Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Navy may build two hospital ships, Trump says
The military hospital ships USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy are proving so valuable in the nation's fight against the coronavirus that the U.S. may build two more like them, President Trump said Wednesday. Published April 1, 2020
U.S. military ‘readiness’ at risk as coronavirus rips through ranks
The rapid spread of the coronavirus through the ranks has sparked one of the greatest challenges U.S. military leaders have faced in decades: how to maintain readiness and monitor enemy threats while simultaneously shielding men and women in uniform around the world from a deadly health risk. Published March 31, 2020
Captain begs for help as coronavirus grips USS Roosevelt: ‘Sailors do not need to die’
The spread of the coronavirus is "ongoing and accelerating" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its captain is warning that dramatic action must be taken immediately to prevent scores of dead sailors. Published March 31, 2020
Marine Corps cuts helicopters, tanks for possible China conflict
The Marine Corps plans to give up its tanks, dramatically remake its artillery batteries, cut its helicopter fleet and take a host of other "radical" steps in arguably the most sweeping American military overhaul in a century -- all with the goal of preparing for a potential 21st-century conflict with China. Published March 30, 2020
Coronavirus cases in Army skyrockets to 288
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases within the U.S. Army has skyrocketed this week to 288, military officials said Thursday. Published March 26, 2020
Military recruiters explore virtual recruitment due to coronavirus closures
Military recruiting is poised to enter a "new phase" as the COVID-19 pandemic forces the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to shift away from traditional face-to-face outreach in favor of a virtual approach as the services prepare to fall short of their manpower goals this year. Published March 25, 2020
Pentagon issues ‘stop movement’ order for troops amid coronavirus outbreak
The Pentagon on Wednesday night issued a broad "stop movement" order that will affect tens of thousands of U.S. troops around the world as the military tries to limit the spread of the coronavirus through the ranks. Published March 25, 2020
Four NATO coalition members in Afghanistan test positive for coronavirus
Four members of the U.S.-led NATO military mission in Afghanistan have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, marking the first confirmed cases among service members inside the country. Published March 24, 2020
Friends, frenemies and foes test U.S. resolve amid coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has put much of American foreign policy in quarantine, raising major questions over some of President Trump's hoped-for election year international breakthroughs. Published March 23, 2020
Charles Dunlap: Adversaries eye U.S. focus on coronavirus as opportunity
The coronavirus pandemic has put many of President Trump's signature foreign policy initiatives in quarantine, locking down a string of hoped-for election-year breakthroughs even as China has aggressively used the crisis to elevate its own status on the world stage. Published March 22, 2020
U.S. military tests cutting-edge hypersonic weapon in Hawaii
The U.S. military successfully tested a groundbreaking hypersonic weapon in Hawaii this week, Pentagon officials said Friday in the latest sign that America may be catching up to its global rivals in development and fielding of the 21st-century technology. Published March 20, 2020
U.S. military preparing for ‘worst-case scenario’ in Europe as coronavirus spreads among the ranks
U.S. troops in Europe are preparing for the "worst-case scenario" as the coronavirus spreads across the continent, military leaders said Friday. Published March 20, 2020
Navy relaxes grooming rules amid coronavirus outbreak
Navy officials are relaxing grooming standards for sailors to combat the spread of the coronavirus through the ranks, the service announced late Wednesday. Published March 19, 2020
Defense industry braces for unknown fallout from virus
The vaunted U.S. military-industrial machine is venturing into the unknown as the coronavirus continues its spread across the country, sector leaders said Wednesday, with the global pandemic threatening to slow down innovation and disrupt key supply chains. Published March 18, 2020
Troop drawdown in Afghanistan will continue despite coronavirus, Pentagon says
Top Pentagon officials say the U.S. will continue executing its troop drawdown in Afghanistan despite the global coronavirus outbreak and stressed that new medical protocols are in place to screen and test service members. Published March 18, 2020
Pentagon willing but wary over role in U.S. coronavirus fight
President Trump is facing increased pressure to enlist the military in America's battle against the coronavirus, but Pentagon officials are warning against the idea that the armed forces can provide the ultimate answer and law scholars say complex legal questions could await the commander in chief if he pursues such a strategy to its fullest. Published March 17, 2020
Pentagon scales back biggest military exercise in Europe since Cold War amid coronavirus outbreak
The Pentagon on Monday canceled or scaled down major drills across the globe, took dramatic new steps to protect Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and ramped up teleworking as the U.S. military races to deal with the global coronavirus pandemic. Published March 16, 2020
Joe Biden Iraq war vote, hawkish stances a liability among liberals
Political analysts say Joe Biden could be deeply vulnerable on matters of war, world affairs and geopolitics. Published March 9, 2020
What you need to know about the concussion crisis impacting U.S. troops
Much like the National Football League and other corners of American society, the military has only relatively recently begun to delve deeply into brain injuries, their prevalence and the impact they could have on morale and performance. Published March 4, 2020
Traumatic brain injury from concussions forces military to catch up
A decadelong push by the Pentagon has brought to light the startling frequency of brain injuries within the ranks of the U.S. military, helping to erase the concept that concussions can be simply brushed off. Published March 3, 2020