Top 5     Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters (The Associated Press) Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.       Ukrainian troops have engaged with North Korean units for the 1st time in Russia, an official says (The Associated Press) Ukrainian troops have for the first time engaged with North Korean units that were recently deployed to help Russia in the war with its neighbor, Ukraine’s defense minister said Tuesday.       French, UK naval chiefs urge dramatic changes in warship design (Defense News) The pace of change in maritime warfare requires Western navies to innovate faster and work more intimately with industrial partners to defeat evolving threats, the heads of the French and U.K. navies said.       How veterans are faring in the 2024 election (Military Times) A total of 189 veterans are squaring off in 170 separate House and Senate races this election cycle, and the outcomes could determine which party controls Congress next year.       Soldier dies of injuries suffered during Gaza pier mission (Military Times) A 23-year-old Army sergeant who served on the temporary Gaza pier mission earlier this year died last week from injuries sustained in non-combat duties during the mission.   Helpful Resources     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 Tax Guide (Military Times) It’s that time of year again — tax season. And April 15 is just around the corner.       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.       B-52 bombers arrive in Middle East, destroyer USS The Sullivans deploys after more US forces ordered to the region (Stars & Stripes) A group of B-52 bombers have arrived in the Middle East and the destroyer USS The Sullivans deployed two days ago after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered more U.S. armed forces to the region.   Ukraine     Putin makes Ukraine war veteran a governor as military gains prestige (Washington Post) Russian President Vladimir Putin has tapped a Ukraine war veteran to head one of Russia’s regions, the highest post so far awarded to an invasion participant as the leader looks to forge a “new elite” of patriotic workers and soldiers.   Pentagon     As Middle East crisis grinds on, Pentagon shows signs of strain (Washington Post) The open-ended crisis in the Middle East has begun to squeeze the Pentagon, fueling unease over the U.S. military’s ability to balance imminent threats to American interests there with longer-term objectives as Russia and China test Washington elsewhere in the world.       Pentagon says it will work closely with Israel's next defense minister (Reuters) The Pentagon said on Tuesday that Yoav Gallant, whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired as defense minister on Tuesday, has been a "trusted partner," and said it will continue to work closely with Israel's next defense minister.       DOD can’t confirm whether North Korean troops in Russia are ‘gorging on pornography’ (Task & Purpose) North Korean troops deployed to Russia may have discovered online pornography, and really gotten into it, the chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times newspaper posted on X.   Congress & Politics     Congressman looking into military spouse hiring practices at Landstuhl and other hospitals (Stars & Stripes) A U.S. lawmaker wants to know whether the Pentagon’s largest overseas medical facility is denying employment to qualified military spouses in favor of local applicants in Germany.       Man with torch lighter, flare gun arrested at Capitol Visitor Center, police say (Washington Post) A man who smelled like gasoline and had a torch lighter, flare gun and papers he intended to deliver to Congress was arrested Tuesday at the Capitol Visitor Center, authorities said.       Report to Congress on Replicator initiative (USNI News) The following is the Nov. 1, 2024, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, DOD Replicator Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress.       Federal agencies say Russia and Iran are ramping up influence campaigns targeting US voters (The Associated Press) The nation’s federal law enforcement and election security agencies debunked two new examples of Russian election disinformation on the eve of Election Day, highlighting attempts by foreign actors to sow doubt in the U.S. voting process and warning that the efforts run the risk of inciting violence against election officials.   National Security     FBI: Russian email addresses tied to 'not credible' bomb threats (Defense One) Bomb threats that have slowed or delayed polling processes around the nation appear to be tied to a slew of Russian email addresses, the FBI said in a Tuesday afternoon statement.       Man convicted in 9/11-style plot to kill Americans (The Hill) A man accused of being a Somalian terror group operative has been convicted of a 9/11-style plot to kill Americans, the Justice Department said Monday.   