GRAB A COFFEE POT AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.29.14 >>>

Israel's military pounded targets in the Gaza Strip after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country should prepare for a long conflict in the Palestinian enclave. 

Israel debuted a locally developed micro robot in its ongoing onslaught against the labyrinth of tunnels and concealed shafts supporting subterranean arms depots, command posts and cross-border attacks from Gaza.

Obama administration accused Russia of conducting tests in violation of a 1987 nuclear missile treaty, calling the breach "a very serious matter" and going public with allegations that have simmered for some time.

Interviews with American officials, diplomats in Kiev, and Russian military analysts paint a picture of a steady and ongoing flow of weapons from Russia into Ukraine.

Afghanistandstill: A specially trained and equipped Afghan Army quick reaction force is in danger of having its vehicles fall into disrepair, and its soldiers miss out on training due to an inability to supply much-need spare parts and training.

Caliphate in Iraq and Syria: It's richer, better armed, more durable - and dangerous - than ever before.

Dreaded national-security threat scenarios: A panel of experts discussed the specter of terrorists armed with nuclear, biological, chemical or other weapons of mass destruction during a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum.

House, Senate committee reaches compromise to reform the VA - a $17 billion deal sewn together from bills passed by both chambers.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said a new Government Accountability Office report shows that thousands of Department of Defense employees and contractors owe the government more than $700 million in taxes.

In addition to running mobilization sites, First U.S. Army has been given the mission of focusing on pre-mobilization training of the National Guard and Army Reserve.

Gen. Daniel B. Allyn has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next vice chief of staff of the Army.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced the Senate would vote on the confirmation of Robert McDonald to be Veterans Affairs Secretary at 2:45 p.m. today.

The surprise disclosure of a wiring flaw on the Air Force's new KC-46A refueling tanker made by Boeing Co. may not be the end of the program's development challenges.

Thank you for your service: How one company sues soldiers worldwide.

Servicemembers are increasingly reporting delays associated with the shipment of their cars between stateside and overseas.

Schools known for their flexible learning options are by far the most popular among both active-duty servicemembers using tuition assistance and veterans and their dependents using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, government data show.

Veteran Rock City: Kiss hired two military vets to work as roadies for their 2014 tour.

Two new mysterious giant holes found in Siberia, scientists puzzled.

A lot of work went into the incredible title sequence.

Insane boy leaps off a five-story building into a pool several feet away.

Karen O has released the first music video for a song off her solo album.

Watch the trailer for Horns, in which Daniel Radcliffe plays a man who wakes up and finds horns growing from his head.

Here's a great video about the music scene in Athens, Ga.

NPR has launched a new app

Here's a roundup of The Simpsons' best chalkboard gags.

Finally: Dunkin Donuts' Shark Week donut.

Hobbits!

LINK: Original photo by 1st Lt. Joseph Riedel, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

GRAB THE COFFEE POT AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.28.14 >>>

House and Senate lawmakers will announce an agreement on veterans' legislation during a press conference today.

North Korea defies U.N. censure to fire missile into sea.

As fighting abates in the Gaza Strip for now, the road forward to a more durable ceasefire will be rocky at best. 

The Obama administration has quietly moved an additional 62 advisers to Iraq over the past three weeks.

Possibility for another volley exists: U.S., Iranian drones crowd Iraqi air space.

The U.S. Air Force will soon have new spy satellite capability that will provide oversight over other objects in space.

What a war in Europe really looks like: Headless body in the street, bombed summer cottages, gunmen at the morgue ...

U.S.-supplied weapons vulnerable after Afghanistan withdrawal.

The New York Times: It's putting its weight behind a bill that will be introduced in the Senate this week to rein in the National Security Agency.

Republican lawmakers are challenging Obama over a plan to expand the use of bases to house illegal immigrant children.

Rough ride for the F-35: Congress is still pouring money into a program that is intended to produce more than 2,400 F-35s for the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines through 2037.

The Marine Corps needs 38 amphibious assault ships for crisis-response missions, but will likely have to settle for 33.

The U.S. Air Force missileers to work with Navy in morale-improvement effort.

