Stars and Stripes
@starsandstripes.bsky.social
Stars and Stripes provides independent news and information to the U.S. military community from reporters and bureaus located around the world.
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U.S. Special Operations Command’s new nutrition app links operators, dietitians and chow halls worldwide, delivering personalized plans to boost readiness and lethality.
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Lethal Diets? SOCOM takes sole control of military nutrition application
U.S. Special Operations Command’s new nutrition app links operators, dietitians and chow halls worldwide, delivering personalized plans to boost readiness and lethality.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:51 PM
U.S. Special Operations Command’s new nutrition app links operators, dietitians and chow halls worldwide, delivering personalized plans to boost readiness and lethality.
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
In a “historic first,” the United States and United Kingdom successfully launched a torpedo from a British undersea drone.
US, UK complete first-ever torpedo launch from undersea drone
The United States and United Kingdom successfully launched an American torpedo from a British undersea drone.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:23 PM
In a “historic first,” the United States and United Kingdom successfully launched a torpedo from a British undersea drone.
FROM THE ARCHIVES | An airman re-attaches a fuse panel in a C-17 cockpit on the flight line at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in this 2008 Stars and Stripes photo.
www.stripes.com/history/arch...
www.stripes.com/history/arch...
From the archives: An airman works in a C-17 cockpit at Ramstein Air Base, 2008
An airman re-attaches a fuse panel in a C-17 cockpit on the flight line at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in 2008.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:06 PM
FROM THE ARCHIVES | An airman re-attaches a fuse panel in a C-17 cockpit on the flight line at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in this 2008 Stars and Stripes photo.
www.stripes.com/history/arch...
www.stripes.com/history/arch...
A new agreement could turn Greenland from the site of a single U.S. base into a broader hub for American military operations and missile defense in the Arctic.
Big US military buildup coming to Greenland after new deal, Trump says
A new agreement could turn Greenland from the site of a single U.S. base into a broader hub for American military operations and Arctic defense.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 10:38 AM
A new agreement could turn Greenland from the site of a single U.S. base into a broader hub for American military operations and missile defense in the Arctic.
South Korea’s president urges sanctions relief for a North Korea nuclear freeze, arguing talks offer the best chance to curb Pyongyang’s arsenal.
www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze
South Korea’s president urges sanctions relief for a North Korea nuclear freeze, arguing talks offer the best chance to curb Pyongyang’s arsenal.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 8:22 AM
South Korea’s president urges sanctions relief for a North Korea nuclear freeze, arguing talks offer the best chance to curb Pyongyang’s arsenal.
www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
www.stripes.com/theaters/asi...
U.S. and Japanese forces fired mobile rocket artillery during training as the Orient Shield exercise unfolded amid tensions between Japan and Russia over disputed islands farther north.
US, Japan fire rocket artillery on Hokkaido amid tensions with Russia
U.S. and Japanese forces fired mobile rocket artillery during training on Hokkaido as their annual Orient Shield exercise unfolded amid tensions between Japan and Russia over disputed islands farther ...
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 7:29 AM
U.S. and Japanese forces fired mobile rocket artillery during training as the Orient Shield exercise unfolded amid tensions between Japan and Russia over disputed islands farther north.
Sailors at Sasebo Naval Base are being directed to limit showers to five minutes and comply with other water-saving measures as a persistent drought in southwestern Japan strains the city's water supply. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social & @hanakusumoto.bsky.social)
Sasebo sailors must take 5-minute showers as drought strains water supply
A persistent drought is straining the water supply at a U.S. Navy base in southwestern Japan.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Sailors at Sasebo Naval Base are being directed to limit showers to five minutes and comply with other water-saving measures as a persistent drought in southwestern Japan strains the city's water supply. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social & @hanakusumoto.bsky.social)
ICYMI: An unidentified airman at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy was pronounced dead Tuesday at an off-base residence, the second fatality of an airman at the installation in less than two months. (from @chadgarland.bsky.social)
Aviano airman pronounced dead near US base in Italy
An active-duty airman at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy was pronounced dead at his or her off-base residence Tuesday, base officials announced.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 5:33 AM
ICYMI: An unidentified airman at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy was pronounced dead Tuesday at an off-base residence, the second fatality of an airman at the installation in less than two months. (from @chadgarland.bsky.social)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday announced a new evaluation process for the promotion of colonels and Navy captains that will assess officers' and senior NCOs' ability to wage joint warfare.
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew Adams:
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew Adams:
Hegseth announces new evaluation process for promotion of colonels and Navy captains
The latest guidance did not specify how the Pentagon will define or measure “joint warfighting ability.”
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday announced a new evaluation process for the promotion of colonels and Navy captains that will assess officers' and senior NCOs' ability to wage joint warfare.
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew Adams:
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew Adams:
The Air Force has officially retired its seasoned fleet of Compass Call electronic warfare planes that jammed enemy signals and networks for decades in the Middle East, including in the initial stages of Operation Epic Fury against Iran earlier this year.
