FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – With the many national security and intelligence topics that American Defense News (ADN) cannot adequately cover every day – in collaboration with the Center for American Defense Studies (CADS) – we are providing our readers a PDB:

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – Paul’s Daily Briefing.

Today’s PDB Includes a variety of critical issues such as – Pentagon considering telling troops to report suspected ‘Havana Syndrome’ incidents. Pentagon accelerates withdrawal from Afghanistan. Taliban warns departing US military against new bases in the region. Top military official warns US peace with China and Russia ‘fraying. Biden budget to seek a boost to the military’s cyber force.

The idea to replace Air Force fitness test with monthly standards popular on the service website.

Plus, Australia reviews China port lease near a US military outpost.

Russian spy ship operating off Kauai, Navy confirms.

Canadian soldier charged with mutiny for anti-vaccine speech.

And the new Pentagon background investigation initiative will include everyone by the end of 2023.

And more…

TODAY’S PDB:

Pentagon Watch

Idea to replace Air Force fitness test with monthly standards popular on service website. A recommendation to eliminate the Air Force physical fitness test has shot to the top of the rankings on the service’s main idea submission platform.

National Security

Top military official warns US peace with China and Russia ‘fraying.’ Joint Chiefs Chairman Milley warns competition with China and Russia could lead to “great power conflict.”

Pentagon considering telling troops to report suspected ‘Havana Syndrome’ incidents. The Pentagon is drafting a memo to the entire military and civilian workforce asking personnel to report any so-called anomalous health symptoms that might indicate they have been victims of a mysterious illness that has struck U.S. diplomats, spies, and military personnel around the world, according to two defense officials.

New background investigation initiative will include everyone by end of 2023. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s new program for continuously monitoring individuals with security clearances, Trusted Workforce 2.0, should have all agencies and contractors onboarded by the end of 2023.

Afghanistan

Pentagon accelerates withdrawal from Afghanistan. American troops are set to be out by early to mid-July, well ahead of President Biden’s Sept. 11 deadline, even as big issues remain unresolved.

Taliban warns departing US military against new bases in region. The Taliban on Wednesday warned the departing U.S. military against setting up bases in the region, and Pakistan vowed no American bases will be allowed on its territory.

Russia Threat

Russian spy ship operating off Kauai, Navy confirms. A Russian spy ship parked in international waters off Kauai for several days has delayed a Missile Defense Agency missile test, officials said.

China Threat

New artillery, air-defense assets enter service with China’s Xinjiang Military Command. China continues to bolster the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) Xinjiang Military Command, with Chinese state media revealing on 25 May that new wheeled artillery and air-defense assets have entered service with a combined arms formation in the region.

Australia reviews China port lease near US military outpost. China’s Landbridge dismisses national-security concerns, saying its investment in Darwin Port is commercial and threatens a lawsuit if the lease is terminated.

Military

Canadian soldier charged with mutiny for anti-vaccine speech. It appears to be the first mutiny charge laid against a military officer in more than 80 years in Canada.

Operations in Ukraine, other countries help U.S. Army develop cyber teams. As the Army builds its cyber and electromagnetic spectrum forces and capabilities, it has leaned heavily on lessons from operations in Ukraine and other theaters.

Biden budget to seek boost to the military’s cyber force. If approved by Congress, the move would mark the first expansion of the Cyber Mission Force since its structure was set in 2012.

END of PDB

Paul Crespo

Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Defense News. A defense and national security expert, he served as a Marine Corps officer and as a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at US embassies worldwide. Paul holds degrees from Georgetown, London, and Cambridge Universities. He is also CEO of SPECTRE Global Risk, a security advisory firm, and President of the Center for American Defense Studies, a national security think tank.