Category: U.S. Navy

US Deploys Guided-Missile Submarine Amid Tensions With Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The U.S. Navy has deployed a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles to the Middle East, a spokesman said Saturday, in what appeared to be a show of force toward Iran following recent tensions. The Navy rarely acknowledges the location or deployment of submarines. Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a…


GOP Senators Question Biden’s Navy Budget as China Projects Having 150 More Ships Than US by 2028

Republican senators expressed concerns this week about the Biden administration’s Navy budget, saying that the proposed spending is not adequate to confront the threat posed by China’s expanding naval forces. “This administration’s budget request does not fully reflect the challenges identified in its own national defense strategy,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), vice chair of the…


Ottawa Eyeing US-Made Surveillance Planes for Canadian Armed Forces

Canada is looking at buying a fleet of military surveillance aircraft from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing without a competition. The federal Procurement Department says Canada has submitted a letter to the U.S. government asking for more information, including a price, for up to 16 P-8 Poseidon planes and associated equipment. The department says the request…


Marine Veteran Warns of Continued Concerns Despite Military COVID Mandate Repeal

Tommy Waller, an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, ended his military career last year after being denied a religious accommodation to avoid the military-wide COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Though the vaccine mandate was recently repealed, Waller remains concerned that remaining unvaccinated troops could still be targeted. Waller, who served as the commander of a reserve…


Navy to Overlook Fitness Test Failures During COVID Pandemic Years

The U.S. Navy has eliminated all previous physical fitness assessment failures to offset the effects of the COVID pandemic and boost retention. “This NAVADMIN announces a one-time reset of all physical fitness assessment (PFA) failures,” the Navy announced Thursday. “As such all Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) officers and enlisted Sailors shall be…


Navy to Overlook Past Fitness Test Failures in a Move That Will Help Retain Personnel

The U.S. Navy says it will overlook all previous physical fitness assessment failures for staffing decisions in a “one-time reset” to offset the effects of the COVID pandemic and boost retention. “This NAVADMIN announces a one-time reset of all physical fitness assessment (PFA) failures,” the Navy announced Thursday. “As such all Active Component (AC) and…


Navy to Overlook Past Fitness Test Failures to Help Retain Personnel

The U.S. Navy says it will overlook all previous physical fitness assessment failures for staffing decisions in a “one-time reset” to offset the effects of the COVID pandemic and boost retention. “This NAVADMIN announces a one-time reset of all physical fitness assessment (PFA) failures,” the Navy announced Thursday. “As such all Active Component (AC) and…


US Holds Drills in South China Sea Amid Tensions With China

BEIJING—The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are holding joint exercises in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon. The 7th Fleet based in Japan said Sunday that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have…


Facing Recruitment Crisis, US Army Develops Program to Help Aspiring Soldiers Meet Eligibility Requirements

In times of national emergency, the United States military has been far less restrictive in its recruitment policies than it is today. In fact, during World War II, some noncitizen men who could not provide proof of legal entry to the United States were permitted to enlist. Also, during World War II, men ages 18…


US Naval Academy Denied All Religious Exemption Requests for COVID-19 Vaccine

The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) confirmed on Dec. 1 that it denied all religious exemption requests filed by midshipmen for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The revelation came in response to a Nov. 29 letter (pdf) from Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and other Republican representatives seeking further information about USNA students allegedly denied diplomas after refusing…