Budget a win for special ops, cyber

The nearly half-trillion dollar defense budget proposed by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel calls for a smaller Army and elimination of the A-10 attack jets, but it strengthens Special Operations and cyberwarfare capabilities. The special operations force would increase nearly 6 percent. The budget does sustains money for the F-35 fighter and retires the U-2 spy plane in favor of the unmanned Global Hawks. The propsed budget, which has the endorsement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is subject to Congressional approval. (Sources: multiple, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, 02/24/14) Gulf Coast note: Hurlburt Field, Fla., is home of Air Force Special Operations, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the 7th Special Forces Group and Navy Special Warfare personnel, including SEALS, train at Stennis Space Center, Miss.; Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and Hurlburt Field both have cybersecurity training. Corry Station in Pensacola, Fla., is home of the Navy's Center for Information Dominance; Global Hawks are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.; Eglin AFB is home of the F-35 training center.