Military Officer Magazine

I am a  From left, VA Deputy Secretary Dr. Paul Lawrence, Acting Medical Center Director for VA Battle Creek Health Care Natasha Watson, and Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) speak with Battle Creek staff on April 11 to mark the launch of the Federal Electronic Health Record at the facility. Lawrence told lawmakers in September that an additional $17 billion to complete the record rollout nationwide would not necessarily go to Oracle, but provided few additional details.

Estimates for next year’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in uniformed services retirement pay, Social Security checks, VA disability compensation, and other programs put the increase at the highest level since COVID-influenced spikes in the early 2020s. The latest projections place the upcoming COLA at 3.5% or 3.6%, more than the 2.8% increase made to this year’s checks and the highest since the 8.7% hike announced nearly four years ago.

I am a  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers a "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) One in five positions held by generals and admirals will be cut as part of Pentagon plans confirmed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a “State of the Force” speech Sept.

Surviving spouses and families of fallen servicemembers and veterans took to Capitol Hill last week to meet with lawmakers and staffers in support of key legislation that would help survivors, military families, and veterans across the country. Members of MOAA’s government relations team again joined advocates from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) on Sept.

I am a  Just_Super/Getty Images Unauthorized users accessed the records of millions of military-connected individuals housed in a Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) system, according to multiple media reports. DMDC officials discovered the breach July 16, according to a notice sent to one of the individuals. The notice went out Sept. 18, according to a Military Times report.

For many uniformed service couples, celebrating a service birthday is more than marking a date on the calendar. Birthday balls, ceremonies, traditions, and gatherings have long been important parts of service life, shared with spouses and families. For a surviving spouse, the loss of a loved one can also mean unexpectedly losing some of those traditions and connections to the military community.

I am a  Massimo Ravera/Getty Images By Col. William D. Bushnell, USMC (Ret) From iconic land and sea battles across the centuries to new perspectives on Vietnam, the Civil War, and World War I, these five vintage works make perfect fall reads. You can purchase the books at the links in the titles below – note that some links may point to updated versions/reprints, or to hard-to-find (and expensive) originals. No selections have audiobooks available.

I am a  songsak chalardpongpun/Getty Images If you’re a tech-friendly job seeker, you might be wondering how to use artificial intelligence more effectively in your job search. If you are not a tech-friendly type, or if you’ve been reading any number of the “Don’t Use AI”-focused articles online, you might be wondering how to avoid it altogether. Leveraging AI as a tool in your job search can be very effective. It can also be a hindrance.

I am a  MOAA image While Congress was home for the August recess, MOAA’s grassroots advocate network took action.

I am a  Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images Much-needed improvements to the military health system lead a list of MOAA priorities for the FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), must-pass legislation that will take shape in the closing weeks of the 119th Congress. A letter from MOAA to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees sent Sept.