Early Bird Brief: September 4, 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:

How Navy chiefs conspired to get themselves illegal warship Wi-Fi

(Navy Times) Today’s Navy sailors are likely familiar with the jarring loss of internet connectivity that can come with a ship’s deployment. Read More

Top enlisted leader talks pay, priorities and 1980s fashion

(Military Times) In a late-August interview, Black discussed military pay, balancing goals in the budget and 1980s fashion as the Pentagon nears the end of its Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, or QRMC, due early next year. Read More

Warfighting, quality of life prioritized in USMC commandant guidance

(Marine Corps Times) A year into his tenure as the top Marine, Commandant Gen. Eric Smith has released his planning guidance to the Corps. Read More

Inflation has some military families ‘grasping at pennies’

(Military Times) Inflation is “destroying any joy we may have been able to afford,” the airman wrote. “We are literally grasping at pennies to survive and it’s killing us.” Statements from the airman — stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico — and many others came in response to Military Times’ call for comments on how inflation has impacted service members and their families. Read More

Astronauts stuck on space station will be brought back home by Space Force guardian

(Military.com) A Space Force officer will command a mission later this month to safely bring home two astronauts who have been unexpectedly stuck aboard the International Space Station, or ISS, marking the first time a Guardian will launch into space for such a high-profile operation. Read More

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