Army     Local leaders mark 15th anniversary of 2009 mass shooting that shocked Killeen, Fort Cavazos and the world (Killeen Daily Herald) Leaders from Killeen and Fort Cavazos, as well as veterans groups, first responders and military personnel gathered in front of the Nov. 5 memorial pavilion next to Killeen Civic and Conference Center Tuesday morning to commemorate the 13 people who were slain in the mass shooting on post 15 years ago.       Aberdeen Proving Ground fires contained; 1,000 acres of military site believed to be affected (The Aegis) The range fires that broke out at Aberdeen Proving Ground are contained, Army officials said Monday, after the blazes affected an estimated 1,000 acres of land and prompted air pollution warnings across the Baltimore region.   Navy     Navy contractors had key roles in lead-up to Red Hill water disaster, watchdog says (Stars & Stripes) The Defense Department’s complex management of the defunct Red Hill underground fuel storage facility in Honolulu relied on contractors for essential services in the years preceding disastrous fuel leaks in 2021, according to a government watchdog.       VAW-123 retires its last E-2C Hawkeye to the ‘Boneyard’ (The Aviationist) VAW-123 sent two of its four remaining E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) aircraft to the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world, on Sept. 9, 2024.       ‘Fat Leonard,’ Navy scandal mastermind, sentenced to 15 years (The Associated Press) Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for masterminding a decade-long bribery scheme that swept up dozens of U.S. Navy officers, federal prosecutors said.   Marine Corps     After 20 years, memories of Fallujah linger for veterans still coming to terms with Iraq War (Stars & Stripes) Even the dead insurgents lining the streets and alleys of Fallujah were a threat to the U.S. Marines pushing into the Iraqi city two decades ago. Troops shot up the often boobytrapped corpses lying ahead of them as a precaution. Enemy snipers hid in the buildings. Others sprung from spider holes and fired from a high-powered Western arsenal that included .50-caliber machine guns, much of it seized from earlier fights.   Air Force     Kendall: USAF can’t afford next-gen fighter, tanker and wingman drones all at once (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter; the Next-Generation Aerial refueling System tanker; a second increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones: Air Force leaders have said in recent years they need them all to be prepared for a future fight with a great power like China.       Kirtland installs new sensors to stop wildfires before they spread (Air & Space Forces Magazine) As wildfires threaten Air Force bases across the country, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is trying out a new system of sensors to detect wildfires and alert first responders before they grow too big to control. Air Force spokesperson Laurel Falls told Air & Space Forces Magazine that Kirtland is the only Air Force installation currently using the technology.       B-52s deploying to Europe on top of bombers already in Middle East (Air & Space Forces Magazine) U.S. Air Force B-52s are headed to Europe for a Bomber Task Force rotation, Air & Space Forces Magazine confirmed Nov. 5.   Space Force     New Space Force ‘Mission Deltas’ handle missile warning, domain awareness (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Space Force has officially expanded its concept for combining operations, sustainment, cyber, and intelligence functions all under one roof, dropping the “provisional” tag from units that kicked off the idea last year and transitioning two more Deltas and missions to the structure.   National Guard     Many of the National Guardsmen activated for election focus on cybersecurity (Task & Purpose) Nearly half of the National Guard personnel who have been placed on state active duty for the election will be advising local officials on how to deal with cyber threats, National Guard officials said.       20 sets of military family members serving in the National Guard deploy to Japan (Task & Purpose) Twenty sets of families serving in the Minnesota National Guard deployed to Japan earlier this year.   Veterans     Veterans file class-action suit over medical retirements for burn pit-related illnesses (Military.com) Two veterans have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Army for refusing to classify illnesses linked to burn pit exposure as combat-related, a designation that would make their medical retirement pay tax-free.       ‘He will be missed’: One of last USS Nevada veterans dies at 101 (Las Vegas Review-Journal) A veteran who served on the USS Nevada during some of the most significant battles of World War II, and was one of the last two surviving crew members, died Sunday at age 101.       Ex-administrator of leading POW/MIA advocate faces prison for devastating theft (Stars & Stripes) A Virginia woman whose scheming almost liquidated a prominent advocacy organization for American prisoners of war now awaits punishment for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars.   