expire on 25 October 2024. At least one of the defendants must appear before court to acknowledge the lawsuit for the case to begin, according to Article 95 of the Thai Criminal Code which governs the statute of limitation for criminal offences. Amnesty International notes that there should be no statute of limitation for serious human rights violations or crimes under international law, including extrajudicial killings and torture.

In October 2023, Amnesty International published a public statement on the impacts of Thai authorities’ failure to deliver justice for the victims of the violent crackdown on the Tak Bai protest and their families.

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Military Leaders Strengthen Indo-Pacific Partnerships During Guam, Hawaii Visit

Source: United States Navy

he visit focused on regional security and stability, as well as the defense of American interests and our allies and partners.

“The United States has always been and remains a Pacific power,” said Mancinelli. “American prosperity and security depend on free and open oceans, and Guam is a strategic hub for critically important activity for the Navy and for our Department of Defense.”

During his visit to Guam, Mancinelli and Rosenblum met with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio to express appreciation for their continued support of the military, service members, and their families.

“I’m grateful for the close partnership that the Department of Defense shares with Governor Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Tenorio, and other local leaders on island. Together, we are committed to ensuring that Guam remains secure and resilient,” said Mancinelli. “So I thank the Governor and the Chamorro people for their contributions to U.S. national security, and for their strong and consistent support of the military presence on Guam.”

The Governor discussed her priorities, emphasizing defense and the importance of balancing community needs with national security demands.

“Our administration remains fully committed to promoting peace and stability in the region, with a primary focus on ensuring Guam’s security in the face of growing threats,” said Leon Guerrero. “The relationships we’ve established with the Department of Defense and our federal partners create a strong foundation for advocating for the needs of the people of Guam while navigating the unprecedented military expansion on the island. It is vital that we continue building upon these partnerships, from our local federal and DoD collaborators to INDOPACOM and the Pentagon.”

Lt. Governor Tenorio added, “While we understand that the Department of Defense may not have statutory authority over some of our needs, they can serve as advocates in securing other federally funded resources, including congressional authorizations and appropriations that are essential for the people of Guam.”

Mancinelli discussed the ways in which the Department of Defense will continue to work together with the Governor’s office to understand how the military build-up on Guam can be done in partnership with the on-island community.

He added, “We won’t do anything about Guam without Guam.”

The acting UNSECNAV’s engagements in Guam also included meetings with Commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia (JTF-M) Rear Adm. Greg Huffman; Commander, Joint Region Marianas (JRM) Rear Adm. Brent DeVore; Guam Del. James Moylan; and leaders from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force. He also spoke with service members at Naval Base Guam, Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, Task Force Talon’s Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) site, Andersen Air Force Base, and met with the Armed Forces Committee of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.

During his time in Guam, Mancinelli and Rosenblum received updates on infrastructure, missile defense, housing, schools, shipbuilding, recruiting, and Typhoon Mawar recovery. The Acting UNSECNAV highlighted the Department of the Navy’s commitment to quality of life initiatives and the essential role Guam plays in Indo-Pacific defense efforts.

“Guam is part of the U.S. homeland. It is physically closer to Beijing than Hawaii,” said Mancinelli. “Our efforts here are designed to deter regional aggression and safeguard the interests of the United States as well as our allies and partners. If deterrence fails, we will fight from Guam, and we will fight for Guam.”

In Hawaii, Mancinelli and Rosenblum met with senior military leaders, including Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Adm. Stephen Koehler; Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Lt. Gen. James Glynn; U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Chief of Staff Major Gen. Joel Carey; and Director, Maritime Headquarters and Theater Sustainment, U.S. Pacific Fleet Rear Adm. Christopher Nash. Mancinelli received operational briefings, visited local commands, and toured installations, meeting with Navy, Marine, Army, and Air Force personnel.

At the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, Mancinelli was briefed on experimentation, capabilities, and training to further enhance maneuver and maritime operations. He and Ms. Rosenbaum also toured Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF), where Mancinelli received an update on construction efforts to modernize the yard’s infrastructure. He also observed submarine maintenance and spoke with ASC [formerly known as the Australian Submarine Corporation] employees conducting training at the shipyard as part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership.

