Policy that affects service members and veterans

Sgt. Josh Wilkinson, a military police soldier with the 29th Military Police Company, Maryland Army National Guard, conducts a simulated shoplifting search during a Joint Multinational Readiness Center exercise rotation in Hohenfels, Germany, on Nov. 2. The soldiers are preparing to deploy to Kosovo. Photo by Sgt. Zachary M. Zippe, courtesy of the U.S. Army National Guard.

“Everybody We Deal With Is Trained to Kill”—Why Don’t We See Widespread Police Brutality in the Military?

by Andrea Scott November 6, 2020July 15, 2025

Police brutality on military bases is rare but reports show that veterans are 2.9 times more likely to fire their weapons than civilian law enforcement.

U.S. Army veteran Tom Bomke takes a selfie with Jon Stewart at the DoD Warrior Games opening ceremony, June 22, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Tampa during the Department of Defense Warrior Games. Photo by Spec. Seara Marcsis, courtesy of the U.S. Army.

Newsroom

“We’re Better Than This”—Jon Stewart, Veterans Advocates Rally for Bipartisan Burn Pit Legislation

by Kelly Kennedy November 3, 2020July 11, 2025

Burn pits have poisoned service members for years. Policy is lacking and defense contractors are not liable for decisions that might harm soldiers at war.

Newsroom

Camouflaged as Polling Workers, National Guard Presence During Primaries Fuels Worries of Militarized Presidential Election

by Courtney Mabeus October 14, 2020September 29, 2025

“Our goal was to make sure that you couldn’t tell whether it was a Guardsman or a volunteer,” said a spokesperson, of the deployments to polling stations.

Master Sgt. Darryl Sterling, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron equipment manager, throws trash into a burn pit at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in 2008. Photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter, courtesy U.S. Air Force.

Newsroom

“It’s so inaccurate”—How the VA Is Failing to Track Veterans Burn Pit Claims

by Kelly Kennedy August 7, 2020July 18, 2025

VA figures show an astonishingly low rate of approval of burn pit claims: Of the 10,588 claims, 2,360 veterans had their benefits granted and 8,228 were denied.

Reflections

A Fake Raid, A Fake Village, and a Sinking Track

by Nate Eckman July 29, 2020September 29, 2025

“We’re piled on top of each other at 15, sometimes 20 at a time, in a vehicle built for 12.” A Marine reflects on a narrow escape at sea.

U.S. Marine Corps veteran Charles Dane adds weight to the bar during a 2018 Defense Department Warrior Games powerlifting practice at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dane was medically retired from the military after a 19-year career. Photo by Cpl. Juan Madrigal, courtesy of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Newsroom

Your Kidneys Are Failing and Your Doctor Has Just Deployed. Now What?

by Kelly Kennedy July 9, 2020February 10, 2026

An overhaul of the Army, Air Force, and Navy’s medical services doesn’t appear to be going to plan, with 10 kidney transplant recipients left in the lurch.

Emily Miller celebrates National Coming Out Day at Harvard Business School with the school’s LGBT student association.

Reflections

Gay Veteran Sees Racism as a Tougher Fight

by Emily Miller June 24, 2020July 11, 2025

All movements must include the fight against racism—and that looks different from other protests.

Newsroom

The Newest Military Branch—the Space Force

by Rowan Philp May 28, 2020September 29, 2025

Despite a bumpy launch, the Space Force seeks to modernize U.S. defense in outer space.

Barnhill said that sometimes military families look like pinups, but more often than not there is more to the story. She believes the entire family serves, not just the service member. Photo courtesy of Jean Jacobs.

Reflections

A Military Spouse’s Journey From Annoyance to Advocacy

by Jennifer Barnhill May 6, 2020September 29, 2025

A military spouse seeks to change an antiquated narrative.

Newsroom

Can the Pentagon Lead the Tech Sector Again?

by Thomas Day April 30, 2020September 29, 2025

Silicon Valley was built on defense dollars, but bureaucracy and a rise of Big Tech and startups have left the U.S. military behind in defense acquisitions.