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Trump administration releases first tranche of ‘never-before-seen’ UFO files
“With these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, ‘WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’” Trump wrote, adding, “Have Fun and Enjoy!"
Presidential Fitness Test to be required at Defense Department schools
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Presidential Fitness Test would soon be mandatory in the DoD's 161 K-12 schools.
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Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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MilTech
Pentagon turns to AI targeting to help troops shoot drones
The technology can detect threats and distinguish them from non-threats, such as birds, faster than a human operator can.
Opinion
Why Congress must end the remarriage penalty for military survivors
A policy that causes surviving spouses to lose their benefits if they remarry suggests their sacrifice ends the moment they seek a new chapter in life.
Commissaries reverse decision to charge for single-use bags
The decision came only one month after the bag fees went into effect.
Life or death centered around a canteen for this AEF soldier
While under a hail of machine gun fire, William Sawelson crawled through the mud to deliver water to a wounded soldier.
In other news
Danger pay for US troops could double, expand to more regions
The U.S. defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 has raised the prospect of an increase in the monthly stipend paid out to troops in dangerous regions.
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
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Navy looks to expand tech, autonomy for future fleet | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.5.26
The commander of the Naval Research Laboratory outlines goals for the fleet at Sea-Air-Space 2026. Plus, global defense spending updates for the year.
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Military families seek out food assistance amid shutdown anxiety
"We expected an increase, but didn't quite expect this," said Dorene Ocamb, Armed Services YMCA chief brand and development officer.
By Karen Jowers
How the government shutdown is affecting troops, families
The current effects of the shutdown on installation programs and services vary from base to base.
By Karen Jowers
Financial resources for troops if the government shutdown stops pay
From banks and credit unions to the military relief societies, help will be available.
By Karen Jowers
Here’s how a government shutdown would affect VA services
Veterans' health care and benefits processing won't be affected, but other services would stop during a government shutdown.
By Karen Jowers
Senator ‘alarmed’ about barracks privatization, seeks answers from DOD
Given the Defense Department's history with family housing privatization, the Pentagon should "move cautiously," one senator said.
By Karen Jowers
DOD needs to shore up help for troops with gambling problems, GAO says
More clarity is needed to define who's responsible for certain steps to prevent and treat gambling disorder among troops, government auditors said.
By Karen Jowers
Here’s how looming government shutdown could affect troops, families
Lawmakers are pushing for military pay to continue. Some operations, like child care, may vary from base to base.
By Karen Jowers
Pentagon takes step toward potentially privatizing commissaries
Defense officials want to know if private grocers and investors could operate commissaries while maintaining the commissary benefit.
By Karen Jowers
Elmo and friends help military families build healthy habits
Military families asked for ways to incorporate habits into their busy lives to keep their young children healthy. Sesame Workshop delivered.
By Karen Jowers
Experts debunk DOD claim about autism therapy, demand its availability
A new report urges the DOD to provide Applied Behavior Analysis as a basic benefit for the one in 28 military children diagnosed with autism.
By Karen Jowers