Court: U.S. must explain why it rejects foreign deals.

Defense bill amendment: Effort advances to add names of 74 sailors to Vietnam Memorial.

War and games: Ex-Army helicopter pilot heads Washington Redskins special teams.

This ATM that plays DOOM would make trips to the bank so much better.

Mark Hamill talks about returning to Star Wars.

Princess Leia is getting her own comic-book miniseries.

Watch the trailer for Kevin Smith's new film, Tusk.

Stephen Colbert hosted the Hobbit panel at Comic-Con in Hobbit costume.

The New York Times: Spider-Man punched a police officer in the face in Times Square over the weekend ...

It's been a while since we had a good dominoes toppling ...

LINK: Original photo by Spc. Jess Nemec

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.25.2014 >>>

Report: Russia has begun supplying military helicopters and fighter jets to Iraq.

Iraq Sunni militias pinched by jihadis, corruption.

Iraqi lawmakers elected a veteran Kurdish politician to replace long-serving Jalal Talabani as the country's new president. But a series of attacks killed dozens of people and Islamic militants destroyed a Muslim shrine traditionally said to be the burial place of the Prophet Jonah.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pressed on for a Gaza ceasefire as the civilian death toll soared, threatening to spread Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed to the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. 

U.S. says: Russia firing artillery at Ukraine military.

Senior leaders explain Army's drawdown plan.

Sen. Richard Shelby is uncertain if the Senate will pass the Pentagon 2015 defense bill.

The U.S. Army's vice chief of staff, Gen. John Campbell, was confirmed Wednesday as the next commander for NATO's International Security Assistance Force and US Forces in Afghanistan.

Malabar Exercise: The United States, India and Japan are set to kick off week-long war games in the Pacific, beefing up naval ties as they warily eye an increasingly assertive China and its military buildup.

The littoral combat ship USS Coronado will get a chance at an historic LCS first this fall when it launches a surface-to-surface missile in tests off Southern California.

MH-17 shoot down alters Air Force's space equation.

House narrowly defeats motion agreeing to Senate VA bill.

More than half of post-9/11 combat veterans say they have a mental health condition, but three-fourths report they are getting care, according to a new survey of young veterans conducted by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Guardsmen, reservists help battle western wildfires.

The U.S. Army has selected a new camouflage pattern, but the service doesn't feel the need to formally announce it.

Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, is now joining several other military bases, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as possible locations to house unaccompanied Central American minors, according to the state's governor's office.

The fastest cruise missile in the world launching underwater.

The coolest object disintegration we have ever seen.

What the far future of space mining could look like.

Cyclist films his own road accident, and lives.

Paste names the best Merge Records releases in honor of the label's 25th anniversary.

ThinkGeek has unveiled a Flux Capacitor car charger.

The country's best fast food burger

Supercut: 80s computer hacking.

Finally: Senior citizens recreating classic movie scenes.

We fell out of trees at age 6 ...

LINK: Original photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd class David Kolmel

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.24.14 >>>

Gunmen attacked a prisoner convoy north of Baghdad today, setting off a gunbattle with troops in which scores of prisoners and eight soldiers were killed, brutally underscoring Iraq's instability as lawmakers convened to elect a new president.

Israel won a partial reprieve from the economic pain of its Gaza war with the lifting of a U.S. ban on commercial flights to Tel Aviv, while continued fighting pushed the Palestinian death toll over 700. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent a letter to congressional leadership on requesting $225 million in additional funding to accelerate production of Iron Dome missile-defense components to ensure Israel will have adequate stockpiles for protection.

ISIL is now a "full-blown army" in Iraq.

The Islamic State is no longer a juggernaut, it's a motley alliance of factions just waiting to betray each other.

The CIA ran a secret jail on Polish soil, the European Court of Human Rights ruled, piling pressure on Poland, one of Washington's closest allies, to break its long silence about the global program for detaining al Qaeda suspects. 

It's suddenly 1980-something again on Capitol Hill as a Cold War aura fills the halls of Congress.

Army hates to take Guard Apaches, but it "must happen": Under Secretary Carson.

