News
Troops will see an average 4.2% boost in 2026 housing allowance
Service members will see a 4.2% bump, on average, in their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing as of Jan. 1, defense officials announced Thursday. The average increase for 2026 is lower than the 2025 average of 5.4%. Actual amounts can vary widely by military housing areas, and some service members may see a decrease in their monthly housing allowance. But in areas where there is a decrease, servi...[Read More]
Troops will see an average 4.2% boost in 2026 housing allowance
Service members will see a 4.2% bump, on average, in their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing as of Jan. 1, defense officials announced Thursday. The average increase for 2026 is lower than the 2025 average of 5.4%. Actual amounts can vary widely by military housing areas, and some service members may see a decrease in their monthly housing allowance. But in areas where there is a decrease, servi...[Read More]
Troops with medical shaving waivers to face separation, Hegseth says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pursuit of a clean-shaven military took its latest step Monday when the Pentagon announced that troops who require medical shaving waivers for longer than a year will face involuntary separation, according to an official memo. The announcement, which is dated Aug. 20, follows a force-wide review launched by the Pentagon in March to assess military grooming and fitn...[Read More]
Troops with medical shaving waivers to face separation, Hegseth says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pursuit of a clean-shaven military took its latest step Monday when the Pentagon announced that troops who require medical shaving waivers for longer than a year will face involuntary separation, according to an official memo. The announcement, which is dated Aug. 20, follows a force-wide review launched by the Pentagon in March to assess military grooming and fitn...[Read More]
Troops would get up to 7% pay raise under proposed defense bill
The White House is requesting a pay raise for lower-ranked enlisted service members in its fiscal 2027 budget. In the proposed budget for the Department of Defense, released this week, all troops ranked E-5 and below would receive a pay raise of 7%. The budget also allots 6% pay bumps for military personnel ranked E-6 and O-3, as well as 5% raises for those O-4 and above. “The Administration recog...[Read More]
Troops, families use credit card relief at commissaries amid shutdown
Service members and their families are taking advantage of a new 90-day, zero-interest offer on the Military Star card when used at military grocery stores, officials said. The offer was announced Oct. 6 to provide financial relief during the government shutdown. There was an immediate spike in the number of families using their Military Star card at commissaries, said Lee Kelley, principal direct...[Read More]
Troops, veterans get free streaming of extended Olympics coverage
Service members, veterans and their families will have free access to more than 2,500 hours of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics through a partnership with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and NBCUniversal, AAFES officials announced. The Winter Olympics will begin with the opening ceremony on Feb. 6 through Feb. 22, with more than 2,900 athletes from 92 countries and territories compet...[Read More]
Troops, veterans get free streaming of extended Olympics coverage
Service members, veterans and their families will have free access to more than 2,500 hours of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics through a partnership with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and NBCUniversal, AAFES officials announced. The Winter Olympics will begin with the opening ceremony on Feb. 6 through Feb. 22, with more than 2,900 athletes from 92 countries and territories compet...[Read More]
Troops, veterans get free streaming of extended Olympics coverage
Service members, veterans and their families will have free access to more than 2,500 hours of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics through a partnership with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and NBCUniversal, AAFES officials announced. The Winter Olympics will begin with the opening ceremony on Feb. 6 through Feb. 22, with more than 2,900 athletes from 92 countries and territories compet...[Read More]
Troops’ dental readiness showing some improvement, some decay
Although U.S. troops’ dental readiness has improved some over the last decade, there’s also been a decline in the percentage of troops with the best dental health, according to new Defense Department statistics. From 2014 to 2024, the percentage of troops with the worst levels of dental health decreased from 8.3% to 6.3%, while the percentage of troops with the best dental health dropped from 48.9...[Read More]
Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along border
SANTA FE, N.M. — The Trump administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern U.S. border to support border security operations — this time in California. The Department of Interior on Wednesday said it would transfer jurisdiction along most of California’s international border with Mexico to the Navy to reinforce “the historic role public lands have played in safeguarding national ...[Read More]
Trump administration adds militarized zone in California along border
SANTA FE, N.M. — The Trump administration is adding another militarized zone to the southern U.S. border to support border security operations — this time in California. The Department of Interior on Wednesday said it would transfer jurisdiction along most of California’s international border with Mexico to the Navy to reinforce “the historic role public lands have played in safeguarding national ...[Read More]