Army rolls out Combat Field Test, new fitness assessment for front-line combat soldiers The test consists of seven exercises, without rest between, exercises and is meant to prepare soldiers for “the demanding realities of modern combat.”

Reading the last two paragraphs like "wait the Army has divers?" ... "wait how are these tasks relevant for them?"

The Spanish Flu — a deadly postscript to WWI — started at a US military base Approximately 43,000 service members were killed by the influenza virus that was first identified at an Army base in Haskell County, Kansas.

Hey guys it's totally fine that top military & health leaders are anti-vaxx, right? No historically examples we should pay attention to or anything? Cool cool cool

House appropriators advance $469 billion spending package for VA, military construction The legislation provides the dollars for veterans’ disability compensation, pensions, education assistance, health care, insurance and loan programs.

The committee passed the bill unanimously.

Army releases details on new test for combat arms soldiers The Army released details of a new field fitness test for soldiers in combat roles. It mirrors an event in Expert Infantryman Badge testing

“Leadership will have to take this test as well”
Well. This will be interesting. How many senior officers is Hegseth willing to get rid of in the effort to push out some women?

FUN FACT

www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/co...
For um no reason

The only time I have ever missed a major event (funeral) was because of the airline having mechanical problems, not my habit of walking up to the gate as boarding is announced (when traveling solo)

Testing finds toxic metals where Tesla discharges wastewater The drainage district that commissioned the testing has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company, which says it is in compliance with all requirements for its state wastewater discharge permit.

I’m shocked. www.texastribune.org/2026/04/21/t...

The betrayal is horrific

Why would anyone ever trust us again

This Helmet Kept an Air Force Pilot Safe as She Was Soaring Through the Glass Ceiling When a young Nicole Malachowski was dreaming about becoming a fighter pilot, she couldn’t have imagined the heights she’d fly as part of the elite Thunderbirds

“It was never about me. It’s that a woman was doing it, and if she can dream big, anyone can dream big. Why not blaze your own trail?”

Federal agents detain wife of another US army member: ‘ICE is out of control’ Jose Serrano, a sergeant, said Deisy Rivera Ortega, his wife, was arrested at an immigration appointment

She's been married to a U.S. soldier for 4 years. She followed the rules. She had a work permit. She showed up at an immigration appointment.
Trump's ICE is deporting her anyway - to a country she's never been to.

Trump clears path for expanded psychedelic research to treat veterans’ PTSD The order commits at least $50 million in federal funds to boost research on ibogaine, a powerful hallucinogen.

Research is good.

I stumbled upon this pain in the ass situation when trying to refill my 14yo kid's medication online. No, mom, you can't access the minor's record bc she's over 13. No, kid, you can't get access bc you're still actually a minor.
Luckily you CAN still refill meds by phone and then pick up for them.

2026 Fellowship: Leadership & New Voices Merging activism and education in the LGBTQIA+ security professional space.

Applications for the 2026 Out in National Security Leadership & New Voices Fellowship is NOW OPEN!

Also worth checking out the increases in health care costs (which include retirees and dependents) - here’s an older report but I don’t think the trends have changed: www.cbo.gov/publication/...

'We've Got Your Six' Billboards Outside Clinics Follow VA Abortion Shift Democratic senators' efforts to overturn the VA's ending of abortion services narrowly failed earlier this year.

"there are organizations out there who will help [women veterans] get the health care they need, even though the VA has abandoned its obligation to take care of them in this regard”

Army veteran tasked with prosecuting Nazi death squads awarded Congressional Gold Medal Ben Ferencz was just 27 with no previous trial experience when he became chief prosecutor in one of the most significant murder trials in history.

I am continually astonished that Nazi apologists are thriving in the US today. Be like Ben Ferencz & fight evil.
www.militarytimes.com/veterans/mil...

Congress pushes Army leaders for answers on ouster of top general A Republican lawmaker warned that George’s ouster could “have a chilling effect on the way our services operate in the future.”

"More than a dozen generals and admirals have been fired, and others have retired early since Hegseth became defense secretary in January 2025, but George’s ouster has spurred considerably more bipartisan criticism from Congress than the past dismissals"

VA-sponsored committee wants to hear from vets with neurological conditions Veterans who developed neurodegenerative conditions after deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq are being sought for a NASEM review.

Some you've heard of (ALS), others are more rare

How an overhaul of federal layoffs could affect veterans About one in every four federal workers is a military veteran. A proposed rule could change the protections veterans have had from layoffs.

Watch this space:

Bill from vets in Congress would keep military roles open to women The bill, which lacks Republican sponsors, is explicitly described as a response to the Pentagon review of women in ground combat roles.

Bill from vets in Congress would keep military roles open to women
buff.ly/C6TaW3T

Perhaps he would like to personally demonstrate for us how well HUMANS can survive in that “natural habitat”?

Pentagon’s women-in-combat review reassigned; deadline extended A Pentagon-ordered review on the effectiveness of women in combat is now under new management, Military Times has learned.

Bad-faith effort modified to new bad-faith effort 🫠

Whistleblower says Trump officials thought USAID did 'just abortions,' asked for 'Barney-style' slides before gutting agency, per new book Read an exclusive excerpt from Nicholas Enrich's "Into the Wood Chipper"

NEW—I got an exclusive excerpt from a USAID whistleblower's new book that made me gasp multiple times. It details Trump's dismantling of the humanitarian aid agency & his team/DOGE's shocking ignorance to public health.

'Into the Wood Chipper' by Nicholas Enrich is out tomorrow. Read excerpt here:

We just visited Ireland and they have a woman president. It’s their THIRD. The U.S. is just *embarrassing* at this point.

Australia gets its first female army chief, Susan Coyle She is the first woman to be appointed head of any of the services in the Australian military.

Australia gets its first female army chief, Susan Coyle
Meanwhile, here in the U.S. … never mind.
buff.ly/04Ll74r

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ finds a new voice Despite its nearly century of resonance with readers, “All Quiet on the Western Front” has only been translated twice — until now.

Lit nerds! ICYMI:

If I Wanted to Push Women Out of Military Leadership and Combat—This Is Exactly How I’d Do It You don’t need to ban women from leadership. You just need to change the system around them.

Great piece; don't miss it.

There's growing disquiet in the military. The Iran war made it worse Since Trump began his second term, his administration's use of the armed forces has left a growing number in the military unsettled, according to NPR interviews with service members and advocates.

There’s growing disquiet in the military. The Iran war made it worse : NPR buff.ly/URNXus4

Proud to partner with @houlahan.house.gov to introduce this bill. Over 5,000 women serve with excellence in combat arms and make us stronger in the fight!

Pete Hegseth Is Trying to Resegregate the Military “Color-blind and merit-based” now seems to be anything but.

As the Pentagon purges some minorities and women from high-ranking positions, the message being sent to lower-ranking officers is that “they will be assessed on the basis of their gender, race, or politics, rather than their abilities,” Adam Serwer writes: