The debate surrounding the fiscal cliff – the automatic spending cuts and tax increases expected at the beginning of the year if Congress doesn't reach a deficit reduction plan – has placed a lot of attention on the military budget. Lawmakers have been looking for places to reduce spending, and new analysis suggests that limiting the pay given to servicemembers may be the way to go, according to Military.com.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that military pay has increased 25 percent more than inflation over the past 10 years, something that could be contributing to the Pentagon's bloated budget. In fact, between 2002 and 2010, cash compensation for military personnel rose 52 percent. Experts suggest capping pay raises but still maintaining bonuses, but some are skeptical about limiting how much soldiers are paid.
"It's a burden and I think we need to do everything we can to support them," Vietnam veteran Dennis DeMolet told the website.
While there is a commitment to pay servicemembers fair wages, the fact remains the Department of Defense has to cut costs regardless of whether the country goes over the fiscal cliff. The DOD has to cut $450 billion over the next 10 years to meet guidelines laid out in 2011's Budget Control Act.
The college football season is almost over, but one of the biggest games has yet to be played. The annual Army-Navy game is slated for Saturday, December 8 in Philadelphia, and in the week leading up to the anticipated match up, a group of West Point cadets is marking the occasion in a unique way. According to The Associated Press, the 19-member marathon team is going to run the game ball from New York to Philadelphia – about 140 miles.
The group of runners is expected to leave West Point in Hudson Valley on Thursday carrying the ceremonial game ball. The team estimates that it will take about two days to make the trip, which will bring them to Lincoln Financial Field just in time for the 3 p.m. kickoff.
The game, which has become one of the most time-honored traditions in college football, is set to be played for the 113th time. The Army-Navy game dates back to the 1890s and has been played each year since 1930.
Navy has a slight edge in the all-time series and has dominated Army as of late, and that might be the case again this year. The Midshipmen enter the game with a 7-4 record and are headed to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Army, however, comes in at 2-9.
However, should Army upset the Midshipmen, the Black Knights would earn the Commander-in-Chief Trophy because they beat Air Force earlier this year. Army hasn't won that distinction since 1996.
When everyone tunes into Sunday Night Football to watch the Dallas Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, they'll not only be treated to good game, but also will witness a poignant tribute.
The Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys will be hosting a First Responders Appreciation Night for fallen police officers and fireman. The events will take place during the pregame and at halftime.
According to the news provider, the pregame will honor Craig Story and Jillian Smith, two police officers from Arlington, as well as firefighter Don Hogg. These individuals were chosen because they were the most recent first responders to perish who were from the area. During this tribute, a highway patrol helicopter will flyover the stadium, while police and firefighting vehicles will be on the field.
During the halftime presentation, the news provider reports there will be a bagpipe and drum band. Performers from across the Lone Star State will take part in this part of the ceremony.
The game is not the only way the Cowboys are showing their support to those who serve our country. According to the sports team's website, there will be an Armed Forces Rally Day on Saturday, which will last from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event will be fun for the whole family, as former Cowboys Mel Renfro, Leon Lett and Ed Jones will all be making appearances to sign autographs. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys' famous cheerleaders will be on hand to mingle, and there will even be an appearance from Santa.
There will also be a lot of activities for kids to partake in during the rally. The website reports that some of the events are geared toward the Armed Forces, including a color guard, a life size replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a re-enlistment ceremony.
According to Mid Cities Online, both officers Story and Smith were killed during active duty in 2010. Story died in a two-vehicle crash while he was enforcing traffic. He was on his motorcycle when a bus crashed into him, killing him upon impact. Smith died when responding to a report call. The news provider reports when she was speaking to the victim and her 11-year-old daughter, the suspect returned with a gun and began shooting. Smith shielded the young girl, saving her life.
Although there is a cloud of cuts looming over the Department of Defense (DoD) due to the possibility of sequestration from the fiscal cliff, the Pentagon received some good budgeting news recently.
Bloomberg Businessweek reports the Senate voted to allow the Pentagon's investment in green energy. Part of the defense bill previously prohibited the military from spending money on alternative fuels if they exceed the cost of regular fossil fuels, such as natural gas, oil and coal. However, the news provider reports that the Navy and Air Force have both asked for more biofuels in an effort to operate their aircrafts and ships.
