July 18 Joint Base Lewis-McChord Daily News Clips

July 18 Joint Base Lewis-McChord Daily News Clips

Local/Regional/ Pacific/Middle East:

*Team McChord

McChord’s newest little pilot

(Key words): The annual McChord “Pilot for a Day” program provides a child with a catastrophic disease the opportunity to live out their life-long dream of joining the ranks of steadfast Airmen before them in becoming a pilot. Additionally, these courageous youths have the opportunity to share these exciting and memorable experiences with their loved ones. For Team McChord, the smile of a child like this is a powerful source of motivation to strive every single day to develop and support ready Airmen and families. https://www.mcchord.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3841654/mcchords-newest-little-pilot/

Flashpoints

US renews call on China to stop aggressive actions in disputed sea

(Key words): The United States on Friday renewed its call on China to stop its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, saying a broader web of security alliances has emerged to preserve the rule of law in the disputed waters. Washington’s top diplomat in Manila was joined by counterparts from key Western and Asian allies, including Japan and Australia, in a Manila forum to express alarm over increasing hostilities in the contested waters, particularly between China and the Philippines. They committed to help defend a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.https://www.armytimes.com/newsletters/daily-news-roundup/2024/07/17/us-renews-call-on-china-to-stop-aggressive-actions-in-disputed-sea/

Military News

North Korean land mines could float into South Korea, South warns

(Key words): North Korean land mines could be swept into South Korea by flooding, South Korea's military warned Wednesday, after the North has recently placed tens of thousands of additional deadly explosives along the rivals' heavily fortified border. North Korea's minelaying is part of construction at the border that's been going on since April, which also includes adding anti-tank barriers and reinforcing roads. South Korea officials believe North Korea aims to boost its frontline security posture and prevent its soldiers and citizens from defecting to South Korea.https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/07/17/north-korean-land-mines-could-float-south-korea-south-warns.html

AP News

Islamic State attacks on track to double in Iraq and Syria compared to last year, US military says

(Key words): The U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that the Islamic State group is trying “to reconstitute” as the number of attacks in Syria and Iraq is on track to double this year, compared to the year before. IS claimed 153 attacks in the two countries in the first six months of 2024, CENTCOM said in a statement. According to a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t allowed to speak publicly on the matter, the group was behind 121 attacks in Syria and Iraq in 2023. https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-islamic-state-us-centcom-attacks-53bdb45048b8f1389d9181b359e8260d

CBS News

U.S. decides to permanently dismantle peir helping deliver aid into Gaza, official says

(Key words): The United States has decided to permanently dismantle the Gaza pier, a U.S. official told CBS News. The pier is currently in port in Ashdod, Israel, and will not be reattached to the shore in Gaza, according to this official, who said "the mission is over." The decision follows a recommendation by the U.S. Central Command not to reinstall the pier. CBS News learned of the military's recommendation Tuesday from two U.S. officials. Bedeviled by bad weather and mechanical malfunctions, the Gaza pier has been in operation for only about 20 days since it was installed in May. In those 20 days, it has managed to deliver nearly 20 million pounds of aid. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-military-recommends-permanently-dismantling-gaza-aid-pier/

BBC

Gaza man with Down's syndrome attacked by IDF dog and left to die, mother tells BBC

(Key words): There was always his family. When he was bullied at school, and beaten, they were there to embrace him when he came home. And when the war started and he was terrorized by the sound of bombs falling, someone always said things were going to be ok. Muhammed was heavy and found movement difficult. He spent his days sitting in an armchair. If he needed anything, there was a niece or nephew to help. Muhammed Bhar was 24 and had Down’s syndrome and autism. His mother, Nabila Bhar, 70, told the BBC: “He didn’t know how to eat, drink, or change his clothes. I’m the one who changed his nappies. I’m the one who fed him. He didn’t know how to do anything by himself.” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9drj14e0lo

National:

Marine Corps Times

Barracks not up to snuff? Use this new Marine Corps QR code

(Key words): The Marine Corps has released a new system that will allow Marines to make barracks maintenance requests through a QR code on their phone. The QSRMax system is part of a larger initiative within the Marine Corps to improve Marines’ quality of life during service, dubbed “Barracks 2030,” with the goal of improving barracks, making management more accessible and modernizing barracks buildings. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-military/2024/07/17/barracks-not-up-to-snuff-use-this-new-marine-corps-qr-code/

