The face of the American military is changing. Far fewer people serve today compared with a generation ago, and the percentage of Americans with military experience has fallen by more than half since 1980.
Meanwhile, the profile of those who serve is vastly different than it once was. Today’s troops are more diverse and face new challenges, both while they’re in uniform and after they leave the service.
American Homefront is a major public media initiative that reports on the lives of military personnel, veterans, and their families. Our long-form stories chronicle the challenges and successes of the military and veteran communities.
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The military is having a tough time finding new recruits, and one factor may be its heavy reliance on families of those who’ve served.
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Cheryl Rex's son Dylan was among the last American victims of the Afghanistan war. In the months since his death, she's visited his grave almost every day.
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The military is trying to learn more about long COVID. Troops who have it worry about their careers.Little is known about COVID-19 cases in which symptoms persist for months. Affected service members may have trouble performing their duties or getting treatment.
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The military is taking a hard line on troops seeking religious exemptions to the COVID vaccine mandate. Lawyers say that could have consequences for others who seek different kinds of religious accommodations.
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The newest military service branch is responsible for protecting satellites and other objects in space, which it expects will be critical parts of future wars.
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More than four years after a former airman killed 26 people at a rural Texas church, advocates say the military still needs to do more to prevent violent service members and veterans from owning guns.
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A VA study concluded that veterans experience bulimia at about three times the civilian rate.
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The Marine Corps investigated whether the reservist son of a former San Diego Republican official tried to join a white supremacist group. But the outcome of the case provided little clarity into the military's new anti-extremism policy.
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Constant and sometimes sudden moves can disrupt military families' finances and cause challenges with their children’s schools and medical care.
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The report from Blue Star Families found some service members are passing up career-advancing moves because they don't want to relocate to certain cities.