Military Culture & History     Remains of Civil War veterans found in funeral home’s storage (The Associated Press) For several decades, the cremated remains of more than two dozen American Civil War veterans languished in storage facilities at a funeral home and cemetery in Seattle.       Amazon's 'Jack Ryan' series is jumping to the big screen instead of a 5th season (Military.com) Fans who didn't enjoy the underwhelming ending to Amazon's "Jack Ryan" television series are in luck: The series is on its way to a web redemption, with both John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce signing on to reprise their roles for a feature-length film.       Luxury liner designed to rush troops to thwart a Soviet invasion to join world’s largest artificial reef (Stars & Stripes) An ocean liner built for a double life as a secret Cold War transport ship for troops will become the world’s largest artificial reef on the ocean floor on the Gulf Coast, according to plans from tourism officials in Okaloosa County, Florida.       Textron Ripsaw M3: From the big screen to the battlefield (Military.com) The Ripsaw M3 shattered minds and ignited imaginations when it blasted onto the screen in 2017’s “The Fate of the Furious.” Besides wanting to own one, most of us saw massive potential for the vehicle to make an impact in the U.S. military. You could even say that not buying a fleet of Ripsaws for American service members would be tantamount to screwing around.       You now have a chance to 'fly' the B-1B Lancer bomber (The National Interest) The Rockwell B-1B Lancer, nearing retirement by 2036 as the B-21 Raider enters service, has now made its virtual debut in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Indie developer KwikFlight’s new B-1B add-on offers a high-fidelity simulation, bringing detailed liveries and functional systems to virtual pilots.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     NGA’s new artificial intelligence chief previews near-term priorities (DefenseScoop) In his early months as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s first-ever chief AI officer, Mark Munsell is determined to refresh that spy hub’s existing AI strategy to cover emerging and powerful frontier models, and inventory all of the programs and initiatives that should be under his team’s purview.       Meta permits its AI models to be used for US military purposes (New York Times) Meta will allow U.S. government agencies and contractors working on national security to use its artificial intelligence models for military purposes, the company said on Monday, in a shift from its policy that prohibited the use of its technology for such efforts.       Japan, Poland to join US military satellite network (SpaceNews) Japan and Poland are set to gain access to the U.S. military’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite network, marking a strategic expansion of the system that currently supports the United States and several other partner nations.       So far, no 'national-level significant incidents' on Election Day, CISA says (Defense One) The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is tracking no “national-level significant incidents” that would affect the security of today’s presidential election, a top agency official said Tuesday morning.   Defense Industry     France looks to boost export financing to help mid-sized defense firms (Defense News) French public investment bank Bpifrance is seeking to increase the amount of export financing it can provide to small and medium-sized defense firms, as the current limit is insufficient to meet some demands, the bank’s head of export finance said.       Boeing factory strike ends as machinists vote to accept contract (The Associated Press) Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the aerospace giant to resume production of its bestselling airliner and generate much-needed cash.       Europeans start work on next-generation combat ship for the 2040s (Defense News) The European Union has started work on a next-generation combat vessel that could enter service somewhere in the 2040s, and the bloc’s defense ministers may sign a letter of intent to pursue the project at a meeting in two weeks, the head of the maritime unit of the European Defence Agency said.       Industry solicited for expeditionary medical C4IT capability that can operate on Navy ships (DefenseScoop) The Defense Department is looking for vendors to develop prototypes of a mobile command, control, communications and computers IT (C4IT) solution for expeditionary medicine that can be integrated into Navy vessels.       Anduril’s mini-cruise missile is like a Hellfire on steroids (Sandboxx) California-based Anduril Industries has been scooping up defense contracts left and right in recent years. And now the firm, which is primarily known for its advanced and highly autonomous drone systems, is looking to apply that expertise to precision-guided munitions in a new line of air-breathing cruise missiles they call the Barracuda M.   