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Sailors hug their loved ones.

Home at last: USS Gerald R. Ford returns after record-setting deployment

Thousands of families and friends lined the pier at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday to finally welcome home sailors of the USS. Gerald R. Ford after nearly a year at sea on a historic deployment.

Daniel Driscoll, left, Secretary of the Army, and Gen. Christopher LaNeve, acting chief of staff, US Army, prepare to testify on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Washington during a House Armed Services committee hearing to consider the Army fiscal year 2027 budget request. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

‘Relatively recent’ decision to cancel Poland deployment draws criticism from lawmakers

U.S. Army Soldiers share tactics and training with a little over 200 Nigerian Army Soldiers from 26th Infantry Battalion in a remote military compound four hours north of the capital in Jaji.

US and Nigerian forces kill ISIS leader in joint operation

Army tests drone capable of carrying wounded soldiers

5 things to know in veterans news: Narcan access, VA security lapse, honoring preserver of Vietnam Wall keepsakes

USS Gerald R. Ford scheduled to arrive home on Saturday

more top news

Poll finds broad global opposition to US military bases, except in Poland and South Korea

Xi-Trump summit ends with little clarity on China’s Iran role

Iran significantly degraded but retains some capabilities, CENTCOM commander says

Senators propose abolishing the Selective Service

Polish officials downplay canceled US Army brigade deployment

Payments to disabled veterans, eligible family members would increase under inflation-fighting bill

Army to redesignate 7th Infantry Division as a Pacific multidomain command

Army recovers remains of second soldier missing in Morocco

Celebrate America’s 250 years of freedom with Stars and Stripes

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Army

Daniel Driscoll, left, Secretary of the Army, and Gen. Christopher LaNeve, acting chief of staff, US Army, prepare to testify on Friday, May 15, 2026, in Washington during a House Armed Services committee hearing to consider the Army fiscal year 2027 budget request. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

‘Relatively recent’ decision to cancel Poland deployment draws criticism from lawmakers

Army to redesignate 7th Infantry Division as a Pacific multidomain command

Vilseck regiment carries on amid speculation over Germany troop cuts

Air Force

RAF Mildenhall and some of its airmen will soon appear on screen in “Jack Ryan: Ghost War,” the latest installment in the long-running franchise created by author Tom Clancy. The movie comes to Amazon Prime Video on May 20, 2026.

RAF Mildenhall airmen help bring realism to new Jack Ryan film

Austria scrambles fighters to intercept US Air Force aircraft twice in 2 days

From kennel to couch: Military working dogs retire into familiar hands at air base in Japan

Navy

Sailors hug their loved ones.

Home at last: USS Gerald R. Ford returns after record-setting deployment

Future USS Ted Stevens arrives at its homeport for the first time

Hegseth will travel to Norfolk for the return Saturday of USS Gerald R. Ford

Space Force

Bentivegna speaks at a conference.

Space Force’s top enlisted leader details Wright-Patterson’s role

Trump nominates new Space Force chief

Space Force selects first part-time guardians from pool of Air Force reservists

Coast Guard

Coast Guard, Air Force rescue 11 after aircraft experiences engine failure

Coast Guard’s newest icebreaker returns from deployment to the Bering Sea

US Coast Guard now using drones to safeguard Great Lakes

Marine Corps

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andy Ngo, an Arkansas native and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist assigned to the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, participates in a polar plunge during cold weather training at Camp Dawson, Feb. 10, 2026. The training equipped Marines and Sailors with the knowledge and skills to manage the effects of cold-water submersion and execute active rewarming procedures in preparation for Arctic Edge 26. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Amy Espinoza)

Marines expand role in ‘High North’ of Alaska

Marines embrace drone warfare through new piloting courses on Okinawa

Thousands disregard Okinawa rain to view aircraft at Marine Corps flight line fair

theaters

U.S.

The flag, rolled down from the top of the Pentagon, is the old 13-star flag with 250 within the circle.

Pentagon unfurls America 250 flag for Armed Forces Day

FBI offers $200K reward for fugitive former Air Force counterintelligence agent

House rejects measure to rein in Trump’s Iran war powers for a third time in a tied vote

Europe

Soldiers and personnel surround and prepare a large multi-rotor drone in a grassy field.

