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To support and enable the people who serve in defense of our nation
A resilient, and ready DoW community
We are on a mission to ensure a strong, adaptable, and ready force supported through exceptional policy, programs, & services
Change the Culture | Promote the Health, Well-Being, and Safety of the Force and Families | Cultivate Talent Management | Advance Strategic Readiness
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, hosted NASCAR driver Austin Dillon, May 7, as part of Mission 600, an annual program where racing teams visit military bases and learn about service members' daily lives in preparation for the Coca‑Cola 600.
Army 1st Lt. Douglas Bernard Fournet was a trooper assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, when he served in South Vietnam in 1968.
The Department of War continues to take decisive action in support of the many Service members adversely impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Today, Secretary Hegseth established the Department of War COVID-19 Reinstatement and Reconciliation Task Force to ensure return-to-service efforts for these warriors are optimized across the force.
The Department remains committed to honoring Service members unjustly discharged under the rescinded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandate. While the Military Services have initiated rapid return-to-service efforts, additional coordinated action is required to ensure these efforts are optimized across the force.
The Department of War continues to implement Executive Order (EO) 14184, "Reinstating Service Members Discharged Under the Military 's COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate," inviting Service members unjustly discharged under the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine mandate to return to service. While many have rejoined the fight, our work remains unfinished.
As the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary throughout 2026, community and military leaders honored the next generation of American defenders during the second annual Our Community Salutes Enlistee Recognition Ceremony at the First Baptist Church in O'Fallon, Illinois, April 30.
More than 80 years after his death, Medal of Honor recipient Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi's remains were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and on May 2, he was buried in his hometown alongside his parents and his sisters.
Two West Virginia National Guardsmen were recognized today in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes for actions late last year while working as part of Joint Task Force District of Columbia — an effort directed by President Donald J. Trump to stop crime in the nation's capital and to beautify the city.
Airmen assigned to the 944th Fighter Wing traveled north in Arizona to Camp Navajo from Luke Air Force Base for Exercise Desert Hammer 26-2, May 1-3; the exercise is the latest evolution of the wing's ongoing readiness training designed to build battlefield skills, test mission-essential tasks and prepare Air Force Reserve airmen for operations beyond base.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Eugene Bush, a hospital corpsman, was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, during the World War II Battle of Okinawa, a conflict in which the bravery he showed led him to receive the Medal of Honor.
When a bear attacked two soldiers during a land navigation exercise in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, Army Sgt. Zachariah Clark was not on duty as a medic; he was a participant, navigating the same challenging terrain as his fellow soldiers.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields has the distinction of being the only Seabee to ever be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Human space flight presents itself with a myriad of unique challenges. A wide variety of factors and logistics must be considered just to make a mission happen and even more to make a mission successful. Ultimately, all of the logistics, planning and training will go unnoticed after a successful launch, but that is the point.
Team members with the Defense Health Agency's Operational Medical Systems Program Management Office routinely engage with military medical providers, industry partners and stakeholders from across the War Department to refine their product development strategies.
When the Senate Youth Program visited Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, March 13, the experience held special meaning for two students, both children of military service members.
More than 8,000 kids showed up at the Pentagon today, with their parents in tow, to learn just exactly what their moms and dads do when they go to work every day. At the Pentagon, the event was billed as "Bring Your Child to Work Day," and it's the fourth time the War Department has held the event.
On April 9, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum directing the termination of certain collective bargaining agreements in accordance with Executive Order 14251, "Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs."
The president's fiscal year 2027 budget request was made public today during a briefing at the Pentagon, with $1.5 trillion — the largest request in history — aimed at, among other things, supporting service members and their families, securing the American homeland, modernizing equipment, rebuilding the defense industrial base and providing a raise to service members.
Annual influenza vaccines are no longer mandatory, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a video posted today on social media.
Soldiers and airmen who participated in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy with the World Class Athlete Program visited the Pentagon April 17. During the visit, the athletes also got an unexpected opportunity to meet with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
For the soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, peak physical performance is a prerequisite for the mission. But the same grit required to navigate alpine terrain and high-tempo operations often comes at a steep physical cost.
Senior leaders from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps provided an update on steps their respective branches are taking to improve the quality of life for service members during a hearing in Washington yesterday before the House Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee.
