5 Things to Start Your Week

Here are five news stories and events to start your week:

Trump Signs VA Accountability Act, Gives Pen to Double-Amputee

Via Richard Sisk at Military.com: "... Following his own remarks, Trump signed the Veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, empowering Shulkin to bypass existing civil service rules at the VA in the hiring, firing and promotion of employees. Trump then handed the pen to [Double-amputee 82nd Airborne Division Sgt. Michael] Verardo. "In just a short time, we've already achieved transformative change at the VA -- and believe me, we're just getting started," the president said. "The enthusiasm for the Veterans Administration and for making it right for our great veterans has been incredible, and I want to thank all of them."

Dismissal of Bid Protest Clears Way for New Army Sidearm

Via Wyatt Olson at Stars & Stripes: "The dismissal earlier this month of a bid protest by firearms maker Glock, Inc. -- over a $480 million handgun contract -- clears the way for the Army to begin using its newest version of a sidearm in more than 20 years. On Friday, the Government Accountability Office, which reviews protests to federal contract awards, announced that on June 5 it had dismissed Glock's claims that, among others things, the Army improperly evaluated the firearm maker's proposal and that the solicitation intended that multiple contracts be awarded."

First 4 Women Graduate Cavalry Scout Training at Fort Benning

Via Ben Wright of The Ledger-Enquirer: "For the first time in history at Fort Benning, Georgia, four women were among 162 soldiers who graduated Thursday from the Cavalry Scout One Station Unit Training. The soldiers of the 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, completed the 17-week training and earned the military occupational specialty of 19D Cavalry Scout during a ceremony at Freedom Hall. As part of gender integration, the four women will continue their jobs at the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, and the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina."

Air Force Announces Who's Eligible for New 'R' Device

Via Oriana Pawlyk at Military.com: "The Air Force announced the career specialties eligible to receive the 'R device' for remote impacts, the Pentagon's award for those with hands-on employment of a drone or other weapon system that directly impacts combat or military operations overseas. 'The R device may be awarded to airmen who, during the period of an action, served in the remotely piloted aircraft, cyber, space or [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] career field,' Air Force spokesman Col. Patrick Ryder told reporters Thursday. The award is retroactive to Jan. 7, 2016."

See Military.com's Full Coverage from the 2017 Paris Air Show

Were you not able to make it to the Paris Air Show? Don't worry, Military.com has you covered. Our reporter Hope Hodge Seck and videographer Ho Lin were on the ground all week, chronicling everything from the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter's first aerial demonstration at Europe's biggest airshow, to Lockheed Martin Corp.'s unveiling of the new C-130J SOF -- a special operations variant of the Super Hercules for foreign buyers -- to Russia's Mig Corp. plans to feature the new MiG-35 at the MAKS international airshow near Moscow in July. See all of our stories and videos from the show here.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.