US military

Newly trained female officers from the Afghan National Army sit in front seats as a new batch of officers attend their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul on Sept. 23, 2010. 

Two decades of war and daily life in Afghanistan

Photographers have been in Afghanistan every step of the way, documenting for the outside world the protracted conflict and occupation over the course of two decades.

Two decades of war and daily life in Afghanistan
Group of US generals in army fatigues walk through the street in Afghanistan.

Biden seems ready to extend US troop presence in Afghanistan

Biden seems ready to extend US troop presence in Afghanistan
Korea's Godfather of Rock Shin Joong-hyun got his start as a teenage guitarist at the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul. Now the US military base is closing.

The US military's Yongsan Garrison leaves a mixed legacy in Seoul

The US military's Yongsan Garrison leaves a mixed legacy in Seoul
Nigerien soldiers patrol near the town of Diffa, Niger. US Special Forces are training Nigerian troops on Niger's border.

Three US Special Forces soldiers die in Niger, as diplomacy takes a backseat in Africa policy

Three US Special Forces soldiers die in Niger, as diplomacy takes a backseat in Africa policy
“The Spirit of ’76,” by Archibald Willard, which exemplifies the spirit of the citizen-nation in arms, with men of all ages stepping up when needed by their country, the antithesis of a professional, standing army, despised by the Founding Fathers

Trump wants a big military parade, but the Founding Fathers might not approve

Trump wants a big military parade, but the Founding Fathers might not approve
Lucas Chapman in Rojava, Syria.

For some Americans, the conflict in Syria is 'the Spanish Civil War of our time'

At least 100 Americans have gone — and some continue to go — to Syria to fight against ISIS. Many have joined a Kurdish militia group called the People's Protection Units or the YPG. What these volunteers are doing isn't illegal, but it raises many questions.

For some Americans, the conflict in Syria is 'the Spanish Civil War of our time'
A gash can be seen in the destroyer, the USS John S. McCain, after a collision with civilian ship on Monday

US Navy pauses global operations and fires an admiral after another collision at sea

The Navy removed a fleet's commander after another deadly collision. It's also putting all international operations on hold to remind its sailors of the fundamentals of seamanship.

US Navy pauses global operations and fires an admiral after another collision at sea
LGBTQ military servicemember

Queer service member: Trump’s trans ban ‘is about fear and loathing of transgender Americans’

Just over a year after President Barack Obama introduced a new policy to allow transgender people to serve openly in the US military, President Donald Trump is reinstating a ban on transgender service members.

Queer service member: Trump’s trans ban ‘is about fear and loathing of transgender Americans’
A US soldier of 2-12 Infantry Task Force Mountain Warrior takes a break during a night mission near Honaker Miracle camp at the Pesh valley of Kunar Province.

Trump might send thousands more troops to Afghanistan. Here's what US vets are saying about it.

Veterans tell us what they think of a plan that might increase the US presence in Afghanistan.

Trump might send thousands more troops to Afghanistan. Here's what US vets are saying about it.
President Donald Trump talks to members of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff

What Trump's $54 billion means to the Pentagon

President Donald Trump plans to request a $54-billion budget increase in defense spending. That sounds like a lot, but it's not as big an increase as the White House portrays it to be.

What Trump's $54 billion means to the Pentagon
Yemenis pose for a picture next to a part of a missile they say was dropped during a Saudi-led air strike near the northwestern city of Saada, Yemen

The US just made it harder for Saudi Arabia to bomb Yemen. The people of Yemen barely noticed.

President Barack Obama signaled his concern about civilian casualties in the Yemen war on December 13 when he halted a major resupply of smart bombs to the Saudi Arabian air force. But the same day, the US Air Force delivered the Saudis four new fighter jets.

The US just made it harder for Saudi Arabia to bomb Yemen. The people of Yemen barely noticed.
Workers can be seen on the moving line and forward fuselage assembly areas for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Lockheed Martin Corp's factory located in Fort Worth, Tex

Trump has a point about the F-35 fighter jet, but the full story is complicated

President-elect Donald Trump's tweet about a US-made fighter jet, the F-35, caused its manufacturer's stock to tumble. Here's why critics of Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter program say that the plane, designed to be efficient and economical, is neither.

Trump has a point about the F-35 fighter jet, but the full story is complicated
Retired US Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly

Trump is stacking top government posts with retired generals

Donald Trump named retired four-star Marine Gen. John Kelly to head the Department of Homeland Security. If confirmed by the Senate, Kelly would join retired Marine Gen. James Mattis as defense secretary and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser.

Trump is stacking top government posts with retired generals
Seated protestors listen to a speech against a new American anti-missile defense system being located in their area. They're worried about potential health impacts.

South Koreans raise voices against a new US anti-missile system aimed at North Korea

Despite assurances from the US and South Korean governments, South Koreans living near the site of a new anti-missile shield worry about potential health impacts.

South Koreans raise voices against a new US anti-missile system aimed at North Korea
A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Creech Air Force Base May 19, 2016. The base in Nevada is the hub for the military’s unmanned aircraft operations in the United States.

For Rosa Brooks, how drones turned from the abstract to the stuff of nightmares

Brooks, the author of the new book "How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything," reflects on how the lines between war and peace have blurred since 9/11.

For Rosa Brooks, how drones turned from the abstract to the stuff of nightmares