Over the next seven weeks they would retake the city, capturing or killing as many as 2,000 insurgents who had controlled the stronghold since April 2004 following the killing and mutilation of four private U.S. security contractors.

But the coalition and Marines did not fight through long days and nights unscathed. The Second Battle of Fallujah — known as Operation Phantom Fury — was the most intense urban fighting of the Iraq War, more even than the initial surge into Baghdad during the 2003 invasion.

The estimated population of Fallujah in 2004 was fewer than 300,000 residents. All but 30,000 fled the city ahead of the fight. Baghdad, meanwhile, had a population of more than 5.7 million.

In the bloody street-by-street, house-by-house fighting, 82 U.S. troops died and another 600 were wounded. Fallujah marked the most intense urban fighting the Marine Corps had seen since the Battle of Hue during the Vietnam War.

And though the November 2004 battle is considered a success, the city would fall approximately a decade later to Islamic State fighters, who held the city until 2016 when they were defeated by Iraqi-led coalition forces.

Today, two decades after Marines entered the hornet’s nest, Fallujah is regarded for its ferocity and the lessons it yields for Marines in a future urban fight. And in 2023, the Navy laid the keel for the future amphibious assault ship Fallujah, named in honor of the Marines who fought in the battle.

“Fallujah has come to represent Iraq to the Marine Corps,” said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel who now serves as a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Politics, media and social media

Public attention and political pressure were major factors in both the first — in the spring of 2004 — and second battles of Fallujah, as calls at the time for more aggressive operations sounded from Washington.

That push resulted in Marines, who had only been in the Fallujah area for two weeks prior to the spring operation, being rushed into the city without proper planning, resources or training.

Marines took the subsequent five months to refit, redistribute and coordinate before launching the second large-scale assault on the city.

Also modified was media coverage of the war. During the first battle the Marines did not include embedded reporters, which allowed insurgents to propagandize anything coming out of the fight to garner outside support. In the second battle of Fallujah, however, the Marines embedded as many as 60 reporters with units to highlight the atrocities being committed by insurgents.

Getting the U.S. side of the fighting out through the media, Cancian said, helped ease pressure on politicians and allowed military leaders to conduct the operation.

Since that time, development of new technology that favors urban defenders, the presence of social media and real-time evolution of urban combat in Gaza and Ukraine have raised the stakes for how the Marine Corps, and the U.S. military as a whole, prepares for another urban fight.

Today’s constant stream of online video, such as battlefield footage regularly posted from Ukraine and Gaza, allows for a flood of disinformation, which could again ratchet up pressure on civilian leadership.

“The Marines were trying to move into Fallujah, a pretty bloody and destructive battle that was on TV. Political leadership blinked and told the Marine Corps to stand down,” Cancian said. “If we’re ever in this situation where you get these images of destruction and death day after day, that creates a backlash and we’re seeing that in Gaza.”

While military leaders today might plan for such challenges with political leaders, Cancian is skeptical if that will even help.

“I say that because politics is a very short term, immediate game,” Cancian said.

He’s not alone in his thinking.

Retired Army Maj. John Spencer, a leading expert on urban warfare who fought in battles in Iraq in 2003 and the Siege of Sadr City in 2008, co-authored a case study of the battle for the Modern War Institute. The study captures the demands of the fight, which still might differ from what an urban, peer adversary fight would look like today.

A single Marine tank company in Fallujah, for example, fired 1,600 main gun rounds, 121,000 7.62mm machine gun rounds and nearly 50,000 .50-caliber machine gun rounds. Most of their targets were within 200 yards.

One Marine weapons company reported that, on a daily basis, each of its six assault teams used an average of six satchel charges, three cases of Bangalore torpedoes and 10 shoulder-launched weapons.

Over the course of the battle, coalition forces fired more than 4,000 artillery rounds, dropped 318 aerial bombs and fired 391 rockets to support ground troops in the city.

Those munitions figures align with Canadian Army doctrine, which estimates urban operations consume four times the amount of ammunition, according to the case study. The same doctrine shows that such fighting can create three to six times the number of casualties and require nearly three times the amount of water and rations per soldier than operations in other terrain.

Lance Cpl. Chris Lowe was one of the Marines in Fallujah and saw firsthand the effects of those rounds, bombs and rockets.

Lowe, then 20 years old, served as a warehouse clerk but was assigned to a security detail with the 5th Marine Regiment’s bomb technicians. He manned machine guns and automatic grenade launchers as bomb techs blasted Improvised Explosive Devices and other hazards all over the city’s cluttered battlefield.

“You’re bound to come across carnage, particularly in our line of work — it happens,” he told Marine Corps Times.

The post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury that Lowe experienced surfaced after the fight, he said, mostly when he got home.

He struggled over the ensuing years, eventually leaving the Marine Corps in 2016. For more than 14 years Lowe has been working with a case manager at the Semper Fi and America’s Fund, which has provided him neurological fitness training and financial assistance.

Despite his post-war struggles, when Lowe looks back on that harrowing experience, he wants people to know how much the battle meant to those who fought it.

“The time spent there, the blood, sweat and tears and even laughter — because there were a lot of really good times, good camaraderie — those memories are going to last forever,” he said. “The best I can do is live for those who cannot come back.”

Preparing for the next Fallujah

Both Spencer and Cancian told Marine Corps Times that they don’t see much preparation in the Marine Corps or the Army when it comes to facing another Fallujah.

“There was a massive battle in the hospital in the first days,” Spencer said. “The enemy [was set up] in a hospital. But I don’t think you could repeat Fallujah II today, based on social media.”

Since the 2004 battle, both commercial and military technology have advanced. Everything from target-recognition software to commercial drones are now accessible to any nation and non-state actors.

But if a future urban fight arises, the Marines will be without one critical tool — tanks. Former Commandant Gen. David Berger discarded tanks from the Marine Corps inventory in 2021.

In the Modern War Institute case study, authors noted that, in the early days of fighting, an armor-backed task force maneuvered through the city rapidly while dismounted Marines stalled following a breach failure.

Cancian argued that, prior to the Marine Corps Force Design changes, which eliminated tanks, the service should have at least preserved an enhanced battalion of six armor companies.

Berger said at the time that if the Marines need armor in the future, the Army can be relied upon.

But both Cancian and Spencer doubt that pairing the two will be that easy.

For one, Spencer said, integrating infantry and armor requires training. Without regular work between Marine infantry units and Army tankers, there’s not much practice.

Spencer noted that time also plays a factor.

Russia’s early struggles in urban fighting in Ukraine came in part from the brief buildup to the invasion, he said. In Gaza, Hamas fighters had decades to lay their defenses.

“The lesson is, if you give them the time to prepare it’s going to be a lot harder to take the city or do it without destruction,” Spencer said.

It’s unlikely the U.S. will have a first go at an urban battle against an adversary such as Russia or China and be able to reset for five months before launching another operation, he said.

Spencer has long advocated, as a partial solution, for both the Army and Marine Corps to create permanent urban training centers, expert staff, training manuals and better gear.

That wide-reaching resolution may not be as feasible with current military priorities and spending, however. Still, adding urban combat planning into military education and pushing leaders to dedicate a portion of their regular training to that environment are good first steps, he said.

But in 2020, the Marines canceled what was supposed to be a five-year-long experiment on urban technology and tactics in favor of developing new formations for its anticipated naval role in the Pacific.

“The Marine Corps has essentially moved on strategically from an urban fight and counterinsurgency,” Cancian said.

An Army major faces sexual assault-related charges involving at least 20 alleged victims in the Washington D.C. area over a roughly three-year period.

The Army’s Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed to Army Times Thursday that the office preferred three charges that include 76 specifications of sexual assault-related charges on Oct. 16 against Maj. Jonathan J. Batt, who is assigned to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia.

A military preliminary hearing officer recommended Monday that the charges against Batt be referred court-martial, officials said, and the special trial counsel office will make the final call as to whether the charges go forward.

The Army declined to provide Batt’s charge sheet and additional details about the offenses.

