Jacqueline Klimas

Skip Wells, Thomas Sullivan Marines killed in Chattanooga shootings

The four Marines slain in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, shooting rampage have been identified and include a Purple Heart recipient who completed two tours in Iraq.

July 17, 2015

Four Marines killed in ‘act of domestic terrorism’ at Tenn. recruiting center

A lone shooter identified as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez unleashed a barrage of bullets at a strip mall military recruiting center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, minutes before opening fire on an another military site 7 miles away, killing four Marines in what officials called an act of "domestic terrorism."

July 16, 2015

John McCain vows defense budget that avoids military cuts

Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that he expects negotiators to reach an agreement this week on the annual defense policy bill, though a presidential veto still threatens to derail the bill.

July 15, 2015

Kristin Beck, transgender Navy SEAL, says integration must not hinder military readiness

For Kristin Beck, who hid her transgender status for the 20 years in the Navy, the Obama administration's push to integrate transgender troops into the military will only get one shot.

July 14, 2015

Islamic State no threat to U.S. homeland: Air Force general

Air Force Gen. Paul Selva on Tuesday ranked the Islamic State the least-threatening group to the U.S, saying that the terrorists do not pose a threat to the homeland.

July 14, 2015

Defense Department likely to allow transgender troops in military

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Monday that the Pentagon will begin a review of transgender troops serving openly in the military, taking the first step to knock down one of the last gender or sexual barriers to military service.

July 13, 2015

U.S. considering additional training of Ukrainian forces

The military could make a decision soon on whether U.S. forces will start training additional Ukrainians to combat Russian-backed separatists later this year, the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe said Monday.

July 13, 2015

Three women pass Darby phase of Ranger School on third try

Three women successfully completed the first phase of Ranger School and will begin the Mountain Phase of training on Saturday, according to a spokesman from Fort Benning.

July 11, 2015

Suicides up among Army, Army National Guard

The Army saw a small increase in the number of suicides in the first three months of 2015, according to a Defense Department report released Friday.

July 10, 2015

Joseph Dunford, Joint Chiefs of Staff nominee, grilled on Obama Islamic State strategy

Senators turned Joint Chiefs of Staff nominee Gen. Joseph Dunford's confirmation hearing Thursday into a critique on the administration's foreign policy against the Islamic State, questioning how to provide help to more capable Kurdish forces and why so few Syrians have started training.

July 9, 2015

D.C. military bases spared from Army cuts

The Washington metro region was largely spared in Army personnel cuts announced Thursday, with D.C.-area bases facing a combined net loss of 498 active-duty soldiers.

July 9, 2015

Impact of Army reductions will be widespread, general says

Planned cuts to the Army's end strength will touch nearly every base and will include some involuntary layoffs, officials said Thursday, though D.C.-area installations avoid the brunt of the reductions.

July 9, 2015

Joseph Dunford: Russia ‘greatest threat to our national security’

Gen. Joseph Dunford said Thursday that despite conflicts in the Middle East with terrorist groups, Russia poses the greatest threat to the United States today.

July 9, 2015

Obama admin to cut 40K Army soldiers

The Army will cut 40,000 soldiers over the next two years to keep pace with ever-shrinking budgets, an Army spokesman said Wednesday.

July 8, 2015

Islamic State fight hamstrung by low local troop levels

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told lawmakers Tuesday that the train-and-equip mission in both Iraq and Syria is lagging behind as local officials struggle to recruit troops to fight the Islamic State.

July 7, 2015

Greece debt crisis could give Russia opening to expand influence in region

The Greek debt crisis could ultimately pose a national security problem for the U.S. if Athens turns to Russia if it can't solve its mounting problems with its European Union partners.

July 7, 2015

Ashton Carter: One-third of sorties drop bombs in dynamic strikes against Islamic State

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday that only about a third of sorties drop their bombs in dynamic strikes in the fight against the Islamic State, though he defended the number as still being more effective than the Afghanistan air campaign.

July 7, 2015

Ashton Carter: U.S. forces training 500 Sunnis at Al Taqaddum in Iraq

Hundreds of Sunni fighters are being trained to fight against the Islamic State by U.S. advisers who recently deployed to Al Taqaddum Air Base in Iraq, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told lawmakers on Tuesday.

July 7, 2015

U.S. troops in Iraq to stay at 3,000; Islamic State fight local to Obama

President Obama said Monday that he isn't planning to send more U.S. troops to Iraq to help fight the Islamic State group and added that local forces must prevail.

July 6, 2015

In defense bill, Guantanamo Bay, procurement reform likely to be sticking points

Guantanamo Bay and acquisition reform may be among the final sticking points as members of the House and Senate come together to try to hammer out a new blueprint for America's defense.

July 6, 2015