U.S. and NATO allies utilized CH-47 Chinooks from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade for an Air Assault Operation during DV-Day as part of Exercise Swift Response on May 12, 2022, at Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia.

U.S. and NATO allies utilized CH-47 Chinooks from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade for an Air Assault Operation during DV-Day as part of Exercise Swift Response on May 12, 2022, at Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia. U.S. Army / Staff Sgt. Malcolm Cohens-Ashley

The Army Brief: Unfunded morale resources; Trainers for Ukraine; Hypersonics fired into Ukraine; and more...

Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future. 

Soldier suicides. A gym that would improve mental health and morale at Fort Wainwright in Alaska is on the Army’s unfunded priorities list, Defense One reports. Wainwright is one of nine bases a new committee will investigate for having high suicide numbers.

Sending trainers. Two American volunteers who trained troops in Ukraine believe they would be more effective against Russian forces if the U.S. sent military advisors into the country to conduct training and help with logistics, Defense One reports. The U.S. military is currently only conducting training on weapon systems outside the country, like in Germany.

Hypersonics in Ukraine. Russia has fired about a dozen hypersonic missiles since they invaded Ukraine and are generally running out of precision guided munitions, Defense One reports. The Russian forces now rely more on “dumb” bombs during their airstrikes.

Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On May 15, 1918, Army pilots flew the first regularly scheduled air mail service flights for the U.S. Postal Service between Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.


From Defense One

Congress' Plan For Ukraine Aid Surpasses White House Request by $7B // Jacqueline Feldscher

Lawmakers boosted funds for replenishing American weapons' stocks and supporting European Command operations.

Intel Leaders Predict 'Stalemate' in Ukraine Unless Something Changes // Patrick Tucker

Putin's losses on the battlefield haven't changed his ultimate goal.

Pentagon Seeks to Update U.S. Weapons Stocks Depleted by Ukraine Donations // Marcus Weisgerber and Tara Copp

Defense Department's top acquisitions exec says Ukraine war is changing the way the U.S. thinks about stockpiles.