LEGISLATION AND MILITARY POLICY UPDATES:
Your Help is Urgently Needed for Early Retirement Amendment!
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is going into Conference. To increase visibility on the issue of fixing early retirement, contact your Senators to co-sponsor S.831 which is a bill introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), to change the current law which only credits mobilizations in support of a contingency operation that commenced on or after Jan. 28, 2008. The new language would change the U.S. Code to include service starting on Sept. 11, 2001. The bill currently has 19 co-sponsors, which calls for the need for increased support in the Senate.
 Find out how you can help 

SAC Finishes Markup on Defense Appropriations Bill
On Sept. 10, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee released its marks on the the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The National Guard & Reserve Equipment Account is marked for a significant increase if the bill survives the conference with the House. The marked breakout is as follows:
- Army Reserve $135 million
- Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve $70 million each
- Marine Corps Reserve $50 million
- Army National Guard $1 billion
- Air National Guard $175 million
 See the Press Release on Senate Appropriations Committee Web site  

EDUCATION UPDATES:
DEF Hosts Live Webcast on Afghan Police Reform
The Defense Education Forum (DEF) will host a live Afghan Police Reform webcast in conjunction with the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) from ROA’s Minuteman Memorial Building, Thursday, Sept. 17, from 2-3:30 p.m.
 To register for the live webcast, click here

North Dakota National Security Symposium
On Sept. 24 and 25, DEF will again team up with the Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) and the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) in presenting a series of panel discussion aimed at maintaining a national dialogue on the science of climate change, the impacts of prospective energy reform, and the effects of nuclear non-proliferation across multiple venues, as the Congress prepares to act on new legislation. 
 Visit the DEF Program Web page
 For times and locations, please contact Keith Weller