Army to immediately start discharging vaccine refusers
The Army said Wednesday it will immediately begin discharging soldiers who have refused to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, putting more than 3,300 service members at risk of being thrown out soon. The Army’s announcement makes it the final military service to lay out its discharge policy for vaccine refusers. The Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy have already discharged active-duty troops or entry-level personnel at boot camps for refusing the shots. So far, the Army has not discharged any. According to data released by the Army last week, more than 3,300 soldiers have refused to get the vaccine. The Army has said that more than 3,000 soldiers have been issued official written reprimands, which suggests they are already identified in the disciplinary process, and some of them could be among the first to be discharged. The Pentagon has ordered all service members — active-duty, National Guard and Reserves — to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force. COVID-19 cases continue to surge around the country as a result of the omicron variant. Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot. More than 3,000 have requested medical or religious exemptions. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth issued the directive Wednesday ordering commanders to begin involuntary separation proceedings against those who have refused the shots and do not have a pending or approved exemption. “Army readiness depends on soldiers who are prepared to train, deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars,” she said. “Unvaccinated soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness. We will begin involuntary separation proceedings for Soldiers who refuse the vaccine order and are not pending a final decision on an exemption.” The order includes active-duty soldiers, reserves serving on active duty, and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, its preparatory school, and ROTC. The detailed order said soldiers will be discharged for misconduct and noted that those who are eligible to retire may do so before July 1. Overall, more than 650 Marines, airmen, and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training at boot camps, according to data released this week and last week by the services. The military services have been going through a methodical process to deal with those who refuse the vaccine as well as those who request medical, administrative, or religious exemptions. The reviews require counseling with medical personnel and chaplains as well as senior commanders. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Army defends decision to close space, tech library
The U.S. Army is defending a decision to close its historic 57-year-old space and technical library at Redstone Arsenal. Army officials said it was a joint decision made by interested parties. The Redstone Scientific Information Center, or RSIC, closed its doors Sept. 30, Al.com reported. The center was established in 1962 by a charter between the Army and NASA. It was overseen by a board of directors made up of senior leaders and scientists at Redstone’s various missile organizations. Dr. Wernher von Braun and Maj. Gen. Francis “Frank” McMorrow agreed to build the original facility, which held information about rocketry and space science used to advance United States rocket programs. In a statement released this week, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center, or AvMC, said the collection had become too big and expensive to maintain. “The sheer size of the collection – approximately 450,000 items – demanded an increase in space requirements,” the statement said. But it added decreased funding and resources have made it untenable to continue managing the library. AvMC said the library is now virtual and “consists of online-only access to scientific journals and e-books” plus electronic versions of technical documents. The e-documents will not be fully available until July 2021. As for the rest, NASA documents were returned to NASA and “excess library materials” will be offered to other Defense Department or government libraries first locally and then outside Huntsville. The Army’s statement said there are “no plans at this time to create another local library approaching the size and scope of RSIC for the entire Redstone Arsenal community.” NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center said it “has acquired selected books and other documents from RSIC and is in the process of developing an on-site library, which will be a branch of the NASA agency-wide library system.” Marshall said its employees will “have access to RSIC’s online subscriptions through spring 2020.” After that, “the NASA agency on-line library will provide subscriptions for all centers including Marshall.” Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
For now, Army suspends discharges of immigrant recruits
The U.S. Army has stopped discharging immigrant recruits who enlisted seeking a path to citizenship — at least temporarily. A memo shared with The Associated Press spells out orders to high-ranking Army officials to stop processing discharges of men and women who enlisted in the special immigrant program. “Effective immediately, you will suspend processing of all involuntary separation actions,” read the memo signed July 20 by Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Marshall Williams. The disclosure comes one month after the AP reported that dozens of immigrant enlistees were being discharged or had their contracts cancelled. Some said they were given no reason for their discharge. Others said the Army informed them they’d been labeled as security risks because they have relatives abroad or because the Defense Department had not completed background checks on them. In a statement Thursday, Army Lt. Col. Nina L. Hill said they were stopping the discharges in order to review the administrative separation process. The decision could impact hundreds of enlistees. “We continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation” on all recruits, she said. The Army has reversed one discharge, for Brazilian reservist Lucas Calixto, 28, who had sued. Nonetheless, discharges of other immigrant enlistees continued. Attorneys sought to bring a class action lawsuit last week to offer protections to a broader group of reservists and recruits in the program, demanding that prior discharges be revoked and that further separations be halted. A judge’s order references the July 20 memo, and asks the Army to clarify how it impacts the discharge status of Calixto and other plaintiffs. As part of the memo, Williams also instructed Army officials to recommend whether the military should issue further guidance related to the program. Margaret Stock, an Alaska-based immigration attorney and a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel who helped create the immigrant recruitment program, said Wednesday the memo proves there was a policy. “It’s an admission by the Army that they’ve improperly discharged hundreds of soldiers,” she said. “The next step should be go back and rescind the people who were improperly discharged.” Discharged recruits and reservists reached Thursday said their discharges were still in place as far as they knew. One Pakistani man caught by surprise by his discharge said he was filing for asylum. He asked that his name be withheld because he fears he might be forced to return to Pakistan, where he could face danger as a former U.S. Army enlistee. The reversal comes as the Defense Department has attempted to strengthen security requirements for the program, through which historically immigrants vowed to risk their lives for the promise of U.S. citizenship. President George W. Bush ordered “expedited naturalization” for immigrant soldiers after 9/11 in an effort to swell military ranks. Seven years later