From Stars and Stripes' Jennifer H. Svan:
From Stars and Stripes' Jennifer H. Svan:
Air Force retires original Compass Call after more than 40 years of operations
The Air Force officially retired its fleet of electronic warfare planes that jammed enemy signals and networks for decades in the Middle East.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:35 AM
The Air Force has officially retired its seasoned fleet of Compass Call electronic warfare planes that jammed enemy signals and networks for decades in the Middle East, including in the initial stages of Operation Epic Fury against Iran earlier this year.
From Stars and Stripes' Jennifer H. Svan:
From Stars and Stripes' Jennifer H. Svan:
A Washington think tank with ties to Trump administration officials is calling for a dramatic retrenchment of U.S. military power in the Western Pacific, including ending defense alliances with longtime partners and adopting a non-intervention policy toward Taiwan. (from @brianmcelhiney.bsky.social)
Think tank with Trump administration ties calls for major US military pullback in Pacific
A recent proposal from Defense Priorities calls for ending defense alliances with longtime partners and adopting a non-intervention policy toward Taiwan.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:03 AM
A Washington think tank with ties to Trump administration officials is calling for a dramatic retrenchment of U.S. military power in the Western Pacific, including ending defense alliances with longtime partners and adopting a non-intervention policy toward Taiwan. (from @brianmcelhiney.bsky.social)
New Balance and San Antonio Shoemakers were each recently awarded a three-year contract by the Defense Logistics Agency to provide training shoes for military recruits. The contracts are worth a combined $156.8 million. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social)
New Balance, San Antonio Shoemakers win $156.8 million in military contracts
New Balance and San Antonio Shoemakers were each awarded a three-year contract to provide training shoes for military recruits.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:33 AM
New Balance and San Antonio Shoemakers were each recently awarded a three-year contract by the Defense Logistics Agency to provide training shoes for military recruits. The contracts are worth a combined $156.8 million. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social)
LATEST | An Air Force is receiving medical care in Germany after his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed Tuesday following a routine training flight. The extent of the pilot's injuries was unclear, as was the cause of the crash, which is under investigation.
From Stars and Stripes' Phillip Walter Wellman:
From Stars and Stripes' Phillip Walter Wellman:
Pilot ejects in F-16 crash in Germany
An Air Force pilot is receiving medical care in Germany after his aircraft crashed.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:04 AM
LATEST | An Air Force is receiving medical care in Germany after his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed Tuesday following a routine training flight. The extent of the pilot's injuries was unclear, as was the cause of the crash, which is under investigation.
From Stars and Stripes' Phillip Walter Wellman:
From Stars and Stripes' Phillip Walter Wellman:
A new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War warns that even a small Russian incursion into Eastern Europe could pose a major test to NATO's bedrock collective defense pledge.
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
Small Russian incursion could pose major test for NATO, report warns
Russia could test NATO’s Article 5 defense pledge with a limited Estonia incursion, raising fears of alliance division and wider conflict.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:34 AM
A new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War warns that even a small Russian incursion into Eastern Europe could pose a major test to NATO's bedrock collective defense pledge.
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
A new U.S. Army rotation is on its way to Lithuania, President Gitanas Nauseda said in a social media post Tuesday, resolving at least some of the uncertainty over American troop levels in the NATO ally bordering Russia.
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew M. Burke:
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew M. Burke:
US troop rotations heading back to Lithuania amid high tension in Europe, Baltic leader says
Lithuanian officials said that a new rotation of U.S. troops was on its way to the country.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:05 AM
A new U.S. Army rotation is on its way to Lithuania, President Gitanas Nauseda said in a social media post Tuesday, resolving at least some of the uncertainty over American troop levels in the NATO ally bordering Russia.
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew M. Burke:
From Stars and Stripes' Matthew M. Burke:
Sean Stark, a former civilian firearms instructor at Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania, will plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter after admitting to "grossly negligent" conduct in the fatal shooting of a reservist soldier earlier this year.
From Stars and Stripes' Lydia Gordon:
From Stars and Stripes' Lydia Gordon:
Ex-firearms instructor admits ‘grossly negligent’ conduct in reservist’s death
A former civilian firearms instructor who fatally shot a reservist soldier during training will plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter, court documents. say.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Sean Stark, a former civilian firearms instructor at Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania, will plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter after admitting to "grossly negligent" conduct in the fatal shooting of a reservist soldier earlier this year.
From Stars and Stripes' Lydia Gordon:
From Stars and Stripes' Lydia Gordon:
The United States would gain access to two more military locations in Greenland under the security agreement signed Tuesday, potentially expanding the Pentagon's presence on the strategic Arctic island.
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
Greenland deal could open 2 additional sites to US military
The United States would gain access to two more military locations in Greenland under an agreement expected to be signed Tuesday.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 1:07 AM
The United States would gain access to two more military locations in Greenland under the security agreement signed Tuesday, potentially expanding the Pentagon's presence on the strategic Arctic island.
