Around the Services…

Your periodic update on the happenings around the military…

• In Washington, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case that attempted to challenge the constitutionality of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Although the Obama Administration opposes the policy, it welcomed the decision as it wanted to avoid defending the policy before the Supreme Court. DADT is currently under review by the Department of Defense.
• Remember all that brouhaha over the DeKalb County Marine Academy last week? The Associated Press has a good overview of the success rate that those kinds of schools have had across the country. Results seem favorable.
• Closer to home, while many Georgia leaders are celebrating our successful lure of the Fortune 500 technology company NCR, guaranteeing at least 2,000 jobs for Georgians, not all news has been great. The Department of the Army announced that it is no longer standing up three new Brigade Combat Teams, one of which was slated to station ~3,500 Soldiers at Ft. Stewart, GA. Although all of the new Soldiers wouldn’t have necessarily become permanent Georgia residents, the wasted new housing developments and infrastructural improvements built to accommodate them is major cause for concern.
• And finally, on a somber note, three Georgia National Guardsmen were killed in action in Afghanistan on Thursday when their vehicle was ambushed with an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Condolences to the families of Major Kevin M. Jenrette of Lula, Staff Sergeant John C. Beale of Riverdale, and Specialist Jeffrey W. Jordan of Cave Spring.