Morning Brief: US Bases Adjust as Shutdown Takes Hold, US Navy Exceeds 2025 Recruiting Goal, France Detains Tanker Crew Tied to Russia Shadow Fleet

· Guy D. McCardle

Rear Adm. James Waters rings the bell at CNRC Millington, Tenn., October 1, celebrating the recruitment of 44,096 Sailors in FY 2025. (DVIDS)

Good morning — Thursday, October 2, 2025. The US shutdown is rippling through bases in Europe, the Navy tops its recruiting goals, and the Army shows off a new missile test. In New York, two Delta jets collided at LaGuardia, while abroad, Israel intercepted part of a Gaza flotilla with Greta Thunberg aboard and struck Lebanon. France seized a Russian sanctions-busting tanker, and Zelenskyy pressed EU leaders in Copenhagen as they debated a $165B loan for Ukraine.

—

 

US Bases in Europe Adjust Services as Shutdown Takes Effect

Uncertainty loomed over US military installations in Europe on Wednesday following the federal government shutdown, as bases implemented mixed service reductions while awaiting further guidance.

US European Command (EUCOM) said it had no full list of affected services, and Army garrisons in Bavaria, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden advised personnel to confirm availability with individual offices.

At Ramstein Air Base, closures included the Aquatics Center, library, and some family readiness programs, with limited service at the Education Center and other offices.

Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily said child and youth programs, MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) facilities, commissary, housing, and dining services would remain open, though housing furniture and appliance deliveries may face delays.

NSA Naples pledged that essential services such as commissaries, exchanges, and childcare programs would remain operational, with no impact expected to mission readiness.

Military social media accounts, including those of the Army, Navy, and EUCOM, announced “limited updates” during the funding lapse, reflecting the broader restrictions caused by the shutdown.

 

US Navy Exceeds 2025 Recruiting Goal, Adds Over 44,000 New Sailors

The US Navy surpassed its fiscal year 2025 recruiting target, enlisting 44,096 new sailors by the year’s end — more than 3,000 above last year and the highest total since the early 2000s.

The service announced in June that it had already met its goal of 40,600 recruits three months early.

Rear Adm. James Waters, head of Navy Recruiting Command, credited on-the-ground recruiters and changes that streamlined the process.

Reforms included modernized marketing, faster medical waiver reviews, reduced processing times at Military Entrance Processing Stations, expanded age eligibility, and a preparatory course to boost test scores. About two-thirds of prep course participants met enlistment standards.

Waters said these changes allowed recruiters to spend more time connecting with young people, contributing to the surge.

The Navy, which missed its 2023 goal along with the Army and Air Force, has now met its targets for two consecutive years.

Looking ahead, it has already filled 25 percent of its 2026 recruiting goal through its delayed entry pool.

 

Senate Confirms Hung Cao as Navy Undersecretary in Narrow Vote

The Senate confirmed Hung Cao, a retired Navy special operations officer and former Republican congressional candidate, as undersecretary of the Navy in a 52-45 vote Wednesday.

Most Democrats opposed his nomination, with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) also voting no.

Cao, a Vietnamese refugee who served 25 years in the Navy and retired as a captain, has been a vocal critic of the Pentagon’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs, past vaccine mandates, and what he called weak recruitment efforts. His controversial remarks, including praise for “alpha males and females” and criticism of US allies, drew concern from Democrats, though Republicans highlighted his military career and experience with Navy budgeting and special operations.

As the Navy’s second-ranking civilian, Cao will oversee daily management of the Navy and Marine Corps and focus on shipbuilding, maintenance, and munitions.

He pledged to restore what he called the military’s “warrior spirit” and ensure the Navy delivers a lethal and ready force.

 

US Army Successfully Tests New Precision Strike Missile, Next-Gen Replacement for ATACMS

The US Army announced this week that it successfully tested four Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 (PrSM) systems at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, hitting targets up to 125 miles away.

Officials said the missiles met all performance objectives for range, accuracy, and lethality.

Developed by Lockheed Martin under a contract worth up to $4.9 billion, the PrSM is designed to replace the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), doubling firepower by allowing two missiles per launcher. It is compatible with existing High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) platforms and may be adaptable for allied forces.

The missile has a maximum range of 435 miles, with a longer-range version under discussion that could reach up to 620 miles.

Army officials said the successful test marks a key step in delivering a critical deep-strike capability against enemy command posts, radar, air defenses, and troop concentrations.

 

Two Delta Regional Jets Collide at LaGuardia, One Crew Member Injured

Two Delta Connection regional jets operated by Endeavor Air collided Wednesday night on a taxiway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, the airline said.

