Early Bird Brief: April 30, 2024

Welcome to the Early Bird Brief's LinkedIn Edition, a tightly edited round-up of today's most important military and defense stories. To get the full EBB, with dozens of stories, subscribe here .

Today's Top 5:

US military pier in Gaza to cost $320 million, Pentagon estimates

(The Associated Press) A U.S. Navy ship and several Army vessels involved in an American-led effort to bring more aid into the besieged Gaza Strip are offshore of the enclave and building out a floating platform for the operation, which the Pentagon said Monday will cost at least $320 million. Read More

Marine unit found metal shavings in F-35 fuel, plastic tool in wing

(Defense News) Metal shavings in contaminated fuel, incorrectly assembled parts, and a plastic scraper protruding from a wing fold were among the faults discovered in five new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters delivered to a U.S. Marine Corps fighter squadron in California last year, according to a memo obtained by Defense News. Read More

Army says fitness plan cut injuries and drug use, aids mental health

(Army Times) Early data analyzing Army brigades using the service’s new all-encompassing fitness program shows less injuries, behavioral health problems and substance abuse, and quicker return to duty for injured soldiers in brigades with program staff. Read More

Soaring US munitions demand strains support for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan

(Defense News) The U.S. has transferred tens of thousands of its bombs and shells to Israel since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. But it hasn’t given Israel everything it wants. That’s because the U.S. military lacks the capacity to provide some of the weapons Israel requested, according to Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read More

More food options, better access coming for commissary customers

(Military Times) Big plans are in the works for commissary shoppers, as officials want to entice more eligible shoppers to take advantage of the benefits of military grocery stores. Read More

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