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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%.
Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer graduates from Marine recon course
Dakota Meyer, 37, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 for heroism during the war in Afghanistan. He reenlisted in 2025 in the Marine Corps Reserve.
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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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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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Pentagon & Congress
Trump says Iran could be ‘taken out’ on Tuesday
“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," the president said.
The FBI’s secret fight to track down American traitors in Europe during WWII
Author Stephen Harding tells the true story of a small band of FBI agents who went undercover to hunt down U.S. traitors in Europe.
Iran leaves door open for peace talks as hunt for missing US pilot continues
The prospect of a U.S. service member alive and on the run in Iran comes days after Trump threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.”
Iran ‘skirmish’ has no effect on strong US economy, White House advisor claims
The rosy analysis was prompted by the monthly jobs report, which showed the jobless rate for all veterans came down from 4.1% in February to 3.9% in March.
In other news
Trump’s budget proposes massive defense spending with 10% cut to other programs
The proposed surge in defense spending includes a 5-7% pay raise for military personnel.
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?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
When veterans take the pen, war stories start to change
Hollywood has never lacked war stories. But it has often lacked veteran storytellers telling them.
How MREs inspired today’s meal-delivery industry
The MRE has to survive heat, cold, impact and time. And it has to do all of that at scale. Sound familiar?
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Medal of Honor recipients recognize citizen heroes for everyday valor
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society awarded a group of everyday citizens at a recent ceremony, including two youths with extraordinary stories.
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Iran remains security threat even after airstrikes, CENTCOM warns
President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead U.S. Central Command said Iran still has 'considerable tactical capabilities' of concern to national security.
VA staff finished 2M disability claims faster than ever this year
The department is about 15% ahead of its claims workload pace from last summer.
Survey shows surge in support for US leadership in foreign affairs
Almost two-thirds of respondents in the Reagan Institute poll pushed for a bigger role for U.S. leaders on the global stage.
Pentagon leaders hail successful Iran strikes but wary of retaliation
The operation against Iran involved 125 American aircraft, 75 precision weapons and a bevy of other U.S. military assets.
US strikes on Iran draw support from GOP leaders, concerns from Dems
Saturday's attack on Iran nuclear sites is expected to spur new congressional discussions about presidential war powers.
US troops, bases in Middle East could be targets in conflict with Iran
About 40,000 U.S. personnel are spread throughout the region, giving Iran a chance to strike back at American military forces.
White House taps nominees for VA’s top benefits, technology roles
Karen Brazell currently works as a senior VA advisor and would serve as the department's next Under Secretary for Benefits.
DOD schools reorganize to target more support to military children
The school system is adding more psychologists and administrative officers, but there's concern about some positions being eliminated.
By Karen Jowers