On The Radar: Iran Latest, USS Ford, Military Astronauts

Here's what's on the radar in military life this week. President Trump addressed the nation regarding military operations in Iran, saying the war is nearing its end, but not over yet. He projected another two to three weeks of fighting and warned of extremely hard strikes ahead as Operation Epic Fury continues. For military families, that means continued uncertainty, extended deployments, shifting timelines, and rising costs at home, with gas prices now topping $4 a gallon. Bottom line, the end may be in sight, but families should be prepared for a few more weeks of impact. The world's largest aircraft carrier could soon set a record. The USS Gerald R. Ford is on track for an 11-month deployment, according to Navy leadership, potentially surpassing the USS Midway, which deployed for 332 days during the Vietnam War. The carrier, recently in Croatia for repairs after a shipboard fire, has been operating in the Red Sea, supporting Operation Epic Fury. Meanwhile, the USS George H.W. Bush has deployed from Norfolk, possibly to relieve the Ford or reinforce U.S. presence in the region. Four astronauts launched from Kennedy Space Center on a 10-day mission around the moon, the first time humans have headed back to deep space in more than 50 years. And there's a reason so many astronauts have military backgrounds. From the very beginning, NASA relied on military test pilots, aviators trained to handle high-risk, high-pressure missions when things go wrong. That legacy continues today, as this crew on Artemis II, which includes two naval aviators and a pilot from the Canadian Air Force, pushes farther from Earth than any human since Apollo. And over on Veteran Life, ever wonder why people joke about Marines and crayons? The crayon-eating Marine trope is a long-running tongue-in-cheek joke that plays off the Corps' tough, no-nonsense reputation. And Marines themselves have embraced it. And here's another one. McDonald's first drive-through? It was created in 1975 near Fort Huachuca to serve soldiers who couldn't leave their vehicles in uniform. From inside jokes to everyday conveniences, the military's influence shows up in more places than you think. A couple of fun stories you won't wanna miss. That's your briefing. Make sure to follow along so you never miss what's on the radar.