A new memo from the U.S. Army asserts that transgender soldiers’ birth records will now only show their sex at birth.
“Commanders will take immediate measures to update personnel records and administrative systems to reflect biological sex for all individuals,” the memo declares, adding that pronoun use “must reflect their biological sex,” Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-change-transgender-soldiers-records-birth-sex-2025-05-21/#:~:text=There%20are%204%2C240%20U.S.%20active,advocates%20have%20given%20higher%20estimates." target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The memo avers that a person’s sex is “unchanging during a person’s life,” echoing a February 26 Defense Department <a href="https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Prioritizing_Military_Excellence_and_Readiness_P&amp;R_Guidance.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memo</a> that stated, “The Department only recognizes two sexes: male and female. An individual’s sex is immutable, unchanging during a person’s life. All Service members will only serve in accordance with their sex.”
Access to “intimate spaces” will be determined by the biological sex of the soldier; “Commanders will ensure all such shared intimate spaces will be clearly designated for either male, female, or family use,” the document stated. Additionally, commanders must address troops as “sir” or “ma’am.”
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On May 6, the Supreme Court stayed an order from U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Washington state, who issued an injunction barring the Trump administration from prohibiting transgender people in the military. President Biden had signed an executive order that permitted transgender soldiers to serve openly in the military, but the day President Trump was inaugurated in 2025, he revoked the order and issued another executive order days later, instructing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to ban “individuals with gender dysphoria” from the military. DOD issued the ban on February 26.
Navy Commander Emily Shilling, a man identifying as a woman, had challenged Trump’s executive order, filing a federal lawsuit. A district court in Washington state then barred Trump’s executive order. But the Supreme Court stayed the order. “The district court’s injunction cannot be squared with the substantial deference that the Department’s professional military judgments are owed,” Trump’s DOJ <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A1030/356382/20250424102154372_Emily_Shilling_et_al_application.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “In suggesting that experience under the policies of the last Administration shows that service by individuals with gender dysphoria does not present meaningful risks &#8230; the court improperly second-guessed the military’s own assessment of those risks.”

