Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2013. The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, has been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. U.S. Air Force Col. Francis J. McGouldrick Jr. of[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 4, 2013. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL: Good afternoon. First, let me acknowledge an announcement I made yesterday regarding Christine Fox, who is going to be our new acting deputy secretary of defense. I recommended Christine to President Obama because I felt we needed the continuity to continue[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 5, 2013. The Department of Defense announced on Dec. 5 the transfer of Djamel Saiid Ali Ameziane and Bensayah Belkecem from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Algeria. As directed by the president’s Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 3, 2013. Today, I am announcing that President Obama has accepted my recommendation that he appoint Christine Fox Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense, effective Dec. 5. Christine, who until recently served as the department’s Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, is a brilliant defense thinker and proven[Read More…]

Encourages Illinois Residents to Support Our Veterans and Servicemembers at Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–December 2, 2013.  Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by local students to light the state of Illinois’ Christmas tree and launch the annual Illinois Heroes Holiday Card Drive. The Governor encouraged students from across the[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 27, 2013. One hundred fifty years ago, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving. Though it was a time of hardship, Thanksgiving was a day for Americans to express gratitude for the many blessings they enjoyed, including the sacrifices[Read More…]

Halifax, Nova Scotia—(ENEWSPF)—November 22, 2013. MODERATOR: At this point in time, I would like to invite the Honorable Rob Nicholson, minister of national defense, to say a few words. (Speaking in French) MINISTER OF DEFENCE ROB NICHOLSON: Well, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m very pleased to be here with[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 22, 2013. Today the Department of Defense released its Arctic Strategy during a speech by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada. The strategy document may be viewed at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/2013_Arctic_Strategy.pdf. Secretary Hagel’s speech can be read here. Source: defense.gov  

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 22, 2013.  Rep. Luis. V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) gathered signatures from a bipartisan group of 31 House Members for a letter to the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force inquiring about an issue of military recruitment related to immigration status.  It has[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–November 21 – President Barack Obama today signed legislation by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to provide annual cost-of-living adjustments in benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for their survivors. The legislation, for the first time in years, ends a Department of Veterans Affairs practice of rounding down benefits. “I[Read More…]