Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

July 1, 2017     Million Veteran Program surpasses 580,000 enrollments; faces potential budget cut A large-scale Department of Veterans Affairs project to research how veterans’ genes and military service affect their health surpassed 580,000 participants Friday during an enrollment event at American Legion headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.   Purple Heart Truck Run: An 8,500-mile journey to a wounded warrior Saturday marks the start of an 8,500-mile, six-week journey of a mobility-equipped 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor truck from one of the nation's most revered war memorials to a gathering in Dallas, where it will be presented to a wounded warrior.   In final stages of Mosul fight, US plays larger role The day after Iraq's prime minister declared an end to the Islamic State group's caliphate, U.S. Army Col. Pat Work and a small team of about a dozen soldiers drove through western Mosul in two unmarked armored vehicles to warn Iraqi forces of a pressing threat: friendly fire.   Ukrainian soldiers fight mock battle with NATO mentors Ukrainian soldiers training with the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine dug into fighting positions and fought a mock defensive battle with NATO allies and partner nations at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center on Thursday and Friday.   More time allowed for review of new transgender enlistments Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is giving the military chiefs another six months to conduct a review to determine if allowing transgender individuals to enlist in the armed services will affect the "readiness or lethality" of the force.   US, Philippine navies patrol troubled waters in Philippines U.S. and Philippine navy ships have patrolled waters in the southern Philippines where kidnappings by ransom-seeking Abu Sayyaf militants have sparked a regional security alarm.   How America's aircraft carriers could become obsolete Beyond the question of how much field testing a new carrier needs, the military-industrial complex is likely to confront a more existential question in the coming decades: Is the aircraft carrier defensible, both physically and in budgetary terms?