Defense Communities 360 Headlines

Maryland has become the 34th state to waive the skills test for veterans and service members applying for a commercial driver’s license, the latest success in a federal effort to remove hurdles to separating veterans finding civilian employment. “This initiative is extremely important for the Department of Defense,” Frank DiGiovanni, director of training, readiness and strategy in the office of the deputy assistant secretary of defense for readiness, said during a Monday news conference. “It sets a great benchmark and will greatly assist our veterans as they plan for their future …

The capacity of microgrids at DOD installations is estimated to reach 55 megawatts by 2018, according to a recent report from Pike Research. While the Marine Corps has shown the fastest initial growth spurt in microgrid capacity, because of its sheer size the Army is expected to experience the largest increase in annual capacity over time. More than 40 bases either have operating microgrids or are planning and demonstrating microgrid technologies …

Chicago-based Invenergy said last week it will not go ahead with a planned, 49-turbine wind farm in eastern North Carolina that posed a hazard to low-level flights from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The company said it would consider altering the layout of the turbines — which, at the tip of the blades, extend 492 feet into the air — or moving the 11,000-acre project in Beaufort County to a new site …

Draft recommendations for limiting incompatible development outside of Fort A.P. Hill, Va., located halfway between Washington and Richmond, are scheduled to be released shortly. The joint land use study — conducted by AECOM and Travesky & Associates — also will look at ways to minimize the impact of noise and vibration from aircraft and ordnance training on the surrounding towns of Bowling Green and Port Royal …

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will remain at the Defense Department, following speculation that President Obama would nominate him to replace Energy Secretary Steven Chu. A senior administration official told the Hill last week that Obama has asked Carter to stay at the Pentagon. After it became clear that the president had chosen former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) over Carter and other candidates to succeed Leon Panetta as defense secretary, Washington insiders indicated Carter was a possible candidate for the Energy post. Chu has not yet said he is stepping down, but is widely expected to announce his departure soon.

Top Air Force officials acknowledged Friday that the most effective way to sustain a first class force in the face of an uncertain budget environment and other strategic challenges is to trim its size. “To avoid the perils of a hollow Air Force,” Secretary Michael Donley said, “we believe the best path forward is to become smaller in order to protect a high-quality and ready force that will improve in capability over time …

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter authorized the services and defense agencies to consider a range of immediate actions to mitigate the possibility of deep budget cuts, such as trimming facilities maintenance, reducing base operating funding, and limiting travel, training and conferences. Other actions officials should begin carrying out include freezing civilian hiring and reviewing contracts for possible cost savings, according to a Jan. 10 memo sent to top service and civilian directors …

Facing a “perfect storm of budget uncertainty,” the Defense Department is on a path that will seriously harm the nation’s military readiness, DOD’s two most senior officials told reporters last week. At a press conference Thursday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta described the fallout from three fiscal events that may, or may not, be resolved in the next several months …

In a bid to speed up the time it takes separating veterans to find civilian jobs, the majority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives is proposing to build a “gateway center” in Warner Robins to support service members at Robins Air Force Base. The center would help veterans transfer their military experience into civilian credentials. Many returning veterans have technical skills companies want but lack the necessary certifications and licenses. “It will deal with virtually all the needs of active-duty military, including folks who are separating from the military,” Rep. Larry O’Neal (R) told the Telegraph. The facility also could help protect Robins in a future BRAC round by demonstrating that Georgia is committed to supporting veterans, he said.

The Defense Department plans to lease up to 500 special electric vehicles at six different installations later this year to test their ability to export power to the local grid. The $20 million project, which will be run by the Air Force, will use idle, charged vehicles to resupply power grids at times of peak demand as a way to lend stability to stressed electrical grids while offsetting the vehicles’ cost …