“AUKUS is crucial to enhancing our maritime capabilities,” Mancinelli explained. “The Navy is working closely with our partners to help Australia develop, operate, and maintain its own sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines – a generational opportunity to strengthen our alliance. It was excited for me to speak with the growing number of Australian engineers and craftsmen working alongside Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s experts to learn how to maintain the cutting-edge technology on U.S. Navy fast attack submarines.”

Mancinelli and Rosenblum also met with Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Commander of the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, as well as Deputy Commander NCTF-RH Rear Adm. Marc Williams. They discussed environmental assessments, water monitoring initiatives, and the Navy’s commitment to close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks designated the Under Secretary of the Navy as DoD’s Lead Senior Defense Official for Guam in January. In this capacity, Mancinelli is responsible for engaging key leaders in Guam; providing oversight, advocacy, and support to Commander, Joint Region Marianas in the execution of its installation management mission; and aligning efforts across DoD to meet operational and resourcing requirements consistent with the National Defense Strategy, while developing and delivering new capabilities to meet logistics, environmental and infrastructure requirements.

This was Mancinelli’s first official visit to Guam and Hawaii as Acting Under Secretary of the Navy.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Central Command Weekly Update
Source: United States Central Command (CENTCOM)

Oct. 18, 2024
Release Number 20241018-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 18, 2024) – In the past week, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed 20 one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWAUAS) and Land Attack Cruise Missiles (LACMs) in the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). These Iranian-supplied weapons, launched episodically by the Houthis and Iranian-Aligned Militia Groups (IAMGs) over several days during the week, posed a significant risk to United States, allies, and partner forces, as well as civilians in the region and beyond. The drones and missiles were downed by a combination of U.S. Air Force and U.S Navy assets deployed to the region.

No U.S. service members were injured in these actions. U.S. and coalition forces remain at a high level of readiness, postured to defend U.S. interests and those of our allies and partners in the region.

Here’s a general timeline of CENTCOM operational activities during the past week:

· As previously released, CENTCOM forces conducted a series of airstrikes Oct. 11 against multiple known ISIS camps in Syria, resulting in at least 35 ISIS operatives killed, to include several ISIS leaders. The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISIS to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against the United States, its allies and partners, and civilians. Battle damage assessments are still underway and do not indicate civilian casualties. U.S. and partner forces continue to execute these critical operations that contribute to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM AOR and the support of regional stability.
- On Oct. 13, at the direction of the President, the Secretary of Defense authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and associated crew of U.S. military personnel to Israel to help bolster Israel’s air defenses following Iran’s unprecedented attacks against Israel on April 13 and again on Oct. 1. The THAAD battery is now integrated into the regional air defense architecture.
- Separately, during the past week, CENTCOM forces conducted a successful strike against a Houthi Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launcher and its associated radar that presented a threat to U.S. and coalition aircraft. Additionally, CENTCOM forces conducted strikes against multiple UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) used to direct Houthi OWAUAS targeting of U.S. and coalition forces against international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. For operations security reasons, we won’t discuss specific dates or locations of these self-defense strikes.
- U.S. and coalition forces assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) twice came under rocket attacks from IAMGs. In both instances, the rockets were successfully intercepted. No U.S. service members were injured in either incident.
- Finally, on the evening of Oct. 16 EDT, CENTCOM forces conducted multiple airstrikes on numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM forces targeted the Houthi’s hardened underground facilities housing missiles, weapons components, and other munitions used to target military and civilian vessels throughout the region. U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers, were part of the operation.
###

Editor’s Note: This U.S. Central Command Weekly Update replaces the previous daily updates released by the command regarding significant operational activities within the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

MIL Security OSI –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard repatriates 12 migrants to Dominican Republic following vessel interdiction off Puerto Rico

