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Sunday

U.S. identifies the 3 service members who were killed in drone strike in Jordan

A soldier takes a break during the "Eager Lion" multinational military exercises that the U.S. is part of in Jordan in September 2022. Khalil Mazraawi/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Khalil Mazraawi/AFP via Getty Images

Middle East crisis — explained

U.S. identifies the 3 service members who were killed in drone strike in Jordan

The three fallen soldiers were all reservists assigned to the 718th Engineer Company in Fort Moore, Ga. Meanwhile, the number of those wounded by the attack rose to more than 40.

Monday

The military is turning to microgrids to fight global threats — and global warming

U.S Marine Corps Col. Thomas M. Bedell, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, poses for a photo at the station's Energy and Water Operations Center on MCAS Miramar. Lance Cpl. Jose S. GuerreroDeLeon/U.S. Marines/DVIDS hide caption

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Lance Cpl. Jose S. GuerreroDeLeon/U.S. Marines/DVIDS

NPR's Climate Solutions Week

The military is turning to microgrids to fight global threats — and global warming

The military is among the largest buyers of independent power systems known as microgrids. They make tactical sense; and environmentalists hope they can help the transition from fossil fuels.

The military is turning to microgrids to fight global threats — and global warming

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Wednesday

U.S. Army soldiers march in a parade as part of the 75th South Korea Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea on Tuesday.

U.S. Army soldiers march in a parade as part of the 75th South Korea Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul, South Korea on Tuesday. Ahn Young-joon/AP hide caption

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Ahn Young-joon/AP

Politics

What a government shutdown would mean for the U.S. military — and national security

Service members would work without pay, and many civil servants are likely to be furloughed. Congress has yet to pass a separate bill to guarantee military pay as it did in previous shutdowns.

What a government shutdown would mean for the U.S. military — and national security

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Wednesday

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

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. Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

History

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

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.

Tuesday

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

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. Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images

Perspective

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

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.

Sunday

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

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. Keren Carrión/NPR hide caption

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Keren Carrión/NPR

National

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

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

Discharged over sexual orientation, military still owes thousands of vets

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Tuesday

Talib al-Majli, 57, lives in a poor area in Baghdad. He says his detention in Abu Ghraib prison left him destitute and too physically weak and psychologically traumatized to find a reliable job. Now he works odd jobs, sometimes putting up signs for companies, earning around $30 per week.

Talib al-Majli, 57, lives in a poor area in Baghdad. He says his detention in Abu Ghraib prison left him destitute and too physically weak and psychologically traumatized to find a reliable job. Now he works odd jobs, sometimes putting up signs for companies, earning around $30 per week. Ruth Sherlock/NPR hide caption

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Ruth Sherlock/NPR

Middle East

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

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.

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

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Monday

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

Members of the all-Black aviation squadron known as the Tuskegee Airmen line up Jan. 23, 1942. U.S. Army Signal Corps/Associated Press hide caption

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U.S. Army Signal Corps/Associated Press

History

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

Fresh Air

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

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

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Wednesday

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

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. Seth Wenig/AP hide caption

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Seth Wenig/AP

National

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

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.

Tuesday

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

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. Eric Schmid/St. Louis Public Radio hide caption

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Eric Schmid/St. Louis Public Radio

Shots - Health News

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

St. Louis Public Radio

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.

Friday

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

There are risk factors for eating disorders that are unique to military service. Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images hide caption

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Al Tielemans/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Shots - Health News

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

WSHU

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.

Friday

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

U.S. troops deploy for Europe from Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Feb. 3. Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images

National Security

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

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.

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

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Wednesday

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

This March 27, 2008, file photo, shows the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who sign up for six years. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

National

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

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.

Saturday

A South Korean village is protesting U.S. plans for THAAD missile defense upgrades

Activists demonstrate against a U.S. missile defense system installed in Seongju county, South Korea, since 2017. Protesters stand near the entrance of the base, the site of a former golf course. Anthony Kuhn/NPR hide caption

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Anthony Kuhn/NPR

Analysis

World

A South Korean village is protesting U.S. plans for THAAD missile defense upgrades

The potential upgrade at a U.S. air defense base, within range of missiles in North Korea and China, has residents concerned as Seoul walks a delicate balancing act between the rival powers.

Saturday

NPR sues the Pentagon for info on possible civilian deaths during the Baghdadi raid

Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, speaks as a picture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is displayed during a news briefing on Oct. 30, 2019, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. McKenzie spoke to reporters to provide an update on the special operations raid that targeted the Islamic State leader in Idlib province, Syria. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

NPR investigation: The Baghdadi raid files

NPR sues the Pentagon for info on possible civilian deaths during the Baghdadi raid

NPR has sued the Defense Department to get it to release files regarding possible civilian casualties during the 2019 raid in Syria that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.