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Navy has quietly fired some commanders and other officials, drawing congressional pushback

Navy has quietly fired some commanders and other officials, drawing congressional pushback

The Navy has quietly removed several top officers recently, breaking from its usual practice of public announcements

Navy Faces Congressional Scrutiny Over Unannounced Firings of Commanders and Physician

Navy Faces Congressional Scrutiny Over Unannounced Firings of Commanders and Physician

The U.S. Navy has recently fired or removed several high-ranking officers, including the entire leadership team of a nuclear-powered attack submarine, the commander of a destroyer, and the attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court, Dr. Brian Monahan. These actions have drawn significant pushback from Congress due to the Navy's departure from its usual practice of publicly announcing such changes. Two Democratic lawmakers, Reps. Joe Courtney of Connecticut and Adam Smith of Washington, expressed "deep frustration" in a letter to Navy leaders, stating that the lack of communication has raised questions about the Navy's commitment to transparency and its working relationship with Congress. The submarine's leadership was reportedly fired after an underwater collision, while the destroyer commander was relieved due to a loss of confidence. Dr. Monahan's departure occurred amidst a Navy investigation, with Republican Sen. Mike Rounds and Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla confirming his exit without furth...

Cmdr. Ryan Patrick Assumes Command of USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (Gold)

Cmdr. Ryan Patrick Assumes Command of USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (Gold)

Cmdr. Ryan Patrick has officially taken command of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Alaska (SSBN 732) (Gold) during a change of command ceremony held at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay on November 13. He relieved Cmdr. Jeremy Janney, who had led the Gold Crew through demanding operational cycles and strategic deterrent patrols, ensuring the submarine maintained a high state of mission readiness for national nuclear deterrence. Cmdr. Janney expressed confidence in Cmdr. Patrick's leadership, describing him as an extraordinary officer. Cmdr. Patrick, in turn, acknowledged the culture of excellence fostered by his predecessor and emphasized the importance of teamwork and sustained performance as the USS Alaska prepares for its future operational commitments.

Congressman Courtney Votes for Major Richard Star Act, Sending Bill to Senate to Address Veteran Benefit Injustice

Congressman Courtney Votes for Major Richard Star Act, Sending Bill to Senate to Address Veteran Benefit Injustice

Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) recently voted for the final passage of the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102) in the House of Representatives, with the bill passing by a vote of 392-18. The legislation now advances to the Senate for consideration. This act aims to rectify an existing injustice in the law that reduces earned retirement benefits for veteran retirees who also receive service-connected disability benefits. Currently, combat-injured veterans who are medically retired are only permitted to receive either U.S. Department of Defense retirement benefits or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation. The Major Richard Star Act seeks to amend this law, allowing these medically retired veterans to receive both their full retirement pay and disability compensation. Congressman Courtney, along with a bipartisan coalition, successfully compelled this vote through a discharge petition, which he signed earlier in the year. He emphasized the duty of Congress to provide tangible support, i...

U.S. Virginia-Class Submarine Colorado to Lead New Rotational Force in Australia Under AUKUS Agreement

U.S. Virginia-Class Submarine Colorado to Lead New Rotational Force in Australia Under AUKUS Agreement

The U.S. Virginia-class submarine Colorado is slated to become the inaugural submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West), commencing late next year. This initiative is a key component of the trilateral AUKUS agreement, established in 2021 between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander of Submarine Forces for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated that the AUKUS agreement is on schedule and, in some aspects, even ahead of schedule. The USS Colorado recently completed a month-long maintenance period in Australia and will return next year to establish SRF-West at the Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Stirling. The reactivation of Submarine Squadron 3 in the spring is also in support of standing up SRF-West, which aims to provide a rotational presence of nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines from the U.S. (up to four) and the UK (one) at HMAS Stirling. This development is part of Pillar I of the AUKUS deal, which focuses on providing Australia wit...

U.S. Military Advised to Maintain Drone Pilots Amidst AI Autonomy Challenges

U.S. Military Advised to Maintain Drone Pilots Amidst AI Autonomy Challenges

Despite rapid advancements in general-purpose AI, the U.S. military is advised to continue training and maintaining a large number of drone pilots for the foreseeable future. This recommendation stems from the current limitations of AI models, which still exhibit brittleness in unpredictable and contested environments. While militaries are racing to field sophisticated autonomous drones, current systems cannot consistently execute complex missions without human control. General-purpose AI models, such as large language models, hold promise for enabling autonomous systems to receive plain language commands and make complex decisions, but they currently lack the necessary capabilities and processing speed for reliable real-world battlefield performance. Technical feasibility does not yet guarantee operational usefulness, as AI models need to be small and fast enough to operate locally at the tactical edge, especially where internet and cloud access are degraded or denied.

