What service members should know about military pay proposals

John Bretschneider — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 21:34:42 +0000

It seems like every year, debates rage on in Congress, and between Congress and the president, about how much of a pay increase to give to members of the military for the next fiscal year.

Are troops paid too much? Too little? If too little, how much of an increase should there be, and should it be among troops at all levels? Where do budget considerations come in?

Stuck in the middle are service members who don’t know what to expect for the following fiscal year. The explainer video and graphic below might shed some light on the issue:

Here’s a look at the rise, fall and rebound in military compensation; changes to Hardship Duty Pay; and how military compensation changes compare to the civilia

U.S. Capitol flyover marks 70th anniversary of V-E Day

John Bretschneider — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 23:57:21 +0000

To honor the heroes who fought in the War, one of the most diverse arrays of World War II aircraft ever assembled flew above Washington, D.C. on Friday, May 8.

Fifty-six vintage aircraft of World War II filled the skies over the nation’s capital Friday in tribute to the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day.

Some 15 flying formations formed near Leesburg, Virginia, and followed the Potomac River southeast toward WashingtonD.C. But unlike the usual “river run” of modern commercial flights into Reagan National Airport, the venerable war birds banked over the Lincoln Memorial, overflying the National World War II Memorial, headed east past the Washington Monument along Independence Avenue, turning south again as they passed over the National Air and Space Museum near the Capitol.

One aircraft, a TBM Avenger flying alongside another TBM and an SB2C Helldiver, had mechanical dificulties and could be seen peeling out of formation early. The Avenger safely landed two miles south of the WWII Memorial at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

MAP OF THE FLIGHT ROUTE

Among the aircraft featured in the flyover were seven P-51 Mustangs, a pair of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, the last-remaining Curtiss Helldiver and the only remaining Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

Other aircraft in the event included:

Bell P-39 Airacobra
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Curtis P-40 Warhawk
Douglas A-26 Invader
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper
Douglas SBD Dauntless
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Grumman F8F Bearcat
Grumman TBF and TBM Avengers
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
North American B-25 Mitchell
North American P-51
North American T-6 Texan
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Vought F4U Corsair

Military Times staffers flew in practice runs in both the B-25 Mitchell and the T-6 Texan in the days leading up to the event.

The Arsenal of Democracy Flyover coincided with a commemorative veterans celebration at the WWII Memorial.

On Saturday, about 20 of the aircraft will be on public display at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, just south of Dulles International Airport, during a special one-day exhibit.

Visitors to the museum will be able to walk among the airframes parked on the aircraft flightline just outside the main hangar from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weather and safety criteria permitting.

“We’re looking to have a wonderful family day with activities both inside and outside the museum,” said Margy Natalie, the Udvar-Hazy Center’s onsite learning manager.

The Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center is open free to the public. However, there is a $15 per vehicle parking fee.

For more information and other events leading up to the V-E Day celebrations, including a gala fundraiser for the weekend’s activities, visit ww2flyover.org.

John Bretschneider, Author at Navy Times

What service members should know about military pay proposals

U.S. Capitol flyover marks 70th anniversary of V-E Day