Good Soldiers Organization

The chief of staff, Army announces the following assignments: Maj. Gen. Paul C. Hurley Jr., commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and Kuwait, to commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command, Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee, Fort Lee, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Lewis G. Irwin, U.S. Army Reserve, commander (Troop…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meeting with German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis hosted German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen at the Pentagon today to exchange perspectives on defense security issues with one of our closest allies. The two leaders discussed the importance of the alliance between the United States and Germany, both bilaterally and as members of NATO.…

Readout of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’ Call with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary Mattis spoke today by telephone with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa to discuss the U.S.-Pakistan defense relationship. Gen. Bajwa reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to counter all militant groups operating in its territory.  Secretary Mattis recognized the significant sacrifices the Pakistan military…

Navy to Christen Littoral Combat Ship Tulsa

The Navy will christen its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Tulsa (LCS 16), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, Feb. 11 in Mobile, Alabama. Tulsa, designated LCS 16, honors the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Adm. William F. Moran, vice chief of naval operations, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Kathy Taylor, former mayor of Tulsa, is serving as the ship’s sponsor.…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Call with Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke by telephone today with Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar.  In their first conversation, Secretary Mattis committed to build upon the tremendous progress in bilateral defense cooperation made in recent years, underscoring the strategic importance of the U.S.-India relationship and…

Statement by Pentagon Spokesman Captain Jeff Davis on U.S.-Russia Video Conference

The Department of Defense today held a video conference co-chaired by Ken Handelman, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs and Rear Adm. Michael J. Dumont, deputy director for strategic initiatives, Joint Staff J5, with Russian Ministry of Defense counterparts. This was the latest session of our dialogue with the Russian Ministry of Defense…

Statement by Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis on Airstrikes Against al-Qaida near Idlib, Syria

On Feb. 3, one U.S. strike killed 10 terrorists in a building being used as an al-Qaida meeting place. On Feb. 4, a second strike killed Abu Hani al-Masri, a legacy al-Qaida terrorist with ties to the group’s senior leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri and Usama bin-Laden. Al-Masri oversaw the creation and operation of many al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan in the 1980s and ’90s, where he…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Call with Iraqi Minister of Defense Arfan al-Hayali

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by phone with Iraqi Defense Minister Arfan al-Hayali to discuss the strong U.S.-Iraq defense partnership in the fight against ISIS. Secretary Mattis congratulated Minister Hayali on his new position and praised the Iraqis’ hard-won gains against ISIS- most recently in eastern Mosul.…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Call with Mexico Secretary of National Defense General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda and Secretary of the Navy Admiral Vidal Soberón Sanz

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary Mattis spoke with his Mexican counterparts, Secretary of National Defense General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda and Secretary of the Navy Admiral Vidal Soberón Sanz. Their introductory conversation focused on the importance of the U.S.-Mexico defense relationship.   Secretary Mattis noted the bilateral commitment to…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Call with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by telephone with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan to discuss the enduring U.S.-Afghan security relationship.  Secretary Mattis thanked President Ghani for his leadership and emphasized the importance of the government of national unity to the stability of Afghanistan.  President…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meetings with Canadian Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis hosted the Canadian Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan at the Pentagon today, his first time hosting a defense counterpart as secretary of defense. Secretary Mattis and Minister Sajjan reaffirmed the U.S.-Canada defense relationship, emphasizing their commitments to NORAD and continental…

The chief of staff, Air Force announces the assignment of the following general officer: Brig. Gen. Kirk W. Smith, director, force management and development, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan. Release No: NR-046-17 Feb. 3, 2017

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meetings with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Gary Ross provided the following readout:‎ Secretary Mattis met with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today in Tokyo, Japan to reaffirm the strength of the U.S.- Japan alliance. During the meeting, ‎the secretary emphasized the priority the new administration places on the Asia-Pacific by visiting the region during his first overseas trip and specifically on…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meetings with ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-Se and Minister of National Defense Han Min-Koo‎

Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Gary Ross provided the following readout:‎ Secretary of Defense James Mattis held separate meetings with Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-Se, and ROK Minister of National Defense Han Min-Koo today in Seoul, South Korea. Secretary Mattis noted that his first trip as secretary of defense to the ROK underscored the priority the…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Meetings with ROK Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn and ROK National Security Advisor Kim Kwan-Jin

Secretary of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Gary Ross provided the following readout: ‎Secretary Mattis met with Republic of Korea (ROK)Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn and ROKNational Security Advisor Kim Kwan-Jin today in Seoul, South Korea to reaffirm the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance. During the meetings, ‎the secretary emphasized the priority that President Trump places on…

Department of Defense Announces Guidance on Implementation of Civilian Workforce Hiring Freeze

Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a memorandum providing guidance on the implementation of the presidential memorandum, dated Jan. 23, subject:  “Hiring Freeze.” The guidance ensures that the department will honor both the letter and spirit of the president’s direction, mindful of our significant national security mission and public safety responsibilities.  While remaining…

Readout of Secretary Mattis’ Call with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman

Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis provided the following readout: “Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke today by telephone with Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss the strong U.S.-Saudi defense partnership. In their first conversation, Secretary Mattis thanked the minister of defense for Saudi Arabia’s contributions in…