Additionally, some highly ranked officers in the military have suggested that by relying more heavily on alternative fuels, there would be less of a need to depend on foreign oil.
"It should tell us something that in an era of reduced Defense Department budgets, our senior leaders remain fully committed to this effort. We should support them in these commonsense approaches," Senator Mark Udall, D-Colo., sponsor of the amendment, told the news provider.
The Hill reports the bill was presented by Senator Kay Hagan, who suggests that if the military were to rely on regular oil, it could be affected by the fluctuating prices. Advocates for the fuel tell the news provider that the military is actually running its fleet through sustainable practices by using alternative means. The biofuels that are at the heart of the issue are made from natural products like switchgrass and algae.
"Cost overruns could force the military to curtail training and less urgent operations – resulting in increased risk to future missions," Hagan argued, according to the news provider. "Developing a commercially viable biofuels industry could help [the Department of Defense] diversify its fuel sources and reduce the risk of energy volatility."
While this was a break for the Pentagon, the DoD is teetering on the possibility of receiving devastating cuts. Should sequestration go into effect, military spending could be cut by nearly $500 billion. However, if the fiscal cliff is avoided, the DoD could receive little, if any, cuts to the budget. The government has received tremendous pressure over the past few weeks, as the cuts are set to go into effect on January 1 should a deal not be reached.
With New York Representative Peter King's term as the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security set to expire, many were wondering who would take over the role. Now, it appears as though Texas Representative Michael McCaul will be taking the honor.
According to Security Info Watch, McCaul is no stranger to being on house committies. He is currently the chair of the Oversight, Investigations and Management subcommittee and a member of the Border and Maritime Security subcommittee.
"Our nation faces a variety of homeland security challenges, including international and domestic terrorism, securing our borders and preventing cyber attacks," McCaul said in a statement, according to the news provider. "It is the responsibility of our Committee to provide oversight to ensure the Department of Homeland Security is managed with efficiency and integrity so that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, that leadership is accountable and that DHS' rank and file are adequately supported to accomplish their important mission of protecting the homeland."
According to the New York Daily News, McCaul was formerly the chief of counterterrorism and national security for Texas' Justice Department, and also served as a U.S. attorney.
In the bid for the position, McCaul reportedly edged out Michigan Representative Candice Miller and Alabama Representative Mike Rogers. Although King did not endorse anyone for the position, the news provider reports he did offer his congratulations to McCaul.
"I know that he is committed to securing our Homeland from terrorism and ensuring that the Department of Homeland Security acts in an effective and responsible manner," King said in a statement.
Fox News reports King needed to resign from his position due to House rules that no one can remain a committee chairman for more than six years. However, King was given a one-year extension in the role, which he is currently finishing. The news provider reports that he officially announced his intent to step down from the role this past Saturday.
Due to the shift, Fox News reports King will remain a member of the House Intelligence Committee and he could take over as the chairman of the Homeland committee's Counterterrorism and Intelligence subcommittee.
Servicemembers face many risky situations overseas, but it seems as though risk is something they fear when they head back home.
CNBC reports one of the biggest problems veterans have with their finances is their fear of risk. While some servicemembers may spend some of their savings too easily, they may also struggle with taking ordinary investment risks that are meant to help them grow their assets.
The news provider points to a study that observed veterans' investing habits and found that combat could have something to do with avoiding higher risk equities.
"Given [that] portfolio choices of stock historically have been critical to economic advancement and wealth-building, combat could influence veteran preferences for financial risk-taking in a sub-optimal manner," the report said, according to the news provider.
Servicemembers who are thinking about retirement will want to plan well in advance. According to Military.com, the Armed Forces is working to ensure that servicemembers are setting financial goals early in life so they can build up a retirement portfolio and not have to worry about working longer than they wish to.
Researchers have been puzzled by Gulf War illness, which is characterized by a number of symptoms that affect many Gulf War veterans.
According to USA Today, symptoms of the illness can range from headaches to chronic fatigue, and more than one in four veterans of the war experiences these symptoms. Now, a new study is suggesting that the cause of the illness could be damage to the automatic nervous system.
Difficulty identifying symptoms
Lead study author Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, told the news provider that when it comes to diagnosing the illness, it can be very difficult because soldiers have a hard time explaining their symptoms. In order to complete the study, the news provider reports Haley had 97 veterans complete 25 different tests. One of the factors he looked at during the research was the test subjects' brain imaging.