Source: United States Coast Guard

10/18/2024 07:23 PM EDT

The Coast Guard Cutter returned 12 migrants to the Dominican Republic between Thursday and Friday, following the interdiction of an irregular, unlawful migration voyage near Puerto Rico. The cutter Paul Clark crew returned 10 of the migrants to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel, Thursday, while the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier crew repatriated the two remaining migrants from the group to Punta Juanillo, Dominican Republic, Friday afternoon. The interdiction occurred Wednesday night, after the crew of a Customs and Border Protection multi-role enforcement aircraft sighted a grossly overloaded makeshift vessel, approximately 62 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The cutter Paul Clark arrived on-scene and launched the cutter’s over-the-horizon small boat crew which successfully stopped the suspect vessel. The cutter crew and embarked all 12 migrants consisting of eight men, two women and two unaccompanied minors, who claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Strategic Command Hosts EMS Modeling and Simulation Technical Interchange Meeting

Source: United States Strategic Command

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. –

On 10-11 September, U.S. Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) Advanced Warfare Capabilities Division (J81) hosted its second technical interchange meeting (TIM) on the topic of electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A).

Maj. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony, Director of the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center (JEC), opened the TIM by welcoming to USSTRATCOM the modeling and simulation experts to the 2024 TIM.

Emphasizing, “the importance of campaign MS&A in helping to identify and qualify requirements for future EMS systems,” Anthony noted that, “one model can’t do it all for fully understanding the EMS.” Focusing on model integration, she said, “We need to find ways to integrate multiple models to better visualize the impacts of a congested and contested EMS environment within a campaign.”

Anthony also discussed the analytic consistency needed with integrated models, evolving and standardizing EMS ontologies, and building baselined EMS mission engineering models. And, while a tall order regarding modeling the electromagnetic spectrum, Anthony also keyed in on making future tools easier to use, by stating, “We need a tool where you shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in electrical engineering just to run a model.”

The two-day meeting addressed the need to improve EMS MS&A by featuring briefings and demonstrations on current efforts. Discussions, led by Mr. Tom Woods, USSTRATCOM’s lead for EMS campaign MS&A, focused on current and future challenges and capabilities, including advancements in artificial intelligence, the use of large language models, and the need for standardized EMS data structures among the different models.

“This TIM connected government and industry modeling and simulation thought-leaders and leading practitioners to identify campaign modeling, integration, and visualization challenges for electromagnetic spectrum analysis tools,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Travis Wood, USSTRATCOM’s J81 Advanced Warfare Capabilities Division Chief.

“A key DoD emphasis area,” said Capt. Wood, “is incorporating model-based systems engineering practices. We need to bring this into existing tools so we can prove integrated modeling concepts and then drive spectrum modeling and analysis requirements into future [Department of Defense] DoD campaign tool suites.”

Through technical interchanges such as this one, USSTRATCOM is charting the course for EMS MS&A, identifying spectrum interdependencies and bringing these requirements into current and future campaign models and war games.

Moving forward for EMS MS&A, Mr. Woods stated, “We must vastly improve visualization while exploring and defining measures of objectives, performance, and effectiveness. We also need to develop common data structures that will simplify data exchanges within the Department’s emerging modeling ecosystems.”

U.S. Strategic Command forces operate around the world, around the clock, to deter strategic attack and employ forces when directed to guarantee the security of our Nation and our Allies. For more information about U.S. Strategic Command, visit http://www.stratcom.mil.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Air Force Global Strike Command activates Provisional 95th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. –

As part of the Air Force reoptimatization for Great Power Competition, Air Force Global Strike Command activated the 95th Wing (Provisional) at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, effective October 1. In provisional status, the 95th Wing (P) will immediately begin leading planning efforts for the 95th Wing to stand-up, receive personnel and use facilities at Offutt starting in 2025.

In its full operational state, the new wing’s focus will provide combatant commanders with assured command and control (C2) over assigned forces through global command, control, and communication (C3) capabilities. The unit will organize, train, and equip the total force to execute strategic requirements as set forth by commanders.

“Once activated, the 95th Wing, under AFGSC, will enable effective command of forces to ensure readiness,” said Col. David Leaumont, 95th Wing (Provisional) Commander. “The intent of the 95th Wing is to integrate three units that currently do not exist in a doctrinal chain of command and bring them together under a single commander with the appropriate positional rank and authority to lead and advocate for their resources and readiness.”

