Later this month will mark a year from a day that shocked the Veteran community. On March 27, 2023, I along with many Americans were saddened to learn of the unfortunate passing of Navy SEAL Veteran Douglas “Mike” Day.
Read the full storyTag: military
Trump Calls Border Crisis ‘Biden invasion’
Former President Donald Trump on Thursday said the border crisis is a “a Joe Biden invasion. This is a Biden invasion.”
He met with Gov. Greg Abbott in Eagle Pass, Texas, to tour a new military base established through Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star. “What they showed me is nothing less than incredible. This is a military operation. This is like a war,” he said.
Read the full storyOhio U.S. Senator JD Vance Speaks at Munich Security Conference, Stresses Importance of Negotiating Peace in Ukraine
Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) participated in a panel discussion over the weekend at the Munich Security Conference in Germany where he discussed the United States’ response to conflicts around the globe.
Read the full storyDecline in White Recruits Fueling the Military’s Worst-Ever Recruiting Crisis, Data Shows
Each U.S. military service saw a notable decline in white recruits over the past five years, according to data obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, likely factoring into the military’s crippling recruiting crisis.
The Army, Navy and Air Force missed their recruiting objectives by historically large margins in fiscal year 2023, which ended on Sept. 30, as the broader American public has grown wary of military service, according to Department of Defense (DOD) statistics, officials and experts who spoke to the DCNF. Since 2018, however, the number of recruits from minority groups has remained steady — or, in some cases, increased — while the number of white recruits has declined, according to data on the demographics of new recruits obtained by the DCNF.
Read the full storyCommentary: Out of Office
Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has apparently been in the hospital, following complications from a surgery for an unknown ailment. He had the surgery and passed the baton to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks, but did not inform the President, the National Security Advisor, and a bunch of other people who should have been kept in the loop.
Worse, Austin’s deputy was apparently on vacation when she was put in charge. This all matters because the military functions through a chain of command, and the Secretary of Defense is a crucial link in that chain, the interface between the uniformed military and the President.
Read the full storyCommentary: American Society Has Been Turned Upside-Down and Our Rendezvous with the Unthinkable Draws Near
In the last six months, we have borne witness to many iconic moments evidencing the collapse of American culture.
The signs are everywhere and cover the gamut of politics, the economy, education, social life, popular culture, foreign policy, and the military. These symptoms of decay share common themes.
Read the full storyDespite Backlog of Claims, Department of Veterans Affairs Using Resources to Help Illegal Immigrants
At a press conference on immigration reform earlier this month, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., criticized President Biden for putting the needs of illegal immigrants over those of America’s veterans. “Veterans have a hard enough time getting the care that they need and now they have to compete with illegal immigrants? This will not fix the border crisis. Biden’s border crisis puts illegal immigrants first, it puts our veterans last,” Daines said.
Read the full storyKentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie Says It Is ‘Economically Illiterate and Morally Deficient’ to Send More Money to Ukraine on Episode 45 of ‘Tucker on X’
In episode 45 of his newest production, “Tucker on X,” host Tucker Carlson interviewed U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY-04) who is against sending more aid money to Ukraine in the country’s fight against Russia.
Kicking off the 19-minute episode, Carlson said the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress will not accept the responsibility for the fact that the U.S. is “measurably weaker” for its support of Ukraine over the past two years in the country’s fight against Putin.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett Discusses the Government’s Coverup of UAPs on Episode 42 of ‘Tucker on X’
In episode 42 of his newest production, “Tucker on X,” host Tucker Carlson interviewed Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) about the decades-long government coverup of UFOs, also known as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs).
Read the full storyAir Force Begs Troops Booted over COVID-19 Vax to Come Back
The U.S. Air Force sent out a letter telling an airman booted from the service over the now-rescinded COVID-19 vaccine mandate of an opportunity to rejoin the service, mirroring similar letters sent to former Army service members, according to a copy of one Air Force letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
A former Air Force service member who was separated for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine received the letter Sunday addressed with the recipient’s name, according to a source familiar with the matter. The letter tells former airmen they can request to have their service records amended to show that they received honorable discharges and seek reentry into the service amidst the service’s failure to meet recruiting goals.
