Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Perez Quitugua Jr., Fort Rucker garrison command sergeant major, provides a tour of the barracks and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers facilities for Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims, U.S. Army Forces Command command sergeant major, during his visit to Fort Rucker April 19, 2021. US Army / Kelly Morris
The Army Brief: Proof of vaccination; Vehicle accidents; Undersecretary nom; and more
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Let’s see some paperwork. Fort Rucker in Alabama is the first military base to allow leaders to ask unmasked soldiers for proof of vaccination, the Washington Post reports. The community surrounding the installation has less than half its population vaccinated against the coronavirus, and the delta variant continues to increase infection rates in the country.
Vehicle accidents, tabulated. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that “driver inattention, supervision lapses, and training shortfalls were common causes” of Army and Marine Corps tactical vehicle accidents over the last decade. They also determined that units had accident mitigation and prevention measures but did not always use them.
Undersecretary nominee selected. Gabe Camarillo, a lawyer and senior vice president at SAIC, has been nominated to be the next Army undersecretary, the White House announced. His previous Pentagon jobs include principal deputy assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology, from 2012 to 2015.
Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On July 15, 1964, Margaret E. Bailey became the first African American to be promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Army Nurse Corps, and in 1970 to full colonel.
From Defense One
Army’s New Facility Aims to Speed Up Fielding Tech // Brandi Vincent: Work there will support DOD’s new soldier goggles — formally known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System.
British Defense Secretary Vows to Fix Tank that Deafens Troops // Marcus Weisgerber: Wallace is to meet with the CEO of General Dynamics, maker of the Ajax light tank.
Kristi Noem’s National Guard Deployment Is America’s Future // Eric Schnurer: The private sector has long been absorbing duties that belong to the government—and that pattern is intensifying.
Impersonations of Military Members on Social Media On the Rise, New Report Says // Patrick Tucker: Be skeptical of that admiral who just asked you out on Twitter.
Danger from China ‘Clear and Present Already,’ INDOPACOM’s Top Intel Officer Warns // Caitlin M Kenney: Rear admiral urges Washington policymakers to take Beijing's threats more seriously.