Here are five news stories and events to start your week from the editors at Military.com:
Downed C-2A Greyhound Located in Philippine Sea
The U.S. Navy has located the C-2A Greyhound cargo plane that crashed Nov. 22 into the Philippine Sea en route to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. Three sailors were killed in the accident and eight crew members were rescued. A team of deep water salvage experts located the plane at a depth of about 18,500 feet, "making the salvage phase of this operation the deepest recovery attempt of an aircraft to date," according to a statement released late Friday by 7th Fleet. The team in coming weeks will return to the site with specialized equipment, including a side-scan-sonar and remotely operated vehicle, "to map the debris field and attach heavy lines for lifting the aircraft to the surface," the release states.
Veterans' Group Calls on Troops to Own the 'Me Too' Movement
Via Hope Hodge Seck at Military.com: "On Monday, the Service Women's Action Network plans to hold a demonstration outside the Pentagon that aims to bring the "#MeToo" sexual assault awareness movement home to the military. It's unclear whether any active-duty service members will be in attendance. Since October, when the #MeToo hashtag gained viral intensity on Twitter and Harvey Weinstein became the first of a herd of powerful men to lose positions and prestige over sexual assault accusations, a new wave of awareness has swept the country. But the military, which has been addressing the realities of sexual assault in the ranks for years, has been largely absent from the movement."
Surface Navy Association National Symposium Kicks Off
The 30th annual National Symposium of the Surface Navy Association will take place this week outside Washington, D.C. The event, scheduled to run Tuesday through Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, will draw a number of the Navy's top brass, including Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Vice Adm. Thomas S. Rowden, commander of Naval Surface Forces. Watch for leaders to discuss a number of issues facing the surface fleet, including the sea service's response to last summer's deadly destroyer collisions in the Pacific. The agenda can be found here.
Mattis Doesn't Plan to Read Book on Alleged White House Feuds
Via Richard Sisk at Military.com: "Defense Secretary Jim Mattis sidestepped the furor Friday over the new tell-all book on White House infighting that depicts a feud between since-ousted aide Steve Bannon and Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, the national security adviser. Mattis said he had been told that his name pops up several times in the book 'Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,' by journalist Michael Wolff. But when asked whether he would read it, he said, 'No, I'm a little busy these days.' At an informal session with Pentagon reporters, Mattis joked that he would leave the reading of the book to the "more literate" members of the press corps."
Former USMC Drill Instructor Pleads Guilty to Hazing, Will Be Separated
Via Hope Hodge Seck at Military.com: "A former Marine Corps drill instructor implicated in a 2015 incident in which a Muslim recruit was thrown in an industrial dryer and interrogated like a terrorist will serve 45 days' restriction and be administratively separated from the military, Marine officials announced Friday. Sgt. Michael K. Eldridge pleaded guilty at a summary court-martial aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, to maltreatment; failure to obey a lawful general order; and disorderly conduct, officials with Marine Corps Training and Education Command said Friday. In addition to restriction, he will be demoted to corporal, according to the announcement."
-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
