New York Times – Hegseth Strikes Female and Black Navy Officers From Promotion List
BLUF – The article reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally removed several Navy officers from a promotion list for one-star admiral after they had already been selected by a board of senior Navy leaders, an intervention described by current and former officials as highly unusual. The officers removed reportedly included women and Black officers, resulting in a final list of 22 nominees that was all male and overwhelmingly white; Pentagon officials denied that race or gender played a role and said promotions were based on merit. The move has intensified concerns about political involvement in military promotion decisions and follows other recent personnel actions by Hegseth that critics say have disproportionately affected women and minority officers.
New Exoskeleton Designed to Facilitate the Self-Evacuation of Wounded Soldiers
BLUF – The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command developed the Intrepid Battlefield Exoskeleton (IBEX), a lightweight device that stabilizes lower-leg injuries and allows wounded soldiers to walk and self-evacuate when traditional casualty evacuation is delayed or unavailable. At about seven pounds, it reduces the need for rescue teams, can be delivered by drone, and was designed for future battlefields where drones, distance, and contested airspace make evacuation more difficult. The goal is to improve survivability, maintain combat effectiveness, and reduce risk to other personnel.
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