Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says; Military Times, April 21, 2026

 Patricia Kime, Military Times ; Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says

"The U.S. military will no longer require service members to get an annual flu shot according to a post Tuesday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the social media platform X. 

Hegseth said the mandatory flu vaccine requirement has been discarded “effective immediately.”

“The War Department is once again restoring freedom to our Joint Force,” the secretary wrote. 

The flu vaccine has been required annually for U.S. military personnel since the 1950s to preserve the health of the force, and generally, the Defense Department has aimed to inoculate more than 90% of active-duty personnel. 

The program has been a major factor in lower rates of hospitalizations among service members than national U.S. rates, according to an October 2025 Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division report."

‘Morally acceptable’ for U.S. troops to disobey orders, archbishop says; The Washington Post, January 20, 2026

 

Adela Suliman

, 

Anthony Faiola

 and 

Matthew Hay Brown

, The Washington Post; ‘Morally acceptable’ for U.S. troops to disobey orders, archbishop says

"As the Trump administration intervenes in Venezuela, readies troops for a possible deployment to Minnesota and threatens to seize Greenland, the Catholic archbishop for the U.S. armed forces said it “would be morally acceptable” for troops to disobey orders that violated their conscience.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio is among a chorus of Catholic leaders questioning the administration’s use of force. His comments also underscored the mounting concern being voiced by the first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, as well as his top cardinals in the United States, over the Trump administration’s foreign policy."

Boy sends 600 holiday cards, nearly 4,000 treats to dad’s National Guard unit in Syria; KCRG, December 25, 2025

 Jocelyn Peshia, KCRG; Boy sends 600 holiday cards, nearly 4,000 treats to dad’s National Guard unit in Syria

"Oliver Young hasn’t seen his dad, Sergeant First Class Robert Young, in seven months - that’s when his National Guard unit was deployed to Syria.

It’s Sgt. Young’s second deployment since Oliver was born and his third in his 20 years with the Iowa Army National Guard...

To brighten up the Christmas season, Oliver decided to send cards and treats to his dad’s unit.

Oliver enlisted help at church and went to the Monticello library and local businesses with his grandmother asking for help signing cards and donating money for treats. He wanted to ensure every soldier felt loved.

“He raised his hand and asked if anybody in the congregation would like to help with his cards or any treats that they wanted to throw in the box and that they would ship them off with our stuff,” said Kelly.

The goodies totaled out to 600 cards and 3,800 snacks, which Kelly shipped overseas as two gifts for each service member in the company for Thanksgiving and Christmas...

When they distributed the gifts throughout the company, Kelly said the servicemembers were “shocked.”

“They were not expecting a large gift bag, let alone two,” said Kelly. “If they know people haven’t been getting mail, they’ve worked with the chaplain to make sure those soldiers received a few extra snacks.”

Oliver said it feels good knowing he’s helping make his dad and his dad’s fellow soldiers smile.

“They have been very happy knowing that people care about them,” said Oliver. “We did that so they can have a little bit of Christmas with them, even though they’re not with their families."...

Oliver said he was driven by pride for his father and a need to make all of the service members to know they’re in the hearts and minds of people back home.

His message - after a shy look up at his mom...

“Merry Christmas, soldiers.” 

A Merry Christmas - and another day closer to a family being together again."