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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!"
US and Iran exchange fire as Trump says war will ‘be over quickly’
U.S. forces launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities Thursday after Iran fired missiles and drones at three U.S. Navy vessels.
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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.
Military moves to issue medical disqualifications earlier in the recruitment process
The military will prescreen prospective recruits for 28 medical conditions that are highly unlikely to receive enlistment waivers.
Naples naval installation verifies presence of radon in buildings
The service is now confirming the results of a radon detection test it rejected nearly three months ago.
Lawmakers introduce bill to lower drug costs for service members, veterans
The proposal would allow Tricare beneficiaries and VA patients to pay the lowest government-negotiated price for prescription drugs.
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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
Coast Guard to stand up special forces command
The U.S. Coast Guard is standing up a new Special Missions Command to consolidate its elite maritime response forces.
VIDEOS
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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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.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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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MORE STORIES
Commissaries reverse decision to charge for single-use bags
The decision came only one month after the bag fees went into effect.
Naval aviators will no longer command amphibious warships, CNO says
The Navy announced that it intends to make surface warfare officers the only commanding officers aboard amphibious warships starting in fiscal 2028.
By Riley Ceder
US forces fire at, disable Iran-flagged tanker trying to evade blockade
While President Trump said Project Freedom was paused, the U.S. Navy blockade continues to ban vessels from entering and exiting Iranian ports.
By Riley Ceder
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.
By Jon Guttman
Coast Guard to stand up special forces command
The U.S. Coast Guard is standing up a new Special Missions Command to consolidate its elite maritime response forces.
By Eve Sampson
Coast Guard to deploy autonomous saildrones on Great Lakes
The vessels will be deployed this year from May through October to expand maritime surveillance and data collection.
By Brooke Griswold
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.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Pentagon assures safe passage through Strait of Hormuz despite presence of mines
The guarantee follows a security warning from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command to vessels on Monday about the presence of mines in the strait.
By Riley Ceder
Refusing evacuation, this Marine packed dirt into his wound and continued to fight
The patch of contested real estate known as the Battle of Getlin’s Corner is also remembered for an officer who stood out in a field full of valor.
By Jon Guttman
Defense Department proposes splitting military health system budget
The Defense Department wants to split its funding for the military health system to protect military facilities and care.
By Patricia Kime