Commentary

Opinions on war, Pentagon policy, pay and benefits, deployments, uniforms, weapons and more.

An airman waits for an F-35A Lightning II engine start-up during the Weapons System Evaluation Program-East 23.05 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 15, 2023.

Securing the future by investing in the present

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently expressed worry about the Pentagon’s decision to not move forward with a new engine for the F-35.

2 days ago

How the Corps’ new training document ignores US law

What lies beneath Training and Education 2030 is destructive and comes dangerously close to violating U.S. law, these retired Marines say.

2 days ago

U.S. soldiers participate in a training exercise alongside Polish service members at Powidz, Poland, March 15, 2023.

Commentary

China can wait. The Army’s focus should be Europe.

While DoD focuses on deterring China with Army support in Asia, the Army should center itself on deterring and defeating Russia in Europe.

This image shows Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2017.

American legacy of ‘forever wars’ lives on in its casualties

The divorces, wars, and military bases blurred together as they do in military families.

9 days ago

Workers from River City Movers conduct a direct delivery for a service member whose belongings were transported overseas from his previous duty station in Germany during a government move to Fort Campbell, Ky., on May 9, 2022.

Are frequent moves the root of military families’ struggles?

On this episode of The Spouse Angle podcast, three military spouses discuss their personal struggles with the military lifestyle.

2 weeks ago

Marine combat engineers no longer capable of supporting the infantry

If called to breach a minefield, reduce an obstacle or bridge a gap, combat engineers would have nothing acceptable to send, these retired Marines say.

3 weeks ago

Marines and poolees with Recruiting Station Richmond conduct a pull-up bar challenge during event during the K95 Country Festival in Doswell, Virginia, June 18, 2022.

It takes a community to recruit and retain service members

America's defense communities have long been one of the largest sources for military recruiting.

3 weeks ago

Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, listens to members of the 168th Wing while visiting Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 18, 2022.

Women in the military: Moving beyond ‘firsts’

Women's History Month is celebrated annually in March.

3 weeks ago

Fresh vegetables sit on the shelves of the commissary during the Healthy Lifestyles event held May 26, 2017 at Sagamihara Family Housing Area Commissary.

Healthy eating on a budget for busy military spouses

A nutritionist and Army spouse shares her best advice for buying healthy food on a tight budget and more on this episode of The Spouse Angle podcast.

3 weeks ago

Volunteers load a vehicle at a Military Family Advisory Network food distribution event in Killeen, Texas in March 2022.

The impossible choice facing many of America’s military families

Too often, military families are forced to put food on the backburner to keep a roof over their heads.

3 weeks ago

The not-really Next Generation Weapons Program

The author disputes the reliability of the Army's newest rifle and light machine gun.

4 weeks ago

The COVID-19 pandemic is ‘over’ — and the GI Bill needs to adapt

About 900,000 veterans and members of the military-affiliated community use the VA’s educational benefits annually to attend school.

4 weeks ago

How Michigan’s Camp Grayling can boost US military’s Arctic readiness

The DoD recognizes the importance of cold weather training, and that training can happen in Michigan.

4 weeks ago

Dip, Doritos and drinking: Why the Army can’t get in shape

When CVS banned tobacco products from stores in 2014, nearly two out of five smokers who bought cigarettes at CVS quit rather than travel to another store.

4 weeks ago

When it comes to network innovation, we must protect the data ‘pipes’

Because encryption has a shelf life, military networks still need to protect the data pipes that support the warfighter.

4 weeks ago

Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine master sergeant, lost his daughter to leukemia.

Military families devastated by Camp Lejeune water toxins

A retired Marine master sergeant who lost his daughter to leukemia and a cancer-surviving officer’s son share their stories on The Spouse Angle podcast.

4 weeks ago

Fixing the Navy’s suicide crisis, without more mental health personnel

How do we train sailors to be better leaders, better mentors, better “suicide preventers”?

5 weeks ago

The best and worst ways to save for retirement as a military spouse

A financial expert discusses what a new law to help military spouses save for retirement means for families on this episode of The Spouse Angle podcast.

5 weeks ago

Clothes hang on a clothesline in honor of sexual assault victims in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, April 10, 2018.

Ease the path to mental health care after military sexual trauma

Preventing military sexual assault is important, but so is access to mental health care after sexual trauma.

6 weeks ago

New military hunger data – and how a popular comedian is helping

On this episode of The Spouse Angle podcast, how a military spouse and comedian is using her platform to fight food insecurity among military families.

6 weeks ago