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USMC awards $20 million contract for first autonomous ground vehicles
The Marine Corps is pursuing a first-of-its-kind $20 million production contract for fully autonomous ground vehicles.
US Marine declared dead after being reported missing from USS Anchorage
Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco, 21, disappeared from the amphibious transport dock ship on Thursday, prompting a search and rescue operation.
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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.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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Veterans
Anthony Tata assumes oversight of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Families of missing service members from the Vietnam war are pushing for answers on budget cuts that have canceled MIA searches in Vietnam and Laos.
Is GPS reliance making troops less observant? Yearlong study aims to find out.
The study will use virtual reality simulations to track aspects of observation and recall in subjects with and without navigation aids.
Military recruiting hit a 15-year high. How quickly do recruits become mission ready?
How quickly recruits move from accession to operational qualification can affect force generation, unit staffing and long-term readiness planning.
US sending military warships, personnel to Venezuela in the wake of the nation’s devastating earthquakes
Two U.S. warships, the USS Fort Lauderdale and the littoral combat ship USS Billings have been dispatched to Venezuela following the nation's earthquakes.
In other news
Debate over women in combat prompts NDAA battles
The amendments follow Hegseth’s order that all the services develop gender-neutral physical fitness standards for all troops in ground combat roles.
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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The president of the GWOT Memorial Foundation says he’s taking feedback on the installation’s design. Plus, foam drones and a throwable 360-degree camera.
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MORE STORIES
Seven sailors injured during fire aboard USS Indianapolis
The fire was extinguished, and the injured sailors were treated for minor injuries at local hospitals before being cleared to return.
By Riley Ceder
Marines create dedicated track for Doctor of Philosophy officers
The new MOS 8899 establishes a career path for PhD-trained officers in technical fields.
Trump meets munitions makers amid push to replenish weapons stockpiles
Pentagon negotiators are pressing contractors to move much faster to boost output.
By Mike Stone, Reuters
White House asks Congress for $87.6 billion, mostly for Iran war
The request includes $67.15 billion for the military, including $21 billion for munitions and to strengthen the U.S. industrial base.
By Patricia Zengerle, Reuters
In shift, Pentagon grants flu vaccine exceptions to military services, some federal agencies
The Pentagon has updated their guidance on influenza vaccinations, giving select forces and agencies exceptions to the optional policy.
Can the US military preserve decades of wartime experience?
Thousands of post-9/11 veterans are reaching retirement. Whether the lessons they learned during two decades of combat will be retained remains to be seen.
By Natalie Oliverio
F-35 program chief warns fleet has outgrown its support system amid record-low readiness
The hearing comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office report this month that found just one in four F-35s were fully mission capable.
Airstrike killed senior ISIS commander in Syria, CENTCOM says
A senior Islamic State leader was killed by an airstrike last week, Central Command announced on Wednesday.
By Eve Sampson
Military families paying $1,000 out of pocket for moves, survey shows
A new survey on military family well-being reveals challenges with the PCS experience, as well as spouse unemployment, food insecurity and housing costs.
By Karen Jowers
US Senate joins House in voting to halt Iran war
It marks the first time both chambers approved directing a president to remove armed forces from hostilities since the War Powers Act was adopted in 1973.
By Patricia Zengerle, Reuters
Marines expand use of Maven with new AI operational reporting tool
Officials say the new tool will move the Marine Corps from being data-rich but information-poor to a state of information superiority.
VA inventory report reveals 367 AI systems operating in healthcare, benefits and services
A recently released report catalogs AI uses across the VA, from clinical tools used during patient care to systems that help process benefits.
By Natalie Oliverio
Nearly 5 million veterans have used magic mushrooms, LSD or MDMA, study finds
The RAND study revealed confusion among veterans about the VA's policies regarding psychedelics.
Gunfight at the Veracruz Custom House led to six Medal of Honor recipients
Six U.S. sailors and a Mexican naval cadet matched their heroism in an alley.
By Jon Guttman
Just one in four Americans believes the Iran war was worth its costs
Only 23% of Americans think the U.S. is now in a stronger position with Iran than before, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
By Jason Lange, Reuters