Christine Wormuth, Army Secretary, testifies during her Senate Armed Service Committee confirmation hearing on Thursday, May 13, 2021. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images / Tom Williams
The Army Brief: Wormuth confirmed; evacuating Afghan interpreters; Budget Day; and more...
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Army Secretary, confirmed at last: Christine Wormuth’s nomination to be the next Army Secretary encountered a procedural issue Wednesday night where she was confirmed but then unconfirmed hours later. On Thursday morning, the Senate again confirmed her by unanimous consent, making her the first woman to lead the service.
Budget day at the Pentagon: The Army’s 2022 budget is going to be ”very tight,” acting Army Secretary John Whitley said during a Hudson Institute event that will be posted online later today. The service tried to protect its readiness and modernization in this budget, he said, but will see effects with current operations and incremental improvements to systems for a near-term fight.
Guard leaves Capitol: The last 1,000 National Guardsmen deployed to protect the Capitol are finally heading home, the Pentagon announced Monday. Up to 26,000 Guardsmen protected the Capitol building complex following the Jan. 6 attack and then during President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this day in 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment sailed to South Carolina to fight in the Civil War. The story of this famous Black regiment was depicted in the 1989 film Glory.
From Defense One
US Planning to Evacuate Afghan Interpreters, Top US General Says // Tara Copp: “There are plans being developed very, very rapidly here,” said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
Introducing ‘The China Intelligence’ // Peter W. Singer and Peter Wood: Everyone needs to understand China better. Open-source intelligence can help.
Army Generals Are Not Prepared for the Future // Anthony Tingle: Service leaders love to tout innovation, but can they make the changes necessary to succeed?
I Felt More Welcome in Combat Than I Did on Base // Jackie Munn: A poor command climate can make women feel unsupported and alone.