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☆ Balloon recovered off coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for ‘well over a year,’ Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A balloon recovered off the coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for “well over a year,” the Pentagon said Friday. The balloon was discovered floating in the ocean by commercial fisherman in late-February. Some of the balloon debris, which had been held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, has been transferred to other facilities for further evaluation and analysis, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said in a statement. “Some material has been transferred to U.S. government facilities for further examination and analysis,” Gough said. The US assessed that the spy balloon shot down last year was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Richardson, Sue Gough, ” Gough, Gough Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Joint Base Elmendorf Locations: Alaska, United States, U.S, China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ This is what it's like for US Army paratroopers jumping out of giant C-17s for freezing Arctic airborne assaults
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

US Army paratroopers jumped into Arctic terrain at an exercise in Alaska last month. AdvertisementIn the skies above Alaska, US Army paratroopers, loaded with heavy gear, take the plunge out of a perfectly fine airplane into freezing air temperatures and whipping Arctic winds. The experience is quite intense, troops told Business Insider, an adrenaline rush only heightened by doing it in the Arctic environment. Abreanna GoodrichLast month, US Army Pacific hosted a Joint Pacific Multinational Rotation Center training event near Fairbanks, Alaska. Paratroopers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, stage onboard a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III prior to conducting an airborne operation in Donnelly Training Area, Delta Junction, AK, Feb. 8, 2024.

Persons: —, Abreanna Goodrich, USARPAC, Molly Treece, Charles A, Flynn, Derek Dion, you've, Donte Smith, Natalie Doan Smith, Spc.Wyatt Moore, Smith, Natalie Doan, David Hanson, it's Organizations: Army, Service, US Army, Business, U.S . Army, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, Pacific Multinational Readiness, Donnelly Training, U.S, Spc, US Army Pacific, Multinational Rotation Center, Boeing, Delta Junction, U.S . Air Force, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Joint Base Elmendorf, . Air Force, Public Affairs, Paratroopers, U.S . Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Public, Public Affairs Detachment Paratroopers, 11th Airborne Locations: Alaska, Fairbanks , Alaska, Hawaii, Delta, AK, China, Russia, North Korea, Wainwright, U.S, Japan, Richardson , Alaska

CNN —The Defense Department is analyzing a balloon discovered by fishermen off the coast of Alaska last week to determine whether it was a spy balloon, a spokesperson told CNN. Upon reviewing photographs taken by the fishermen, officials became concerned it could be another spy balloon, and FBI agents went to meet the boat when it returned to port. But the FBI determined that it was similar enough in appearance to a foreign government-owned surveillance balloon that it warranted further investigation. The existence of high-altitude surveillance balloons burst into US consciousness last year, when a Chinese spy balloon appeared to blow off course and transited across the continental US. The US assessed that the spy balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Sue Gough, “, ” Gough, Biden Organizations: CNN, The Defense Department, Joint Base Elmendorf, Defense Department, FBI Locations: Alaska, Richardson, China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ US Army attack helicopters are making 150-mile deep strike runs in the Arctic, where pilots grapple with frozen equipment and whiteout landings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Helicopter pilots also have to be able to land in confined spaces, such as a small openings located in dense forests. AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters fly over a mountain range near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on June 3, 2019. Army via APTowards the end of the recent JPMRC rotation in Alaska, Eifler told reporters about a 150-mile deep strike conducted with attack helicopters. The opportunities, particularly for helicopter pilots, are limitless, Burke told BI. As soldiers told Business Insider during the training in Alaska, if you can master warfighting in the Arctic, you can wage war anywhere.

Persons: —, Thomas E, Burke, Charles Flynn, Brian S, Eifler, Alejandro Peña, Natalie Doan, Cameron Roxberry Organizations: Service, Army, 11th Airborne Division, Business, Pacific Multinational Readiness, Airborne, Readiness, Alaska Army National Guard UH, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Base Elmendorf, . Air Force, Blackhawks, Aircraft, Paratroopers, U.S . Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Helicopter, U.S . Army, AP, Apache Locations: Alaska, Brig, Gen, Wainwright , Alaska, China, Russia, North Korea, Richardson , Alaska, Wainwright, Japan, Fort Wainwright , Alaska

☆ US Air Force F-35s are training for threats even tougher than what jets in Ukraine are facing. Pilots say they're 'surviving' but 'not every day is a win.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US Air Force fighter jets recently took part in the Red Flag air combat exercise. These scenarios are meant to prepare pilots for threats tougher even than what pilots are facing in Ukraine. AdvertisementThis year's event involved airmen from the 421st Fighter Squadron and 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, as well as over a dozen F-35A Lightning IIs from Utah's Hill Air Force Base. A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 10, 2024 in preparation for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1. AdvertisementAn F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina, taxis prior to take off for a for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 17.