Air Force Times

Forest fire breaks out at New Jersey Air National Guard gunnery range

(Key words): A fast-moving forest fire broke out Tuesday at a major military gunnery range in southern New Jersey, but no injuries or property damage has been reported. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded around 2:15 p.m. to the Warren Grove Air to Ground Range in Ocean County, where weapons testing had been scheduled for late Tuesday morning. It wasn't immediately clear if the testing had taken place and, if it did, played a role in the fire. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-military/2024/07/16/forest-fire-breaks-out-at-new-jersey-air-national-guard-gunnery-range/

Army Times

Military burn pit exposure not tracked properly, DOD watching warns

(Key words): The U.S. military has not properly tracked whether service members are exposed to burn pits, according to a new report by Pentagon’s internal watchdog. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, American personnel regularly used these sites — essentially giant piles of trash set on fire — to dispose of waste. Some of that garbage included plastics, chemicals, rubber and other items that turned when burned. https://www.armytimes.com/newsletters/2024/07/17/military-burn-pit-exposure-not-tracked-properly-dod-watchdog-warns/

The Associated Press

Remains of Bataan Death March POW returned home

(Key words): The long-unidentified remains of a World War II service member who died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines in 1942 were returned home to California on Tuesday. The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. 1st Class Charles R. Powers, 18, of Riverside, were flown to Ontario International Airport east of Los Angeles for burial at Riverside National Cemetery on Thursday, 82 years to the day of his death. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-military/2024/07/17/remains-of-bataan-death-march-pow-returned-home/

U.S. Army

Army beats Air Force to win gold during Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship

(Key words): Army dominated against Air Force to secure gold for the Armed Forces Women’s Rugby Championship at Nobel Field here July 13 with a score of 27-5. During the only Armed Forces women’s competition where all five service branches have their own teams, they met in 10 matches that lasted 14 minutes each over two days. https://www.army.mil/article/278060/army_beats_air_force_to_win_gold_during_armed_forces_womens_rugby_championship

Military History

Archeologists find musket balls from early Revolutionary War battle

(Key words): Nearly 250 years ago, hundreds of militiamen lined a hillside in Massachusetts and started firing a barrage of musket balls toward retreating British troops, marking the first major battle in the Revolutionary War. The latest evidence of that firefight is five musket balls dug up last year near the North Bridge site in the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. Early analysis of the balls — gray with sizes ranging from a pea to a marble — indicates colonial militia members fired them at British forces on April 19, 1775. https://www.airforcetimes.com/veterans/military-history/2024/07/17/archeologists-find-musket-balls-from-early-revolutionary-war-battle/

International:

Business Insider

Vance wants the US military to focus on China over Russia. There’s one big problem with that plan

(Key words): Donald Trump unveiled his vice president pick and likely political heir, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to a rapturous welcome at the RNC conference in Milwaukee this week. But in European capitals, Trump's selection of Vance was greeted with deepening concern. Vance, like Trump, has long cast doubt on the necessity of the US commitment to NATO, which for decades has been the main bulwark against Russian aggression in Europe. He has also questioned US support for Ukraine in its battle against the Russian invasion. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/vance-wants-the-us-military-to-focus-on-china-over-russia-there-s-one-big-problem-with-that-plan/ar-BB1q96KF?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a%3Floadin&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Reuters

China, Russia carried out live-fire naval exercises in South China Sea

(Key words): China and Russia carried out live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea this week, Russian and Chinese state media reported, with the two countries having strengthened military and trade ties in recent years following U.S. sanctions. Both countries were to deploy at least three vessels each for the three-day exercises, China's state controlled Global Times newspaper said late on Tuesday, citing the People's Liberation Army Navy. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-russia-carried-out-live-fire-naval-exercises-in-south-china-sea/ar-BB1q8b0E?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a?loadin

Stars and Stripes

New York National Guard and Sweden enter military partnership

(Key words): The New York National Guard has entered a partnership with Sweden’s armed forces that will see the two sides regularly work together. The deal marks the latest military agreement inked by Sweden, which in March ended two centuries of neutrality by joining NATO amid ongoing concerns over Russia’s expansionist ambitions. Under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, New York and Swedish troops will engage in activities ranging from training exercises and personnel exchanges to disaster response work. https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2024-07-17/sweden-state-partnership-program-14514217.html