Top 5     Looming government shutdown could hurt military families, veterans (Military Times) A partial government shutdown this weekend could delay troops’ paychecks at the start of the new year and shutter some base recreation activities just before Christmas, yielding a stressful holiday season for military families.       US troops doubled in Syria before Assad’s overthrow, Pentagon says (Defense News) The U.S. more than doubled its number of troops in Syria — from 900 to around 2,000 — before the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the Pentagon said Thursday, publicly disclosing the surge for the first time.       Marines can now reenlist early, some for up to 15 years (Military Times) The Marines have released an update to a years-long talent management effort aimed at building and retaining the best personnel by offering them a host of work, stationing and service options.       Suicides among veterans remain unchanged despite federal focus (Military Times) The suicide rate among veterans held steady from 2021 to 2022 at roughly 17.6 deaths per day despite concerted federal efforts to bring the number down, department officials announced on Thursday.       In rare move, Republican senators call for Hegseth’s FBI report (Politico) The Senate Armed Services Committee usually limits who can view these types of background checks. Lawmakers want to see this one.   Helpful Resources     What to know about Tricare costs and changes as open season starts (Military Times) It’s that time of year when you can make changes to your military health care plan.       Your 2024 Military Times Pay and Benefits Guide (Military Times) Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2024.       Your 2024 Military Times PCS Guide (Military Times) Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times' 2024 Permanent Change of Station Guide ahead of peak moving season.       All the Houthi-US Navy incidents in the Middle East (that we know of) (Military Times) A running list of every instance where a Navy ship or jet has shot down a Houthi attack, and every instance where the United States and its allies have hit back at Houthi sites in Yemen, since October 2023.   Ukraine     NATO chief inspects joint military unit in Bulgaria and urges alliance to boost support for Ukraine (The Associated Press) NATO’s secretary general on Thursday visited a military training site in Bulgaria, inspecting the activities of a multinational unit set up as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.   Congress & Politics     Senate OKs move of space-focused National Guard units. Colorado governor says Air Force wouldn't negotiate. (Colorado Springs Gazette) The Senate approved the annual defense bill Wednesday that moves National Guard units into the active-duty Space Force after facing opposition from every governor in the country.       Report to Congress on Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier program (USNI News) The following is the Dec. 13, 2024, "Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress."       Floridians led the charge to the Capitol on Jan. 6. Will Trump pardon them, too? (Miami Herald) As Donald Trump's supporters encircled Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, some of the most ardent created a military-style formation known as a "stack" to breach the U.S. Capitol. A Floridian known as "Gator One" led the charge, entering the building in an attempt to stop the certification of Trump's defeat.       New SHIPS Act legislation aims to revamp US shipbuilding industry (USNI News) Lawmakers on Thursday unveiled bipartisan legislation to reform the commercial maritime and shipbuilding sectors so the U.S. can better compete with China.   Army     West Point colonel arraigned again for alleged misconduct with cadets (Military.com) A U.S. Military Academy at West Point colonel was arraigned for a second time in military court on Dec. 2 on charges related to allegations of drinking with a cadet, tampering with witnesses and falsifying information, according to court documents.       Dropping European rotations in favor of permanent basing would save Army millions, report finds (Stars & Stripes) Rotating an Army tank brigade to Europe costs nearly $70 million more per year than basing that unit permanently in either Germany or Poland, according to new research.       Army will trim 5% of general-officer jobs in coming years, chief’s spokesman says (Defense One) More than a dozen Army general officer positions will get the axe in the coming years, a spokesman for Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George tells Defense One.       Army’s newest soldiers travel home to spend time with loved ones during Holiday Block Leave (Stars & Stripes) The Army’s newest soldiers from 21 base installations across the country are heading home for a well-deserved break during Holiday Block Leave.       Army used pair of concurrent exercises to test distributed command and control nodes (DefenseScoop) For the first time in over 40 years, the Army concurrently ran its keystone Warfighter Exercise with Yama Sakura in Japan, allowing it to test distributed command and control nodes and conduct operations over noncontiguous locations.   