If you’ve never been to our site before, welcome! Defense.gov has been around for a long time, but as of Oct. 2, 2018, it finally matches up with the way Americans view news and content online.
So what’s different from before? Here are the biggest and best things you’ll notice:
More visuals, more interaction
The user experience is much better than it was before. The site’s layout is more eye-catching, and our web pages are more interactive with photos, videos and clickable content inside them. But one of the biggest changes is this: It’s mobile-friendly! You can find all of this cool content easily on your phone.
Our content isn’t all military jargon … it’s for the public, too.
All year, the DOD’s #KnowYourMil campaign has been working to let the public know that our service members are no different from you. And while military jargon can be confusing to “civilians” – also known as people with no military connection – the public can still be engaged without needing a translator to decipher that jargon. On the new site, we’re making it a lot easier for you to be tuned into what’s going on in the DOD in your language, not just ours.
Test your knowledge & learn the basics.
Want to know how to tour a military base or learn about the unique relationship between the Defense Department and Disney? Or do you think your knowledge of military ships is up to par? There are plenty of quizzes, FAQs and informational articles and videos to increase your understanding of the military.
For instance, did you know that 732,079 civilians are part of the 2.87 million people who serve the DOD? That information – and a lot more – is easily accessible.
You’ll know what matters to our military leaders.
The majority of our content highlights the three priorities Defense Secretary James N. Mattis spelled out in the National Defense Strategy: Lethality, partnerships and reform.
Speaking of reform …. this website is one of them. When Mattis said one of the American military’s main priorities moving forward would be reform, he meant in all arenas, including on how we fill the public in on what our troops are doing. This is one of those ways we’re making ourselves more accessible to you.
And if you’re not sure who your military leaders are? Our “Meet the Team” section is pretty easy to access, so we suggest you check it out!
There are a lot of new items on the site, yes, but you can still find your straightforward articles, news releases and briefings that you would expect from a Cabinet-level website in our Newsroom.
Have questions or need help? Feel free to use our new site’s Ask Us feature!
Enjoy, and have fun!