Many heroic actions took place during the Spanish-American War in the late 19th century. One such action was the Battle of Tayabacoa, Cuba, a special operation effort to land supplies and reinforcements, which resulted in four Buffalo Soldiers receiving the Medal of Honor.
This week, the United States announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
"The new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them. Our warfighters made history with their overwhelming victory on the battlefield,"
After a historic lunar flyby at a record-setting distance, the Artemis II crew is now on its return journey, with splashdown expected April 10 in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50-60 miles off the coast of San Diego.
Enemy forces in Iran downed two airmen in an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet, flying in support of Operation Epic Fury, April 3; both service members were successfully rescued in just under 48 hours from when the mission to save them began.
The Department of War, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, today awarded Lompoc Unified School District a $45.4 million grant as the federal share of a larger $60.5 million project to renovate and construct a new Manzanita Public Charter School at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
When injured active-duty service members need to get from the battlefield to critical medical care back home in the U.S., the medical evacuation department for Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Maryland, plays a vital role.
Four soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit qualified to represent the United States at upcoming rifle world cups after competing in USA Shooting's Rifle Spring Selection Match in Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 20-23.
One sailor and three Marines were awarded Medals of Honor for bravery during the Second Samoan Civil War, April 1, 1899.
The Department of War recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month as part of its ongoing efforts to counter sexual assault in the Total Force.
The Department of War released its seventh Annual Report on Suicide in the Military for Calendar Year 2024 today.
Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler was twice awarded the medal, the first for distinguished conduct during the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico, April 22, 1914, when he was a major.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Doug Collins, Veterans Affairs secretary, were joined by dozens of former service members — the majority of them having served during the Vietnam War — Gold Star family members, and others at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington today for a ceremony in recognition of National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
The task force is a federal anti-crime intervention task force involving the National Guard and multiple federal agencies.
With Tax Day, April 15, quickly approaching, service members have options for help filing their 2025 taxes, including assistance with navigating changes to tax rules, such as those enacted as part of last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Building on the success of its Market 19 autonomous dining facility, the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Daegu, South Korea, is now testing a mobile version of the system that extends access to fresh, hot meals for soldiers operating beyond the garrison environment.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth yesterday announced a pair of reforms to the military's Chaplain Corps.
During conflict, the last thing many selfless warriors have done is shield their comrades from grenade explosions using their own bodies. Marine Corps Pfc. Ronald Leroy Coker was one of them, but amazingly, that didn't stop him from continuing to drag a wounded man to safety.
The Department remains steadfast in its commitment to honor every warrior separated under the rescinded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandate. The Department of War has taken decisive action to reinstate those who wish to return to Military Service.
Service members forced to leave the military for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine now have an extra year to return to the service, if they so choose, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said today.
The Department of War is committed to maximizing taxpayer dollars on warrior education, and to equipping our military leaders to succeed on and off the battlefield.
On March 12, 2026, the Secretary of War signed the "Strengthening the Effectiveness of Our Senior Service Colleges"
We have a sacred duty to ensure our Professional Military Education (PME) system is developing the strategic and operational leaders who will drive our warfighting dominance for decades to come. This is especially the case as it pertains to our senior field grade officers who are embarking in the study of war in the Department's Senior Service Colleges (SSC) and at other DoW institutions with SSC fellowships.
As part of my commitment to restore the warrior ethos within the Department of War, it is imperative to stay mission focused across the full spectrum of expenditures. This includes maximizing our return on investment when officers and senior enlisted Service members attend expensive civilian universities. Graduates should emerge much more capable warfighters.
Air Force Maj. Michael A. Blea, assistant director of operations for the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, was awarded the Silver Star during a ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 3.
As the chaos of World War II's Battle of Iwo Jima unfolded, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Francis Junior Pierce refused to leave any wounded men behind. The hospital corpsman showed fearlessness throughout the turmoil. That valor led him to receive the Medal of Honor.
The Department of War announced the death of six Air Force Airmen who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky
The Department of War, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, today awarded Independent School District No 57 of Garfield County (Enid Public Schools) a $22 million grant as the federal share of a larger $28.2 million project to construct a new Eisenhower Elementary School at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma.
The War Department has launched a task force to ensure the curriculum at its institutions of higher learning is structured to build warfighters rather than social justice warriors, said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Last year, the War Department announced a unique opportunity for department civilians to serve at the Department of Homeland Security and support DHS as it works to keep America safe.