US-PERU-DIPLOMACY-DEFENCE

U.S. Army Will Alter Troops’ Birth Records To Only Show Their Sex At Birth

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Today is Armed Forces Day, an occasion to express gratitude and respect for those men and women making the sacrifice to serve our country in uniform. This year, I can think of no better way to honor their commitment to duty than to give those reentering civilian life a shot at gainful employment.
Few people truly understand how hard it is to transition out of the military. In uniform, your mission is clear. Your role is defined. You live with structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. But when service ends, the system that trained you offers little preparation for what comes next.
Sadly, this transition is often treated like a final administrative task rather than the critical life shift it truly is. You get a checklist, a few briefings, and a polite nod toward civilian life. But those things do not prepare you for the deeper shift — how to rebuild your purpose, your identity, and your worth in a world that operates differently.
When the structure and rhythm of military life disappear, veterans are suddenly confronted with a vacuum. The transition programs that are supposed to help prove unproductive because they are still led by people who don’t understand what it takes to succeed after service.
Our servicemen and women get stuck with outdated processes that are heavy on structure and light on relevance, leaving them unprepared for today’s fast-moving economy. If we continue with this approach,  we will keep losing people after the fight is over.
And it isn’t just veterans who are suffering. The economy is feeling the strain as well.
Industries from tech to logistics to healthcare are scrambling to find people who can build teams, make decisions, and lead under pressure. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to find qualified candidates, only to be disappointed because they don’t have the grit and follow-through to overcome the challenges faced by today’s organizations.
Hiring managers complain that new workers are entitled, lazy, and don’t take initiative. They say they’re tired of seeing the same resumes and hiring employees who don’t move the needle. But they overlook the group that can address these problems and more: veterans.
Veterans have developed leadership skills, adaptability, and mission-driven focus through years of training and real-world experience. Simply by enlisting, they demonstrated that they are willing to work for something bigger than themselves and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it.
I have seen how the military trains men and women to lead, build teams, persevere, and thrive under pressure — traits companies claim to need. Yet too often, there is a disconnect. Too often, veterans are overlooked because they do not have the “experience” or necessary qualifications.
These things are undoubtedly important, but should not be the only consideration. When they are, two catastrophic things happen: companies miss out on thousands of uniquely qualified candidates, and veterans are left to suffer.
What could be a wonderful partnership becomes another statistic of veteran unemployment and corporate leadership struggles.
It&#8217;s not that veterans are not capable or that companies don&#8217;t care. The system was simply not built to align the two sides properly.
But that just isn’t good enough for our economy — or our veterans.
We need a new way forward, one that recognizes the immense, ever-changing challenges today’s organizations face while simultaneously valuing the skills veterans have developed through their service — even if they don’t show up on the job experience section in a resume.
It’s time for companies to consider veterans&#8217; unique skills and experiences. They might be exactly what the economy needs because, right now, America isn’t short on workers — it’s short on leaders.
Translating that experience into civilian terms is not simple. But it is possible.
For me, education was part of that process. I chose to study at Pepperdine University, where I was challenged to think differently, expand my leadership skills beyond the military, and see the civilian world not as foreign ground but as a new mission to master.
These years reminded me that growth does not stop when the uniform comes off. It simply changes form, morphing into another kind of challenge. And it&#8217;s one I believe veterans are perfectly suited to meet.
The solution, however,  isn’t more hiring initiatives, which soon become quotas and occasions for empty virtue signaling. Instead, we need deliberate pathways that match veterans’ capabilities and values with organizations willing to put leadership potential to work.
It is not about charity. It’s about putting proven leadership where it belongs — in the fight, making an impact. This can and does lead to real careers, authentic leadership, and incredible results.
If you are serious about building a team that can survive and thrive in the real world, stop overlooking veterans. We don&#8217;t need favors. We need opportunities. And the world needs what we have to offer. So this Armed Forces Day, America’s companies can show their gratitude by trusting those who have already proven they can lead.
Kenny Spratt is the founder and CEO of TalentBase, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in connecting highly-skilled veterans to meaningful career opportunities across the private sector.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Army’s New Pre-Basic Training Prep Course Helps Potential Soldiers Qualify For Enlistment

American Companies Should Stop Overlooking Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs

Employers

Veterans

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday and charged with planning a mass shooting at a U.S. military base in Warren, Michigan, &#8220;on behalf of ISIS.&#8221;
According to the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-arrested-and-charged-attempting-attack-military-base-behalf-isis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOJ</a>, Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said told two undercover law enforcement agents that he formulated a plan to attack the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive &amp; Armaments Command (TACOM) facility in Warren. The suspect was arrested after the two undercover agents indicated that they were ready to carry out Said&#8217;s plan and scheduled the attack for May 13. Said was detained after launching his drone near the base.
The suspect is accused of providing &#8220;material assistance to the attack plan, including providing armor-piercing ammunition and magazines for the attack, flying his drone over TACOM to conduct operational reconnaissance, training the undercover employees on firearms and the construction of Molotov cocktails for use during the attack, and planning numerous details of the attack including how to enter TACOM and which building to target.&#8221; TACOM is part of the Detroit Arsenal, which is <a href="https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/u-s-army-garrison-detroit-arsenal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">home</a> to 144 active-duty Army soldiers and 8,000 Department of Defense civilian employees or contractors.
Said of Melvindale, Michigan, joined the Michigan Army National Guard in September 2022 and trained at Fort Moore in Georgia, according to the criminal complaint. After being sent to the Michigan Army National Guard Taylor Armory, he was discharged in December of 2024, but the complaint did not say why, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-national-guardsman-allegedly-plotted-isis-inspired-attack/story?id=121797139" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. He began planning the mass shooting at the TACOM facility in November of 2024, according to the complaint.
“The arrest of this former soldier is a sobering reminder of the importance of our counterintelligence efforts to identify and disrupt those who would seek to harm our nation,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, the commanding general of Army Counterintelligence Command.
Said faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and distributing information related to a destructive device, according to the DOJ. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday in the Eastern District of Michigan and faces 20 years in prison for each count if he is convicted.
“ISIS is a brutal terrorist organization which seeks to kill Americans. Helping ISIS or any other terrorist organization prepare or carry out acts of violence is not only a reprehensible crime – it is a threat to our entire nation and way of life,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Our office will not tolerate such crimes or threats, and we will use the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in terrorism.”

