Nov. 26, 2024
SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP
Members of our State Military Department and legislators met for a 2025 Legislative Briefing on Wednesday at Joint Force Headquarters to discuss the progression of several bills that will benefit our Soldiers and Airmen, including the Houston Hunter Bill.
Alabama National Guard | November 22, 2024
One of our Alabama Army National Guard Recruiter, SSG DuBose, presented our AHSAA Top Prospect of the Week! Congratulations to Sarah Tole of Auburn High School!
Alabama National Guard Recruiting | November 23, 2024
The Red Tail Innovation Cell hosted a virtual reality training system by Overmatch. The system is able to simulate various scenarios reflecting real world situations.
187th Fighter Wing | November 22, 2024
Did you know that the 129th Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) out of Centerville, Ala. is part of the 167th TSC family?
167th Theater Sustainment Command | November 21, 2024
ALABAMA NEWS
VIDEO: Alabama National Guard troops return home from Texas
WSFA 12 | November 21, 2024
Williams named Air University Chief Academic Officer and Provost
Maxwell Air Force Base | November 22, 2024
Dr. Yolanda Williams accepted the role of Air University’s Provost and Chief Academic Officer during an assumption of leadership ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Nov. 22, 2024.
The Chief Academic Officer’s role is to act as the principal authority and executive-level advisor to the Air University commander and president, for all issues concerning the academic programs across the university.
Air Force Culture and Language Center academic workshop
Maxwell Air Force Base | November 22, 2024
The Air Force Culture and Language Center hosted an academic workshop relating to the Russia-Ukraine war at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Nov. 12, 2024.
The workshop brought together professors and researchers from across the country to present papers relating to the conflict.
Katt Williams buys former Alabama military base to launch movie studio
AL.com | November 22, 2024
Katt Williams’ dreams of being a movie mogul have taken him to Alabama, where the comedian purchased a former military base with the intention to launch a movie studio.
ROMANIA NEWS
Romania’s far-right, pro-Russian lurch spells big trouble for EU and NATO
Politico | November 26, 2024
Alarm bells are ringing in Brussels after a far-right, pro-Russia candidate came out of nowhere to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election Sunday.
The shock victory of ultranationalist Călin Georgescu is triggering fears that Moscow may be trying to draw NATO and EU member Romania — a Central and Eastern European heavyweight of 19 million people — into its camp following contested elections in Moldova and Georgia.
The Guardian view on Romania’s presidential election: a stable Ukrainian ally wobbles
The Guardian | November 25, 2024
In a region shadowed by Vladimir Putin’s revanchist ambitions, Romania has been a pillar of pro‑western stability. Possessing a long border with Ukraine, the country has been a staunch ally to its neighbour under the outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis. As well as providing military aid, more than half a million refugees have been accommodated, and Ukrainian grain exports have been facilitated through the Black Sea port of Constanta. During the summer, President Iohannis at one point threw his hat into the ring to become Nato’s new secretary general, a post eventually filled by the Netherlands’ former prime minister, Mark Rutte.
DEFENSE WIDE NEWS
China Scrambles Jets Against US Military Plane
Newsweek | November 26, 2024
China's military deployed aircraft and ships to monitor and track a U.S. plane during its passage through the sensitive waterway of the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. Beijing views such transits as provocative, given its claim over Taiwan and the surrounding strait, while the U.S. and Taiwan consider the strait to be international waters. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet confirmed that a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducted a transit through the Taiwan Strait, navigating international airspace in accordance with international law.
US to Deploy Missiles on Japanese Island Bases for Taiwan Conflict
The Defense Post | November 25, 2024
The US will set up temporary military bases in Japan’s Nansei island chain to deploy missile units in the event of a Taiwan contingency, Kyodo News reported, citing sources. The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, based in Okinawa, Japan, will be deployed in the island chain that stretches southwest from Japan’s Kyushu to Taiwan, the Japanese outlet added citing sources. It is one of two littoral regiments of the US Marine Corps designed for maneuvering and operation in the maritime domain, featuring amphibious platforms, connectors, and boats. The regiments are meant to operate with low signature, mobility, and persistence to blunt enemy layers.
