Top 5     MacDill AFB evacuates planes and people as Hurricane Milton approaches (Military Times) The emergency storm preparation comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded parts of the base, where U.S. Central Command’s and U.S. Special Operations Command’s headquarters and the 6th and 927th air refueling wings are located.       500 more active-duty troops to aid Hurricane Helene relief efforts (Military Times) Another 500 active-duty troops are headed to North Carolina to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, after state officials requested more high-tech equipment and trained personnel to help with ongoing search and assistance efforts there.       Romania picks Turkish armored vehicles in $940 million deal (Defense News) Romania has selected the Turkish Cobra II four-wheel-drive armored vehicle for the country’s land forces, ordering a total of 1,059 units.       Brazil’s deal for Israeli howitzers ‘frozen’ over Gaza war (Defense News) Five months after the Brazilian Army announced its decision to buy howitzers from Israel’s Elbit Systems, the project remains suspended over Brazilian President Inazio “Lula” da Silva’s criticism of Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza.       Veterans, troops targeted in Iran-backed disinformation campaign ahead of US election (Stars & Stripes) An Iran-backed website called “Not Our War” is targeting U.S. veterans and active-duty service members with a disinformation campaign that is part of a broader effort to influence American voters before the November election, according to a Washington think tank.   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.   Ukraine     Netherlands delivers F-16s to Ukraine, provides $440M for drones (Defense News) The Netherlands will deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine over the coming months, with the Dutch defense minister acknowledging for the first time that the handover of 24 warplanes to the embattled country is underway.       Russia sentences 72-year-old American Stephen Hubbard to prison for "participating as a mercenary" in Ukraine (CBS News) A Russian court on Monday sentenced a 72-year-old U.S. citizen accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing invasion to nearly seven years in prison. Judge Alexandra Kovalevskaya at Moscow City Court sentenced the defendant, named as Stephen Hubbard by the media, to six years and 10 months in prison. The bearded defendant stood with difficulty as the sentence was read out.       Ukraine strikes a Russian oil hub as Zelensky says the war is in ‘a very important phase’ (The Associated Press) Ukraine’s military said it struck a major oil terminal Monday in Crimea that provides fuel for Russia’s war effort as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war has entered a key phase.   Pentagon     Pentagon seeks half of previous PFAS cleanup funds despite scope (Bloomberg Law) The Pentagon has requested a significant budgetary boost to remove PFAS from on-base drinking water in fiscal 2025, while seeking roughly half of previous funding to clean up “forever chemicals” contamination, according to a report released Oct. 4.       Military bases in Florida prepare for Category-5 Hurricane Milton (Task & Purpose) As a second major hurricane in as many weeks barrels towards the southern United States, the Pentagon has been tasked with pre-staging high-water vehicles and helicopters for both search and rescue and transporting relief supplies and troops in central Florida after Hurricane Milton.   Congress & Politics     Trump intends to use military to round up opponents: Michael Cohen (The Hill) Michael Cohen said in a new interview that former President Trump would use military force to “round up” his opponents if he is reelected in November.   Navy     Navy identifies Truman sailor who died from ‘medical emergency’ (Military Times) The Navy identified a sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman who died last week due to a medical emergency as the carrier begins its deployment.       Navy chips in to improve Kalaeloa's electric grid (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) The federal government is helping the state pay for costly upgrades to an old Navy electrical system at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Kalaeloa.       US Navy hospital in Spain stops delivering babies following ambulance provider’s move (Stars & Stripes) One of the few U.S. military bases in Europe able to care for pregnant women through birth has stopped delivering babies, instead referring all labor and delivery patients to local hospitals.       New commands, more contractors making space tight at Naval Base San Diego (USNI News) At one point this summer, four of the Navy’s nine big-deck amphibious assault ships sat at their home berths on San Diego Bay.       Navy says 26 ships affected by faulty welds at Newport News shipyard in Virginia (Military.com) More than two dozen Navy ships -- including three that are currently in service -- received faulty welds at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, the service's top civilian leader told lawmakers last week.       Three destroyers sortie from Naval Station Mayport ahead of Hurricane Milton (USNI News) Three destroyers will leave Naval Station Mayport ahead of Hurricane Milton, expected to make landfall around Tampa, Fla., Wednesday night   Marine Corps     Marines fly in food, shelter kits, tarps to aid Philippines after typhoon destroys homes (Military.com) U.S. Marines were tapped to support disaster relief efforts in the Philippines after a typhoon wrought torrential wind and rain to the country's northernmost islands last week, the service announced Saturday.       