Dispatches: Five Essential Reads From the Past Week
A collection of some of our most important and timely stories, from a study on the militarization of police to a look at Ohio Governor John Kasich's expansion of medicaid coverage.
Military
Lawmakers Call for Accountability After the VA Mishandles Thousands of Sexual Trauma Cases
A bipartisan group of lawmakers united on Monday to call for action from both Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Lede, Issue #30: Ohio Governor John Kasich Expands Medicaid, the Militarization of Police, Documenting Life in North Korea, and More
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The VA Finds That It Wrongly Denied Hundreds of Sexual Trauma Claims
Hundreds of veterans seeking treatment for sexual trauma they experienced while in the military had their claims wrongly denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What Happened at Camp Lejeune
I grew up drinking and bathing in the toxic waters around a military base in North Carolina. Thirty years later, I went back to investigate.
A New Law Targets Child Sexual Assault at Military Bases
Sweeping military reforms include new guidelines for how the Department of Defense must handle child-on-child sexual assault on military bases.
After Backlash, the Army Suspends the Discharge of Immigrant Recruits
After news broke in July that the United States Army was quietly discharging immigrant recruits, high-ranking military officials have ordered a halt to the discharges.
A New Amendment Could Prevent the Deportation of Dreamers in the Military
A congressional committee moved on Wednesday to bar the Trump administration from deporting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients who served in the military.
The Army Is Discharging Immigrant Recruits Who Were Promised Expedited Citizenship
At least 40 people have been discharged.
After 17 Years of Fighting Terror, the U.S. Makes a Disastrous Pivot
Despite the ongoing ascension of non-state armed groups in the Middle East, the U.S. military seems to be pivoting to a power competition against Russia and China.
Viewfinder: Okinawa Residents Protest Against U.S. Military Presence
A protester is removed by police officers during a sit-in to block construction vehicles working on the expansion of Camp Schwab, a United States military base, on May 31st, 2018, in Nago, Okinawa prefecture, Japan.
The Biggest Obstacle to the Pentagon’s War on Sexual Assault: the Military Justice System
A legal principle intended to protect service members after World War II has spawned a dangerous precedent.
Viewfinder: An Award Ceremony in London
Major Peter Norton GC grips a program in his prosthetic hand as he waits to greet Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (not seen) at the door as he attends the bi-annual service of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association.
How NORAD Must Adapt to the Modern Era
On its 60th birthday the North American Aerospace Defense Command continues to look for ways to remain a vigilant defender of the continent.
How Americans Can Do More for Retired Soldiers
Despite some positive trends, society needs to do more to help ease service members back into civilian life.
Objects That Matter: Biodegradable Bullets
The Pentagon has paid more than $42 billion to clean up contaminated sites—mostly to private contractors—with little evidence of improvements, a ProPublica investigation found.
Reports of Sexual Assault Have Nearly Doubled at West Point
There were 50 cases of sexual assault reported in the 2016–17 school, according to a new report.
We Will Never Know How Many U.S. Troops Are Abroad
With Special Operations Command personnel making up an increasingly large share of troop levels abroad, the government mandate for wartime transparency becomes less binding.
Trump and the Military Are at Odds on Climate Change
While the Trump administration has largely rejected climate change as an issue, the Department of Defense and Congress have identified it as a major potential threat to national security.
Since We Last Spoke: Military Policing
Updates to stories from the Pacific Standard archive.
Foreign-Born Soldiers Are Seeing Their Careers Stall
Dysfunction in a U.S. Army recruitment pipeline for foreign-born soldiers has created chaos and uncertainty for thousands.
What's Behind Chechnya's Increasing Interventionism in Syria?
Chechen military involvement in the fight against ISIS is unprecedented.
Viewfinder: Celebrating the President's Resignation in Zimbabwe
Harare residents celebrate in the streets following the resignation of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe on November 21st, 2017.