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Service members, civilians bound by DOD rules during election campaigns
September 8, 2020 — Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper's latest ethics message lays out the importance of political activity rules that Department of Defense civilian employees and service members must follow. ... MORE

James Brady, 14th Force Support Squadron community readiness specialist and installation voting assistance officer, talks with Air Force Staff Sgt. Cory Henning, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron, during Armed Forces Voters Week in the base exchange on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., June 27, 2018. Though federal election years have a large effect on the voting community and activity, elections are happening across the country every year.

SECDEF visits BMT, sees how citizens become Airmen during COVID-19
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a first-hand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen June 16... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Snow, 323rd Training Squadron military training instructor, briefs U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper during his tour of the 323rd Training Squadron's Airman Training Complex June 16, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Esper met with AETC leaders to see firsthand how Basic Military Training is fighting through COVID-19 with health protection measures in place and adapting operations to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance. The visit also allowed him to witness how a citizen becomes an Airman during COVID-19.

Trump, Esper, Milley commemorate WWII victory in Europe
May 8, 2020 — President Donald J. Trump; Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper; and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial in Washington to commemorate Victory in Europe Day... MORE

The United States joins other nations in celebrating V-E Day, the official surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, marking the end of the war in Europe during World War II.

Defense Secretary lists DOD's top priorities during COVID-19 pandemic
March 25, 2020 — Protecting the Defense Department's people, maintaining military readiness and supporting the whole-of-government interagency response are DOD's top three priorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said March 24. ... MORE

DOD halts travel to, from COVID-19 affected countries
March 12, 2020 — In response to the growing coronavirus epidemic, Department of Defense officials are looking to safeguard the health and safety of military and civilian personnel and their families... MORE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the coronavirus, named 2019-nCoV, is similar to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus in that it is spread from animals to people. The MERS virus particles are in blue, surrounding an infected cell. The undated image was taken at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

DOD makes plans to combat coronavirus
March 3, 2020 — Defense Department civilian and military leaders are working to ensure the department is ready for short- and long-term scenarios, as well as domestic and international situations... MORE

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley speak to reporters at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., March 2.

Afghan, U.S., NATO officials call declaration a path for peace
March 2, 2020 — Under an agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, all foreign troops may be out of Afghanistan in 14 months, officials said in the Afghan capital of Kabul... MORE

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and two other civilians walk on a red carpet.