Three journalists fired from the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes have sued the US Department of Defense, challenging their dismissals in federal court.

The journalists argue that their firings were unlawful and violated their First Amendment right to free speech. The lawsuit follows their reporting on a reported mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that had spent more than 250 days at sea supporting US military operations.

The Pentagon reportedly accused the journalists of insubordination and other violations before dismissing them. The case has now raised broader questions about press freedom, editorial independence and the relationship between the US military and its independent news outlet.

 3 Fired Journalists Sue U.S. Department of Defence After USS Lincoln 'Report'

The Trump administration is facing mounting criticism over how US military casualties from the Iran conflict are being reported. A controversy erupted after four American service members who died during the conflict temporarily disappeared from the Pentagon's casualty reporting website before reappearing under a different category.

Critics argue the reclassification could obscure the true human cost of the conflict and influence legal and political debates surrounding the war. Democratic lawmakers have demanded greater transparency, while questions continue over whether the administration's reporting complies with the War Powers Act and provides the public with a complete picture of US military losses.

Pentagon Under Fire Over Iran War Casualty Records | Trump Administration Faces Backlash

The US Defense Department is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. This year, the Pentagon showcased an officer of Indian origin, the dedicated Army Lt&nbsp;Col&nbsp;Deepa Hariprasad.

Born in Mysore, India, in 1977, Hariprasad shifted to the US with her family when she was three years old. Growing up in a closely-knit family, Hariprasad quickly realised she wanted to help people, and thus chose the profession, said a profile on Pentagon's website.

She received a direct commission into the Army‘s medical branch as an audiologist in 2003. As an audiologist, Hariprasad diagnoses and treats hearing problems. She quickly climbed the ranks through her dedication and hard work and became the first Indian-American to serve as director of the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed.

"The initial appeal was to try something new, serve my country, and have the opportunity to live in different places,"&nbsp;Hariprasad said.

Her objective of joining the department was achieved as this position not only gave her a route to help people but also put her in direct contact with people from different walks of life, who shared their life experiences with her.

<img alt="Army Lt. Col. Deepa Hariprasad " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9b984f86-f00a-4672-a806-5b114f14c7f6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Deepa%20Hariprasad%20%281%29.jpg" />

"Providing health education to our patients and teaching service members and noise-exposed civilians about hearing loss prevention is the favorite part of my job, because I feel I am making a difference and helping others improve their quality of life. I also enjoy learning about people's experiences and hearing their perspectives," she said.

During her 16 years of service, Hariprasad has been able to groom her personality and step out of her comfort zone by overcoming her shyness.

Serving in leadership positions in the military helped her gain confidence, get better at public speaking and also gave her the confidence and courage to face difficult situations and conversations.

"I grew up with a very different belief system, always worried about what other people would think and I did not have the confidence to try new things or stand up for myself or others. I believe that my positions in the Army and Air Force have helped shape my character and personality for the better," she said.

Currently serving as the Director of the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, Hariprasad is thankful for the learning experiences, skills, and lifelong friendships that have come her way during her time in the military.

Married to Air Force Maj Nkumu B. Mandungu, Hariprasad says the military has helped her realise the importance of physical and mental fitness.

She believes physical fitness directly leads to mental strength. The military has also helped her bring discipline in her life, which has helped her reach heights in her personal and professional life and has also helped her earn several accolades, said the profile on the defence department's website.

The US Defense Department is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. This year, the Pentagon showcased an officer of Indian origin, the dedicated Army Lt Col Deepa Hariprasad.

The US Defense Department is celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. This year, the Pentagon showcased an officer of Indian origin, the dedicated Army Lt Col Deepa Hariprasad. Born in Mysore, India, in 1977, Hariprasad shifted to the US with her family when she was three years old. Growing up in a closely-knit family, Hariprasad quickly realised she wanted to help people, and thus chose the profession, said a profile on Pentagon's website. She received a direct commission into the Army‘s medical branch as an audiologist in 2003. As an audiologist, Hariprasad diagnoses and treats hearing problems. She quickly climbed the ranks through her dedication and hard work and became the first Indian-American to serve as director of the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed. "The initial appeal was to try something new, serve my country, and have the opportunity to live in different places," Hariprasad said. Her objective of joining the department was achieved as this position not only gave her a route to help people but also put her in direct contact with people from different walks of life, who shared their life experiences with her. "Providing health education to our patients and teaching service members and noise-exposed civilians about hearing loss prevention is the favorite part of my job, because I feel I am making a difference and helping others improve their quality of life. I also enjoy learning about people's experiences and hearing their perspectives," she said. During her 16 years of service, Hariprasad has been able to groom her personality and step out of her comfort zone by overcoming her shyness. Serving in leadership positions in the military helped her gain confidence, get better at public speaking and also gave her the confidence and courage to face difficult situations and conversations. "I grew up with a very different belief system, always worried about what other people would think and I did not have the confidence to try new things or stand up for myself or others. I believe that my positions in the Army and Air Force have helped shape my character and personality for the better," she said. Currently serving as the Director of the Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, Hariprasad is thankful for the learning experiences, skills, and lifelong friendships that have come her way during her time in the military. Married to Air Force Maj Nkumu B. Mandungu, Hariprasad says the military has helped her realise the importance of physical and mental fitness. She believes physical fitness directly leads to mental strength. The military has also helped her bring discipline in her life, which has helped her reach heights in her personal and professional life and has also helped her earn several accolades, said the profile on the defence department's website.

