Hagel Outlines Steps to Smooth Transition to VA
DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel outlined the steps the Defense Department is taking to help expedite VA claims processing and prevent a future backlog during a round-table discussion with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, May 22, 2013. Hagel said DOD has a responsibility to ensure quality health care is carried through to when service members become veterans.
Secretary Welcomes Dutch Defense Minister
DOD photo by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Hostutler
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel emphasized the importance of the Netherlands as a NATO ally during a Pentagon meeting with Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, May 22, 2013. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said the two leaders also discussed a range of issues including the Joint Strike Fighter program, NATO’s role in post-2013 Afghanistand and Syria.
National Guard Responds to Tornado Disaster
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Daniel Nelson
More than 160 members of the Oklahoma National Guard were assisting with disaster relief efforts in Moore, Okla., May 22, 2013. The twister hit May 20, 2013, about 3:15 p.m. CDT.
Secretary Promotes Summer Safety in Message to Troops
DOD photo by Glenn Fawcett
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel issued a message to troops, May 22, 2013, urging them to exercise safety in the coming summer months. “We all must do everything we can to be safer this summer,” Hagel said. He noted the fundamental skills of military life, such as leadership and the ability to assess risk, also apply to off-duty time and are "essential to enjoying the summer and returning to your units.”
Hagel Initiatives Combat Sexual Assaults in Military
DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has launched new initiatives to eradicate sexual assault in the military. The multidisciplinary approach addresses sexual assault prevention from the command to the recruiting levels, and will increase reporting and improve victim care. Hagel also appointed an independent panel to make recommendations on legal reforms to hold sexual offenders accountable.
Stratcom Provides ‘Tailored Deterrence’ Against Threats
U.S. Strategic Command photo by Steve Cunningham
Besides performing its traditional nuclear-deterrence mission, U.S. Strategic Command also is the global synchronizer for ensuring space, cyberspace, missile defense and intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities across the military. Learn more about Stratcom’s mission in this American Forces Press Service special report.
U.S. Soldiers Attend Meeting In Nangarhar Province
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Vang Seng Thao
U.S. soldiers secured a landing zone for an Afghan air force Mi-17 helicopter outside Hesarak village in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, May 17, 2013. The soldiers are assigned to 101st Airborne Division's Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