Abrams Tank

Former Army National Guardsman Charged With Planning Mass Shooting At U.S. Base ‘On Behalf Of ISIS’

Department of Justice

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Michigan

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A three-star general who has served as the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence stated that Israel should have sovereignty over the biblical areas of Judea and Samaria.
Retired general William Boykin, who spent 36 years in the U.S. military, including 13 years in Delta Force, the Army’s elite special operations, counter-terrorism unit, is a staunch Christian who <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/college-boots-ex-delta-force-hero-after-complaint-from-lgbt-activists">said</a> as far back as 2016, “I’m going to do everything I can to stop men from going into bathrooms with my daughters, my wife and my granddaughters. I am going to be a very outspoken antagonist on this issue.” President George W. Bush tasked him with hunting down Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Retired Army Major General Robert Scales said of him, &#8220;He commanded Delta and is one of the toughest guys around—but he&#8217;s also one of the nicest, gentlest people I know.&#8221;
Boykin spoke of the necessity of Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria on Sunday in Samaria, saying, “What we’re doing here is standing on a time bomb that’s going to go off at some point. It already did on the 7th of October,” JNS <a href="https://www.jns.org/former-us-delta-force-commander-backs-judea-samaria-sovereignty/">reported</a>.
“It’s gonna happen again, and that’s why … we need to recognize that if we don’t create a situation where we have sovereignty here, we’re going to see another Oct. 7,” Boykin continued. “There are people who have no knowledge or understanding, and they believe that a 15-mile stretch can be part of your defense—and that is not the case. You and we must stand together and say: We will not accept a two-state solution!”
“After October 7, we must understand—and you of course understand—that Jewish towns and cities here in Judea and Samaria are not just a matter of historical justice. The Jewish communities are Israel’s security belt,” Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan explained.
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy, identified 28 Iran-backed terrorist groups and branches in the Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria in Israel, sometimes referred to as the West Bank, where Palestinians have consistently murdered Jews for decades.
“Iran-backed terrorist groups, including, al-Aqsa Martyrs&#8217; Brigades, and Hamas, have proliferated in number and strengthened their presence in the West Bank in recent years,” FDD’s Long War Journal <a href="https://www.longwarjournal.org/westbankterrorgroups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “The groups have established battalions (Katibat) in Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm and beyond. Iranian arms and funding have primarily fueled this violent escalation. FDD&#8217;s Long War Journal has identified 26 West Bank branches belonging to established terrorist organizations, and two independent armed groups.”
Last December, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced a bill in the Senate to require all official U.S. documents and materials to use the historically accurate term “Judea and Samaria” instead of the “West Bank.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Referring to Judea and Samaria as the ‘West Bank’ is a slap in the face to historical truth.
It’s time to call this region by its rightful name and stop playing into anti-Israel propaganda.<a href="https://t.co/tYwYMZkGMJ">https://t.co/tYwYMZkGMJ</a>
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/1864694801217487019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The bill, titled the &#8220;Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria (RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria) Act,&#8221; matched legislation in the House<a href="https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-introduces-legislation-recognize-rightful-name-judea-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sponsored</a> by Reps. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY).
“The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria goes back thousands of years. The U.S. should stop using the politically charged term West Bank to refer to the biblical heartland of Israel,” Cotton stated.
“The Israeli people have an undeniable and indisputable historical and legal claim over Judea and Samaria, and at this critical moment in history, the United States must reaffirm this,”  Tenney echoed. “This bill reaffirms Israel&#8217;s rightful claim to its territory. I remain committed to defending the integrity of the Jewish state and fully supporting Israel&#8217;s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”
The term “West Bank” only came into common usage after the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, while &#8220;Samaria&#8221; dates back at least 2,000 years. The great historian Flavius Josephus <a href="https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/ancient/josephus-wara.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>, “Now as to the country of Samaria, it lies between Judea and Galilee.”
Virtually all of the events in the Old Testament occurred in Judea and Samaria; Hebron is considered the burial place of the Biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and where King David was crowned; Shiloh was where the Tabernacle rested for roughly 370 years; Joseph, who became the Egyptian pharaoh’s right-hand man, is buried in Shechem; Elon Moreh is where the Bible says God promised the Land of Israel to Abraham; and David fought Goliath in the Valley of Elah. These are just some of the Jewish biblical connections to Judea and Samaria.

