WTOC TV news in Savannah, GA spoke with an army veteran and his initiative to support single mothers raising sons.
“Charlton Jefferson believes the youth are a community’s greatest asset, and he’s putting that philosophy into practice through Entire Mentoring, a program designed to fill a critical gap in households headed by single mothers,” reported WTOC.
“Jefferson’s commitment to supporting single mothers stems partly from his own childhood,” continues the report.

+++
-* See the written news report about this initiative on the WTOC TV news website.

Earlier this month, an aircraft was approaching the Albuquerque airport, miles and miles and miles away from where a group of government officials had gotten together to test a secretive military laser in the New Mexico desert.
The high-energy laser was locked on to a simulated threat at White Sands Missile Range during what officials described as a “first of its kind” evaluation, “holding track” on its target when — unclear to testers in the moment — the system suddenly shut down.

Summary and Key Points: Defense analyst Jack Buckby evaluates the ongoing aircraft carrier obsolescence debate through the lens of Operation Epic Fury in 2026. Some argue the carrier is nothing more than old ‘battleship’ in today’s world of missiles and cheap drones.

-While the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln have established air dominance over Iran, Buckby asserts that neutralizing a regional power with an “obliterated” navy does not simulate the high-threat A2/AD environment of the Indo-Pacific.

Aircraft Carrier in the Sunset. Image Credit: U.S. Navy.

Approximately 40 government, academic, and independent researchers met at a private workshop last year to standardize processes for capturing, sharing and studying narrative data on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), which is the modern term for UFOs that accounts for maritime and transmedium objects. 
The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) set up and sponsored the invite-only event. It was officially hosted by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) in the Washington, D.C. area in early August.
The 2025 workshop marked a notable step in the U.S.

The USS Nimitz began its long career stuck in a time warp. It now seems to be finishing the same way, with its official retirement date pushing into the future.
Just five years into its service in 1980, the ship was the setting and in some ways the star of “The Final Countdown,” a sci-fi time travel film in which the ship and its air wing are transported back to Dec 6, 1941. The next day, of course, would be the attack on Pearl Harbor.

This video describes the military situation in

Momentum is building for the rugby Inter Servic

Summary and Key Points: Defense analyst Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates reports that researchers at the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center have identified potential stability flaws in the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider.

-Utilizing a proprietary AI simulation tool called PADJ-X, Chinese scientists are processing open-source flight data—including recent aerial refueling footage—to model the B-21’s aerodynamic performance.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony Dec. 2, 2022 in Palmdale, Calif.

Summary and Key Points: Defense expert Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates the persistent threat of Iranian mobile missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) despite the 15,000 strikes conducted during Operation Epic Fury.

-While CENTCOM and the IDF have achieved air dominance and suppressed 95% of launches, Iran’s decentralized “mosaic defense” leverages hardened, mountainous facilities to preserve an estimated 500 ballistic missiles.

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025.

The uniform distinctions between the Union and Confederate soldiers were many, but the colors of their Civil War uniforms became the iconic identifier in historical lore. Simply saying “blue” and “gray” was enough to connect either side in both speeches and in stories, but it wasn’t always that way.
As states seceded at the beginning of the Civil War, officers and soldiers alike chose sides. While the United States fully split into two, many on both sides still wore the Union blue.

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Jack Buckby evaluates the strategic logic of extending Ohio-class SSGN service lives following the 2027 extension of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

-As Operation Epic Fury consumes Tomahawk (TLAM) stocks at a rate of 168 missiles per 100 hours, the retirement of the USS Ohio, Michigan, Florida, and Georgia would eliminate over 600 vertical launch cells.

SILVERDALE, Wash. (Oct. 27, 2025) Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735) arrives at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor following routine operations at sea, Oct. 27, 2025.

Ireland and the UK sign a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral defence cooperation.

Summary and Key Points: Journalist Georgia Gilholy evaluates the “stagnation” of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II’s Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) update.

-Despite the 1,100th delivery in 2026, the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) reports that the upgrade—designed as the backbone for Block 4—suffers from chronic stability deficiencies.

Capt. Andrew “Dojo” Olson, F-35 Demonstration Team pilot and commander performs aerial maneuvers during the Wings Over Houston Airshow Oct. 18, 2019, in Houston, Texas.

As the Royal Navy continues its transformation

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Steve Balestrieri evaluates the MBT-70 (KPz-70), a 1960s joint venture between the United States and West Germany designed to replace the M60 Patton and Leopard 1.

-The project collapsed due to fundamental disagreements: the U.S. insisted on a 152mm XM150 gun/launcher for Shillelagh missiles, while Germany prioritized the 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore.

MBT-70. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

MBT-70 Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

-Technical friction over SAE vs. Metric units and Continental vs.