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
From Stars and Stripes' John Vandiver:
South Korea's Defense Ministry is casting doubt on North Korea's claimed that two ballistic missiles it launched over the weekend tested a new combat weapon featuring what leader Kim Jong Un called "ultra-modern" defense technology.
From Stars and Stripes' Julie Masson:
From Stars and Stripes' Julie Masson:
South Korea questions North’s claim about new ‘ultra-modern’ weapon after launches
South Korea cast doubt on North Korea’s claim that two missiles launched over the weekend tested what Kim Jong Un called “ultra-modern” technology.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:38 AM
South Korea's Defense Ministry is casting doubt on North Korea's claimed that two ballistic missiles it launched over the weekend tested a new combat weapon featuring what leader Kim Jong Un called "ultra-modern" defense technology.
From Stars and Stripes' Julie Masson:
From Stars and Stripes' Julie Masson:
Yokosuka Naval Base, about 27 miles southwest of Tokyo, was drying out and cleaning up Tuesday after Typhoon Dujuan inundated the area with nearly 10 inches of rain the previous day.
From Stars and Stripes' Alex Wilson and Jonathan Baez:
From Stars and Stripes' Alex Wilson and Jonathan Baez:
Yokosuka cleans up after Typhoon Dujuan dumps nearly 10 inches of rain
Typhoon Dujuan drenched Yokosuka Naval Base with nearly 10 inches of rain, causing flooding, landslides and cleanup efforts across the area.
www.stripes.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Yokosuka Naval Base, about 27 miles southwest of Tokyo, was drying out and cleaning up Tuesday after Typhoon Dujuan inundated the area with nearly 10 inches of rain the previous day.
From Stars and Stripes' Alex Wilson and Jonathan Baez:
From Stars and Stripes' Alex Wilson and Jonathan Baez:
"This will never happen again": A Fort Hood dining facility closed two months ago because of a roach infestation reopened this week after extensive renovations, replacement of cooking equipment and a deep cleaning that included all pipes and plumbing.
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
‘This will never happen again’: Fort Hood reopens dining facility closed for 2 months to eliminate bug infestation
The Operation Iraqi Freedom dining facility had extensive renovations and a deep cleaning that included all pipes and plumbing.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 11:32 PM
"This will never happen again": A Fort Hood dining facility closed two months ago because of a roach infestation reopened this week after extensive renovations, replacement of cooking equipment and a deep cleaning that included all pipes and plumbing.
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
The family of a U.S. airman who was shot down over Japan during World War II and died after being subjected to medical experiments while in captivity, recently joined descendants of a convicted Japanese war criminal for a memorial for American troops killed in the war. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social)
Family of US airman who died in wartime medical experiments joins memorial in Japan
Charles Eugene Palmer’s relatives joined descendants of a convicted Japanese war criminal at a temple to remember him and other American troops.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 11:02 PM
The family of a U.S. airman who was shot down over Japan during World War II and died after being subjected to medical experiments while in captivity, recently joined descendants of a convicted Japanese war criminal for a memorial for American troops killed in the war. (from @janiquarob.bsky.social)
ICYMI: The Air Force's A-10 presence at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona ended last week as the service inactivated the last units stationed at the base.
A-10 legacy comes to an end at Davis-Monthan AFB
The Air Force’s A-10 presence at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., came to an end as the service inactivated the last units stationed at the base.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 10:31 PM
ICYMI: The Air Force's A-10 presence at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona ended last week as the service inactivated the last units stationed at the base.
The recently formed presidential commission for military spouses held its first meeting this week and touted policy changes it said it has already influenced concerning medical appointments and access to child care.
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
New military spouse commission touts policy changes in inaugural meeting
After requesting feedback, the Military Spouse Commission says it has already influenced policies concerning medical appointments and child care access.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The recently formed presidential commission for military spouses held its first meeting this week and touted policy changes it said it has already influenced concerning medical appointments and access to child care.
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
From Stars and Stripes' Rose L. Thayer:
More than 20 Democrats across both chambers of Congress are calling for public hearings into reported safety failures surrounding a deadly Iranian drone strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait and the military’s treatment of survivors.
Democrats seek hearings on deadly Kuwait strike
The attack on a tactical operations center at Port Shuaiba killed six Army soldiers and injured more than 30 service members.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:33 PM
More than 20 Democrats across both chambers of Congress are calling for public hearings into reported safety failures surrounding a deadly Iranian drone strike on a U.S. base in Kuwait and the military’s treatment of survivors.
The Marine Corps will double its hostile fire pay from $225 to $450 per month and increase its imminent danger pay from a cap of $225 per month to $275 per month on Oct. 1.
Marines will boost special combat pay in October
Hostile fire pay will double from $225 to $450 per month, and imminent danger pay will increase from a cap of $225 per month to $275 per month.
www.stripes.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:28 PM
The Marine Corps will double its hostile fire pay from $225 to $450 per month and increase its imminent danger pay from a cap of $225 per month to $275 per month on Oct. 1.