Once fully activated, the 95th Wing will incorporate existing disaggregate units from the 595th Command and Control Group at Offutt AFB, Nebraska; the 253rd Command and Control Group, of the Wyoming Air National Guard; and the 610th Command and Control Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to form an integrated unit.

“Additionally, the 95th Wing will manage and oversee the modernization efforts for Offutt to receive the Air Force’s newest strategic command and control aircraft, the E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center, that will replace the aging E-4B,” added Leaumont.

As the 95th Wing moves forward, it will implement the Secretary of the Air Force’s and the Air Force Chief of Staff’s direction and decisions as part of the overall Department of the Air Force reorganization effort to optimize the Air Force for the future.

The new wing will add about 70 military authorizations at Offutt beginning in 2025 and be fully operational in 2027.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Proving Credibility: 91st Missile Wing completes simulated test launch

Source: United States Strategic Command

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. –

The 91st Missile Wing successfully performed its biennial Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman (SELM) test, the first phase of testing for the Minuteman III, at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, on September 17th and 18th, 2024.

“This year’s SELM, named OPERATION GIANT PACE 24-2M, was conducted to evaluate the readiness and reliability of the MMIII ICBM system,” said 1st Lt. Ivan Cruz, 91MW Maintenance Group executive officer. “Although operational test launches are executed frequently at Vandenberg Space Force Base, SELM allows the Air Force to test critical processes in a deployed environment without firing the missile.”

This evaluation is an end-to-end test that is used to verify the reliability of the MMIII ICBM system’s ability to launch if given the command from a Launch Facility (LF), a Launch Control Center (LCC), or an Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS).

“This year we tested four LFs and two LCCs, with assistance from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, to test a new flight track of the E-6B Mercury,” said Cruz.

Before the test launch order can be given, more than 1,500 hours are committed to ensure all safety measures are met. For the SELM test, the maintenance crews and operators replaced the operational components with test components and isolated the LFs from the rest of the operational squadron to form a test squadron. This allows the test to be conducted safely without affecting an operational missile site while the testing missile crew members use real commands.

“Due to the ever-growing age of our weapon system, showing that it can complete its mission when asked is important for us in gathering analytical data, and show we are capable of assuring our allies and deterring our adversaries,” said 1st Lt. Alex Mathews, 740th Missile Squadron missileer.

Once the preparation phase was concluded, the SELM test began. The teams tested their ability as combat crews to launch from not only the LCC but from an ALCS aboard a Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, which is capable of remotely launching the fleet of MMIII ICBMs.

Many agencies are involved in safety, like the missile maintenance team and electronic mechanical team, who ensure the numerous safety procedures are complete prior to testing. The 91MW’s crisis action team then confirms that all sites are in a safe configuration before the simulated launch, Cruz said.

When all of these tasks have been completed a last-look inspection is done by SELM Quality Assurance personnel to verify the proper configuration of the test LF and LCCs.

After the safety of each site was confirmed, test commands were sent from isolated test LCCs and the airborne ALCS. Missile commands were transmitted to the isolated SELM test squadron to evaluate everything from routine activities all the way up to the first stage ignition of the MMIII.

“The credibility of the 91st MW lies in our Airmen and the weapon system we maintain and operate. We train daily for our mission, and SELM allows us to demonstrate the standard of upkeep provided by our maintainers, and the expertise of missileers tasked with executing our mission,” said Mathews.

The most important aspect of any weapon system is to demonstrate its reliability through extensive scheduled and routine testing. With the SELM test complete the second and final phase of testing can be completed. This second phase of testing will see a live launch of unarmed MMIII at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. This rigorous testing allows the 91MW, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force to provide a demonstration of combat capability without compromising safety.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Update 2: Search Continues for VAQ-130 Aviators

Source: United States Navy

The wreckage rests at approximately 6,000 feet altitude in a remote, steep and heavily-wooded area east of Mount Rainier.

Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are assisting in the search. 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) brings specialized mountaineering, high-angle rescue, medical, and technical communication skills necessary to navigate the difficult terrain associated with the Cascade Mountain Range that is inaccessible by other means.

