News 6 Mashup: August 15, 2022
Here is this week’s News 6 mashup of stories for the week of August 15th, 2022, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
China’s Navy Displays it Power
China’s military drills near Taiwan following a controversial visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have put on display China’s naval, air force and missile capabilities. China’s military has seen dramatic modernization and capability improvements, reported NPR.
Anthony Cordesman, a national security analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies described China’s force during the mid 1990s as “ineffective as a fighting force.”
“No longer, experts say. China’s navy has gone from essentially a coastal patrol force to a fleet that includes aircraft carriers and submarines and is capable of operations far from the mainland. Its warplanes, while not quite as capable as the latest U.S. models, are not far behind them.”
Fort Bragg Moving 1,200 Soldiers from Unsafe Barracks
Fort Bragg has announced it is moving up to 1,200 soldiers within 30 days from barracks with “higher than normal moisture levels” that could lead to mold, reported Military Times. The barracks at the Smoke Bomb Hill area were inspected and found have fallen “dangerously short of HVAC standards.” According to Military Times, some of the barracks will be renovated but “the majority of them will be demolished.”
U.S. Space Force: Innovative Recruitment Program
U.S. Space Force is turning heads for its innovative approach to hiring cyber officers.
In May, Space Force hosted a virtual conference that about 1,000 people attended and received 400 applications for positions. “The board further narrowed the field and 10 cyber professionals accepted a commission as a cyber officer.”
“The constructive service credit program provided another opportunity for us to find specific expertise and leadership experience in officer grades,” said Col. John Smail, senior cyber officer. He “explained that not only was the board able to find candidates that were needed to meet force requirements, but they also saw candidates with experience that is rarely found in the military.”
Commissary Home Delivery Pilot Program Sees Positive Results
The Defense Commissary Agency has been running a test pilot program called CLICK2GO at eight commissary locations. It offers grocery delivery to homes within 20 miles of the test commissary locations.
“If we can’t get the patron to the store, then we’ve got to get the benefit to the patron – that’s what CLICK2GO delivery is really about at these eight locations,” said Bill Moore, DeCA Director and CEO. “So far, it’s working extremely well at Belvoir, we’re knocking it out of the park here. If this pilot continues its success, we’re going to go globally, as fast as the law and contracting rules allow.”
This Week in History
The Air Force is celebrating the F-15 Eagle’s 50th birthday! This fighter jet offers “maneuverability, speed, power and endurance,” said Military.com. It’s been called one of the Air Force’s most successful modern fighters. The first F-15 flew in July of 1972, and entered service in 1976. Military.com outlined five amazing stories about this iconic fighter jet: here are two!
- After a training exercise accident, an F-15 has landed with just one wing. And the pilot landed safely and didn’t even know he had lost the wing until he exited the aircraft.
- “American and allied variants of the F-15 have racked up more than 100 aerial victories, most by the Israel Defense Forces, with zero losses. Besides Israel, Allied countries that are still flying the F-15 include Singapore, South Korea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.”
Photo by Master Sgt. Sonia Pawloski | Photo by Samuel Shore