Read the full storyRamaswamy Blasts Haley for ‘Irresponsible Reaction’ on Israel
Divergent positions are emerging among GOP presidential candidates on U.S. involvement in Israel’s war against Iran-backed Hamas.
A day after former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley declared that it is time for Israel “finish off” the terrorist group, GOP presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy blasted Haley for what he described as her “irresponsible reaction.”
Read the full storyWar Veteran Congressman Mike Gallagher Blasts Biden Pentagon Following Government Report Detailing Dire Living Conditions of Military Members
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) served in some of the roughest places in the world as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Wisconsin Republican and Iraq War veteran said military life is challenging enough; U.S. troops should at least expect decent living conditions.
Read the full storyCarol Swain’s Morning Memorandum: New Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Brown Is Sacrificing a Strong Military for ‘Diversity’
All star panelist and author Carol Swain joined Michael Patrick Leahy in-studio on Wednesday’s episode of The Tennessee Star Report to introduce listeners to her first-ever Morning Memorandum. In her first installment, Swain discussed the importance of a strong U.S. military, and her concerns surrounding the weakness of the current leadership heading the world’s premier fighting force that instead is being directed to focus on “diversity.”
Read the full storyColonel Douglas Macgregor Tells Tucker Carlson About What Is Really Happening in Ukraine
In episode 18 of his newest production, “Tucker on Twitter,” former Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson sat down with Colonel Douglas Macgregor, the former advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration.
During his interview with Carlson, Macgregor said that the war between Ukraine and Russia is happening in a way that is “just not reported in the West.”
Read the full storyTennessee National Guard Rescues Hiker from Great Smoky Mountains National Park
A Tennessee National Guard medical flight crew recently evacuated an injured hiker from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the Tennessee Department of Military.
On Thursday, July 27, the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) were notified that a hiker in a remote area of the park near Inspiration Point along Alum Cave Trail was suffering head trauma and needed immediate medical aid and evacuation to a nearby hospital.
Read the full storyTennessee Representative Commends VA Grant Funds Awarded to Expand and Improve Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
U.S. Tennessee Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) recent distribution of grant funds to go towards the expansion and improvement of Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Nashville.
Read the full storyHouse Passes Five Amendments Introduced by Tennessee Rep. Mark Green in National Defense Authorization Act
Tennessee U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) announced Friday that five of the amendments he introduced were included in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Signs Executive Order Creating ‘Tri-Stars and Stripes’ Council Ahead of Independence Day
Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order on Monday to reconstitute an existing council in order to “position Tennessee to lead the nation as the best state for service members, veterans and their families to thrive.”
Read the full storyTucker Carlson Points Out the Irony of ‘Democracy’ Surrounding Ukraine-Russia War in Episode Seven of ‘Tucker on Twitter’
In the seventh episode of his newest production, “Tucker on Twitter,” former Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson discussed the irony surrounding the topic of “democracy” when it comes to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett Re-Introduces the Veterans Protection from Fraud Act
Tennessee U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) recently re-introduced a bill that would impose stricter penalties on those who target veterans through telemarketing or email marketing fraud schemes.
Read the full storyTennessee National Guard Arrives in Bulgaria to Begin Conducting International Joint Readiness Exercise
On Sunday, approximately 70 Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard landed in Bulgaria to begin conducting an international joint readiness exercise the next day, the Tennessee Department of Military announced.
Read the full storyTunnel to Towers Delivers Mortgage-Free Homes to Three Tennessee Families of Fallen Veterans
In observance of Memorial Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation honored 30 of America’s fallen veterans and first responders by delivering mortgage-free homes to the families that they left behind, including three in Tennessee.
