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Craig Whitlock

The Senate Armed Services Committee hears from top officials of the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, right, and Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, left, during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Besides funding for next year's Pentagon budget, the Air Force is dealing with controversy over sexual assaults and how the military justice system handles it. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Air Force, military grapple with sex crimes by recruiters

Last updated Monday, May 13, 2013 - 9:43am

WASHINGTON — Military recruiters across the country have been caught in a string of sex-crime scandals over the past year, exposing another long-standing problem for the Defense Department as it grapples with a crisis of sexual assault in the ranks.

Crime, Sex Assault, U.S. Air Force, Military, National Read more Comments

Female Air Force general's promotion blocked

Craig Whitlock The Associated Press

Last updated Tuesday, May 7, 2013 - 9:05am

A female Air Force general has run afoul of Congress for granting clemency to a convicted sex offender without any public explanation, the latest case to raise fundamental questions about how the military justice system handles sex crimes.

Sex Assault, U.S. Air Force, Military, National Read more Comments

Same-sex military couples to get additional benefits

Craig Whitlock, Ernesto Londono The Washington Post

Last updated Tuesday, February 12, 2013 - 10:13am

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced Monday that it would extend additional benefits to same-sex military couples, including access to base facilities and groups as well as joint assignments, the latest move by the Obama administration to heed calls from gays and lesbians pressing for change.

Gay Marriage, Military, National Read more Comments

Air Force concerned about increase in drone crashes

Craig Whitlock The Washington Post

Last updated Saturday, December 1, 2012 - 9:26am

The U.S. Air Force drone, on a classified spy mission over the Indian Ocean, was destined for disaster from the start.

An inexperienced military contractor, operating by remote control in shorts and a T-shirt from a trailer at Seychelles International Airport, committed blunder after blunder during a six-minute span April 4.

The pilot of the unarmed MQ-9 Reaper drone took off without permission from the control tower. One minute later, he yanked the wrong lever at his console, killing the engine without realizing why.

Drones, U.S. Air Force, National Read more Comments

Final 'surge' troops leave Afghanistan

Craig Whitlock The Washington Post

Last updated Friday, September 21, 2012 - 6:36am

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The last of the 33,000 "surge" troops President Barack Obama ordered to Afghanistan in December 2009 have left the country, the Pentagon announced Friday, just ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline.

Afghanistan, International, Military Read more Comments