82nd Airborne brings ‘any mission’ capabilities to Europe as combat exercises begin
STUTTGART, Germany (TNS)—
Paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are headed to Europe, where large combat drills stretching from Nordic lands to NATO’s eastern flank are getting underway.
About 600 soldiers from the division’s 3rd Brigade will parachute into Norway next week in a “forcible entry” operation aimed at testing the unit’s ability to fight through resistance, the Army said.
The Swift Response exercise will showcase the 82nd’s ability to respond to “any mission, anywhere, and anytime,” Maj. Gen. Pat Work, division commander, said in a statement ahead of the training, which kicks off Tuesday.
The Fort Bragg, N.C.-based 82nd Airborne, a part of the military’s global response force, has factored into Army efforts to quickly mobilize troops into Europe. The division was key in Pentagon efforts to reinforce NATO around the time of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
While Swift Response will involve some 4,100 U.S. troops and 1,900 multinational forces carrying out simultaneous airborne assault operations in the High North and across the Baltics, other drills are unfolding elsewhere in Europe.
On Sunday, more than 300 U.S. and allied service members are participating in exercise Arcane Thunder, which involves integration of land, sea, air, cyber and space capabilities, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement. Stars and Stripes
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday.
It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies.
The Associated Press
McDonough selected to lead Texas A&M teaching site in DC
BRYAN (TNS)— J.P. McDonough, a decorated Marine Corps colonel and recent Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, has been selected as the next leader of Texas A&M University-Washington, DC and the Bush School DC.
McDonough will begin June 1.
“I’m honored to join the distinguished faculty and staff at the Bush School, and I share their commitment to the values and vision of its namesake, President George H.W. Bush,” McDonough said.
“I’m excited to expand the school’s presence in our nation’s capital, supporting working professionals earning their master’s degree here in D.C. And I’m thrilled to help expand opportunities for Aggies to experience our nation’s capital.”
“Col. McDonough has lived a life of exemplary public service,” said John
Sherman, dean of The Bush School of Government and Public Service. “We are excited to add his knowledge, passion and commitment to others to the Bush School. He will do the Aggie community proud.”
McDonough will be associate vice president and chief operating officer for the Texas A&M DC Teaching Site.
The Bryan Eagle Hamas releases Israeli-American hostage in goodwill gesture toward Trump administration
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Monday released an IsraeliAmerican soldier who had been held hostage in Gaza for more than 19 months, offering a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration that could lay the groundwork for a new ceasefire with Israel.
Hegseth’s plan to cut senior military jobs could hit more than 120 highranking officers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plans to slash the number of senior military leaders across the services would cut more than 120 high-ranking officer jobs in the active duty and National Guard, including as many as nine top general slots.
Based on the percentages outlined by Hegseth and his senior staff, 20% of the 44 authorized top active duty general and admiral jobs would be eliminated, along with 10% of the more than 800 one-, two- and three-star positions, according to numbers compiled by The Associated Press.
Edan Alexander, 21, was the first hostage released since Israel shattered an eightweek ceasefire with Hamas in March and unleashed fierce strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of Palestinians. He was handed over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces before being flown by helicopter to a hospital in Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities released video and photos showing a pale but smiling Alexander in an emotional reunion with his mother and other family members. Israel has promised to intensify its offensive, including by seizing Gaza and displacing much of the territory’s population again. Days before the ceasefire ended, Israel blocked all imports from entering the Palestinian enclave, deepening a humanitarian crisis and sparking warnings about the risk of famine if the blockade isn’t lifted.
The cuts — about nine positions among four-star generals and 80 jobs across the other leadership levels — would affect dozens of active duty officers scattered across the five services as well as those who are in joint command jobs, such as those overseeing Africa, the Middle East and Europe. The changes would eliminate 33 senior National Guard positions.
The cuts are part of a broader government-wide campaign to slash spending and personnel across federal agencies that is being pushed by President Donald Trump’s administration and ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. According to Hegseth and others, the intent of the military job reductions isn’t to reduce the overall size of the force but to thin out the higher ranks and offset those cuts with additional troops at lower levels. While the overall number of service members may not drop, the salary costs will be lower. [ Spot report]
