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DoD, movers try to ease the heavy lift for troops moving this summer
A direct line for resolving troops' problems and better relationships with moving companies are among DoD's efforts.
Following an outbreak, lawmakers push to require flu vaccine for all service members in budget bill provision
After a recent flu outbreak sickened 284 trainees and killed one, lawmakers move to revert the flu vaccination policy to be required again for all.
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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.
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Transgender troops granted class action lawsuit against government
In the class action lawsuit, the protections won in Talbott v. USA would extend to all transgender service members.
The US military wants a fleet of laser trucks. Here’s what they might look like.
Two ground vehicles could define how the Pentagon fields high-energy laser weapons at scale.
VA uses hundreds of AI systems. Veterans may not know when they’re involved.
The VA’s recently released 2025 AI Inventory identifies 215 of those use cases as high-impact systems.
SOCOM is seeking a long-range kamikaze drone
Armed with loitering munitions, SOCOM MC-130J gunships and other aircraft would be able to hunt targets deep inside enemy lines.
In other news
Bipartisan bill would let service members sue US military for sexual assault
The bill is modeled after similar legislation that allows service members to file civil claims for medical malpractice at U.S. military hospitals.
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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GWOT Memorial group open to design changes | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 6.30.26
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
Lawmaker: Tricare West problems ‘actively harming military readiness’
A Washington lawmaker wants answers from the Defense Health Agency about what it's doing to address problems plaguing the TriWest transition.
By Karen Jowers
Outgoing DOD family official: ‘Don’t forget who you’re working for’
Patricia Barron connected with – and listened to – military spouses during her four years as head of DOD family policy.
By Karen Jowers
More than 300k VA health jobs exempted from White House hiring freeze
About two-thirds of Veterans Affairs jobs will be excluded from a White House order blocking new hiring.
Trump’s federal hiring freeze raises fears about VA medical care
VA hires about 40,000 new workers every year to maintain operations at VA medical sites. It's unclear if that can continue under Trump's hiring halt.
Tricare West Region beneficiaries get second payment update extension
The deadline is extended, again, for those who live in the new West Region to provide their payment information to TriWest.
By Karen Jowers