News 6 Mashup: May 23, 2022

Here is this week’s News 6 mashup of stories for the week of May 23, 2022, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

Finland and Sweden Apply to Join NATO

Last week, Finland and Sweden officially applied to join the 30 members of the NATO alliance, reported the Department of Defense. Sweden has historically taken a neutral posture until recent events.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging an unprovoked attack on a peaceful and democratic Ukraine. War is raging in Europe on a scale not seen since the Second World War,” said Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.

Reduced Cost of Living for Service Members in Germany

Approximately 50,000 service members and families in the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany will have their Cost-of-Living allowance, also known as COLA, cut starting June 1, reported Military.com. The Pentagon made the decision “because prices in the continental United States are now more expensive than in Germany.”

An unverified email described a reduction between $200 and $500 for service members based upon rank, years of service and number of dependents. In response to backlash about the decision, the Pentagon responded with:

“Since COLA is not a fixed amount and fluctuates annually as well pay period to pay period, Defense Department officials continually stress that fixed expenses such as rent and car payments should be based on what a service member can afford without COLA.”

DoD Seeks Small Businesses to Address Supply Chain Gaps

The Department of Defense highlighted their Defense Logistics Agency Small Business Innovation Research program that is continually “seeking opportunity to match America’s small businesses with research and development projects that address critical supply chain gaps and security threats.”

“A lot of original equipment manufacturers have moved on to the latest and greatest technology, so they don’t want to deal with older parts that aren’t big money makers,” program manager, Denise Price said. “That leaves the services without a source of supply, and DLA is trying to fill the gap.”

The program has three phases to ensure a company is the right fit for the need. “Only half of the companies make it to the second phase.” Small business can submit proposals here.

Last Tuskegee Airman in Rhode Island Turns 100

Retired Sgt. Victor Butler is believed to be Rhode Island’s last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen and he turns 100 this month. What was his birthday wish? Birthday cards. So far Butler’s family thinks over 12,000 cards have been mailed from 41 states, said ABC 7 Chicago. “His daughter opens them, his wife counts them and he reads them.” Some cards are elaborate, others a hand-drawn from children. Some even want to know if he’s available!

“Whoever interested in him, well I’m sorry he’s married, and we are happy,” said his wife.

Send a card!

Victor W. Butler
c/o Gary Butler
P.O. Box. 3523
Cranston, RI 02910

This Week in History

We’re celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the Army who is honoring important contributions that individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent have made to our nation. According to Army.mil, “The month of May was chosen for this commemoration because it marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to America on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad by predominantly Chinese laborers on May 10, 1869.”

Despite facing discrimination, Asian Americans have served the United States as far back as the Civil War. Did you know that the Army’s 422nd Regimental Combat Team was activated on February 1, 1943 and was composed almost entirely of “second-generation Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, who volunteered from Hawaii and internment camps on the mainland. ‘Go for broke,’ a Hawaiian gambling slang for betting it all, was the unit’s motto.” They served in the European and North African campaigns during WWII. There is much to learn about the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islanders serving our country.

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash