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Troops and families: How has the shutdown affected you?
Military Times wants to hear about your experience during the federal government shutdown.
Troops, families use credit card relief at commissaries amid shutdown
In the days since a 90-day, interest-free offer for Military Star card holders at commissaries was announced, use of the cards jumped about 14%.
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AUSA 2025 Show Coverage
Defense News, the official and exclusive media partner of AUSA Annual, is reporting on the top stories directly from the show floor.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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Pentagon & Congress
Air Force: Qatar air force facility in Idaho ‘in the works for years’
The defense secretary's announcement that the U.S. will allow Qatar to build an air force facility in Idaho mirrors other ally accommodations.
No drones for Army squads, teams, 25th Infantry Division leader says
Amid a push to put more small drones in soldiers' hands, the Army is learning there’s a ceiling to the number of unmanned systems that units can handle.
Despite Taliban amnesty declaration, killings of US allies persist
Our investigation, in partnership with Lighthouse Reports, identified 110 killings of former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces troops since 2023.
US strikes another alleged drug-carrying boat off Venezuela coast
The strike marks the fifth deadly strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the region.
In other news
US Coast Guard will still get paid amid government shutdown, Noem says
The DHS secretary took a shot at congressional Democrats in a public statement announcing that members of the Coast Guard will receive their paychecks.
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."
By Clay Beyersdorfer
‘The Terminal List: Dark Wolf’ cements dominance of military thrillers
The success of "Dark Wolf" reflects broader audience demand for military and espionage dramas.
Country music no longer owns the troops, and that’s a good thing
Troops today are just as likely to share playlists filled with hip-hop, EDM or K-pop as they are with country music legends.
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MORE STORIES
Soldiers being contacted by adversaries on LinkedIn, Reddit, Army says
Personnel from the United States Army Counterintelligence Command spoke at AUSA on Wednesday about the new espionage playbook.
By Riley Ceder
Buffalo chicken, Thai and Cuban food coming to the MRE lineup in 2026
Three current, low-rated meal options are going away next year.
By Todd South
Infantry brigades shift to mobile brigades in Army transformation
Over the next two years, the U.S. Army will convert 25 Infantry Brigade Combat Teams into Mobile Brigade Combat Teams.
By Todd South
Soldiers push limits to compete for expert badges
The Expert Soldier Badge was introduced in 2019 for soldiers with MOSs outside of infantry, medical and special forces communities.
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher
Soldiers stress-test translator tech to bridge allied language gaps
The exchange program marked one small part of an ongoing effort to stress-test military technology across the continent’s 54 sovereign nations.
By J.D. Simkins
DOD decides against privatizing service members’ household goods moves
Instead of privatizing the process for moving troops' household goods, Hegseth directed defense officials Wednesday to improve the DOD's legacy program.
By Karen Jowers
Army begins ‘talent panels’ to cut 6,500 manned aviation jobs
The Army has officially embarked on its effort to relocate some 6,500 junior officers and warrant officers who it says are no longer needed in aviation.
Next-gen tank to reach soldiers for testing by end of 2026
General Dynamics is working on a "pre-prototype" of the M1E3 Abrams for soldiers to try out.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Army secretary to soldiers: help get ‘human stupidity’ out of the way
Senior leaders are asking for soldiers' and families' help as they work to improve life on Army bases.
By Karen Jowers
Alcohol sales stay possible in planned Army campus-style dining halls
Contracting document language is raising questions about features that might be included in the Army “campus-style” dining facility pilot program.
These soldiers are finding ways to see enemy drones before they strike
1st Cavalry Division soldiers are taking passive sensors and mounting them on armored vehicles to detect enemy drones and relay that info to air defense.
By Todd South
Army’s big drone ambition runs into the hard part: scaling up
The Army's nationwide “Skyfoundry” effort is turning depots and arsenals that once built tank parts and artillery shells into a network of drone factories.
By Jen Judson
No drones for Army squads, teams, 25th Infantry Division leader says
Amid a push to put more small drones in soldiers' hands, the Army is learning there’s a ceiling to the number of unmanned systems that units can handle.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Despite Taliban amnesty declaration, killings of US allies persist
Our investigation, in partnership with Lighthouse Reports, identified 110 killings of former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces troops since 2023.
By Hope Hodge Seck
US Army’s first hypersonic battery to be fully equipped by December
The US Army’s first hypersonic battery will have its full load of eight missiles by December, marking a major milestone in the program.
By Jen Judson
College-style dining facilities coming to Army bases
The U.S. Army has signed a contract to create dining venues at several installations aimed at revamping soldiers’ culinary experience.
By Riley Ceder