Aug. 10, 2021 Services Will Make Call on Religious Exemptions to COVID-19 Vaccines For service members who have religious objections to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, the path for how they might seek an exception is defined by their individual military service's regulations, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Aug. 9, 2021 Austin Seeks Presidential Approval for Mandatory Troop Vaccinations by Mid-September The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force.
July 12, 2021 After Authority Transition in Afghanistan, Airport Security Remains Top Priority Following a transition of authority for the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, a four-pronged mission remains in the country for the U.S. military, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
May 7, 2021 Leaders Discuss Initial Sex Assault Review Commission Recommendation The Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military has presented initial recommendations to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III that would take the responsibility of prosecuting sexual assault offenses out of commanders' hands.
April 22, 2021 Defense Secretary Calls Climate Change an Existential Threat The climate crisis is a profoundly destabilizing force for the world, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said at the Leaders Summit on Climate.
April 14, 2021 Austin Says NATO, U.S. Forces Will Leave Afghanistan, Continue Support to Afghan Forces Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III wholeheartedly supports President Joe Biden's decision to end America's longest war by September 11.
April 1, 2021 Defense Secretary Highlights Commitment to Allies, Partners, Kirby Says Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said that the efforts of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India are important in countering the malign influence of China in the region, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said during a briefing today.
March 30, 2021 Extremism Stand Downs Focus on Oath, Not Data Collection The Defense Department's recent stand downs focused on extremism and were all about reintroducing service members and civilians to the oaths they took at the beginning of their careers.
Feb. 22, 2021 Commission Soon to Begin Examining Problem of Sexual Assault in Military A commission to examine the problem of sexual assault in the military should begin work soon, and will have 90 days to compile its recommendations.
Feb. 8, 2021 DOD Leaders Will Address Extremism in the Ranks Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III directed commanding officers and supervisors at all levels to conduct a one-day stand-down with their personnel within the next 60 days to discuss the problem of extremism in the ranks.