Gen. William Boykin addresses the crowd during a speech at Colorado Christian University on Monday, May 2, 2011. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

Retired General Who Pursued Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein Wants Israeli Sovereignty Over Judea, Samaria

Christian

Global Politics

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The Army put helicopter flights to the Pentagon on hold on Monday after another incident last week forced air traffic controllers to divert two commercial planes that were preparing to land at Reagan National Airport (DCA), POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/05/army-helicopter-flights-reagan-airport-00327392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The 12th Aviation Battalion, which transports political and military VIPs, will not be allowed to fly near DCA as the Army conducts an internal inquiry after a military helicopter reportedly &#8220;took a scenic route around the Pentagon versus proceeding directly from the west to the heliport&#8221; last Thursday. The incident prompted commercial flights to abort their landings, according to POLITICO, which cited &#8220;an email sent by an FAA official.&#8221;
Last week&#8217;s aborted landings came just over three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane near DCA, killing all 64 people aboard the plane and all three helicopter pilots.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/1918448336048206226" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Friday that the Army helicopters&#8217; &#8220;scenic route&#8221; was &#8220;unacceptable,&#8221; adding that he would speak with the Defense Department &#8220;to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded.&#8221; An Army spokesman disputed that the flight was &#8220;scenic,&#8221; calling the characterization &#8220;inappropriate,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/05/02/national-dca-airliners-helicopter-danger/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>. According to the Army official, the helicopter had been approved to land at the Pentagon, but was asked by the Pentagon flight tower to circle again before landing. The helicopter&#8217;s second pass appears to have caused air traffic controllers at DCA to divert two planes&#8217; landings, the Army spokesman said.
The helicopter&#8217;s flight on Thursday was done &#8220;in accordance with published FAA flight routes,&#8221; according to the Army.
Congressional leaders called on the Army and the FAA to prevent more dangerous incidents between military helicopters and commercial aircraft around DCA. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/sentedcruz/status/1918452272624701941?s=46&amp;t=D2Xwf7zbmcagvzLI-U0uIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Army was &#8220;once again putting the traveling public at risk.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank God there was a decisive response from air traffic controllers and pilots, or else these two close calls could have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives,&#8221; Cruz (R-TX) added. &#8220;I believe it’s time for the FAA to act swiftly and assert control over the national airspace so the Army stops running air taxis for military officials near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.&#8221;
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, <a href="https://x.com/JerryMoran/status/1918428042978054438" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;The tragic accident at DCA in January and the data that has come to light on near-misses at DCA over the last four years overwhelmingly demonstrate that new safety measures must be implemented before military helicopters resume operations near the airport. &#8230; The Army and FAA need to reevaluate their operations and return to Capitol Hill to explain what needs to be done to make certain the DCA airspace is safe. We already had a tragedy that should not have happened.&#8221;
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) added, “It is outrageous that only three months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter tragically collided with a passenger jet, the same Army brigade again flew a helicopter too close to passenger jets on final approach at DCA. It is far past time for [Defense] Secretary [Pete] Hegseth and the FAA to give our airspace the security and safety attention it deserves.”