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Authorizes Deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard Troops to Southern Border
Governor Bill Lee announced Wednesday evening that he authorized the deployment of 100 Tennessee National Guard troops to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read the full storyWhitmer Celebrates $28M Selfridge Air National Guard Base Spending
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined federal, state, and local leaders to break ground on a 41,900 square-foot facility to transform two hangars into a new hangar equipped for fighter maintenance at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
The new facility will house maintenance on the main level and leadership/staff offices and classrooms on the second floor.
Read the full storyTennessee U.S. Rep. Mark Green Blasts President Biden for Sending Troops to the Southern Border to Help Move Illegals into Country
Tennessee U.S. Representative and chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security Mark Green (R-TN-07) condemned the Biden administration for approving an increase of 1,500 military personnel to “supplement U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) efforts” on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Green accused the Biden administration of “using our troops to facilitate the demise of our homeland security, instead of securing our borders.”
Read the full storyTexas Sheriff: We’re Experiencing ‘Silent Invasion’ of Military Age Men
What’s happening at the southern U.S. border with Mexico is in fact an invasion, Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe says.
“We’re experiencing a silent invasion of military age men,” Coe told The Center Square when describing what his deputies have been increasingly facing over the past two years.
Read the full storySenator Ron Johnson Calls for ‘Maximum Transparency’ as More UFOs Are Shot Down
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) said ‘maximum transparency” from the Biden administration is critical after the U.S. military shot down yet another unidentified flying object over the weekend — this time near Wisconsin airspace.
The incident marked the fourth aerial vessel struck down over North American airspace since Feb. 4, when U.S. fighter jets liquidated a suspected Chinese spy balloon.
Read the full storyUnvaccinated Military Members Still Facing Repercussions Despite Rescinded COVID-19 Mandate
Despite the Department of Defense rescinding the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, unvaccinated military members are still facing repercussions, including denied benefits, ineligibility for promotion, being non-deployable, and potentially diminished employment prospects for those already discharged.
On Dec. 23, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the $858 billion defense spending bill that included a measure repealing the mandate. On Dec. 29, the Defense Department followed suit, rescinding the mandate that has frayed military morale and resulted in the discharge of over 8,000 service members who refused the vaccine.
In rescinding the vaccine mandate, the DOD acknowledged the NDAA requires Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to rescind his Aug. 24, 2021 memo issuing the sweeping order.
Read the full storyPentagon Officially Overturns Military Vaccine Mandate
The Department of Defense (DOD) officially scrapped the requirement that all members of the armed forces be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin introduced the mandate in August 2021 as Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines were expected to become available, citing the impact of rising case numbers on the military’s readiness. However, after more than a year of legal challenges to the mandate and at least 8,400 discharges for refusing the vaccine, Congress instructed Austin to reverse course in the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Read the full storyTennessee Lawmakers Applaud the Repeal of the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate in NDAA
Tennessee lawmakers across the state are applauding the passage of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
Read the full storySenator Blackburn Calls on President Biden to Sign NDAA that Repeals COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Service Members into Law
Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) published an op-ed in the New York Post on Sunday calling on President Joe Biden to sign the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 into law.
Read the full storyBeeler v. Skrmetti: TFA Founder Attorney John Harris Outlines Permit Less Carry Laws’ Second Amendment Implications
Tuesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Firearm Association founder attorney John Harris to the newsmaker line to explain the Second Amendment implications of the retitled constitutional carry law, Beeler v Skrmetti.
Read the full storySens. Ron Johnson, Rand Paul Lead Demand for Senate Vote on Ending Military COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) are leading their Republican colleagues in an effort to demand Senate Republican leaders insist on an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would end the military COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
In a letter Wednesday to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (RWY), and Roy Blunt (R-MO), Johnson and Paul joined 11 of their Senate GOP colleagues in voicing their opposition to forging ahead with the NDAA for the Fiscal Year 2023 without a Senate vote on an amendment that would ban discharges from the armed services due to failure to take the COVID shot.