G7 allies expected to increase pressure on China over support for Russia, Bloomberg reports
The Kyiv Independent | November 25, 2024
The foreign ministers of Group of Seven (G7) countries are expected to agree to increase diplomatic pressure on China over the country's support for Russia's 'war machine' in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 25, citing an early draft of a communique seen by the publication. The draft communique, which vows to introduce "appropriate measures consistent with our legal systems, against actors in China and in other third countries," is still in development as G7 foreign ministers meet in Italy on Nov. 25-26, Bloomberg reported.
Top NATO military official urges businesses to be prepared for ‘wartime scenario’
Fox News Channel | November 25, 2024
A top military official with NATO warned businesses on Monday to be ready for a wartime scenario, which could entail adjusting production and distribution lines to be less vulnerable to blackmail from Russia and China. Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairperson of NATO’s military committee, told attendees at an event of the European Policy Center think tank in Brussels that all available instruments could be used during a time of war, according to a report from Reuters.
No signs of North Korean military presence in Ukraine – Pentagon
Ukrainska Pravda | November 25, 2024
Sabrina Singh, spokesperson for the Pentagon, has stated at a briefing that the US Department of Defense has seen no signs suggesting that North Korean troops are present in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine or are heading in that direction. "Don't have any indications that there are DPRK soldiers in Ukraine," said Singh. The spokesperson noted that the Pentagon could confirm the presence of North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk Oblast, which borders Ukraine. However, Singh stated that no movements of units with North Korean troops into Ukrainian territory have been recorded.
Russia pummels Ukraine with 'record' drone barrage
KTEN News | November 26, 2024
Russia launched a record 188 drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv said Tuesday, amid growing international tensions over Russian missile threats and hints Moscow could strike European cities. Moscow and Kyiv have been escalating their drone and missile broadsides, with Ukraine recently firing US long-range missiles at Russia and the Kremlin retaliating with an experimental hypersonic missile. The barrage came as ambassadors from Ukraine and NATO's 32 members were due to meet in Brussels over Russia's firing last week of the intermediate-range missile on the city of Dnipro.
Russia tricks Yemeni men to fight in Ukraine under Houthi scheme: report
Fox News Channel | November 25, 2024
Russia is recruiting hundreds of Yemeni men to fight in its war in Ukraine by luring them to Russia under false pretenses in coordination with the Houthi terrorist network, a report by the Financial Times found. The Yemeni recruits who were transferred to Russia under a "shadowy trafficking operation" were originally told they would receive high-paying jobs and Russian citizenship. However, after arriving with the help of a Houthi-linked company, many have apparently been coerced into the Russian military, forced to sign fighting contracts at gunpoint and sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
How Trump and Hegseth could change the US military and the challenges they might face
ABC News | November 25, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump and his pick to lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, have proposed major changes to the U.S. military, leading to questions about how the department could be affected in a second Trump administration.
G7 seeks unity on ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Reuters | November 25, 2024
The Group of Seven democracies are seeking a common position on the arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued last week by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday. "We need to be united on this," Tajani said after hosting the first working session of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from G7 nations. The United States, part of the G7, has rejected the ICC decision, with President Joe Biden describing it as outrageous.
Top counterterrorism official warns of ISIS’ rapid rise in Africa
POLITICO | November 25, 2024
The top U.S. counterterrorism official is warning that the Islamic State terror group has set its sights on Africa as its new frontier — and that its activities there are increasingly dangerous for the U.S. “The ISIS threat in Africa, in our view, is potentially one of the greatest long-term threats to U.S. interests,” Brett Holmgren, the head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, or NCTC, said in an interview. “They’ve clearly prioritized Africa as a growth opportunity.”
NATIONAL GUARD NEWS
State names first Black woman to head New Jersey National Guard
Press of Atlantic City | November 25, 2024
A major military celebration as the New Jersey National Guard hosted the promotion ceremony for Col. Yvonne Mays. The room was filled with family, friends, colleagues and veterans as Mays was promoted to brigadier general. Gov. Phil Murphy presented the promotion."We are so proud to call Col. Mays New Jersey’s own, and we are so grateful to be soon to be able to call her brigadier general,” said Murphy.