Army Black Hawk

Army Helicopter Flights Suspended Near DCA After Two Planes Forced To Abort Landings

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The Army confirmed on Friday that a massive military parade featuring 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles, and 50 helicopters will be held on President Donald Trump&#8217;s 79th birthday as part of the service&#8217;s 250th anniversary celebration.
The parade will follow a route from Arlington, Virginia, to the National Mall and has been submitted for classification as a &#8220;national special security event,&#8221; bringing additional federal resources to secure the area, PBS <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/army-confirms-military-parade-for-its-250th-anniversary-will-be-held-on-trumps-birthday">reported</a>.
White House officials confirmed the commemorative parade would be one of the first events to kick off a yearlong celebration of the nation&#8217;s 250th anniversary planned through July 4, 2026.
&#8220;The Army is celebrating its 250th Birthday with multiple events leading up to June 14,&#8221; the Army <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/7000-troops-tanks-parachute-jumps-military-parade-coinciding/story?id=121410722">said</a> in a statement Friday evening. &#8220;The national level celebration will include a spectacular fireworks display, a parade, and a day-long festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The festival will feature displays of Army equipment, military demonstrations, musical performances, and a fitness competition.&#8221;
&#8220;Parade planning is actively underway, and we anticipate approximately 150 vehicles, 50 aircraft, and 6,600 Soldiers to highlight the Army’s 250 years of service to the nation,&#8221; it added.
President Trump has advocated for a military parade since witnessing France&#8217;s Bastille Day celebration in 2017, with White House-Pentagon discussions for this event beginning just two months ago. The parade fulfills Trump&#8217;s vision that was previously unrealized when a similar plan during his first term was reportedly cancelled.
According to military planning documents <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-military-parade-birthday-2f5cd12c8ccd4efddc29bfa3cf8f2705">obtained</a> by the AP, the massive display will include soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions nationwide, and Stryker vehicles, tanks, Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery, and Howitzers are expected in a display of American military power.
Army spokesman Steve Warren stated the Army is looking at options &#8220;to make the celebration even bigger, with more capability demonstrations, additional displays of equipment, and more engagement with the community.&#8221; The late afternoon parade will be followed by a parachute jump by the Golden Knights, a concert, and a &#8220;spectacular fireworks display.&#8221;
Beyond military units, the parade is expected to include civilian participation with historical vehicles, aircraft, representatives from veterans groups, military colleges, and historical reenactor organizations.

The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump As The 47th President

Army Announces Massive 250th Anniversary Parade To Be Held On Trump’s Birthday

Donald Trump

Military

Military parade

Patriotism

U.S. Military

A former intelligence officer with the U.S. Army was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years in prison for selling critical military documents to an individual believed to be tied to the Chinese government.
Korbein Schultz, 25, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/army-intelligence-officer-pleads-guilty-to-selling-defense-information-to-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pled guilty</a> last year to conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange for sensitive government information. The sale of the documents, which included information on American military technology, took place over a three-year period from May 2022 to March 2024, according to the Justice Department. 
“This defendant swore an oath to defend the United States — instead, he betrayed it for a payout and put America’s military and service members at risk,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-us-army-intelligence-analyst-sentenced-selling-sensitive-military-information">said</a> Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department remains vigilant against China’s efforts to target our military and will ensure that those who leak military secrets spend years behind bars.”
He could have faced 65 years in prison if given the maximum on all counts.
Schultz was paid $42,000 for sending the information to an unidentified foreign national living in Hong Kong believed to be connected to the Chinese government.
The information that he provided included his unit&#8217;s operational order before it was deployed to Eastern Europe, information applying lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war to Taiwan, technical manuals for the Army&#8217;s HH-60 helicopter and F-22A fighter aircraft, manuals on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile systems, American intelligence on the Chinese military and the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, details on American military exercises in South Korea and the Philippines, and documents on American military satellites and missile defense systems.
Schultz was first contacted to sell the secrets over a freelance web-based work platform by an individual pretending to work for a geopolitical consulting firm, according to the Justice Department. The department added that Schultz attempted to recruit a friend who worked for the Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific Command to take part in the scheme as well.
The FBI&#8217;s Nashville office led the investigation, with assistance from the Department of Defense and the Army Counterintelligence Command.
“This sentencing is a stark warning to those who betray our country: you will pay a steep price for it,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The People’s Republic of China is relentless in its efforts to steal our national defense information, and service members are a prime target. The FBI and our partners will continue to root out espionage and hold those accountable who abandon their obligation to safeguard defense information from hostile foreign governments.”

