Top 5     US launches new round of strikes against Iran (Military Times) The U.S. conducted a new wave of strikes against Iran’s coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports.       Forged by the T: Pentagon launches testosterone screening program for troops (Military Times) The Pentagon will begin annually screening service members for testosterone deficiency, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, citing the need to ensure troops maintain the “biological foundation” to fight.       US forces disable tanker heading to Iranian port as blockade resumes (Stars and Stripes) U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker Wednesday as it attempted to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf amid the resumption of the naval blockade, U.S. Central Command said in a Wednesday evening post on X.       Panel to study Pentagon’s COVID vaccine mandate, troops dismissal (Military Times) The Department of Defense plans to convene a panel to study its mid-2021 decision to require the COVID-19 vaccine for all service members and the circumstances that led to the dismissal of more than 8,400 troops who refused the shots.       Fedorov out as Ukraine’s defense minister in major government shake-up (Defense News) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as the country’s minister of defense after just six months in office as part of a major shake-up in Kyiv’s leadership.   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     Pentagon announces multiyear deals to buy thousands of affordable cruise missiles (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Pentagon announced framework agreements for new multiyear deals with three companies to mass-produce more affordable, less exquisite air-to-ground missiles for the Air Force, part of a larger strategy to bring cheaper firepower to a future fight.       In its next chapter, DIU aims to reduce the military’s ‘cost per kill’ (DefenseScoop) Elevated by its new status as an official Pentagon Field Activity, the Defense Innovation Unit is maturing with funding and permanence under the leadership of its new director, Owen West, who welcomes the pressure his team is under to speedily deliver “measurable” weaponry and combat power to the U.S. military.   Congress & Politics     Top House Democrat calls to split veterans omnibus, advance Major Richard Star Act (Military Times) As supporters of the Taking Care of America’s Veterans Act defend the legislation as the best chance in years to pass more than 60 veterans bills, the committee’s top Democrat says Congress should be prepared to abandon the omnibus altogether if lawmakers cannot agree on how to pay for it.       Trump leans toward expanding US military operations in Iran (The Wall Street Journal) President Trump is leaning toward expanding U.S. military operations in Iran after days of briefings from top aides, U.S. officials said.       Dems split on Massie effort to zero out Israel security aid (Roll Call) The House Wednesday shot down an amendment to a State Department spending bill that would have blocked billions in U.S. military aid to Israel, but a substantial number of Democrats voted to cut off Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war machine.       Trump says Iran released 'wrongfully detained' American citizen (France 24) U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had released an American citizen detained since December 2024 and allowed her to leave the country, calling it a "gesture of goodwill" despite renewed hostilities between Washington and Tehran.   Your Military     ‘Cruelty was the point’: Transgender troops look back on their ban as it’s set to end (Military Times) Transgender service members are on the precipice of being allowed back into the military after a federal court ruled that the Trump administration’s ban against them was unlawful.   Navy     USS Sampson spills roughly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel into Seattle harbor (Military Times) A U.S. Navy vessel that was being serviced inadvertently dumped hazardous material into the surrounding bay on Monday, the service said.       Here are the US Navy warships available to support the blockade of Iran (The War Zone) U.S. Central Command, in its latest update, stated that two commercial vessels were redirected and one was kinetically disabled in the first 24 hours.   Marine Corps     Marines seek new use of Army-created personality test as means of gleaning keener insights (Stars and Stripes) After decades of relying on standardized testing to vet recruits and assign them their duties, the Marine Corps could begin using a personality test to track what qualities make the best Marines, then recruit people who match the profile.   AIr Force     Air Force completes first-ever CCA live-fire test with Anduril YFQ-44A (Military Times) The U.S. Air Force recently conducted its first-ever live-fire test using the unmanned, semiautonomous aircraft the service has dubbed as its “loyal wingmen.”       US Air Force turns to cheaper cruise missiles it can buy by the thousand (Military Times) The Pentagon is moving to buy thousands of affordable cruise missiles, reaching framework agreements with three companies on Wednesday.   Space Force     Space Force faces budget uncertainty as leader plans exit next month (Defense One) The U.S. Space Force’s soon-to-be retired top officer urged support for his service’s programs, the same day as House lawmakers said they would approve only a fraction of the funds the Trump administration requested for major space efforts   Coast Guard     Coast Guard rescues man from sinking catamaran off Kauai (Tribune News Service) The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday hoisted a man from his sinking catamaran about 23 miles offshore of Kauai.   