Japan is building two more Aegis antimissile ships.

Britain is still exporting arms and military equipment to Russia, according to a parliamentary report released Wednesday just hours after Prime Minister David Cameron rapped France for selling weapons to Moscow.

Lies, Damned Lies and Maps: Cartography helps set the parameters within which debates over policy and strategy unfold.

Documents detail VA mistreatment of veterans.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday warned House and Senate lawmakers might not reach a deal on legislation to reform the Veterans Affairs Department before the August recess.

After more than a dozen years fighting wars against unsophisticated opponents and technology in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force is refocusing its training on tests ripped from the headlines - surface-to-air missiles, chemical weapons and cyber warfare.

Changes to military postal operations will save the Defense Department $4 million annually while providing services comparable to those of any U.S. Postal Service office.

CEO of the Army Reserves: "We have a crisis in manning the Reserve. It's a lot harder to recruit and retain than it used to be.

Two female Soldiers recently won national Golden Gloves championships, bringing the number of female amateur boxing national champions in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program to four.

Alaska soldier's car struck in Puyallup after transport company files for bankruptcy.

Apple is seriously talking to payments-industry companies about debuting a mobile wallet.

An automatic parachute will keep you from being hit with a drone.

Our new favorite Twitter account: @CrimeADay. Don't even think about profiting from Woodsy the Owl or his signature catchphrase, "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." You could get a fine and up to 6 months in prison.

Q&A: Jerry Seinfeld on "Single Shots," "Seinfeld at 25 and more.

Duran Duran is suing its fan club.

This cool startup wants to let anyone become a superhero action figure.

And finally, stare at this guitar, and you may see the ghost of Scooby-Doo.

The greatest anti-piracy ad in the universe ...

LINK: Original photo by Cpl. Justin M. Martinez

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.23.2014 >>>

Israeli forces pounded Gaza, meeting stiff resistance from Hamas Islamists, as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pushes ceasefire talks.  

The costly Iron Dome missile defense system is proving its worth and the need for laser missile defense systems.

To deter Hamas, the military plans to destroy the homes of Palestinians accused of violence - displacing families in the process.

Hamas won't back down. And Israel refuses to stop until it feels the job is done. What is Israel's endgame in Gaza?

Senior U.S. intelligence officials said Russia was responsible for "creating the conditions" that led to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, but they offered no evidence of direct Russian government involvement.

Russian statements expressing skepticism that the U.S. can produce satellite images showing a surface-to-air missile shooting down the Malaysia Airlines jet on July 17 shows 'desperation' on Russia's part.

Brits investigating assassination of the spy who warned us about Putin.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging President Obama to do more to prevent the French government from selling warships to Russia after the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

China's recent unrelenting drive to use coercive and intimidating state power, short of direct application of military force, to advance control of disputed territory in the East China Sea and the South China Sea poses a major problem for the United States.

Shadow Wars: U.S. military - with its signature aircraft carriers, submarines, jet fighters and heavily armored vehicles - may be too deeply invested in very expensive capabilities poorly designed to deal effectively with these new threats.

Budget cuts are forcing the Pentagon to send "pink slips" to thousands of military personnel, including some currently serving in Afghanistan.

VA nominee Bob McDonald: "Change can be achieved"

Air Force launching satellites to spy on other satellites.

The outgoing head of the U.S. Air Force Space Command said the time is right for a new rocket engine to be developed in the United States.

Congress must extent brain rehab program for veterans.

A World War II officer who trained the country's first black Marines was laid to rest at the Roseburg National Cemetery Annex.

SilencerCo's New Shotgun Suppressor: The Salvo 12 is a modular design that allows the shooter to add or remove sections to balance length and weight.

Seeing real U.S. Navy SEALs moving underwater is way cooler than any movie.

This amazing tree produces 40 different kinds of fruit.

All the supernovas ever photographed in one spectacular collection.

List: Here are 10 of the most awesomest movies stunts in film history.

Rob Reiner reflects on Spinal Tap in the latest ep of Sound Opinions. 

Get ready for the seedless mango.

Did you know they've now introduced Peanut Butter Cheerios?