Representative Shomari Figures' Bill for Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Gains Bipartisan Support

Representative Shomari Figures' Bill for Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Gains Bipartisan Support

U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, has announced that his legislation to establish a monument honoring the Tuskegee Airmen in Washington, D.C., has garnered significant bipartisan support, reaching 56 cosponsors. The bill, known as the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Act, would authorize Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a national nonprofit, to establish the memorial on federal land in the nation's capital. The cosponsors include 35 House Democrats and 21 Republicans, with the full Alabama House delegation, including Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services Representative Mike Rogers, R-Alabama, and Ranking Member Representative Adam Smith, D-Washington, backing the initiative. This legislation aims to honor the Tuskegee Airmen's service in World War II and their pivotal role in the desegregation of the U.S. military.

Navy Submarine Czar Expresses Confidence in 2028 Delivery of First Columbia-Class Submarine

Navy Submarine Czar Expresses Confidence in 2028 Delivery of First Columbia-Class Submarine

Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the Pentagon's Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DPRM) for Submarines, stated that delivering the first Columbia-class submarine, the USS District of Columbia, by the Navy's 2028 target is 'absolutely achievable.' This statement, made during the Submarine League Annual Symposium, reflects a more optimistic outlook compared to his previous assessment in April, where he described the goal as a 'wicked heavy lift.' Gaucher acknowledged that the task remains challenging and requires significant effort, but his confidence has grown due to improved deck plate performance, goal alignment, enhanced production planning, and effective resolution of daily production bottlenecks. The submarine was initially slated for delivery in 2027, but Navy leaders in 2025 indicated a potential shift to 2029 due to supplier issues. However, the Navy and its shipbuilding partners, General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding, established an acceleration plan in 2025 to deliver all modu...

Growing Military-Civilian Gap Persists Despite Veterans Day Recognition, Impacting Recruitment and Reintegration

Growing Military-Civilian Gap Persists Despite Veterans Day Recognition, Impacting Recruitment and Reintegration

Despite annual recognition on Veterans Day and widespread social media engagement, a significant military-civilian gap continues to widen in the United States. This gap refers to the public's high regard for the military coupled with a lack of understanding of the institution and the experiences of its personnel. For example, while Veterans Day in 2025 saw 399,000 references to veterans on social media platform X, this number plummeted by nearly 94% within a week. This transient public attention, combined with a declining percentage of veterans in the adult population (from 18% in 1980 to 6% in 2022) and fewer civilians knowing someone who has served, means much of the public's perception of military life is shaped by mass media. Media often portrays veterans as heroes, recipients of charity, or victims of mental or physical harm, rather than offering nuanced perspectives.

U.S. Watchdog Reports $85 Million in Unaccounted F-35 Jet Components, Raising Supply Chain Concerns

U.S. Watchdog Reports $85 Million in Unaccounted F-35 Jet Components, Raising Supply Chain Concerns

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report indicating that over one million F-35 spare parts, valued at $85 million, remain unaccounted for years after their initial loss was reported. As of March 2026, the F-35 Joint Program Office has not determined the status of these missing components. The GAO's findings also highlight that the Pentagon's inventory records for approximately 26 million F-35 parts, valued at about $31 billion and distributed across more than 700 government and contractor facilities, are incomplete, outdated, and unreliable. This situation raises significant concerns regarding the supply chain management for Lockheed Martin's F-35 program. While the report does not suggest theft or that the F-35 is unsafe, it exposes accountability issues within a program whose lifetime costs are estimated to exceed $1.9 trillion. The watchdog has recommended that the Pentagon improve its inventory procedures, enhance monitoring of reported losses, and provide better training f...

Hegseth impeachment vote was never an attack on the troops | Opinion

Hegseth impeachment vote was never an attack on the troops | Opinion

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to claim that Rep. Thomas Massie's articles of impeachment tell every veteran 'that their service was a crime.'

Defense Secretary Hegseth Issues Corrected Counter-Drone Guidance to Streamline Military Capabilities

Defense Secretary Hegseth Issues Corrected Counter-Drone Guidance to Streamline Military Capabilities

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a 'corrected copy' of a memorandum, dated November 5, aimed at reforming the Pentagon's approval processes for acquiring and deploying counter-drone capabilities. This updated directive instructs senior Pentagon and military officials to document any delays or denials in their requests to use counter-drone technologies as a 'risk of inaction' and report these instances to Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401). The five-page memo outlines policies designed to expedite the procurement and fielding of weapons capable of neutralizing unauthorized unmanned aerial systems. Hegseth emphasized that 'Protection against the threat of drones will not be delayed by self-imposed restrictions.' This move builds upon previous directives issued during the second Trump administration and comes amid a surge in unauthorized drone incursions over U.S. military bases and sensitive national security sites, some involving coordinated, high-tech swarms. The corrected version specif...