Veterans     VA wants more input on proposals to streamline benefits application forms (Nextgov) The Department of Veterans Affairs is pushing for more public feedback on its proposals to reduce the amount of paperwork that veterans and their survivors must complete to apply for benefits.   Defense Industry     Pressure mounts on US defense executives to boost weapons production (Defense News) President Donald Trump is expected to urge top defense executives on Wednesday to accelerate weapons production and expand manufacturing capacity as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East strain U.S. stockpiles and expose bottlenecks in the nation’s industrial base.       Israeli firm wants to convert commercial ships into floating drone bases (Defense News) Elbit Systems detailed a new maritime concept centered on its Hermes 650 Spark unmanned aircraft, envisioning the conversion of commercial vessels into dedicated platforms for unmanned aviation, the Israeli company said this week.       Saudis cleared to buy a whopping 20,000 laser-guided rockets (The War Zone) The State Department has approved a possible $2 billion deal to sell up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser guidance kits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.       First the coast guard, then an ICBM: China tests new, long-term ways to hold off rivals in Asia (Defense News) China sent coast guard vessels to patrol the Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan in June and weeks later test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the South China Sea to the Pacific.       European firms plan exo-atmospheric interceptor for 2027 test (Defense News) Five European defense firms led by startup Destinus plan to form an industrial partnership to develop Europe’s first exo-atmospheric interceptor, aimed at defending against ballistic missiles, with plans to conduct a test of the kill vehicle in space in 2027.       MBDA appoints Airbus executive Jean-Brice Dumont as new CEO (Defense News) Europe’s largest missile maker, appointed Airbus Defence and Space executive Jean-Brice Dumont as its new chief executive officer effective Nov. 1 to succeed Eric Béranger, who has led the maker of the Meteor air-to-air missile and Aster air-defense missile since June 2019.   Israel-Gaza-Lebanon-Syria     Lebanon and Israel end sixth round of US-brokered talks (Al Jazeera English) A U.S. official said the two sides made progress on a plan for Israel to withdraw from 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon.   Ukraine     Kyiv under fire from Russian missiles after EU-Ukraine sign drone deal (Al Jazeera English) Mayor Vitali Klitschko says emergency services are battling blazes across the Ukrainian capital.   International     Some ships refusing US-military guided Hormuz transits after attacks, sources say (Reuters) "They have stated that the Strait of Hormuz is 'not closed' and remains available to use," a maritime security source said.       Senior defense officials looking at Cuba military options (CBS News) Military planners have examined options for possible action against Cuba, including an Army-led air assault involving the 101st Airborne Division.   Video     Hegseth announces testosterone screenings for all troops over 30 (Defense News) Defense Secretary says new program will test troops for low levels of the hormone and offer treatment to ensure a "biological foundation to fight."       Manufacturing woes hamper US 155mm ammo production (Defense News) A new report says artillery shell producers are far short of a goal to manufacture 100,000 Howitzer shells per month.   Commentary & Analysis     Every ambush in Vietnam held surprises. This one ended in death. (The War Horse) More than five decades after 1968, an especially violent year of the war, the rain, hunger, and calamity in Vietnam’s Central Highlands remain etched in my mind. Death was the purpose of our ambush, and we found it.       US war against Iran enters a new phase (The New York Times) As President Trump resumes his war, the focus is now on the Strait of Hormuz. But it remains unclear how far the U.S. military will go to exert control.       MOLLE, PALS, and the empty loops of America’s civil-military divide (War on the Rocks) In the half-century since the Gates Commission established the all-volunteer force — and especially over the last 25 years — the relationship between the American soldier and the state has changed profoundly. Military service has become more professional, more specialized, more admired, and more socially distant. A simple update to military kit became emblematic of those shifts and the complex relationship between America and its armed forces.       Controlling Hormuz would take more US troops—and even more risk (The Wall Street Journal) The recent escalation of fire has crimped traffic further. Military experts say opening the strait would require more troops and months of effort.       Afghanistan lost the cognitive war before it lost the state (The Cipher Brief) The collapse of Afghanistan in August 2021 is still widely interpreted as a military or political failure. That interpretation is incomplete.       Breaking America’s promise to Pacific Island veterans (War on the Rocks) In January, Robson Henry died at the age of 66. Chances are, you have never heard of Henry. He was not famous, rich, or powerful. In many ways, Henry was no different from the thousands of young men and women who, at the age of 18, chose to serve by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Nor does the fact that he stayed in the Army for the next 26 years, serving multiple tours of duty in the Middle East, meaningfully distinguish him. And yet, Henry was special.