U.S. military

Charles Jenkins (left), age 64, his wife Hitomi Soga (second from left) and their daughters arrive at Japan's Sado Island in December 2004, almost 40 years after he defected to North Korea.

Travis King isn't the 1st U.S. soldier to enter North Korea. Here's a history

2:52pm July 19, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Travis King crossed the border into North Korea on Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. service member to do so since 1982. A handful of American soldiers defected in the years after the Korean War.

View of a collection of defused cluster bombs and grenades used by an international bomb disposal group for training in Savannakhet, Laos, on May 2, 2006.

The U.S. promised Ukraine cluster bombs. In Laos, they still kill civilians

12:37pm July 11, 2023

by Lewis M. Simons

The U.S. dropped over 2 million tons of ordnance on Laos, including cluster bombs, in the 1960s and '70s. To this day, many people are killed, crippled and disfigured by them, writes Lewis M. Simons.

Ret. Lt. Col. Bob Alexander stayed closeted in the Air Force for 20 years because of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He came out when the policy ended, and when he retired, he decided to help those who weren't discharged honorably because of their sexual orientation. He resides in Washington D.C., and works as a cybersecurity attorney.

National

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

5:00am July 02, 2023

by Quil Lawrence

Twelve years after repeal of the ban on gay and lesbian troops serving openly, no one in the military or Veterans Administration knows how many vets are still without the benefits they're owed.

Queue Listen Now

Warning: This photo contains graphic and disturbing content.

He says U.S. troops abused him in Iraq's Abu Ghraib and his life is still ruined

5:01am April 11, 2023

This Iraqi man says that 20 years after appearing in a notorious photo in U.S. detention in Abu Ghraib prison, his family lives in shame and poverty, never receiving U.S. compensation or apologies.

Queue Listen Now

Members of the all-Black aviation squadron known as the Tuskegee Airmen line up Jan. 23, 1942.

Books
Arts

'Half American' explores how Black WWII servicemen were treated better abroad

11:37am November 08, 2022

by Dave Davies

Though more than one million Black Americans contributed to the war effort, historian Matthew Delmont says a military uniform offered no protection from racism.

Queue Listen Now

A special commission is reviewing military assets with names tied to the Confederacy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as other properties across the country.

National

A plaque with the words 'Ku Klux Klan' still hangs on a building at West Point

3:07pm August 31, 2022

by Joe Hernandez

The marker, depicting a hooded figure, was highlighted in a recent report by a special commission looking into U.S. military assets with names tied to the Confederacy.

Air Force service members run a timed 1.5 miles during their annual physical fitness test at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois in June. The U.S. Space Force intends to do away with once-a-year assessments in favor of wearable technology.

The Space Force is scrapping the annual fitness test in favor of wearable trackers

5:01am August 02, 2022

by Eric Schmid

The new approach aims to promote overall fitness instead of focusing on specific exercises, and the devices will also give Guardians feedback about mental health, balanced eating and sleep.

There are risk factors for eating disorders that are unique to military service.

The military might be creating 'a perfect storm' for eating disorders

5:50am April 15, 2022

by Desiree D'Iorio

Studies show that veterans have a much higher risk of eating disorders than civilians. Risk factors include chaotic eating situations, weight requirements and a culture of being in control.

U.S. troops deploy for Europe from Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Feb. 3.

Explaining the U.S. military presence in Europe as 2,000 more troops deploy

4:18pm February 04, 2022

by Becky Sullivan

The number of U.S. troops in Europe has shrunk dramatically since the end of the Cold War — but tensions with Russia since 2014 have prompted U.S. leaders to beef up numbers and move troops eastward.

The Army is increasing its largest signing bonus to $50,000 for some new recruits

9:53pm January 12, 2022

by Jonathan Franklin

Until now, the Army has offered a maximum bonus of $40,000. The head of Recruiting Command said the pandemic has made attracting new talent much more of a challenge.