Tom Bowman

As diplomatic talks in Geneva have failed to resolve the three-year-old civil war in Syria, the U.S. is undertaking a new covert program to send weapons in support of rebel forces there.

The U.S. is increasing both arms and training assistance to the Syrian rebels. Advocates of the program say they hope to change the situation on the ground, others doubt it will help much.

The U.S. is providing more arms and training to the moderate rebels in Syria, under a growing secret program run by the CIA in Jordan. Sources tell NPR that secret program could be supplemented by a more public effort in the coming months involving American military trainers.

The change in ...

The Army plans to take all Apache attack helicopters from the National Guard. The Guard says that's an insult, but Army leaders say it's not personal — it's just about saving money.

In the coming years, U.S. Army rolls could drop to their lowest level since World War II. Some think a leaner force can meet the challenges ahead; others say the U.S. will face unacceptable risks.

The U.S. is trying to learn more about China's cyber capabilities. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is revealing more about what America's cyber forces can do, so that China might reveal something too.

A soldier who was undergoing assessment to determine whether he had post-traumatic stress disorder opened fire on Wednesday at the base. Four people are dead including the shooter, who killed himself.

The Air Force has implicated some 100 officers in a cheating scandal at U.S. nuclear missile bases. Its investigation has found an issue: Officers often feel pressure to achieve near-perfect scores.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Lt. General Stephen Wilson report Thursday on the results of an investigation involving aobut 100 nuclear missile launch officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

An Army general accused of sexually assaulting a subordinate, was sentenced today by a military judge. Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair was fined $20,000 and received a letter of reprimand...

President Obama will award Medals of Honor to two-dozen soldiers on Tuesday. One of them is Santiago Erevia, who risked his life in 1969 when he charged four North Vietnamese bunkers.

An Army general accused of sexually assaulting a subordinate has pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The case against him collapsed under doubts about the accuser's credibility.

The Pentagon's budget for next year would cut the size of the Armed Forces and begin to rein in expensive benefits, including health care. The Army would be reduced to its lowest level in years.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign a security agreement that would keep U.S. troops in his country. Despite the pressure, Obama is giving Afghan officials more time to finish a deal.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has outlined his military spending priorities. His proposed cuts signal that the size of the armed forces, which grew to fight two wars, can't be sustained.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will outline budget priorities during a news conference on Monday. A key question for the Pentagon: How to curb growth of military pay and benefits?

On Morning Edition, NPR's Tom Bowman profiled Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dempsey, as Tom reported, says the U.S. public, and even its leaders, know little about how military power can be used. The disconnect is most glaring when comes to this: What ...

The nation's top military officer, Gen. Martin Dempsey, is disputing former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' contention that President Obama is suspicious of senior military leaders.

In an interview with NPR on Tuesday, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says he's never picked up on those feelings from ...

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates' new book, Duty, Memoirs of a Secretary at War, paints a picture of a White House suspicious of military leaders and their motives.

In the book, Gates criticizes both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden over issues like the Afghanistan war. It's a case ...

China has been building up its military strength for some time now, and pushing ever farther from its coastline and into international waters. The real concern now is for miscalculation — particularly with Japan — that ends up in gunfire.

Just six months ago, the Pentagon released its annual report ...