Lolita C. Baldor, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - This photograph released by the U.S. Navy shows a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter hovering over the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier while operating in the Middle East April 12, 2025. (Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Jordan/U.S. Navy via AP, File)

How the US has shifted military jets and ships in the Middle East

June 18, 2025

The U.S. is shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel from Iranian attacks. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran on social media that his patience is wearing thin and urging it to step back from the conflict. His posts have raised the possibility of deepening U.S. involvement, perhaps by using its bunker-busting bomb to strike Iranian nuclear sites built deep underground. As America’s national security leaders discuss the next steps, the Pentagon has moved to ensure that its troops and bases in the region are protected.

The Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump’s birthday

June 13, 2025

The massive military parade that President Donald Trump has long wanted is set to step off from the Lincoln Memorial with tanks, bands and thousands of troops. And the biggest question marks are whether it will be overshadowed or delayed Saturday by either the weather in Washington or planned protests elsewhere around the country. Falling on Trump’s 79th birthday, the parade was added just a few weeks ago to the Army’s long-planned 250th anniversary celebration. It has triggered criticism for its price tag of up to $45 million and the possibility that the lumbering tanks could tear up city streets. Trump so far has shrugged off concerns about the parade cost, the rainy forecast and the potential for protests.

Army restores the names of seven bases that lost their Confederate-linked names under Biden

June 10, 2025

Seven Army bases whose names were changed in 2023 because they honored Confederate leaders are all reverting back to their original names. The Army announced the changes Tuesday just hours after President Donald Trump previewed the decision during a visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fort Bragg, which was changed to Fort Liberty by the Biden administration, was the first to have its original name restored after the Army found another person with the same last name. To restore the original names of the additional seven bases, the Army once again found service members with the same last names to honor.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salutes during a ceremony at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings, Friday, June 6, 2025 in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?

June 6, 2025

As transgender service members face a deadline to leave the U.S. military, hundreds are taking the financial bonus to depart voluntarily. But others say they’ll stay and fight. For many, it’s a wrenching decision to end a career they love. And they’re angry they’re being forced out by the Trump administration’s renewed ban on transgender troops serving in the military. For others, it’s a call to arms. Active duty service members have until Friday to identify themselves and begin to leave the military voluntarily. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the changes are what America voted for, and the Pentagon is “leaving wokeness & weakness behind,” and that includes “no more dudes in dresses.”

FILE - The then Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of U.S. Air Force Central, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)

Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command

June 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich is currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. Most recently Grynkewich served as commander of Air Forces in the Middle East, including air operations in support of the conflict in Israel, from 2022 to 2023.

Tanks and other military vehicles are transported via railroad to Washington, D.C. for an upcoming parade for the Army's 250th anniversary, Monday, June 2, 2025, at Fort Cavazos near Killeen, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers

June 4, 2025

Army leaders are defending spending as much as $45 million to add a parade to the service’s 250th birthday celebration on June 14, saying it will help boost recruitment. They are responding to members of Congress who argue that the money could be better spent on troops’ barracks or other priorities. Members of the House Armed Services Committee also said during Wednesday’s hearing they are concerned that the Defense Department is shifting about $1 billion from a variety of accounts — including base housing — to cover the costs of shoring up the defense of the southern border.

FILE - U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, speaks at an event at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)

Trump names nominees to take over commands in the Middle East and Africa

June 4, 2025

President Donald Trump is nominating Vice Adm. Brad Cooper to take over as the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East. If he’s confirmed, it would mark just the second time that a Navy admiral has held the job. It’s a crucial role as the region has been shaken by conflict, with the Trump administration pushing to broker a ceasefire deal after 20 months of war in Gaza and holding nuclear talks with Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement Wednesday that Trump also is nominating Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to head U.S. Africa Command. Anderson would be the first Air Force general to lead Africa Command, which was created in 2007.

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206) conducts a replenishment at sea in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 13, 2024. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy via AP))

Hegseth orders the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk scrubbed from Navy ship

June 3, 2025

U.S. officials say Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk in a highly rare move. The ship was named after the slain gay rights activist who served as a sailor during the Korean War. The officials say Navy Secretary John Phelan put together a small team to rename the replenishment oiler, and that a new name is expected this month. It marks the latest move by Hegseth to purge diversity, equity and inclusion references, and it comes during Pride Month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Phelan’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment.

FILE - U.S. Army soldiers cross a floating bridge on the Imjin River during a joint river-crossing exercise between South Korea and the United States as a part of the Freedom Shield military exercise in Yeoncheon, South Korea, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

The US military spent $6 billion in the past 3 years to recruit and retain troops

May 25, 2025

The U.S. military spent more than $6 billion over the past three years to recruit and retain service members, in what’s been a growing campaign to counter enlistment shortfalls. The financial incentives to reenlist in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines increased dramatically from 2022 through last year, with the Navy vastly outspending the other services. The overall amount of recruiting bonuses also rose steadily, fueled by big jumps in spending by the Army and Marine Corps. The services routinely pour money into bonuses. But the totals spiked as Pentagon leaders tried to reverse falling enlistment numbers.

FILE - A sign at entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus in Annapolis, Md., Jan. 9,2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Most books pulled from Naval Academy library are back on the shelves in latest DEI turn

May 21, 2025

All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves. That is the result of a review ordered by the Pentagon and marks the latest turn in a dizzying effort to rid the military of materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Defense officials said Wednesday that about 20 books from the academy’s library are now earmarked for review, but that includes some that weren’t removed in the initial purge of 381 books. A few dozen at the Air Force libraries have been pulled out for review.

Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal and suicide bombing at Kabul airport

May 20, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered another review of the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, and of the suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed American troops and Afghans. President Donald Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly blasted the Biden administration for the withdrawal, which Hegseth said Tuesday was “disastrous and embarrassing.” He says the new review will interview witnesses, analyze the decision-making and “get the truth.” There have already been multiple reviews of the withdrawal by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress, which have involved hundreds of interviews and studies of videos, photographs and other footage and data.

FILE - The Pentagon is seen in this aerial view in Washington, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Racist memes shared by Navy SEALs prompt investigation, disciplinary actions

May 20, 2025

A defense official says that two Navy SEALs based in Virginia are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures. The two enlisted Team 4 members are being punished for developing racist memes targeting a Black sailor in their platoon and circulating them in a group chat with other team members. The investigation found that platoon and team leaders did not adequately address the sailor’s concerns about racist behavior. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing investigation.

Lolita C. Baldor.

How the US has shifted military jets and ships in the Middle East

The Army is set to celebrate 250 years with a parade that coincides with Trump’s birthday

Army restores the names of seven bases that lost their Confederate-linked names under Biden

Transgender troops face a deadline and a difficult decision: Stay or go?

Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command

Army leaders defend parade and border spending as Congress presses for answers

Trump names nominees to take over commands in the Middle East and Africa

Hegseth orders the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk scrubbed from Navy ship

The US military spent $6 billion in the past 3 years to recruit and retain troops

Most books pulled from Naval Academy library are back on the shelves in latest DEI turn

Hegseth orders new review of Afghanistan withdrawal and suicide bombing at Kabul airport

Racist memes shared by Navy SEALs prompt investigation, disciplinary actions

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