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Senate committee proposes 3.6% military pay raise, rejecting White House request for more
The Senate is proposing a lower raise for troops than what was requested, but its bill sets aside additional funding for military quality-of-life programs.
Vietnam War hero of Dong Ha Bridge to be awarded the Medal of Honor
President Donald Trump is set to posthumously award Marine Col. John Ripley the Medal of Honor on June 18 in a White House ceremony.
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Pentagon & Congress
Pentagon open to Poland’s offer to host permanent U.S. base, Polish minister says
Poland has been pushing for a bigger allied presence on NATO’s eastern flank after Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022.
Republicans blast Iran agreement as details emerge
One Republican senator called the framework pact announced this week the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
Senate advances effort to investigate use of JAG officers as immigration judges
A new measure would require an investigation into how roughly 600 military lawyers were used as immigration judges and special assistant U.S. attorneys.
Read the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran
The 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran leaves contentious issues between the countries unresolved.
In other news
Beyond the battlefield: How 3 Marine Raiders turned combat lessons into a healing mission
Prime Hall, Don Tran and Rick Briere served together in the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, which traces its lineage to World War II.
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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President awards Medal of Honor to three recipients at White House
Two Marines and a soldier received the nation's highest military award for valor for actions in Vietnam and the war in Afghanistan.
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MORE STORIES
‘MUMS’ the word: Corps stands up first ever Marine unmanned maintenance squadron
The new detail is now the service's only aviation unit built specifically to bring unmanned aviation maintenance to forward deployed combat theaters.
By J.D. Simkins
Lawmakers aim to ease state-to-state moves for military homeschoolers
The Republican proposal would exempt military families from conflicting state laws on homeschooling, as long as they remain in compliance with one state.
By Karen Jowers
Navy officer, 67, becomes oldest on record to earn Fleet Marine Force pin
Watching his son graduate as a U.S. Navy officer inspired Westerberg in 2022 — at the age of 64 — to also pursue a commission in the sea service.
US won’t soften military posture in Middle East despite Iran agreement
Nearly 50,000 U.S. troops are positioned across the region, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command.
By Tanya Noury
F/A-18 Hornet crashes in Washington state, wildfire subsequently reported
The pilot ejected and was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
By Riley Ceder
Iran, US agree to halt war and reopen Hormuz
The memorandum of understanding is scheduled to be officially signed on Friday in Switzerland.
By Parisa Hafezi, Yomna Ehab and Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters
Only 1 in 4 F-35s is fully mission capable, GAO finds
The F-35’s readiness rates continued to decline through fiscal 2025, with the fleet’s full mission capable rate falling to 25%, according to a GAO report.
‘Sounds like a mutiny’: Secret recording exposes claims of toxic leadership after a Marine’s suicide
A War Horse investigation points to systemic failures before and after the death of Cpl. Drew Mobley, whose suicide was the unit's third in two years.
By Rachel Fobar, The War Horse
US plans major cut to jets, warships for NATO operations in Europe, NYT reports
The United States reportedly plans to significantly reduce the aircraft and warships it makes available for NATO operations in Europe.
By Reuters
Senate committee backs Department of War name change
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the Department of War rebrand in their version of the fiscal 2027 NDAA, moving the name closer to law.
Trump vows to seize Iran’s Kharg Island
Kharg Island, the linchpin of Iran’s oil industry, has once more come under focus amid a fraying ceasefire.
By Tanya Noury
Air Force cites DEI ban in cancellation of wreath-laying honoring women vets
An Air Force spokesperson acknowledged that the service “declined participation in compliance with Executive Orders … and DoW guidance.”
By Hope Hodge Seck
Veterans face higher hurdles in military sexual trauma claims, report finds
Veterans filing disability claims for military sexual assault or harassment face barriers to receiving compensation for their service-connected conditions.
By Patricia Kime
First look at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial design in Washington
If the design is approved, the foundation is aiming for a 2027 groundbreaking and a project completion date of late 2028.
By J.D. Simkins
Pentagon to launch ‘Cyber Mastery Incentive Pay’ program
The initative, dubbed Cyber Mastery Incentive Pay, is slated to begin in early October.
‘They got very lucky,’ Trump says of downed Apache helicopter’s crew
After a U.S. Army Apache helicopter was downed by an Iranian drone, President Donald Trump said the rescued aviators “got very lucky.”
By Tanya Noury