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US-Philippine task force to reestablish South China Sea ‘deterrence’
The U.S. and the Philippines announce a joint task force to deter what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls Beijing’s “coercion” in the South China Sea.
Selected Reserve Marines eligible for up to $20,000 retention bonus
In all, 100 MOSs are listed as eligible for the retention bonuses.
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US Naval Academy fires commandant of midshipmen
Capt. Gilbert Clark Jr. was relieved from his duties “due to a loss of confidence" in his ability to lead the Brigade of Midshipmen, the school said.
Caine visits Caribbean as Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela
The nation’s top military officer is visiting U.S. troops Monday in Puerto Rico and on a Navy warship in the region, where the U.S. has amassed a fleet.
Pentagon says it’s investigating senator for ‘illegal orders’ video
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran, joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video last week that called for U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders.
After 84 years, USS Arizona’s unknowns may soon be identified
Operation 85, a family advocacy group, has worked tirelessly the past two years to obtain the DNA of 643 descendents of those onboard the USS Arizona.
In other news
New lab offers generative AI for defense wargaming
The hope is that AI players are realistic enough to facilitate the creation of multiple strategies during a wargaming exercise.
Review: ‘In Waves and War’ shows promise of psychedelics to treat PTSD
The documentary, streaming Monday, follows a group of veterans undergoing experimental treatments currently not approved for clinical use in the U.S.
An enduring symbol: why troops keep naming things after reptiles
From cobras to gators, reptilian mascots and call signs appear on patches, aircraft and unit logos across every branch. Why?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Battlefield 6 review: the return of a war game worth fighting for
After the rocky reception of Battlefield 2042, game developer DICE needed a strong comeback. The new Battlefield 6 mostly delivers, our reviewer writes.
The next military shooter showdown: ‘Call of Duty’ vs. ‘Battlefield’
This fall, two video game franchises are going head-to-head, with the upcoming releases of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" and "Battlefield 6."
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Coast Guard reverses course, calls swastikas and nooses ‘hate symbols’
The change came on the same day media outlets discovered that the Coast Guard had unveiled a policy calling the same symbols "potentially divisive."
Private housing companies let troops deck the halls early for holidays
Military housing providers are now allowing troops and their families to decorate for the holiday season early.
Lawmakers urge troops to refuse illegal orders in video
President Trump called for lawmakers from the video to be arrested and put on trial in a Truth Social post.
By Riley Ceder
VA extends ‘legacy’ caregiver benefits through 2028
The PCAFC provides health care and monthly stipends to designated caregivers of combat veterans with a severe service-connected injury or illness.
By Patricia Kime
Selected Reserve Marines eligible for up to $20,000 retention bonus
In all, 100 MOSs are listed as eligible for the retention bonuses.
By J.D. Simkins
End of an era: The Dust Devils and one final homage to the Harrier
This fall, the “Dust Devils” of the Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron brought the AV-8B Harrier’s decades-long testing era to an official close.
By Alan de Herrera
Pentagon must do better to safeguard public information, GAO warns
Of 10 DOD components assessed, only U.S. Special Operations Command was found to have consistently trained troops about the risks of digital information.
Airman behind famed ‘Burst of Joy’ photo dies at 92
Retired Col. Robert L. Stirm, the man featured in the famous Vietnam War Pulitzer Prize-winning photo “Burst of Joy” has died.
Thanksgiving feasts deployed to troops around the world
Service members on ships in the Caribbean as well as National Guard members deployed to cities within the U.S. will get their turkey, too.
By Karen Jowers
Melania Trump, Usha Vance visit military families in North Carolina
The first and second ladies took part in activities with military-connected children at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during a joint appearance.
By Tanya Noury
How a Nazi trial ended the just-following-orders defense for US troops
After Nuremberg, U.S. military policy stated troops have a duty to disobey orders “a man of ordinary sense and understanding would know to be illegal."
By Richard Sisk
Check out these commissary deals on turkey and trimmings
As Thanksgiving approaches, commissary shoppers can stretch their dollars even further with some deals on turkeys and all the trimmings.
By Karen Jowers
How the Battle of Hurtgen Forest became one of the biggest US losses
By the night of Nov. 20, the U.S. rifle companies alone had lost more than 40% of their strength.
By Michael D. Hull
Recent data shows significant spike in US military aircraft accidents
Across the military, the rate of severe accidents per 100,000 flight hours rose 55% in the 2024 budget year compared with four years earlier.
Can a tabletop game explain why America lost the Vietnam War?
Fifty years after the last U.S. helicopters left Saigon, why America lost the Vietnam War is elusive. But can a tabletop wargame offer insight?
By Michael Peck