Summary and Key Points: Defense expert Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, evaluates the retirement of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers, the “quarterbacks” of the Carrier Strike Group.

-Despite their 122 VLS cells, the aging fleet faces prohibitive maintenance costs, leading to a planned phase-out by 2027—though the USS Gettysburg, Chosin, and Cape St. George have received extensions through 2029.

Tomahawk Block IV Missile. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Tomahawk Launch. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

OCCAR has awarded a £53m ($70m) contract to Artec for the long-lead production of 37 weapon systems for the British Army’s RCH 155 artillery.

The US Army has entered into an massive enterprise contract with Anduril, with a value of up to $20bn, deliverable over the next decade.

Summary and Key Points: National security analyst Steve Balestrieri examines the Dassault Mirage 2000-5F’s critical 2026 role as France expands its military support for Ukraine.

-The Ukrainian Air Force expects to double its operational fleet to four airframes, primarily utilizing MBDA MICA and Magic 2 missiles to intercept Shahed-type drones and Kh-101 cruise missiles.

Mirage 2000 Fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

-However, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu faces a strategic crisis; high-tempo Rafale interceptions in the UAE have depleted MICA stockpiles.

Could you tell the difference between real war

Summary and Key Points: National security expert Harrison Kass analyzes the U.S. Navy’s decision to extend the service of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) until March 2027.

-As the lead ship of its class, the 51-year-old supercarrier is shifting homeports to Norfolk to begin a $96 million inactivation process at Newport News Shipbuilding.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts rudder turns during sea trials.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts rudder turns during sea trials. Dwight D.

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.

Summary and Key Points: National security columnist Steve Balestrieri analyzes the U.S. Army’s strategic cancellation of the M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams and the M10 Booker programs.

-Facing a “weight-gain crisis” where platforms reached a prohibitive 80-ton threshold, the Pentagon is pivoting to the M1E3.

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 68th Armor regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division execute platoon live fire exercises Dec. 7, 2021, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Summary and Key Points: National security journalist Stephen Silver examines the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, the definitive Cold War nuclear standoff. Initiated by the discovery of Soviet MRBMs and IRBMs in Cuba via U-2 surveillance, President John F. Kennedy implemented a naval “quarantine” to force the removal of offensive weapons. The crisis reached DEFCON 2 before a secret deal—brokered between Robert Kennedy and Anatoly Dobrynin—swapped the removal of Soviet missiles for the withdrawal of American Jupiter missiles from Turkey.

Summary and Key Points: National security columnist Steve Balestrieri examines the U.S. Army’s decision to bypass the AbramsX technology demonstrator in favor of the M1E3 Abrams upgrade.

-While General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) designed the AbramsX with a hybrid electric diesel engine, AI-driven targeting, and an unmanned turret, the Army prioritized logistical agility over high-tech complexity.

AbramsX Tank U.S. Army Image.

The Department of Defense released the names of the six airmen who died when their LC-135 Refueling plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. 
They are: Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, who were all assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing. Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing.

Summary and Key Points: National security journalist Stephen Silver reports that the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and Carrier Strike Group 10 have successfully completed their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) as of March 5, 2026.

-Under the command of Rear Adm. Alexis Walker, the strike group is now certified for major combat operations, likely joining the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East to attack Iran.

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 transfers ammunition between aircraft carriers USS George H.W.

Editor’s Note: The USAF leadership has tried hard to get rid of the A-10, good thing they were not successful
The A-10 Thunderbolt II, known as the Warthog, has once again demonstrated its enduring utility, despite repeated retirement efforts by the U.S. Air Force. Originally engineered during the Cold War to counter massed Soviet armored formations in Central Europe—primarily through its GAU-8/A 30mm Avenger cannon and AGM-65 Maverick missiles—the platform has repeatedly adapted to evolving operational demands.

It’s not stealthy, it’s getting up there in years and it doesn’t have the payload of fifth-generation fighter jets. Despite that, the MQ-9 Reaper drone system isn’t going to the bone yard.
In fact, the Reaper is a reliable and frequently used weapon in the U.S. military’s arsenal, popping up among forward-deployed forces in conflict zones around the world. Most recently, the Pentagon revealed it was one of several airframes taking part in the war in Iran, or Operation Epic Fury, as the military calls it.

The dime is getting a new look for the 250th anniversary of the United States, and keen eyes have noticed the Mint dropped an important symbol of American power: the olive branch. Although it was released before Operation Epic Fury kicked off, new scrutiny comes at a time when many Americans are concerned about the U.S. military’s increasing foreign interventions.
Also Read: A Marine general led a fictional Iran against the US military—and won
American currency is big on symbolism.

Kris Osborn, Warrior Maven
Decades of proven power, the Tomahawk missile’s evolution now enables in-flight retargeting and destruction of moving targets, safeguarding naval dominance.