The status of the crew cannot be confirmed without a site assessment of the debris area.

“Our priority is to locate our two aviators as quickly and as safely as possible,” said Capt. David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Adhering to Dept. of Defense procedure, we cannot identify or confirm the names of aircrew involved in a mishap until 24-hours after their next of kin have been notified of their status. Please remain patient and limit speculation about the incident. That is one of the best ways we can respect the privacy of the loved ones who are impacted by this tragic event.”

There are no known hazards to the public.

“We appreciate the community support as experienced personnel respond around the crash site,” said Capt. Nathan Gammache, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey Island. “We are confident that we have the capability we need at this time, and will request any additional capabilities, if needed, via official channels in coordination with the on-site incident commander.”

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The U.S. Navy will continue to provide updates. More information is available on NAS Whidbey Island’s website and official social media accounts.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Evasion over child abuse questions and links to terror mean Unionists should be queueing up to sign no confidence motion

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Statement by TUV deputy leader Court Councillor Ron McDowell:

“The questions surrounding Sinn Fein when it comes to the issue of child safety continue to grow in number and there will be few who will be filled with confidence that the decision of some member of the Executive Office Committee to furnish Ms O’Neill with their questions in advance of the meeting is a route which is likely to get to the truth. However, in addition to those profoundly important issues we now have confirmation that the IRA “Army Council” continues to exist, that the IRA is still involved in gathering intelligence, that it retains arms 19 years after they were supposedly decommissioned and that the IRA’s “Army Council” continues to oversee Sinn Féin’s overarching strategy.

“Child safety is profound enough an issue to call into question the suitability of anyone to hold office. After this morning’s confirmation that nothing has changed when it comes to the IRA and the role of its leadership in Sinn Fein surely all Unionist MLAs will be queuing up to sign the TUV motion of no confidence on Monday morning?

“Any Unionist who doesn’t sign it obviously does have confidence in Ms O’Neill. One is given to wonder what on earth Sinn Fein/IRA would have to do in order to lose it.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Crow, Wilson and Sen. Hickenlooper Lead Letter with 122 Colleagues Urging Senate and House Armed Services Committee Leadership to Retain House-Passed National Guard Protections in FY25 NDAA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

The provision would help protect National Guard’s mission to serve both community and country

WASHINGTON — Today Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, joined Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02) in leading a bipartisan, bicameral letter with 122 of their colleagues, urging leadership on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to retain House-passed language in the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would maintain the integrity and longstanding tradition of the National Guard as well as 120 years of legal precedent.

The House-passed language was put forward as a response to U.S. Air Force Legislative Proposal 480 (LP480), which would forcibly transfer Air National Guard units performing space missions from their respective states and into the active duty U.S. Space Force (USSF), bypassing longstanding federal law that requires governors’ consent before transferring National Guard units.

The original intent of the National Guard was to have a force ready to respond to the needs of their state and country. Because of this, authority was placed in the hands of each state’s individual governor.

The House language would preserve these statutory protections. A companion measure with 32 bipartisan cosponsors was also put forward in the Senate. However, as this year’s NDAA process did not allow for amendment floor votes in the Senate, the measure was not considered before the full chamber.

In their letter, the Members strongly urge SASC Chairman Reed, SASC Ranking Member Wicker, HASC Chairman Rogers, and HASC Ranking Member Smith to preserve these House-passed protections for governor oversight in the FY25 NDAA.

“Should Congress strip governors of the ability to manage National Guard units within their states, it would risk fundamentally altering the Guard’s mission and identity, as well as set a concerning precedent whose impacts may be broader than anticipated,” the Members wrote in the letter.

The Members continued, “We recognize the urgency of the future threats facing our national security, and we support the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to prepare. We also believe that the desired end can be achieved through dialogue with affected states, without undermining the foundational principles that have guided the National Guard for over a century.”

In addition to 125 signatories, LP480 is opposed by the National Guard Association of the United States, the National Guard Bureau, the Council of Governors, and the National Governors Association.