Batt faces 14 specifications of rape, 20 specifications of sexual assault, three specifications of abusive sexual contact, 15 specifications of aggravated assault by strangulation, one specification of aggravated assault by suffocation, 22 specifications of assault consummated by a battery and one specification of obstructing justice, Office of Special Trial Counsel spokesperson Michelle McCaskill told Army Times.

The alleged offenses took place between December 2019 and February 2023 in the Washington, D.C. area, McCaskill said.

Army doctor faces charges he sexually abused 41 patients

Batt’s civilian defense attorney, Phil Cave, declined comment Thursday.

“We intend to represent him vigorously and we have no further comment at this time,” Cave said in a statement.

McCaskill referred further questions to CID. Special Agent Mark Lunardi told Army Times that Batt’s “remains an active and ongoing investigation.”

Batt was being detained at a military detention facility in Chesapeake, Virginia, as of Thursday, officials said.

Batt commissioned after attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2007, officials said. As an infantry officer, he deployed to Afghanistan four times and was previously assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 5th Ranger Training Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, 75th Ranger Regiment and 3rd Infantry Regiment.

The major’s awards include two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, 7 Army Achievement Medals and various other awards.

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correction date that a preliminary hearing officer recommended charges against Batt be referred to court martial.

Cmdr. Cayanne McFarlane was ousted from her leadership role due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to command,” according to the service. She has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Information Forces.

McFarlane is the second commanding officer the Navy has fired this week. On Wednesday, the service announced the relief of Capt. Lester Brown, Jr., the commanding officer of Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego.

McFarlane assumed command of Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego in April 2023, and previously served as the executive officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily, according to her official Navy biography.

Navy fires CO of Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego

“The Navy maintains the highest standards for commanding officers and holds them accountable when those standards are not met,” the Navy said in a statement Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cmdr. Dominic DiMaggio, the executive officer of Fleet Weather Center San Diego, is temporarily stepping in to fulfill leadership responsibilities at Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego until a permanent replacement is found.

No other details were immediately provided. The Navy rarely provides any insight into the firing of commanding officers beyond the “loss of confidence” statement.

Naval Information Warfare Training Group San Diego falls under Naval Information Warfare Training Group based out of Virginia.

The Office of Special Trial Counsel, a wing of the military that prosecutes serious crimes, charged Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II on Tuesday with the murder of Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson. She was last seen in her home on Schofield Barracks, the home of the 25th Infantry Division, on July 31.

Johnson, who was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, was also charged with killing Mischa Johnson’s unborn child.

Johnson was initially charged on Aug. 27, with making false official statements, obstruction of justice and the production and distribution of child pornography, but this is the first time he has been charged in the murder of his wife.

Army files charges against soldier husband of missing woman

It is also the first time the Army has acknowledged the likelihood of Mischa Johnson’s death, a spokesperson for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed.

Johnson has been in pretrial confinement since August 19, as he awaits his preliminary hearing, known as an Article 32 hearing, which will determine if there is enough evidence to go forward with the case.

Mischa Johnson’s body has still not been found and the case remains an active investigation. She is 5 feet, 2 inches tall, roughly 170 pounds, six months pregnant and Filipino. She has a large dragon tattoo on her back.

She was known to frequent the Ewa Villages and Waikiki areas, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel asks that anyone with information contact the Army CID Pacific Field Office at (808) 208-0559, or reach out through cid.army.mil/tips.

The chance for a governing trifecta, which would repeat the first two years of Trump’s term, already has some in Congress, the Pentagon and think tanks wondering what it means for the defense budget.

While it’s too early to forecast with confidence, analysts who spoke to Defense News said, the return of a Trump presidency will likely augur a larger defense budget, though less security aid for American partners abroad like Ukraine.

Part of why its so difficult to predict the effects of a second Trump term is that there is less Republican consensus on defense spending, said Mark Cancian, who studies security budgets at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Whereas the right once almost uniformly supported higher military spending, it’s now split into three main camps, he argued.

The first is traditional defense hawks, such as former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who favor a more assertive military and funding to support one. The second is budget hawks, like the House Freedom Caucus, who are most concerned with bloated government spending and would in some cases favor cuts.

And the third is the “America First” wing of the Republican Party, such as Trump’s final acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, who are skeptical that America’s military needs to maintain so many missions around the world, and may also support cuts.

What faction will prevail won’t start to become clear until a future Trump Cabinet is set, Cancian said.

“Until we get some sense of that, we’re just guessing,” he said.

Clear telltales will be the nominees to become secretary of defense and director of the Office of Management and Budget, said Mackenzie Eaglen, an expert on the defense budget at the American Enterprise Institute.

“The first thing that matters is the OMB director,” she said, noting the office’s role in managing government budget requests.

By Eaglen’s count, Trump oversaw a massive hike in defense spending during his first term — some $225 billion higher than projected from the late Obama years. Defense hawks in Congress are counting on a repeat of that trend, and will have more power to force it.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., published a memo earlier this year calling for a $55 billion surge in defense spending. The paper helped increase the Senate Armed Services Committee budget bill, though by less than half that number. With Republicans taking control of the Senate, Wicker will now chair that committee and can push for further increases.

Republican aides in Congress, when asked by Defense News, signaled confidence that a second Trump term would increase the military budget, though cautioning that it’s still too early to predict.

Congress hasn’t passed either of its two main defense bills this fiscal year, instead operating on a short-term spending bill that lasts through December.

While those will in all likelihood pass eventually, now that control of both chamber is becoming clear, the large security aid packages America has been sending to Ukraine are far less certain. The U.S. has committed more than $60 billion in security aid so far during the Biden administration — much of it going to American arms companies — gleaned from additional spending bills passed by Congress.

“Will there be any more supplementals?” Eaglen said, arguing that Taiwan and Israel had better chances of maintaining American aid.

Trump has said his main priority is ending the war with Russia, without committing to an outcome first. If Trump did abruptly end American assistance, it also risks a whiplash for defense firms that have expanded their product lines to meet Ukraine’s needs, Cancian said.

“That’s industry’s great worry,” Cancian said, though he was skeptical the shift would be too abrupt for firms to adjust.

The service announced Monday that the Gettysburg, Chosin, and Cape St. George will now remain in service up until fiscal year 2029, rather than 2026.

These cruisers have received modernization updates including “extensive hull,” mechanical and engineering, and combat system upgrades, according to the Navy. The Gettysburg and Chosin wrapped up these modifications in fiscal years 2023 and 2025, and the Cape. St. George is slated to conclude its modernization this year.

The Navy’s announcement comes as the Navy and Congress have been at odds over how fast cruisers should be phased out of the fleet. The Navy has sought to decommission more cruisers to free up money for new ships and maintenance, while lawmakers have urged to keep them around longer to satisfy capability gaps.

Meanwhile, the service decommissioned three cruisers in recent months: the Leyte Gulf, the Cowpens, and the Antietam.

“As a former cruiser Sailor, I know the incredible value these highly-capable warships bring to the Fleet and I am proud of their many decades of service,” Del Toro said in a statement. “After learning hard lessons from the cruiser modernization program, we are only extending ships that have completed modernization and have the material readiness needed to continue advancing our Navy’s mission.”

The Navy’s continuing cruiser debacle

On Thursday, the Navy revealed it would keep 12 additional destroyers in service longer, from 2028 to 2035. The ships selected underwent a hull-by-hull evaluation, and the Navy is now including a service life extension update to the FY26 budget request to accommodate these modifications.

These efforts to keep more ships in service will “bolster the Fleet as new ships are built,” according to a Navy news release.

“Today’s budget constrained environment requires the Navy to make prioritized investments to keep more ready players on the field,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said in a statement. “The Navy is actively pulling the right levers to maintain and grow its Battle Force Inventory to support the United States’s global interests in peace and to win decisively in conflict.”

Capt. Lester Brown, Jr., was removed from his position due to a “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the Navy said in a statement Wednesday.