Navy     Australian officer, training for nuclear sub operations, earns US Navy ‘dolphins’ (Stars & Stripes) An Australian naval officer recently became the first of his countryman to earn the U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare Device, often referred to as “dolphins.”   Marine Corps     Pensacola Marine arrested, named prime suspect in murder of escort (Military Times) An active-duty Marine assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola was arrested Wednesday and is being considered a primary suspect in the alleged murder of an escort.       Marine astronaut says the space station is ‘luxurious’ compared to how Marines usually live (Task & Purpose) Most people might find the International Space Station’s crew quarters to be a little cramped, but not Marine Lt. Col. Jasmin Moghbeli, a NASA astronaut who returned in March from six months in space.       They fought in Iraq’s bloodiest battle. Will their kids be the next generation of Marines? (The War Horse) When more than 300 second lieutenants graduate from the intensive training known as The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, Aaron and Jennifer Cunningham will beam from the audience as their only son, Mason, takes his next step in becoming a Marine Corps officer. But last month, on the day after Veterans Day, their feelings were more complicated when Jennifer’s phone lit up with her son’s number.   Air Force     Air Force secretary: Elon Musk ‘not a warfighter,’ needs to learn more (Defense News) Outgoing Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on Thursday downplayed Elon Musk’s recent pronouncements that crewed fighters are obsolete in the era of drones, and suggested the billionaire industrialist learn more about the military.       Cracking concrete is latest issue to plague housing complex at Okinawa air base (Stars & Stripes) The 18th Wing will inspect more than 100 homes on base after spalling concrete was discovered in several unrenovated buildings.       From golf to whiskey: Aviano becomes the latest base to swap out HH-60 models (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, flew their last mission in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on Dec. 18, becoming the latest unit across the Air Force to transition to the new HH-60W Jolly Green II.       Holiday cheer shines bright as family hosts final light shows on Air Force base in Japan (Stars & Stripes) A Coast Guard officer stationed at this airlift hub in western Tokyo is lighting up the holiday season one last time. Lt. Cmdr. Irving Cintron has been putting on Christmas light shows since late November for any of his neighbors on Yokota’s west side housing area who wants to watch. Each evening at 6 p.m., the 10- to 15-minute displays dazzle spectators with synchronized music, with a new genre featured each week.       Space Force, Air Force need more money, Kendall says (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Space Force needs more money to tackle its growing mission and support the joint force — but the Pentagon can’t raid the Air Force’s budget to pay that bill, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said Dec. 19.       Airlift Santas delivered 39 tons of gifts, supplies during annual Christmas Drop (Stars & Stripes) U.S. airmen put their Santa hats back into storage over the weekend after successfully concluding the 73rd Operation Christmas Drop, according to the 374th Airlift Wing.       Air Force may curtail F-35 plan if newer tech pans out, SECAF says (Defense One) The Air Force may cut short its planned purchases of F-35 jets, depending on how newer development efforts go, the service’s outgoing secretary said Thursday.       Kendall sees progress on CCA drones as his legacy; F-35 ‘not going away’ (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, poised to leave office next month, thinks his push to advance autonomous drones that accompany manned aircraft—the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program—will be the most revolutionary of the many programs he launched and organizational changes he’s made in the job.   Space Force     New US Space Force jammers aim to disrupt China’s SATCOM signals (Defense News) The U.S. Space Force is on track to field its first batch of a new ground-based satellite communications jammer in the coming months — designed to disrupt signals from enemy spacecraft.       As Space Force turns 5, here’s what you need to know about the military service (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Space Force turns five years old on Dec. 20, with Guardians everywhere preparing to celebrate.       Kendall: Space Force must move faster to field counterspace capabilities (DefenseScoop) As the Space Force works to address adversary capabilities that threaten the United States’ military satellites in orbit, outgoing Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall warns that the service needs to develop and field technology at a faster pace.   