Top 5     Pentagon names 5th soldier killed by Iran drone strike, 6th is ‘believed to be’ ID’d (Military Times) The Pentagon has identified one deceased soldier and listed another as a “believed to be casualty,” the fifth and sixth soldiers killed by Iran in a March 1 drone strike that hit Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.       US submarine sinks Iranian ship in first US torpedo kill since WWII, Pentagon confirms (Military Times) A United States Navy submarine sunk an Iranian ship with a single torpedo as the frigate was transiting the Indian Ocean, marking the first such kill by a U.S. submarine since World War II, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.       US launches Precision Strike Missiles in Iran war in first combat use (Military Times) The U.S. military recently deployed Lockheed Martin’s long-range Precision Strike Missile, or PrSM, for the first time in combat against Iranian targets, U.S. Central Command announced.       Dover ‘personal effects specialist’ job posting creates stir on social media (Military Times) A job announcement from a veteran-owned military contractor raised alarm on social media Wednesday over a potential escalation of U.S. military operations abroad.       The US Air Force just used its oldest bomber to attack Iran (Military Times) First flown in 1952, the Boeing B-52 has seen service in Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Global War on Terror — and now Iran.   US Strikes in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific     A list of US military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels (Military Times) Since early September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of what the Pentagon has called continued counternarcotics efforts.   Operation Timeline     The human impact of policy changes at the DOD and VA (The War Horse) An ongoing timeline of the Trump administration’s actions focusing on the military and veterans.   Pentagon     Mastermind of Iranian plot to assassinate Trump is dead, Hegseth claims (Military Times) An alleged mastermind of an Iranian covert unit accused of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump in 2024 has been “hunted down and killed” amid Operation Epic Fury , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday.   Congress & Politics     Congress taking first votes on Iran war as debate rages about US goals (The Associated Press) Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.       Senate authorizes Trump to award Recon Marine the Medal of Honor (Task & Purpose) A legendary Reconnaissance Marine who saved his nine-man team during an ambush in South Vietnam is one step closer to receiving the Medal of Honor.       Senators criticize agencies over dual counter-drone incidents in Texas after briefing from officials (DefenseScoop) Following a close-door briefing from agency officials Wednesday, senators from both parties criticized the Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for inadequately coordinating the employment of counter-drone systems after back-to-back incidents in Texas last month.       Trump to meet arms executives Friday in push to boost weapon supplies (Defense News) President Donald Trump will convene defense industry executives Friday for a meeting aimed at rapidly replenishing the U.S. stockpile of munitions and weapons expended in the war against Iran, a White House official and a second person familiar with the plans confirmed to Military Times.   Your Military     US troops who died in Iran war remembered as devoted parents and soldiers (The Associated Press) Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor was just days away from returning home to her husband and two children when a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait killed her and five other U.S. service members.       Former Military Times Soldier of the Year approved for Medal of Honor (Military Times) A U.S. Special Operations Command major who saved a comrade from being dragged away by enemy fighters in Afghanistan in 2012 has been authorized by the U.S. House and Senate to receive the nation’s highest combat valor award.       Military moms-to-be can’t give birth at largest DOD hospital abroad amid care needs of Iran war (Stars and Stripes) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is squeezing some expectant mothers in the Kaiserslautern Military Community and beyond out of the labor and delivery ward at the largest Defense Department hospital overseas.   Navy     Bombs headed for Iran in Operation Epic Fury don names of US sailors (Military Times) U.S. sailors partook in a time-honored tradition of writing messages or their own names on bombs loaded onto planes during Operation Epic Fury.   AIr Force     With E-3s busy over Iran, new report calls E-7 ‘indispensible’ (Air & Space Forces Magazine) More than a third of the Air Force’s remaining E-3 AWACS fleet is deployed for the Iran war, demonstrating the Air Force’s unique airborne battle management contributions to the joint force at a time when the Pentagon remains cool to buying the E-7 successor to that aircraft.   Space Force     Space Force presses case for more personnel and training (Space News) At Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing, Vice Chief Bratton said Space Force ‘must aggressively increase its end strength and infrastructure.'   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Behind Cobra Gold drills, US team tests cyber and drone technology (Stars and Stripes) A small team of U.S. technicians and contractors is working behind the scenes at this year’s Cobra Gold exercise to bring advanced cyber, drone and communications technology to the multinational drills.   Defense Industry     US military seeks more ALPV capability to resupply troops in contested littoral environments (DefenseScoop) The Pentagon’s innovation hub is looking for a stealthy, autonomous vessel to address significant support challenges that naval and Marine units would face across vast, contested ocean spaces in a potential conflict.       