Military & Veterans News

Military & Veterans News DOD Produces Climate Assessment Tool, Strengthens Climate Cooperation With Six Allies Two years ago at the Climate Leaders Summit led by President Joseph R Biden Jr., Honorable Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III committed to produce tailored versions of the DOD Climate Assessment Tool (DCAT) for six allies: Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. 

Military & Veterans News VA, NIH launch study of Gulf War Illness Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs and National Institutes of Health began a joint, five-year study that aims to explain the chronic symptoms of Gulf War Illness. The study may lead to more definitive diagnostic criteria for Gulf War Illness, development of new diagnostic testing, and potential treatments.

Military & Veterans News VA and AFGE reach tentative agreement to better serve Veterans and support VA employees Today, VA reached a tentative agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) — the union that represents more than 291,000 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees – on a master bargaining agreement.

Military & Veterans News VA waives copayments for eligible Native American and Alaska Native Veterans Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans are no longer required to make copayments for health care and urgent care received through VA.

Military & Veterans News Month of the Military Child 2023 – Taking Care of Our Military Children The Defense Department is observing April as Month of the Military Child and will highlight programs, resources and services available to support the overall well-being of military children, youth and teens.

Military & Veterans News VA reaches $1 Billion in grants awarded to states, territories, and Tribes for Veteran cemeteries This month, VA’s National Cemetery Administration awarded its billionth dollar to states, U.S. territories, and Tribes for the establishment, expansion, improvement, and maintenance of state, territorial, and Tribal Veterans cemeteries.

Military & Veterans News DOD Announces Six New Measures to Enhance Well-Being of Military Force and Their Families Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at improving the lives of our dedicated military force and their families. The new plan consists of six additional actions that address essential needs in education, childcare, parental leave, and career advancement. The Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to working with Congress and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of these measures.

Military & Veterans News New VA Mission Statement recognizes sacred commitment to all Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced an updated version of its 1959 mission statement. The new mission statement is: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

Military & Veterans News Marine Corps Announces Moves to Modernize Logistics The Marine Corps released Installations and Logistics 2030 on February 23, 2023.

Military & Veterans News DoD Releases Policies to Ensure Access to Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care On October 20, 2022, the Secretary of Defense released a memorandum, “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” directing the Department to take a series of actions to ensure Service members and their families are able to access non-covered reproductive health care.

Military & Veterans News DoD Announces 61st Annual United States Senate Youth Program Military Mentors The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the 17 U.S. military officers selected to serve as Armed Forces ambassadors in support of the 61st Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week, which returns to in person in Washington, D.C., March 4-11.

Military & Veterans News Senate Calls on Defense Department to Swiftly Restore TRICARE Benefits to 25,000 Beneficiaries Senators: “We urge the Department to conduct immediate, targeted outreach to affected individuals to provide them with the information they need to re-enroll and submit reimbursement claims for any care or prescriptions they received while disenrolled from TRICARE.”

Military & Veterans News VA Offers $30M in Grant Funding to Assist Formerly Homeless Veterans WASHINGTON — As a part of ongoing efforts to prevent and end Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veterans Affairs is announcing $30 million in grant funding for organizations to help formerly homeless Veterans maintain their independence and housing stability.

Military & Veterans News DoD Releases Small Business Strategy The Department of Defense (DoD) released its Small Business Strategy today. The strategy promotes a strong, dynamic, and robust small business industrial base by focusing on reducing barriers to entry, increasing set-aside competitions, and leveraging programs to grow the industrial base. 

Military & Veterans News DOD Now Accepting Applications for New Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot The Defense Department launched a 12-week paid fellowship program to expand employment opportunities for eligible military spouses.

Military & Veterans News Department of Defense Releases Annual Demographics Report — Upward Trend in Number of Women Serving Continues While the overall size of our military remained steady, the percentage of women serving on active duty and in the Reserve component continues to grow in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks, according to the newly released 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community.

Military & Veterans News Women Sailors Get Measured Now for Better Fitting Uniforms in the Future NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif.

Military & Veterans News DOD Launches Survey to Enhance the Exceptional Family Member Program The Defense Department launched its 2022 Exceptional Family Member Program survey today. The results will help the DOD prioritize solutions that help meet the needs of military families with special needs.

Military & Veterans News Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Passing of Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter I was deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. Today, the entire Department of Defense mourns the loss of a towering intellect, a steadfast leader, a devoted mentor to countless public servants, and a great patriot who devoted his life to strengthening the security of the country that he loved.

Military & Veterans News DoD Schools Ranked Best in the United States on Nation's Report Card Fourth and eighth-grade students attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools led the nation in scoring on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics Assessments. 

Military & Veterans News DOD Announces Efforts to Ensure Access to Reproductive Health Care Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the Department will take all appropriate action, within its authority and consistent with applicable federal law, as soon as possible to ensure that Service members and their families can access reproductive health care and health care providers can operate effectively. 

Military & Veterans News Defense Department Expands Military Child Care Program to Increase Availability of Affordable, Quality Child Care for Military Families The Defense Department is beginning the expansion of a program that increases access to quality civilian providers when on-installation child care is unavailable to military families.

Military & Veterans News Message to the Force - One Year Since the Conclusion of the Afghanistan War Today, we mark one year since the end of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and I, like so many of you, have been reflecting on the sacrifice that American Service Members, Veterans, their families, and so many others made during America's longest war.

Military & Veterans News $1 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $1 billion to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This authorization is the Biden Administration’s eighteenth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. It is the largest single drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment utilizing this authority, and this package provides a significant amount of additional ammunition, weapons, and equipment - the types of which the Ukrainian people are using so effectively to defend their country.