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Marines deepen ties in Philippines as rotations continue
A new Marine rotation is continuing operations in the Philippines as the U.S. deepens ties in the region.
Troops would get up to 7% pay raise under proposed defense bill
The White House's proposed budget for fiscal 2027 includes a pay raise for junior enlisted service members and other pay grades, ranging from 5% to 7%.
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Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
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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
US military eyes high-energy ‘laser dome’ for domestic air defense
The U.S. military's pursuit of high-energy laser weapons for American air defense comes amid the expanding threat of low-cost weaponized drones.
Vietnam veteran’s gravestone somber reminder of war’s toll
The gravestone is evidence that Vietnam veteran Eugene “Gene” Marion Simmers carried the burden of decades-long grief and trauma.
US Navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz ‘effective immediately,’ Trump says
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” the president wrote on Sunday.
US military begins clearing Strait of Hormuz, Trump says
Reports emerged Saturday about the presence of U.S. Navy ships in the strait.
In other news
The only Navy Seabee awarded the nation’s highest award for valor
The early, brutal battle to protect a Special Forces camp near Dong Xoai changed the course of the Vietnam War. Marvin Shields gave his all in its defense.
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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China draws strategic lessons from US war with Iran | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.14.26
Monitoring from afar, one of the world’s top superpowers is watching the United States’ war in Iran from a strategic perspective. What are they learning?
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MORE STORIES
Child care, teaching positions safe from DOD civilian hiring freeze
Some key positions in military quality-of-life programs are exempt from the department's hiring freeze.
By Karen Jowers
GOP leaders warn Trump not to abandon NATO post, Pacific buildup plans
Republican leaders are concerned about rumored plans to scale back American military involvement in Europe and Japan.
Shipyards, military clinics exempted from Pentagon hiring freeze
Advocates praised defense leaders for excluding shipyard workers and other key readiness jobs from a department-wide hiring freeze.
The P-51 Mustang and the man who won the World War II air war with it
It was thanks to former WWI pilot Tommy Hitchcock that the P-51 entered U.S service — and changed the skies over Europe forever.
VA leaders announce end to all transgender-related care for vets
Department leaders promised to continue to provide necessary care to transgender veterans even after the rule changes.
Meet Lt. Preston, one of the only PT crewmen to be awarded the MOH
Lt. Arthur Preston and his PT boat crews did whatever it took to save a downed Navy airman in the South Pacific.
By Jon Guttman
Military families face four key health care deadlines by March 31
Deadlines are looming for these health care-related tasks.
By Karen Jowers