Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News VA expands access to care and benefits for some former service members who did not receive an honorable or general discharge Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs posted a final rule amending its regulations regarding character of discharge determinations, expanding access to VA care and benefits for some former service members discharged under other than honorable conditions or by special court-martial.

Military & Veterans News Department of Defense Announces Winners of the 2024 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Today, the Department of Defense announced the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards winners for 2024.  

Military & Veterans News Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks' Remarks for Purple Up! For Military Kids Today is Purple Up! Day, a special day in April — the Month of the Military Child — when we recognize the contributions and achievements of our nation's 1.6 million military children. And it is my privilege to join in the celebration.

Military & Veterans News New Defense, State Department Agreement Improves Military Spouses' Ability to Telework Overseas Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State (DOS) officials on April 17 signed a new agreement that impacts military spouses working in the executive branch of the federal government and approved to work remotely from locations overseas.

Military & Veterans News VA announces new program to help more than 40,000 Veterans stay in their homes On May 31, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs will launch a new program — the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program — to help more than 40,000 Veterans experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.

Military & Veterans News 400,000+ Veterans enrolled in VA health care over past 365 days, 30% increase over last year Under the PACT Act, VA has also upgraded the health care priority groups for 693,962 Veterans over the past year — meaning that many of those Veterans are now paying lower copays. Since the PACT Act was passed into law, VA has upgraded the priority groups of more than 746,500 Veterans.

Military & Veterans News Establishment of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy As directed in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, the Department of Defense established the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy (ASD(CP)) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy (OASD(CP)) on March 20, 2024.

Military & Veterans News VA opens new osteoarthritis research center at Philadelphia VA Medical Center Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the opening of the Cartilage Regeneration using Advanced Technologies to Enable Motion Center — the CReATE Motion Center — at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center.  

Military & Veterans News VA sets all-time record for benefits delivered to women Veterans Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is delivering disability compensation benefits to a record number of women Veterans. Right now, 702,557 women Veterans are receiving disability compensation benefits from VA — an all-time record and an increase of 180,959 women Veterans (or 26%) over five years ago.

Military & Veterans News VA has processed more than one million Veteran benefit claims in fiscal year 2024, the fastest rate in VA history Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has processed its one millionth Veteran benefits claim in fiscal year 2024. VA reached this milestone March 4 — the earliest in VA history and nearly six weeks faster than the previous all-time record (from fiscal year 2023). VA has completed almost 35% more claims than at this point last year.

Military & Veterans News President Biden Fiscal Year 2025 Budget proposes critical investments in Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors Budget outlines critical investments in delivering care and benefits to toxic-exposed Veterans, improving mental health outcomes, supporting women Veterans, and more

Military & Veterans News Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Sweden's Accession to NATO I warmly congratulate Sweden on becoming the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) today. 

Military & Veterans News VA makes historic commitments to hire and support military spouses Days after Biden-Harris Administration released the first-ever government-wide plan to tackle employment barriers and expand opportunities for military-connected spouses, VA signs the 4+1 Commitment to support military spouses

Military & Veterans News In one of the largest-ever expansions of Veteran health care, all Veterans exposed to toxins and other hazards during military service — at home or abroad — will be eligible for VA health care beginning March 5 At the direction of President Biden, VA is expanding health care eligibility to millions of Veterans — including all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11 — years earlier than called for by the PACT Act

Military & Veterans News VA launches new surgery initiative across the nation, a critical step to saving the lives of Veterans considering surgery This week, VA’s Surgical Pause Initiative was recognized with 2023 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award. This initiative, which is now expanding to all VA facilities that provide surgical care, is proven to decrease mortality among Veteran patients.

Military & Veterans News VA announces 2024 Equity Action Plan, new actions to ensure that all Veterans receive the health care and benefits they earned Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs released its 2024 Agency Equity Action Plan to help ensure that VA delivers on its promise to provide world-class care and benefits to all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors ― regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or geographic location.

Military & Veterans News AFN Broadcasts Super Bowl LVIII The Defense Media Activity (DMA) and the American Forces Network (AFN) invite authorized overseas audiences to enjoy live coverage of Super Bowl LVIII on AFN global television, radio and streaming services beginning Sunday, February 11.

Military & Veterans News VA announces $5M in grant funding for transitional supportive housing for homeless Veterans Announcement comes just days after VA announced housing more than 46,000 homeless Veterans in 2023

Military & Veterans News Readout of the Defense Innovation Board Winter 2024 Meeting The Defense Innovation Board (DIB) held its winter board meeting in the Pentagon on Jan. 26, 2024. At 10 EST, DIB Executive Director and Designated Federal Officer, Dr. Marina Theodotou, called the public portion of the meeting into session.

Military & Veterans News VA to award $52.5 million in grants to local organizations working to prevent Veteran suicide Today, VA announced the availability of $52.5 million in funding for grants to community-based organizations that provide or coordinate suicide prevention services for Veterans and their families — including conducting Veteran mental health screenings, providing case management and peer support services, delivering emergency clinical services, reaching out to Veterans at risk of suicide, and more.

Military & Veterans News DOD Announces 62nd Annual United States Senate Youth Program Military Mentors The Department of Defense announced the 17 U.S. military officers selected to serve as Armed Forces ambassadors in support of the 62nd Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week taking place in Washington, D.C., March 2-9, 2024.

Military & Veterans News Defense Department Seeks Military Spouse Input Through Survey The Defense Department has launched the 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses, its biennial assessment of the impact of military life on spouses and their families.

Military & Veterans News To improve care for Veterans, VA to fund studies on new therapies for treating mental health conditions New research would determine the benefit of psychedelics for treating PTSD and depression in Veterans

Military & Veterans News DoD Announces Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program for Contractors Today, the Department of Defense publishes for a 60-day comment period a proposed rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program.