the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, known as MAVNI, became an official recruiting program. It came under fire from conservatives when President Barack Obama added DACA recipients — young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children — to the list of eligible enlistees. In response, the military layered on additional security clearances for recruits to pass before heading to boot camp. The Trump Administration added even more hurdles, creating a backlog within the Defense Department. Last fall, hundreds of recruits still in the enlistment process had their contracts canceled. Government attorneys called the recruitment program an “elevated security risk” in another case involving 17 foreign-born military recruits who enlisted through the program but have not been able to clear additional security requirements. Some recruits had falsified their background records and were connected to state-sponsored intelligence agencies, the court filing said. Eligible recruits are required to have legal status in the U.S., such as a student visa, before enlisting. More than 5,000 immigrants were recruited into the program in 2016, and an estimated 10,000 are currently serving. Nearly 110,000 members of the Armed Forces have gained citizenship by serving in the U.S. military since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the Defense Department.’ Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Kayla Freeman makes history as first black female pilot in Alabama National Guard
Kayla Freeman wasn’t looking to make history when she decided to pursue a career with the Alabama National Guard, but that’s exactly what she did. Freeman’s graduation on Saturday from Tuskegee University where she was enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, made her the first African-American female in Alabama’s National Guard history to earn her wings and become a pilot. “I just wanted to do the best that I could do and hopefully inspire a few people along the way,” she told the U.S. Army. “You can’t let mistakes and setbacks keep you down. Learn from them and continue moving forward. Most importantly keep God first and He will direct your path.” Having graduated, Freeman’s is currently employed as an aerospace engineer at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. as her civilian job, but is now at Fort Hood, Texas; preparing to deploy to the Middle East as a platoon leader in the Alabama National Guard’s 1-169th Aviation Battalion, according to the Associated Press. She was pinned on Saturday by Col. Christine “Nickey” Knighton, a Georgia native and fellow history maker. Knighton, who made history on several different fronts was the first woman to command a tactical combat arms battalion in the U.S. Army, the first woman from Georgia to complete flight training at Fort Rucker, and the second African-American woman in U.S. military history to earn her wings at Fort Rucker. “Col. Knighton has been an inspiration to me since college” Freeman told the U.S. Army. “I felt that it was only right to have her pin me.” Another female history maker — Alabama’s Major General Sheryl Gordon commended Freeman for her achievements. “We take the ideals of equal opportunity very seriously,” Gordon told Tuskegee University, “and we’re extremely proud of 2nd Lt. Freeman’s achievements. She is further proof that we don’t see race or gender in the Alabama Guard — we see Soldiers and Airmen and their potential.” “She has worked very hard to earn those wings, and that’s a great example for all of us,” Gordon continued.
Boeing ramping up Alabama aerospace employment, investment
With a legacy in Alabama that spans more than half a century, Boeing Co. is looking toward the future with plans for new jobs, investment and breakthrough developments at its operations in the state. The aerospace manufacturer, which has about 2,700 Alabama employees, expects to add 400 more by 2020, along with an additional capital investment of $70 million. “As the leading aerospace manufacturer in Alabama, Boeing supports a diverse portfolio of programs from missile defense programs such as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system – which recently successfully intercepted a mock Intercontinental ballistic missile during a test — to space exploration programs such as the Space Launch System family of rockets that will take us to Mars,” said Ken Tucker, director of State and Local Government Operations for Boeing in Alabama. “Boeing is investing in the future of Alabama as a center of innovation, continuing to bring highly skilled jobs and growth to the region.” The company is one of the key success stories touted by business recruiters as they seek to expand the state’s aviation and aerospace industry. Last week, the team was working at the Paris Air Show, where leaders of the world’s top aerospace firms convened. “Boeing’s continued growth in Alabama is a testament to the company’s strategic vision, as well as the skillful execution by its workforce in the state,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Boeing innovation in Alabama is key to our nation’s defense and space programs, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.” A major Boeing missile project in Alabama is the Ground-based Midcourse Defense initiative. (Missile Defense Agency) Alabama operations Boeing’s Alabama operations are centered at two main facilities in Huntsville, in the Jetplex Industrial Park and at Redstone Gateway. The company first established a presence in Huntsville in 1962 to support the new U.S. space programs, and today the local operations provide a wide variety of innovations and capabilities for both the commercial and defense sectors. In addition to the successful performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, which happened at the end of May, another recent development for Boeing in Alabama is the expansion of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Seeker facility in Huntsville. The 28,000-square-foot facility will include machinery and other capabilities to support the missile defense program for the U.S. Army. The expansion is progressing well and is on track to provide enhanced production capabilities by the end of the year, said Jennifer Wollman, a Boeing spokeswoman. Other Boeing operations in Alabama include the Huntsville Design Center, which supports 20 major programs such as the new 777X, 737 Max and 787, and Boeing Research & Technology, a research center that develops future aerospace solutions for defense and commercial businesses. Huntsville also is home to NASA’s Space Launch System program, where Boeing is responsible for the design, development, testing and manufacture of the core and upper stages, as well as the avionics for the nation’s next-generation rocket to transport people and cargo to deep space. Aerospace giant Boeing opened its Alabama Research & Technology Center in Huntsville in June 2015, building on its long-standing presence in the Rocket City. (Boeing) Moving forward A recent economic impact study showed the company contributes more than $2 billion annually to the state’s economy and sustains nearly 8,400 direct and indirect jobs. The study also showed that Boeing: Supported 8,393 direct and industry jobs in the state. Distributed an annual payroll of $264 million in Alabama. Spent an additional $749 million in the state, including $532 million to suppliers. Contributed nearly $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations. When the study was released, Boeing also announced an additional 400 jobs and $70 million in capital investment by 2020. “While our employment in the state currently remains steady with approximately 2,700 employees, we expect to see that increase in the coming years,” Wollman said. “We also continue moving forward with our capital investment plans and expect to have more to share on that later this year.” Republished with permission of Alabama NewsCenter.
