Update: No internat'l students

The Navy has grounded more than 300 Saudi military exchange students from non-classroom flight training that will affect nearly 900 Saudis studying at military facilities across the country. There are about 300 in Florida - 140 are at NAS Pensacola, 128 are at Naval Station Mayport and 35 at NAS Whiting Field. The temporary decision comes after a Saudi second lieutenant student-pilot shot and killed three American sailors at NAS Pensacola on Dec. 6. “They are currently doing a safety stand-down, an operational pause, in their flight training,” Navy spokeswoman Andriana Genualdi said. The review is tentatively scheduled to be completed within 10 days. The suspension will remain in place until that review is completed. The classroom portion of training “will resume this week,” she said. Law enforcement officials have questioned other Saudi students at NASP, some of whom reportedly took cellphone video at the scene of the attack. In addition to the three sailors killed, eight people were wounded. The attacker was killed at the scene. His motive remains unclear. U.S. Northern Command ordered military bases around the country to implement new security procedures on Dec. 9, including more random checks. (Source: Politico 12/10/19) There are more than 5,000 international military students in the United States. In a separate storyline, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly awarded the three sailors their "wings" posthumously - Ensign Joshua Watson, 23, his naval aviator wings; and Airman Mohammed Haitham, 19, and Airman Apprentice Cameron Walters, 21, their naval aircrewmen wings. The sailors would have received the wings upon completion of their aviation training.
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/navy-grounds-saudi-students-pensacola-081000 UPDATE2: No new international military students will come to the U.S. for training until new screening procedures are in place, the Pentagon announced Dec. 12following a deadly shooting last week by a Saudi Arabian aviation trainee at NAS Pensacola, Fla. Defense Department’s chief spokesman said there is no explicit ban on new students, but none will enter the country (until) DoD expands its role in the screening process and begins the additional reviews. Currently the bulk of the screening is done by State and Homeland Security departments, as well as host nations. Jonathan Hoffman told reporters new screening guidelines should be in place within days. The deputy defense secretary ordered a 10-day review of the vetting process this week. About a dozen Saudi students who were acquaintances of the shooter are currently confined to the base. Asked why the safety restriction applied to all Saudis, Hoffman said it “seemed prudent.” The enhanced screening, when completed, will affect all international students. (Source: The AP 12/12/19)