Early Bird Brief: July 18, 2024

Welcome to the Early Bird Brief's LinkedIn Edition, a tightly edited round-up of today's most important military and defense stories. To get the full EBB, with dozens of stories, subscribe here .

Today's Top 5:

US-built Gaza aid pier will be dismantled after troubled mission

(The Associated Press) Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander at U.S. Central Command, told reporters in a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that the pier achieved its intended effect in what he called an “unprecedented operation.” Read More

Sailors can now wear regular clothes when they eat in shore galleys

(Navy Times) The Navy is revamping its clothing policy for sailors at its shore galleys — relaxing the rules and standardizing policy across the service. Read More

Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira to face court-martial

(The Associated Press) The U.S. Air Force said in a statement Wednesday that he will be tried at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts but no date has been set. Read More

How the Swedish Air Force is finding its flow as part of NATO

(Defense News) The commander of the Swedish Air Force, Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, has led the flying force since December 2022, overseeing the integration efforts of Sweden into NATO’s deterrence and defense posture since joining the alliance in March. He spearheads a force of 2,700 military personnel and fighter fleet numbering almost 100 aircraft. Sweden has proposed to increase its defense spending to 2.6% relative to the size of its economy by 2030. Read More

Navy clears Black sailors unjustly punished after 1944 deadly blast

(The Associated Press) The U.S. Navy has exonerated 256 Black sailors who were found to be unjustly punished in 1944 following a horrific port explosion that killed hundreds of service members and exposed racist double standards among the then-segregated ranks. Read More

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