'Sip to Remember': How Four Veterans Blend Bourbon With Military Sacrifice
Rick Franco has worn many hats throughout his military career. But the loss of a once close friend catapulted him and three service member buddies to a new venture: making bourbon. Franco, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, along with his friends RJ Casey (Special Forces), Mike Trott (Air Force) and Harold Underdown (Navy), started Four Branches […]
FAA Mandates Radar Separation for Helicopters and Planes After Deadly DC Midair Collision
Air traffic controllers will use radar, not just visual checks, to ensure that helicopters maintain a safe distance from arriving and departing airplanes in the wake of last year’s fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., federal officials announced Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration said recent near-misses show that previous guidelines for pilots to maintain visual […]
Rulings Over Veterans’ Education Benefits Allow for ‘Double-Dipping’
More than one million veterans may be eligible for extended education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. A federal appeal over a 2024 Supreme Court ruling was withdrawn, clearing the way for soldiers to collect benefits under both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, depending on their years of service. “It […]
Iowa National Guard Troops Return From Historic Deployment in the Middle East
Hundreds of Iowa National Guard soldiers returned from the Middle East last week to welcome-home ceremonies across the state, reuniting with their families after nearly a year overseas. About 575 members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division landed March 12 at welcome-home ceremonies in Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, according […]
'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year
A soldier who aided in recovery efforts after crew members went missing underwater. An airman who saved more than a dozen lives in a house fire. An off-duty Coast Guardsman who saved the life of a motorcyclist following a crash. These are some of the military service members highlighted for their actions in 2025 by […]
Spring Training with the Padres: Student Veteran Lives Baseball Dream
Army veteran Savino Anguiano had an opportunity recently that most baseball fans would take in a heartbeat. Anguiano, a student at Arizona State University (ASU), received a taste of Major League Baseball up close, joining the San Diego Padres for spring training in Peoria, Arizona. The Padres, in partnership with ASU’s Pat Tillman Veterans […]
DNA Confirms Unclaimed Veteran Is Her Father, She Seeks Help
Meagan Heisinger received some good news recently that could help finally bring a veteran family member home. DNA tests confirmed James Bradley Lane is her father. Lane, a Vietnam Army veteran, died in 2017 while living in Washington State. He was 62. However, without next of kin to contact following his death, Lane was designated […]
Battle Over the Chinook: A Proud Tribe Fights for Federal Recognition
For decades, the Army’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter has not only transported thousands of soldiers but has also served as a symbol of strength for the U.S. military. Even President Donald Trump praised the “massive Chinook” in February’s State of the Union address, referring to the daring mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro from his […]
At Least 1,000 US Troops from 82nd Airborne Set to Deploy to Mideast, Sources Say
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days, according to three people with knowledge of the plans. The unit is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice. The force would […]
Army Speeds AI Warfighting Push as US Troops are in Active Combat
A sweeping wartime shift is underway inside the Army, with officials saying the service is accelerating AI-driven targeting and rushing weapons from “factory to frontline” as soldiers are engaged in active combat. The remarks, delivered Wednesday by officials at the Association of the United States Army’s Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, come as leaders […]