The wing of a plane bound for Roanoke, Virginia, struck the fuselage of a jet arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina.

A flight attendant sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. No passengers were hurt.

Delta said the incident was a “low-speed collision” and airport operations were not expected to be affected.

The airline said it is cooperating with authorities to review the incident and emphasized that customer and crew safety remains its priority.

 

Israel Intercepts Part of Gaza-Bound Flotilla Carrying Greta Thunberg, 23 Boats Continue

Israeli forces intercepted 14 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday, detaining passengers including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, while 23 boats continued sailing toward Gaza, according to organisers.

The flotilla, consisting of more than 40 vessels with about 500 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers, is carrying symbolic amounts of aid in an effort to challenge Israel’s blockade.

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed passengers were being taken to port, saying they were “safe and healthy.” Flotilla organisers denounced the action as a violation of international law, alleging the navy used aggressive tactics and scrambled communications.

Israel has said the flotilla violates a lawful blockade and reiterated offers to transfer aid via approved channels.

The interception drew strong international backlash.

Turkey called it an “act of terror” and opened a criminal investigation into the detention of its citizens. Colombia expelled Israel’s diplomatic delegation and terminated a free trade agreement after two Colombians were detained. Malaysia condemned the move, saying eight of its citizens were held. Protests erupted in Italy and Colombia, with Italian unions calling a general strike in solidarity.

Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza since 2007. The flotilla follows earlier attempts to break it, including a deadly 2010 raid and previous detentions of activists.

The latest action comes as Gaza suffers devastation from nearly two years of war, with over 65,000 Palestinians reported killed since Israel’s campaign began after Hamas’ October 2023 attack.

 

Israeli Strike in Southern Lebanon Kills Two Engineers Linked to Sanctioned Firm

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed two engineers and wounded another on Thursday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The strike targeted a vehicle on the Jarmak-Khardali road, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Israeli border.

Lebanon’s National News Agency said the men worked for Meamar, a construction company sanctioned by the US in 2020 for alleged ties to Hezbollah.

Israel has carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a November 2024 truce, saying it is targeting Hezbollah operatives or sites.

The United Nations reports 103 civilian deaths in Lebanon since the ceasefire. Persistent Israeli raids have also damaged reconstruction efforts in war-hit areas, including attacks on heavy machinery.

Lebanon, under US pressure to disarm Hezbollah, faces stalled recovery with the World Bank estimating the war’s economic cost at $14 billion. Hezbollah has said it will only consider talks on its weapons once Israel halts strikes, withdraws troops, and reconstruction begins.

 

France Detains Oil Tanker Crew Linked to Russia’s Sanctions-Evading ‘Shadow Fleet’

French authorities detained two crew members of an oil tanker off the Atlantic coast that President Emmanuel Macron said is part of Russia’s sanctions-evading “shadow fleet.”

Prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger of Brest confirmed Thursday that the men, identified as the ship’s captain and chief mate, have been in custody since Wednesday. They face investigation for refusing to cooperate and failing to prove the vessel’s nationality.

French naval forces boarded the tanker earlier this week at prosecutors’ request, ordering it to remain off Saint-Nazaire pending further inquiry. The vessel, known as “Pushpa” or “Boracay,” has repeatedly changed names, was sailing under Benin’s flag, and is on the European Union’s sanctions list.

The ship departed Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal on September 20, traveled past Denmark — where it was cited in connection with drone activity — and has since remained near France.

Macron said the case underscores the risks and opacity of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of aging tankers operating under nontransparent ownership and foreign flags to evade Western oil sanctions.

 

Zelenskyy Meets EU Leaders in Copenhagen as Europe Weighs Russian Asset Plan, Faces Orban Block

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is meeting European leaders in Copenhagen on Thursday to secure long-term support for Kyiv amid Russian airspace incursions and mystery drone flights in Denmark.

Nearly 50 heads of state and government are attending, with discussions focused on defense cooperation, including building a “drone wall” to counter Moscow, and on using frozen Russian assets to fund a proposed 140 billion euros ($165 billion) loan for Ukraine.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Russia should bear the cost of reconstruction, while Belgium raised concerns about shouldering too much risk.

EU leaders also reiterated that continued support for Ukraine is tied to Europe’s own security.

Zelensky pressed the EU to advance Ukraine’s membership bid, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban opposed the move, arguing it would drag the war and EU money into Ukraine.

Orban, who continues to import Russian oil and backs US President Donald Trump’s stance on energy ties, remains the bloc’s main holdout.

European Council chief Antonio Costa is exploring reforms to prevent vetoes on enlargement steps, but divisions persist.

 

Sources: News Agencies