Alexander Riedel
Stars and Stripes
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Past articles by Alexander:
DODEA students free themselves from overturned school bus near Ramstein Air Base; minor injuries reported
Defense Department students broke their way out of an overturned school bus on a rural road near Ramstein Air Base on Friday, in an accident that resulted in minor injuries and one child taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, local officials and students said. → Read More
With the ‘modern American in mind,’ Air Force OKs neck and hand tattoos
The new version of the service’s dress and appearance standards policy allows tattoos up to 1 inch long on the hands and back of the neck, which were previously banned. → Read More
Two Air Force commanders overseeing nuclear force support dismissed for ‘loss of confidence’
Two commanders and four others have been fired from units at Minot Air Force Base, a strategic nuclear installation in North Dakota, Air Force Global Strike Command officials said. → Read More
Pentagon tells service members to stop displaying giant US flags at major events
In a Feb. 10 memo to its public affairs offices, the Defense Department said that having service members carry the U.S. flag horizontally or land it on the ground after a parachute jump is no longer acceptable. → Read More
Four US soldiers injured after Army truck catches fire during crash on German autobahn
A U.S. soldier was airlifted to a hospital and three others were injured Thursday after two Army trucks carrying weapons collided on a major autobahn in Germany. → Read More
Stockbroker-turned-unrepentant ISIS sniper convicted on US terrorism charges
Ruslan Maratovich Asainov was captured in Syria after becoming a sniper instructor for the Islamic State group. He was found guilty this week of providing support to the terrorist organization. → Read More
Air Force starts direct-hire program to help military spouses find jobs overseas
A new Air Force direct-hire authority program is designed to provide civilian spouses who face restrictive employment laws in foreign countries with easier access to base employment, the service said. → Read More
Russian commander’s shaving directive draws cutting commentary
Russia’s top military leader is apparently worried about his battlefield troops’ facial hair. → Read More
Service members get $100K raise in life insurance, new option available for disabled veterans
This is the first update to life insurance coverage for active duty members and veterans since 2005. → Read More
Air Force brings back tape test under new body composition program
The service is introducing a waist-to-height ratio that will determine whether airmen and Space Force guardians meet their annual fitness standards. → Read More
In-demand Air Force jet boosts communications for troops in Middle East
Essentially functioning as a low-Earth satellite, the BACN system allows for data transmission between different aircraft systems and provides a signal boost to on-the-ground units. → Read More
Ex-contractor for US forces in Afghanistan pleads guilty to multimillion-dollar bribery scheme
A former U.S. military contractor pleaded guilty to bribery and visa fraud in his management of millions of dollars worth of U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts in Afghanistan. → Read More
Air Force restores advanced degrees as factor in mid-level officer promotions
The service announced that it will no longer exclude advanced academic degrees from promotion boards for the ranks of major and lieutenant colonel. → Read More
Pentagon to raise military housing allowances in US by 12% on average
The new rates take effect Jan. 1 and reflect the largest year-over-year jump to housing allowances in many years. Housing allowance payments totaling an estimated $26.8 billion will be paid to roughly 1 million service members next year. → Read More
Swipe right: New social app allows military spouses to connect, create friendships
Matthew Shanks founded MilitarySocialNetwork.org, a website and free mobile app that allows military spouses and service members to search for and connect with new acquaintances. → Read More
Crew unscathed after Air Force stealth bomber’s emergency landing results in fire
An emergency landing over the weekend by an Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber resulted in a fire and unspecified damage to the plane, but the crew walked away unharmed, service officials said. → Read More
Exploring empirically: Tracing Roman roots and rocks in modern-day Mainz
Do a deep dive into the Roman era of the Rhine by tracing the ancient roots of Mainz through still-existing sites of historical significance. → Read More
The BEAST is gone as Air Force revamps basic training and shortens combat scenario
After 16 years, Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training will be retired, as the service changes the way it prepares recruits for combat. → Read More
New measures could aid US military households in Germany as electricity prices soar
On Monday, the German government announced an emergency payment for natural gas and district heating customers in December and a price break for both electric and natural gas power customers early next year. → Read More
Army MP’s death ruled a suicide amid claim that superior didn’t report her assault allegations
Spc. Denisha Montgomery told her family she had been assaulted by three soldiers and was dissuaded by her first sergeant from filing an official report. Two weeks later, she was found dead in her barracks. → Read More