What are the happiest and unhappiest cities in America?

The United States will fall to pieces beginning Aug. 21 ...

LINK: Original photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Nistas

GRAB A COFFEE AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.22.2014 >>>

The Iraqi ambassador to the United States explicitly called for ramped up American military involvement in his country, asking the United States to launch air strikes against positions being held by ISIL.

Restoring peace to Iraq will require a re-balancing or disengagement of the center from the periphery, either de facto or de jure.

Beijing has defended its dispatch of a spy ship to international waters off Hawaii, near where Chinese vessels are taking part in a U.S.-led naval exercise for the first time.

The shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines passenger aircraft over eastern Ukraine is likely to further contribute to security concerns in Eastern Europe, where NATO allies eye increased cooperation in the field of defense and joint arms procurements.

Congress is deeply divided over whether to kill a contract with a top Russian arms supplier, Rosoboronexport, to provide helicopters and parts to the Afghan air force. 

Terror threat enters danger zone.

President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to former Staff Sgt Ryan M. Pitts during a White House ceremony.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says lawmakers tasked with hammering out a bipartisan legislation that would overhaul the Veterans Affairs Department have agreed that budget cuts should help fund any eventual bill.

President Barack Obama's choice to lead the beleaguered Veterans Affairs Department is going before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing as Congress considers a bill to help the next VA leader do his job.

Medical professionals from coast to coast have pointed out problems at the VA, only to suffer retaliation from supervisors and other high-ranking officials.

New high-tech job training efforts being launched by the White House this week will include veteran-specific programs and placement efforts.

Oklahoma lawmakers urged the Obama administration to reconsider a decision to expand housing at U.S. military bases for child immigrants from Central American who are apprehended crossing the border. 

Special Report: Top five best bases for airmen. (Joint Base Lewis-McChord tied for 39th).

100 Guardsmen on standby to fight fires in Washington state.

The Air Force plans to launch two operational satellites and one experimental satellite into near-geosynchronous Earth orbit July 23.

Army officials have withdrawn their intelligence network from a major testing exercise this fall because of software glitches, in the latest setback for the troubled system.

The Army is "breaking new ground" in efforts to combat sexual harassment and sexual assault in the ranks.

Carl Sagan explains why aliens are not visiting us all the time.

Here's an insanely scary roller coaster for those who need to feel like they're close to dying in order to feel like they're living.

Driving in Russia is flirting with death-watch these three accidents happening in 30 seconds.

Hear a rockin' new Weezer track.

FX has renewed Fargo and Louie.

Sure, we have time for a 278-hour marathon of The Simpsons ...

Watch a five-minute clip from Guardians of the Galaxy.

In this video, Dave Foley welcomes the Ramones to heaven.

And finally, here is a crab eating a bowl of noodles.

LINK: Original photo by Lance Cpl. MaryAnn Hill

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.21.14 >>>

The Palestinian death toll rose to more than 500 as Israel announced it had prevented two more attempts by Hamas militants to infiltrate the nation via tunnels from the Gaza Strip. 

Science!: Why Israel's Iron Dome is overrated.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry cited what he calls an "enormous amount of evidence" tying separatists to downing of Malaysia Airlines in Ukraine.

The Buk that brough down MH17 is the high-tech equivalent of the ubiquitous AK-14, which almost started World War III.

Republicans and Democrats showed a rare display of bipartisanship last week when members of both parties criticized the Pentagon's $58.6 billion war budget request, but experts say Congress will likely approve the measure.

Obama wants $5 billion to boost foreign deployment of special operations forces.

The revival of the Pentagon's storied F-35 alternative engine program is unlikely despite a U.S. Senate panel raising that possibility.

China in the sky: 10 things to know about the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on Tuesday will hold a confirmation hearing for Robert McDonald, President Obama's nominee to lead the troubled Veterans Affairs Department.

A small aircraft carrying U.S. military personnel made an emergency landing in the middle of a highway after running out of fuel.

The Kansas Adjutant General's office says federal authorities are investigating possible corruption involving outside medical companies' contracts with the Kansas Army National Guard.

