All U.S. military boot camps are again requiring flu shots for recruits after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the vaccine optional. The change comes as Lackland Air Force Base reports 275 confirmed flu cases.
Posts tagged as “Sean Parnell”
An influenza outbreak has sickened trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas weeks after the Pentagon ended the military’s flu vaccine mandate. Reports say at least 159 recruits have fallen ill, while officials say mitigation and vaccination measures are underway.
Hazmat crews responded to the Pentagon after systems detected an air quality issue, prompting a shelter-in-place order for an affected area. Officials said the measures were precautionary while the issue was assessed.
Navy Secretary John Phelan departs immediately amid tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over shipbuilding and naval strategy. His exit follows a series of high-level military dismissals under the Trump administration.
The United States is preparing to deploy elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, including fewer than 1,500 troops, to the Middle East amid ongoing air operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Since the conflict began on February 28, the U.S. has conducted over 9,000 combat flights against key Iranian military sites, while additional Marines and naval forces are being sent to the region. Although President Trump receives curated daily briefings emphasizing U.S. successes, some officials worry he may not be fully informed of setbacks, a concern denied by the White House amid divided public opinion on the war.