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Secretary of Defense has authority to order mandatory COVID-19 shots
November 16, 2021 — The Secretary of Defense has the authority needed to order all members of the military – including the National Guard – to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby... MORE

Two soldiers wearing face masks and gloves use syringes to draw medicine from a small bottle.

Following report, DOD to redouble suicide prevention efforts
October 1, 2021 — Due to the "troubling" findings from the Defense Department Annual Suicide Report, the DOD will redouble its efforts to provide care and resources for all who need it and will work to reduce stigmas and barriers to care, the secretary of defense said... MORE

DOD leaders address Bagram departure, noncombatant evacuation operation timing
September 30, 2021 — Following the U.S. departure from Afghanistan, some questioned the handover of Bagram Air Base. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said maintaining a presence there would not have helped the U.S. mission during the waning days of the 20-year war. ... MORE

Three men sit behind a long table. The wall behind them is covered by paintings and seals.

Defense Department outlines strategy to thwart sexual assault in military
September 23, 2021 — The Department of Defense announced its strategy as approved by the secretary of defense to act on the recommendations of the 90-day Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the Military. ... MORE

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks briefs reporters at the Pentagon.

Services will make call on religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines
August 12, 2021 — For service members who have religious objections to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, the path for how they might seek an exception is defined by their individual military service's regulations, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Aug. 10... MORE

Hands hold a COVID-19 vaccine record card.

Biden to approve SECDEF's request to make COVID-19 vaccine mandatory
August 10, 2021 — By mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will request a waiver from President Joe Biden to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for service members, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. ... MORE

SECDEF seeks presidential approval for mandatory troop vaccinations by mid-September
August 9, 2021 — The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force... MORE

Austin approves plan to transfer authority, retrograde should be done by end of August
July 6, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III approved a plan to transfer authority from Army Gen. Austin S. Miller to Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie as part of the drawdown process from Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said... MORE

Sexual assaults will no longer be prosecuted by commanders
July 6, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III accepted all of the recommendations of an independent review commission that proposed an array of changes in how the Department of Defense and the services that fall under it will handle sexual assaults... MORE

DOD budget request boosts research, nuclear modernization, includes 2.7% pay raise
May 28, 2021 — The fiscal year 2022 Defense Department budget request includes the largest-ever research, development, test and evaluation request — $112 billion, which is a 5.1% increase over fiscal 2021... MORE

A helicopter flies while a crew member inside the helicopter prepares an emergency re-supply drop.

Defense leaders to discuss sex assault review commission recommendation
May 7, 2021 — The Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military has presented initial recommendations to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III that would take the responsibility of prosecuting sexual assault offenses out of commanders' hands... MORE

Two men at lecterns as reporters ask questions.

Austin says NATO, U.S. Forces will leave Afghanistan, continue support to Afghan forces
April 15, 2021 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III wholeheartedly supports President Joe Biden's decision to end America's longest war by September 11. ... MORE

A man in business attire stands at a lectern with microphones and U.S. and NATO flags behind him.

Commission soon to begin examining problem of sexual assault in military
February 23, 2021 — A commission to examine the problem of sexual assault in the military should begin work soon, and will have 90 days to compile its recommendations... MORE

Secretary of Defense orders military stand down to address challenge of extremism in the ranks
February 4, 2021 — A Department of Defense-wide stand down will occur over the next 60 days so that each service, command and unit can take the time to have needed discussions about extremism in the ranks, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 3... MORE

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered a DOD-wide stand down to discuss the problem of extremism in the ranks, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 3.

New Defense Secretary arrives at Pentagon, convenes COVID meeting
January 22, 2021 — Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III arrived at the Pentagon Jan. 22 and hit the ground running, greeting the senior staff and then immediately heading into meetings on combating coronavirus... MORE

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III stands next to a man holding up his right hand facing another man.

Air Force Thunderbirds honor San Antonio in Operation America Strong flyover
May 14, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds conducted flyovers May 13 over San Antonio and Austin as a salute to frontline healthcare workers, first responders, military, and other essential personnel, while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds honor frontline responders May 13 in San Antonio, Austin
May 12, 2020 — The #AmericaStrong U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flyover May 13 serves as a salute to frontline #COVID responders in the great state of Texas... MORE

USAF Thunderbirds to salute Texas COVID-19 responders May 13
May 11, 2020 — The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will honor frontline COVID-19 responders and essential workers with formation flights over San Antonio and Austin May 13... MORE

Naval Criminal Investigative Service has vital presence at JBSA
January 30, 2020 — Whether it’s investigating crimes involving service members or briefing commanders on preventive measures to fight crime, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service has a small, yet vital, presence at Joint Base San Antonio... MORE

With 1,100 special agents in 191 locations across the world, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is the civilian federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Navy that investigates felony level crimes involving active-duty members serving in the Navy and the Marine Corps, including cases on and off military installations in the U.S. and around the world.

Royal Air Force partners with PTN to innovate pilot training pipeline
March 29, 2019 — It’s been said that “seeing is believing” and after a visit last May to the Pilot Training Next facility in Austin and facing a pilot shortage, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force is taking innovation to the next level with the inclusion of a student and an instructor pilot in the second iteration of the class... MORE

Royal Air Force Flight Officer Syd Janota (foreground), Pilot Training Next 2.0 student, observes a fellow student flying a virtual-reality training sortie at the PTN facility at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Austin, Texas, March 18, 2019. The RAF have both a student-pilot and an instructor pilot participating in the class as they look to introduce PTN lessons learned into their flying training pipeline.