Early Bird Brief: November 22, 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:

As the VA secretary departs, focus remains on outreach, trust

(Military Times) Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough only has about two months left in office, but that doesn’t mean a relaxed workload for department staff in the coming weeks, he said. Read More

Advocates fear dismantling of DOD’s extremism prevention, DEI programs

(Military Times) Leaders of nonprofits that have advocated for stronger polices to bolster diversity in the military and keep extremists out of the ranks are now concerned that President-elect Donald Trump and his pick for defense secretary will quickly work to undo those measures. Read More

Marine Corps F-35C notches first overseas combat strike

(Military Times) Marines recently carried out the service’s first combat strikes using the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter during air missions against Houthi targets near the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Read More

Police report sheds new light on Pete Hegseth sexual assault allegations

(Task & Purpose) The incident took place in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, in Monterey, California where the National Federation of Republican Women held their 40th Biennial Convention from Oct. 6-8, 2017. According to the Monterey Police, Hegseth and the woman, who was referred to as Jane Doe in the investigative report, both stayed at the hotel. Read More

Osprey aircraft back in service as families of crash victims question its safety

(PBS) The Osprey aircraft was grounded for three months across the military after a crash in Japan last November killed all eight airmen on board. That crash was the fourth by an Osprey in the last two years. The military says it mitigated the problem that caused these accidents, but families of those killed are not convinced. Nick Schifrin and producer Dan Sagalyn have the story. Read More

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