Brown took the helm of Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego in 2022, and previously served as the executive and commanding officer of the destroyer McFaul, according to his official Navy biography, which has since been removed.

Brown is now reassigned to Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, while Capt. Richard Zeber from Navy Leadership and Ethics Newport will temporarily fulfill commanding officer duties at Navy Leadership and Ethic Command San Diego.

No additional details were immediately available, and the Navy rarely shares any insight regarding firing commanding officers apart from the “loss of confidence” statement.

Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego is responsible for spearheading training for officers who have yet to take command, as well as training for the Navy’s enlisted leader development program.

Sgt. Jorge A. Lara-Pedroza was arrested by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in California on Oct. 29, and booked into the Santa Clara Jail, according to a Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety press release.

Lara-Pedroza, who’s assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Francisco, met the alleged victim about a week before the assault, police said.

“On October 28, the victim met with the suspect at the recruiting center to learn more about the Marine Corps. During the meeting, the suspect sexually assaulted the victim,” the department said in a statement.

Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Francisco officials said Lara-Pedroza has been relieved of his duties and that the Corps is cooperating with law enforcement.

Lara-Pedroza was booked for oral copulation, penetration with a foreign object, and arranging to meet with a minor with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, according to the release.

Originally from Virginia, he enlisted in 2016, and is an aircraft avionics technician.

Officials confirmed Wednesday that Lara-Pedroza remained in custody, and he had an arraignment on Tuesday, but online court records do not indicate how he pleaded.

The incident remains under investigation and anyone with further information is asked to call 408-730-7110.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino also ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office. He was also ordered to forfeit $35 million in “ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes,” the statement said.

Prosecutors said the sentence results from Leonard's first guilty plea in 2015 concerning bribery and fraud, his extensive cooperation with the government since then, and another guilty plea Tuesday for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022.

Shortly before he was due to be sentenced in September 2022, Leonard cut off a GPS monitor he was wearing while under house arrest and fled the country. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the U.S. in December 2023.

Sammartino sentenced him to more than 13 1/2 years for the bribery and fraud charges plus 16 months for failing to appear, to be served consecutively.

“Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces," U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in Tuesday’s statement. ”The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.”

How did Fat Leonard attend this former CNO’s change of command? He was on the VIP list

Prosecutors said Francis’ actions led to one of the biggest bribery investigations in U.S. military history, which resulted in the conviction and sentencing of nearly two dozen Navy officials, defense contractors and others on various fraud and corruption charges.

An enigmatic figure who was 6-foot-3 and weighed 350 pounds at one time, Francis owned and operated his family’s ship servicing business, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, which supplied food, water and fuel to vessels. The Malaysian defense contractor was a key contact for U.S. Navy ships at ports across Asia for more than two decades. During that time, Francis wooed naval officers with Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets and wild sex parties at luxury hotels from Thailand to the Philippines.

In exchange, officers, including the first active-duty admiral to be convicted of a federal crime, concealed the scheme in which Francis would overcharge for supplying ships or charge for fake services at ports he controlled in Southeast Asia. The officers passed him classified information and even went so far as redirecting military vessels to ports that were lucrative for his Singapore-based ship servicing company.

In a federal sting, Francis was lured to San Diego on false pretenses and arrested at a hotel in September 2013. He pleaded guilty in 2015, admitting that he had offered more than $500,000 in cash bribes to Navy officials, defense contractors and others. Prosecutors say he bilked the Navy out of at least $35 million. As part of his plea deal, he cooperated with the investigation leading to the Navy convictions. He faced up to 25 years in prison.

While awaiting sentencing, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal cancer and other medical issues. After leaving the hospital, he was allowed to stay out of jail at a rental home, on house arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and security guards.

But three weeks before his scheduled sentencing in September 2022, he snipped off his monitor and made a brazen escape, setting off an international search. Officials said he fled to Mexico, made his way to Cuba and eventually got to Venezuela.

He was arrested more than two weeks after his disappearance — caught before he boarded a flight at the Simon Bolivar International Airport outside Caracas. Venezuelan officials said he intended to reach Russia.

‘Fat Leonard’ wrongdoing not a definite career killer for Navy officers

The cases were handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in an effort to be independent of the military justice system. But they have came under scrutiny.

The felony convictions of four former Navy officers were vacated following allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Sammartino agreed to allow them to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a $100 fine each.

Last year, Sammartino ruled that the lead federal prosecutor in the officers’ case committed “flagrant misconduct” by withholding information from defense lawyers, but that it was not enough to dismiss the case.

A spokesperson with 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, confirmed the Oct. 31 death of Sgt. Quandarius Stanley from his injuries.

Stanley was critically injured in May when high winds and heavy seas damaged the pier, causing four Army vessels to become beached, The Associated Press reported. Two other service members also were injured but later returned to duty.

Three U.S. troops on Gaza pier mission sustain non-combat injuries

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sgt. Quandarius Davon Stanley,” Capt. Shkeila Milford-Glover, command spokesperson told Army Times in an email statement today.

The two other soldiers sustained minor injuries. Stanley was treated at an Israeli hospital before being moved to Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, in June.

Officials did not share details of the injuries that Stanley succumbed to last week.

“Sgt. Quandarius Stanley was an instrumental and well respected first line leader in the 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary, especially during the mission to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza,” said Col. John “Eddie” Gray, brigade commander. “We will continue to provide support to his family during this difficult time. Our entire unit mourns alongside his family.”

The transportation brigade is out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

The massive pier project was hampered by unexpected bad weather and security issues, as well as persistent safety issues involving Israeli forces that prompted aid agencies to halt distribution of the supplies out of fear of being injured and killed.

The Defense Department formally pulled the pier from the Gaza shore on June 28 and declared an end in mid-July to the mission to bring aid into the territory besieged by the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Gaza floating pier operated for nearly three weeks delivering 19.4 million pounds of aid to residents, according to Pentagon officials.

Stanley served in the Army from July 2020 until he was medically retired due to his injuries Oct. 25, officials confirmed.

The sergeant’s awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Driver and Mechanic Badge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Heeding warnings from the Department of Homeland Security about threats of violence during the week of the presidential election, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo activated National Guard members to support local and state law enforcement. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek hasn’t activated her state’s National Guard, but her office said Monday that Guardsmen are “trained and ready” in case they’re needed.

In a joint bulletin, DHS and the FBI warned of potential violence from domestic extremists who believe claims of election fraud or harbor anger toward perceived political adversaries. The agencies wrote that extremists would likely target voting locations, ballot drop-boxes, voter registration locations, political rallies, campaign events and the offices of political parties.

In the lead-up to the election, some of those warnings have become realities. An Arizona man was accused of shooting at a Democratic National Committee office last week near Phoenix. Also last week, ballot boxes in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, were set on fire, and hundreds of ballots were destroyed.

In response to the ballot-box fire in his state, Inslee sent a letter Friday to Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general of the Washington Military Department, activating the National Guard to standby status. The activation will expire just after midnight Friday.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned that threats to election infrastructure during the 2024 election cycle remains high. The southwest region of Washington state has already experienced specific instances of election-related unrest,” Inslee wrote. “I am directing the Washington National Guard to prepare to provide critical public safety support by activating necessary Washington National Guard personnel in a standby status.”

Conspiracies, calls for violence spike online ahead of Election Day

Inslee wrote that the Guardsmen could support local law enforcement and the Washington State Patrol to “protect vital infrastructure related to carrying out free and fair elections and to respond to any unrest related to the 2024 general election.”

In Nevada, one of seven key swing states, Lombardo said he would activate 60 members of the National Guard in Carson City and Las Vegas to standby status on Election Day. If called upon, they’ll help with tasks like traffic enforcement, building security and communications, the governor’s office said in a statement last week.

“After consulting with stakeholders across the state, I have decided that a precautionary activation of the National Guard makes sense at this time. We do not expect that these personnel will need to be deployed,” Lombardo said.

