News

Take charge of your heart health this American Heart Month

Simple steps to prevent heart disease and protect cardiovascular health February is American Heart Month, and a reminder to focus on cardiovascular health and to encourage heart health habits.

Air Force to bring back ‘no-notice’ combat readiness inspections

The Air Force plans to conduct no-notice inspections of units to test their combat readiness, a senior Air Force official announced last week. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen.

How the Navy Once Mistook Venus for a Japanese War Balloon

During World War II, balloons became one of the most feared weapons of the day. Yes, balloons. Although they’re used today to gather weather information, or as celebratory décor, WWII was a time of...

The John Frum Movement and the Legacy of World War II in the South Pacific

In the remote South Pacific, on the rugged island of Tanna in what is now the nation of Vanuatu, one of the most fascinating and misunderstood religious movements of the modern era continues to...

Why military family life is like a permanent time loop

There is a specific, quiet madness reserved for the family that lives by the bugle. It is a world where time is not a linear progression from arrival to departure, but rather a recursive loop that...

Pentagon gives base commanders more control on countering drones

Base commanders are getting more power to directly respond to threats from drones flying over military installations, the Pentagon announced this week.

Riding for a cause: A mission to S.A.V.E. our Veterans

A meaningful ride for a powerful cause For 12 consecutive years, the New Mexico American Legion Riders (ALR) have revved their engines for a cause that resonates deeply within their community:...

Alleged ringleader arrested for plot to sell drugs to veterans on a VA campus

State police in Maryland arrested a suspect accused of running a months-long scheme to sell cocaine and other drugs to veterans on a Department of Veterans Affairs campus.

The Revolutionary War battle that forced Americans to choose sides

As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, it is worth pausing to examine not only the moment when independence was declared, but the turbulent months that made that...

You can miss them while they’re away and still be angry at them

Missing your partner while they’re off on an FTX or deployed—and still being mad at them—puts you in that weird middle space no one warns you about. Because you’re not mad that they have a job.

Veterans health shake-up, reforms to get underway in coming months

The planned reorganization of the Veterans Affairs health system should result in improvements to VA medical facilities, increased oversight of hospitals and clinics and better access to care at the..

Rural community profile: Revisiting Big Spring, Texas

With almost a quarter of all Veterans in the United States residing in rural communities, ensuring they receive quality health care close to home is more important than ever.

5 Steps to Start Your Civilian Networking Strategy

From Lizard Venom to Ozempic: How VA Research Changed Medicine

Your battle buddy was originally supposed to check your feet in the trenches of World War I

Every branch of the U.S. military calls it something different. It might be your “wingman” in the Air Force or your “shipmate” in the Navy.

16 excerpts from the greatest military speeches ever given

For as long as wars have been fought, great military leaders have harnessed the power of the pulpit to motivate their troops and their countries—sometimes even the enemy’s country.

These crusader knights answered the call to fight World War I

The country known as Georgia derives its name from the Persian word “Gurgan,” meaning the land of the wolves. To the Persians, it refers to the “frightening and heroic people of...

The big problem facing Air Force combat search and rescue

Combat search and rescue is the promise the Air Force makes to American and allied pilots and aircrew: “if you punch out over enemy territory, we’ll come get you.

A new era of healing: Welcoming West Texas VA’s first facility service dog

Loretta’s journey from Canine Companions to becoming a beloved partner for Veterans The West Texas VA Health Care System (WTVAHCS) is filled with excitement as it welcomes its first facility...

VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on substance use, diabetes and PTSD

VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting research findings on benzodiazepine use, diabetes and PTSD.