Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AFNS) —   Joint Base Andrews activated the 5th Helicopter Squadron Aug. 27, marking the installation’s first U.S. Air Force helicopter squadron activation in 60 years. The squadron stands up at a time when the base anticipates accepting the HH-60W Jolly Green II to execute Andrews’ 24/7 operations. The 5th HS will do so alongside the 1st Helicopter Squadron, which was the Air Force’s only rotary-wing unit in the National Capital Region for six decades until now. “The vision is very straightforward,” said Lt. Col. Jonathan Bonilla, who assumed command as the first 5th HS commander.…

On his UFC debut, former KSW Two-Division Champion Salahdine Parnasse treated his home crowd at UFC Paris to a first-round TKO win over Dan Hooker and announced his arrival in the stacked 155-pound division with a bang. Fight Recap Both fighters started by landing nonstop leg kicks until the 28-year-old Salahdine Parnasse landed a liver kick on Dan Hooker that had him screaming in pain. PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 05: (R-L) Dan Hooker of New Zealand reacts after being kicked by Salahdine Parnasse of France in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at The Accor Arena on…

The consequences of wildfires can no longer be measured by acres burned alone. A recent review of wildfire activity found that 2025 was the costliest wildfire year on record, even though the total area burned worldwide was 16% below the long-term average. This finding underscores a critical reality: Where a fire occurs – and which communities, infrastructure and natural resources stand in its path – can matter as much as its size. Research into global wildfire disasters reinforces that even relatively small fires can cause extraordinary damage when they reach densely populated communities or critical assets. That danger has continued…

Chris Heria has compared three familiar bodyweight exercises with popular weighted alternatives, arguing that the calisthenics versions can offer more than muscle isolation. In his latest YouTube video, Heria looks at chin-ups, bodyweight skull crushers and squats, focusing on how each movement develops strength, coordination and stability alongside muscle. His argument is not that calisthenics is universally better than weightlifting. Instead, he believes these movements have an advantage when the goal extends beyond simply building muscle. Chin-Ups vs. Bicep Curls Heria starts with the chin-up, comparing it with the dumbbell curl. While curls are effective for isolating the biceps, chin-ups…

Mandates create momentum, but they rarely create progress. House Resolution 8408 — the Legacy IT Reduction Act — correctly diagnoses federal IT’s visibility problem. But requiring agencies to inventory legacy systems without changing how they procure, build, and execute is like handing a driver a map without fixing the broken engine. Agencies cannot modernize what they cannot see. A clear understanding of existing technology environments is essential. But an inventory only answers one question: What do we have? It doesn’t answer the more difficult questions: What should we replace? What should we simplify? How do we ensure modernization efforts improve…

9/5/26 National Security and Korean News and Commentary | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University wpDiscuzInsert

Germany is set to award Marine Alutech a contract for up to 15 Watercat M18 AMC combat boats to equip the German Navy’s Sea Battalion. Waldemar Geiger / Hartpunkt The procurement project to equip the German Navy’s Sea Battalion with multi-purpose combat boats is approaching a major milestone. According to information obtained by hartpunkt, the contract for the delivery of up to 15 such Watercat M18 AMC combat boats is expected to be awarded to the Finnish boatbuilder Marine Alutech. The system apparently prevailed in the competition against the CB90 design from the Swedish defense company Saab. According to previous…

Bottom lines up front SÃO PAULO—Brazil is racing toward a debt crisis. This year, its gross debt-to-GDP is forecast to increase by around 8 percentage points, to 86 percent, with another 4 percentage points possible in 2027, according to my analysis. But the problem is not simply how much Brazil owes: it is also how much the government is paying to borrow. Four decades of weak fiscal credibility have left investors demanding unusually high interest rates to hold Brazilian government debt. Successive governments, including the current administration under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have chosen to pay rather than…

Salahdine Parnasse made a thunderous first impression in the UFC, announcing himself as a major new force in the lightweight division with a stunning victory over Dan Hooker. On Saturday night at Accor Arena in France, Parnasse headlined UFC Paris against Hooker in one of the most anticipated debuts of the year. The Frenchman stayed composed from the opening bell as “The Hangman” took the center and fired kicks, while Parnasse used his footwork and leg kicks to chip away at the veteran. “Lion of Atlas” began finding his range as his speed advantage became increasingly clear. After briefly missing…

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org The U.S. military struck three Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 5, as the Trump administration and Iran battle for control over the Strait of Hormuz.  A mix of Air Force and Navy aircraft carried out the attacks, including both fighters and drones, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The attack followed an unsuccessful Iranian ballistic missile attack on a U.S. aircraft carrier and a guided-missile destroyer. Neither U.S. ship was hit.…