MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News
Weekly for 31 August - 6 September

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.

We’ll 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.

Here’s what’s happened this past week.

Global Engagements: Projecting
Power in Key Theaters

In Europe, U.S.

forces continued their mission
of deterring aggression

and supporting NATO allies.

Soldiers from the Massachusetts Army
National Guard's 1060th Transportation

Company returned from a support
mission in Poland, a critical hub

for NATO's eastern flank operations.

Signaling the continued growth of the
alliance, New York National Guard officers

were also preparing to travel to Sweden
to assist with a division-level command

post exercise, integrating the newest NATO
member into collective defense planning.

Closer to home, the U.S.

is escalating military operations
against drug cartels in the Caribbean.

U.S.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine,
visited Puerto Rico this week to

support ongoing training exercises.

This heightened posture includes the
deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to the

region and a major amphibious training
exercise by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary

Unit, which commenced on August 31, 2025.

Domestic Operations
and Force Modernization

On the home front, the National Guard's
dual mission was evident as over 2,000

Guard members from six states and
the District of Columbia remained on

duty in Washington as part of Joint
Task Force – District of Columbia.

These forces are providing critical
support to local and federal law

enforcement agencies to ensure public
safety in the nation's capital.

Readiness of the reserve component
is also being rigorously tested.

At Fort McCoy, Wisconsin,
approximately 7,000 Army Reserve

soldiers are participating in
Combat Support Training Exercise

(CSTX) 25, dubbed "Global Strike."

This large-scale annual exercise is
specifically designed to prepare units

for major combat operations, incorporating
training to counter modern threats

such as unmanned aircraft systems
(UAS) and the integration of artificial

intelligence on the battlefield.

Force modernization
remains a top priority.

On September 6, 2025, the U.S.

Army officially announced
its plans for the M1E3 Abrams

Tank modernization program.

This significant investment aims to
ensure the platform's technological

superiority and battlefield dominance
for decades to come, addressing the

challenges of future armored warfare.

The State of the Force:
A System Under Strain

Despite these operational and
modernization efforts, the foundation

of the All-Volunteer Force is
showing signs of significant strain.

The Department of Defense
reported a welcome 12.5%

increase in recruitment for Fiscal Year
2024, bringing in 225,000 new members.

However, Katie Helland, the Director
of Military Accession Policy,

cautioned that this success must
be viewed with cautious optimism.

The military continues to struggle
against a low propensity to serve

among American youth, a highly
competitive civilian labor market, and

a shrinking pool of eligible candidates.

The reasons for this struggle
are becoming increasingly clear.

A troubling report from the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that

a mental health screening of over 50,000
troops transitioning out of the military

in 2023 found that two-thirds were at
risk for a mental health condition.

Even more alarming, over half of those
identified with a potential issue

refused a referral for follow-up care,
indicating a persistent stigma or lack of

faith in the available support systems.

This data is reinforced by a 2023
Medical Surveillance Monthly Report

from the Military Health System,
which identified mental health

disorders as the single largest cause
of hospitalization for active-duty

service members, accounting for 31.1%

of all hospitalizations and surpassing
even pregnancy-related conditions.

In a direct response to this
escalating crisis, the Army announced

on September 1, 2025, that it is
expanding mental health support by

fully implementing the Brandon Act.

This critical policy empowers service
members to initiate a confidential mental

health evaluation referral through a
commanding officer or supervisor, a

process designed to reduce barriers and
stigma associated with seeking help.

The mental health crisis is compounded
by deteriorating living conditions

and inadequate compensation.

A landmark report from the House Armed
Services Committee's Quality of Life

Panel identified recurring, systemic
failures in five key areas: pay, housing,

healthcare, childcare, and spouse support.

A separate GAO investigation provided
stark evidence of these failures,

detailing poor barracks conditions across
the services, including sewage overflows,

mold, broken windows, and inoperable fire
systems, all of which directly impact

troop morale, health, and readiness.

The U.S.

military is effectively
fighting on two fronts.

The external front involves projecting
power globally through a high

operational tempo, which demands a
ready, resilient, and motivated force.

The internal front is a battle against the
decay of the very foundations that support

that force—inadequate pay, unsafe housing,
and a pervasive mental health crisis.

These two fronts are inextricably linked.

A demanding operational schedule
exacerbates stress and accelerates

the wear on facilities,
contributing to the physical and

mental breakdown of personnel.

This degradation of the force's
well-being directly impacts recruitment

and retention, creating a vicious cycle.

A smaller, more strained force
is less capable of meeting global

demands, which in turn increases
the stress on those who remain.

The greatest strategic
vulnerability for the U.S.

military may not be an adversary's
weapon system, but its own crumbling

foundation of personnel support.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

For the retired military community,
this week brought important updates

regarding their financial stability and
the administrative systems they rely

on to access their earned benefits.

Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service
(DFAS) has officially confirmed a 2.5

percent Cost of Living Adjustment
(COLA) for most military retired pay and

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities.

This adjustment, which is based
on the annual increase in the

Consumer Price Index, will become
effective on December 1, 2024.

The COLA is a critical mechanism
designed to protect the purchasing

power of retirement annuities
from being eroded by inflation.

Administrative and System Changes

Retirees are being advised of two
significant procedural changes

that require their attention.

First, beginning in August 2025, DFAS will
alter the payment process for retirees

who pay their Survivor Benefit Plan
(SBP) premiums via direct remittance.

Previously handled by the U.S.

Treasury's Centralized Receivables
Service (CRS), these retirees will

now be billed directly by DFAS and
must submit their payments through

the federal government's Pay.gov

website.

This is a major procedural shift
that requires affected retirees to

adapt to a new system to ensure there
is no lapse in their SBP coverage.

Second, DFAS and the Department of
Defense are continuing their push

to have all military retirees and
their eligible dependents update

their identification cards to the
new, more secure Next Generation

Uniformed Services ID (USID) card.

While retirees can make this
transition at their convenience for

the time being, officials have stated
that older, paper-based ID cards

will eventually become invalid for
accessing military installations and

the benefits they provide, such as
commissaries and healthcare facilities.

Support Systems for Retirees

The vital role of support networks
for the retired community was

also highlighted this week.

The Army Echoes newsletter, an official
publication for retired soldiers,

emphasized the continued availability
of Army Emergency Relief (AER).

AER serves as a critical financial
safety net, providing grants and

zero-interest loans to retired soldiers
and their families who face unexpected

financial hardships, such as those
resulting from natural disasters, urgent

auto repairs, or medical emergencies.

While financial adjustments like the
annual COLA are essential for the

economic well-being of retirees, the
landscape of military benefits is marked

by persistent administrative evolution.

The shift in SBP payment processing and
the mandatory upgrade to a new ID card,

while necessary for modernization and
security, place a significant bureaucratic

burden on an aging population.

For these benefits to be effective,
they must not only be funded

but also be easily accessible.

The effectiveness of the entire
retirement system is contingent on

the individual retiree's ability
to navigate an increasingly complex

and digitized administrative world.

Therefore, clear communication
and user-friendly systems are

paramount to ensure that procedural
modernizations do not inadvertently

become barriers that prevent retirees
from utilizing the benefits they have

earned over a lifetime of service.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is
in the midst of a profound transformation,

driven by the historic PACT Act.

This week's news highlights the immense
progress being made in delivering benefits

to more veterans than ever before, but it
also exposes the significant operational

and technological challenges that threaten
to undermine these landmark gains.

The PACT Act: Landmark Progress
and Implementation Challenges

The PACT Act, which expands
VA healthcare and benefits for

veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent
Orange, and other toxic substances,

continues to have a massive impact.

According to the latest data
released by the VA, more than 2.1

million veterans have now received
a toxic exposure screening

since the law was enacted.

Furthermore, as of July 2024,
the VA has approved more than 1.1

million PACT Act-related
disability claims, delivering

long-awaited care and compensation.

However, the sheer success of the PACT
Act's outreach has strained the VA's

infrastructure to a breaking point.

This was starkly
illustrated when the VA.gov

website crashed in August 2025,
as thousands of veterans rushed

to submit an "intent to file"
claim before a key deadline.

In response, the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs Chairman,

Representative Mike Bost, sent a sharply
worded letter to VA Secretary Denis

McDonough demanding a full explanation.

The letter, which required a response by
August 31, 2025, criticized the VA for its

"unacceptable" failure to anticipate and
prepare for a foreseeable surge in website

traffic, a failure that blocked veterans
from accessing their earned benefits.

Modernizing Disability
Claims and Healthcare

To cope with this unprecedented demand,
the VA is aggressively modernizing

its disability claims process.

A key component of this effort is the
Automated Decision Support (ADS) system.

This technology is designed to automate
routine administrative tasks, compile

medical evidence from various sources,
and provide claims processors with a

summary document, allowing them to make
faster and more consistent decisions.

The ADS system is currently being used in
16 of the VA's regional benefits offices

and can assist with the processing of
over 40 different disability conditions.

Financially, veterans
are set to receive a 2.5

percent cost-of-living
adjustment for their disability

compensation payments in 2025.

This increase, which mirrors the
COLA for military retirees, will

provide crucial, tax-free financial
relief to millions of veterans

with service-connected conditions.

For a single veteran with a
100% disability rating, this

adjustment will result in an annual
compensation of over $44,000.

