What Kinds of Air Force and Defense News Does Air Force Times Report?
Updated
Air Force Times covers news for airmen and their families across four main areas: base and aircraft operations, procurement and defense-industry programs, health and personnel policy, and Pentagon-level decisions. Its homepage organizes this reporting under sections such as Top Stories, In Other News, Featured, Special Features, and Editor's Picks, so readers can scan service-level news and broader defense policy in one place. The publication describes itself as an independent voice for news about airmen at home and deployed around the world.
Base and Aircraft Operations
The site reports on how operational decisions affect specific installations and units. A representative example from the homepage: Air Force bases along the Gulf Coast relocated aircraft and evacuated personnel ahead of Hurricane Isaias, with bases in Florida and Mississippi moving assets before the storm was expected to hit the area. This type of story is useful if you want to track how weather, deployments, or readiness demands translate into concrete movements at named bases.
Procurement and Industry Programs
Defense acquisition and industrial partnerships form another core category. Homepage coverage included the Air Force partnering with the Army to open test ranges to approved defense firms, and the Air Force and Northrop Grumman breaking ground on a facility in California intended as the final assembly line for the B-21 Raider under an accelerated production timeline. Readers following major programs, contractor relationships, or test infrastructure will find this reporting relevant.
Health, Personnel, and Benefits Policy
The site covers medical and personnel research that affects service members. One featured story reported that routine one-time testosterone screening of troops found 100,691 active-duty soldiers with morning levels below the medical threshold, and that such screening may require extensive follow-on care. Pay, benefits, retirement, health care, and discount information are grouped under a dedicated Pay & Benefits section, which also links to a Military Pay Center, Military Retirement, Military Benefits, Health Care, Mil Money, and Discount Depot.
Pentagon Policy and Military Operations
Broader Defense Department decisions appear in the Featured and Editor's Picks sections. Examples from the homepage include the Pentagon seeking expertise to develop standards for assessing mild traumatic brain injuries, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's request for $50 billion for mass drone production. The site also published a list of U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels.
Special Guides and Resources
Beyond daily news, Air Force Times highlights recurring guides for the military community:
| Resource | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Best for Vets: Trusted Brands | Submissions from companies offering verifiable value to the military community |
| Insurance Guide | Car, renters, and life insurance information for troops |
| 2025 PCS Guide | Tips for permanent change of station moves |
| 2025 Benefits Guide | Changes to health care, retirement pay, and other benefits |
How to Decide If It Fits Your Needs
If you want service-level news tied to specific bases, aircraft, and personnel policy, the Top Stories and Pay & Benefits sections are the most direct entry points. If your interest is defense industrial programs or Pentagon policy, start with In Other News, Featured, and Editor's Picks. Note that the site carries subscription and premium signals, so some content may sit behind access terms; check the specific article or section before assuming open access.