Around the Force

Thrift Savings Plan app
may pose security risk
American Forces Press Service
A free iPhone app for the Thrift Savings Plan available at the Apple App Store could pose a security risk, program officials warned.
A notice on the Thrift Savings Plan website says the “TSP Funds” app, which asks participants for their account login information, is not sanctioned.
“This app is not being offered through the TSP, and the TSP does not recommend using this application to access your TSP account,” the notice says.
“Providing this information could result in a security risk to your account.”
National defense review
panel named for QDR
American Forces Press Service
Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, are among four appointments to the Quadrennial Defense Review’s independent panel the Senate Armed Services Committee announced March 5.
Also named to the panel were retired Air Force Gen. Gregory Martin, former commander of Air Force Materiel Command, and retired
Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, former Defense Intelligence Agency director.
As part of a 10-member independent panel of civilian experts, they will provide outside analysis of the Defense Department’s work on the 2014 QDR that will guide U.S. strategic planning and procurement for the next two decades.
The QDR is a congressionally mandated review of national defense strategy, force structure, modernization plans, infrastructure, budget plans and other elements of defense policy, conducted every four years. The 2014 QDR will be the fifth since Congress established the requirement in the fiscal year 1997 National Defense Authorization Act.
Gen. Austin moves to Central Command, Rodriguez to Africom
American Forces Press Service
The Senate March 5 confirmed two Army generals as the new commanders of regional combatant commands.
Gen. Lloyd Austin, currently the vice chief of staff of the Army, will succeed Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as the next commander of U.S. Central Command.
Gen. David Rodriguez, who now commands U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., will succeed Gen. Carter Ham as the commander of U.S. Africa Command.
Centcom’s area of responsibility covers 20 countries in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Yemen. Africom, formally established in 2008 with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is the nation’s newest geographical combatant command, responsible for operations, exercises and security cooperation on the African continent.
Both Mattis and Ham will retire this year.
Another fatal insider attack kills four in Wardak province
American Forces Press Service
Two American service members were killed and 10 were wounded in an apparent “green-on-blue” incident in Afghanistan’s Wardak province Monday.
An International Security Assistance Force release said the two were killed when an individual wearing an Afghan national security forces uniform turned a weapon on U.S. and Afghan forces. The attack killed at least two Afghan soldiers as well, U.S. officials said.
This is the third fatal insider attack this year. A British soldier was killed Jan. 7, and an American contract employee was killed March 8.
Monday’s attack occurred in the village of Jalrez. Reports indicate the attackers used a truck-mounted weapon to open fire on personnel leaving a training session. ISAF personnel killed the attacker, officials said.
U.S. officials call for
North Korea to tone it down
American Forces Press Service
U.S. and South Korean forces remain “postured for any contingency” on the Korean Peninsula, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Tuesday as he called on North Korea to tone down its rhetoric and comply with its international obligations.
Little condemned North Korea’s destabilizing activities the day after North Korea declared that it had nullified the 60-year-old armistice agreement there.
Little reiterated President Barack Obama’s call for North Korea’s leadership to “choose the path to peace” and comply with its international obligations. The message from the U.S. government has been “clear and consistent for a very long time,” he said.
But Little acknowledged North Korea’s track record that shows an unwillingness to conform with the international community’s require-ments—through nuclear tests and most recently, a ratcheting up of threatening language.
U.S. Forces Korea, and other U.S. troops from U.S. Pacific Command and about 10,000 South Korean forces are currently participating in the Key Resolve exercise that promotes their ability to work together to defend South Korea.
Little offered assurance that they are ready to fend off an attack, should one come.