Here are five news stories and events to start your week:
US Bombers Fly Over South Korea After North's 2nd ICBM Test
Via The Associated Press: "The United States flew two supersonic bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of force against North Korea, following the country's latest intercontinental ballistic missile test. The B-1 bombers were escorted by South Korean fighter jets as they performed a low pass over an air base near the South Korean capital of Seoul, before returning to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement. It said the mission was a response to consecutive ICBM tests by North Korea this month."
Trump to Award His 1st Medal of Honor Recipient
President Donald Trump will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam veteran in the first such ceremony for the commander-in-chief. The event honoring former U.S. Army medic James McCloughan, 71, is scheduled to take place 2:45 p.m. Monday at the White House. During the Battle of Nui Yon Hill in 1969, McCloughan was a 23-year-old private first class who over two days risked his life nine times to rescue wounded comrades -- despite suffering his own wounds from shrapnel and small arms fire. He became a high school teacher in his hometown, teaching sociology and psychology at South Haven High School until his retirement in 2008.
Air Force Gets Creative to Tackle Pilot Shortage
Via Oriana Pawlyk at Military.com: "The Air Force's pilot shortage has leaders worried not only about filling gaps in the immediate future, but also how the military and civilian airlines may suffer without fine-tuned aviators in decades to come. As a result, Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, if given permission, may start a small group tryout for pilots testing a new program in which aviators stay at their home-duty stations longer, thus increasing their longevity and likelihood to stay in service, the head of the command told Military.com in an exclusive interview."
Navy Commissions New Destroyer Named After Fallen Marine
The U.S. Navy on Saturday commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, to be named the USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) upon entering service, after the Marine sergeant who was killed in 2004 in Iraq during the second battle of Fallujah. He posthumously received the Navy Cross, the service's second-highest award for valor, for saving five of his fellow troops. The commissioning ceremony, which took place Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, was attended by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller and Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley, as well as Peralta's mother, Rosa Maria Peralta, among others.
Retired General Starts New Gig as White House Chief of Staff
Via Hope Hodge Seck at Military.com: "President Donald Trump has named retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, who has been serving as the head of the Homeland Security Department, as his new White House chief of staff to replace Reince Priebus. The president announced his decision Friday evening on Twitter. 'I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American ... and a Great Leader,' he tweeted. 'John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration.'"
-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