Persons: —, William R, Lewis, Nathan Heguy, Heguy, we're, Lockheed Martin, haven't, Bryan Butler Organizations: US Air Force, Flag, Service, Nellis Air Force Base, 388th Fighter Wing, 421st Fighter Squadron, 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, Utah's Hill Air Force Base, 3rd, Joint Base Elmendorf, Nellis, Nevada, Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, NATO, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Lockheed Locations: Ukraine, Nevada, Utah , Nevada, California, Richardson , Alaska, Russian, Red Flag, Russia, Flag, China, Washington, South Carolina

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — Santa Claus’ sleigh took on new responsibilities in rural Alaska this week when delivering gifts to an Alaska Native village. Santa’s ride, an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, was shuttling Santa, Mrs. Claus, volunteer elves and gifts in shifts Wednesday to provide the children of Tuluksak some Christmas cheer. The flights originated about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest, from the hub community of Bethel, the guard said in a release. The Alaska National Guard for decades has delivered gifts, supplies and sometimes Christmas itself to tiny rural communities dotting the nation’s largest and largely roadless state. The guard stepped up, taking donated gifts and supplies to the village.

Persons: ’, Claus, Colton Bell, David Berg, ” Bell Organizations: ELMENDORF, Alaska Army National Guard UH, Hawk, Helicopter, Alaska National Guard Locations: RICHARDSON , Alaska, Santa, Alaska, Bethel, Tuluksak, Napaskiak, Anchorage, St, Mary’s

☆ US drone shot down near Yemen -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. military MQ-9 drone was shot down on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis, two U.S. officials and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region. The U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the drone, made by General Atomics, had been brought down off the coast of Yemen. In a statement, a Houthi military spokesperson said they shot down the drone in airspace over Yemeni territorial waters. Last month, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four cruise missiles and more than a dozen drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen headed toward Israel.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, General Atomics, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Chris Reese, Rod Nickel Organizations: Houthis, U.S, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Base Elmendorf, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Washington, Israel, Yemen, Red, Richardson , Alaska

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — Two bears on an Alaska military base raided a Krispy Kreme doughnut van that was stopped outside a convenience store during its delivery route. The bears chomped on doughnut holes and other pastries, ignoring the banging on the side of the van that was aimed at shooing them away, Deano said. '”When the bears couldn't be roused, base security was called and sounded sirens meant to scare away the bears, she said. The bears eventually came out and wandered in front of the convenience store and gas station a bit before heading into the woods. Wildlife may be our neighbor, but they should not be attracted to our human food sources,” she said by email.

Persons: Shelly Deano, Deano, “, they're, ”, Lexi Smith Organizations: ELMENDORF, Joint Base Elmendorf, Richardson, Express Locations: RICHARDSON , Alaska, Alaska, sauntered

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Asked about Republicans launching an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden in Congress, Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman clutched his head in mock horror and declared "Oh my God, really?" "Starting an impeachment inquiry will hopefully force the media to cover the mountains of evidence linking Joe Biden to Hunter's business dealings in a way that the American people haven't seen yet." Less than half believe Joe Biden did anything illegal and most voters polled in June said Hunter's legal issues had little impact on their plans to vote for or against his father. The White House sent out a list of comments from Republican House members saying evidence that Biden had done anything wrong had not been found. He did not cite any evidence of misconduct by Joe Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, John Fetterman clutched, Fetterman, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Barack, Hunter, Karine Jean, Pierre, didn’t, Donald Trump, Hogan Gidley, haven't, Trump, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, Obama, McCarthy, Donald Trump’s, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Will Dunham, David Gregorio Our Organizations: World Trade, Joint Base Elmendorf, REUTERS, Rights, Pennsylvania Democratic, Republican, GOP, Republicans, Constitution, Democratic, Senate, White House, Trump, House, U.S, Reuters, Gallup, Yahoo, White, Thomson Locations: Richardson, Anchorage , Alaska, Congress, Pennsylvania, U.S

The White House denies any impropriety, calling the impeachment move "extreme politics at its worst." "Starting an impeachment inquiry will hopefully force the media to cover the mountains of evidence linking Joe Biden to Hunter's business dealings in a way that the American people haven't seen yet." He was under pressure from them to launch the impeachment inquiry. The White House sent out a list of comments from Republican House members saying evidence that Biden had done anything wrong had not been found. It also released a previous McCarthy quote in which he said a vote would be needed ahead of an impeachment inquiry otherwise it "would create a process completely devoid of any merit or legitimacy."

