https://www.commondef.com Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:29:41+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/hegseth-takes-helm-of-pentagons-new-homeland-defense-advisory-board/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103187 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer War Secretary Pete Hegseth will chair a new Pentagon board designed to close military advisory gaps involving domestic deployments, hemispheric security, critical infrastructure and coordination between the War Department and the Department of Homeland Security. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/trump-says-washington-triumphal-arch-will-serve-as-drone-and-sniper-military-complex/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103149 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Trump says the 250 foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery will house drones, snipers and ammunition, even as veterans pursue a lawsuit and aviation experts and preservationists continue raising concerns about the project. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/how-the-military-envisioned-war-around-the-moon/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103146 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Common Defense Staff Gen. Dan Caine called for combat readiness extending to cislunar space as Space Force acknowledged orbital weapons, reviving attention on decades of military planning for lunar bases, satellite warfare and combat beyond Earth. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-redirects-mq-9-reapers-from-africa-to-expanding-latin-america-operations/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103143 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer MQ-9 Reapers are moving from AFRICOM to Southern Command as Washington expands cartel operations, regional military partnerships and foreign assistance across Latin America, while the effect on American missions in Africa remains undisclosed. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/army-pushes-cheaper-base-buildings-with-lifespans-slashed-in-half/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103152 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Frank Guy A July 31 Army memo mandates faster industrialized construction for several facility types, targeting 30% lower costs and construction times cut in half while reducing planned building lifespans from 50 years to approximately 25 years. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/marine-veteran-delivers-12-second-shock-knockout-at-ufc-331-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103125 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Common Defense Staff Marine veteran Sean Sharaf stunned unbeaten Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson with a knockout just 12 seconds into UFC 331, delivering one of the quickest heavyweight finishes after entering the fight as a heavy underdog. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/pentagon-welcomes-paul-brothers-to-address-troops-and-meet-hegseth/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103128 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Bethany Loveland Jake and Logan Paul addressed troops, visited the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial and briefly met with War Secretary Pete Hegseth during a self funded Washington trip whose purpose officials did not explain. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/veterans-face-alarming-blood-levels-of-forever-chemicals-study-finds/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103131 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer A new study found widespread elevated PFAS levels among veterans, particularly those ages 20 to 39, as concerns continue over chemical exposure, associated health risks, and contamination linked to firefighting foams on military installations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-faces-a-staggering-14-billion-aircraft-parts-supply-hole/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102990 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Air Force officials say a $14 billion parts shortage, an aging fleet and rising supply related aircraft downtime demand additional sustainment funding, while targeted readiness efforts have already increased B-52 readiness by 40%. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/dpaa-eyes-exhumation-to-identify-korean-war-unknown-at-arlington/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102993 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Common Defense Staff DPAA believes it has a high probability of identifying the Korean War Unknown at Arlington, but the effort will wait until fewer than 50 remaining Korean War Unknowns in Honolulu are exhumed and identified. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-approves-potential-24-3-billion-f-35-sale-to-saudi-arabia/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102996 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Common Defense Staff The State Department approved a potential $24.3 billion package providing Saudi Arabia with 48 F-35 fighters, 49 engines and support equipment, but congressional approval remains necessary as lawmakers consider Israel’s regional military advantage. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/long-carrier-deployments-crush-navys-strained-mental-health-system/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103008 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Sailors and providers say prolonged carrier deployments are overwhelming Navy mental health resources, leaving thousands with lengthy appointment delays while understaffed clinicians face punishing workloads, restrictive treatment models and mountains of administrative paperwork. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/marine-arctic-boots-fall-apart-as-manufacturing-mandate-backfires/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103017 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Common Defense Staff Marines training for a Norwegian led NATO exercise reportedly suffered holes, separated soles, and freezing water in new boots as lawmakers consider restricting optional combat footwear to products manufactured entirely in the United States. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/ai-battlefield-could-make-moral-injury-a-signature-wound/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102978 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Julian Dorsett As AI accelerates targeting and expands autonomous warfare, military chaplains and researchers are examining whether troops could suffer moral injury from lethal decisions made with limited time, physical distance and less meaningful control. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/army-locks-in-automatic-staff-sergeant-promotions-for-drill-sergeants/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102981 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Bethany Loveland Army drill sergeants will receive automatic promotions to staff sergeant after academy graduation, gaining about $3,000 annually while serving in the demanding assignment. Current drill sergeants will also be eligible under the new policy. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/space-force-goes-hot-u-s-quietly-puts-weapons-in-orbit-while-china-cries-peace-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102962 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 LifeZette Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed that American space control weapons are now deployed, but offered no details about their operation or targets as the Trump administration advances its ambitious Golden Dome missile interception system. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/more-than-16000-troops-could-face-separation-under-tougher-shaving-rules/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102984 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Bethany Loveland More than 16,000 troops could fall under stricter grooming policies requiring repeated medical reviews, with separation evaluations possible after 12 consecutive months of shaving waivers. Religious beard accommodations remain governed by a separate process. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/pentagon-reboots-testosterone-screening-mandate-for-men-30-and-older/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102987 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Department of War has revived mandatory testosterone deficiency screenings for male service members age 30 and older, while treatment remains voluntary and separate guidance for women continues to undergo review. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/marine-corps-rolls-out-tough-new-guidance-for-religious-accommodations/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=103014 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 Frank Guy New interim guidance requires Marines seeking religious accommodations to document their beliefs, provide supporting information and remain compliant with existing rules while commanders evaluate sincerity, mission readiness and protective equipment concerns. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/beijings-ai-blunder-pla-surveillance-police-systems-and-state-logins-leaked-through-claude-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102968 2026-09-21T20:12:22+00:00 RVM News