The Pentagon is reinstating the flu vaccine mandate for the Army, Navy, and Air Force following a recent outbreak.
The Army is planning to broaden the requirement to include overseas troops, first responders, prison staff, health care personnel, and child care workers, according to <a href="https://abcnews.com/Health/military-services-requiring-recruits-flu-shots-air-force/story?id=134126794">ABC News</a>. 
The mandate has been a longstanding Pentagon policy since 1945. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the requirement two months ago. While he encouraged soldiers to take the vaccine, Hegseth announced, “We will not force you.” 
He previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/21/military-flu-vaccine-hegseth">characterized</a> universal shots as &#8220;absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities&#8221; and claimed the rollback restored &#8220;medical autonomy&#8221; to troops.
At least 222 recruits at Joint Base San Antonio have been diagnosed with influenza, with four hospitalizations. The conditions of the training base make illnesses easy to spread. Recruits routinely live and sleep in tightly packed spaces, shower together, and are subject to stress and exhaustion.
New recruit Keon McDaniel died June 16, prompting a strong public reaction. He was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. McDaniel was in his sixth week of basic training when he died.
The cause of McDaniel’s death remains under investigation, but several critics believe it is linked to the outbreak. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro blamed Hegseth for the outbreak and McDaniel’s death in a social media post last week.
&#8220;After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness,&#8221; Castro posted, in part.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness. At the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, nearly 160… <a href="https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr">https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr</a>
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) <a href="https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/2067772807199535297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Some high-ranking Republicans were also critical of Hegseth for relaxing the mandate. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker publicly called Hegseth&#8217;s rollback a &#8220;mistake,&#8221; <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5841737-gop-armed-services-chair-warns-ending-mandatory-military-flu-shots-a-mistake/">stating</a> that mandatory vaccines historically created a healthier armed force.
When the outbreak began, roughly 40% of new Air Force trainees had been vaccinated at Joint Base San Antonio.
Due to the rapid nature of the situation, the Air Force requested that Hegseth bypass standard protocols for an emergency policy exemption. Hegseth granted exemptions to all military departments immediately.
This is not the first time the mandate has wavered. While first introduced in 1945, the military temporarily withdrew the requirement in 1949 because early vaccine formulas struggled to adapt to changing viral strains. It was reinstated permanently in the 1950s.

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Military Branches Bring Back Vaccine Mandate After Virus Outbreak On Base

Military

Pete Hegseth

Vaccine Mandate

Satellite images revealed Wednesday morning that China has built a replica of a U.S. destroyer at a remote missile-testing location in one of its deserts.
The image captured in May 2026 that was just released depicts the structure of a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang in the Taklamakan Desert that will be used to test missiles. The subject looks to be an exact copy of a ship currently used in the U.S. Seventh Fleet that covers the Western Pacific and the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative Joseph Wu first identified the structure.
Debris that appeared to be left from previous missile tests surrounded the mock ship in the desert. Given the available information, the assessment is that those replicas are being used as target practice for China&#8217;s military to test out new anti-ship weaponry.
Earlier in the month, Taiwan test-fired dozens of practice rockets from U.S.-supplied HIMARS launchers into the Taiwan Strait in a drill simulating a Chinese invasion, its first such live-fire exercise on the coast facing China.
On Wednesday, the de facto British, French, and German embassies in Taipei issued a rare joint statement voicing concern over recent Chinese coast guard patrols in the waters east of Taiwan, saying the activity threatened regional stability and freedom of navigation.
This is not the first time satellite images have surfaced showing China building replicas of U.S. ships on which to test their firepower. In 2021, the U.S. Naval Institute reported that two of the same destroyer models and an aircraft carrier were seen at a testing range in the southeastern region of the desert in Ruoqiang. 
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1122567 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/ChinaReplicaWarship.jpeg" alt="" width="362" height="212" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/ChinaReplicaWarship.jpeg 362w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/ChinaReplicaWarship-300x176.jpeg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px" /></div>
Recreations of U.S. airfields and Taiwanese roads have also appeared in the same deserts over the years.
While building mock-ups is a common use around the world for a country’s military, the complex relationship between the United States and China raises concerns for what the communist country may have planned. 
Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor the U.S. Department of Defense responded to Bloomberg’s request for comment.