Read the full storyHalf of Americans Believe Wokeism Is Undermining the Military
Half of Americans believe “so-called ‘woke’ policies” cause the military to be less effective, according to a poll published Thursday by the conservative Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
The National Defense Survey, which was conducted in November, found that overall, perceived politicization among the military’s top brass continues to drive historically low levels of trust in the institution among Americans. Half of respondents, mostly Republicans, identified “woke” policies, such as a focus on race and gender diversity in the U.S. service branches and training academies, as one of the greatest threats to the military’s overall effectiveness and the greatest contributor to decreased trust.
Read the full storyTennessee Representatives Join Letter Demanding Answers from Pentagon over Veterans’ Lack of Access to TRICARE Pharmacies
Tennessee Representatives Mark Green (R-TN-07), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) joined 25 of their colleagues on Wednesday in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin “regarding the impact of the Department of Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) decision to proceed with Cigna/Express Script’s reduced reimbursement plan.”
Read the full storyCongressman John Rose Votes ‘No’ on Deficit Spending Bill to Assist Ukraine
Tennessee Congressman John Rose (R-TN-06) voted against the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 on Friday.
Read the full storyVeteran Affairs to Offer Abortion Access in Limited Circumstances to Military Veterans, Dependents
The Department of Veteran Affairs is moving to offer abortion access to veterans or eligible dependents following the Supreme Court ruling in June that reversed Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to the procedure.
Read the full storyMilitary Whistleblower Report Alleges COVID-19 Vaccine Illegally Administered
A new whistleblower report signed by nine officers across five branches of the military claims the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is unlawful.
The report was sent to Congress urging an investigation into what it called illegal and fraudulent activity by the DOD. The memorandum was published by Liberty Council, a nonprofit legal group that in January maintained there was no legal COVID-19 vaccine available despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration saying there was.
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Reissues Executive Order Granting Special Leave to Executive Branch State Employees Who Serve in the Military
On Monday, Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order granting special leave with partial pay for Executive Branch state employees who are called to active duty as members the National Guard or the Reserve.
Executive Order 98, signed on August 22, 2022, updates Executive Order 86, which was issued on August 25, 2021.
Read the full storyCommentary: Biden Misled Public on Afghanistan
The frantic and deadly U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan was so disorganized that 1,450 children were evacuated without their parents, and senior leaders in Vice President Kamala Harris’ and first lady Jill Biden’s offices, as well as one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, asked private veteran groups for assistance evacuating certain people from the country.
In the waning days of the evacuation, more than 1,000 women and girls waited more than 24 hours on dozens of buses, desperately circling the Kabul airport and trying to avoid Taliban checkpoints. Many of them were told multiple times they were not allowed to enter the airport. Now, nearly a year since the Taliban took control of the country, fewer than one-third of them have managed to flee the country.
Read the full storyVictor Davis Hanson Commentary: How to Erode the World’s Greatest Military
The U.S. Army has met only 40 percent of its 2022 recruiting goals.
In fact, all branches of the military are facing historic resistance to their current recruiting efforts. If some solution is not found quickly, the armed forces will radically shrink or be forced to lower standards—or both.
Read the full storyBlackburn Blasts ‘Woke’ Military During Pride Month
A U.S. senator Friday spoke out against the “woke” policies implemented by the military, which has become especially apparent during LGBT Pride Month of June.
“The United States military should be focused on one objective – creating the most lethal fighting force on planet Earth,” Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told The Tennessee Star. “Instead, Joe Biden’s military leaders are secretly attempting to turn our brave warfighters into social justice warriors. Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea do not care how woke our military is or what our soldiers’ pronouns are.“
She echoed a similar sentiment on Twitter.
Read the full storySenator Marsha Blackburn Talks Democrats Blocking Her Plan to Make the Military Less Woke
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) spoke with The Tennessee Star on Friday about two measures she introduced which were designed to make the U.S. military less woke “by preventing military children from being indoctrinated by Department of Defense (DoD) teachers and keeping the force focused on lethal threats rather than servicemembers’ pronouns.”
Senate Democrats on the Armed Services Committee blocked both measures.
Read the full storyRussia Announces Western Military Buildup to Match NATO Presence Near Its Borders
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the buildup of forces in the nation’s Western Military District as a response to the mounting NATO forces near its borders.
