Sept. 27, 2022 Austin pledges to 'ease the load' for service members In a memo titled "Taking Care of Our Service Members and Families," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III outlined efforts to address the needs of married service members and their families, as well as single service members.
May 31, 2022 Defense secretary: DOD must increase efforts to destigmatize mental health care The White House and the Defense Department have made taking care of military families a priority, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said May 28.
Nov. 17, 2021 Austin Looks to Alleviate Financial Harm the Pandemic Caused Military Families The pandemic has imposed unusual hardships on the military, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is taking immediate steps to alleviate the worst effects.
Sept. 29, 2021 Austin Gives Senate Hard Truths of Lessons From Afghanistan ''We helped build a state, but we could not forge a nation,'' Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the Senate Armed Services Committee, encapsulating America's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan.
Aug. 26, 2021 Secretary of Defense Mandates COVID-19 Vaccinations for Service Members Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum directing the secretaries of the military departments to immediately begin full vaccination of all members of the department on active duty or in the Guard or Reserve who aren't yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Aug. 10, 2021 Biden to approve SECDEF's request to make COVID-19 vaccine mandatory By mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will request a waiver from President Joe Biden to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for service members, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
Aug. 9, 2021 Austin Seeks Presidential Approval for Mandatory Troop Vaccinations by Mid-September The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force.
July 6, 2021 Sexual assaults will no longer be prosecuted by commanders Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III accepted all of the recommendations of an independent review commission that proposed an array of changes in how the Department of Defense and the services that fall under it will handle sexual assaults.
Feb. 27, 2020 Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights signed Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper, Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy, Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly and Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett have signed the Military Housing Privatization Initiative Tenant Bill of Rights.