Marine Corps’ unmanned ‘narco-boat’ heads to Okinawa for Indo-Pacific trial (Stars & Stripes) The Marine Corps will soon deploy an unmanned, semisubmersible watercraft designed to move supplies and weapons across large ocean distances in waters surrounding Okinawa.   Air Force     Air Force Academy phased out sexual assault prevention program shown to work at other schools (Colorado Springs Gazette) The Air Force Academy phased out a sexual assault prevention program that showed success at other universities, following a spike in unwanted sexual contact among cadets and across the military.       Air Force keeps pace of rotating fighters at ‘keystone’ base on Okinawa (Stars & Stripes) More F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-22 Raptors arrived at the home of the 18th Wing over the weekend as part of the Air Force’s plan to phase out retired F-15 Eagles with rotating squadrons.       At this Air Force depot, advanced manufacturing is cutting edge no longer (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Air Force leaders and industry officials have long extolled the benefits of additive manufacturing, promising a future where maintainers use 3D printing technology to manufacture replacement parts faster than they can be shipped across the world.       Dining facility in Japan broke Air Force rules by offering airmen bottled water (Stars & Stripes) Misawa Air Base in Japan erred by offering bottled water at the base dining facility, as it has since the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokeswoman said this week.   Space Force     Space Force to fly two rapid-response demonstration missions in 2026 (Defense News) The Space Force announced two new missions to demonstrate how highly maneuverable space vehicles can enable the service to quickly respond to real-time threats.   Coast Guard     Former cutter skipper takes command of Coast Guard’s growing Guam-based fleet (Stars & Stripes) A new commander took the helm for the Coast Guard on Guam last week as it prepares to expand its already busy fleet of cutters.       Coast Guard rescues 2 clinging to kayak in Lake Superior (mlive.com) Two kayakers were rescued after they capsized in Lake Superior and were clinging to a kayak over the weekend.   National Guard     Oregon Army National Guardsman sets new world burpee record (Military Times) A member of the Oregon Army National Guard set the world record for the most ground-to-chest burpees in an hour on Saturday.   Your Military     ‘It’s about the future’: Newly retired Gen. Van Ovost, the first woman to lead Transcom, reflects on her legacy (DefenseScoop) Since she entered U.S. Transportation Command’s headquarters in 2021 as the first woman to ever lead that top mobility hub, Gen. Jackie Van Ovost was determined to enable new and advanced capabilities and a stronger underlying technology infrastructure to pave the way for more data-informed decisions and sharper, real-time views into military assets worldwide.   Veterans     Critics say VA plan to add disability rating for rare lung condition won't help afflicted veterans (Military.com) The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to create a diagnostic code to ensure that veterans with constrictive bronchiolitis, an illness linked to burn pits and other airborne pollutants, can receive a disability rating and related compensation for the condition.       Inmate steals thousands from ill veterans in ICU in ‘truly shocking’ scheme, feds say (The Sacramento Bee) An inmate who served in the military stole thousands from fellow veterans who were “seriously” ill and hospitalized, federal prosecutors said.   Military Culture & History     5 fitness tips for optimal performance and longevity in the military and beyond (Military.com) If you are considering military service or currently serving, fitness is more than just a routine. Physical activity becomes an integral part of your life, and you should adopt these habits in your post-military life as best you can.       Navy makes convincing 'statement' in blowout of Air Force at sold out Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs Gazette) Navy didn’t want to simply end a losing streak against Air Force. It wanted to swing the pendulum back its way with authority.       Navy festival in Japan draws largest crowd in 8 years, including food influencer Keith Lee (Stars & Stripes) Nearly 53,000 people, including a popular American social media influencer and food critic, traveled to the homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet for its annual Friendship Day on Sunday.       Real pic of US soldier removing 'Adolf Hitler' street sign in Germany? (Snopes) For years, social media users have shared a photo allegedly showing a U.S. soldier during World War II swapping out a German street sign reading "Adolf-Hitler-Str." for another reading "Roosevelt Blvd."   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     NRO joins Pentagon exercises, ‘making progress’ on new targeting satellites (Military Times) The National Reconnaissance Office is participating in Pentagon exercises and launching dozens of satellites as it prepares to work with the Space Force on tracking targets from orbit, its director said last week.       DOD wringing out zero trust concepts under assessment process (Federal News Network) The Pentagon is putting its zero trust use cases through the wringer, including ongoing evaluations of how major cloud providers are implementing the cybersecurity architecture.   Defense Industry     US deal on F-35s allows Lockheed to win back withheld payments (Bloomberg) The Pentagon has agreed with Lockheed Martin Corp. on milestones the company can reach by the end of the year to earn some of a potential $500 million payment withheld for F-35 jets lacking necessary hardware and software upgrades, according to the U.S. program manager.   