NEWS OF THE FORCE: Saturday, February 27, 2016 - Page 1

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Saturday, February 27, 2016 - Today is National Day in the Dominican Republic

Suicide bomber kills at least 11 in Afghanistan

A suicide bomber killed an Afghan militia commander and at least 10 others in the eastern province of Kunar, near the border with Pakistan today, officials said.

U.N.'s ban on North Korea's mineral shipments will hurt its foreign currency income, Seoul says

The expected ban under the new U.N. Security Council resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s mineral resources exports will significantly damage Pyongyang's foreign currency income, South Korea's unification ministry said yesterday.

The election in Iran

Early returns today from Iran's parliamentary election indicate the country will likely usher in a new era with reformists and moderate conservatives creating a friendly venue for the nation's president.

Meanwhile, the U.N.'s nuclear agency has verified Iran's commitment to its nuclear agreement, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the P5+1 group of countries.

Strikes target terrorists in Iraq

U.S. and Coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government: Near Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL front end loader and an ISIL vehicle bomb; Near Fallujah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position; Near Kirkuk, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit; Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position; Near Mosul, seven strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas, five ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL vehicle bomb facility, an ISIL weapons storage facility and suppressed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL rocket fire positions; Near Qayyarah, a strike produced inconclusive results; and near Ramadi, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit.

Saudi planes land in Turkey for IS mission

Four Royal Saudi Air Force warplanes landed at Incirlik Airbase in Turkey yesterday to join the U.S.-led Western Coalition forces' aerial raids against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Turkish officials and news reports say.

U.S. may deploy military advisers against Boko Haram

The United States and Nigeria are in talks about sending U.S. military advisers to Nigeria's Borno State to help with the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

Libya denies presence of French troops

Libya's internationally recognized government has denied media reports that French special forces are engaged in covert military operations against Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the North African state.

Car bomb kills 2 after cease-fire begins in Syria

By Lisa Levine, News of the Force Tel Aviv

A U.S. and Russia-brokered cease-fire brought relative calm to parts of Syria for the first time in years today, but the war against the Islamic State group continued as the extremist group stormed a northern border town in a surprise attack. The cease-fire has begun in Syria with nearly 100 groups committed to observing the cessation of hostilities.

U.S. President Barack Obama says the Coalition to fight ISIS is in a better position now than it was a month ago, saying he is "confident we will prevail" against the "barbaric terrorist organization."

U.S. and Coalition forces' attack, ground attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight strikes in Syria today: Near Tal Abyad, a strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building; Near Hawl, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL vehicle bomb; Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIL excavator; and near Hasakah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.

And a Palestinian prisoner ended 94 days of his hunger strike yesterday after reaching a deal with Israeli authorities that says he will be released in three months' time, his family said.

Cuzin Jim's Thought for the Day: Never marry for money....it's cheaper to borrow it.

U.S. Air Force

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James revealed the first rendering of the Long Range Strike Bomber, designated the B-21, at the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium yesterday in Orlando, Fla., and announced the Air Force will be taking suggestions from airmen to help decide the name of the bomber. And budget plans are poised to keep the Air Force on top of its game, with a new bomber and advanced technology to help airmen execute a future offset strategy, the secretary said.

Gen. Hawk Carlisle, the commander of the Air Combat Command, and Gen. Robin Rand, the commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, kicked off the Air Force Association’s 32nd annual Air Warfare Symposium on Feb. 25 in Orlando, Fla., with a presentation on global precision strike, a group of systems the Air Force can use for rapid and accurate strikes around the world.

Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., was the U.S. Air Force’s first African-American four-star general. He trained Tuskegee Airmen and even faced down former Libyan dictator Col. Muammar Gaddafi at Wheelus Air Force Base, Libya.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody has testified on Capitol Hill before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on the resilience of airmen and their families.

Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, the commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command, wants more CV-22s in his command. As of now, the command has 50 of the planes.

Col. Scott T. McLean is being reassigned from Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Director of Space Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations, Plans and Requirements), Headquarters, U.S. Air Force the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., to deputy commander, 9th Space Operations Squadron, Joint Space Operations Center, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

Col. Mitchell D. Migliori is being reassigned from deputy director of Operations and Plans, 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Base Ft. Worth, Texas, to vice commander, 301st Fighter Wing, NAS Joint Reserve Base Ft. Worth. Texas.

Col. Jude R. Sunderbruch is being reassigned from IMA to the commander of the 8th Field Investigations Region, Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Peterson AFB, Colo., to IMA to the director of the Joint Cyber Center, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

Col. (select) Sarah W. Mangahas is being reassigned from assistant executive officer to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., to executive officer to the commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.

Col. (select) Shane M. Matherne is being reassigned from chief of the Force Management Branch (Communications Division), Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga., to Chief of network Systems (Operations Division), Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.

Maryland's Air National Guard will soon begin deploying overseas, along with their powerful A-10 attack jets.

Approximately 100 members of the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing (179th AW) departed yesterday for a near four-month deployment to the Middle East.

A New York-based Air National Guard unit is helping to rescue stranded scientists and researchers near the South Pole.

The Iowa Air National Guard celebrated the 75th anniversary of the 132nd Wing, based in Des Moines, in a ceremony yesterday.

For more than two years, the Montana Air National Guard has been going through the conversion from F-15's to C-130s. Recently they teamed up for training with Malmstrom AFB.

The Pentagon has postponed the retirement of the Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt "Warthogs."

The Pentagon’s logistics support office failed to properly account for - and hold contractors accountable for - millions of dollars in defective parts for weapon systems, according to a new report by the Department of Defense's Inspector General. This is the second time this month the IG has documented waste and mismanagement involving defense aviation contractors.

