Sgt. Brian Coughlan, team chief for the fires section assigned to 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, records targeting data from the mortar platoon for calls for fire before passing the information to the fire support officer during Saber Strike 22 at Hradiště Military Area, Northwest Czech Republic, March 8, 2022. U.S. Army National Guard / Sgt. Tara Fajardo Arteaga
The Army Brief: Army 2023 Budget; Confederate-named items; National Defense Strategy; and more...
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Flattened budget. The Army is asking for $177.5 billion for 2023, with a focus on modernization and readiness, including more flight hours and combat training center rotations, Defense One reports. The service will see its active-duty force end strength shrink to 473,000, which they say is due to a tight labor market and challenges finding quality recruits.
100s of Confederate-named items. The Naming Commission has compiled a list of 757 items—from roads to buildings and ships—that honor the Confederacy and could be recommended for renaming in an upcoming report to Congress, Defense One reports. Many of these items are located at Army bases that are already being considered for renaming, including 213 at Fort AP Hill, Virginia, and 140 at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
China is still #1 threat. China remains the top “pacing challenge” in the new National Defense Strategy the Pentagon sent to Congress, Defense One reports. In a departure from the last strategy, Russia now “poses acute threats,” and is considered a lesser priority.
Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this day in 2003, Pfc. Jessica Lynch was rescued after being captured by Iraqi forces following an attack that killed 11 of her fellow soldiers and left her seriously injured.
From Defense One
In About-Face, Army Expects to Shrink Next Year // Elizabeth Howe
Chief of Staff McConville says recruiters need to reach families whose children have not served.
Russia's Kyiv Pullback is 'Not a Real Withdrawal,' Pentagon Warns // Tara Copp
As Putin is repositioning forces to the Donbass area, "nobody should be fooling ourselves," U.S. spokesman says.
Russia Has Fired 'Multiple' Hypersonic Missiles Into Ukraine, US General Confirms // Patrick Tucker
The stunt, likely meant to intimidate Ukraine and allies, has not had the effect Moscow intended.
New Budget Would Modify Planes, Pursue Hybrid Vehicles To Tackle Climate Change // Jacqueline Feldscher
The Pentagon's 2023 proposal aims to reduce C-130 drag, modify KC-135 engines, and design a fuel-sipping airframe.
Pentagon Delays Department-wide Cloud, Again // Brandi Vincent and Lauren C. Williams
Officials say they didn't expect to need so much time to choose among four bids for a $9 billion cloud contract.