Episode #123: Weekly News Roundup for February 17, 2012

In "This Week in the DoD" for Feb. 17: Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey have been on Capitol Hill this week, explaining the Defense Department's new strategy and budget request to the House and Senate Armed Service Committees. In an effort to help service members and military families keep their finances straight, the Defense Department is promoting the Military Saves Campaign. Military Saves is a program that provides financial advice to military members and their families to help reduce debt and increase savings. First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the Pentagon Wednesday to announce a new report on military spouse employment and state licensing regulations. More than 100,000 military spouses are unemployed right now because they're unable to transfer professional licenses across state lines when they have to move. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited the Pentagon Tuesday. Xi and the Secretary of Defense discussed the importance of a strong military-to-military relationship between the U.S. and China. During Congressional hearings Thursday, Panetta told the House Armed Services Committee that there are clear "red lines," including building a nuclear weapon and closing the Strait of Hormuz, that would prompt military action against Iran. The Army, Air Force and Navy are all realigning their forces in Europe. The Army is disbanding some brigades and consolidating offices, the Air Force is disbanding two squadrons and the Navy is deploying four more guided-missile destroyers to Spain.