The Oregon governor’s office will monitor instances of voter intimidation or election interference and coordinate with local, state and federal agencies “to ensure Oregon voters can safely cast their ballot,” Kotek’s office said in an email. While the Oregon National Guard hasn’t been activated, it could be called upon to support law enforcement “if they reach their capacity,” the office said.

William Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who wrote a book about the domestic role of the U.S. military, described the governors’ actions as reasonable.

“The precautionary measures by governors — activating or placing on alert members of their state National Guard — are reasonable in the same way that similar call-ups would precede a major storm that threatens a state,” Banks said. “The governors would order the Guard personnel to quell any violent disturbances, but not to interfere in any way with voting or counting. In some circumstances monitoring that line up to election interference can be challenging, but that’s the task presented.”

Veterans urge Americans against political violence ahead of election

Increased threats of violence against poll workers, in addition to false conspiracies about election fraud, prompted some election officials to increase security at the polls in preparation for Tuesday. Some municipalities have implemented safeguards like panic buttons and bulletproof glass, The Associated Press reported.

The Justice Department established a special hotline for people to report harassment or other types of voting interference. The hotline — 888-636-6596 — became available Saturday and will remain open until Nov. 8. And the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections created a public service announcement, in which local election officials and retired military officers urged Americans to not interfere with the voting process or engage in political violence.

Despite the concerns, extremism experts are predicting any election-related violence would likely occur after Election Day, rather than while voting is taking place.

“Don’t let fear and intimidation keep you from exercising your right,” said Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. “People need to be prepared and cautious, but not afraid.”

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.

The Army Cadet Command, which oversees both JROTC and ROTC, has spent recent years promoting JROTC across the nation through new technical skills training and various events.

Those new skills, large public events and a push by Congress to expand the program in the coming years are all measures to modernize JROTC and expose more of the population to bolster military recruiting while also bridging the civilian-military divide.

Junior ROTC has mixed impact on student outcomes, new study shows

One such event, the Raider Challenge, took place in late October. Held for the second time at Fort Knox, Kentucky, home of Army Cadet Command, the challenge includes various physical fitness and leadership events such as a 5-kilometer run, rope bridge assembly and a 3-mile buddy team obstacle course.

More than 4,000 cadets from across the country arrived at the post to compete in a series of events.

The annual event was previously held in Molena, Georgia, where approximately 3,000 cadets participated in the final event there, officials said.

The Fort Knox site gives cadets a chance to see an actual military installation and meet soldiers in units serving now, Ian Ives, Army Cadet Command spokesman, told Army Times.

One cadet who spoke with Army Times recently attended the Raider Challenge at both locations, having participated in the event all four years of his high school career.

“I have met some people who don’t understand the purpose. They think it’s more an Army thing,” said Cadet Maj. Jeremiah Purvis, a senior at Kansas’ Leavenworth High School. “It’s really about helping cadets be better leaders in the community.”

Purvis is the last of four brothers in his household to participate in JROTC. His father is an Army veteran, and his oldest brother is an Army second lieutenant.

Established in 1917, the Leavenworth program is one of the nation’s oldest JROTC programs. This year the school took home top place in both the male and female division team competitions.

Julie Howell, the mother of Cadet 1st Lt. Elisabeth Howell, participated in JROTC when she was in high school. At the time, the program didn’t have the more modern tech skill classes and clubs of today’s JROTC programs.

Those types of classes and clubs help draw in students who might not have considered JROTC and allow them to learn more about the program from fellow cadets, Howell said.

“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for these kids to evolve into who they are,” Howell said.

Flashy ads, posters or social media campaigns might be what’s needed to grab the attention of the prospective young recruits the Army wants to reach, but for JROTC, another cadet might be best.

Cadet Kaitlyn Spaulding, a freshman at Leavenworth, met Elisabeth Howell at a local swimming pool and learned that Howell had been on the school’s female JROTC national championship team.

That inspired her to give JROTC a shot, she told Army Times.

“I remember seeing their uniforms and thinking ‘I want to wear those uniforms, too,’” Spaulding said. “I want to be in the program.”

She’s set her sights on attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

In the fiscal 2021 defense budget, Congress called for doubling the number of JROTC sites across the military branches by 2031.

Military representatives, experts and several studies have shown that the presence of a JROTC program at a school improves civilian-military cooperation, can influence students at the school to join the military and results in higher graduation rates, more successful enlistments for those who do join after high school.

Army JROTC currently has 1,744 programs with an estimated 280,000 cadets, Ives told Army Times. That’s an increase from a decade ago when there were 1,709 programs with 246,500 cadets.

Doubling the number of programs over the next six years would bring that figure to 3,488 for the Army alone.

A significant increase in the number of Army JROTC programs isn’t unprecedented, though past growth has occurred over a longer timeline. The Army tripled its JROTC programs between 1992 and 2022, according to a RAND report released in September.

The Army ordered the report to study expanding the geographic footprint of the Army’s JROTC programs across the country.

Researchers found that the Army programs were overrepresented in the Southeast region of the United States and underrepresented in the Northwest, Midwest and in rural areas in all regions.

About 6% of public high schools had an Army JROTC program overall. That ranged from 12% of high schools across the South to 3% of high schools in the Northeast and West and only 2% of high schools in the Midwest, according to the report.

RAND personnel conducted a simulation in which they replaced the 60 lowest performing schools with Army JROTC programs with 60 innovative programs in underserved areas. They found no meaningful change in participation.

But should the Army add another 1,000 JROTC programs, the service would see a noticeable increase in its geographic diversity, according to the report.

The report authors recommended the Army continue highlighting its novel JROTC programs such as the Cyber Program. Army Cadet Command has increased its clubs and offerings in technology including cybersecurity, drone and 3D printing in recent years, Ives said.

The RAND report identified prospects by state and by prioritized cities and regions in rank order based on their sustainability. The federal law that governs JROTC programs defines a program as sustainable if it has at least 100 participants or at least 10% of the student body.

The service failed to meet its accession targets for the first time ever in FY23, amid recruitment challenges military leaders blamed on a variety of factors, from more thorough medical screenings for applicants, fewer Americans eligible to serve and low civilian unemployment.

The Navy’s FY25 accessions target, the same as last year’s goal, comes as the service announced it brought in a total of 40,978 new recruits in FY24. The service attributes its success last year to “data-driven decision-making,” cutting down the time to process medical waivers and “expanding opportunities.”

Inside the Navy’s quest to fix its recruiting crisis

Among these changes are installing a two-star admiral to head recruiting stations and centers, adjusting recruiting goals from monthly to annual, and creating a Recruiting Operations Center in October 2023 to address recruitment issues and streamline the entire recruiting process.

“We are building on the foundation of success from FY24 while tackling new challenges head-on,” Rear Adm. James Waters, Commander of Navy Recruiting Command, said in a statement. “With the strategies we’ve implemented, the talent we have in place, and the support from leadership, I’m confident that we’ll meet our goals and continue to bring in the best and brightest to serve our nation.”

Likewise, the Navy has incorporated multiple reforms in recent years to address recruiting challenges. For example, the service started allowing those without a high school diploma or General Educational Development credential to enlist this year, if they score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.

The Navy also started a pilot program in December 2022 allowing sailors who scored lower on the Armed Forces Qualification Test to still enlist in the Navy. The shift meant potential sailors who scored between the 10th and 30th percentile on the AFQT were eligible to join if their ASVAB individual line scores qualified for a Navy rating.

“You’ve got transitioning vets and spouses that are in Stuttgart, Germany, or Okinawa, Japan, or any other place where the government puts them for their military time, and they’ll transition from overseas and come back home to what?” said Tom Downs, director of diversity talent acquisition and talent pipeline programs at Booz Allen Hamilton.

“So, post pandemic, we still have a robust virtual program, so we can talk to every veteran, every spouse across the U.S. or the globe for that matter. … We can’t hire every one of them, but we can make sure to at least have a conversation with them.”

Best For Vets 2024 Employers

That focus on attracting military talent is no small matter for the technology firm: About one-third of its annual hires are veterans, reservists or military dependents. Downs said the company has five recruiters dedicated solely to military recruitment, a reflection of the importance the population carries for the company.

