The authors use survey data to compare the attitudes and experiences of recent users and nonusers of My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA), a scholarship program for eligible military spouses pursuing associate's degrees, certificates, or licenses.

This study analyzes technological successes and identifies capability gaps regarding technological countermeasures to radioactive contamination caused by the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant accident.

Compared to freshwater and the open ocean, less is known about bacterioplankton community structure and spatiotemporal dynamics in estuaries, particularly those with long residence times. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, but despite its ecological and economic significance, little is known about its microbial community composition. A rapid screening approach, ITS (internal transcribed spacer)-LH (length heterogeneity)-PCR, was used to screen six rRNA operon (16S rRNA-ITS-23S rRNA) clone libraries constructed from bacterioplankton collected in three distinct regions of the Chesapeake Bay over two seasons. The natural length variation of the 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS region, as well as the presence and location of tRNA-alanine coding regions within the ITS, was determined for 576 clones. Clones representing unique ITS-LH-PCR sizes were sequenced and identified. Dramatic shifts in bacterial composition (changes within subgroups or clades) were observed for the Alphaproteobacteria (Roseobacter clade, SAR11), Cyanobacteria (Synechococcus), and Actinobacteria, suggesting strong seasonal variation within these taxonomic groups. Despite large gradients in salinity and phytoplankton parameters, a remarkably homogeneous bacterioplankton community was observed in the bay in each season. Stronger seasonal, rather than spatial, variation of the bacterioplankton population was also supported by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and LH-PCR analyses, indicating that environmental parameters with stronger seasonal, rather than regional, dynamics, such as temperature, might determine bacterioplankton community composition in the Chesapeake Bay.

The MC-130 is a multi-role aircraft which plays a vital role in both times of war and peace as a key enabler of U.S. Special Operations Forces. Readiness training is particularly important for this asset, which must be ready to deploy at all times. As the U.S. Military budget decreases, the costs of training policy alternatives must be carefully evaluated to maximize readiness with the available resources. The purpose of this research is to inform decision makers about the respective effects on costs and readiness of existing and potential MC-130 aircrew continuation training policies. Frequency and duration of sorties, having a colocated simulator, the proportion of temporary duty training, and role specialization were investigated in this research. In order to accomplish this goal a literature review was conducted and a data gathering internship was carried out in the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Airbase, Japan. Using the information gathered an integer linear optimization model was developed along with feasible model inputs. Cost analysis was performed for each of the policies in a variety of scenarios. Increasing the proportion of temporary duty training, and implementing role specialization policies were found to be favorable alternatives in some cases. Having a colocated simulator was found to provide the most significant savings for continuation training overall.