Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—September 5, 2014. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Brian K. Arsenault, 28, of Northborough, Massachusetts, died Sept. 4, in Ghazni, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his unit was engaged by enemy small-arms fire. Arsenault was assigned[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—September 5, 2014. The following is a joint statement by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) meeting: This morning we had a meeting with some of our key allies and partners on the serious[Read More…]

CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–September 4, 2014.  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, urging him to examine recent allegations of wrongdoing at military hospitals and report back to the Subcommittee on his findings. A recent article in the New[Read More…]

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Serves as an Example for Future VA Reform CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–September 4, 2014.  U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Captain James A. Lovell (USN, RET.) and the leadership team at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, hosted a town hall[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—September 3, 2014. The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing since World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Army Pfc. Bernard Gavrin, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y.,[Read More…]

REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Afternoon everybody. A couple of things to open up. First, I know we’ve all seen press reporting about the potential murder by ISIL of Mr. Sotloff. I don’t have anything to confirm it today. Obviously, we’re monitoring as best we can, and our thoughts and prayers[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—September 2, 2014 To the men and women of the Department of Defense: Preventing military suicide is one of DoD’s highest priorities, and something I’m personally committed to as secretary of defense. As we observe Suicide Prevention Month, we must rededicate ourselves to actively working not only every month,[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 29, 2014. REAR ADMIRAL. JOHN KIRBY: Hey, everybody. Just a couple of comments to open up. I want to start with a quick preview of Secretary Hagel’s schedule next week. On Wednesday, September 3rd, the secretary will embark on his 16th international trip, a six-day, three-country trip centered[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 26, 2014. “The United States appreciates the willingness of more and more of our allies and partners to support the Iraqi people in their fight against ISIL.  “Two weeks ago, I commissioned a U.S.-led working group to accelerate resupply efforts to the embattled Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 26, 2014. Today, President Obama will announce 19 new executive actions that the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense are taking to improve the mental health of service members, veterans and their families. For more information please see the following link to the fact sheet: http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2014JointFactSheet.pdf. Source: defense.gov Related[Read More…]