Police Records Show Defense Secretary Nominee Was Involved in Alleged Sexual Assault in 2017
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, was involved in an incident of alleged sexual assault in 2017 at a hotel in Monterey, California, according to local authorities. The alleged incident occurred in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2017, and involved a victim who suffered bruising on their thigh, police records released […]
'He's Going to Have to Explain It': Surprise Defense Secretary Pick's History Takes Center Stage
He has repeatedly called to ban women from serving in combat roles in the military. He advocated extensively to gain pardons for troops accused and convicted of war crimes. And he was one of a dozen troops turned away from serving on the National Guard mission to defend the Capitol, allegedly over tattoos that are […]
Sending a THAAD Air Defense System to Israel Adds to Strain on US Army Forces
WASHINGTON — The deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel and roughly 100 soldiers to operate it will add to already difficult strains on the Army’s air defense forces and potential delays in modernizing its missile defense systems, Army leaders said Monday. The service’s top two leaders declined to provide […]
US Will Send a Missile Defense System and Troops to Run it to Israel to Aid Defense Against Iran
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery to Israel, along with the troops needed to operate it, the Pentagon said Sunday, even as Iran warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement that Defense Secretary […]
Privatized Barracks Would Get Deeper Look Under House's Draft Defense Bill
As the military services flirt with the idea of privatizing more barracks to deal with deteriorating living conditions, a key House panel wants the Pentagon to study the issue more in depth. In its draft National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, released this week, the House Armed Services Committee calls on the Pentagon to deliver […]
Army Fires Commander of Germany Air Defense Unit Activated After Ukraine Invasion
In October, the Army stood up a new key air defense unit in Germany as a reaction to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. But after only six months, the unit’s commander has been fired. Lt. Col. Eric Ackles, commander of 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was relieved of command Monday, the service confirmed […]
Defense Lawyers for Former Army Soldier Facing Federal Riot Charge Allege ‘Questionable Tactics’ by FBI, Police
The prosecution of a former Army officer facing a federal riot charge for allegedly smashing Starbucks windows during a 2021 demonstration in Portland has drawn accusations from his attorneys that the government has unfairly targeted him and used “highly questionable” tactics to build a case against him because he’s a “left-wing protester.” Defense attorneys argued […]
Troops Still Aren't Getting Enough Sleep, and the Defense Department Isn't Taking Responsibility, Watchdog Says
Service members still aren’t getting enough sleep, in large part because there’s no coherent Pentagon effort to remedy the problem, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office released this week. The GAO found that fatigue among service members “appeared to be more the rule than the exception,” with active-duty troops sleeping less […]
Top General in Mideast Calls for Microwave Weapons for 'Layered' Defense Against Drone Swarms
The Army’s newest operational laser weapon may be undergoing testing in the Middle East, but the top general responsible for U.S. troops in the region is already looking ahead to bigger and better directed-energy systems amid a rising tide of adversary drones. Speaking during a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing on Thursday, U.S. Central Command […]
Barracks Habitability Standards Ordered by Recently Signed Defense Bill
The Pentagon will have to set military-wide standards for what makes barracks habitable under the defense policy bill that was signed into law late last week. Requiring minimum standards for habitability is one of several ways this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, seeks to improve barracks conditions, which have come under increasing scrutiny […]