“Twelve military units and subunits will be formed in the Western Military District by the end of the year,” said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who highlighted the Swedish and Finnish bids to join NATO as factors in the buildup, according to Russian state media outlet Tass.
Read the full storyChairman and CEO of Tunnel 2 Towers Foundation Frank Siller Talks Organization and Never Forget Parade Tonight in Nashville
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Frank Siller, Chairman and CEO of Tunnels 2 Tower Foundation to talk about how they are helping surviving families of first responders obtain mortgage-free homes and tonight’s Never Forget Parade in Downtown Nashville.
Read the full storyEpoch Times Contributor Dominick Sansone Describes Current Military Situation in Ukraine
Friday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed international relations expert and contributor for The Epoch Times, Dominick Sansone, in studio to describe the current military situation in Ukraine.
Read the full storyMaricopa County Attorney’s Office Launches Veterans’ Diversion Program
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is launching a new pre-trial diversion program for military veterans.
The Veterans’ Diversion Program, which begins on April 4, 2022, aims to provide evidence-based services and treatment to some veterans before a conviction.
The County Attorney’s Office notes that some veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cannot access treatment. The office notes that this can result in domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health disorders, and suicide.
The Veterans’ Diversion Program will try to identify and treat those issues, according to a press release issued on Wednesday this week. A veteran who completes the program can have their charges dismissed.
Read the full storyRussia Says Will Reduce Military Activity in Parts of Ukraine
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Formin said Tuesday his country will “reduce military activity” in the Ukraine cities of Kyiv and Chernihiv in pursuit of an agreement to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement follows what Russians are calling a productive day of diplomatic talks in Istanbul, Turkey, with the invasion now roughly four-weeks old.
Russian state media quoted Formin saying: “Due to the fact that negotiations on the preparation of an agreement on the neutrality and non-nuclear status of Ukraine, as well as on the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine, are moving into practice, taking into account the principles discussed during today’s meeting, by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in order to increase mutual trust and create the necessary conditions for further negotiations and achieving the ultimate goal of agreeing on the signing of the above agreement, a decision was made to radically, at times, reduce military activity in the Kiev and Chernihiv direction.”
Read the full storyCommentary: We Have to Be Strategic About Strategic Material Production
The most important duty of government is to provide for the security of its citizens. Providing that security is a complex enterprise. Its most obvious feature is military power: providing the surface naval, air, and space forces necessary to protect national interests. Of course, military power depends on economic power. In today’s security environment, that means maintaining the capability to provide for both the prosperity of American citizens as well the high tech weaponry necessary for modern warfare.
While the world’s attention is focused on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we need to keep in mind that the People’s Republic of China is America’s foremost adversary. While the United States dominated the “third industrial revolution” based on computation and communications, China seeks to lead the “fourth industrial revolution” based on metadata and artificial intelligence. China’s grand strategy is focused on achieving that goal. For example, Beijing has employed its Belt and Road Initiative in combination with digital technology in order to integrate billions of people into China’s economic sphere.
Read the full storyCommentary: Reject Liz Cheney’s War
After nearly two weeks, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues with the Russian military steadily gaining ground and methodically taking control of key assets such as highways, bridges, airports, and power plants. As the Russians advance, they are also encircling and cutting off the main concentrations of the Ukrainian military. If those encirclements are completed, it could get ugly.
It’s into that cauldron that U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) would plunge the United States. On “Face the Nation” last week Cheney was nothing short of bellicose calling for escalation across the board.
Cheney wants Biden to expand already sweeping sanctions and seize the Russian Central Bank’s foreign reserves. Weaponizing the dollar and the banking system in this way, she apparently fails to realize, carries with it risks to dollar-supremacy and the global dominance of American financial institutions. As other nations watch America use the dollar and important elements of the international banking infrastructure such as the SWIFT system as weapons, they will realize their own vulnerability and take steps to protect themselves from U.S.-dominated financial systems. China already offers alternatives and Biden’s actions are the best advertising for those systems they could ask for.
Read the full story