U.S. Army Secretary Eric Fanning has said the lack of stable and predictable budget is one of the major challenges the service branch faces, the Army Times reported Sunday.

Fanning told Army Times reporter Michelle Tan in an interview that the military branch needs stable funding in order to train service personnel, develop a long-term program for the Army as well as achieve military readiness.

“In this budget environment… we look first to make sure that we’re taking care of soldiers today, that they’re properly trained and equipped for the fights we’re sending them into today,” he said.

He also mentioned his short-term goals for the Army, including his plans to focus on mental health among uniformed personnel, address emerging threats and advance acquisition reform.

Fanning noted that he intends to establish a “rapid capabilities office” that will work to address survivability, electronic and cyber warfare as well as help streamline the procurement process.

Fanning was inducted into office on May 18 during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Pentagon.

The U.S. Army reported Thursday that it has teamed up with Canada’s army to teach strategies on handling improvised explosive devices and mines to a platoon of the Mongolian armed forces at the multinational peacekeeping exercise Khaan Quest 2016.

Cpl. Janessa Pon, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, writes the training helped the MAF prepare for a future United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan where minefield threats are common.

“We’re equipping the MAF with the skills necessary to counter improvised explosive devices and stay safe while executing peacekeeping missions,” said Army Sgt. Andy Hicks, 388th Clearance Company, 841st Engineer Battalion explosive ordnance disposal technician.

Army noted participants took classes and executed practical applications of the training that included several scenarios including mine identification, location marking of mines or unexploded ordnance and mine probing using issued gear.

MAF hosted the Khaan Quest and was co-sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and supported by U.S. Army Pacific and MARFORPAC, the report said.

U.S. and Jordanian forces have completed a joint arms live fire exercise as part of a move to build up military partnership between the two nations.

The Eager Lion 16 exercise kicked off with the U.S. military providing fire support to the Jordanian armed forces’ clearance operations in a town on May 24, the U.S. Army said Tuesday.

“Exercises like Eager Lion 16 aim to decrease the friction points between the JAF soldiers and U.S. forces as they work together to reinforce our partnership,” said Lt. Col. Charles Canon, the chief military assistance action officer with the U.S. Embassy in Jordan.

The JAF and U.S. forces take turns every year to plan the exercise and Jordan led the planning for the 2016 exercise meant to help each service integrate counterparts.

Lt. Gen. Michael Garrett, U.S. Army Central commanding general, participated in an operations briefing and received updates on the two nations’ progress prior to the combined arms live-fire exercise.

Defense committees in both chambers of Congress have called on the U.S. Air Force to speed up its recapitalization effort for the service’s legacy ground surveillance fleet, Defense News reported Friday.

Lara Seligman writes the current Air Force review on how long the existing Northrop Grumman-built E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System can operate is set to complete in March 2017.

The legacy E-8 JSTARS features a Boeing 707-300 airframe that conducts ground surveillance and battle management support missions for ground and air commanders, according to the report.

The Air Force told Defense News the selection for a replacement fleet is set for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 and that the initial operational capability for the new fleet is scheduled in fiscal 2024.

Lawmakers expressed concern that an extended search for a replacement fleet could impair ground moving target indicators and battle management command and control systems, Defense News reports.

The House Armed Service’s version of the defense policy bill approved May 18 states that the Defense Department could see a “shortfall of 10 JSTARS aircraft in its fleet of 16 operational aircraft by late fiscal year 2025,” the report says.

Gen. Frank Gorenc, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, will retire from his current role by September, Air Force Times reported Sunday.

Oriana Pawlyk writes that the service branch has not yet named a successor to the 37-year Air Force veteran.

Gorenc has held several roles with the Air Combat Command, Air Staff, Joint Staff and U.S. European Command throughout his career.

He has also worked to establish the U.S. as a rapid response force in Europe and Africa, the report said.

Gorenc also currently serves as commander of Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and director of the Joint Air Power Competence Center in Kalkar, Germany.

He has recorded more than 4,500 flight hours and has received various service awards and recognition including the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Airman’s Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal and Joint Service Commendation Medal.