Author: thaobh.leo@gmail.com

The Navy is changing how enlisted advancement works. Eligible sailors in participating ratings are increasingly being connected to higher-paygrade billets, while nuclear sailors remain on a different advancement track.According to a Navy spokesperson, the programs have different functions, requirements and candidate pools. The differences are underscored by the service’s 2026 Nuclear Meritorious Advancement Program guidance, issued Aug. 19, which continues a quota-based advancement path for nuclear sailors, while 14 ratings are fully integrated into Billet-Based Advancement, or BBA. For the 14 ratings fully integrated into the BBA construct, advancement opportunities include Advance to Position and Command Advance to Position. The…

WASHINGTON (AP) — American diplomats and at least some of their family members are beginning to return to U.S. embassies in the Middle East after many were ordered to leave their posts during the early days of the war with Iran. Although most embassies are not returning to full strength immediately, starting this week the State Department has begun to lift certain staffing and other restrictions on personnel. The changes are not necessarily reflective of a shift in the Trump administration’s policy toward Iran — now focused on economic rather than kinetic military warfare. Instead, the changes are mainly due…

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 Inflation and rising costs for critical upgrades are swelling the price of the F-35 fighter, according to a newly released acquisition report on the fifth-generation jet. The total estimated acquisition cost for the F-35—covering all the airframes and engines the U.S. government plans to buy—is now $536.2 billion, according to the latest modernized selected acquisition report the Pentagon released this month. That is $51 billion more than the $485.2 billion price…

Mike Perry’s fight week went from bad to worse after he suffered a dislocated shoulder and a first-round TKO loss to late notice replacement Brandon Jenkins at Brand Duel in Orlando on Saturday night.Following Dillon Danis’ withdrawal just two days before the event was scheduled to take place, Perry accepted the short-notice fight against Jenkins. But early in the opening round, Perry’s shoulder popped out of place and while the fight was allowed to continue, it didn’t take long for Jenkins to deliver the finishing blow with a nasty body kick followed by some ground and pound to end it.“What…

Demetrious Johnson recently broke down the anatomy of Song Yadong’s brutal knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. The two bantamweights faced off in the main event, which saw Nurmagomedov come in as a massive favorite. As expected, the Russian won the first round, though it was more competitive than most expected. SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 29: Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia reacts after a knockout loss against Song Yadong of China in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) However, just…

There was once a time when William Byron would get through the opening stage of a NASCAR Cup Series race, and he already felt like he had gone the distance. It wasn’t that he wasn’t fit enough. Byron was simply spending way too much energy fighting everything: the car, G-forces, the duration of the race, and even his own tension. “When I first got into Cup, just getting used to the length of the races was the biggest thing,” Byron told M&F. “You’re in the car for three to four hours, and my first year, I feel like the first…

Karen Evans is coming back to the DHS management directorate after spending the last 18 months working for CISA and FEMA. Jason Miller@jmillerWFED August 28, 2026 5:44 pm 3 min read Karen Evans is returning to the headquarters office at the Department of Homeland Security. The former DHS chief information officer will now lead the department’s waste, fraud and abuse task force. Brian Cavanaugh, the DHS undersecretary for management, announced Evans’ return to the department yesterday as part of the email to staff announcing changes in the agency’s CIO’s office. “Karen’s extensive background in federal IT and cybersecurity leadership, along…

DUKE FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) —   Air Commandos from the 919th Special Operations Wing validated their warfighting capabilities during a Combat Readiness Inspection Aug. 6-9 at Duke Field and Hurlburt Field, Florida. The inspection was formally spearheaded by the Air Force Reserve Command Inspector General to evaluate the wing’s ability to generate combat power under realistic, high-pressure situations in a simulated forward operating location. “The ability of our wing to take a complex operational concept and within a month execute a synchronized event across multiple platforms is a profound testament to the work our wing does every day,” said Lt.…

Joe Lauzon made the most of his bare-knuckle debut while fighting at home in Fenway Park in Boston.The longtime UFC veteran decided to end his hiatus from combat sports and return for a fight in BKFC after the promotion announced plans to hold an event in the historic baseball stadium. The 42-year-old veteran didn’t look like he skipped a beat as he came out guns blazing against Stash Kuykendall on Saturday night.Right away, Lauzon pushed Kuykendall back towards the ropes and he immediately started digging to the body with hard shot before unloading a right hand that ended in a…

Last recap of August, and I think it’s safe to say it’s been an incredibly packed month for exciting new RPGs and strategy games. Of course, we reached the high point with the release of Star Wars, which made a hugely successful debut, and I couldn’t be happier about it. This week, there are tons of new demos to check out for several titles I’ve been following for quite some time and that are finally playable. There’s also an unofficial expansion for a well-known tactical RPG that I thought was worth highlighting, along with plenty more. Let’s see all of…