MIL News Weekly 24-30 Aug (Episode 13)
Download MP3Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 24-30 August 2025, your essential
guide to the latest news impacting
the military and veteran community.
Whether you're currently serving in
uniform, a military retiree, a veteran,
or a family member, this is your source
for the critical updates you need to know.
Each week, we cut through the noise to
bring you the most important developments
from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Weâll cover everything from new
policies and pay raises affecting
active and reserve forces, to changes
in healthcare and benefits for
retirees, and the latest on VA services
and legislation for our veterans.
Let's get you informed.
Hereâs whatâs happened this past week.
Issues That Affect Active and
Reserve Military Personnel
Domestic Deployments and
Civil-Military Relations
The most prominent domestic story this
week centers on the evolving role of the
National Guard in the nation's capital.
On the evening of August 24,
2025, National Guard troops
deployed in Washington, D.C.,
began carrying service-issued weapons,
including M17 pistols and M4 rifles.
This action was authorized by Defense
Secretary Pete Hegseth at the direction of
President Donald Trump, who had previously
declared a "crime emergency" in the city.
The move comes despite official
data indicating that crime
rates in the district are down.
The Joint Task Force-DC issued a
statement clarifying the rules of
engagement, noting that force is to be
used only "as a last resort and solely
in response to an imminent threat
of death or serious bodily harm".
This deployment has become a focal
point of a larger, and increasingly
tense, national conversation.
The federal intervention has
bypassed local elected officials,
drawing criticism and concern from
residents and civil rights leaders.
This situation highlights a growing
friction between federal executive
power and local governance.
The use of military forces for roles
traditionally handled by civilian
law enforcement, particularly in a
politically charged atmosphere, risks
blurring the lines of authority and
could have long-term consequences for
public perception of the military.
The situation may soon
expand beyond Washington.
Reports emerged on August 24 that
the Pentagon has been developing
plans for a potential military
deployment to Chicago, which could
involve several thousand National
Guard members as early as September.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
stated that his office had received
no outreach from the federal
government and that no emergency
exists to warrant such a deployment.
In a direct response, the Mayor of
Chicago signed an order on August 30
to resist any potential federal troop
deployment, setting the stage for
a possible jurisdictional conflict.
Force Modernization, Technology,
and Branch-Specific News
This week saw a significant organizational
shift aimed at addressing one of
modern warfare's most urgent threats.
On August 28, the Department of Defense
announced the establishment of the Joint
Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401).
This new entity will replace the Joint
Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(C-sUAS) Office and is tasked with rapidly
developing and delivering affordable
counter-drone capabilities to warfighters.
JIATF 401 will consolidate research,
development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E)
efforts and will possess significant
acquisition and procurement authority,
reflecting the high priority placed
on defeating adversary drone threats.
This move, alongside other technological
advancements, indicates a clear
strategic pivot across the department.
The lessons from ongoing conflicts,
particularly in Ukraine, have
demonstrated the battlefield dominance
of unmanned systems and space-based
assets, compelling a realignment of
resources away from legacy platforms
toward these future-focused domains.
The U.S.
Space Force marked several
critical milestones in its
institutional development.
On August 28, the service graduated its
first-ever class from its independent
Officer Training Course at Peterson
Space Force Base, a landmark achievement
in creating its own commissioning
pipeline separate from the Air Force.
Earlier, on August 18, the Space
Force published SPFI 36-2903, a
comprehensive, service-specific
instruction consolidating all dress and
appearance standards for its Guardians.
Operationally, the eighth mission of
the reusable X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
successfully launched on August 22.
Its classified mission includes
demonstrating advanced technologies
such as quantum inertial sensors for
navigation in GPS-denied environments
and advanced laser communications.
The growing importance of the space
domain was further highlighted by the
Pentagon's research and development
leadership, which issued a stark warning
about the need to dramatically expand the
defense industrial base to meet emerging
threats, particularly the ability to
rapidly replace satellites in a conflict.
In other service news, the Air Force's
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA)
program achieved a key milestone
on August 27, when one of its
prototype platforms, the YFQ-42A,
took to the air for flight testing.
The Navy accepted delivery of a new
Ship to Shore Connector, Landing
Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 114, on
August 28 , and conducted Navy Week
outreach events in Branson/Springfield,
Missouri, from August 25-31 as part
of its 250th-anniversary celebration.
The Marine Corps also celebrated its
upcoming 250th birthday by hosting
Marine Week in Boston from August
21-25, featuring equipment displays and
extensive community engagement, with
plans for a similar event in Atlanta.
Pay, Benefits, and Quality of Life
After much anticipation, the 2025
military pay raise has been finalized.
Most service members across
the force will see a 4.5%
increase in basic pay.
However, in a significant and targeted
move, junior enlisted personnel in
the grades of E-1 through E-4 will
receive a total pay raise of 14.5%.
This increase will be implemented
in two phases: an initial 4.5%
in January, followed by an additional
10% beginning on April 1, 2025.
This is not a standard cost-of-living
adjustment but a deliberate
intervention designed to address
critical recruiting and retention
challenges among the most junior ranks.
This action, combined with other new
quality-of-life initiatives, demonstrates
that military leadership and Congress
now view compensation and living
conditions as essential components of
national security and force readiness.
The Department of Defense also announced
seven new quality-of-life initiatives
aimed at improving the well-being of
service members and their families.
Among the key programs are the
establishment of Health Care Flexible
Spending Accounts (HCFSAs), which will
allow service members to contribute up
to $3,200 annually in pre-tax earnings
to pay for eligible medical expenses.
