Top stories
Toilet paper and human error led to 11-hour USS New Orleans fire, investigation finds
The Navy said the exact cause of a fire aboard the USS New Orleans is unknown but that 100 boxes of toilet paper and crew mistakes made it worse.
82nd Airborne soldiers have Middle East deployment extended out to a year
Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division will have their deployments to U.S. Central Command extended out to a year, according to a memo signed on Sunday.
Latest
USS Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Thailand lifts hope and sex-tourism risk
The USS Abraham Lincoln will visit Thailand this week. Thai officials are anticipating an economic boost but warning of sexual exploitation risks.
Pentagon scraps public weapons testing reports amid oversight concerns
The Pentagon says cuts to its independent weapons testing office will save money, while critics warn they could lead to costly mistakes.
DoD confirms ‘refrigeration disruption’ at military commissaries
More than a half-dozen commissaries on military bases in the continental U.S. reported refrigeration outages this week.
Record-long deployments add new layer to sailors’ reenlistment decisions
“Not knowing what’s happening wears me down,” said a sailor assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln who's reconsidering their reenlistment decision.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Apply for Best for Vets: Trusted Brands
Military Times is now accepting submissions from companies that offer verifiable value to the military community through programs and benefits.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has the latest 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.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Your Military
Contamination prompts Wyoming air base to halt Minuteman III communications testers
Traces of polychlorinated biphenyls were found on AN/PRM-10 test oscillator kits at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, home to 150 Minuteman III ICBM systems.
The military’s ChatGPT is now live via the Pentagon’s GenAI platform
The DoD on Monday launched OpenAI’s ChatGPT Mil on GenAI.mil, making the chatbot available for work involving controlled unclassified information.
Trial for accused mastermind of 9/11 attacks set for June 2028
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and three co-defendants are slated for a trial before a military tribunal in June 2028.
Barracks Task Force completes first housing at Washington naval base
The housing installation at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton is the first of the Navy’s projects funded through the Barracks Task Force to be completed.
In other news
DoD schools struggle to identify, support military children with learning disabilities, GAO finds
A GAO review found gaps at multiple stages of DODEA's process for identifying and supporting students with specific learning disabilities.
VIDEOS
Monument in DC honors 41 million service members | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 9.1.26
For the nation’s 250th birthday, USAA erected a monument that displays the name of every service member in the military — ever.
Featured Videos
TSA stops Alabama traveler for Civil War-era cannonballs in luggage
An Alabama traveler was stopped recently by TSA after checking luggage containing five Civil War-era cannonballs. Roll Tide.
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.”
By J.D. Simkins
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.
Don't miss
MORE STORIES
DoD schools struggle to identify, support military children with learning disabilities, GAO finds
A GAO review found gaps at multiple stages of DODEA's process for identifying and supporting students with specific learning disabilities.
Airmen, guardians must complete gas mask seal tests before end of year
In an effort to reinforce new grooming standards, all airmen and guardians need to complete two new CBRN defense requirements by Dec. 31.
Steel and Stone: Army Museum’s newest exhibit shares untold stories of engineers on 9/11
In its latest exhibit, the National Museum of the U.S. Army highlights the Engineering Corps' role in the nation’s recovery in the wake of 9/11.
Joint Base Andrews activates new helicopter squadron for HH-60W mission
The 5th Helicopter Squadron, which activated Thursday, is slated to be the first unit on base to receive and train with the HH-60W Jolly Green IIs.
Record-long deployments add new layer to sailors’ reenlistment decisions
“Not knowing what’s happening wears me down,” said a sailor assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln who's reconsidering their reenlistment decision.
Air Force awards Boeing $131 billion ceiling contract for F-15 production, modernization
The Air Force has awarded Boeing a sole-source contract with a $131.23 billion ceiling to produce, modernize and sustain F-15 fighters.
West Point ordered professors not to teach human causes of climate change, lawsuit says
A West Point professor is suing the academy, alleging officials fired him after ordering instructors to stop teaching about anthropogenic climate change.
By Eve Sampson
After Epic Fury, Navy may need an extra $8 billion to be solvent, CNO says
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle is going public with his plea for the Navy: "I need my money."
By Hope Hodge Seck
Jonny Kim’s resume already lists Navy SEAL, astronaut, doctor. He’s now returning to active duty.
After almost a decade of working at NASA, Jonny Kim will return to active duty for the U.S. Navy, where he previously served as a SEAL.
By Riley Ceder