The aggressive hiring strategy — and a host of other military-centric employee programs — earned Booz Allen Hamilton the top spot on the 2024 Military Times Best for Vets Employers rankings.

The company has been a regular among the top names in the annual Best for Vets list in past years, in large part because of its commitment to including veterans as core workers.

The survey weighs how organizations recruit, mentor and retain veterans and their family members. Hilary Niles, survey coordinator for the Best for Vets list, said the rankings don’t just echo companies’ raw staffing numbers, but also include factors such as “support programs, accommodations for military connected employees with disabilities, and opportunities for spouses and caregivers.”

This year’s list includes 238 employers spread across 44 states, with 62 firms making their debut in the rankings.

It includes 33 defense contracting firms — traditionally seen as military-friendly and military-heavy companies — but also companies in fields less associated with hiring veterans, like health care, hospitality, energy and banking.

The top 10 includes representatives from nine different industries, with only pharmaceutical employers appearing twice (Johnson & Johnson at #2, and Bristol Myers Squibb at #6).

Employee feedback

Comcast NBCUniversal, the #3 company on the Best For Vets list, earned its spot not just because of its veterans hiring patterns but also because of consistent communication with those employees throughout their careers.

Several years ago, when veterans working there pitched the idea of a discount for military families on their cable services, officials at the company fast-tracked the proposal and sent notices to military bases.

When another veteran at the media firm replaced a tattered American flag visible in his neighborhood with his own money, officials set aside thousands more to replace any aging flags that employees see in the community.

“We want to serve military customers, but we can’t do that authentically if we don’t have military-connected employees in our own workforce who can advise and guide us,” said Mona Dexter, vice president of military and veteran affairs at the company. “And seeing that response encourages our employees.”

The flag program — dubbed Operation Old Glory — is less about directly helping veterans at the company and more about finding ways to link their patriotism and service to their post-military lives.

“It’s that continued sense of service and connection to the symbol that represents the country,” she said. “And it’s a bit of education — not just for our employees, but for community members, too.”

Most companies near the top of the rankings boast relationships with local veterans groups and military advocacy organizations to emphasize that community connection.

One of Booz Allen Hamilton’s most successful partnerships is with the Defense Department, through their Skillbridge Program for transitioning troops.

The initiative allows service members — and now, some military spouses — an opportunity for professional internships and apprenticeships at private-sector firms during their final six months in service. The goal is to give transitioning service members a chance to better understand the private sector and showcase their skills, with an eye towards a post-military career.

Downs said Booz Allen Hamilton’s involvement in the program has grown from around 20 participants five years ago to more than 150 this year. More than 90% of individuals enrolled in Skillbridge partnerships have gone on to land jobs at the company after completion.

“That’s really the crown jewel right now,” he said. “If other companies aren’t engaging with that, I don’t know why not.”

Community connections

Downs noted that veterans also contribute to the overall diversity of Booz Allen Hamilton’s workforce by bringing their own unique experiences to the company. The firm boasts 11 different “employee communities” to highlight the backgrounds of various groups, including one for military-connected individuals.

“They each have their own networking events, their own development programs,” he said. “And you can be a member in as many of the groups as you want. They do happy hours, they do fun runs. That’s the kind of stuff that keeps people here, feeling connected to the community.”

It’s also another tool for recruiting. Downs said when military-related recruits start with the company, they’ve typically already communicated with other veterans at the firm, learning about available support networks and mentoring opportunities.

Nearly two-thirds of the companies on this year’s Best For Vets list said they have an active employee group focused on veterans or related community members, helping to sustain a military-friendly atmosphere at work.

About the same percentage said they have military-specific mentorship programs available to eligible employees.

Dexter said officials at Comcast NBCUniversal have noticed their employee support groups increasingly working together on charity and networking projects, bringing their specific communities together in ways that build more camaraderie.

“Nobody in the veteran employee resource group identifies only as a veteran,” she said. “Everybody can identify with multiple other communities, too. ... So, by bringing the various groups together, it just shows how there really is just a place for everyone, and everybody belongs.”

“Going Dutch” will premiere on Fox in January and will follow brash U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Quinn, who is reassigned to the Netherlands after an inappropriate outburst, Deadline first reported.

Described in a teaser trailer as the least important military base in the world, the destination is unlike anything Quinn is used to, having served for three decades in the highest echelon of the military community.

Denis Leary's Brand New Series Premieres This January | Going Dutch

It’s more of a lavish hotel than anything else, boasting a Michel Star-level commissary, bowling alley, scented laundry, and the only fromagerie in the Army, according to Deadline.

The colonel finds himself brushing shoulders with new types of service members who aren’t necessarily the cream of the military crop.

For instance, in the trailer, a soldier accidentally runs into a window paned door and shatters the glass.

Not exactly West Point material.

Throughout the show, he tries to reform the military outcasts by instilling professionalism in them and the base.

Danny Pudi, known for his work on Fox’s “Community,” will also star in the show as Maj. Abraham Shah, the colonel’s executive officer.

Leary rose to prominence as a stand-up comedian in the 90s, and found work as an actor after, most notably starring in FX’s “Rescue Me.” He was a co-creator of the show, which followed an alcoholic firefighter battling his demons after 9/11 and was nominated for several Emmys.

The remains of Lt. Serena Wileman, a California native, were due to return Monday, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station said. Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans’ remains will return later during the week in a private affair in accordance with her family’s wishes.

The two died when their EA-18G Growler jet from the Electronic Attack Squadron, known as “Zappers,” crashed east of Mount Rainier on Oct. 15.

Navy IDs two aviators who died in EA-18G Growler crash last week

The crash occurred at about 6,000 feet in a remote, steep and heavily wooded area. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Evans, a naval flight officer from Palmdale, California, made history as part of a team of female pilots who conducted the first-ever all-female flyover of Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, to celebrate 50 years of women flying in the Navy.

The first female candidates entered the U.S. Navy flight school in 1973.

Wileman, a naval aviator, was commissioned in 2018 and joined the Zapper squadron on Washington state’s Whidbey Island in 2021. She earned the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon.

The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. forces and allies, according to Boeing, its manufacturer. The first Growler was delivered to Whidbey Island in 2008.

Austin ordered several B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, a squadron of fighter jets, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers to deploy to the Middle East, said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, in a statement. He said they will begin arriving in the region in the coming months, as the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln begins to head home.

The military moves come as Israel’s wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon rage, including a retaliatory strike on Iran a week ago that likely damaged a base that builds ballistic missiles and launches rockets as part of Tehran’s space program.

The U.S. is pressing for cease-fires, while repeatedly saying it will defend Israel and continue to protect the American and allied presence in the region, including from Yemen-based Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea.

Austin's latest order, said Ryder, shows the “U.S. capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats.” He said Austin “continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people.”

The long-range nuclear-capable B-52 bomber has been repeatedly deployed to the Middle East in pointed warnings to Iran and it is the second time this month that strategic U.S. bombers will be used to bolster U.S. defenses in the region.

In October, B-2 stealth bombers were used to strike underground Houthi targets in Yemen.

Ryder did not provide the specific number of aircraft and ships that will move into the region. The shifts are likely to result in an overall decrease in the total number of U.S. troops in the Middle East, largely because an aircraft carrier contains as many as 5,000 sailors.

But the addition of bomber aircraft beefs up U.S. combat strength. There have been as many as 43,000 U.S. forces in the region recently.

According to U.S. officials, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and the three Navy destroyers in its strike group are scheduled to leave the Middle East by mid-month and return to their home port in San Diego.

When it departs, there will be no aircraft carrier in the Middle East for a period of time, officials said. They declined to say how long that gap would last.

Military commanders have long argued that the presence of an aircraft carrier strike group, with its array of fighters jets, surveillance aircraft and heavily armed warships, is a significant deterrent, including against Iran.

To make up for that gap, Austin is ordering the deployment of other Navy destroyers to the region. Those destroyers, which are capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, would come either from the Indo-Pacific region or Europe, the official said.

