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US Air Force looks to convert offshore oil rigs into rocket recovery platforms
An Air Force plan calls for old oil platforms to become Sea-based Recovery Stations for the U.S. Space Force and private spaceflight companies.
Crew members safely ejected after Navy jets collide at Idaho air show
Two E/A-18G Growler jets collided in mid-air Sunday during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show, the Navy said.
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Congress clashes with Pentagon over civilian harm reduction program
Lawmakers on Friday accused the Pentagon of gutting a congressionally mandated effort to reduce civilian harm during combat.
Senators introduce bill to abolish military draft agency
The Selective Service System, which costs more than $31 million per year, has largely been defunct since 1973.
Army leaders in hot seat over Poland deployment cancellation
Lawmakers questioned the timing and the reasons, lambasting the order that Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said sent a “terrible message to Russia and our allies.”
Future aircraft carrier Doris Miller delayed until 2034
A Navy official said the delay was the result of construction delays with another Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, the future USS Enterprise.
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Military History
Historian’s nearly two decade quest to piece together America’s last major offensive in Vietnam
James Smither spent nearly two decades piecing together what actually occured during the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord.
Coast Guard plans new medal for fittest troops
As the Coast Guard rolls out its first-ever universal physical fitness test, leaders are eyeing incentives for acing it.
Former University of Michigan researcher accused of hiding Chinese military drone ties
Investigators say Chuan Wang claimed modest roles on visa applications when in fact he was publicly known in China for his military drones.
US Army’s 7th Infantry Division, 1st MDTF to merge as Multi-Domain Command-Pacific
The two-star Multi-Domain Command-Pacific will merge the 7th ID’s Stryker infantry brigades and a combat aviation brigade with a multidomain task force.
In other news
Senators introduce bill to abolish military draft agency
The Selective Service System, which costs more than $31 million per year, has largely been defunct since 1973.
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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DARPA eyes breakthrough with synthetic human blood | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.19.26
Pushing the biotech envelope, DARPA and researchers are on the cusp of a massive breakthrough in emergency battlefield medical care.
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Trump downplays troop brain injuries from Iran attack as ‘headaches’
“What does injured mean?” Trump said. “You mean because they had a headache?"
VA employees improperly viewed health records of both VP candidates
Department of Justice officials are looking into whether the actions by VA staff warrant criminal charges.
USS Abraham Lincoln to remain in Middle East amid rising tensions
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
By Diana Stancy
Small-drone defense is next in Pentagon’s Replicator buying push
The Pentagon will request funding for Replicator 2 in its FY26 budget proposal.
VA leaders in New York accused of delaying critical medical visits
In one case, a veteran with esophageal cancer had radiation therapy incorrectly denied for several months before dying from the illness.
Fewer vets will be on the November ballot for Congress this year
Of the 75 congressional candidates this cycle with a combat zone deployment, 62 of them served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both.
Here are all the veterans running for Congress in 2024
More than 180 candidates with military backgrounds are vying for seats in the House and Senate.
How your military stores will be affected by a looming port strike
How would commissaries, exchanges and overseas shipments of household goods be affected by potentially massive American port strikes?
By Karen Jowers