Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–June 30, 2014.  GENERAL PHILIP M. BREEDLOVE: Okay, thanks for being here this afternoon. And thanks for giving me the opportunity to be here. It’s the first time I’ve been here in this capacity as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the European Command commander. I look forward to[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 30, 2014. At the direction of the president, the U.S. military augmented its security assistance by up to approximately 200 personnel to reinforce security at the U.S. embassy, its support facilities, and Baghdad International Airport. The president authorized this augmentation as a prudent measure to protect U.S. citizens[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 30, 2014. “I welcome President Obama’s nomination of Bob McDonald to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs. Bob has been one of America’s premier corporate leaders and is a fellow Army veteran and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. If confirmed by Congress, he will be well-equipped[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–June 30, 2014.  Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson today released the following statement after President Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate former Proctor & Gamble chief executive Robert A. McDonald to be the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “I have been close friends with Bob McDonald[Read More…]

Streamlines Transfer Process and Eliminates School Roadblocks for Children with One or More Parents Serving in the Armed Forces MASCOUTAH–(ENEWSPF)–June 28, 2014.  Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation to make it easier for military families to enroll their children in Illinois schools. The law eliminates many of the educational roadblocks[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 27, 2014. Today, President Obama met with Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson and Rob Nabors to receive an update on efforts to improve care for veterans through the VA health care system. They reported to the President on VA’s progress in implementing reforms and briefed[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSFP)–June 27, 2014. REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Afternoon, everybody. I don’t have any announcements today, but I do want to note that today’s the last day for two of our stalwart reporters here in the Pentagon, Mathieu Rabechault from AFP (Agence France-Presse) and Pauline Jelinek from the Associated Press.[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—June 26, 2014. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Thomas Z. Spitzer, 23, of New Braunfels, Texas, died June 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment,[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–June 24, 2014.  REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Afternoon, everybody. Q: Hello. REAR ADM. KIRBY: Just a couple — hello, Nancy. Just a — you made me lose my composure already. Just a couple quick announcements, first on Iraq. In keeping with the direction of the commander-in-chief, I can announce[Read More…]

Aurora, Illinois—(ENEWSPF)—June 24, 2014. On December 23, 1966, Herschel “Lucky” Luckinbill was just that, when shells from hostile North Vietnamese shore batteries ripped through the USS O’Brien, killing two sailors and wounding four others. Luckinbill survived a near miss, as one of the deadly shells struck near his assigned sleeping berth[Read More…]