This letter builds on Congressman Crow’s longstanding efforts to oppose LP 480, and maintain the integrity and longstanding tradition of our National Guard. Congressman Crow joined Congressman Wilson and Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper in May 2024 to lead an earlier letter, urging SASC and HASC leadership to reject the inclusion of LP 480 in the FY2025 altogether.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:

October 16, 2024

Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith,

As you begin conference negotiations for the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we urge you to retain the House-passed language regarding the U.S. Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) in the final bill. This straightforward and commonsense amendment preserves the statutory authority of governors to oversee National Guard forces under Title 32, while permitting the one-time personnel transfer that the U.S. Air Force requested.

LP 480 seeks to transfer National Guard members performing space missions into the U.S. Space Force without gubernatorial approval. Such a change would undermine Sections 104 of Title 32 and 18238 of Title 10, which ensure that adjustments to the structure, organization, or mission of National Guard units have the consent of the state’s governor. For over a century, this authority has helped the National Guard fulfill the role of a flexible fighting force, able to respond swiftly to both domestic emergencies and national security needs. Should Congress strip governors of the ability to manage National Guard units within their states, it would risk fundamentally altering the Guard’s mission and identity, as well as set a concerning precedent whose impacts may be broader than anticipated.

We recognize the urgency of the future threats facing our national security, and we support the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to prepare. We also believe that the desired end can be achieved through dialogue with affected states, without undermining the foundational principles that have guided the National Guard for over a century. This goal is shared by all 55 governors, who voiced their opposition to LP 480 in April letters to Secretary Austin. As this year’s NDAA process did not allow for amendment floor votes in the Senate, a companion measure with 32 bipartisan cosponsors was not able to be considered before the full chamber. To that end, we strongly urge the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to preserve the House-passed protections for governor oversight in the FY2025 NDAA.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Jake Sullivan Gaggle Aboard Air Force One

Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Berlin, Germany.

Air Force One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIy7ofAcgwM

MIL OSI Video –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Secretary Del Toro Travels to Argentina for the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

MENDOZA, Argentina – From October 13-16, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro led the United States delegation to the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Mendoza, Argentina. The delegation included senior officials from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command were also represented.

CDMA is the premier defense forum in the Western Hemisphere, convening the senior most national security and defense officials biennially to address hemisphere-wide challenges while forging strong partnerships throughout the region. This year’s event featured discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and climate and environmental challenges from a defense perspective.

Secretary Del Toro held bilateral meetings with Ministry of Defense leaders from the following countries:

Argentina
Secretary Del Toro and Minister of Defense Petri reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the U.S.- Argentina defense relationship and discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including in Women, Peace, and Security, and peacekeeping operations. Secretary Del Toro thanked Minister Petri for hosting the XVI CDMA and for Argentina’s contributions to global security.

Brazil
Secretary Del Toro and Minister Múcio discussed cooperating on emerging defense areas, including cyber, space, and special operations; military-to-military activities in the South Atlantic; and expanding defense industrial base cooperation. The two sides recognized the progress made towards finalization of the U.S.-Brazil Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement.

Colombia
Secretary Del Toro and Vice Minister Suárez discussed the strong bilateral U.S.-Colombia defense relationship, and tackling emerging challenges such as counter-unmanned aircraft system, climate change, and support to special operations. The delegations discussed countering transnational criminal organizations, and regional security.

Peru
Secretary Del Toro and Minister Astudillo discussed the strength of the U.S.-Peru bilateral defense relationship, especially in areas of security cooperation and countering transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The U.S. commended Peru’s recent progress toward the lifting of aerial interdiction restrictions.

The Ministers endorsed the United States’ proposal to host the XVIII CDMA in 2028.

MIL Security OSI –

January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK to support NATO space launch capabilities and artillery supplies
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Defence Secretary agrees to range of initiatives from boosting ease of access to space and virtual training to developing cutting-edge drones.
NATO allies could be set to use Britain’s launch vehicles and space ports, following new work that will see the alliance start work to rapidly deploy assets to space.

With adversaries attempting to maximise their advantages in space, the Defence Secretary John Healey MP today signed a letter of intent, which will see NATO allies work closer on government and commercial space launch capabilities.