Army tests drone capable of carrying wounded soldiers

Poll finds broad global opposition to US military bases, except in Poland and South Korea

‘A guy you always wanted on your team’: Well-respected NCO remembered at Aviano

Asia-Pacific

Marines prepare to rappel down from a helicopter.

Marine probe blames ‘ignorance’ for Okinawa helicopter bag drop incident

Army steps up effort to field more watercraft across the Indo-Pacific

Xi’s threat to Trump cements Taiwan as top risk to US-China ties

Middle East

Large aircraft carrier at sea under a clear sky, lined with parked fighter jets on the flight deck, leaving a long white wake behind.

European allies lay groundwork for possible Hormuz maritime mission

Xi-Trump summit ends with little clarity on China’s Iran role

Iran significantly degraded but retains some capabilities, CENTCOM commander says

Africa

U.S. Army Soldiers share tactics and training with a little over 200 Nigerian Army Soldiers from 26th Infantry Battalion in a remote military compound four hours north of the capital in Jaji.

US and Nigerian forces kill ISIS leader in joint operation

Army recovers remains of second soldier missing in Morocco

US troops remain in Morocco as search continues for missing soldiers

Americas

Flames and smoke rise after the U.S. strike.

US strikes alleged drug boat in Eastern Pacific, killing 2 and leaving 1 survivor

US strike on alleged drug boat in Eastern Pacific kills 3

US strike on alleged drug boat kills 2 in the Caribbean

Explore

from our community sites

Europe

Remembering the Battle of Verdun

Riding through Stuttgart’s wine hills

2026-2027 European Tattoo Convention Directory

Japan

Black Ship Festival to held in Shimoda on May 15-17

Taste of Japan: Tasty Mexican food at Mole Taqueria y Bar near Tokyo Station

Kids’ take on Pacific Travel: A visit to Korea

Korea

Tips to mastering mass transit in South Korea

Fun in Korea: Shopping, prepping, hosting dinner party for friends

Get published in Stars and Stripes Destination Paradise magazine 2026-27

Okinawa

VIDEO: Fun on Okinawa - Spectacular bullfights sight to behold

Get published in Stars and Stripes Destination Paradise magazine 2026-27

VIDEO: Quick trip to ‘Carrot Island’ off Okinawa’s White Beach

Guam

Guam’s tasty, fruity fest: Check out Agat Mango Festival on May 22–24

Taste of Guam: Yummy mango recipes to give a try at home

Exploring Guam: Safety first when hiking in jungle

Veterans

The Harley among some other memorabilia.

5 things to know in veterans news: Narcan access, VA security lapse, honoring preserver of Vietnam Wall keepsakes

A tribute to Vietnam Memorial curator Duery Felton Jr., a GAO report on security vulnerabilities at VA facilities and a bid for quicker access to overdose rescue medication.

Sports

Guam High's Hayden Buck, who won all four of her events in last Saturday's island finals, sprints to victory in the 400. She also won the long jump.

Guam High boys win ninth straight island track title

The Panthers girls take second to John F. Kennedy in season-ending track meet.

History

Soldiers aim down rifles.

From the archives: Ceremonial Army unit tackles anti-terror mission, 2004

Spc. Jeremy Brown and Spc. Charles Ellett train with other members of the Old Guard deployed to Camp Lemonier in Djibouti in this Stars and Stripes photo.

Living

In Saros, a hectic and fast-paced action game, players have to dodge and absorb fire to survive.

Saros a more beautiful, balanced ‘bullet ballet’

Housemarque’s latest title offers similar gameplay as its previous project, Returnal, but with a better structure and design.

Travel

A man in an olive green shirt, black baseball cap and black apron holds a frying pan over a flame in a commercial kitchen.

Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ spotlights 6 South Florida restaurants

The slice of quiche Lorraine with spinach and feta is served with a salad.

Linger over lunch at Café am Schloss in Saarbrücken’s old town

A display of an outdoore emergency toilet at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park in Tokyo.

Test your earthquake preparation level at Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park