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Southcom establishes Autonomous Warfare Command
April 24, 2026 — Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed the establishment of the Southcom Autonomous Warfare Command, which will employ autonomous, semiautonomous and unmanned platforms and systems to counter threats and challenges across the region. ... MORE

An unmanned aerial vehicle flies through a blue sky with clouds and trees below. In the foreground is the silhouette of a person with the controls.

Personal Property Activity engages industry partners ahead of peak PCS season
April 24, 2026 — The War Department's newest special activity — the Personal Property Activity — met with moving, shipping and logistics leaders to provide an update on the accelerated reform aimed at improving one of the most critical quality-of-life issues facing military families, the permanent change of station moving process... MORE

A man in a formal military uniform stands and speaks into a microphone to a seated audience; to his left is a screen with slides projected on it.

$1.5 trillion budget request prioritizes service members, modernization
April 22, 2026 — The president's fiscal year 2027 budget request was made public during a briefing at the Pentagon, with $1.5 trillion — the largest request in history — aimed at, among other things, supporting military families, securing the homeland, modernizing equipment, rebuilding the defense industrial base and providing a raise to service members... MORE

Two men, one in a suit and another in a military dress uniform, sit at a table. Behind them is a display screen showing a slide.

Hegseth, Indonesian counterpart announce defense partnership
April 14, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed his Indonesian counterpart — Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin — to the Pentagon, where the two men announced the establishment of the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership between the two countries. ... MORE

Two people in business attire salute as they stand outside during daytime, with service members standing at attention nearby.

Epic Fury quelled for now, objectives accomplished, U.S. forces remain ready
April 9, 2026 — In fewer than 40 days, unrelenting military action by America's joint force has helped accomplish all the goals President Donald J. Trump set for Operation Epic Fury... MORE

An aircraft lifts off the deck of a carrier. Two individuals in yellow jackets stand on the deck. Another individual in a beige vest wears a helmet that reads QAS.

Trump, Hegseth, Caine laud successful rescue of downed Airmen in Iran
April 7, 2026 — During a White House press conference, President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, lauded the military's success in a harrowing Easter weekend rescue of two airmen... MORE

A twin-engine military fighter jet flies through a hazy sky.

Hegseth authorizes off-duty service members to carry private firearms on installations
April 3, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow War Department personnel to request to carry privately owned firearms while in their nonofficial duty capacity on DOW property within the United States. ... MORE

An aerial, daylight view looking down on a large, five-sided building with a large courtyard in the background.

Hegseth, VA Secretary honor Vietnam War vets
March 30, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Doug Collins, Veterans Affairs secretary, were joined by dozens of former service members, Gold Star family members and others at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington for a ceremony in recognition of National Vietnam War Veterans Day March 29... MORE

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stands at a lectern outdoors and speaks to a seated crowd.

Hegseth announces reforms to Chaplain Corps
March 26, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced reforms to the military's Chaplain Corps, saying the department will be streamlining the number of faith code affiliations for service members and that the department will replace the rank insignia military chaplains wear on uniforms with their religious insignia... MORE

A plaque on a wall reads "Department of War."

War Department extends invitation to bring back troops separated for refusing COVID-19 vaccine
March 23, 2026 — Service members forced to leave the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine now have an extra year to return to the service, if they so choose, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said... MORE

A group of Marines are shown in silhouette standing near a tactical vehicle.

Hegseth calls for assessment, alignment of DOW legal functions, operations
March 13, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on the joint forces service secretaries to work through their general counsels to conduct a "ruthless, no-excuses review" of the War Department's assorted legal support functions and operations... MORE

Hegseth says there's no shortage of American will, resources in Operation Epic Fury
March 6, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said there is no shortage of American will, nor is there a shortage of materiel, when it comes to U.S. kinetic engagement against the Iranian terrorist regime during Operation Epic Fury... MORE

A fighter jet touches down on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier; the ship's tall, multileveled superstructure is in the background.

Hegseth says 'Epic Fury' goals in Iran are 'laser-focused'
March 2, 2026 — American forces in the U.S. Central Command area of operations have been involved in an intense bombing campaign against Iran — Operation Epic Fury — that has already resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei... MORE

A missile launches from a ship in an open body of water during daytime, emitting smoke and orange flames.

Acquisition reform means a focus on Warfighter success
February 27, 2026 — The War Department aims to modernize how acquisition — the buying of weapons and other materiel from manufacturers — is done to ensure American warfighters get the best tools, at the right price, and as quickly as possible. ... MORE

An aerial photo of the Pentagon and surrounding buildings.

Hegseth calls for military unity across Western Hemisphere at inaugural defense chiefs gathering
February 12, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on defense chiefs and other senior military leaders from 34 Western Hemisphere countries to unite in deterrence against bad actors who may already be operating in, or working to encroach upon, the region... MORE

DOW restructures foreign military sales, prioritizes speed, efficiency
February 10, 2026 — The War Department has moved two agencies critical to getting American-made combat gear into the hands of allied and partner nations under the department's Office of Acquisition and Sustainment. ... MORE

People guide a forklift carrying a wooden box into the open nose of a large aircraft at night.

Hegseth establishes Personal Property Activity to ensure successful PCS moves
January 26, 2026 — The War Department's Personal Property Activity will stand up this summer as a permanent fix of the myriad woes service members and their families have experienced during permanent change of station moves... MORE

Three men dressed in casual attire unload a large item wrapped in brown paper off of a truck.

'It's not just the door kickers,' Hegseth says on tour in support of defense industrial workers
January 13, 2026 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke of the Pentagon's commitment to investing in a defense industrial base that is loyal to supporting America's service members and civilians who support the Constitution... MORE

A person standing in front of a fighter jet parked indoors addresses a crowd of people, with an American flag and a sign reading "The Arsenal of Freedom" in the background.

War Department reevaluates discharge characterizations for COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal
December 16, 2025 — For service members involuntarily discharged solely for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, the War Department has ordered a reevaluation of their discharge status to see who might be eligible for an upgrade to an honorable discharge... MORE

A close-up view of the bottom of a mock service member's separation from DD-214 is shown with the word "honorable" written in the characterization of service block.

Hegseth introduces department to new AI tool
December 10, 2025 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced GenAI.mil, a secure generative AI platform for every member of the Department of War, in an email to the department... MORE