Category Archives: News & Analysis

Pentagon Acquisition Has Innovation Problem, New Study Finds

Pentagon Acquisition Has Innovation Problem, New Study Finds

Undated photo of a B-21 Raider. US Air Force Photo

The Pentagon has an innovation adoption problem that’s part of a system that does not encourage new techniques, processes or technologies, former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said at a Wednesday rollout of a new report on defense innovation. Read More

Balikatan 23 Features New Marine Littoral Force in First Major Joint Exercise

Balikatan 23 Features New Marine Littoral Force in First Major Joint Exercise

PFC Nathaniel Jackson, a mortarman with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, demonstrates how to adjust the alignment of an M252 81 mm mortar system to a member of the Philippine Marine Corps during bilateral weapons familiarization during Balikatan 2023 in Santa Juliana, Philippines, April 10, 2023. US Marine Corps Photo

The Marine Corps is ready to use its new formation developed for the island-to-island fight of the future in a major joint exercise in the Indo-Pacific for the first time.
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Interview: MCPON Honea Talks Taking Care of Sailors, Families

Interview: MCPON Honea Talks Taking Care of Sailors, Families

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea speaks with sailors assigned to West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare commands during an all-hands call at Silver Strand Training Complex on Oct. 5, 2023. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON – Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea sat down at his computer prepared to answer questions sailors submitted to Reddit. He set aside an hour to answer questions, about topics ranging from housing conditions to ongoing pay issues. Read More

U.S., Philippines Kick off Largest-ever Balikatan Exercise as Defense, Foreign Affairs Leaders Meet in Washington

U.S., Philippines Kick off Largest-ever Balikatan Exercise as Defense, Foreign Affairs Leaders Meet in Washington

U.S. Marines with 3rd Landing Support Battalion, Army Soldiers, Navy Sailors, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines listen during a rehearsal of concept brief in preparation for Balikatan 23 at Camp Agnew, Casigueran, Philippines on April 4, 2023. US Marie Corps Photo

MANILA – The Philippines and the United States began the largest iteration of Balikatan, the annual military exercise involving Filipino and American troops, during a Tuesday ceremony at the Philippine military’s general headquarters of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Read More

Navy Seeing Better Trained Ensigns After Surface Warfare Reforms, Say Sailors

Navy Seeing Better Trained Ensigns After Surface Warfare Reforms, Say Sailors

USS Halsey (DDG-97) returning to Naval Station San Diego on Feb. 10, 2023. USNI News Photo

ABOARD GUIDED-MISSILE DESTROYER USS HALSEY OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – When Cmdr. Amanda Browning joined the Navy, she learned how to drive and operate a ship from a set of CD-ROMs on a computer aboard Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53). Twenty years ago, new surface warfare officers learned on the job after a cost-saving decision to trim upfront training, and the results were far from consistent. Read More