In today's Early Bird Brief: Russia to deploy troops about 50 miles from US

oday's Top 5

1. F/A-18 crashes rise rapidly as budget constraints have led to overused planes, undertrained pilots (Stars & Stripes) Since 2012, the number of major Navy and Marine Hornet and Super Hornet accidents — incidents causing at least $50,000 in damage and in some cases leading to injury, death or the loss of the $60 million aircraft — skyrocketed 44 percent, according to data collected by the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va.

2. Militias Corner Islamic State in Libyan City (Wall Street Journal) SIRTE, Libya—When Islamic State captured this Mediterranean port last year, fighters tagged walls and buildings with the group’s name.

3. Russia will deploy a division of troops about 50 miles from the US (Business Insider) At a recent event, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a division of troops would be stationed in Chukotka, Russia's far-east region, just slightly more than 50 miles from Alaska.

4. Obama says he supports veterans' health care recommendations (Associated Press) President Obama says he supports a congressional panel's recommendation to create a veterans' health care system that coordinates government and private care.

5. Female NCO tries out for Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment (Army Times) As the Army continues to integrate women into combat arms jobs, the 75th Ranger Regiment has seen its first female soldier attempt to join its ranks.