KPBS News: Military

San Diego-Based Navy Officer Fired For 'Inappropriate' Emails Sent To Female Subordinates

Beth Ford Roth — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:07:09 -0700

The Navy has removed Cmdr. Allen Maestas as executive officer of the San Diego-based Beachmaster Unit 1 because of "inappropriate" texts and emails sent to two women in his command.

Soldier Drowns In Afghanistan

Beth Ford Roth — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:12:32 -0700

Army Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea, 33, died May 15 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, Rhea drowned while attempting to cross a body of water during combat operations.

U.S. Airman From Santee Making Final Push To Everest

Beth Ford Roth — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:21:13 -0700

U.S. Air Force Capt. Colin Merrin of Santee is making his final push to summit Mount Everest. If he and his team of fellow airmen climbers succeed, they will become the first group of active-duty U.S. military to reach the top of the world's highest peak.

Study: Repeat Brain Injuries Linked To Higher Suicide Risk In Military

Beth Ford Roth — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:52:41 -0700

The more Traumatic Brain Injuries suffered by a service member, the higher his or her risk of suicide, according to a new study by the National Center for Veterans Studies at the University of Utah.

2 US Troops, 4 US Civilians Killed In Afghan Car Bomb Attack

Beth Ford Roth — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:21:42 -0700

A car bomb attack today near the Afghan capital of Kabul killed two U.S. troops and four American civilian defense contractors.

Navy SEAL Auctioning Knife From Osama Bin Laden Mission

Beth Ford Roth — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:20:06 -0700

Want to own a piece of history and have tens of thousands of dollars to spare? You're in luck! Former Navy SEAL "Mark Owen" is auctioning off the knife he says he used in the Osama bin Laden raid.

Scandal Prompts Hagel To Order Rescreening Of Military Sexual Assault Responders

Beth Ford Roth — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:31:12 -0700

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered all military sexual assault responders and military recruiters be retrained, re-credentialed, and rescreened - his response to news that the Army is investigating a sergeant who was a sexual assault prevention and response coordinator at Fort Hood for sexual abuse.

Peleliu ARG Back Home In San Diego (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:14:32 -0700

The USS Peleliu, USS Green Bay, and USS Rushmore - all part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group - returned to homeport Naval Base San Diego this morning, completing an eight-month deployment to the Middle East.

Agent Orange Linked To Lethal Prostate Cancer In Veterans

Beth Ford Roth — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:02:49 -0700

New research links Agent Orange exposure to a lethal, aggressive form of prostate cancer in Vietnam War veterans.

Three US Troops Killed In Afghan Roadside Bomb Blast

Beth Ford Roth — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:44:43 -0700

Three United States service members were killed today in Kandahar province, Afghanistan when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

29 Palms Marine Takes 1st Gold Medal Of Warrior Games (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:44:58 -0700

Marine Staff Sgt. Ronnie Jimenez won the 10K hand-cycle race, earning him the first gold medal of the 2013 Warrior Games. Jimenez is part of a Wounded Warrior Regiment at Twentynine Palms in Southern California.

15th MEU Returning To Camp Pendleton Monday (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:49:40 -0700

It's been eight long months, but today the families of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will get to see their loved ones again, as the Marines return home to Camp Pendleton. The 15th MEU has been deployed with the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group since September.

Dogs With PTSD Get Help From Military Veterinarian (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:04:43 -0700

Ever since canine post-traumatic stress disorder became an accepted diagnosis for military working dogs, veterinarians have been trying to figure out how to treat it.

Prince Harry Surprises Military Moms At White House Tea (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Fri, 10 May 2013 08:23:07 -0700

The 170 military mothers who were guests at the White House Mother's Day tea were treated to a surprise visitor - Prince Harry of Great Britain.

Camp Pendleton Marine To Honor Fallen Military Dog 'Cpl. Tick'

Beth Ford Roth — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:28:22 -0700

A military working dog named Cpl. Tick was killed on May 14, 2012 in an improvised explosive device blast. Cpl Tick's handler, Lance Cpl. Bryan Utrilla, will honor her on the one-year anniversary of her death by placing her dog tags on the Camp Pendleton cross memorial.

Probe Finds Combat Vehicle Malfunction Killed Marine

Beth Ford Roth — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:42:08 -0700

A Marine Corps investigation found Lance Cpl. John Cagle, 19, was killed in 2011 when the hydraulic seat in his Light Armored Vehicle malfunctioned and crushed his throat. The probe showed the malfunction of the LAV's seat was not an anomaly.

U.S. Airman From Santee Continues Climb To Everest

Beth Ford Roth — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:03:02 -0700

U.S. Air Force Capt. Colin Merrin, a GPS satellite operations mission commander from Santee, is a step closer to fulfilling his dream of summiting Mount Everest.

Sequestration Will Hurt Firefighting Ability, Says California National Guard (Video)

Beth Ford Roth — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:02:08 -0700

The California National Guard has played a key role in fighting the fires burning throughout the state. But Major General David Baldwin says the Guard's ability to fight future fires will be hampered by sequestration cuts.

Ex-Camp Pendleton Marine Jailed In Iran Sends Letters Home

Beth Ford Roth — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:57:11 -0700

For the first time in the more than 600 days that Camp Pendleton Marine veteran Amir Hekmati has been held captive in Iran, he was able to send letters to his family in the United States.

San Diego Veterans Less Impacted By Growing VA Backlog

Amanda Guerrero — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:59:54 -0700

San Diego veterans who file disability claims receive responses from the Department of Veterans Affairs within an average of 283 days. That's a relatively shorter time period than the average for veterans across the nation.