Eventually, it is expected that the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman and its three warships will move to the Mediterranean Sea, but they won’t get there before the Lincoln departs. The Truman strike group has been in the North Sea, participating in a NATO military exercise.

The Lincoln and two of its destroyers are now in the Gulf of Oman, and its third destroyer is with two other warships in the Red Sea.

There are also two destroyers and the Marine amphibious ready group — which includes three ships — in the Mediterranean Sea.

Cmdr. Jeromy Pittmann, a 53-year-old civil engineer corps officer who deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015 with NATO Special Operations Command, accepted thousands of dollars for drafting, submitting and falsely verifying phony letters of recommendation for Afghan nationals pursuing a Special Immigrant Visa, according to the Justice Department.

Afghans who worked with U.S. troops and diplomats as translators are eligible for a limited number of Special Immigrant Visas from the State Department each year, allowing them to live in the U.S.

Pittmann personally signed off on more than 20 letters in which he vouched for Afghan national visa applicants, claiming they had served as interpreters for U.S. military and NATO troops, the release said. Additionally, Pittmann said these applicants were not a national security threat to the U.S., and that their lives were endangered by the Taliban.

Navy officer convicted in Afghan visa bribery scheme

But the Justice Department said Pittmann accepted thousands of dollars in bribes and had no basis for recommending the applicants.

Pittmann, who first appeared in a federal court in March 2022 on charges of accepting bribes and conspiring to commit visa fraud, coordinated with a co-conspirator in Kabul dating back to 2018, according to court documents. The two met during Pittmann’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015, the records indicated.

Pittmann received the money through a Bank of America account in Hayward, California, which then went to an account with USAA in Pensacola, Florida, disguised under a transaction called “family support,” according to court documents.

“I got it today. Thank you and thank your friend for sending it,” Pittmann said in an email after receiving a payment in 2018, according to court documents. “I just wish the money would keep coming. Ha. Maybe one day we will get a business started. It would be nice to pay off my debts.”

Pittmann commissioned in 2003 and is a civil engineer corps officer, according to service records obtained by Navy Times.

A federal jury convicted Pittmann in July of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, making a materially false writing, and conspiring to commit money laundering. He was facing up to 45 years behind bars prior to his sentencing Monday.

“By protecting Afghan nationals who risk their personal safety to help the U.S. government, the SIV program is essential for the security of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said in a statement.

“Jeromy Pittmann, however, used his position of authority over the program to benefit foreign nationals who paid him bribes, falsely asserting that they had served the United States,” Argentieri said. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who place their self-interest ahead of our national security.”

“The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is aware of an alleged incident and is currently looking into it,” CID spokesman Mark Lunardi told Military Times in an email statement today. “No additional information is available at this time.”

The alleged incident, first reported by Military.com on Thursday, indicates that Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, shoved an airman during a C-17 Globemaster III flight. The alleged physical altercation occurred after Kurilla had a heated argument with the flight crew over problems accessing communications.

An NBC News article quoted unnamed defense officials who described the alleged incident, which occurred “several weeks ago.”

Senate confirms Kurilla as new CENTCOM commander

The general got frustrated with communication problems and left his seat to address the problems, according to NBC News.

After an airman asked Kurilla to sit down and buckle up for safety reasons, the general allegedly pushed the airman aside and lashed out in front of multiple witnesses.

When reached for comment Friday, a CENTCOM spokesperson told Military Times that they were not aware of the investigation nor the incident.

Kurilla has headed CENTCOM since April 2022. The position is a three-year term, which means he is likely to leave the post in April 2025.

He previously served as the commanding general for the 18th Airborne Corps. His prior commands also include the 75th Ranger Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division, according to his official biography.

Kurilla’s awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman Badge with Star, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Device, Ranger Tab and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.

The free Wi-Fi initiative was announced in September as part of a broader DOD initiative to improve troops’ quality of life, with the department instructing services to begin testing out ways to implement it.

“One of the questions that I ask our soldiers, our airmen, our Marines, our guardians, whoever, in those barracks is, if you could have 10 more square feet in your barracks room or free Wi-Fi, what would it be?” Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment, said in the release.

For service members, Owens said, the answer was easy: Wi-Fi.

But the need for internet went beyond the simple pleasures of accessing entertainment.

Owens had observed how internet services were already being utilized by enlisted service members living in unaccompanied housing, pointing to troops relying on internet to access mental health services and connect with families and friends while they’re in remote locations.

Top enlisted leader talks pay, priorities and 1980s fashion

However, not everyone had the ability to access these services, as military personnel, especially those that work in combat arms and equipment maintenance fields, aren’t equipped with a computer and Wi-Fi as part of their job, the release said.

That’s something that Owens and the Defense Department want to change.

“From my perspective, and I think that this is certainly something that’s supported down in other parts of the [Pentagon], certainly, [these are] mission essential requirements,” Owens said.

Wi-Fi will help service members access email, banking, entertainment, online training, telehealth appointments, Military OneSource and military and family life counselors, the release said.

“We got a lot more work to do on making sure that we are capable of providing the Wi-Fi services that are necessary to fully support what our service members need,” Owens said.

The claims, filed Wednesday, come more than a month after 13 former cadets filed similar federal complaints seeking $10 million apiece in damages.

How a Coast Guard email erupted into a reckoning of sexual assault

Many of the latest unnamed plaintiffs contacted lawyers in the case after reading news accounts of the initial batch of administrative complaints filed against the Coast Guard; its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security; and its former parent agency, the Department of Transportation, attorney Christine Dunn said.

“I am certain that these 22 are just the tip of the iceberg. I know that sexual assault has been taking place for decades at the Coast Guard Academy and that there are many survivors out there,” she said. The 22 include 20 women and two men.

Dunn said she hopes and expects more former cadets who have been assaulted will come forward.

“I want a whole army of survivors,” she said. “I think that the more people you have, the harder it is to ignore us.”

The complaints stem from incidents dating back to the 1980s and as recent as 2017. Several detail how the former cadets were assaulted in their dorm rooms by classmates who were able to gain entry because academy policy prevented cadets from locking their doors. One former cadet described going to bed at night in a sleeping bag cinched tightly around her neck because she was so fearful of being sexually assaulted in her sleep.

“The Coast Guard negligently created, condoned, and actively concealed the rampant nature of sexual harassment and assault at the Academy, knowingly placing me and other cadets in danger,” wrote one of the nine new plaintiffs.

“What happened to me was the entirely preventable result of the negligent actions,” wrote the woman, who said she was sexually assaulted twice during her time at the academy — once by a classman and once by an officer. She was diagnosed years later with depression and PTSD related to Military Sexual Trauma, or MST, and now receives partial disability payments.

The experience at the academy, she said, “ruined” her career and “negatively impacted” many relationships she has had over the years.

A message was left seeking comment with the Coast Guard. In a statement released in September, officials said the service was barred by federal law from discussing the complaints and noted it is “devoting significant resources to improving prevention, victim support, and accountability. ”

The complaints follow revelations the Coast Guard kept secret a probe, called Operation Fouled Anchor, into sexual assault and harassment on campus. The investigation found that dozens of cases involving cadets from 1990 to 2006 had been mishandled by the school, including the prevention of some perpetrators from being prosecuted.

The revelations, first reported by CNN, sparked calls for major reforms and long-awaited accountability for offenders and those who protected them. There are multiple government and congressional investigations underway looking into the mishandling of serious misbehavior at the school and beyond.

Coast Guard officials have previously said they are taking action to change and improve the culture at the academy and in the service in response to the allegations raised in the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation.

Wednesday’s filing marks the first in a multistep process of attempting to sue the federal government. After an administrative complaint is submitted, the agency that allegedly harmed the plaintiff gets six months or longer to investigate the claim. The agency can then settle or deny the claim. If a claim is denied, the plaintiff can then file a federal lawsuit, Dunn said.

