Career & Pay

Danger Pay for Troops Could Double Under FY2027 Budget Proposal

If you've deployed to a combat zone, a hostile fire area, or any of the dozens of regions the Pentagon officially designates as dangerous, you've drawn Hostile...

Paychecks Restored: Coast Guard Funded as 76-Day DHS Shutdown Ends

For 76 days, the Department of Homeland Security operated without full funding. Coast Guard units stayed on mission the entire time, continuing patrols,...

Aviators Lose Path to Amphibious Command in Sudden Navy Policy Shift

The Navy is moving to reshape who commands its amphibious warships, and it’s happening without a formal plan in place. A signed April 24 memo from Chief of...

New Shaving Rules Give Marines 12 Months to Meet Standards or Face Separation

For years, a shaving waiver bought time, meaning a Marine could stay in, do the job, and manage a condition that didn’t always clear up when they wanted it to....

Air Force Aviation Bonuses Hit $50,000 a Year for FY26 Amid Massive Budget Push

The Air Force’s latest effort to keep experienced pilots in the cockpit is here, and for Fiscal Year 2026, the incentives are substantial. To help address the...

Return to Base: Inside the Fight for Veteran Policy and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for PTSD with Zachary Federico

Zachary Federico, director of Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force at ALEC, discusses the major shift in veteran mental health policy including Trump's...

New Drones, Missiles, and Pay Hikes: Inside the Pentagon’s $1.5 Trillion Budget

The Department of Defense unveiled its detailed fiscal year 2027 budget request on April 21, 2026, following the White House's initial release on April 3. The...

The Flu Shot Is Now Optional for All Troops. Which Vaccines Are Still Mandatory?

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum on April 20, 2026, ending the Department of Defense's longstanding mandatory influenza vaccination...

Starting in December, U.S. Men Will Be Automatically Registered for Selective Service

For the first time in over four decades, Congress has fundamentally changed how the United States registers young men for a potential military draft. This...

The MILITARY STAR ‘Uniform Credit Line’ Isn’t New, But It’s Quietly Costing Service Members

The MILITARY STAR card is a frequent flyer for service members, especially amongst junior enlisted ranks. For those service members who are cardholders, they...

On The Radar: Iran Update, Hegseth Under Fire, Proposed Pay Raise for Troops

Weekly military news roundup covering U.S.-Iran tensions with naval blockade, House Democrats introducing impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete...

The Ultimate Guide to Becoming an Army Sniper

While anyone who sets foot on a battlefield or in a warzone will face countless dangers worthy of fear or respect, there are a few individuals worthy of those...

2027 Military Pay Raise Proposal Hits 7% for Junior Enlisted, 5-6% for Everyone Else

The White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget request includes a proposed tiered military pay raise ranging from 5% to 7%, depending on rank. The structure is laid...

Combat Pay Explained: What the New Epic Fury Designations Mean for Your Paycheck and Taxes

If you or a family member is deployed in support of Operation Epic Fury - the U.S. military's ongoing campaign against Iranian military targets that began...

2026 Military Drill Pay: Your Comprehensive Guide & Breakdown

In the military, drill pay is one of the things that most members don’t really think about until they see that the numbers don’t line up. Some members might...

Chaplains Lose Rank Insignia: What This Means for Service Members

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a set of reforms to the U.S. military’s Chaplain Corps, targeting both how chaplains are identified in uniform and...