Top 5
Pentagon updates guidance on low testosterone testing for males
(Military Times) The Department of Defense released clinical guidelines for testing and treating low testosterone in male service members.
Triumphal arch in Washington to serve as military complex, Trump says
(Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the triumphal arch he plans to build near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington would double as a “military complex” housing drones and snipers, as well as storing large quantities of ammunition.
Long deployments overwhelm a strained Navy mental health system, personnel say
(Military Times) The system designed to assist sailors’ mental health aboard deployed U.S. Navy aircraft carriers is unable to meet the demand of prolonged combat deployments, according to current and former military personnel.
US clears way for $24.3 billion fighter jet sale to Saudi Arabia
(Reuters) The U.S. Department of State said it had approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, as the kingdom is drawn deeper into war in the Middle East.
Trump says US and Denmark have reached new security agreement in Greenland
(Politico) President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. has reached an agreement for “permanent control over security” for Greenland that would enable a broad expansion of the American military presence on the territory of Denmark that he has long coveted.
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.
Your Military
More than 16,000 troops could face stricter rules with medical shaving waivers
(Task & Purpose) As many as 16,300 troops could be granted medical shaving waivers in the coming months. If those troops cannot meet the Pentagon’s new “clean-shaven” standards over the next year, they could be separated from the military under new grooming policies.
Army
Army’s H2F program linked to faster injury recovery among soldiers, study finds
(Military Times) Soldiers in units participating in the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program returned to duty faster after musculoskeletal injuries than troops not involved in the program, according to a study published this week.
Soldier identified following rollover crash at Fort Hood
(Military Times) The Army has identified the soldier killed during a rollover incident Monday at Fort Hood, Texas.
Army to promote NCOs who complete drill sergeant, recruiting schools
(Military Times) The Army issued a policy on Friday to promote some noncommissioned officers who complete drill sergeant and recruiting courses.
As experimental drone battalion ends, Army aims to push drones to every squad
(Military Times) As the Army faces queries for standing down its experimental drone battalion, service officials say the future of drone warfare is at every level of Army formations — not condensed into one designated unit.
Marine Corps
Marine Corps issues updated guidance on religious accommodations
(Military Times) The Marine Corps issued interim guidance this week for accommodating religious beliefs involving uniform, grooming and vaccination standards, as well as dietary practices and religious holidays.
Marine boots fail in the Arctic amid push for US manufacturing: Report
(Military Times) A new report revealing quality-control issues with Marine Corps -issued cold-weather boots highlights the potential consequences of limiting the number of suppliers for essential gear.
AIr Force
US Air Force has a $14 billion supply hole, service officials say
(Military Times) The U.S. Air Force has a $14 billion hole in supply for aircraft parts, affecting how the service acquires parts and looks at sustainment funding, service leaders said Wednesday.
Pilot ejects as F-16 crashes in Michigan, responders treated for chemical exposure
(Military Times) An F-16 jet crashed Thursday afternoon during a routine training mission in northern Michigan, causing some emergency responders and community members to be treated for a toxic chemical exposure.
Coast Guard
Coast Guard releases ‘action plan’ on sexual assault as federal watchdog criticizes delays
(Military Times) The U.S. Coast Guard is taking steps to address sexual assault in the ranks but continues to fall short in implementing its plans and reporting to Congress — shortcomings that hamper the “long-term cultural and procedural changes” needed to address the problem, a federal watchdog has warned.
Veterans
DPAA proposes to exhume, identify Korean War remains in Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
(Military Times) The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency is seeking to exhume and identify the remains of the Korean War service member buried as one of the Unknowns next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
Defense Industry
French Army wants to keep adversaries guessing on see-through battlefield
(Defense News) The French Army’s Future Combat Command is seeking ways to create “opacity” on an increasingly transparent battlefield in order to restore offensive maneuver, looking at everything from physical decoys to electronic warfare and electromagnetic deception, said Gen. Bruno Baratz, who heads the command.
Latvia chooses Czech howitzers over Swedish Archer offer
(Defense News) Latvia’s government has approved the acquisition of Morana 155 mm self-propelled wheeled howitzers from Czech manufacturer Excalibur Army, reversing its earlier decision to pursue a deal with Sweden’s BAE Systems Bofors, the producer of the rival Archer artillery system.
Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions
(The Guardian) The gift from Italy has sparked fierce debate among defence analysts and opposition politicians who question its true cost and purpose.
International
4 killed in US strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in Caribbean, Pentagon says
(CBS News) The latest attack brings the number of people who have been killed in boat strikes by the U.S. military in Latin America to at least 231 in 69 strikes since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls "narcoterrorists" about one year ago.
South Korea will not send military to support US war on Iran, defying Trump pressure
(The Guardian) Seoul resolves recent speculation over sending military to Strait of Hormuz, saying ‘there won’t be deployment that would involve or enter war'.
Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces launch inquest into sudden military collapse
(The Guardian) Rout raises questions about coordination and morale as some politicians claim billions of dollars were offered to persuade forces to abandon position.
Video
The Army gets a new ammo can and a fleet of defensive laser systems | News Shorts
(Defense News) Our News Shorts team checks in on a number of updates from the week, including new ammo cans for the Army, and new combat uniforms for Marines.
The Space Force wants to add 10,000 guardians in the next 5 years
(Defense News) The military’s newest branch wants to expand and bring in more recruits, raising a question: can it train them fast enough?
Air Force Captain runs a mile for every life lost on Sept. 11
(Defense News) Air Force Capt. Hanna Born, who was a toddler in the Pentagon daycare on Sept. 11, 2001, is running a mile for every person the nation lost that day.
Commentary & Analysis
Will airmen trust AI? The Air Force’s future plans depend on it
(Defense One) As Air Force leaders prepare to hand AI more decision-making power in the years ahead, they're also working to get airmen comfortable with that.
How the military imagined combat around the Moon
(Task & Purpose) This week the top officer in the U.S. military said that troops need to be ready for combat on Earth and around the Moon.
How America appeased Putin
(The Cipher Brief) Before invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin repeatedly tested the United States. Washington's failure to respond meaningfully convinced the Kremlin that America was weak.
Why moral injury could be a signature wound of the AI battlefield
(Task & Purpose) As artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons increasingly shape the battlefield, military chaplains are considering how AI’s growing use will weigh on the morality and spirituality of service members.
Why Eurasia, not the Indo-Pacific, matters most in next phase of Taiwan deterrence
(War on the Rocks) Washington is preparing for the right war, but in the wrong theater. For years, U.S. strategic thinking has centered on the Indo?Pacific: the militarized atolls of the South China Sea, China’s churning naval shipyards, and the tense waters of the Taiwan Strait. Yet the next phase of competition will likely play out on the Eurasian landmass, contested through pipelines, swing states, and shifting alignments along routes that overlap with the ancient Silk Road. This is where China is building alternative trade and energy corridors beyond the immediate reach of U.S. military power.Chinese strategists have long worried that, in a conflict