Stealth on a Mission: B-2 Bombers Deliver Precision Strikes in Yemen, Showcasing U.S. Global Power
Home - Motorcycle Sports | November 25, 2024
In a bold display of American military might, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, conducted precision airstrikes on October 16, targeting five hardened underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled Yemen. The mission underscored the U.S.’s global strike capabilities, reinforcing its readiness to engage adversaries at any time, anywhere. The operation exemplified the Total Force effort, bringing together Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing, the 131st Bomb Wing (BW), and the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center (J-GSOC).
Pentagon deploys AI-powered aircraft recognition system for Washington, DC air defence
Flightglobal | November 25, 2024
A new system of artificial intelligence-powered cameras is now operating around Washington, DC to boost the US capital’s existing air defence system. Officially known as Enhanced Regional Situational Awareness (ERSA), the system uses a network of electro-optical/infrared cameras to supplement traditional radar-powered identification of aircraft near the American capital. “The system itself tries to identify what it believes the target to be, and then the operator can assess whether to override it or fine-tune it,” says Master Sergeant Kendrick Wilburn, an Air National Guard non-commissioned officer with the Joint Air Defense Operations Center in Washington.
LANG shares disaster response with Republic of Korea delegation
National Guard | November 20, 2024
The Louisiana National Guard hosted a delegation of officers from the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Army for a visit to Jackson Barracks in New Orleans and other LANG facilities to share its extensive disaster response experience and lessons learned, Nov. 11-17. “We were honored to support our ally, South Korea, by hosting this delegation at Jackson Barracks,” said Col. Willus Hall, chief of the joint staff for LANG. “The purpose of their visit was to gain knowledge about our planning and execution processes for commodities distribution, so they can strengthen this capability within their force.”
Witt announced endorsements from Robert Wilkie and Stanley Clarke immediately.
Florida Politics | November 26, 2024
Fighter pilot Jeff Witt just entered the battle for former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz’s seat in Congress. Witt, a Niceville Republican, said he wants to be an ally to President-elect Donald Trump. He joined the Air National Guard and flew F-16 jets, including on deployment to Afghanistan. Witt later trained in 2020 on the F-35, earning recognition as an instructor and evaluator pilot. The Air Force in 2019 announced a squad of F-35 planes would be stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. “There will be no one better than Jeff Witt to represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District,” said Clarke, a former Director of the Air National Guard.
How generals and admirals get promoted and how that may change under Trump
Task & Purpose | November 25, 2024
How the U.S. military chooses and promotes its generals and admirals — the highest-ranking officers in the military — rarely gets attention. That changed this month with reports that officials appointed under President-elect Donald Trump may take a far more direct role in shaping the military’s general officer corps. The number of general flag officer positions in each military service and their required duties are dictated by federal statute and can be altered by federal lawmakers. For example, in 2011, Congress specified that the chief of the National Guard Bureau should be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with “the specific responsibility of addressing matters involving non-Federalized National Guard forces in support of homeland defense and civil support missions.”
ARMY NEWS
Ukraine’s ATACMS Strikes Russian Military Air Base for First Time: Report
The Defense Post | November 26, 2024
Ukraine has reportedly struck a Russian military air base using the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for the first time following the easing of restrictions on weapons aid to Kyiv. Cyber Boroshno, a Ukraine-based geospatial intelligence group, said the attack took place on November 25, targeting the Kursk Vostochny air base in western Russia. The missile, equipped with cluster warheads, detonated some of its payload directly on the airfield. Satellite imagery indicates the strike hit a parking lot, though it remains unclear if Russian combat aircraft were present at the time.
Bombardier Defense delivers first HADES jet to Army
DefenseScoop | November 25, 2024
Bombardier Defense delivered its first Global 6500 business jet to the Army on Monday in a ceremony in Wichita, Kansas, to help close the service’s number one capability gap: deep sensing. The jet will be the main platform for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, the Army’s fixed wing aircraft-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system that will replace the legacy RC-12 Guardrail.
ATACMS strike destroys Russian S-400 system in Kursk
Defence Blog | November 25, 2024
On November 23, 2024, a precision strike targeted an S-400 air defense system in the village of Bolshoe Zhirovo, located in Russia’s Kursk region. The missile strike reportedly destroyed key components of the S-400 system, including a radar station and two launchers, and resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking officers and technicians. The strike was carried out using three ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) ballistic missiles.