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Former Army Intel Officer Sentenced After Selling U.S. Military Secrets To China

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Crime

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At a time when the Pentagon is finally waking up to the physical collapse of our armed forces, Texas has a unique opportunity to lead.
In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sounded the alarm with <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4118161/rapid-force-wide-review-of-military-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a directive</a>: Military standards have dangerously eroded. “Our adversaries are not growing weaker,” he wrote. “Our tasks are not growing less challenging.”
He ordered a department-wide review of physical fitness, grooming, and readiness standards and <a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1907509325804798454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently stated</a>, “For too long, we’ve allowed standards to slip within the ranks for men and women serving in combat MOSs. This is unacceptable and over.”
He also welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Pentagon, pledging to ensure our warfighters are “healthy and fit to fight.” These moves reflect a growing recognition of the military’s readiness crisis — and that rebuilding a warrior culture requires action, not speeches.
Texas is answering that call.
The Texas Military Forces Health and Readiness Act (House Bill 4993) is a no-compromise legislative initiative to restore physical readiness, health, and resilience in the Texas Military Forces. It aligns with the Department of Defense’s renewed focus on standards and provides a battle-ready model that other states — and even the federal government — can adopt.
<h3>The Current Readiness Crisis And Systemic Failures</h3>
<div id="attachment_908487" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908487" class="size-large wp-image-908487" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg" alt="EL PASO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Texas National Guard soldiers transport border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 02, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Last week, hundreds of migrants seeking asylum clashed with Texas national guardsmen while waiting to turn themselves in to border patrol agents for processing. Texas continues awaiting a verdict on Senate Bill 4. Attorneys representing the state of Texas are scheduled to return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on April 3 to continue arguing for the constitutional basis of the bill. Senate Bill 4 allows state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants suspected of illegally crossing into the United States. Thus far, all prior attempts to put the Bill into effect have been blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The National Guard plays an increasingly vital dual role: it must respond to domestic crises and be ready to “fight tonight” in peer-level combat operations. Hegseth has emphasized the need to “match threats to capabilities.” But for states like Texas — where the Guard is expected to conduct disaster operations, support border security, and remain deployable worldwide — this mission cannot be met under current conditions.
This isn’t just about pushups. America’s military readiness crisis is real, and it’s gutting our combat capability across the force. Military readiness isn’t a slogan — it’s the bedrock of deterrence and victory. Yet today, 68% of U.S. service members are overweight or obese, according to a 2023 report by the American Security Project. Fitness-related health costs and lost duty time exceed $1.35 billion annually, directly sabotaging operational effectiveness. That’s bad enough for active-duty forces — but for the National Guard, the situation is catastrophic.
If active-duty service members with full access to resources are struggling, the situation for part-time National Guard forces is even more dire. In Texas, part-time Guardsmen train a fraction of the time compared to Active Duty. They are spread across vast distances, often without access to adequate training facilities, wellness programs, or basic fitness infrastructure. Unlike the Active Duty, the Guard operates with persistent disparities in funding, support services, and oversight. Wellness programs go underutilized, accountability is virtually nonexistent, and time for physical training is painfully limited. The result? A force on the edge of collapse — unfit, underprepared, and unable to meet the demands of today’s missions. This isn’t just a training problem. It’s a strategic liability.
<h3>The Army’s Food Scandal: A Symptom Of The Larger Collapse</h3>
Adding insult to injury is the military’s broken nutrition system. A January 2025 Military.com <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigation</a> found that the Army diverted over $151 million in food allowance payments from junior enlisted soldiers, with only 30% of those funds actually going toward meals. At Fort Cavazos in Texas, only $11.7 million of $42.5 million collected went to feed troops. Other bases relied on vending machines stocked with sugary snacks, or served meals of toast and lima beans — or no meals at all.
This isn’t just a logistical failure. It’s a betrayal of the trust and conditions necessary for building a capable, professional fighting force. For the National Guard, already starved of resources and time, this neglect is lethal. This is not a military prepared to win wars — it’s a hollow shell.
<div id="attachment_908491" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908491" class="size-large wp-image-908491" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg" alt="EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - JANUARY 12: National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Texas National Guard continues its blockade and surveillance of Shelby Park in an effort to deter illegal immigration. The Department of Justice has accused the Texas National Guard of blocking Border Patrol agents from carrying out their duties along the river. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
<h3>HB 4993: A Texas-Size Fix</h3>
HB <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB04993I.htm">4993</a> is a Texas-sized solution to this national crisis. It creates a comprehensive, accountable system to rebuild readiness:
<ul>
<li>Statewide Fitness Access: State-funded gym memberships and access to certified civilian trainers ensure Guardsmen across Texas can train consistently, regardless of location.</li>
<li>Integrated Digital Platform: Service members get real-time fitness tracking, customized plans, injury prevention, and mental health tools in a secure app.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Wellness Services: The bill funds rehabilitation, nutrition counseling, mental health support, and family-based fitness programs, because force readiness starts at home.</li>
<li>Performance-Based Culture: Structured incentives, advancement pathways, and public recognition will restore the warrior ethos and reward excellence.</li>
<li>Transparency and Accountability: Quarterly reports to the Legislature, corrective action plans, and unit-level oversight. If readiness falters, the system adapts — now, not later.</li>
<li>Minimal Cost, Maximum Return: This initiative delivers a high-impact return at a fraction of the $1.35 billion national fitness-related losses. This is a high-impact, low-cost readiness reform that delivers immediate and lasting results — saving lives, taxpayer dollars, and national security. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Reinforcing National Readiness Priorities</h3>
For too long, the physical and mental health of our service members has been allowed to rot — not because of funding shortages, but because of cowardice, complacency, and a lack of standards. HB 4993 rejects that failure. It embodies the resolve to act decisively and reforge a professional force worthy of the missions it’s expected to carry out.
This is the moment for Texas to lead. HB 4993 supports the national call to “Make America Healthy Again” and hands other states a clear, scalable playbook. The health, fitness, and discipline of our military are not internal HR concerns — they are national security imperatives.
Readiness isn’t negotiable. It’s the prerequisite for effective deterrence, mission success, and survival in a world of growing threats. Texas is doing its part. Now the Texas Legislature must rise to the occasion — and show the nation what readiness, resolve, and responsibility really look like.
* * *
Ammon Blair is a Senior Fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s ‘Secure &amp; Sovereign Texas’ Initiative.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Three U.S. Army soldiers were found dead on Monday, and the search for a fourth is ongoing after their vehicle sank in a peat bog during a training exercise in Lithuania last week.
Four soldiers assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing &#8220;in the early morning hours&#8221; last Tuesday while driving an M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle during a training mission. They were on a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle, according to a <a href="https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/4139490/press-release-three-us-soldiers-found-deceased-after-m88a2-hercules-recovered/#:~:text=The%20Soldiers%2C%20whose%20identities%20are,tow%20an%20immobilized%20tactical%20vehicle." target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from U.S. Army Europe and Africa. The identities of the three deceased soldiers are being withheld until their families are notified as &#8220;search and recovery operations continue for the remaining fourth Soldier.&#8221;
U.S. Navy divers <a href="https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/4139209/press-release-recovery-operations-in-lithuania-march-30-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> the armored vehicle &#8220;four meters below the water’s surface and encased in about two meters of mud.&#8221; The recovery effort lasted six days and &#8220;required tremendous resources from Lithuania&#8221; as officials solved &#8220;the engineering challenge of recovering the 63-ton-vehicle from an area surrounded by unstable ground conditions.&#8221; The M88A2 Hercules was finally removed from the soft, spongy wetland after the military &#8220;brought in excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, other heavy construction equipment, technical experts, and several hundred tons of gravel and earth to enable the recovery.&#8221;
A U.S. Army social media account posted photos of the recovery operation, writing, &#8220;Together we will bring our Soldiers home.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Together we will bring our Soldiers home <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeWillNotRest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeWillNotRest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MesNenurimsime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MesNenurimsime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NieSpoczniemy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NieSpoczniemy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrongerTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StrongerTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreNATO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreNATO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SwordOfFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SwordOfFreedom</a> <a href="https://t.co/D7W8PlJ8kk">pic.twitter.com/D7W8PlJ8kk</a>
&mdash; U.S. Army Europe and Africa (@USArmyEURAF) <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmyEURAF/status/1906513802922799392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“Today is a very sad and tragic day. The loss of these Soldiers weighs heavy on me, the hearts of all Task Force Iron service members, and the 3rd Infantry Division. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of these brave Soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division. “I&#8217;d like to personally commend the heroic efforts of the search parties, and especially our Lithuanian allies who were instrumental in the recovery efforts. Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrates the strong relationship between our countries. However, search and recovery efforts are not complete &#8211; they will continue until we bring all of our Soldiers home.”
After the soldiers went missing last week and their vehicle was found submerged in the swamp, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said all four soldiers had died. The United States did not confirm any deaths until Monday morning.