French-German fighter program on life support as Dassault blames Airbus (Defense News) The French-German project to develop a future combat air system appeared closer to failure on Wednesday, after aircraft maker Dassault Aviation blamed partner Airbus for no longer wanting to work together on the next-generation fighter at the heart of the plans.       Pending tanker purchase spotlights choice for Poland: buy European or US? (Defense News) As the Polish government is advancing efforts to absorb loans from the European Union to finance purchases of new weapons made in Europe, opposition politicians are concerned that reliance on funds from Brussels could draw the country away from defense companies based in the United States.   Ukraine     Ukraine war briefing: Russia claims LNG tanker in Mediterranean hit by drones (The Guardian) The Arctic Metagaz had been carrying 61,000 tons of liquefied natural gas when it exploded; Ukrainian drones reported to have hit southern Russia.   International     Airstrikes shift deeper inside Iran as US gains air superiority (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Control of the skies in Operation Epic Fury is enabling the Pentagon to rely more on satellite- and laser-guided bombs, throttle back on expensive long-range standoff munitions, and move to a new phase of air war, defense officials said March 4.       US and Ecuador launch military operation against organized crime groups (Military Times) Military forces from Ecuador and the United States have begun joint military operations against organized crime groups in the South American country, the Pentagon said, although as of Wednesday specific details, including the location and scope of the operation, remained scarce.       Israeli F-35 notches first kill of a manned fighter in downing of Iranian Yak-130 (Military Times) An Israeli F-35I fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 in an air combat that lasted a “few seconds,” marking the first kill of a manned fighter jet by an F-35, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said on Wednesday.       Gulf states warn of legal penalties in sharing of Iran strikes footage (Defense News) Government authorities in the Gulf states have warned residents and tourists that publishing visual content of Iran-launched strikes online could result in legal consequences, including fines of tens of thousands of dollars and possible imprisonment.       Spain denies US claim of military cooperation on Iran as rift deepens (France 24) Spain hardened its stance towards Washington on Wednesday over the use of Spanish bases in operations against Iran, defying US President Donald Trump’s threats of trade reprisals and deepening the friction between the NATO allies. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez repeated his call of “no to the war,” insisting Madrid would not be complicit in the conflict, even as the White House made claims that Spain had agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military.       Philippine forces hold naval drills with US, Japanese warships near Taiwan (USNI News) The Philippines extended the reach of a series of naval exercises designed to contest Chinese maritime pressure to the country’s northernmost islands near Taiwan while drilling alongside U.S. and Japanese forces last week.   Military Culture & History     This WWII submarine was the last US boat to notch a torpedo kill — until this week (Military Times) A United States Navy submarine sunk an Iranian ship with a single torpedo this week as the frigate was transiting the Indian Ocean, marking the first such kill by a U.S. submarine since World War II, the Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday.       New ‘World War II with Tom Hanks’ trailer just dropped (Military Times) The History Channel has dropped the first look at its upcoming World War II documentary starring America’s favorite actor-turned-Second World War documentary voiceover extraordinaire: Tom Hanks.   Video     US sub sinks Iranian warship in torpedo strike (Military Times) In a first since World War II, a U.S. Navy submarine used a torpedo to sink an enemy warship, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday.       US Army precision strike missile used in combat for the first time (Military Times) “I just could not be prouder of our men and women in uniform leveraging innovation to create dilemmas for the enemy.” – Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander       Hegseth, Caine lay out Iran goals: “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire.” (Military Times) Defense Secretary acknowledges casualties, says goals of Operation Epic Fury are "laser focused." Joint Chiefs Chairman says more troops moving to theater.       Carriers in the Middle East and unmanned integration in warfare | Navy updates (Military Times) Retired Adm. Jamie Foggo from the Navy League of the United States gives perspective on news in the sea service, including the buildup in the Middle East.       RAF F-35 shoots down Iranian drone (Military Times) U.K. says F-35 fighter has shot down an in Iranian drone in first for RAF.       Dental costs, co-pays and patient feedback: Military benefits changes on the horizon (Military Times) How much will you pay for Tricare dental premiums this year? And what’s in store for prescription co-pays? MOAA breaks down military and veterans health care.   Commentary & Analysis     His family legacy led him to the military. But he found contentment as a family man (The War Horse) I placed my passport on the counter; the officer stamped it and waved me forward. The corridor felt tighter with each step, the air thickening until everything around me took on a suffocating red hue, heavy, endless, and familiar in a way I wished it was not.