Ideas

Why It Matters That Carter Says Iraq Raid Isn't Combat, Then Says It Is

We may not be a nation at war, but U.S. special operators are fighting. And their raids against ISIS most certainly are combat.

Business

‘I Don’t Know What The Debate Is,’ Army's Top Officer Says of Women

As Defense Secretary Carter orders senior military leaders to quiet down about women in combat decision deadline, Gen. Mark Milley had one more thing to say.

Business

US Army’s New Chief Sets Three Goals

Readiness, modernizing the force, and taking care of soldiers — and that means more time practicing complex scenarios.

Threats

Top Pentagon Weapon Buyers Say Budget Gridlock Threatens Hundreds of Projects

Pentagon officials say hundreds of acquisitions projects would be halted or cut in half this fiscal year if Congress doesn’t pass a proper budget.

Policy

U.S. Commander in Afghanistan: Now Is Not the Time to Leave

Gen. Campbell tells lawmakers he has sent the White House various options for keeping troops beyond 2016.

Policy

Lawmakers' Defense Spending Agreement Ignores Obama on War Fund, Guantanamo

House and Senate members agreed to military personnel and acquisition reforms, yet set up a showdown over the offshore prison and wartime supplemental funding.

Threats

Pentagon Warns 2 Million Troops, Workers May Have to Work Without Pay Next Week

The looming government shutdown threatens paychecks for roughly 2 million troops and civilians, but some shrug as this happened before — just two years ago.

Business

US, China Race To Boost Military Coding Personnel

Head of US Fleet Cyber Command wants to pull from the 9th-grade talent pool.

Science & Tech

A Top-Secret Cell Phone Is Just One New Tool the Pentagon Can Expect Soon

In a call with reporters, the Defense Department's chief information officer shared a handful of new developments on the Pentagon's tech horizon.

Business

Pentagon Civilian Worker Reclassification Draws Fire

Union calls the plan "vague, non-specific, and often conflicting."

Business

Ash Who? After Six Months On The Job, 44% Have No Opinion on Defense Secretary

A Defense One survey finds that nearly half of troops, natsec employees say they still have no opinion about Ash Carter.

Science & Tech

The Subatomic Race to Harness Quantum Science

US, China are betting millions on the promise of this newish field, but the real-world potential remains a mystery.

Business

Carter: Joint Chiefs Breach Shows Military Needs Better Cyber Security

As he travels to Silicon Valley to seek help, Defense Secretary Ash Carter criticizes the military’s network security.

Ideas

Where Are Pop Culture’s Women Warriors?

Hollywood leaves female troops off its made-up battlefields — and that matters to audiences and vets themselves.

Business

You’re Safe-ish from Anthrax, For Now

Pentagon investigation into accidental anthrax shipments blames bad processes for killing spores.

Ideas

5 Keys to the New US National Military Strategy

From new nukes to the growing threat of interstate war, the new document is the boldest statement yet of the 'complex and rapidly-changing' global security landscape.

Business

Military Retirement Changes Could Cut Into New, Old Troops' Benefits

Under the current system, personnel who serve 20-plus years get a pension. But what about everyone else?

Science & Tech

The US Military Wants Its Troops To Be Able To See Through Walls

DARPA is looking for ways to extract more information from light than cameras typically do, which could help troops spot hidden enemies.

Threats

Carter: The US Military Is Training an Iraqi Army That Doesn't Want To Fight

The main problem with Iraq's battered and depleted military is the same one facing Iraq as a whole—the country effectively no longer exists as a unified state.

Business

House Passes Military-Retirement Overhaul

Its version of the 2016 defense authorization act would automatically enroll new troops in the Thrift Savings Plan.