The news provider reports that veterans who are experiencing Gulf War illness tend to fall into three different syndrome categories – cognitive issues or depression, confusion that is similar to early Alzheimer's disease or severe pain throughout the body.
"Many of these veterans have been told that there is nothing wrong with them," Haley said in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. "Our hope is that the physicians treating our veterans will read this study and recognize the symptoms, and that this will lead to better treatments."
The illness has been studied for years in an effort to treat veterans experiencing symptoms. According to the news source, the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs held two hearings in 2009 on the condition. It was revealed during the hearings that there had been more than 345 research projects on Gulf War illness between 1992 and 2007. However, there has been criticism on these studies because they did not focus on the causes and treatments.
Those affected could receive aid
The Department of Veteran Affairs reports that the VA currently offers disability compensation for soldiers who experience certain chronic symptoms relating to the condition. The website states that soldiers who have experienced functional gastrointestinal disorders, chronic fatigue symptom, fibromyalgia and others could be entitled to compensation from the government.
Some servicemembers choose to enter the Armed Forces right after high school, which could cause them to miss out on certain education opportunities. As a result, more higher learning institutions are stepping in to ensure veterans get a proper education upon returning home.
The Bowling Green Daily News reports Western Kentucky University (WKU) has a program geared toward veterans that recently reached a milestone. WKU's Veterans Upward Bound program is a federally supported program that provides veterans with instruction and counseling opportunities so they can be prepared to return to school.
Those who have been through the program tell the news provider that it helped them continue their education once they returned home.
"When I look back on what has brought me to where I am today, I sincerely believe that Veterans Upward Bound played a huge role in getting me here," Kent Johnson, a junior at WKU, told the news provider.
The government also works to ensure servicemembers have opportunities to go back to school. With the Post 9/11 GI Bill, veterans can receive financial assistance for graduate and undergraduate programs, as well as vocational training.
With Thanksgiving officially over, many people are gearing up for the holidays. However, some families may have to stay separated if some of their loved ones are serving in the Armed Forces. During this season of giving, the Red Cross is reaching out to those overseas to let them know their service is appreciated.
The American Red Cross' website features a 2012 Holiday Giving Catalog, where people can browse and choose items to donate. There are a number of items geared toward servicemembers overseas, including the military comfort kit. These kits are geared toward those who are injured overseas and are having a hard time getting comfortable in the treatment facility. Some of the items included in the kit are a phone card, shower shoes, toiletries, a bathrobe and a gift card for MP3 music. Buyers can choose to purchase anywhere from one to 20 kits.
Additionally, the charity is selling phone cards so troops who are unable to return home for the holidays can at least make a call to their loved ones.
These gifts aren't just for people who are serving abroad. There are also items that can go toward helping families upon a servicemember's return. The Red Cross is offering caregiver training that educates family and friends of a servicemember, so he or she can receive proper support upon return home.
For people who do not wish to give a gift but would still like to contribute, the organization is encouraging financial and blood donations, as well as signing a holiday card for the troops.
"In the true spirit of the season, we are asking people to make a lifesaving blood donation, to sign a card for our military heroes, or buy a gift through our holiday giving catalog," Chris Osborne, chief communications officer for the American Red Cross Alabama Region, told Alabama's CBS affiliate WKRG. "Together we can spread hope to those in need – victims of disaster, hospital patients, those in the military."
The Red Cross received a number of generous donations following Hurricane Sandy, and workers there hope they can continue to provide support for people who have experienced smaller disasters this holiday season, the news provider reports.
Sometimes when veterans return home, they may not have a house to come back to. This remains a growing problem across the U.S., as the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans reports there are more than 67,000 veterans without a home on any given night. The news provider also reports that about one-fifth of the homeless population is veterans.
Certain cities are doing everything they can to ensure as many veterans are off the street as possible. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the city's mayor Ed Lee promised back in June that his administration would find homes for 50 homeless veterans who had federal vouchers but still could not convince landlords to rent to them.
According to the news provider, since the mayor made his pledge, 54 veterans have found places to live. The waiting time between receiving a voucher and finding a home has drastically reduced. Previously, the the average waiting time was 270 days – the figure currently rests at 83 days.