Top 5     VA restores gun rights to some disabled veterans (Military Times) The Department of Veterans Affairs has ended a practice that prevented veterans who can’t manage their finances from owning guns, a change officials say will restore constitutional rights to nearly 200,000 former service members.       US military strike on Iran could happen as soon as Saturday, officials say (CBS News) A potential military strike on Iran could happen as soon as Saturday, according to top national security officials. President Trump has been putting military pressure on Iran to work out a nuclear deal by sending U.S. warships and fighter jets to the region.       WWII soldier who refused to identify Jewish POWs to receive Medal of Honor (Task & Purpose) Roddie Edmonds never spoke about his time in a German prisoner of war camp. This week, his family learned he’ll soon receive the nation’s highest valor award for an act of heroism in which he never fired a shot.       Watchdog finds gaps in military response to missing service members (Military Times) When a service member goes missing, the first hours can determine whether they are found safely — or not at all. But a new watchdog report found that unclear timelines and inconsistent processes across the services could delay lifesaving responses when time is critical.       Envoys signal no breakthrough on bridging Russia and Ukraine’s military, political differences (The Associated Press) The latest U.S.-brokered talks between envoys from Moscow and Kyiv over Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine ended Wednesday with no sign of a breakthrough and with both sides saying the talks were “difficult,” as the war’s fourth anniversary approaches next week.   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.   Congress & Politics     Sentinel ICBM program hit by software delays, Minuteman extension risks: GAO (Military Times) The U.S. Air Force’s troubled Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program faces significant risks from software delays and an extended reliance on the aging Minuteman III system.   Army     Apache helicopters downed drones in air-to-air combat with 30mm proximity ammo (Defense News) The U.S. Army’s Apache attack helicopter AH-64 broke new ground by firing 30mm proximity ammunition at drones in air-to-air combat during a December exercise in Yuma, Arizona, according to the service.   Navy     Gold PT uniform phaseout set as Navy streamlines sailors’ seabag (Military Times) Amid a review commissioned by Navy Secretary John Phelan, the Navy will be cutting back the number of mandatory uniforms issued to sailors, the service’s director of Military Personnel Plans and Policy said.       Sailor found dead in barracks at Naval Station Great Lakes (USNI News) The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating the death of a 19-year-old sailor found in the barracks at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.       Sailors need to see themselves in ‘fabric’ of new warfighting instructions, CNO says (Military Times) The chief officer of the Navy sat down with reporters last week for a media roundtable to explain how his recently released warfighting instructions apply to the service’s rank and file and impact the implementation of autonomous systems.   Marine Corps     Marines suspected of thefts in Tokyo, Hiroshima (Stars and Stripes) Japanese authorities are investigating two U.S. Marines for possible thefts totaling $65,000 or more since last fall, according to Japanese police and media reports recently.   AIr Force     Air Force developing AI chatbot for student pilots (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The general public has ChatGPT and it’s catching on like wildfire. The Air Force wants to give student pilots “IP GPT,” an AI tool built to help them learn the ropes of flying.       Massive Bamboo Eagle exercise returns, with focus on C2 ‘nervous system’ (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Air Force kicked off one of its biggest exercises this week with the latest edition of Bamboo Eagle, featuring combined virtual and live training scenarios focused on test the command-and-control “nervous system” leaders need to operate on a complex joint battlefield spread over vast distances.       Air Force One will be painted red, white and blue as Trump has hinted, US military says (The Associated Press) A red, white and blue color scheme championed by President Donald Trump will become the new look for Air Force One, the U.S. military said.       Air Force delays F-15EX deliveries to Kadena, continues rotational deployments (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Air Force has delayed delivery of permanently stationed F-15EX Eagle II fighters to Kadena Air Base in Japan.   Veterans     VA to consider medical management of symptoms in determining disability ratings (Military Times) Veterans Affairs medical examiners are now required to consider the effects of medication on a veteran’s health condition when assigning a disability rating under a new regulation published Tuesday by the department.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Pentagon seeks commercially built GEO spy satellites (Space News) The Defense Innovation Unit plans to select companies to field and operate spacecraft before transferring them to government control within three years   Defense Industry     Germany won’t build nukes but could flash French, UK weapons to deter foes, Merz says (Defense News) Germany does not want to pursue nuclear weapons of its own, but is interested in incorporating French and British atomic bombs in a deterrence arrangement reminiscent of NATO’s U.S.-based nuclear umbrella, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.   Israel-Gaza-Lebanon-Syria     US is withdrawing all forces from Syria, officials say (The Wall Street Journal) The U.S. is in the process of withdrawing all of its roughly 1,000 troops from Syria, American officials said, bringing an end to a decadelong U.S. military presence that fought Islamic State.   