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The United States military is continuing its efforts to recover a vehicle that became submerged in a swamp in Lithuania this week that is believed to contain the bodies of four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during the incident.
The soldiers from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing during scheduled tactical training this week at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, just a few miles away from the country&#8217;s border with Belarus.
&#8220;We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to coordinate for and provide the required resources for this effort,&#8221; said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the commanding general of 1st Armored Division.
The U.S. military said that the soldiers were riding in an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, which is a giant armored tow truck designed to pull damaged tanks off the battlefield, when they went missing.
The vehicle was located on Wednesday, just one day after the soldiers went missing, after an extensive search from United States and Lithuanian military forces.
The thick forests and swampy terrain present unique challenges in trying to recover the vehicle as &#8220;thick mud and soft ground&#8221; have &#8220;required specialized equipment to drain water from the side and stabilize the ground,&#8221; the military said in a statement.
&#8220;Engineers on site are working to create berms,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;These berms—barriers built of dirt and sand from the nearby terrain—are designed to create a contained area from which water can be pumped and mud dredged, providing emergency personnel on site access to the vehicle.&#8221;
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a statement on Wednesday that everyone&#8217;s &#8220;prayers are with their families, teammates, the entire unit—and everyone conducting search operations.&#8221;
&#8220;Nothing our troops do — whether in combat or in training — is ever routine,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We will not rest until our troops are found.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Four of our brave soldiers from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division are currently missing in Lithuania. They were conducting scheduled tactical training. Our prayers are with their families, teammates, the entire unit—and everyone conducting search operations. Nothing our troops… <a href="https://t.co/mIVklSD2BK">https://t.co/mIVklSD2BK</a>
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1905016533539328171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote>

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U.S. Military Recovery Efforts Still Ongoing To Recover Vehicle Trapped In Swamp

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