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Airmen to stay enrolled in EPME after failed fitness tests
Airmen in enlisted professional military education will stay in the course, regardless of whether they have passed the school’s internal fitness test.
Soldier regains sense of touch through neural-enabled prosthetic limb
A U.S. Army soldier is participating in a clinical trial at Walter Reed testing a neural-enabled prosthetic limb designed to restore the sense of touch.
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Pentagon & Congress
China’s military buildup makes US increasingly vulnerable, DOD says
The Pentagon's latest annual report on the People’s Liberation Army described China’s recent buildup as “historic.”
New charges for Guard shooting suspect enable death penalty talks
Lakanwal remains charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and illegal possession of a firearm in the Nov. 26 shooting.
How America observed Christmas — at home and abroad — during WWII
Amid shortages, rationing, separation and grief, Americans fought to keep the yuletide spirit alive.
How the Civil War inspired this iconic poet’s classic Christmas song
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow vehemently objected to his son’s desire to enlist in the Union Army.
In other news
Trump approves deployment of 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday that Guard members will be tasked with supporting federal law enforcement partners.
Review: ‘In Waves and War’ shows promise of psychedelics to treat PTSD
The documentary, streaming Monday, follows a group of veterans undergoing experimental treatments currently not approved for clinical use in the U.S.
An enduring symbol: why troops keep naming things after reptiles
From cobras to gators, reptilian mascots and call signs appear on patches, aircraft and unit logos across every branch. Why?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
Battlefield 6 review: the return of a war game worth fighting for
After the rocky reception of Battlefield 2042, game developer DICE needed a strong comeback. The new Battlefield 6 mostly delivers, our reviewer writes.
The next military shooter showdown: ‘Call of Duty’ vs. ‘Battlefield’
This fall, two video game franchises are going head-to-head, with the upcoming releases of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" and "Battlefield 6."
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The state of US hypersonic capabilities | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 12.13.25
As China and other U.S. rivals claim to field operational hypersonic missiles, where does the U.S. stand in developing its own weapons? An expert weighs in.
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MORE STORIES
Over $13 billion in US military aid to Israel improperly tracked: IG
Investigators warned that such lapses increase the risk of sensitive U.S. weapons technology falling into the hands of hostile actors.
By Tanya Noury
Ham, turkey and cigars? A look at Christmas festivities during WWII
It's not too late to put Snowflake potatoes on one's Christmas day menu.
Military recruiting off to ‘strong start’ for fiscal 2026, DOD says
Overall, the services met an average of 103% of their active-duty recruiting goals for fiscal 2025, according to the Defense Department.
By Karen Jowers
DOD needs more consistent Indo-Pacific deterrence funding, GAO says
An annual assessment of how DOD funds deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific revealed problematic inconsistencies, according to a GAO report.
By Lillian Juarez
Jordan says its air force joined US strikes on Islamic State in Syria
Jordan confirmed that its air force took part in strikes launched by the United States on Islamic State group targets in Syria.
US launches operation to ‘eliminate’ ISIS fighters in Syria: Hegseth
A U.S. official said that the attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters.
Pentagon fails financial audit for 8th year in a row
DOD is the only one of the government’s 24 major agencies never to pass.
By Tanya Noury
US military to stop shooting pigs and goats for medic training
The move ends a practice that had been made obsolete by simulators that mimic battlefield injuries.
Radar, other upgrades planned for experimental US Air Force AI fighter
Raytheon was awarded a contract from the Air Force to put its air-cooled, compact PhantomStrike fire control radar into the X-62 as part of its upgrades.
Military lawyer swiftly fired after defying Trump deportation push
An Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired after granting asylum at a high rate.
Air Force drops quarterly standards reviews, moves to annual checks
“We’ve heard your feedback from the field, and we listened,” CMSAF David Wolfe said about dropping quarterly standards and readiness reviews.
America’s Dunkirk: The battle of Long Island
Wars are not won by evacuation, but George Washington’s decision to evacuate Long Island in August 1776 ultimately saved the the Continental Army.
‘Warrior dividend’ is on the way to troops, Trump says
In honor of America's 250th anniversary, troops will receive $1,776 before Christmas, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.
By Karen Jowers
Trump pays tribute to 2 Iowa Guard soldiers, vows retaliation
A gray C-17 transport plane landed on U.S. soil with the remains of Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar and Ayad Mansoor Sakat.
By Tanya Noury
Hegseth orders overhaul of Chaplain Corps
In a Tuesday video message, Hegseth said he intends to “make the Chaplain Corps great again,” by restoring its focus on religious ministry.
By Eve Sampson
Pentagon escalates probe into Sen. Mark Kelly over lawful orders video
The Defense Department says it is accelerating its probe into Sen. Mark Kelly for allegedly violating military law.
By Riley Ceder