https://www.commondef.com Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:54:37+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/trump-says-terror-suspects-sought-big-damage-at-air-base-used-by-u-s/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104103 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Common Defense Staff Five men remain in custody after armed British officers intercepted suspicious vans near RAF Fairford, while Trump praised cooperation between U.S. and British authorities and said the suspects had been seeking to inflict “big damage.” https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/five-arrested-in-suspected-terror-plot-near-major-uk-base-used-by-u-s-air-force/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104100 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Bethany Loveland Five people were arrested after suspicious vehicles approached RAF Fairford, prompting a counterterrorism investigation, village evacuations and explosive ordnance inspections near the UK base used by American bombers and the U.S. Air Force. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/supersonic-russian-jets-trigger-landmark-nato-scramble-as-putin-hurls-clowns-taunt/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104107 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Common Defense Staff Finnish and Swedish fighters conducted their first joint scramble against supersonic Russian military aircraft as NATO confronted mounting eastern flank incidents, fresh intelligence warnings and Putin’s mockery of Estonia’s preparations for a potential attack. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/army-special-operations-soldier-dies-in-nevada-airborne-training-tragedy/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104117 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Frank Guy Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Frakes, 34, died from injuries suffered during a Sept. 22 airborne training event in Nevada, prompting a solemn tribute from U.S. Army Special Operations Command as investigators examine the incident. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/former-fort-hood-soldier-gets-nearly-six-years-for-cybercrime-and-extortion-spree/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104097 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Former Army private first class Cameron James Wagenius received 70 months in prison after admitting to a cybercrime campaign that targeted at least 10 organizations, exposed confidential call records and sought more than $1 million through extortion. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/four-airmen-awarded-distinguished-flying-crosses-for-heroic-kabul-evacuation/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104094 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Frank Guy Four C-17A crew members were honored for evacuating 450 Afghan allies from Kabul while confronting suicide bomber threats, a wounded passenger, unrest aboard the aircraft, failed communications and a missed aerial refueling. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/meritocracy-takes-command-as-hegseth-rallies-future-officers-at-texas-am/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104153 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett At Texas A&M, Pete Hegseth told future officers that merit, competence and combat readiness will govern their service, while promising the weapons, training, technology and mission clarity needed to fight, win and return home. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/coast-guard-aircrew-rescues-sailor-from-grounded-santa-rosa-island-boat/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104123 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett A Coast Guard helicopter crew carried one person from Santa Rosa Island to Camarillo Airport after a sailboat ran aground. Firefighters found no injuries, while a towing company later moved the vessel to Ventura Harbor. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-and-indian-army-snipers-master-precision-shots-at-580-meters/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104130 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer U.S. and Indian Army sniper teams trained together with the Sako TRG rifle, engaging targets out to 580 meters while strengthening shared marksmanship procedures during the 22nd iteration of Exercise Yudh Abhyas. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/civilian-taken-into-custody-after-breaching-macdill-air-force-base-gate/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104125 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Frank Guy Base security took a civilian into custody after an alleged gate breach and struggle at MacDill Air Force Base. The civilian and an officer were injured, while officials closed the Dale Mabry Gate and kept another entrance open. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/uss-lake-erie-closes-33-years-of-distinguished-service-with-solemn-final-honors/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104113 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Common Defense Staff USS Lake Erie ended 33 years of service after deployments across several regions, humanitarian work in Sri Lanka and a final Caribbean mission aimed at disrupting illicit trafficking networks and narcoterrorism. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/coast-guard-cutter-delivers-massive-57-million-drug-haul-at-port-everglades/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103965 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba delivered approximately $57 million in seized cocaine and marijuana to Port Everglades after Caribbean interdictions involving multiple cutters, embarked law enforcement personnel and interagency partners. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/navy-shipyard-upgrade-plan-could-drag-on-for-50-years-and-top-200-billion/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103990 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Common Defense Staff A GAO report warns that the Navy’s shipyard modernization program could cost more than $200 billion over 50 years while lacking regular reviews needed to keep infrastructure plans aligned with future fleet requirements. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/houthi-advance-toward-key-u-s-base-in-djibouti-ignites-fresh-security-alarm/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103989 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Common Defense Staff The Houthi seizure of Perim Island has brought the group closer to Camp Lemonnier, renewing warnings about missile and drone threats while analysts call for a more distributed American military network across East Africa. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/somalia-mission-slammed-as-not-worth-the-cost-in-new-drawdown-push/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103986 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Frank Guy Defense Priorities says America’s Somalia campaign is not justified by a significant homeland threat, even as airstrikes accelerate. The group wants President Trump to phase out the mission and shift responsibility to regional partners. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/gen-douglas-schiess-takes-command-as-space-forces-top-officer/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103980 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Frank Guy Gen. Douglas A. Schiess assumed command of more than 15,000 Space Force members as the service pursues a $71 billion 2027 budget request, stronger combat credibility, new capabilities and the hiring of 2,000 civilians. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/paper-rockets-propel-space-force-stem-mission-in-south-korea/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103977 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett Space Force personnel helped Osan Elementary School students explore satellites and launch paper rockets while preparing local guardians to lead future STEM events, potentially expanding the successful program to nearby Camp Humphreys. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/top-general-warns-americas-troops-must-prepare-now-for-war-on-the-moon/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103974 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett Air Force Gen. Dan Caine says the joint force must adapt for contested operations from the seabed to cislunar space as China and Russia develop capabilities that threaten American space interests. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/meet-the-goat-fire-brigade-protecting-marines-at-miramar/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103971 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Julian Dorsett MCAS Miramar has enlisted 471 goats to clear dry brush across more than 600 acres, creating fuel breaks while officials test targeted grazing as a possible tool for future wildfire mitigation efforts. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/coast-guard-commissions-fifth-guam-cutter-honoring-9-11-hero/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103968 2026-09-27T23:55:29+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The USCGC Jeffrey Palazzo, named for a Coast Guard reservist and New York City firefighter killed on 9/11, entered service in New York and is slated to become Guam’s fifth Sentinel class fast response cutter.