Dixie Denise Villa was arrested July 20, 2019, in connection with the death of Abigail Lobisch, who was found dead on Feb. 24, 2019, at Villa’s house at Aliamanu Military Reservation in Hawaii.

Villa pleaded not guilty in August 2019.

The trial has been postponed at least 13 times, according to court documents.

“It has been a painful, long and exhausting wait,” Anna Lobisch, Abigail’s mother, told Military Times. “But we are ready to finally move forward and hopefully get justice for Abi.”

Abigail’s father, James Lobisch, is a member of the Army National Guard.

An overdose of antihistamine was the cause of Abigail Lobisch’s death, according to court documents.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the medical examiner’s report determined that the baby’s blood tested positive for diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl and other similar medications, at a level of 2,400 nanograms per milliliter. That’s nearly twice the 1,400 nanograms per milliliter concentration that is the average reported in infant fatal overdoses, according to the affidavit.

In September 2019, in the wake of the baby’s death, the Defense Department’s personnel chief called for officials to investigate reports of unauthorized daycare operations on installations. James Stewart, then-acting under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said officials should take appropriate steps to shut down these unauthorized operations.

To operate a family day care home on a military installation, providers must be authorized and go through a process of vetting and training and meet requirements related to safety inspections, curriculum, nutrition and a variety of other regulations.

Because of Abigail Lobisch’s death, Army Hawaii launched an investigation into unauthorized child care on its bases. Investigators found a disjointed system of different agencies’ response to the reports of alleged violations and a lack of clear procedures for dealing with the violations, according to an investigation report obtained by Military Times through a Freedom of Information Act request.

A number of factors contributed to the prevalence of unauthorized child care providers, the report said, including the lack of available child care. More than 500 Army children were on wait lists for child care in Hawaii in 2018.

A friend of the family has started a GoFundMe to help Anna pay for expenses through the trial.

America’s election infrastructure is safe and secure, and voters should feel confident in the process, said Suzanne Spaulding, a former undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security who now works with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

However, some foreign actors are trying to persuade voters to view the process as too corrupt to participate in, and these same actors will likely try to convince Americans after Election Day that the results were illegitimate, she said.

“In 2016, our assessment was that it would be extremely hard, virtually impossible, for an adversary to change votes or tallies in order to change the outcome of a national election,” said Spaulding, who was working with DHS that year. “I think that is only more true today. We’ve gotten better at shoring up the cybersecurity of election infrastructure.”

Spaulding spoke Thursday on a panel hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a research group focusing on foreign policy and national security. Earlier this month, the group flagged an Iranian-linked website that was attempting to stir up antidemocratic sentiments among veteran voters.

Iran-linked website targets vets with disinformation, think tank warns

Disinformation experts have been warning for months that malign actors, both foreign and domestic, would attempt to weaken the democratic process this election year. Spaulding and other experts who spoke Thursday said the efforts would likely result in some voters not believing the outcome of the election next week.

“The elections are going to be secure, but we are going to have a meltdown on Nov. 7 or 8 — no matter what happens — because of people’s perceptions of what happened,” said Mark Montgomery, who works with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Russia, China and Iran are targeting Americans in order to paint a negative picture of democracy and eventually sideline the U.S. military, added Bradley Bowman, an Army veteran who focuses on U.S. defense policy for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Part of their strategy is to encourage isolationist beliefs among the U.S. population and encourage citizens to oppose intervention in overseas conflicts, he said.

“They want us so weak, divided and distracted that we question ourselves and don’t have the time or the will to go and defend our interests abroad,” Bowman said. “Divide us at home, degrade our democracy in our own minds and the minds of others, and then deceive us into believing falsely we have no core interests to defend in places like Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel. Then, they don’t need to worry about our military.”

In order to combat the foreign influence campaigns, Montgomery suggested Congress provide more funding to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a component of DHS that works to protect the country from cyber threats, as well as the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, which exposes and defends against foreign propaganda and disinformation.

Government leaders should also pay more attention to information from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he said.

Spaulding said the U.S. population should work to become more resilient against disinformation, in part by improving civics education in American schools. Kids should learn the fundamentals of American democracy and the role individuals play to preserve it, she said.

“The target is every single American. Americans should not take that lightly,” Spaulding said. “They should be demanding [that] policymakers ... have a vigorous response to counter this activity.”

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.

Then-Sgt. Maj. Charlie Clawson was charged and sentenced for wearing nine unauthorized decorations, ribbons, devices or insignia between January 2019 and October 2023, according to charge sheets obtained by Marine Corps Times.

Included in the awards and decorations Clawson deceptively sported on his uniform were the Purple Heart, awarded to those killed or wounded during military service; the Combat Action Ribbon, distributed to sailors or Marines who actively participated in ground or surface combat; and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, authorized for those who contributed to meritorious achievement for joint activities, the charge sheets said.

Marine veteran charged in subway chokehold death set to stand trial

Clawson also wore the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with a silver and bronze device to denote seven awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia, the charge sheets said.

For each of these awards, Clawson also faced a charge for violating Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a general article that covers misconduct, such as indecent acts, fraternization and bigamy.

Likewise, Clawson was also charged with making a false official statement after reportedly sharing a bogus doctoral degree and transcript from Liberty University with Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs in May 2019.

The statement was “totally false, and was then known by the said Sergeant Major Clawson to be so false,” the charge sheet said.

Maj. Hector Infante, a spokesman with Marine Corps Training and Education Command at Quantico, confirmed to Marine Corps Times that a court-martial sentenced Clawson on Sept. 13 on all charges brought against him.

Military.com first reported Clawson’s reduction in rank.

Clawson, from Virginia, first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996 and went on to serve as a motor vehicle operator in the service, according to his service records.

The service records show Clawson is assigned to the Headquarters Battalion at Training and Education Command in Quantico. Infante confirmed to Marine Corps Times he is currently administratively assigned to the command.

Among the awards and decorations Clawson did receive are one Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, distributed to personnel who supported counterterrorism operations post 9/11; and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, authorized for sailors and Marines who conducted an at-sea deployment.

Col. Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo, 49, confirmed to Marine Corps Times he was the pilot who ejected from the F-35B over Charleston, South Carolina, on Sept. 17, 2023, and parachuted into a resident’s backyard. And in a written statement, Del Pizzo said Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith ordered him to be fired from command of Marine Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 after reviewing the report on the crash investigation.

The investigation report, which the Marine Corps released Thursday, found Del Pizzo’s F-35B malfunctioned and its primary displays and communications cut out as Del Pizzo was attempting to land through rain at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. However, the report said its standby flight display and backup communication system “remained basically functional.”

Despite the investigation finding Del Pizzo followed the proper procedures and was not derelict in his duties, investigators concluded Del Pizzo could have continued flying the jet and his decision to eject was a mistake.

The investigation concluded that the mishap resulted from pilot error, and said Del Pizzo “incorrectly diagnosed an [out-of-controlled flight] emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft — albeit under extremely challenging cognitive and flight conditions,” the report said.

The report said Del Pizzo followed the F-35B manual’s recommendations for ejecting from an out-of-control jet but also criticized the manual’s definition of out-of-control as too broad.

Investigators cleared Del Pizzo and all others involved of dereliction of duty. Del Pizzo was qualified and prepared for the flight, the report said, and carried it out by the book. The electrical malfunction was also not caused by lax maintenance, the report said.

Del Pizzo assumed command of the Yuma, Arizona-based squadron, also known as VMX-1, on June 21 — months after the report was completed in January.

On Oct. 2, a little more than three months later, Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, deputy commandant for aviation, relieved Del Pizzo of command of VMX-1 “for loss of trust and confidence in his ability to execute the responsibilities of his command,” the Marine Corps said. Col. John Dirk took over the squadron that same day, the Marine Corps said.

“As a commander you serve at the pleasure of the commandant,” Del Pizzo said. “It was an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Marines, sailors and civilians of VMX-1.”

The Marine Corps sent a statement to Marine Corps Times Thursday evening confirming Smith made the decision to remove Del Pizzo from command of VMX-1.