In healthcare, the VA is
pioneering new treatments by

expanding its use of precision
medicine through pharmacogenomics.

This cutting-edge field analyzes a
veteran's unique genetic makeup to help

doctors personalize prescriptions, which
can significantly reduce adverse side

effects and improve the effectiveness of
treatments for a variety of conditions.

Addressing Veteran Needs

Oversight of existing programs
remains a key concern for Congress.

This week, a House subcommittee held a
hearing to examine the VA's Fiduciary

Program, which is responsible for
appointing and overseeing individuals

who manage the VA benefits for over
67,000 vulnerable veterans who are

unable to manage their own finances.

Lawmakers raised serious concerns
about the VA's ability to prevent,

investigate, and remedy instances of
fraud and misuse of funds, calling

for enhanced oversight and streamlined
procedures to protect these beneficiaries.

On a technical note, the VA is reminding
all veterans and their families that

they must switch from the old DS Logon
system to a more secure Login.gov

or ID.me

account by September 30, 2025.

This transition is mandatory to
maintain uninterrupted online access

to VA benefits and healthcare services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is
currently caught in a paradox of progress.

Historic legislative achievements
like the PACT Act have successfully

encouraged millions of veterans to
seek the benefits they are owed.

This has created an unprecedented wave of
demand that the VA's aging infrastructure

and bureaucracy are struggling to handle.

The result is critical system
failures, like the VA.gov

website crash, which erode veteran trust
at the very moment the VA is delivering

more benefits to more people than ever.

The push to modernize with technology
like the ADS system is the VA's primary

strategy to resolve this paradox by
increasing its processing capacity.

However, this technological solution
is being rolled out gradually and

does not fix all underlying issues.

The future of veteran services will
be defined not just by the passage

of new laws, but by the VA's ability
to build a robust, scalable, and

trustworthy infrastructure to deliver
on those promises without collapsing

under the weight of its own success.

Congressional Watch: Legislative
Impact and Future Priorities

An analysis of congressional
activity for the week of August 31

to September 6, 2025, reveals a focus
on the implementation and oversight

of existing laws rather than the
introduction of new legislation.

The legislative conversation is dominated
by the execution of recently passed

bills and the priorities being set for
the next major defense policy package.

Recently Enacted Laws in Focus

Two recently enacted laws are in
their crucial implementation phase:

Wounded Warrior Access Act (Public
Law 118-21): This law addresses a

long-standing frustration for veterans
by requiring the VA to establish a

secure online portal for them or their
representatives to request records

related to their benefits claims.

The law mandates that the VA must
acknowledge receipt of a request

within 10 days and fulfill it within
120 days, aiming to streamline

a notoriously slow process.

The bill can be reviewed as H.R.

1226.

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2023 (Public Law

118-6): This is the legislation
that authorized the 2.5%

COLA for VA disability compensation
and Dependency and Indemnity

Compensation (DIC) for survivors,
which was discussed earlier.

The bill can be reviewed as S.

777.

Shaping the Future: The FY25
NDAA and Quality of Life

The contours of the Fiscal Year 2025
National Defense Authorization Act

(NDAA) are being heavily influenced by
the findings of the House Armed Services

Committee's Quality of Life Panel.

The panel has put forth a clear and
ambitious set of recommendations that

signal a major legislative push to address
the military's internal readiness crises

:   15% Pay Raise for Junior Enlisted: A
landmark proposal to increase basic pay

across the board for service members in
the grades of E-1 through E-4, directly

targeting financial hardship among
the most junior members of the force.

Full Basic Allowance for Housing
(BAH): A recommendation to reverse a

previous 5% reduction and restore BAH
to cover 100 percent of calculated

housing costs in a given area.

Childcare Fee Elimination: A proposal
to require all military services

to cover 100 percent of childcare
fees for the first child of staff

members enrolled in a Department of
Defense Child Development Program.

Full Funding for Barracks: A directive
to compel the military services to

fully fund their stated requirements
for unaccompanied housing sustainment,

restoration, and modernization (FSRM),
addressing the unsafe and inadequate

conditions documented in recent reports.

The current legislative environment
demonstrates a significant lag.

The solutions being implemented today,
such as improved records access for

veterans, are responses to problems
that have been identified for years.

Meanwhile, the urgent crises facing
the force right now—inadequate pay for

junior troops, crumbling barracks, and
a shortage of affordable childcare—are

being addressed with solutions that
are still in the recommendation phase.

The process of drafting, debating,
passing, and implementing these

proposals into the next NDAA
will take at least another year.

This inherent delay in the political
process means service members and their

families are perpetually living in the
gap between when a problem is identified

and when a solution is finally delivered.

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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We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

to the military and veteran community.