National Guard     New York governor to deploy 250 more National Guard troops in subways (New York Daily News) Gov. Kathy Hochul has increased the number of National Guard troops in the New York City subway system, she announced Wednesday — doubling down on a controversial deployment that she credits with helping drive down subway crime.   Pay & Benefits     Active-duty troops eligible for flexible health care spending accounts next year (Stars & Stripes) Many service members may enroll in a tax-advantaged flexible spending account starting next year to help pay medical expenses not covered by Tricare, a Department of Defense spokesman told Stars & Stripes.       Military households: What are your financial questions heading into 2025? (Military.com) Each new year brings new financial calculations to military households, from changes in basic pay and housing allowances to service-related or need-based stipends. The annual reset provides an opportunity to enact tried-and-true personal financial strategies, such as putting any new income into an emergency fund or a retirement investment.   Your Military     Drone defense, bombing practice keep US, South Korean forces busy (Stars & Stripes) A pair of military exercises over South Korea emphasized air defense and ground support this week as 2024 nears its final days.   Veterans     California city celebrates new affordable housing development for veterans (Press-Telegram) After serving 7.5 years in the U.S. Army, Jason Smith's life took an unexpected turn. In 2017, the Southern California native lost his job as a mechanic in Atlanta and found himself without a home, he said.   Military Culture & History     These tiny, Vietnam-era mini-grenades were known as ‘hooch poppers’ (Task & Purpose) The V40 mini-grenade may not look like much, but it was a mainstay for special operations soldiers fighting in the jungle and clearing enemy camps and buildings during the Vietnam War.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Drone sightings? Alabama’s own radar mystery led to conspiracy theories, military rumors. (al.com) Weeks of drone sightings over New Jersey and New York have sparked concerns — and conspiracies. The FBI is investigating more than 3,000 reports of unexplained drone sightings in New Jersey alone. The vast majority of the reports are turning out to be airplane but other sightings of the unexplained drones are just that — unexplained.       Drone flights banned over New Jersey energy infrastructure sites (The War Zone) The FAA announced it restricted drone flights over 22 energy infrastructure sites across New Jersey. The ban comes amid public concern about the objects that has grown to a fever pitch since the middle of November when we broke the story about a drone incursion over Picatinny Arsenal. While that story was on very limited but concerning base incursions by drones, it has since grown into a frenzy about drones invading much of New Jersey. Evidence that this is in any way the case has been elusive.       K2 Space lands $30 million military contract for “Mega” satellite mission (SpaceNews) California-based satellite manufacturer K2 Space has secured a $30 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to launch its first Mega Class satellite, a milestone for the startup founded just two years ago.   Defense Industry     Germany triples submarine order to six boats in joint buy with Norway (Defense News) Germany will buy four more submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to increase the number of boats to six, part of a joint purchase with Norway that may also see the Nordic country increase its order, according to the German defense ministry.       India commissions Russian-built warship amid enduring ties with Moscow (Defense News) Eleven years after its keel was laid, India has taken receipt of a 3,900-ton guided missile frigate from Russia.   International     Italy bristles at prospect of Russia moving ships from Syria to Libya (Defense News) Russia is moving military assets from Syria to Libya, creating a security threat in the central Mediterranean, Italy’s defense minister has said.       Pakistan denounces US sanctions on its missile program as biased and putting regional peace at risk (The Associated Press) Pakistan on Thursday denounced new U.S. sanctions on the country’s ballistic missile program as “discriminatory” that put the region’s peace and security at risk.       Iranian F-14 Tomcat encounter at an airshow unlike any other (The War Zone) As the world’s only operator of the legendary F-14 Tomcat swing-wing fighter, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) has a unique airpower status. A recent airshow provided the chance for a very rare close-quarters look at the Cold War-era jet, which by now has very questionable capabilities and serviceability, while there are persistent reports that it could soon be replaced entirely by Russian-provided Su-35 Flanker multirole fighters.       