“The commandant of the Marine Corps continually assesses matters associated with commanders and their units,” Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Joshua Benson said. “Following his detailed review [in September] of the command investigation into the 17 September 2023 F-35 mishap, he made the decision to relieve the commanding officer of [VMX-1], due to the unique mission of VMX-1.”

VMX-1 is in charge of assessing the Corps’ aircraft and helping develop and refine tactics, techniques and procedures to fly them in combat successfully. The squadron’s aircraft include the F-35B, MV-22 Osprey and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter. It is a highly desired leadership role in Marine Corps aviation, and some former VMX-1 commanders have gone on to become general officers and assume senior leadership roles in the Corps.

Del Pizzo pointed to the mishap investigation’s conclusion that he conducted the flight using the proper procedures and was not derelict in his duty. He also said a Field Flight Performance Board was convened to review the incident and concluded his decision to eject was justified.

Del Pizzo said he was restored to full flight status in June “after complying with all board recommendations.”

But Del Pizzo’s split-second decision to eject from the F-35 has now cast a shadow over his accomplished career, and left his future uncertain.

Del Pizzo said he has been offered his choice of follow-on assignments, and he and his family are now considering his next steps.

“We are deeply thankful for the support of our friends and family as we adjust to this unexpected change in assignment,” he said.

From Parris Island, to fighting ISIS, to VMX-1

Del Pizzo started as an enlisted Marine, graduating from boot camp at Parris Island in 1993 and serving in the reserves for 3 1/2 years while attending college. He earned his commission as an officer in 1997 after graduating from Auburn University and attending the Platoon Leaders Course program and in 1999 became a naval aviator.

Over the next 25 years, Del Pizzo became an experienced combat pilot with more than 2,800 hours in the cockpit, 32 hours of which were in the F-35B. He has deployed six times over his career, including deployments to support the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State.

His career included a stint commanding Marine Attack Squadron 231, also known as VMA-231 or the “Ace of Spades,” from 2015 to 2017. During that time, Del Pizzo took VMA-231′s AV-8B Harrier attack jets into battle against ISIS as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, including the effort to oust ISIS from the key Iraqi city of Mosul.

Del Pizzo also served as the Marine Corps service deputy at the F-35 Joint Program Office and the tactical air branch head at Marine Corps Aviation.

In August 2022, the Marine Corps announced Del Pizzo had been selected for his most prestigious assignment yet: command of VMX-1.

On Sept. 17, 2023, Del Pizzo climbed into the cockpit of an F-35B from Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 to practice basic fighter maneuvering, alongside a wingman.

His flight, dubbed “Swede 11,” took off at about 12:45 p.m. and carried out an “uneventful” training flight through heavy rain and mist, the report said. At about 1:25 p.m., the report said, Del Pizzo turned back toward the Charleston base.

Air traffic control appeared to be trying to direct Del Pizzo and his wingman around the heaviest weather, the report said. Del Pizzo began using his jet’s instruments to guide his landing through the rain and lowered his landing gear.

While lining up his final approach, Del Pizzo decided to switch to the F-35B’s short-take off and vertical landing, or STOVL, mode and carry out a slow landing. He radioed that instruction to his wingman — but that was the last radio call the wingman heard from him.

Shortly after converting to STOVL mode, Del Pizzo’s helmet-mounted display started flickering out and back in, the report said. Del Pizzo told investigators that each time his helmet-mounted display went out, his panoramic cockpit display was also not working.

He decided to carry out a missed approach procedure and began to climb out and accelerate, the report said, but then realized he had also lost communication with the tower and his wingman.

Del Pizzo’s helmet-mounted display came back online, he told investigators, but multiple warning signs flashed and blared. He felt like the jet was not converting back to conventional flight as intended, the report said, and the helmet display again blinked out.

Del Pizzo had at that point lost his helmet display and panoramic display three times, the report said, and he wasn’t sure what instruments he could trust. He felt the aircraft was out of control, and decided to eject at an altitude of about 1,900 feet at 1:32 p.m.

The report notes that the F-35B’s flight manual says that an aircraft is considered out of control if it is not responding properly to the pilot’s inputs, and a pilot should eject from such an aircraft if it is below 6,000 feet.

The report said that given the manual’s definition of an out-of-control flight, Del Pizzo “applied an appropriate emergency procedure in response to a perceived loss of aircraft control below 6,000 feet.”

But the report immediately criticized the manual’s definition.

“The F-35B flight manual definition for [out-of-control flight] is too broad and contributed to this mishap,” the report said.

Del Pizzo’s “decision to eject was ultimately inappropriate, because commanded flight inputs were in-progress at the time of ejection, standby flight instrumentation was providing accurate data, and the [jet’s] backup radio was, at least partially, functional. Furthermore, the aircraft continued to fly for an extended period after ejection.”

‘I just rode a parachute down to the ground’

Del Pizzo’s helmet and mask were “ripped off” as he ejected, the report said. As he descended through the clouds, he realized he was over a residential area and became concerned about nearby power lines. He released his seat pan and raft to avoid getting tangled in the lines and steered into a safe area.

Del Pizzo had parachuted into a North Charleston resident’s backyard, told the homeowner he was a military pilot and asked the resident to call 911.

In audio of the call, obtained by The Associated Press, the homeowner explains that an ejected pilot parachuted into his backyard, and the 911 dispatcher responds, “I’m sorry, what happened?”

Del Pizzo can be heard in the background, reporting some minor pain in his back, before taking the phone and repeatedly requesting an ambulance. The homeowner said he had no apparent bleeding aside from a few scratches.

“We had a military jet crash. I’m the pilot,” Del Pizzo told the dispatcher. “We need to get a rescue rolling. I’m not sure where the airplane is. It would have crash landed somewhere. I ejected.”

Del Pizzo told the dispatcher he was 2,000 feet in the air when he ejected, and that “an aircraft failure” had occurred. Apparently believing the dispatcher had not yet sent an ambulance, Del Pizzo sighed and his voice took on a sharper tone.

“Ma’am, I’m a pilot in a military aircraft, and I ejected,” he said. “So I just rode a parachute down to the ground. Can you please send an ambulance?”

Del Pizzo was taken to a nearby hospital, treated and released the next morning. But the F-35 was missing, and its location would remain a mystery for more than a day.

The military, law enforcement, Civil Air Patrol and the Federal Aviation Administration focused the search in the area north of Charleston. Joint Base Charleston even asked the public for tips on possible locations for the jet.

Headlines about the military’s missing stealth fighter rapidly spread around the world — as did jokes, breathless speculation and memes on social media.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., whose district includes the area north of Charleston, posted her exasperation online that night, hours after the plane went missing.

“How in the hell do you lose an F-35?” Mace posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”

The investigation report said the F-35′s transponder failed as a result of the electrical malfunction, and the jet had crossed below air traffic control’s radar horizon.

The military announced the evening of Sept. 18, 2023, a day after the crash, that the crash site of the F-35 had been found in rural Williamsburg County, about two hours northeast of Joint Base Charleston. The jet had flown for 11 minutes and 21 seconds after Del Pizzo’s ejection, slowly climbing as high as 9,300 feet.

After about 11 minutes, the report said, the jet banked down and started descending to its right, clipping the treetops of a forest along the way before crashing. The report said no one was injured by the crash, but it did damage several trees and crops. The $100 million jet was shredded into pieces and a total loss.

The incident — and the attention it drew — rang alarm bells throughout Marine Corps aviation. It was the Marines’ third aviation crash in six weeks, following the August crash of an F/A-18D Hornet in southern California, which killed its pilot, and an MV-22 Osprey crash in Australia that killed three Marines.

As the search for the jet continued, the Marine Corps put all its aviation operations on hold for a two-day safety stand down. The announcement cited the three recent Class A mishaps, and said aviation commanders would hold discussions with their Marines on the fundamentals of safe flight operations, ground safety, maintenance and flight procedures and how to maintain combat readiness.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a comment from the Marine Corps regarding the commandant’s decision to relieve Del Pizzo of command.