All Security

Honestly assessing what was going on in Afghanistan over the past 20 years is crucial to future military efforts, as well as U.S. global leadership.

Reliance on drones in warfare poses new challenges for the soldiers who operate them and could help redefine what courage means in the military. 

On the heels of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden announced on July 26 that the U.S. combat mission in Iraq will conclude by the end of the year. The U.S. military, however, will continue to assist Iraq in an advisory role.

After originally awarding its $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract to Microsoft, a decision challenged by Amazon in court, the Pentagon has reneged and now seeks to collaborate with both Amazon and Microsoft on a new cloud contract.

With the U.S. nearly out of Afghanistan, some worry terrorists will set up havens there for plotting 9/11-style attacks. But analysts doubt that. 

Last weekend’s airstrikes in the Middle East aimed to deter attacks by Iran-backed militias targeting U.S. interests, defense officials say. The Biden administration took similar military action in the region in February as a “warning” to Iran. 

In 1915, Telesforo Trinidad earned the Medal of Honor when he rescued two crewmates on the USS San Diego after its boiler room exploded. Now a group is campaigning to name a U.S. Navy ship after Trinidad. But who decides the names of Navy ships?

United States military weapons are being stolen or lost, and some are resurfacing as part of violent crimes. An Associated Press investigation over 10 years reveals security failures that were not publicly reported until now. 

Legislation to remove commanders from investigation of sexual assault in the military has bipartisan support and admission of a need for change. 

Allowing ponytails and braids – not buns only – affords female troops more safety and signals a shift toward a more inclusive military. 

Climate change challenges the U.S. military around the world, but it’s environmental damage at home that’s led the DOD to reduce its carbon footprint.

In the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration, an airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia group. The operation was a response to a rocket attack in Iraq earlier this month on American and allied personnel.

Veterans are often prized recruits for far-right groups. Some former service members hope to use their stature to counter violent nationalism.

The fate of a storied Marine Corps training camp may depend on integrating women into male platoons. Congress has mandated full integration by 2025. 

More than accountability may be needed for military and vets who stormed the Capitol if service-related injuries and attitudes led to their actions.

President Joe Biden has reversed restrictions put on transgender people who wish to serve in the U.S. military. The move comes amid Mr. Biden’s broader equity goals to support “communities of color and other underserved communities.”

The war in Afghanistan appears to be drawing to a close. What has NATO learned from its experiences in the twenty-year conflict?

The House approved a $731 defense bill with enough votes to override a veto from President Donald Trump, who is unhappy with an unrelated communications code. The bill affirms pay raises for troops, Pentagon policy, and military logistics.

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to pick retired general Lloyd Austin for secretary of defense, making him the first Black leader of the Pentagon if confirmed by the Senate. But his appointment faces opposition as the role is traditionally meant for civilians.

The U.S. embarked on a Cyber Command mission in Estonia this fall to support the Baltic nation, which has in years past been a target for Russian hackers, and also to gain insight on Russian operations.