U.S. Navy Warship

China Builds Replica U.S. Destroyer To Test Missiles On

Communist China

A United States Coast Guard helicopter on Monday carrying four crew members crashed during a training flight near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska, igniting a desperate search-and-rescue mission, the military said.
The crash, which happened at 10:07 a.m. local time, involved a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, according to the Coast Guard. 
No deaths were reported. All four crew members were transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
“First responders and search and rescue assets are currently responding. The safety, well-being, and rescue of our crew members is our absolute, immediate priority,” the military <a href="https://x.com/USCGArctic/status/2069134481500602713?s=20">said in a statement.</a> 
“A formal investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the event,” the Coast Guard said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The U.S. Coast Guard is actively responding to a reported crash involving a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that occurred today in Sitka, Alaska.
First responders and search and rescue assets are currently responding. The safety, well-being, and rescue of our crew members
— USCGArctic (@USCGArctic) <a href="https://x.com/USCGArctic/status/2069134481500602713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
Monday’s crash comes one week after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eight-feared-dead-after-b-52-crash-deemed-not-survivable">eight people were killed</a> Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission. 
This is a breaking story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes In Alaska

Coast Guard

News

U.S. Military

A large B-52 Stratofortress U.S. Air Force plane reportedly crashed Monday morning near Edwards Air Force Base in California. 
The crash was reported at about 11:20 a.m. local time shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield, <a href="https://x.com/EdwardsAFB/status/2066597970943058117?s=20">according to the military base.</a> Emergency crews responded to the scene in California’s Mojave Desert, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Aftermath of U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base. <a href="https://t.co/eSljMYUSal">https://t.co/eSljMYUSal</a> <a href="https://t.co/l5O3sc5vjs">pic.twitter.com/l5O3sc5vjs</a>
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2066603968994644149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
The airfield has been closed, according to the military base, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.
“All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations,” the base <a href="https://x.com/EdwardsAFB/status/2066612345770840297?s=20">said on X. </a>
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/01rjlGBMJQR1dqtJwioicfDDEYBZwi8DC?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=929cf057-734a-4065-b819-6d9488117ad0&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-06-15%20Smoke%20filled%20sky%20after%20bomber%20crash&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2F638b39ad-740b-404b-93c3-1e471f3f7721.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Credit: ALERTCalifornia / UC San Diego via Storyful
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The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions, <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104465/b-52h-stratofortress/">according to the U.S. Air Force.</a> The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. 
<a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2066603968994644149?s=20">Video circulating</a> on social media appears to show the charred runway following the crash. It’s unclear what caused the incident or if anybody was injured.
“Praying for the crew, the families, and the first responders at Edwards Air Force Base. God bless our service members,” House Republicans <a href="https://x.com/HouseGOP/status/2066606781367832942?s=20">wrote on X</a>, accompanying the message with an image of the American flag.
This is a breaking story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

USAF Boeing B-52H Stratofortress taking-off with undercarriage retracting and trailing-edge wing flaps lowered at the 1998 Fairford Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT

B-52 Crashes Near Edwards Air Force Base

France and Germany’s $116 billion attempt to build their own fighter jet to replace their current models has officially been scrapped.
The fighter plane segment of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project created in 2017 dedicated $116 billion to build sixth-generation jets to use in battle by 2040. 
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that the project was no longer feasible after months of stalemate between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, France&#8217;s and Germany’s industry partners respectively.
“The German authorities considered that it was not possible to put further pressure on the companies concerned,” Macron’s office, the Élysée Palace, explained in a statement.
The proposed fighter planes were supposed to combine advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, enhanced stealth technology, and other upgrades to use them for future air combat.
Signs of the potential flaming out were seen earlier this year. European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius admitted that the plan was a “failure” and that Europe has struggled in &#8220;multinational defense projects.&#8221;
The FCAS project failure raises multiple questions about the integrity of Europe’s national defense. Leaders in Europe believed the plan was a test if they could develop advanced technology as they promised without the help of the United States. France and Germany have recently struggled with a next-generation tank project with the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as well.
It also underlined potential disagreements between the two governments, which have both already expressed their alternative options after the project fell through.
Merz has publicly inquired if the sixth-generation planes will even be necessary, and that their requirements for the planes were not similar to those of France’s. France, on the other hand, is actively pursuing similar blueprints.
“The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing ambitious European projects that are consistent with our national security interests,” the Élysée Palace added in its official statement.
While Berlin is looking into possible substitutes following the collapse, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained that if FCAS were to be thought of today, it simply wouldn’t happen.
“With what we know today, we would no longer launch this project in the way it was originally set up,” Pistorius told officials.
European countries are continuing to struggle to enhance their arms without the help of America in a time when everyone else is quickly advancing.

Fa-52 Fighter Jets

Europe’s $116 Billion Fighter Jet Project Crashes And Burns

Europe

fighter jets

France

Germany

A Navy sailor admitted Monday that he strangled and killed a fellow service member before hiding her body in a suitcase and dumping it in a wooded area near Naval Station Norfolk. The guilty plea is raising questions of why military officials failed to remove him from service despite multiple prior allegations of violence against women.
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Jeremiah Copeland pleaded guilty during a military court-martial to the unpremeditated murder of Petty Officer 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, a 21-year-old sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams.
&#8220;I killed CS3 Resendiz on May 29, 2025,&#8221; Copeland told the military judge. &#8220;I strangled her with my hands.&#8221;
Under a plea agreement accepted by the court, Copeland also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by strangulation, indecent recording, obstruction of justice, and making a false official statement. He faces a minimum sentence of 40 years and two months in prison, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. 
According to court proceedings, Resendiz entered Copeland&#8217;s barracks room on May 29, 2025. Copeland admitted the two were drinking alcohol when an argument began after she saw something on his phone. He told the court he strangled her on the floor of the room before hiding her body in a suitcase in his closet. 
Investigators later determined Copeland kept Resendiz&#8217;s body concealed for several days before transporting it to a wooded area roughly ten miles from the base. Her decomposing remains were discovered on June 9, 2025, nearly two weeks after she vanished. 
But even before Resendiz&#8217;s death, Copeland was already facing allegations involving other women. 
Military prosecutors had previously accused Copeland of raping a fellow sailor in November 2024 and sexually assaulting and attempting to strangle another service member months earlier. Court records also show he was facing a separate rape allegation involving a civilian woman in Norfolk just days before Resendiz disappeared.
His history reportedly stretches back even further. Before joining the Navy in 2023, a Washington state judge issued a temporary sexual assault protection order against Copeland involving an underage girl. He was also accused in a separate incident of kissing and groping another underage girl against her will. 
Resendiz&#8217;s mother, Esmeralda Castle, has repeatedly argued that Navy leadership failed to act despite numerous warning signs. 
&#8220;This situation was absolutely preventable,&#8221; Castle said before trial proceedings began.
&#8220;If they would have dealt with him when he started harming women, he would never have gotten to Angie,&#8221; she later told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/navy-sailor-admits-killing-fellow-service-member-mother-questions-missed-warning-signs">Fox News</a>. 
Castle has been among the most vocal critics of the Navy&#8217;s response to her daughter&#8217;s disappearance. Resendiz was last seen on May 29, 2025, but a statewide missing-person alert was not issued until five days later after military officials initially classified her as absent without leave.
The delay sparked criticism from family members and comparisons to the case of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/vanessa-guillen-fort-hood.html">murder</a> prompted sweeping reforms throughout the military regarding sexual harassment and assault investigations.
Friends and family described Resendiz as a bright and ambitious young sailor who hoped to build a career in military culinary arts. According to her mother, Resendiz aimed to one day join the Navy&#8217;s elite culinary competition team and cook for world leaders.
Following Monday&#8217;s plea hearing, Castle met privately with Copeland. 
&#8220;I thanked him for telling the truth,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-06-08/sailor-pleads-guilty-death-angelina-resendiz-21906865.html?mc_cid=9ce47e81e4&amp;mc_eid=4c1d7240e1">said</a>. 
While Castle said hearing Copeland finally admit responsibility brought her &#8220;peace of mind,&#8221; she remains convinced the tragedy should never have happened. 
&#8220;We have statutes, and we have policies, and we have procedures that were implemented by Congress to protect service members from this type of violence,&#8221; Castle said. &#8220;And nothing&#8217;s changed.&#8221;
The military judge is expected to formally impose a sentence under the terms of the plea agreement following the conclusion of court-martial proceedings.