Additionally, lodging allowances
for permanent change of station
(PCS) moves are being extended; the
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) for
moves within the continental U.S.
will increase from 14 to 21 days,
and the Temporary Lodging Allowance
(TLA) for departures from overseas
locations will be extended to 60 days.
The DoD is also launching pilot programs
to provide free wireless internet access
in unaccompanied housing, or barracks.
The Army is pursuing its own housing
improvements, meeting with industry
partners to discuss further privatization
and planning the launch of a Resident
Energy Conservation Program in Fiscal
Year 2026 to incentivize energy savings.
Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel
Retirement Pay and Benefits
For military retirees, the
2025 Cost of Living Adjustment
(COLA) has been set at 2.5%.
This increase, tied to the Consumer Price
Index, will apply to monthly retirement
pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities.
While lower than the adjustments of the
past few years, which were driven by high
inflation, this figure is consistent with
the average COLA over the last decade.
The Defense Finance and Accounting
Service (DFAS) has announced a procedural
change for certain retirees paying
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums.
Starting in August 2025, retirees
who pay their SBP premiums via
direct remittanceâmeaning they do
not have sufficient retired pay from
which to deduct the premiumsâwill no
longer be billed by the Treasury's
Centralized Receivables Service.
Instead, they will be billed
directly by DFAS and will make
payments through the Pay.gov
website.
This shift requires affected retirees to
ensure their mailing address is current
with DFAS to receive the new billing
statements and instructions, placing a
greater administrative responsibility
on them to maintain their benefits.
The pay schedule for
2025 remains consistent.
Retirees will receive their pay on
the first business day of the month.
If the first of the month falls on a
weekend or a holiday, the payment will
be issued on the preceding business day.
Healthcare and Community Engagement
The upcoming TRICARE regional changes
will affect military retirees who
are not yet eligible for Medicare.
Those under age 65 residing in the
six states moving to the West Region
(Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin) will
need to transition to the new regional
contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
This may require them to find new
in-network healthcare providers
and will necessitate creating new
online accounts and updating payment
information to ensure continuity of care.
These administrative shifts, while
individually manageable, contribute
to an increasing workload for
retirees, who must remain vigilant
and technologically adept to manage
their earned benefits effectively.
It is important to note that
these regional contract changes do
not affect retirees who are enrolled
in TRICARE For Life, as that program
is administered separately and
interfaces directly with Medicare.
For retirees, especially those living
overseas, Retiree Appreciation Days
(RADs) remain a vital resource.
An upcoming RAD in the Kaiserslautern
Military Community in Germany on
September 30, 2025, serves as an
example of these events, which provide
retirees and their spouses with direct
access to experts on Social Security,
Medicare, and other federal benefits.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
Major VA Announcements and Initiatives
The Department of Veterans
Affairs announced several major
achievements this week, showcasing
progress across key service areas.
On August 27, the VA awarded more
than $818 million in grants to 235
organizations across the country
dedicated to assisting veterans who are
homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The following day, on August 26,
the department announced it had
guaranteed its 29 millionth home loan
since the program's creation in 1944.
This milestone was accompanied by a 19%
increase in home loan processing this
year compared to the same period in 2024.
In healthcare, the VA received
high marks for quality.
A report released on August 29
revealed that more than three-quarters
of VA hospitals earned four- or
five-star ratings in the 2025 Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) hospital quality ratings.
The department is also taking
proactive steps to combat the
opioid crisis by expanding access
to naloxone (Narcan®) kits.
These kits, which can reverse the effects
of an opioid overdose, are being provided
free to veterans through various outreach
events and a new automated call pilot
program being tested in Minneapolis.
Reinforcing its commitment to a broader
community, the VA continues to operate
under its updated mission statement:
"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".
This mission statement, officially
changed in March 2023, was designed
to be more inclusive of all who have
served, particularly women veterans,
as well as the families and support
systems crucial to their well-being.
Access to Care and Benefits
The VA has implemented significant
policy changes to improve veterans'
access to earned benefits.
Following a 2024 Supreme Court
decision, the VA updated its process
for awarding GI Bill benefits.
Many veterans who served multiple
periods of service (for example,
those who reenlisted) will now be
eligible for up to 48 months of total
education benefits, an increase from
the previous 36-month limitation.
This policy change could
positively impact as many as 1.04
million veterans and their beneficiaries.
Access to healthcare is
also being streamlined.
The VA announced it will now offer
year-long community care authorizations
for 30 standardized types of care.
This change means veterans referred
to eligible community providers
will receive a full 12 months of
uninterrupted treatment before
needing a reauthorization from the VA.
This policy is intended to reduce
administrative red tape and
prevent the disruptions in care
that sometimes occurred under the
previous system, which required
reevaluations every 90 to 180 days.
These announcements of expanded services
and record performance present a
notable contrast with the department's
concurrent workforce strategy.
A VA press release from July indicated
that the department is on pace to
reduce its total staff by nearly 30,000
employees by the end of fiscal year
2025, primarily through attrition,
early retirements, and a hiring freeze.
While the VA asserts these reductions
will not impact veteran care and are
the result of efficiency gains and
the centralization of administrative
functions, the ability to significantly
increase output and quality while
simultaneously shrinking the workforce
will be a critical challenge to monitor.
And that's your Weekly Briefing.
Staying on top of these changes
is key to navigating your career,
your retirement, and your benefits.
Thank you for tuning in.
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Weâll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most
to the military and veteran community.
