Edward: 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 (NarcanÂ®) 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.