Volunteers place carnations at each grave at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in preparation of Memorial Day.

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murdering Fellow Service Member

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murder After Facing Multiple Rape Allegations

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U.S. Navy

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Ousted &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; anchor Scott Pelley teared up when he claimed during a recent interview that he had &#8220;been in combat for this country.&#8221;
Pelley was terminated &#8220;for cause&#8221; just days earlier by executive producer Nick Bilton, after blowing up at the network&#8217;s new leadership under Bari Weiss — and he got emotional when he responded to some of the comments President Donald Trump had made about him.
WATCH:
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Fired 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley on the verge of tears:
&#8220;I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/me6BJ9Eetg">pic.twitter.com/me6BJ9Eetg</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://x.com/SteveGuest/status/2063678370521432108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;He also said you were part go this gang of stupid crooked people that don&#8217;t care about your country,&#8221; interviewer Lulu Garcia-Navarro prompted Pelley.
&#8220;Stupid, I can take that. Stiff? Yeah, probably,&#8221; Pelley conceded, and then clearly struggled to get control of his emotions as he continued. &#8220;Don&#8217;t care about the country? I&#8217;ve never worn the uniform, but I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m not aware that the President of the United States has ever done any of those things for his country,&#8221; Pelley continued, still choked up a bit as he added, &#8220;Please correct me if I&#8217;m wrong.&#8221;
He went on to argue that people became journalists because they &#8220;love the First Amendment&#8221; and because they truly love the United States.
&#8220;While all the other descriptions that the president used about me might be applicable, not that one,&#8221; he said, his voice breaking.
During the same interview, Pelley claimed that the firings at CBS News — his and several others — were like the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scott-pelley-compares-cbs-ouster-to-family-being-murdered-in-over-the-top-interview">murders</a> of close friends and family members.