Pentagon celebrates Asians in US defence with story of Indian-American Deepa Hariprasad

The US Defense Department is planning to give&nbsp;jetpacks to cadres of special forces. Even though the department is not explicitly calling them “jetpacks”, it is being called a “portable personal air mobility system”.

The Pentagon’s Research and Development hub for military technology - the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently opened a bid for proposals&nbsp; involving jetpacks. To develop the “air mobility system”, the agency has offered up to $1.5 million in development costs to vendors that may be interested in lift off!

But that’s not all! The focus of the new systems is just not jetpacks as an array of other flying outfits could be created. The department hopes to create powered fliers, powered wing suits, and powered parafoils. No, you are not stuck in an emulation of the hit game series Just Cause; this is actually happening!

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-3d-structure-responsible-for-controlling-gene-expression-370624" hreflang="en">Scientists discover 3D structure responsible for controlling gene expression</a>

According to DARPA, these outfits may be highly useful in a variety of military settings and operations, which include “urban augmented combat”, and CSAR (combat search and rescue), among many.

The agency has made its expectations clear - it hopes the outfits are quick, simple, and effective. Gizmodo cited the agency as saying that the outfits “[should be] such that assembly and deployment can occur in less than 10 minutes using only simple tools or no tools at all."

In addition, the agency specifically adds how the system should be made effective - "The platforms must not require assistance from external equipment or other unique environmental factors (e.g. wind, elevation, etc.) for launch/recovery...When deployed, the platform will be designed with simplified operations in mind, so that someone unfamiliar with the platform could be educated in its safe and effective use with relatively little training”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-just-ejected-its-biggest-pile-of-garbage-into-earths-orbit-should-we-worry-370525" hreflang="en">NASA just ejected its biggest pile of garbage into Earth's orbit. Should we worry?</a>

Jetpacks are usually seen as works of fiction, but have existed for decades - only being used at big events. The current technology makes jetpacks noisy, difficult to manage, and inefficient. Perhaps, this newly found interest could change that!

The US Defense Department is planning to give jetpacks to cadres of special forces. Even though the department is not explicitly calling them “jetpacks”, it is being called a “portable personal air mobility system”.

The US Defense Department is planning to give jetpacks to cadres of special forces. Even though the department is not explicitly calling them “jetpacks”, it is being called a “portable personal air mobility system”. The Pentagon’s Research and Development hub for military technology - the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently opened a bid for proposals involving jetpacks. To develop the “air mobility system”, the agency has offered up to $1.5 million in development costs to vendors that may be interested in lift off! But that’s not all! The focus of the new systems is just not jetpacks as an array of other flying outfits could be created. The department hopes to create powered fliers, powered wing suits, and powered parafoils. No, you are not stuck in an emulation of the hit game series Just Cause; this is actually happening! Also read: Scientists discover 3D structure responsible for controlling gene expression According to DARPA, these outfits may be highly useful in a variety of military settings and operations, which include “urban augmented combat”, and CSAR (combat search and rescue), among many. The agency has made its expectations clear - it hopes the outfits are quick, simple, and effective. Gizmodo cited the agency as saying that the outfits “[should be] such that assembly and deployment can occur in less than 10 minutes using only simple tools or no tools at all." In addition, the agency specifically adds how the system should be made effective - "The platforms must not require assistance from external equipment or other unique environmental factors (e.g. wind, elevation, etc.) for launch/recovery...When deployed, the platform will be designed with simplified operations in mind, so that someone unfamiliar with the platform could be educated in its safe and effective use with relatively little training”. Also read: NASA just ejected its biggest pile of garbage into Earth's orbit. Should we worry? Jetpacks are usually seen as works of fiction, but have existed for decades - only being used at big events. The current technology makes jetpacks noisy, difficult to manage, and inefficient. Perhaps, this newly found interest could change that!

Pentagon wants to develop ready-to-use jetpacks for US defence forces