Martha Roby: New commander at Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker this week will host a change of command ceremony, a time honored military tradition marking a transition of leadership. Major General William Gayler will officially assume command of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker taking the place of the departing commander, Maj. Gen. Michael Lundy. I want to thank Maj. Gen. Lundy for his exemplary leadership at Fort Rucker for the past two years. Fort Rucker is an important post, not just for the Wiregrass region and the State of Alabama, but for our nation and its defense. Every Army aviator is trained at Fort Rucker. Despite the changing landscape of the modern battlefield, Army aviation has remained an essential component of warfare, and Fort Rucker has dutifully delivered the best-trained aviators for assignments all over the world. Commanders like Maj. Gen. Lundy have an enormous responsibility of fulfilling that vital mission while dealing with any number of challenges. Maj. Gen. Lundy’s command of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence came during an especially difficult time, as budget cuts forced military leaders to make tough decisions. It was about this time last year when many feared steep reductions by the Army would significantly affect the post and the surrounding community. Thankfully, the Army’s force reduction had minimal impact on Fort Rucker, and particularly the aviation student load and flight training hours. I can tell you that having Maj. Gen. Lundy’s steady leadership during such moments of uncertainty has been invaluable. The Army has not yet announced Maj. Gen. Lundy’s next assignment. Wherever it is, that organization will be gaining an exceptional leader. Fort Rucker’s new commander, Maj. Gen. William Gayler is a Georgia native who most recently served as the Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Army in Europe and Commander of U.S. Army NATO. Maj. Gen. Gayler is a Master Army Aviator and has a distinguished service career that includes deployments in Desert Storm, Bosnia conflict, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also no stranger to Fort Rucker, having previously served in multiple assignments including Aide-de-Camp to the commanding general. On behalf of Alabama’s Second Congressional District, I am pleased to welcome Maj. Gen. Gayler back to our state and wish him the best as he begins his command of Fort Rucker. I look forward to working with him as I have past commanders in supporting the important mission at the Army Aviation Center of Excellence. It is my great honor to serve a district that is home to two of our nation’s finest military installations: Fort Rucker in the Wiregrass and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery. Supporting our military and serving veterans remain top priorities for me in Congress and some of the most rewarding parts of my job. • • • Martha Roby represents Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband, Riley, and their two children.
Info dump from extramarital personals Ashley Madison nets some 15 Alabama gov’t emails
A recent public release of information gathered by hackers exploiting an security breaches on the illicit adult personals site Ashley Madison, whose tagline is “Life is Short. Have an Affair.”, yielded the partial user information of about 15 Alabama public employees who used their work email to register for the site. According to recently released domain name data, the state’s top cops were not immune. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency topped the list as the agency with the most email addresses revealed in the recent identity compromise, which affected millions of users around the world including about 15,000 using public domain servers to register with the site. Three addresses bore the “alcop.gov” domain, a group you might think would know better. Addresses tagged “ema.alabama.gov” — which correspond to the state’s emergency management department — tied for second on the scarlet-lettered list along with the Division of Elections and city of Huntsville. Emails tied to the state’s court system, Air Force base, Department of State, and Public Service Commission along with the city of Madison were also represented. As the Birmingham Business Journal noted, the adulterous online dragnet also uncovered the emails of some 7,000 “us.army.mil” addressed, belonging to members of the Army. Individual names tied to the addresses have largely been scraped from the internet by authorities, though activist and reality TV star Josh Duggar — probably the most famous Ashley Madisonian so far outed — was also busted earlier this week.
