News: Today in the Department of Defense, February 29, 2016

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter attends a wreath laying at 8:30 a.m. EST at the African-American Civil War Memorial, 1925 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work has no public or media events on his schedule.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. brief the media at 10 a.m. EST, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973). Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance Pedestrian Bridge or Pentagon Metro Entrance only. Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.  The briefing will also be streamed live on www.defense.gov.

Medal Moment

President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Edward C. Byers Jr. during a White House ceremony, Feb. 29, 2016. Byers received the medal for actions while serving as part of a team that rescued an American civilian held hostage in Afghanistan in 2012. DoD photo by EJ Hersom

Hi-Res | Ceremony | Summary | Video | Special | Photo Gallery

Blogs

Military Youth Can Use Tech to Improve Mental Health LiteracyDeployments and other transitions can negatively affect military youth, but a website aimed at teaching coping skills and how to recognize signs of psychological distress can help kids and parents.More

Positioning, Navigation And Timing And What it Means For The Soldier

The Army is developing technology that provides soldiers in the field with more ways to recognize their location – even when their GPS is compromised.More

Army Scientists Start MERS Vaccine Clinical Trial

Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, or WRAIR, have started vaccinations in the first clinical trial to test the safety and immune response in people of a vaccine candidate to prevent MERS.More

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U.S. Dept of Defense
DeptofDefense-29 Feb

U.S. Dept of Defense
DeptofDefense-29 Feb

President Obama will award the Medal of Honor to U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Edward C. Byers Jr. at 11:15 a.m. EST. Byers is receiving the award for his actions while serving as part of a team that rescued an American civilian held hostage in Afghanistan in December 2012. Watch live on http://www.defense.gov. #MedalofHonor

U.S. Dept of Defense
DeptofDefense-29 Feb

Today, at 10:00 a.m. EST, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford will brief the press at the Pentagon. Watch live on http://www.defense.gov.

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DeptofDefense-29 Feb

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DeptofDefense-28 Feb

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DeptofDefense-28 Feb

A U.S. Marine Corps recruit low crawls under barbed wire during The Crucible at MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. The Crucible is the final test in recruit training, and represents the culmination of all the skills and knowledge a Marine should possess. United States Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Norman

U.S. Dept of Defense
DeptofDefense-28 Feb

#OTD in 1991, President George H.W. Bush declared suspension of offensive combat and laid out conditions for permanent cease-fire. Check out the timeline below for a snapshot of events that took place during this time

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DeptofDefense-27 Feb

Do you want to see the best U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) photos? Follow us on Instagram!

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DeptofDefense-27 Feb

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Division Artillery, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., send a round down range during a combined arms exercise at Yakima Training Center. Soldiers fired the M777 howitzer, capable of hitting a target 25 miles away. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Cody Quinn

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DeptofDefense-26 Feb

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Walter Reed Army Institute of Researchhave started vaccinations in the first clinical trial to test the safety and immune response of a vaccine candidate to prevent MERS. World Health Organization (WHO)

U.S. Dept of Defense
DeptofDefense-26 Feb

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Fulks motions to crew members on the flight deck of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the Philippine Sea. The Stennis provides a ready force to support security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. #Rebalance U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Cole C. Pielop

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DeptofDefense-25 Feb

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) sails through the Philippine Sea. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, Stennis is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled U.S. 7th Fleet deployment. #Rebalance U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cole C. Pielop

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DeptofDefense-25 Feb

A KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron at Macdill Air Force Base, Florida, refuels an F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, during a flying training deployment at Souda Bay, Greece. The 63rd ARS operated out of Souda Bay Naval Air Station for the duration of the flying training deployment. United States Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano

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DeptofDefense-25 Feb

Today, at 10:00 a.m. EST, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford will provide testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on the FY17 Defense Budget.#Budget2017 Watch live on http://www.defense.gov.

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DeptofDefense-25 Feb

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DeptofDefense-24 Feb

U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers clear an obstacle during a breaching exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Calif. The Marines are participating in Iron Fist, an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted with Japanese soldiers to refine combined amphibious operational capabilities. The detonation charge contains 1,750 pounds of C4 explosive and is launched into a forward area by a rocket to clear a path. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garrett White

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DeptofDefense-24 Feb

The hardships of World War II were a struggle for all, but for black service members, they faced an extra hurdle – segregation. During #BlackHistoryMonth, one former WWII soldier shares his stories with us. Read more at http://www.DoDLive.mil

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DeptofDefense-24 Feb

Features

FACE OF DEFENSE

Aerographer Goes Beyond Predicting WeatherNavy Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Mulholland is a meteorological and oceanographic expert who provides crucial data to help the USS Bonhomme Richard’s captain make decisions on movements and tactics. Story

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DoD Scientists Develop Biosurveillance EcosystemThe Departments of Defense and Homeland Security are developing a system that lets epidemiologists scan the planet for anomalies in disease prevalence and warn of coming pandemics.Story | Special

Air Force Reveals B-21 Long Range Strike BomberAir Force Secretary Deborah Lee James says the bomber will provide the flexibility and capability to launch from the continental U.S. and deliver airstrikes on any location in the world. Story | Special

MILITARY LIFE

Military Spouse Employment Partnership Reaches MilestoneMore than 300 employers are now part of an employment and career partnership connecting military spouses to organizations and companies that have committed to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers. Story | Special

DoD, VA Kick Off Effort for Coordination of Complex CareThe Defense and Veterans Affairs departments announced an effort to ease the transition for service members needing complex care management as they transition from the DoD system of health care to the VA, or within each system. Story

NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE

Defense Department Honors Guard, Reserve Units for Family Readiness SupportThe Defense Department’s annual Reserve Family Readiness Awards honor guard and reserve units for their outstanding support of family readiness efforts that ultimately strengthen the total force and nation. Story | Special

Virginia National Guard Assembles Troops To Provide Post-Storm AssistanceThe Virginia National Guard began called soldiers to active duty to provide assistance in the wake of severe weather that impacted the central and southeastern regions of Virginia, officials said. Story | Photos

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