International     US approves sale of four E-7 early-warning planes to South Korea (Defense News) South Korea is cleared to buy four Boeing-made E-7 airborne early warning and control aircraft, often referred to as the Wedgetail, for nearly $5 billion under a foreign military sale the State Department approved Monday.       Israel’s Netanyahu dismisses his defense minister as wars rage. Protests erupt across country. (The Associated Press) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country, including a mass gathering that paralyzed central Tel Aviv.       Chinese aircraft carrier sails to South China Sea (USNI News) On Monday night, the People’s Liberation Army Navy aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) sailed out of the Philippine Sea back into the South China Sea, Japan’s Joint Staff Office (JSO) announced on Tuesday. Additionally, U.S. carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is set to arrive at its new Japanese homeport later this month, according to Japanese officials.       Western officials suspect Russia was behind a plot to put incendiary packages on cargo planes (The Associated Press) Western security officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind a plot to put incendiary devices in packages on cargo planes headed to North America, including one that caught fire at a courier hub in Germany and another that ignited in a warehouse in England.       China’s J-35A stealth fighter officially breaks cover (The War Zone) China has publicly unveiled the Shenyang J-35A, a land-based stealth fighter that has been under development for some time but which had previously only been seen in unofficial and frequently poor-quality imagery. While we now have a good look at the aircraft, many questions remain, especially about the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) plans for it, since the base design was previously understood to be under development primarily for export and latterly also for carrier-based service with the PLA Navy.       North Korean troops in Russia are shelled by Ukrainian forces, an official says (The Associated Press) North Korean troops recently deployed to help Russia in its war with Ukraine have come under Ukrainian fire, a Kyiv official said Tuesday.       Migrants stranded on Diego Garcia offered move to UK (BBC) Around 60 Sri Lankan Tamils have spent more than three years in a makeshift camp on the island, which hosts a secretive U.K.-U.S. military base, after becoming the first people ever to file asylum claims there.       North Korea fires a barrage of ballistic missiles toward the sea ahead of US election (The Associated Press) North Korea fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday, its neighbors said, as it continued its weapons demonstrations hours before the U.S. presidential election.   Video     Here’s how many new sailors the Navy wants to recruit this year (Military Times) The Navy is seeking to recruit 40,600 new sailors in fiscal year 2025 after exceeding its recruitment goals last year.       Despite being gravely wounded, this Ranger refused to leave his men in the Vietnamese jungle (Military Times) Capt. Paris D. Davis was twice nominated for his actions in South Vietnam in June 1965. He was finally awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb. 14, 2023.       States put National Guard on standby in case of election violence (Military Times) The National Guard could be deployed to assist local law enforcement in maintaining order, securing polling stations, and addressing disturbances, particularly in areas with high tensions or anticipated protests surrounding the election process.       CENTCOM commander allegedly shoved airman on military flight (Military Times) U.S. Army General Michael Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, is under investigation for allegedly shoving an airman during a military flight to Israel.       ‘Courage is our obligation’: What the horrors of Fallujah taught one young soldier (Military Times) In 2004, David Bellavia was clearing homes in Iraq when he was caught in a battle. He recalls the experience, and explains how courage can be found anywhere.   Commentary & Analysis     Is Europe prepared for the US election outcome? (Defense One) Earlier this year, we emphasized the need — and increasing urgency — for Europe to improve its defense capabilities and create a degree of independence from the United States. It is not clear what progress NATO, and European member states specifically, have made. While a victory by Donald Trump can be expected to more drastically shift Washington’s efforts away from European defense, even the Biden/Harris administration prioritized reprioritization of the Middle East and a “pivot” toward Asia.       Escaping Russia’s backyard: Armenia’s strategic defense shift (War On The Rocks) Today, Armenia is no longer considered a “backyard of Russia,” as it has been for the last three decades. As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, Armenia’s defense and security policies are now shifting. This strategic realignment presents a historic opportunity for Armenia to redefine its geopolitical role, moving away from Moscow’s sphere of influence and toward Western allies.