Japan’s largest warship back home after California F-35B tests; Russian ships, aircraft operate near Japan, Alaska (USNI News) One of Japan’s largest warships – JS Kaga (DDH-184) – returned to its homeport of Kure on Sunday following a three-month deployment to the United States to conduct F-35B trials, this week.       An Uzbek man is charged in Moscow with killing a Russian general in a bombing claimed by Ukraine (The Associated Press) An Uzbek citizen accused of acting on behalf of Ukraine has been charged by Russian authorities with this week’s assassination of a senior Russian general and his assistant in a bombing claimed by Ukraine’s security services, state media said Thursday.       Putin claims no final decision yet on Russia’s bases in Syria despite withdrawals (The War Zone) Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted today that his country is still exploring its options for retaining a pair of bases in Syria that have uniquely strategic value following the fall of longtime ally Bashar Al Assad. The new remarks stand at odds with Russia’s drawdown of military forces and materiel in the Middle Eastern country already and there are clear signs this week that those departures are only ramping up.       Human Rights Watch says Israel’s restriction of water supply in Gaza amounts to acts of genocide (The Associated Press) Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of causing the deaths of thousands of Palestinians by systematically restricting and targeting Gaza’s water supply in a campaign that amounted to “acts of genocide.”       Israeli Air Force strikes Yemen with Popeye and rampage standoff missiles (The War Zone) Israel launched airstrikes on multiple targets in Yemen, including the capital of Sana’a, during the early hours of Thursday morning, while the Yemen-based Houthi militant group was conducting its own missile attack on Israel. The Israeli raids come after an uptick in attacks against Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis, including two in the past week.       Putin challenges West to 'high-tech duel' to test missile defense (dpa) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday challenged Western powers to a "high-tech duel" in Kiev to test out the military capabilities of both sides.       As Russia threats loom, Finland’s people are learning to shoot back (The Associated Press) Unsettled by Russia’s expansionism and emboldened by its recent accession to NATO, Finland is rallying to strengthen its national self-defense beyond its traditional military capabilities.       Mother of missing Marine vet Austin Tice urges Netanyahu to pause strikes on Syria to aid search for her son (Arab News) The mother of missing American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria 12 years ago, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause airstrikes on Syria so that rescuers can search safely for her son.       Data on animal movements help Hungarian researchers create a swarm of autonomous drones (The Associated Press) Moving in a dense cloud, like throngs of people walking across a crowded public square, 100 drones maneuver through the night sky in Hungary’s capital, the result of over a decade of research and experimentation that scientists believe could change the future of unmanned flight.       China expanding Pacific operations, Taiwan invasion ‘not possible’ by 2027, say DOD officials (USNI News) The People’s Liberation Army Navy is “gradually expanding its operational reach beyond East Asia into a sustained ability to operate at increasingly longer ranges, including a continuous presence in the Gulf of Aden,” the Pentagon reported in its latest assessment of Beijing’s military power.   Video     Air Force expands waivers for recruits with asthma, food allergies (Military Times) The waivers are part of an effort to boost recruitment numbers after the service failed to meet its recruiting goals in 2023.       Looming government shutdown could hurt military families, veterans (Military Times) A partial government shutdown this weekend could delay troops’ paychecks at the start of the new year and shutter some base recreation activities just before Christmas, yielding a stressful holiday season for military families.   Commentary & Analysis     What the Pentagon’s new report on Chinese military power reveals about capabilities, context and consequences (War On The Rocks) China’s military is both corrupt and increasingly capable. Wednesday, the Pentagon released its 24th China Military Power Report since Congress initiated its mandate in 2000, offering revelations unavailable elsewhere. The document reveals new details of the most dramatic military buildup since World War II, ongoing challenges that Chairman Xi Jinping and his party army are addressing with determination, and context to interpret what it all means. The bottom line: endemic corruption and lingering personnel and organizational weaknesses must be weighed against the Chinese Communist Party’s unrivaled ability to marshal resources and its ongoing production and deployment of advanced military systems on an unmatched industrial scale.