


‘Infrastructure is the weapon’: Inside the race to build portable interceptor factories
As the Iran war drives global demand for interceptor drones, defense startups are betting they can fit a production line into a shipping container.

Veterans
Fewer service members died by suicide in 2024 than year prior, report finds
The report on 2024 suicides found a decrease in the total force suicide rate, though active component rates have steadily increased from 2011 to 2024.

Reversing Trump, Pentagon releases new transgender policies
The new department regulations allow transgender people who meet military standards to enlist and serve openly in their self-identified gender, and they will be able to get medically necessary transition-related care authorized by law, said the officials.

Tricare expanding program for nearly 16,000 military family members with autism
Some aspects, like an autism services navigator, are good, but military special needs families "are still wading through the effects of the changes," advocate says.

Troops may face retaliation whether they report a sexual assault or not, study finds
Roughly a third of sexual assault survivors feel their peers or leadership have retaliated against them.

SOCOM is committing itself to attracting more women and people of color
Special operations wants to diversify its ranks, but it will first have to figure out how to do that.

US Army enters final phase of development before kicking off Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program
Two teams enter the final phase of competitive development and risk reduction before the Army moves into an official program of record to buy and field a new long-range assault helicopter.

Nearly $20 billion for VA hospital upgrades in Biden infrastructure plan
The $2 trillion plan includes about $18 billion for VA infrastructure work.

Soldiers aren’t fighting Marines for a job in the Indo-Pacific, chief says
“We can use the past as being instructive, but it’s not a blueprint,” said the Army Pacific commander. “As [Marines] bring on capabilities, as we bring on capabilities, we’re experimenting together."

Two JBLM soldiers kidnapped pizza delivery driver at gunpoint, police say
Inside their car, police said they found a Domino’s Pizza insulated carrier, piles of cash in different denominations, the pistol, gloves, a ski mask and an open folding knife.

Many military families are paying more than $200 a month out of pocket for housing costs above BAH, survey finds
Increased out-of-pocket costs for housing means more financial stress, researchers say.