International     Samoa warns of ‘highly probable’ fuel spill after New Zealand navy ship caught fire and sank (The Associated Press) A fuel spill is “highly probable” after a New Zealand navy ship grounded, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa, the Pacific island nation’s acting prime minister said late Sunday.       Chinese maritime safety officers beat Vietnamese fishermen during South China Sea interdiction, say officials (USNI News) An incident in the South China Sea last month saw 10 Vietnamese fishermen beaten by officers from China’s Maritime Safety Administration near the Paracel Islands, reported local media.       US spends a record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since last Oct. 7 (The Associated Press) The United States has spent a record of at least $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza began and led to escalating conflict around the Middle East, according to a report for Brown University’s Costs of War project, released Monday on the anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel.       Gaza likely to get new governing structure in coming year, says Israel’s EU envoy (Politico) The war in Gaza is set to wrap up during the coming year and a new governing authority will be put in place to run the conflict-ravaged enclave, Israel’s ambassador to the European Union told POLITICO.       Chagos islanders displaced for a US military base protest a deal on their future made without them (The Associated Press) Islanders who were forced to leave their remote Indian Ocean home to make way for a U.S. military base half a century ago protested outside the U.K. Parliament on Monday against a deal they say has decided their homeland’s fate without them.       Macron faces backlash after demand for Israel arms embargo in Gaza (Politico) Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism from both inside and outside France for saying that deliveries of weapons used by Israel in Gaza should be stopped.       Israel marks a year since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack as war rages on (The Associated Press) Israelis held somber ceremonies Monday to mark a year since the deadliest attack in the country’s history, a Hamas-led raid that shattered its sense of security and has since spiraled into wars on two fronts with no end in sight.   Video     New museum exhibit highlights female Marine teams (Military Times) The Female Engagement Teams and “Lioness” units of Iraq and Afghanistan get spotlighted in a new wing of the Nationals Museum of the Marine Corps.       Why don’t troops use anti-obesity drugs more? (Military Times) Following decades of “too fat to fight” issues across the services, medications are now available to help solve the problem. Why don’t troops take them more?       VOLUME WARNING: Marines prowl the skies in a UH-1Y Venom for aerial gunnery training (Military Times) Watch here.       A heavy lift drone that can evacuate casualties? Meet the MULE. (Military Times) A forthcoming drone from Amentum uses magnets to pick up and offload cargo, while carrying tech to mask its aerial signature. Learn about the MULE.   Podcast     A new tool to help startups get a foot in the door at the Pentagon (Federal News Network) You hear the Defense Department saying it wants to hear from those innovators and start ups to possibly work with them. However, how is it supposed to hear from them if they don’t give them a way to do it. To help, co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University Steve Blank has created a new resource for startups and scaleups that want to work with the department, a Directory of DoD Program Executive Offices.   Commentary & Analysis     Junior enlisted pay raise will strengthen the current and future force (Military Times) While there has always been a deep appreciation for the sacrifices and dedication of our uniformed services, national support for service members and veterans has been particularly strong in recent decades. Yet, full resourcing is always difficult, and the military is only one part of a limited national budget that must address a wide range of priorities. Even within the Defense Department, resources must be carefully balanced between modernization, training, operations and caring for those who serve and their families. Tough decisions are made with careful thought, but finding the right balance remains a central challenge.       On Army bases, nuclear energy can’t add resilience, just costs and risks (Breaking Defense) Every now and then, the US government offers a huge subsidy to an industry on grounds that make no sense to anyone with even basic knowledge of the subject. The latest example, announced in June, is the Army’s Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program to install small reactors on military bases, ostensibly to increase “energy resilience.”       Overcoming Goliath: How the defense establishment can maximize allied innovation (War On The Rocks) The Department of Defense has a building alliance capability problem. Through the 2018 and 2022 National Defense Strategies, the Department of Defense has trumpeted its alliance system as a primary pillar of national security. Yet as of late 2024, the collective benefits of coproduction and co-development of the critical technologies that will decide or deter the next conflict have remained woefully untapped.       A year of escalating conflict in the Middle East has ushered in a new era of regional displacement (The Conversation) A year of conflict has ushered in a new era of mass displacement in the Middle East.       As drone tech zooms ahead, the Pentagon scrambles to adapt (Washington Post) Drone use in Ukraine and the Middle East is rewriting warfare tactics.