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, John Fetterman clutched, Fetterman, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Barack, Hunter, Donald Trump, Hogan Gidley, haven't, Trump, General Merrick Garland, Hunter Biden, Obama, McCarthy, Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Will Dunham Organizations: World Trade, Joint Base Elmendorf, REUTERS, Rights, Pennsylvania Democratic, Republican, GOP, Republicans, White, Constitution, Democratic, Senate, White House, Trump, House, U.S, Reuters, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Richardson, Anchorage , Alaska, Congress, Pennsylvania, U.S, people's

☆ What’s the basis of the Republicans’ Joe Biden impeachment inquiry?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The White House says Biden has done nothing wrong and Republicans have no basis for an impeachment inquiry. Another Hunter Biden associate, Eric Schwerin, also told the panel that he was not aware of any financial involvement by Joe Biden in his relatives' businesses. A Washington Post fact check found that $7 million of that money went to Biden family members, most of it to Hunter, and none went to Joe Biden. PRESSURING UKRAINE'S PROSECUTORWhile serving as vice president, Biden pressured Ukraine to remove its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin. Republicans and Shokin have separately said Biden was trying to protect Burisma and Hunter Biden from a possible corruption investigation.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn, Hunter, Biden, Devon Archer, Hunter Biden, Archer, Jamie Raskin, Burisma, Mykola Zlochevsky, Eric Schwerin, Viktor Shokin, Shokin, Barack Obama's, Petro Poroshenko, David Weiss, Weiss, General Merrick Garland, Andy Sullivan, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: World Trade, Joint Base Elmendorf, REUTERS, U.S . House, Democratic, Republicans, FBI, Washington Post, European Union, International Monetary Foundation, House Democrats, Burisma, Fox News Channel, IRS, Justice Department, Trump, U.S, Thomson Locations: Richardson, Anchorage , Alaska, U.S, Ukrainian, Ukraine

☆ Why have US Republicans opened an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

WHAT IS AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY? An impeachment inquiry is a formal step that can precede a House vote on whether to approve articles of impeachment and eventually a trial in the Senate. It did not hold a full impeachment inquiry before bringing impeachment charges in the final weeks of Trump's presidency following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Weiss has said prosecutors will seek to indict Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges by Sept. 29. The criminal prosecution could mean Hunter Biden may face a trial while his father is campaigning for reelection.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Hunter, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Trump's, acquit Trump, David Weiss, Raskin, Ian Sams, Hunter Biden, Devon Archer, Jamie Raskin, Archer, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Dick Durbin, HUNTER BIDEN, Weiss, Hunter Biden's, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: World Trade, Joint Base Elmendorf, REUTERS, . House, Republicans, Democratic, Senate, Republican, Constitution, Capitol, Justice, Trump ., Committee, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Richardson, Anchorage , Alaska, U.S, Ukraine, Ukrainian

He'll also visit a Hanoi memorial honoring his late friend and colleague Sen. John McCain, who was held for more than five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War . Biden met with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, who also accompanied Biden to a quick drop by at a meeting of business leaders. Biden said the shift demonstrated how far bilateral relations had evolved from the “bitter past” of the Vietnam War. The North Vietnamese wanted to make a show of releasing McCain early as his father assumed command over the Pacific. Despite his experience in Vietnam, McCain was a strong advocate of restoring diplomatic relations with the country that had so badly mistreated him.

Persons: Joe Biden, He'll, Sen, John McCain, Biden, Phạm Minh Chính, Võ Văn Thưởng, Biden's, Nguyễn Phú Trong, Trong, Sidney McCain, McCain, McCain’s, ”, “, Democrat Barack Obama, John Kerry, Obama, ” Biden Organizations: U.S, White, Vietnam Airlines, Communist Party of Vietnam, cellmates, Navy, Senate, Republican, Democrat, Democratic, Joint Base Elmendorf Locations: HANOI, Vietnam, Hanoi, U.S, Arizona, Bac Ninh Province, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Beijing, Asia, Hanoi , North Vietnam, American, Washington, Richardson, Anchorage , Alaska, New York, Washington and Pennsylvania

The Pentagon said the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected the object over Alaska late Friday evening. U.S. fighter jets from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, monitored the object as it crossed over into Canadian airspace, where Canadian CF-18 and CP-140 aircraft joined the formation. "A U.S. F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile following close coordination between U.S. and Canadian authorities," Pentagon spokesman Brig. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized the U.S. military to work with Canada to take down the high-altitude craft after a call between Biden and Trudeau, the Pentagon said. Some U.S. lawmakers criticized Biden for not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner.

☆ 3 times the US military brought back 'obsolete' weapons to take on new enemies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Miguel Ortiz | We Are The Mighty | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Most military enthusiasts are familiar with the Reagan administration's 600-ship Navy and the reactivation of the battleships USS Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey and Wisconsin. However, USS New Jersey was brought back into active service once before. US ArmyAn evolution of the famed M1 Garand of WWII and Korea, the M14 battle rifle became the standard-issue rifle for the US military in 1959. It served as the basis of the M21 Sniper Weapon System introduced in 1968 and M25 Sniper Weapon System introduced in 1991. Though both weapon systems have been largely replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System, the M14 lives on as the Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.

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