SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2017, Issue No. 35
May 9, 2017

Secrecy News Blog: https://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

VISUAL RECOGNITION OF AIRCRAFT STILL NEEDED

The ability to recognize and identify aircraft on sight remains a skill that soldiers need to acquire even in a highly automated military, according to the U.S. Army.

"Soldiers must be knowledgeable in the identification of all types of aerial platforms ranging from fixed, tilt, and rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aircraft, in order to protect friendly forces and to prevent fratricide," a newly updated Army manual said.

"There have been many arguments through the years that the military does not need VACR [visual aircraft recognition], because of the advancement of technology that identifies friendly or enemy aerial platforms. [But] VACR is a basic skill that every Soldier should know. Soldiers cannot blindly depend on automation to do their jobs for them."

The manual provides reference information on "current operational aircraft that are observed worldwide or in the combat area" but "it is not all-inclusive because of some classification guidelines."

Along with several new aircraft profiles, the updated manual now includes photographs of the referenced aircraft. See Visual Aircraft Recognition, US Army Training Circular 3-01.80, May 2017.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS, & MORE FROM CRS

When Congress and the President fail to agree on government appropriations and previous funding expires, the result can be a massively disruptive shutdown of the federal government. This occurred most recently in October 2013, and lasted for 16 days.

"Government shutdowns have necessitated furloughs of several hundred thousand federal employees, required cessation or reduction of many government activities, and affected numerous sectors of the economy," according to a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects, updated May 5, 2017:

"Our country needs a good 'shutdown' in September to fix mess!" tweeted President Trump last week.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Job Creation in the Manufacturing Revival, updated May 5, 2017:

The Meaning of "Made in U.S.A.", updated May 5, 2017:

Review of Offshore Energy Leasing: President Trump's Executive Order, CRS Insight, May 5, 2017:

Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, updated May 5, 2017:

Iran's Presidential Elections, CRS Insight, May 5, 2017:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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