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Space increasingly becoming a warfighting domain, says Space Force chief nominee
Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess and lawmakers said in a Senate hearing that adversaries are targeting the space domain first in conflicts, citing the Iran war.
Senators question whether military pharmacy program is the best deal for beneficiaries
Senators raised concerns about the potential anti-competitive tactics of the military’s Tricare pharmacy program contractor, Express Scripts.
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Your Air Force
The new military family: staying together while living apart
The DoD does not recognize “geo-bachelor” as an official personnel status or maintain department-wide data on how many families live this way.
230 troops discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccine have rejoined, Pentagon says
Roughly 2.7% of the thousands who left the service over the vaccine mandate have rejoined and another 7% have expressed interest in returning.
Disputed veterans benefits bill gets pulled before House vote
A widely debated veterans bill was pulled from a House vote Thursday amid controversy.
Bad actors use bogus offers to go after payouts to families affected by first atomic bomb test
Scam artists are targeting the $100,000 now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure dating back to the Trinity blast.
In other news
Top House Democrat calls to split veterans omnibus, advance Major Richard Star Act
If Congress cannot reach agreement on the omnibus, lawmakers may face a choice: continue negotiating a single package or advance one bill at a time.
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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New fitness standard takes hold across the Army | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 7.14.26
The Army implements the new waist-to-height ratio system amid a Pentagon push for revamped standards. Plus, new tech on the scene at Eurosatory 2026.
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Panel to study Pentagon’s COVID vaccine mandate, troops dismissal
The panel will examine the processes regarding the Pentagon's COVID-19 policies and what led to the dismissal of those who refused the vaccine.
By Patricia Kime
US Air Force turns to cheaper cruise missiles it can buy by the thousands
The U.S. Air Force is turning to cruise missiles it can buy by the thousand, cheap enough to shoot many for less than it once cost to shoot one.
Top House Democrat calls to split veterans omnibus, advance Major Richard Star Act
If Congress cannot reach agreement on the omnibus, lawmakers may face a choice: continue negotiating a single package or advance one bill at a time.
By Natalie Oliverio
Forged by the T: Pentagon launches testosterone screening program for troops
DoD will begin screening and offering TRT for troops with testosterone deficiency to ensure they maintain a “biological foundation" to fight, Hegseth said.
By Eve Sampson
US launches new round of strikes against Iran
The U.S. conducted a new wave of strikes against Iranian military sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of the Islamic Republic's ports.
By Enas Alashray and Tala Ramadan, Reuters
‘Cruelty was the point’: Transgender troops look back on their ban as it’s set to end
Thirty enlisted transgender service members are in line to be allowed to serve again starting Thursday after being banned from the military in 2025.
By Riley Ceder
Space Force agency awards tech companies $1.75 billion contract for missile warning, tracking satellites
A Space Force agency selected two contractors to field missile warning and tracking satellites in support of the Golden Dome initiative.
Space Force offers $25K for 8-year enlistments in new pilot
The first-come, first-serve program will offer a $25,000 bonus to enlistees who commit to eight-year contracts until the cap of 100 bonuses is reached.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Air Force UH-1N helicopter makes emergency landing in DC after crew hears vibrations in flight
An Air Force helicopter made a precautionary landing in Northwest D.C. on Monday night after its crew heard "vibrating mechanical sounds."
The US military measures readiness. What about adaptability?
Many of the qualities defense experts say will matter most in future wars are difficult to define and even harder to quantify.
By Natalie Oliverio
Active-duty airmen have 18 days to submit current waist-to-height ratio, Wilsbach says
Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach said active-duty airmen have until the end of the month to submit their updated waist-to-heigh ratio into myBodyComp.
German-American veteran of the Battle of the Bulge dies at 100
Col. Frank Cohn, a veteran of the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam, died on July 4 at the age of 100.
US recovery teams begin new search in China for remains of MIAs amid looming budget cuts
Recovery teams from the DPAA traveled over the weekend to China to renew searches for the remains of MIAs ahead of projected budget cuts.
By Richard Sisk
US creates task force to prosecute leaks to news media, Hegseth says
The Justice Department and Pentagon created a joint task force to identify and prosecute leaks to news media.
F-16 pilot awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in Saudi Arabia deployment
Capt. Nathanial “Icarus” Welch received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his actions during a 2025 Operation Rough Rider mission.
US industrial base is becoming stronger for wartime production, study finds
As recent conflicts consume weapons at a ferocious rate, America’s defense industrial base is becoming more prepared to sustain a major war.
By Michael Peck