Ukraine     Russia launches missiles, drones at Ukraine amid peace talks in Geneva (France 24) Russian forces launched aerial attacks on Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said Wednesday, ahead of a second day of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow officials in Geneva. The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that Russian forces had launched one ballistic missile and deployed 126 attack drones in the barrage, adding that its air defense units had downed 100 unmanned aerial vehicles.       Russia eyes balloon communications system to fill massive gap left after losing Starlink (The War Zone) Russia is developing a new balloon-borne system that could provide battlefield access to high-speed data communications at a time when its forces are desperate to keep connected. The testing of the Barrage-1 ballon comes as Ukrainian troops are taking advantage of Russia’s loss of access to the SpaceX Starlink satellite constellation network. Both sides have become dependent on the SpaceX system for daily wartime operations, but the restrictions on Russia’s use of Starlink are allowing Kyiv’s forces to fend off attacks in some areas while advancing in others.       Ukraine's chief negotiator says 'progress' in peace talks with Russia, but no breakthrough (France 24) There was no major breakthrough in a second day of talks on ending the war in Ukraine in Geneva on Wednesday, although Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov insisted there had been "progress" in the U.S.-mediated discussions with Russia.   International     Top US commander makes surprise visit to Venezuela after Maduro’s capture (France 24) The top U.S. military commander for Latin America, General?Francis?Donovan, and senior Pentagon official Joseph?Humire made an unannounced visit to Venezuela on Wednesday for security talks with interim authorities in Caracas, marking the first U.S. military delegation trip to the country since Venezuelan president Nicolás?Maduro was captured by U.S. forces last month.       Beijing organizes patrol as US, Australia and Philippines drill in South China Sea (Stars and Stripes) A two-day series of maritime drills by the U.S., Australian and Philippine navies this week in the South China Sea drew a response by China’s navy with a demonstration of its own.       North Korea's Kim Jon-Un unveils nuclear-capable rocket system (France 24) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a large array of nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, signalling the next stage of the country’s nuclear weapons program.   Military Culture & History     Restoration begins at Pointe du Hoc, site of famed D-Day Ranger assault (Stars and Stripes) Extensive restoration work in France’s Normandy region got underway this week to modernize and preserve a legendary D-Day site that was showing its age.   Video     Turkish combat drone goes aloft in challenging conditions on the Baltic Sea (Military Times) Turkish warship launches drone in Baltic Sea under cold, windy conditions.       Inside the Army’s field kitchen operations (Military Times) While units train, someone still has to keep everyone fed. Culinary specialists with the 3rd Infantry Division handle field feeding operations... planning, prepping and serving meals that keep Soldiers going. Not flashy. Still essential.   Commentary & Analysis     I thought removing Confederate names meant Black soldiers’ legacy mattered. Then, the names were restored. (The War Horse) During my junior year at West Point in 2017, I attended a ceremony honoring the namesake of the school’s newest barracks: Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. This was the first building at West Point named after an African American, and I glowed with pride knowing that the academy was finally celebrating a person who looked like me.       Iran-US nuclear talks may fail due to both nations’ red lines – but that doesn’t make them futile (The Conversation) The latest rounds of nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are going well enough for now, according to the steady drip of public statements from the main parties involved.       Security forces guarding ICBMs need fresh tactics to defend new Sentinel silos (The War Zone) The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force’s future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures.       Military power begins with industrial strength (DefenseScoop) President Donald Trump’s recent call for a $1.5 trillion defense budget as part of a broader effort to modernize and strengthen the nation’s defense posture has reignited long-running debates in Washington about how much the United States should spend on its armed forces. That conversation is healthy. But the more important question is not simply how much we spend but where to invest those dollars to ensure real military readiness.       China now finds itself in al-Qaeda’s crosshairs (War on the Rocks) Could China replace the United States atop the target list of transnational jihadist groups like al-Qaeda? A recent statement released by Sheikh Saad bin Atef al Awlaqi, the emir of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, directly threatened China, labeling its government as a “pagan, infidel” enemy whose actions against Uyghur Muslims justify future attacks. The statement marks a clear escalation in al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s anti-China rhetoric. But will it lead to a shift in operational goals?Jihadist groups have long exaggerated their capabilities, using their media and propaganda platforms to issue wide-ranging threats against an expansive list of adversaries,       What Iran’s naval exercise with China and Russia in the Strait of Hormuz actually means (The War Zone) As the U.S. flows assets toward the Middle East, including the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group now reportedly off the Moroccan coast, Iran, China and Russia will hold their recurring joint naval training exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media. Moscow and Tehran see the Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise as particularly relevant in light of current events, and there are reasons for the White House and Pentagon to take note. Having Russian or Chinese warships in these waters amid a U.S. attack on Iran could have military and political implications planners must address. At the same time, the timing of the still ongoing U.S. buildup and the exercise point to it having more of a messaging effect than an operational one.