Bea Castañeda, The Defense Post
It’s not a plane built for airshows or dogfights — it’s a machine built to keep others flying longer, farther, and faster.

The Aviationist
A-10s armed with a mixed anti-air and anti-surface armament have been flying attack missions against insurgent groups aligned with the Iranian government in Iraq.

Mallory Shelbourne, USNI News
Big deck amphibious warship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and its embarked Marines are heading to the Middle East as the U.S.

NextGenDef.
The US Army has taken a major step in expanding the reach of its long-range fires arsenal, completing the first flight test of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 2.

This video describes the military situation in

Can the RAF win yet another championship or wil

The reigning champions enter the tournament to

Multiple sources have reported that strikes launched by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have destroyed a Untied Arab Emirates Air ForceSaab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, which is one of the most high value military aircraft operated the the Middle East. The aircraft was targeted at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi as part of a large scale drone attack on the facility. The base hosts air assets from the UAE Air Force, the U.S.

Latvia and Patria have finalised a life cycle support (LCS) agreement covering the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6×6 vehicles operated by the Latvian National Armed Forces (LNAF).

Lockheed Martin has successfully conducted the initial flight test of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 2, marking a significant step in the development of the US Army’s long-range strike capabilities.

At conferences, in pitch decks, and increasingly in public writing, “service” is increasingly being used to describe the work of startup founders, employees, and venture capital investors in defense technology. The claim, sometimes explicit, more often implied, is that building defense technology is itself a form of service comparable to uniformed military service.

After the Gulf War’s air campaign concluded in February 1991, U.S. commanders were confident that airpower had destroyed the bulk of Iraq’s Republican Guard before the ground offensive ever began. A subsequent General Accounting Office review found they were wrong and identified why. The Republican Guard was among the “least measurable” target categories in the entire campaign. About a third of reported F-117 strikes either lacked corroborating evidence or conflicted with other data, putting the probability of a successful F-117 strike between 41 and 60 percent.

Since the United States and Israel launched large scale attacks on Iran on February 28, the U.S. Armed Forces have expended highly value munitions on a wholly unprecedented scale, raising serious questions regarding the implications for the country’s future war fighting capabilities. Iran’s sustained air defence capability has limited the ability of hostile aircraft to operate deep inside its territory, with costly U.S. and Israeli unmanned aircraft such as the respective MQ-9 Reaper and Heron having suffered heavy losses when undertaking high risk operations far inside Iranian territory.

Churchill once demanded, “Take this pudding away — it has no theme!” U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle’s new Fighting Instructions presents a similar sort of dish.In November 2024, I argued in War on the Rocks that successive chiefs of naval operations developed a pattern of issuing strategic guidance that described aspirations but did not consistently impose the concrete direction necessary to guide naval force planning.

The French Air Force is suffering from an acute shortage of air-to-air missiles, due to extensive operations against Iranian drones in the Gulf region. According to the French paper La Tribune, the rapid depletion of ammunition has raised serious concerns regarding the further combat capability of the air force, with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu having convened an urgent crisis meeting during which measures to replenish missile stocks were discussed.

The Republic of China Army has carried out a drone combat training exercise from March 10, during which personnel have operated immersive dronesfirst-person-view attack drones in a simulated urban battlefield to conduct precision strikes and bomb-dropping pursuit attacks. Units operating under the Army’s 58th Artillery Command were required to locate and engage simulated hostile forces operating inside buildings and vehicles, with military officials described the exercise as part of broader efforts to develop operational concepts for unmanned systems in urban combat environments.

Russian state sources have reported that Ukrainian authorities are using construction work as a cover for the recruitment of Colombian nationals for combat operations, citing documents found on the phone of Colombian military contractor Jose Luis Pocheco Navarra, who recently surrendered to Russian forces. The document is reported to have contained a request by the head of the Zaporozhye Region’s military administration, Ivan Fyodorov, that Colombian citizens be engaged in construction and restoration works in the region.

Earlier this month, KTLA TV news in Los Angeles reported on the tearing down of a Vietnam War wall memorial in Fountain Valley in Orange County, California.
KTLA reporter Chip Rost said, “It was torn down before ever being opened to the public.”
One million dollars was designated by the city.
“It is now part of disgraced, former County Supervisor Andrew Do’s legacy,” reported Rost.
Andrew Do was behind the project, and he was convicted in 2024 in a bribery case.

How Administrative Power Replaces Accountability in Today’s Military

Public Domain

There is a moment in institutional life when a name stops functioning as an identity and begins functioning as a narrative.
Inside large hierarchical organizations—especially the military—individuals can sometimes become symbols of problems the institution feels compelled to resolve. A service member’s name becomes shorthand for controversy, disruption, or risk. Once that shift occurs, the individual is no longer evaluated solely as a person whose conduct must be examined.