VA secretary insists massive staff cuts needed to refocus department
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins on Wednesday confirmed plans to scale back his department’s workforce by roughly 80,000 staffers in coming months, saying the moves are needed to properly balance and reform the massive federal bureaucracy. “If the answer was money and people, then we...
Top enlisted soldier promises ‘promotion reform’ for sergeants major
The Army is reviewing how it assesses, selects, promotes and assigns its sergeants major in what the service’s top enlisted soldier called short- and long-term “promotion reform.” Through 2025, the service will review all aspects of E-8 assessment and the selection process for the Sergeants...
Ostap Hel/Civivi Kitchen Knife Project Finally Set to Release
No sooner have we finished covering one batch of new Civivi models than a new group appears on the horizon. One of the most notable in the March roundup is the Cibus, a chef’s knife designed by Ostap Hel. We first saw this last year...
What troops need to know about the basic pay raise in 2025
Note: Whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs —...
War heroes, military firsts among 26,000 images flagged in DEI purge
References to a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, the Enola Gay aircraft that dropped an atomic bomb on Japan and the first women to pass Marine infantry training are among the tens of thousands of photos and online posts marked for deletion as...
What troops need to know about the GI Bill, tuition assistance in 2025
Note: Whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs —...
What service members need to know about retirement pay in 2025
Note: Whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs —...
VA to speed up health records system rollout, with new sites this year
Veterans Affairs officials plan to rapidly accelerate the rollout of the department’s new electronic health record system this year, adding up to 12 new sites to the deployment schedule by the start of 2026. In December, department leaders had announced plans to resume deployment of...
What Causes First Round Pop in Suppressors?
For many firearm enthusiasts and professionals who use suppressors, the phenomenon known as “first round pop” (FRP) is a familiar but often misunderstood occurrence. This effect, where the initial shot through a suppressor is noticeably louder than subsequent shots, can be frustrating for shooters seeking...
What troops need to know about Basic Allowance for Housing in 2025
Note: Whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs —...
