Here are five recent news briefs concerning the U.S. military:

• NATO Steps Up Spending: A long overdue development – more NATO allies are finally meeting their defense spending goals. This war in Ukraine is a stark reminder that global threats require a global response.

• Attacks Resume in Iraq and Syria: Despite a ceasefire, Iranian-backed militias are back at it, hitting U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. Pentagon reports 78 attacks since October, with five since the recent ceasefire. Looks like someone’s not getting the memo.

• B-21 Raider Nears Service: The Air Force’s next-gen bomber, the B-21 Raider, is nearing deployment. This stealthy bomber will replace the aging B-1B and B-2 fleets, giving the Air Force a significant edge.

• Proxy Attacks Continue in Middle East: U.S. forces in the Middle East are still under fire from Iranian proxies, despite recent U.S. airstrikes. The Pentagon is deploying additional air defense units to bolster regional security.

• Marines Revamp Recruiting Strategy: The Marine Corps is shaking things up by relocating some recruiting centers to urban areas. This is a smart move to tap into a wider pool of potential recruits.

This isn’t some PowerPoint presentation, folks. This is the real nitty-gritty – what our men and women in uniform face now. From dodging bullets in the sand to convincing some fresh-faced kid to join the fight, this is war in all its messy glory.