CBS Fall Schedule Celebration – Arrivals

Scott Pelley Takes Military Cosplay To New Level In Deluded NYT Interview

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Politics

Scott Pelley

A Gold Star wife&#8217;s simple Memorial Day request sparked an outpouring of support from Americans, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-from-trump-admin">outgoing</a> Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 
It all started on Sunday, when Sharrell Anne Shaw posted a message on X, asking whether anyone visiting Arlington National Cemetery could stop by her late husband&#8217;s grave and share a photo. 
“This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in DC this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60,” she wrote. 
Shaw identified her husband as Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw of B Co 1/12 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.
The responses started flooding in, with many people promising to visit the grave or honor Shaw&#8217;s sacrifice on Memorial Day. 
Several, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, shared photos of themselves visiting the grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
“It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects,&#8221; Gabbard wrote. &#8220;Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones… <a href="https://t.co/GWx11xlecF">pic.twitter.com/GWx11xlecF</a>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2058975663160226185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Shaw responded by thanking Gabbard for honoring her husband.
“Seeing you standing there at his grave honestly brought me to tears,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Thank you for honoring Alan, for saying his name, and for reminding me that there are still people in this country who have not forgotten the cost of freedom.”
On Monday, Shaw reflected on the viral response to the outpouring of support from everyone who honored her request.
“Last night, I made a simple request on X,” she posted. “I asked if anybody visiting Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day would stop by Alan’s grave and leave a photo for our family. What happened next honestly caught me off guard.”
“By this afternoon, dozens of Americans from all walks of life had made the walk to Section 60 to visit SSG Alan W. Shaw. Veterans. Families,” she said. “Complete strangers. People who had never met Alan, but chose to honor him anyway&#8230; For one day on social media, people put aside the constant noise and negativity and came together for something bigger than themselves. My notifications filled with photos, kind messages, prayers, and stories from people honoring not just Alan, but so many of our fallen heroes. I don’t think people fully understand what moments like this mean to Gold Star families.&#8221;
Staff Sgt. Shaw was killed in action in Iraq on February 9, 2007. 
In a separate Memorial Day post, Sharrell Shaw reflected on the holiday&#8217;s meaning for Gold Star families.
“Memorial Day will always mean more to our family than cookouts or a long weekend,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;It’s the sound of boots on concrete. The weight of a folded flag in shaking hands. Three children growing up with memories instead of a father.”
She added, “But over the years, I’ve also realized something else. The men we honor today did not give everything so America would sit in mourning forever. They believed in life. In freedom. In family. In backyard barbecues, ballgames, loud laughter, and the simple privilege of being home.”
“So yes, remember them. Speak their names. Teach your children who they were. Fly the flag. Visit the cemetery. And then live.”

