U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense

Military & Veterans News

Defense Department Announces Cost of Living Increase to Retired Pay

 The Department of Defense announced annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during calendar year 2019. Most military retirees will receive a 2.8 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on Jan. 1, 2019. Likewise, survivors of members who died on active or inactive duty, or survivors of military retirees who participate in the Survivor Benefit Plan, will, in most cases, see a 2.8 percent increase to their annuities beginning in January.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Military Service by Transgender Individuals

 The Department of Defense has received the Presidential Memorandum, dated August 25, 2017, entitled “Military Service by Transgender Individuals.”  The department will carry out the president’s policy direction, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security.  As directed, we will develop a study and implementation plan, which will contain the steps that will promote military readiness, lethality, and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law.  The soon arriving senior civilian leadership of DOD will play an important role in this effort.  The implementation plan will address accessions of transgender individuals and transgender individuals currently serving in the United States military.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: DoD Releases Clarifying Guidance to Veterans Regarding Discharges and Military Records

 The Department of Defense today released clarifying guidance for discharges and military records reviews. In the past few years, the department has issued guidance for consideration of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) but there remained some questions about how the guidance applied to sexual assault, sexual harassment, or mental health conditions other than PTSD. This guidance fills in the gaps and resolves any confusion that veterans or the review boards may have had, and it ensures a fair and equitable review of separations for all veterans.  The guidance has been forwarded to a number of Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and Military Service Organizations (MSOs) in order to spread the news to as many veterans as possible.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Defense Department Launches Retirement System Comparison Calculator

 The Department of Defense officially launched the Blended Retirement System (BRS) comparison calculator, providing BRS opt-in eligible service members their first opportunity for an individualized comparison of retirement systems.  The comprehensive tool, in combination with the mandatory BRS Opt-In Course, will assist the nearly 1.7 million opt-in eligible service members and their families make an informed decision on whether or not to elect the new retirement system.  The BRS goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. 

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: Department of Defense Announces Changes to Procedures and Policy for Reduction in Force in the Civilian Workforce

 This month, the Department of Defense released the policy and procedure changes for reduction in force (RIF) for civilian positions in the competitive and excepted service.  The changes are required per section 1101 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 (P.L. 114-92), as codified in 1597(f) of Title 10, United States Code.  The law requires that when RIF is necessary, the determination of employee separations shall be made primarily on the basis of performance.

Military & Veterans News

Vet News: DoD Announces New Outreach Efforts to Veterans Regarding Discharges and Military Records

 The Department of Defense today announced a renewed effort to ensure veterans are aware of the opportunity to have their discharges and military records reviewed. Through enhanced public outreach, engagement with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), Military Service Organizations (MSOs), and other outside groups, as well as direct outreach to individual veterans, the department encourages all veterans who believe they have experienced an error or injustice to request relief from their service’s Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCM/NR) or Discharge Review Board (DRB).  
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