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The Two-Way
There's No Place For Sex Assaults In Military, Obama Says
May 24, 2013 "Those who commit sexual assaults are not only committing a crime, they threaten the trust and discipline that make our military strong," he said in his Naval Academy commencement address. Obama challenged graduates to follow "that inner compass that guides you not when the path is easy and obvious, but when it's hard and uncertain."
The Two-Way
Male Sergeant May Have Filmed Female Cadets At West Point
May 22, 2013 The sergeant has been accused of secretly videotaping at least a dozen female cadets, sometimes when they were showering. The New York Times report follows a series of accounts in recent weeks about alleged sexual assaults within the military.
The Two-Way
Sexual Assaults In Military Have Increased By A Third Since 2010
May 7, 2013 A Pentagon survey finds that 26,000 service members were believed to be victims of sexual assault in 2012. The report comes as the military faces growing criticism over how it handles cases of sexual assault.
The Two-Way
Reports: American Refueling Plane Crashes In Kyrgyzstan
May 3, 2013 Kyrgyzstan's emergencies ministry says the plane went down about 100 miles west of the U.S.-operated Transit Center at Manas. That base supports U.S. military operations in nearby Afghanistan.
The Two-Way
General's Dismissal Of Sex Assault Conviction Sparks Anger, Review Of System
March 12, 2013 Though an officer was convicted by a military panel, that decision was overturned. The secretary of defense says he does not have the authority to step in, and has asked for recommendations on whether the Uniform Code of Military Justice needs to be amended.
The Two-Way
Pentagon Details Which Benefits Will Be Extended To Same-Sex Partners
February 11, 2013 Commissary privileges, family center programs, dependent I.D. cards, joint duty assignments and space-available travel on military aircraft are among the benefits that will become available.
The Two-Way
U.S. Military's Suicide Rate Surpassed Combat Deaths In 2012
January 14, 2013 The number of deaths by suicide in the U.S. military surged to a record 349 last year — more than the 295 Americans who died fighting in Afghanistan in 2012. The numbers were first reported by the AP; NPR has confirmed them.
The Two-Way
Gays Separated From Military Since Late '04 To Get Full Discharge Pay
January 8, 2013 Before the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was ended in late 2011, many gays were given honorable discharges — but only about half the discharge pay they were owed. A class action suit on their behalf has now been settled and the withheld pay will be released.
Participation Nation
Treats For The Troops In Denver, Colo.
August 10, 2012 Colorado Supporting Our Troops sends care packages to members of the military. The boxes contain everything from lip balm to licorice.
The Two-Way
About 25,000 Troops May Be Needed In Afghanistan After 2014, Planners Say
May 2, 2012 NATO would likely contribute some of the forces, but the U.S. would supply the bulk. They would include trainers as well as thousands of Green Berets and other special operations troops who would work with Afghans on counter-terror missions.
The Two-Way
Afghan Soldiers' Attacks On U.S. Troops Not Being Fully Reported, AP Finds
May 1, 2012 There's been a policy of only reporting attacks that cause coalition fatalities, the wire service reports. So incidents that end with injuries or with only the attackers dead have not been reported.
The Two-Way
Panetta Reassures Afghans On U.S. Training Role, Possibly Beyond 2014
April 11, 2012 The bulk of the U.S. military force in Afghanistan is slated to leave the country by 2014. But the Pentagon is willing to keep some Americans there to train Afghan forces, according to a report by NPR's Tom Bowman.
The Two-Way
Gunman Kills 2 Americans In Afghan Ministry; NATO Recalls Advisers
February 25, 2012 The attack comes during a week of violent unrest in Afghanistan following the reportedly accidental burnings of copies of the Quran at a U.S. military base earlier this week.