Air Force officials are expected to decide by next month whether to go forward with a huge expansion of a bomber training area over the Northern Plains for B-1 bombers.

For the first time students from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School got to fly with the newly upgraded Sustainment Block-16 B-1B Lancer.

Military pride: These states boast the highest enlistment rates in America.

The definitive proof: Why the moon landings could have never ever been faked.

These photos of rest areas will make you want to jump in your car and go.

Actor James Garner has died.

Watch a trailer for the new season of Homeland.

See a trailer for Aaron McGruder's new Adult Swim comedy, Black Jesus.

Finally: Here's a cover of Queen's Another One Bites the Dust that consists of movie screams.

Here's today's Ugandan street dance battle ...

LINK: Original photo by Cpl. John A. Martinez Jr.

Suzanne Gerstner summed up neatly the reason for standing in front of the flagpole at the heart of the Tahoma National Cemetery.

"We're here to pay tribute to our fallen spouses," said the Gold Star Wife from Florida. 

The gold star on her lapel is representative of having lost a spouse serving in the military.

"We will not forget them."

The Gold Star Wives of America, a non-profit, was founded before the end of World War II.

Its purpose remains to provide support for the spouses and children of those who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

>>> Incorporated on Dec. 15, 1945 the Cold Star Wives have 10,000 members nationwide with more than 60 active chapters. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

Eighty-six wives from around the country are meeting this week in Seattle for its 69th National Convention.

The Tahoma Chapter hosted the three-day convention, which held a short ceremony this morning at the Tahoma National Cemetery.

"What a beautiful day," enthused chaplain Andrena Taylor.  "And this is a beautiful place to lay our loved ones."

>>> Eighty-six Gold Star Wives from around the country attended the 69th Gold Star Wives National Convention this past week.Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

On April 5, 1945, four widows - who did not even receive a flag or letter from the government for their sacrifice - met in Marie Jordan's apartment in New York City and began the organization.

Not long after, Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin Roosevelt, joined the group and became one of the original signers when the organization was chartered as a non-profit.

Today, the organization holds a Congressional Charter under title 36 of the United States Code under public law 96-497.

Over the years, Gold Star Wives of America have worked quietly to support each other and their survivors. 

They have also worked for and received greater recognition.

On April 5 of this year, Congress designated the day as "Gold Star Wives Day."  The intent is to publically recognize the sacrifice made by service members and their spouses in support of the nation.

"This day provides an opportunity to honor the members of Gold Star Wives of America, a volunteer organization that has assisted widows and survivors of fallen service members," said Senator Richard Burr (R-North Carolina).

"By designating April 5, 2014 as ‘Gold Star Wives Day,' this resolution promotes awareness of the dedication and sacrifice of the families of America's fallen soldiers and veterans."

>>> Gold Star Wife and National Chaplain Andrena Taylor thanked the Tahoma Chapter for its hospitality and hard work. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson

The organization has a strong local connection.

"You have here today the spouses of service members who gave their lives in all of this country's war since the organization was founded," said Arlene Murray, president of the Tahoma Chapter.

"We are honored to be able to serve and remember those who have served."

The local chapter meets every third Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at the AmVets Post #1 in Tacoma.

For more information about the Gold Star Wives of America, visit www.goldstarwives.org.

For more information about the Tahoma Chapter, email Murray at a.murray2293@gmail.com.

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.17.14 >>>

Kabul International Airport takes a beating: Militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked Kabul International Airport in the Afghan capital in one of the most audacious assaults on the facility, used by both civilians and the military, in a year.

Residents of the Gaza Strip rushed out of their homes today to take advantage of a five-hour "humanitarian truce" between the Israeli military and Hamas militants, a respite that began just hours after Israel bombed what it called a "terror tunnel" under the Gaza border.

Rocket War: You wouldn't know it from the images of Israeli jets bombing Gaza. But for Hamas, the current war has produced a significant victory.

Today on Putin TV: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned new sanctions the United States imposed against Russian businesses a day earlier will backfire against U.S. companies operating in Russia.

5 things to expect from Gen. Dunford's confirmation hearing today: Duh, forces in Afghanistan is one of the things.

