Military veterans housed together in Arkansas jail
A program that houses military veterans together in an area of the Garland County jail in Hot Springs, Ark., is winning praise from criminal justice officials, jail officials and the veterans who are inmates.
The program began about five months ago to test the idea that the chance of rehabilitation is better by housing veterans together in the same way other treatment groups are housed.
The veterans are housed separately from other inmates and given access to specialized programs and treatment.
Inmate Jeffrey Estright — jailed for probation violation — told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the program allowed him to enroll in a technical college aviation repair program. And inmate Patrick McElroy — jailed for shooting and wounding a former co-worker — said he’s in an anger management program. AP
United Arab Emirates says military helicopter crash kills 2
The United Arab Emirates says a military helicopter crash has killed the pilot and co-pilot onboard.
The UAE military said in a statement June 12 the crash happened “during a routine flight over international waters.” The statement did not elaborate, nor did it offer any details on the type of helicopter involved.
The UAE, one of the best-equipped militaries in the region, is part of a Saudi-led coalition now battling Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies in Yemen. It is also part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
In May, the UAE said another military air crash over water killed two on board during a training exercise. AP
South Carolina C Air National Guard resumes
The South Carolina Air National Guard has resumed flight operations less than a week after two pilots survived a midair collision in Georgia.
Flying was temporarily halted after two F-16 jets from the South Carolina Air National Guard crashed June 7 at a rural bombing rage in Louisville, Georgia. The pilots were in good shape after the crash at the Bulldog Military Operations Area while on a training mission.
Col. Nicholas Gentile is commander of the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. He said in a news release June 11 that the wing’s pilots and maintenance crews will resume training for an upcoming deployment to the Pacific Area Forces area of responsibility.
A U.S. Air Force Safety Investigation Board is convening to determine the cause of the crash. AP