Abandoned US Army 'city under the ice' imaged in serendipitous NASA find
MSN.com | November 25, 2024
Deep within the ice sheet of Greenland lies a US military secret that hasn't been seen since the 1960s, but a NASA flyover earlier this year has provided an unprecedented look at the buried Cold War relic. Camp Century, constructed in 1959 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, was built directly into the ice sheet of Greenland, giving it an interior reminiscent of Echo Base on the frozen world of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. At the heart of the facility was the PM-2A portable nuclear reactor, which provided power for the sprawling "city under the ice" that included housing for 200 soldiers, a theater, gym, post exchange, library, and even a chapel.
Steve Alpert: Honoring the Military through His Art
Army Times | November 25, 2024
Steve Alpert transitioned from a career in television production to painting full-time. His first paintings were landscapes offering a feeling of tranquility giving him a sense of freedom which led him to reflect on the gratitude he feels for those fighting for that freedom. Although Alpert never served his country in uniform, he has found a way of showing his gratitude through his art.
AIR FORCE NEWS
Vietnam Welcomes First US Military Aircraft Since 1975
The Defense Post | November 25, 2024
The Vietnam Air Defence Air Force (ADAF) has taken delivery of its first batch of T-6C Texan II aircraft ordered from the US, a first since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. During the handover ceremony at the Phan Thiet air base, the country received the first five out of 12 Beechcraft military trainer aircraft from a deal made in 2021. “This aircraft is useful materiel which supports Vietnamese military pilots in complementing, enhancing the capability of training, interoperability, meeting the requirements of training military pilots, mission readiness, homeland protection,” ADAF Commander Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien said.
Netherlands Delivers Final F-16 Training Jets for Ukraine to Romania
The Defense Post | November 25, 2024
The Netherlands has delivered the final two F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Romania to train Ukrainian military aircrews. The handover is part of an 18-aircraft program pledged by the Dutch government last year to assist Ukrainian warfighters in improving their aerial combat skills amidst the Russian invasion. Amsterdam sent the first five F-16s for this initiative in November 2023 and said at the time that the fleet “will only fly in NATO air space.” Lessons are being led by Romanian, American, and Danish instructors at a Lockheed Martin-built facility at Fetesti Air Base, Muntenia, where Bucharest’s own students and NATO partners also train. Apart from the practice jets, the Netherlands is supplying 24 additional F-16s to Ukraine for operational use.
NATO in 'Hidden Cyber War' With Russia: UK Minister
Newsweek | November 25, 2024
Russia is planning cyberattacks on the United Kingdom and other NATO allies over their support for Ukraine, according to a British politician. Pat McFadden, a minister whose brief includes British national security, told a meeting of the alliance about Russia's cyber warfare capabilities, which he described as a "hidden war" being waged by Moscow against Ukraine. There have been accusations that Moscow is stepping up its hybrid warfare attacks and sabotaging critical infrastructure of Western European countries that back Kyiv.
Pentagon, Lockheed reach handshake deal for next F-35s
Defense News | November 25, 2024
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin have reached a handshake agreement for two more lots of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. The initial agreement will cover production of lots 18 and 19 of the stealth fighter’s air vehicle, Lockheed and the F-35 Joint Program Office said in a joint statement. The handshake deal was first reported by Air and Space Forces Magazine. The JPO and Lockheed said they are still negotiating the final terms of the deal and will announce how many F-35s the contract will cover and their cost when the agreement is officially signed. Lockheed Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave said in an October earnings call that the company expects to strike a deal for lots 18 and 19 by the end of 2024.
Colorado leaders applaud as Air Force says Schriever Space Base to serve as home of Space Delta 15
Colorado Public Radio | November 25, 2024
Colorado’s political leaders are applauding the U.S. Air Force’s decision to have Schriever Space Base serve as the home of Space Delta 15. The news comes as concerns mount that the incoming Trump administration may try and move Space Command Headquarters to Alabama. Space Delta 15 is responsible for the U.S. Space Force’s command and control organization, which focuses on protecting and defending space through integrated Space Battle Management. Its work also involves intelligence and cyber capabilities.
News Compilation by Sgt. Adena Belle McCluskey