US military has a long history in Greenland, from WWII to Cold War
"Before charging headlong into this icy island again, the U.S. would be remiss not to learn from past failures," argues an environmental science professor.
Military Culture
Why most of military life rarely makes the screen
Between training and combat exists a long stretch of routine and waiting. Those experiences remain largely absent from military portrayals in film and TV.
Can the US ‘run’ Venezuela? Military force doesn’t equal legitimacy
By declaring its intent to govern Venezuela, the U.S is creating a governance trap of its own making, Monica Duffy Toft argues.
Ode to James Ransone’s memorable portrayal of a junior enlisted Marine
In just seven episodes, James Ransone churned out one of the most relatable on-screen depictions of life as a junior enlisted Marine.
We pined for the comforts of home. We got socks for Christmas instead.
"Do they think we’re deployed, or homeless?" Care packages reveal Americans have little idea what modern soldiers need.
Opinion
Beware of NATO’s enlargement trap
The tragedy of NATO expansion lies not in beginning it, but in never considering when and where it might end, argues former NATO official Michael Rühle.
A drone ‘war is more silent and more deadly’ — and America is behind
If the U.S. is ever dragged into a large-scale war against an adversary like China or Iran, it will be ill-equipped for a drone-heavy background.
Opinion
Don’t let Trump let Putin miscalculate on Europe
Taken together, Trump’s policies towards Europe have an isolationist flavor with lack of clarity about U.S. commitments
The Army had a crazy Thanksgiving plan. I had a chainsaw
"That’s the Army for you. One minute you’re training to destroy the enemy, the next, you’re attending art school," writes Matt Stone for The War Horse.
How wargaming can help us prepare for modern crises
We might not be able to predict the future perfectly given the speed of change. But we can test the options for potential futures.
How Ahmed al-Sharaa ended up being welcomed to the White House
The question remains of what Trump and al-Sharaa want from each other.
Letters home from Marine Officer Candidates School
"My parents saved the weekly letters I wrote during my 10-week training. The following are excerpts from my journey to becoming a 'burr-headed idiot.'"
After World War I, séances boomed – and dead soldiers ‘wrote’ home
In March 1915, Raymond Lodge was deployed to France. By September, he was dead. A few weeks later, however, he got in touch with his family.
Vietnam was scary enough. Friday the 13th added to our fear.
"I could not shake the feeling that today was going to be a scary day," a Vietnam veteran writes in this War Horse reflection.
Recovery, resilience and returning from war in Ukraine
Soldiers have found ways to live their lives as productively as possible — and many still want to serve their country, even back at the front line.
Trump’s National Guard deployments reignite 200-year-old legal debate
"If you’re confused about what the law does and doesn’t allow the president to do with the National Guard, that’s understandable," writes Andrea Katz.
Hegseth’s style counters military’s history as engine of social change
Professors of military history say Hegseth’s actions — and plans for more — are a reversal of the role the American military has often played.