Arlington National Cemetary

Tulsi Gabbard Visits Fallen Soldier’s Grave After Gold Star Wife’s Viral Request

Iraq War

Memorial Day

Soldiers

Tulsi Gabbard

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
I’m lucky: I know where my husband is when he’s deployed, and I know how long he’ll be gone. I get to talk to him during deployment, and I can settle into a routine of communication and home life. Many military spouses don’t have such luxuries. But we all know what it’s like to hold things down on the home front on our own. And for those of us with jobs and kids, juggling all our responsibilities gets a lot more complicated. 
Similar to many women, especially with small children, many military wives I know don’t work. They know their spouse will be gone for months at a time, and it doesn’t make sense for their family. But for the <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/files/Military-Spouses-Fact-Sheet-2024-12-13.pdf">64%</a> of us who do work, the juggling gets a bit more wobbly when we’re acting as single parents. Personally, I could never do it without flexible work. 
<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/files/Military-Spouses-Fact-Sheet-2024-12-13.pdf">Over a third</a> of active duty families have children. When we had our first child, I fully expected to be forced out of the workforce, choosing my family life over my work. But Independent Women is a fully remote workplace, which allows employees greater flexibility to balance work and other responsibilities. 
Many brave women serve our country in the military. But it is a male-dominated profession, and the fact that <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/files/Military-Spouses-Fact-Sheet-2024-12-13.pdf">90% of military spouses are women</a> reflects that. For so many other moms, even outside military life, remote work is a lifeline, allowing them to provide some income for their families while balancing the demands of family life. And family life is uniquely demanding for military families with small children: <a href="https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/survey-findings/spouse-voices/#:~:text=Spouse%20Employment%20*%2064%25%20of%20civilian%20spouses,average%20of%2019%20weeks%20looking%20for%20work.">46% of active-duty spouses</a> have children under the age of six at home.
Flexibility is a vital characteristic of military family life, and work is no exception. We’re asked to adjust to living in new locations, spouses being back and forth on deployments, and for many, a new job with each move. Many military spouses struggle to find work at all, with an unemployment rate that’s nearly <a href="https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1491&amp;context=ivmf&amp;_gl=1*2ag8aw*_gcl_au*ODc5MDc2MzQwLjE3NzY3OTQwOTg.*_ga*MTQ2NTM4NjkyNC4xNzc2Nzk0MDk4*_ga_QT13NN6N9S*czE3NzY3OTQwOTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzY3OTQxMDQkajU0JGwwJGgw*_ga_SRVN5YVLB5*czE3NzY3OTQwOTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzY3OTQwOTgkajYwJGwwJGgw">four times higher</a> than that of civilian spouses. But even with a similar <a href="https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1491&amp;context=ivmf&amp;_gl=1*2ag8aw*_gcl_au*ODc5MDc2MzQwLjE3NzY3OTQwOTg.*_ga*MTQ2NTM4NjkyNC4xNzc2Nzk0MDk4*_ga_QT13NN6N9S*czE3NzY3OTQwOTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzY3OTQxMDQkajU0JGwwJGgw*_ga_SRVN5YVLB5*czE3NzY3OTQwOTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzY3OTQwOTgkajYwJGwwJGgw">overall labor force participation rate</a> to civilian spouses, military spouses earn much less than their counterparts. After all, career advancement is more difficult when you can’t stay at a company thanks to military relocations, and your career comes second to your spouse’s. As a consequence, military spouses, on average, earn approximately <a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/VETS/files/Military-Spouses-Fact-Sheet-2024-12-13.pdf">38% less</a> than their civilian counterparts.
This isn’t to say that we begrudge the service of our military members. We’re incredibly proud of their sacrifices, and are happy to make our own to support them. All families require sacrifices and compromise. But the military is a way of life that requires a full-family effort, and workplace flexibility lightens the load for employed spouses. 
I’m proud of my husband, proud of his hard work and dedication to our family and our country. And I’m happy to hold things down at home, taking a large portion of responsibility when he’s deployed. But without the ability to work remotely and enjoy a flexible schedule, I’d never be working today. I would choose my family in a heartbeat, but women shouldn’t have to choose if they don’t want to. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that many jobs can be much more flexible than they’ve historically been. I’m incredibly grateful that I can continue to work while also caring for my children and keeping things running smoothly at home. Employers should recognize the gift they can give their workers (and help themselves by keeping good workers in the labor force) by allowing them flexibility.
This military appreciation month, take a moment to recognize the families that support our brave service members. We have the best military in the world, and we should be immensely proud of the many sacrifices made by these patriotic Americans. And behind every service member is a military family that’s making sacrifices right along with them.
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Charlotte Whelan is the policy managing editor at Independent Women.

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What Military Wives Quietly Carry While America Sleeps

