May 18, 2022 DOD Names Lead for Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee Members of DOD's Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee are in Washington to begin work to address suicides in the U.S. military.
Nov. 17, 2021 Austin Looks to Alleviate Financial Harm the Pandemic Caused Military Families The pandemic has imposed unusual hardships on the military, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is taking immediate steps to alleviate the worst effects.
Aug. 9, 2021 Austin seeks presidential approval for mandatory troop vaccinations by mid-September The COVID-19 vaccine will be mandatory for service members by mid-September, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a message to the force.
July 24, 2021 Austin Calls on Service Members to Stop Stigmatizing Mental Health Help After a briefing from leaders about the spike in suicides among service members in Alaska, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said he's concerned about the number of suicides there and across the force.
July 6, 2021 Sexual assaults will no longer be prosecuted by commanders Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III accepted all of the recommendations of an independent review commission that proposed an array of changes in how the Department of Defense and the services that fall under it will handle sexual assaults.