Attending his first NATO Defence Ministerial, the Defence Secretary also signed up to a range of multinational long-term projects, from virtual training to drone procurement.

Tomorrow and Saturday (Friday 18 October, Saturday 19 October) the Defence Secretary will attend the G7 Defence Ministers meeting.

The meeting, hosted by the Italian Presidency of the G7, in Naples, will see the Defence Secretary meet with his G7 opposite numbers.

On the margins of the G7, Mr Healey will also attend a meeting of the Global Combat Air Programme, with his Italian and Japanese counterparts.

Today’s space cooperation announcement will see the UK help develop NATO’s space capabilities.

Known as the STARLIFT programme, it will build space launch capabilities across the alliance and will see the UK, alongside our allies and commercial partners, create a network of space launch capabilities across the alliance.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

By developing these cutting-edge technologies, we are setting up our Armed Forces for the battlefields of the future, and creating significant opportunities for British industry.

Our Government’s commitment to NATO is unshakeable. Together with our partners, we will ensure the collective security of our citizens and strengthen our alliance for decades to come.

Virtual training

The UK is today signing a letter of intent to share virtual simulator training across NATO, allowing Allies to train and work together without the need for a physical deployment, saving time, resources and money.

Artillery munitions

The UK has agreed today that NATO will create a single test network to enable allies to use different munition types, such as 155mm, on various artillery systems. This will ensure greater flexibility in joint operations.

Drones

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that the UK will take part in a project to develop cutting-edge drones.

The UK has played a key role in sending thousands of drones to Ukraine, where we have seen first-hand the vital role they have played in fighting back against Putin’s forces.

NATO allies will work together to develop these unmanned platforms which will gather intelligence, surveillance and deliver strike capabilities.

UK participation also helps to integrate the MQ-9B/Protector uncrewed aircraft capability into the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force and defence of the High North and Arctic region.

The UK’s participation in these ambitious projects underline our unshakeable commitment to NATO.

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Published 17 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: President Amherd visits Poland in view of its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union

Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

Bern, 16.10.2024 – On Thursday, 17 October, President Viola Amherd met with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda to discuss their countries’ bilateral relations, the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU, the security situation in Europe, migration matters and geopolitical developments. Poland will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2025.

At the meeting in Warsaw, both sides emphasised the excellent relations between Switzerland and Poland, which are characterised by close political, economic, cultural and scientific ties. Cooperation as part of Switzerland’s second contribution to selected EU member states is also important. With a total of CHF 320.1 million until 2029, Poland will receive the largest cohesion framework credit among the 15 countries benefiting from this second Swiss contribution. The cooperation programme is particularly geared towards socially disadvantaged regions and promotes stability in Europe. A further priority is research at Polish universities. The programme offers an opportunity to intensify contacts and technical cooperation between Swiss and Polish research institutions.

In the current, increasingly unstable geopolitical context, both sides agreed that close partners should maintain good and stable relations. With regard to the bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU, President Amherd gave an update on the state of the negotiations. She and President Duda also discussed outstanding issues. Ms Amherd emphasised the need for balanced solutions to stabilise and further develop bilateral relations to the mutual benefit of both sides and to gain domestic support in Switzerland and in the EU. Mr Duda, in turn, outlined the priorities of his country’s presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2025.

The discussion on the security situation focused on the war in Ukraine and the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024), which opened in Lausanne on the same day and addresses the importance of mine clearance as part of the recovery of Ukraine. The conference in Lausanne follows the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2022) in Lugano in July 2022 and the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock resort in June 2024. The discussion in Warsaw focused on the solidarity of both countries with Ukraine and the steps needed to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Further topics included geopolitical developments, in particular the situation in the Middle East, the state of multilateralism, and Switzerland’s second presidency of the UN Security Council this month. On Friday, Ms Amherd will meet with the presidents of Poland’s parliamentary chambers, Szymon Hołownia and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.

Address for enquiries

DDPS Communications
+41 58 464 50 58
kommunikation@gs-vbs.admin.ch

Publisher

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
http://www.vbs.admin.ch

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 24, 2025