Senate NDAA Proposal Includes Smaller Pay Raise For Junior Enlisted Troops
The Senate has released a draft version of the 2025 NDAA which includes a smaller pay increase than the House version. Read more.
Military Benefits
Lawmakers Call for More Commissary Options for Kosher, Halal Groceries
Some lawmakers are calling on the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to be more inclusive about the types of groceries it stocks at stateside and overseas bases. Two U.S. Representatives have called on DeCA to improve access to food that is acceptable to the approximately 15 thousand Jewish and Muslim troops in the United States military…. Read more »
House Armed Services Committee Approves 19.5% Military Pay Raise Plan for 2025
A 19.5% pay increase for junior enlisted military members is included in that draft, which now goes under review in the House of Representatives as the next steps in the NDAA approval process begin. Learn more.
2025 NDAA Draft Includes Major Pay Raise For Junior Troops
The House Armed Services Committee has presented a draft of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that includes a proposed 4.5% pay raise for military members and a proposed 15% pay increase for junior enlisted members. While some military publications breathlessly report this possible 19%-plus military pay raise, it’s crucial to remember that in this… Read more »
DoD Reforms Military Medical Malpractice Guidelines
Once upon a time, when you joined the military in the United States, you were at the mercy of the military medical system as an active duty soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, etc. There was little to no recourse for those who suffered medical malpractice in the military healthcare system. But that has changed. In 2019,… Read more »
VA Admits “No Confirmation” On Whether VA Medical Data Was Stolen In Change Healthcare Breach
The VA cannot confirm the extent to which VA patient information may or may not have been part of the Change Healthcare data breach. Learn more.
Defense Commissary Agency Eyes Major Improvements, Expanded Services
Is something wrong with the Commissary system? Amidst multiple problems keeping store shelves stocked, complaints of poor quality, and, in some cases, a lack of basic options, plans are being made to boost Commissary utilization. However, implementing those plans requires actions in addition to those taken to get groceries to Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) stores… Read more »
Joining a Military Association
Is joining a military association the right move for you? There are many to choose from, and there is a variety of options. Some military associations are focused on veterans and family members from specific war eras, others are meant to support disabled vets, and some are meant to encourage a general sense of community… Read more »
Lower TRICARE Copays For Specialty Drugs
TRICARE offers prescriptions by mail and home delivery options for qualifying beneficiaries. Thanks to a partnership with Accredo, a national specialty pharmacy, copays for specialty drugs delivered under the TRICARE/Accredo partnership may decrease as options for those receiving the prescriptions may expand. Some 45 thousand people may be affected by the program and its potentially… Read more »
New Proposed Legislation Could Boost Military Pay, Childcare
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have introduced a variety of proposals to increase military pay and expand access to childcare. These actions follow the release of a House Armed Services Committee report on April 11, 2024, outlining military pay, housing, child care, and spouse job issues. The committee’s Quality of Life Panel directed the… Read more »