Lawmakers appeared gobsmacked by a request from the Obama administration for $60 billion in war funding next year, with several accusing the Pentagon of seeking a "slush fund" to use for other purposes.

With just two weeks to go before the August recess, House and Senate negotiators are struggling to reach a deal on legislation intended to improve healthcare services through the Veterans Affairs Department.

U.S. House Armed Services Committee leaders struck a skeptical - and bipartisan - tone about a $5 billion counterterrorism program proposed by President Barack Obama.

In the wake of an engine fire that grounded the F-35 fleet, a U.S. Senate subcommittee wants senior Pentagon officials to consider reviving an effort to develop a second power plant.

Need more F-35 news? How the F-35 dominated Farnborough, without ever being there.

Take this F-35: The British Royal Air Force plans to finish upgrades to as many as 59 Tornado aircraft by 2016.

The next big thing in aviation is small: Hummingbird-sized drones.

Things Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin-Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and minister of defense, says on Twitter: "Today we announce two epic projects in our history: establishing UAE Space Agency and sending the first Arab spaceship to Mars by 2021."

We love you but you got to go: The Air Force will soon begin offeringincentives to reduce its workforce by nearly 3,500 employees.

Chris Kyle vs. former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura continues: A former Navy SEAL testified he saw military sniper Chris Kyle punch the former wrestler.

Afghanistan Fabulous: The Army has altered its government-owned Scorpion camouflage pattern to look almost identical to MultiCam, the trademarked pattern the service has been using in Afghanistan since 2010.

Sgt. Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III recently issued guidance to help clarify the Army's position on commercial-off-the-shelf combat boots.

The world's first family robot could be like HAL in your home.

Mysterious giant hole suddenly appears in Siberia.

I was hidden in this guy's hard drive for six years.

Bowie Wowie: More new music from David Bowie could be on the way.

Smashing Amazon: Billy Corgan is angry at Amazon.

Fund the million dollar podcast: These joke Kickstarter campaigns are getting out of hand.

Feast your eyes on the trailer for Ouija, a film based on the Hasbro board "game" that enables players to communicate with the spirit world.

Why did Jason Segel quit Twitter? It involves a burrito ...

Finally: Here's a list of underrated Seinfeld episodes.

More summer Slip ‘N Slide fun ...

LINK: Original photo by Staff Sgt. Pablo N. Piedra

GRAB A CUP AND READ THE MORNING REPORT FOR 7.15.14 >>>

F-35 cleared for flight.

Lawmakers warn President Obama is shortchanging the military by calling it into action at the U.S. border without providing a boost in funding.

Cease-fire ends as Israel resumes attacks in Gaza.

Report: Benghazi suspect found dead in Libya.

89 Killed in suicide blast in east Afghanistan.

Special Forces teams have finished sizing up the Iraqi military and now await decisions on possibly moving into an advisory role.

Iraq army launches Tikrit offensive, politicians elect speaker.

Kerry: Wide gaps persist in Iran nuke talks.

Why the world's armies don't want U.S. tech anymore.

Qatar will buy U.S. Patriot missiles for the first time in a major arms deal worth $11 billion.

VA cites progress on backlog; Congress disagrees.

Sgt. Bergdahl returning to active duty with administration job.

Toward a new U.S. defense model.

Want to fix retention? Start by making the military a real meritocracy.

Researcher leading PTSD-pot study loses job.

Army Performance Triad app now available.

"Game-changing" device gets veteran back on his feet.

First, she made headlines in 2011 by taking Justin Timberlake to the Marine Corps ball. She did it again when she became a professional mixed martial arts fighter upon leaving the Corps in 2012. Now, Kelsey DeSantis has her eyes set on winning a beauty pageant.

Could Fox's Enlisted be brought back from cancellation?

Blink-182 is releasing a new album.

Watch Tacky, "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of Happy.

Are seductive abs really worth more than Netflix?

Must-see: "Giant dead parrot unveiled in London to pay tribute to Monty Python."

Finally: 10 greatest Han Solo moments.

Hello awesome summer!

LINK: Original photo by Sgt. Logan Pierce