The first plunge into icy water is a shock to the system. For a warfighter operating in extreme cold weather environments, a fall into near-freezing seas isn't a mishap; it's a life-or-death battle that is won or lost in the first few minutes.
The Department of War confirmed the death of an Army Reserve Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Calif., previously listed as believed to be deceased,
A fleet of six mobile museums, known as "freedom trucks," is traveling throughout 2026, bringing the story of American independence to students, families and citizens in every corner of the country.
Army Col. Paul A. Lucci, Jr. for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Lucci is currently serving as chief of staff, 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), Salt Lake City, Utah.
It was just a lot of frustration and a little bit of anger towards the military," said Army Spc. Hunter Wade, an indirect fire infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, recalling sitting in his commander's office in 2022.
The Department of War announced the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Army Col. Jack Howard Jacobs was just a first lieutenant when he saved more than a dozen lives during an intense firefight in the swamplands of Vietnam. His actions during that incident and throughout his deployment made him one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, including the nation's highest medal for valor.
Every decision begins and ends with ensuring soldiers are ready to fight and win when called upon, said Army Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve, Army vice chief of staff, who, along with other service leaders, testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on joint force readiness.
The Department of War announced the believed to be death of an Army Reserve Soldier who was supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Three Army noncommissioned officers who recently received the Medal of Honor were inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes today during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia.
The Department of War announced the death of four Army Reserve Soldiers who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.
As a hospital corpsman in World War II's Pacific theater, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Williams' job was to save the lives of the Marines who fought around him. During the bloody Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945, Williams saved more than a dozen Marines and sacrificed his own life so they could live. His selflessness led him to receive a posthumous Medal of Honor.
During his State of the Union address, Feb. 24, President Donald J. Trump assured Congress and Americans that the United States remains as tough as it has ever been.
Throughout the decades, USO-certified therapy dogs have been instrumental in supporting the mental, physical and emotional health of warfighters as they deal with the stressors of a difficult job. Strengthening those needs maintains readiness and stability across the force.
Last night, retired Navy Capt. Elmer Royce Williams received the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. Today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle inducted Williams into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes for his heroic actions during the Korean War.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced today that the president has made the following nominations: Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Robert B. Brodie for appointment to the grade of major general. Brodie is currently serving as deputy commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Okinawa, Japan.
Tonight, in the nation's capital, two heroic Americans were honored with the country's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19, officially unveiling a state-of-the-art military working dog kennel facility and marking a significant investment in enhancing the well-being and mission readiness of the dogs and their handlers.
Many Medal of Honor recipients come from humble beginnings, but perhaps none more so than Army Staff Sgt. Clifford Chester Sims, who spent much of his early life with nowhere to call home. Sims grew into a humble and thoughtful man, so when an explosive device threatened his fellow soldiers in Vietnam, he didn't hesitate to give his life to save theirs.
The Department is pleased to announce that Mr. Paul Craft will succeed Dr. Beth Schiavino-Narvaez as the Director of the Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA), effective March 9, 2026.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Michelle L. Wagner for appointment to the grade of major general. Wagner is currently serving as mobilization assistant to the Surgeon General of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Erica R. Austin for appointment to the grade of major general. Austin is currently serving as mobilization assistant to the Deputy Judge Advocate General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
The Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced today the following assignment:
U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Brian J. Morrison has been selected to replace U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Mario "Rio" Rivers as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Defense Commissary Agency (DECA).
Home grocery delivery from the commissary has arrived at dozens of military bases across the U.S.
Army Reserve Lt. Col. Lauren Sharpless, 42, balances a demanding leadership role with elite competition, winning the 40 and over national title at the Tactical Games National Championship in 2024 and finishing second in 2025 while pushing soldiers and civilians toward daily fitness.
What began as a routine patrol at the Anacostia Metro station quickly turned into a heartwarming reunion when soldiers assigned to the 170th Military Police Battalion, Georgia Army National Guard, helped return a lost puppy to its grateful owner, Feb. 9.
Warfighters are the foundation of War Department lethality, said Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman David L. Isom, who testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee on service member and family quality of life, yesterday.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis, a knowledge operations technician assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing Communications Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, is preparing to represent Team USA on the world's biggest stage for the second time at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Tears pooled in Army Staff Sgt. Deedra Irwin's eyes as she stood at the starting line of the National Biathlon Centre in the Zhangjiakou cluster, a mountainous stretch of land three hours northwest of Beijing.