Upstream

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
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Debates about &#8220;trad wives&#8221; and &#8220;girlbosses&#8221; place womanhood into opposing camps: career, ambition, and independence versus family, sacrifice, and support. But for me, as a military spouse, my life doesn’t fit neatly into either category. In many ways, it requires elements of both, as if the stereotypical definitions were both thrown into a NutriBullet and blended together. 
On the heels of celebrating my two-year wedding anniversary — in typical military fashion, apart from my husband — I found myself reflecting on just how much sacrifice this life demands, where uncertainty is constant and major plot twists are almost always guaranteed. 
It is a reality that is often difficult to comprehend unless you have lived it yourself or loved someone who has; plans and routines shift without warning and precious time together is limited. Just when I finally get used to having my husband home and we begin settling into life as a newly married couple, life shifts again — sending me back into a season of independence, holding everything together on my own and keeping the trains moving so that when he returns, we can pick up where we left off.
I have unlocked a side of myself I didn’t know existed: one shaped by resilience, adaptability, independence, sacrifice, and an unwavering love of country that few other experiences can teach.
I have learned countless lessons that have made me into a stronger person, a better spouse, and a more intentional daughter, sister, and friend. I&#8217;ve learned how to spend time alone, bring joy into the darkest days, and enjoy doing things independently. I also resist the urge to fully and honestly answer questions like, “Can’t you just call your husband?” No, he’s hundreds or thousands of miles away with little to no cell service, but I will certainly be sending a detailed email later.
One of the more challenging lessons has been learning how to prepare for and navigate the most dreaded word of all: deployment. Deployments are like Florida afternoon storms. Sometimes you see them coming from miles away, dark clouds slowly gathering on the horizon. Other times, they catch you off guard, and suddenly you are wrapped in sideways rain, running for cover, hoping not to get too drenched. Like storms, deployments often last longer than you think they will and have some surprise twists, but eventually they pass — making way for sunshine and the relief of finally having your spouse back in the same zip code again.
But most of all, being a military spouse has changed my perspective on time. In the seasons of separation, a day feels like a week. A week feels like a month. A month feels like an eternity. Every day feels like the movie &#8220;Groundhog Day&#8221; in the sense that it is just another day waking up, and your spouse and best friend isn’t home to share the everyday moments with you.
Time is so precious. Simple activities such as having dinner together, going on walks, or even going to the grocery store are times I cherish. During those long stretches of time apart, looking back on these memories makes me smile. 
In navigating challenges and uncertainty, I have gained a deeper respect not only for my husband’s service but for the country and freedoms his sacrifice helps preserve. Loving someone who serves, whether you are married or related to them, inevitably changes the way you see America. Freedom is not just an abstract idea. It is something that needs to be actively defended and preserved. 
For the last 250 years, America has represented a bold experiment in liberty. Generations of men and women have answered the call to serve their country, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice. Heading into Memorial Day, that reality weighs heavily, serving as a reminder of the true cost of the freedoms we are all privileged to live with today.
The title “military spouse” is one I hold with pride, and I know my time in this role is finite. With every twist and turn my husband and I face together as a team, I know there are millions of military families out there navigating similar yet entirely different situations. To these families, you are a constant source of inspiration, and your service and sacrifice should not go unrecognized. 
My short time as a military spouse only reflects a larger truth woven throughout our nation’s history: Military spouses have quietly upheld the home front through constant reinvention, emotional endurance, and steadfast patriotism, sustaining the promise of freedom alongside those who defend it. 
Not to mention how communication has changed. As my grandmother loves to remind me, “At least you don’t have to wait for letters, like I did, and can sometimes see his face on your phone.”
Looking back at old photos of my husband and me — smiling in the early days of dating or in our courthouse wedding pictures — I am reminded of just how far we have come as a team, and also how much I have changed for the better. 
As I look ahead, I carry with me both gratitude and perspective. I don’t fit the mold of either the “trad wife” or the “girlboss,” but I feel more fulfilled than I have in my entire life. I have been stretched in ways I never anticipated and have gained a deeper appreciation for the moments of connection that my husband and I are given. 
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday all year long, I am reminded that while uniforms may represent service on the front lines, it is the strength of families on the home front that helps sustain the promise of freedom generation after generation — and I am honored to be a part of that history.
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Emma Miccoli is a member of Independent Women’s Network and a Florida resident.

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The Forgotten American Sacrifice Happening Behind Every Deployment

