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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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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.
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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
Proposed ‘Honor and Remember’ flag resembles communist imagery, Vietnam veterans argue
The flag is being proposed as a national symbol of remembrance for service members and veterans who died as a result of their military service.
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.
In other news
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.
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
Highway patrol: US Marine F-35s conduct flight operations on Finnish roads
The first ever deployment of U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs to Finland proved to be a memorable one.
By J.D. Simkins
Pentagon tells lawmakers it needs $80 billion for Iran war, other expenses: WSJ
The full cost of the conflict, which the U.S. launched alongside Israel on Feb. 28, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill.
By Reuters
‘Hell ship’ responsible for one of the largest single-day loss of Allied POWs discovered after more than 80 years
More than 80 years after its sinking, buried documents in both the American and Japanese archives held the key to locating the "hell ship” Hōfuku Maru.
Bravery in Burma: Despite being rendered blind by the Japanese, this soldier fought on
Marching 200 miles inside northern Burma and determined to cut off the enemy, 1st Lt. Jack L. Knight made the ultimate sacrifice.
By Jon Guttman
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.
By Reuters
Republicans blast Iran agreement as details emerge
One Republican senator called the framework pact announced this week the “worst foreign policy blunder in decades.”
By Patricia Zengerle and Nathan Layne, Reuters
VA eliminates gender-identity initiatives, reclassifies LGBTQ+ care coordinators
The VA is eliminating all activity geared toward veterans’ gender identities and reclassifying its LGBTQ+ care coordinators, an internal memo says.
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.
By Karen Jowers
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.
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.
By Ellen Ioanes