After 32 years in the service, Col. Sandy Best has been promoted and has become the first female brigadier general in the history of the Minnesota Air National Guard.

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work observed the test of an unarmed Minuteman 3 missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Thursday night, at the culmination of a trip to examine the progress of reforms in the DOD’s nuclear deterrent. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva and Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, joined the deputy secretary for the launch. The warhead splashed down at the military’s test range near Kwajalein Atoll, more than 4,000 miles away. The crew that launched the missile is assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and Vandenberg AFB. Prior to attending the test, Work visited airmen at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, where he assessed the progress made in reinvigorating America’s most important military capability. "I think you know that in 2014, we had an awful lot of issues that were identified in the nuclear deterrent and since that time we have done an awful lot to make sure that we are improving and that problem doesn't happen again,” Work told reporters traveling with him. Air Force officials said the test went well and the deputy secretary was pleased with the performance of the Minuteman 3, which entered the system in 1970. "The Minuteman system, as part of our nuclear triad, continues to meet our 21st century deterrence and assurance requirements," Work said in a readout of the visit. "This operational test will provide the department with accuracy and reliability data that is essential to on-going and future modifications to the weapon system." Nuclear deterrence is the basis for strategic stability among great powers, the deputy secretary said. It is the U.S.' position to move toward a world free of nuclear weapons, he said. But until then "we're going to make sure that our deterrent is safe, reliable, secure and effective, and that we will make sure that we maintain strategic stability with our great power competitors," he added. Work was looking specifically at the progress in implementing 175 recommendations made in a report ordered by then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in 2014. The report was the result of a study that followed press reports detailing shortcomings in the nuclear enterprise. About 80 percent of those recommendations have been implemented, Work said. "A key focus is on the health of the force - the people," the deputy secretary said. "The people are our best asset of the nuclear deterrent enterprise, just like they are in the whole department. If there’s a secret weapon that the United States has, it is our people." During his stop at F.E. Warren AFB, Work spoke to junior enlisted personnel and officers to ensure they understand the importance of what they do, whether they have the resources they need and if they have seen a difference since the department began implementing the reforms. While in California, the deputy secretary spoke at the In-Q-Tel Summit in San Jose. In-Q-Tel is a not-for-profit firm working to ensure that U.S. intelligence agencies have the latest technologies. Work spoke about the importance of partnering with the commercial technology base, DOD’s investments in the fiscal 2017 budget request, and the development of the third offset strategy. The DOD began a pilot program with In-Q-Tel last year. Work noted the collaboration allowed the department to develop innovative solutions for some of its most challenging problems. "Last year we invested $10 million," he said. "In the ‘17 budget we will invest $40 million." The stop in San Jose was part of the DOD’s commitment to ensuring it stays ahead of competitors in a rapidly changing world, he said. It also signals the department’s effort to reach out and attract a new generation of Americans to serve their country, the deputy said. "In Silicon Valley, we're seeing a real explosion in progress," Work said. "The department sees tremendous promise in artificial intelligence and autonomy as we look to achieve technological overmatch against our adversaries. The third offset strategy is based on the premise that advances in artificial intelligence and autonomy will allow the joint force to develop and operate advanced joint, collaborative human-machine battle networks that synchronize simultaneous operations in space, air, sea, undersea, ground, and cyber domains."

And youth and the general public are being invited to an open house sponsored by the Civil Air Patrol squadron in Marlborough, Mass., on Sunday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Marlborough Fire Station, at 215 Maple St.

Homeland insecurity

The Department of Homeland Security's human resources management system, declared last year to be one of the highest-risk IT programs in the federal government, "pissed away" more than $180 million, a U.S. lawmaker has said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted New Mexico an immediate extension of time to comply with the Real ID Act.

The University of Arkansas (UofA) is now offering a Homeland Security Operations Manager course as a hybrid course the second eight weeks of this spring semester.

And thanks to a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) in New York City will conduct a study of crowd behavior in major transit hubs.

U.S. Coast Guard

Thomas Galea has spoken out during a U.S. Coast Guard forum regarding the Detroit International Bridge Co.'s application for a permit to build a second span connecting Michigan to Canada across the Detroit River. The plan has sizeable public support.

The investigation into the deadly sinking of the El Faro cargo ship during a hurricane last fall shifted direction yesterday as the Coast Guard wrapped up Phase 1 of its hearings in Jacksonville, Fla.

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued three Americans and a South African man after their catamaran began to sink north of the Dominican Republic.

The Fifth Coast Guard District's commander, Rear Adm. Stephen P. Metruck, has presented County Commissioner Robin Comer with a document designating Carteret County, N.C., as a Coast Guard Community.

According to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard, water levels in the Port Huron, Mich.-area rose between 15 and 20 inches overnight.

In Texas, a portion of the Houston Ship Channel was briefly closed to vessel traffic yesterday following a fire on a tug boat moored at the Lyondell Basell refinery, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The old U.S. Coast Guard station at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, is getting a makeover thanks to Cleveland Metroparks.

The Coast Guard announced this week that it is pulling its proposal to allow companies to ship fracking wastewater by barge on the Ohio River.

Coast Guard rescue teams have plucked crew members off a fishing boat that ran aground off Queens, N.Y., following violent storms there.

And the crew of USCGC Campbell has become an essential asset in the country's war on drugs.

UFO news

An unidentified flying object was seen and recorded on video as it flew over

Belleville, N.J., on Feb. 20th.

On Feb. 24th, a UFO was sighted and recorded on video when it appeared over Cartago, Costa Rica.

On Feb. 22, a cloud in the image of a UFO appeared over Las Vegas, N.M.

And on Feb. 20, multiple UFOs were seen and caught on video over Mudgee, Australia.