Top stories
Army expects to meet recruiting goals for 2nd straight year
The Army is on pace to bring in 61,000 young people by the end of the fiscal year in September, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.
Lloyd Austin ends term marred by Afghanistan but buoyed by Ukraine
Defense Secretary Austin will bid farewell Friday following a term that included three major military crises, a global pandemic and a brush with cancer.
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What to know for a smooth PCS move in 2024
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times' 2024 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Your Army
Students charged in TikTok plot targeting soldier plead not guilty
Five college students are accused of using the Tinder dating app to lure a soldier to their campus as part of a "Catch a Predator" trend on social media.
Coast Guard arrests human smugglers who ram boat
The smugglers, Mexican citizens, were detained after Coast Guardsman disabled their motor with gunfire and pepper sprayed them.
Watchdog rebukes VA over failure to refund $110M in medical fees
The Office of Special Counsel said VA owes about $110 million to nearly 1 million veterans for voided medical co-pays.
Multi-year outreach blitz helped bring more vets into VA services
Department leaders have used high-profile partnerships and ad campaigns to reach out to veterans perviously leery of VA programs.
In other news
More military children will soon have access to DOD-operated schools
A new program ends a blanket requirement that families must live on base in order for their children to attend DOD schools.
Life of pie: Soldier charged with loan fraud in bakery boondoggle
The soldier has been charged for allegedly using a fraudulent pie business called “Granny’s Delight” to obtain COVID-related business relief loans.
Marine lights candles for romantic hotel surprise, sets room on fire
Update the safety brief.
By J.D. Simkins
Did a US F-22 shoot down a UFO? Photo of aerial object adds to mystery
A grainy image (it’s always a grainy image) of an object downed by an F-22 over Canada's Yukon territory has aviation (and UFO) enthusiasts chattering.
Air Force Falcons unveil glorious AFSOC-themed football unis
The Air Force just dropped some special edition football uniforms and they are certifiably fire.
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MORE STORIES
More military children will soon have access to DOD-operated schools
A new program ends a blanket requirement that families must live on base in order for their children to attend DOD schools.
By Karen Jowers
Navy names aircraft carriers after former presidents Bush and Clinton
The Navy vessels will be the first to bear the names of former presidents William J. Clinton and George W. Bush.
By Riley Ceder
Pentagon report backs quality-of-life tweaks, not major pay changes
The periodic review of military compensation called troops' pay "strongly competitive" when compared to civilian wages.
Hegseth promises to reinstate, repay troops who refused COVID vaccine
About 8,000 troops were kicked out of the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Trump’s pick to lead Pentagon spars with Dems at confirmation hearing
Former FOX News host Pete Hegseth billed himself as an unconventional pick to shake up Pentagon operations.
The Pentagon’s ‘Replicator’ drone bonanza faces an uncertain future
At stake is the military's ability to adjust to the future of war and compete with China, its main rival.
1,800 California National Guardsmen activated for LA fire response
California Governor Gavin Newsom increased the number of Guardsmen over the weekend, as the death toll for the wildfires climbed to 24.
By Riley Ceder
Confirmation hearing for Trump’s VA Sec pick delayed over FBI check
The confirmation hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday morning, but will now be held next week.
Opinion
Chairman Bost: America’s veterans have earned Doug Collins
In this op-ed, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) discusses how the character and servant leadership of the VA secretary nominee is exactly what veterans need.
By Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.)
In quiet shift, Marines allow mixed-gender DI teams to train recruits
A typical integrated team will have three DIs of one gender and a fourth of the opposite gender, with most featuring three male instructors and one female.
By Hope Hodge Seck
New Senate Vet Affairs chair plans focus on care access, mental health
Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran will lead the chamber's veterans policy committee for the second time.
Blitz of confirmation hearings includes VA, DOD secretary picks
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Jan. 13, 2025.
US Army wants spy drones to launch from high-altitude motherships
The Army wants launched effects that could deploy from high-speed, higher-altitude business jets as it expands its pursuit of unmanned capabilities.
By Jen Judson
Trump picks Senate candidate Sam Brown to head VA memorial affairs
The comabt wounded Army veteran will oversee VA cemetery operations and policies if confirmed to the new role.
Soldiers 10 times more likely to use nicotine pouches, study finds
Nearly one-fourth of Fort Liberty soldiers surveyed in new research study reported using nicotine pouches.
By Todd South
New Tricare contracts bring health care changes
Beneficiaries can expect easier transfer of medical referrals when they move, among other things, with the new Tricare contracts.
By Karen Jowers