Director Michael Bay is on tap to direct a movie based on the epic rescue mission to retrieve two downed American airmen in Iran.
Bay, in partnership with Universal Pictures, is developing a feature-length film based on an upcoming 2027 book by author Mitchell Zuckoff. The book — and by extension, the movie — will tell the story of the two U.S. airmen who went down behind enemy lines in Iran during Operation Epic Fury.
The project will describe how their F-15E Strike Eagle operating under the call sign &#8220;Dude 44&#8221; was shot down over Iranian territory in early April, just weeks after the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation in Iran.
According to the planned adaptation, the pilot, known as Dude 44 Alpha, was located and extracted within hours. But the plane&#8217;s weapon systems officer, Dude 44 Bravo, remained stranded in the rugged Zagros Mountains.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/daily-wire-explains-the-world-ep-8">DON&#8217;T WAIT FOR HOLLYWOOD: WATCH THE DAILY WIRE&#8217;S &#8220;RACE TO RESCUE&#8221; NOW!</a>
For nearly two days, the injured Dude 44 Bravo actively evaded capture by Iranian forces, hiding in the mountains and ravines while he waited for the rescue mission he knew was coming.
That eventual rescue came in the form of a daring night raid that included dozens of aircraft and hundreds of American special operations forces, all coordinating to fight off the Iranian forces — who were still desperately trying to locate the downed American first — and safely extract Dude 44 Bravo.
Bay may have gotten his start directing music videos — for everyone from Styx and Donny Osmond to Vanilla Ice and Meat Loaf — but he is no stranger to bringing heroic military stories to the silver screen. In 2016, he directed &#8220;13 Hours,&#8221; a film based on the siege of the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that took place on September 11, 2012.

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One Of America’s Most Dangerous Rescue Missions Is Becoming A Movie

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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave his best Trump impression on Monday, while campaigning for retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in Kentucky.
Hegseth drew applause and laughter when he recalled President Donald Trump giving him a pep talk of sorts about the nomination process and his position in the administration.
&#8220;Trump told me, when he first offered me this job — he said, &#8216;Pete, you&#8217;re gonna have to be tough as sh*t,&#8221; Hegseth told Gallrein supporters, adopting Trump&#8217;s tone and mannerisms. &#8220;&#8216;You ready? They&#8217;re gonna come after ya!'&#8221;
Notably, Hegseth has been the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-cant-believe-it-was-published-wapo-attacks-hegseth-for-protecting-his-family">target</a> of a number of legacy media attacks since the moment Trump announced the Army veteran as his pick for Secretary of War. Hegseth withstood the personal attacks and was confirmed in January 2025, by Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s tie-breaking vote.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 LMAO! SecWar Pete Hegseth does a hilarious impression of Donald Trump
He’s actually got it down pretty good 🤣
“He said &#8216;PETE, you&#8217;re gonna have to be tough as SHlT…You ready? They&#8217;re gonna come after you!’” 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/utuKJII58S">pic.twitter.com/utuKJII58S</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2056432440235692536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
At the campaign event, Hegseth told a crowd of Kentucky voters that backing Gallrein in the 4th Congressional District primary race over Rep. Thomas Massie is a &#8220;no-brainer.&#8221;
Gallrein got the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-trump-goes-all-out-to-oust-thomas-massie">backing</a> of President Donald Trump, after Massie refused to support the president with regard to the war in Iran, the Epstein files, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and other issues.
“President Trump needs reinforcements, and that’s what warfighters do,” Hegseth <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article315799747.html">said</a>. &#8220;Warfighters understand mission. They understand teamwork. They understand loyalty, and they understand that in the middle of a fight, you don’t weaken your own side. You advance to the objective, and that’s what Ed Gallrein understands, because he has lived it.”
The secretary further went after Massie for obstructing Trump&#8217;s agenda and &#8220;grandstanding.&#8221;
“Thomas Massie’s record speaks for itself,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Too much grandstanding &#8230; [with] years of acting like being difficult is the same thing as being courageous. It’s not. Real courage means stepping up when the mission matters most, when we need that tough vote to beat left-wing lunatic Democrats.”
The hotly contested and closely watched race is reportedly the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. Polls close at 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-trump-goes-all-out-to-oust-thomas-massie">Team Trump Goes All Out To Oust Thomas Massie</a>

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WATCH: Pete Hegseth Recreates Trump Pep Talk Word-For-Word

Pete Hegseth Recreates Trump Pep Talk Word For Word 

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