U.S. Department of Defense
Military & Veterans News
DoD Releases Policies to Ensure Access to Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care
On October 20, 2022, the Secretary of Defense released a memorandum, “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” directing the Department to take a series of actions to ensure Service members and their families are able to access non-covered reproductive health care.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Announces 61st Annual United States Senate Youth Program Military Mentors
The Department of Defense (DoD) today announced the 17 U.S. military officers selected to serve as Armed Forces ambassadors in support of the 61st Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week, which returns to in person in Washington, D.C., March 4-11.
Military & Veterans News
DOD Now Accepting Applications for New Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot
The Defense Department launched a 12-week paid fellowship program to expand employment opportunities for eligible military spouses.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Releases 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates
The Department of Defense has released the 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing rates. Basic Allowance for Housing rates will increase an average of 12.1 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2023. An estimated $26.8 billion will be paid to approximately one million Service members. The significant increase in average BAH rates is reflective of the unique market conditions experienced across many locations nationwide over the past year. While average BAH rates increased substantially, different rental markets experience different market trends, and the 2023 BAH rates reflect those geographic market condition differences.
Military & Veterans News
Department of Defense Releases Annual Demographics Report — Upward Trend in Number of Women Serving Continues
While the overall size of our military remained steady, the percentage of women serving on active duty and in the Reserve component continues to grow in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks, according to the newly released 2021 Demographics Profile of the Military Community.
Military & Veterans News
DOD Launches Survey to Enhance the Exceptional Family Member Program
The Defense Department launched its 2022 Exceptional Family Member Program survey today. The results will help the DOD prioritize solutions that help meet the needs of military families with special needs.
Military & Veterans News
The Department of Defense Appoints Dr. Liz Clark as New Director, Defense Suicide Prevention Office
Liz Clark, Ed.D., has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service as the Director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO), a component of the DoD Defense Human Resources Activity, aligned to the Office of Force Resiliency for policy direction. Dr. Clark will be responsible for the development of DoD non-clinical suicide prevention programs that promote and enhance suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention with the goal of reducing stigma and increasing the awareness to facilitate help-seeking behaviors. In this role, Dr. Clark will oversee non-clinical suicide prevention program development and evaluation, data surveillance, research, and outreach and engagement in support of more than 2 million Service members and over 2.5 million military family members worldwide.
Military & Veterans News
Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Passing of Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
I was deeply saddened to learn of the untimely passing of former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. Today, the entire Department of Defense mourns the loss of a towering intellect, a steadfast leader, a devoted mentor to countless public servants, and a great patriot who devoted his life to strengthening the security of the country that he loved.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Schools Ranked Best in the United States on Nation's Report Card
Fourth and eighth-grade students attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools led the nation in scoring on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Reading and Mathematics Assessments.
Military & Veterans News
DOD Announces Efforts to Ensure Access to Reproductive Health Care
Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the Department will take all appropriate action, within its authority and consistent with applicable federal law, as soon as possible to ensure that Service members and their families can access reproductive health care and health care providers can operate effectively.
Military & Veterans News
$1 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $1 billion to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs. This authorization is the Biden Administration’s eighteenth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. It is the largest single drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment utilizing this authority, and this package provides a significant amount of additional ammunition, weapons, and equipment - the types of which the Ukrainian people are using so effectively to defend their country.
Military & Veterans News
$270 Million in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $270 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine. This includes President Biden’s announcement of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $175 million, as well as $95 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds.
Military & Veterans News
Defense Department Announces Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal
Today, the Secretary of Defense established the Atomic Veterans Commemorative Service Medal to commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans who were instrumental in the development of our Nation's atomic and nuclear weapons programs.
Military & Veterans News
Michael Bloomberg Sworn In as Defense Innovation Board Chair
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presided today over the swearing in of Michael R. Bloomberg as chair of the Defense Innovation Board.
Military & Veterans News
Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer John Basilone
The Navy will christen the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) during a 10:30 a.m. EDT ceremony on Saturday, June 18, at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
Military & Veterans News
$1 Billion in Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine
This afternoon, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $1 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine. This includes an authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $350 million, as well as $650 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds.
Military & Veterans News
Department of Defense Updates Policy on HIV-Positive Service Members
This week, the Secretary of Defense updated the Department’s policies on Human Immunodeficiency Virus-positive personnel serving within the Armed Forces in view of significant advances in the diagn
Military & Veterans News
DoD Announces Dr. Craig Martell as Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer
The Department of Defense announces Dr. Craig Martell as Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO). Dr. Martell brings extensive industry experience and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.
Military & Veterans News
Defense Department New Website to Navigate Innovation Opportunities
The Department of Defense announced today an “Innovation Pathways” website providing a “one-stop shop” for the DoD innovation ecosystem. Located at www.ctoinnovation.mil, the site serves as a gateway to the Department’s efforts to bring in new ideas and technology, with a special focus on students, universities, and businesses.
Military & Veterans News
DoD Chief Technology Officer Delivers First Congressional Testimony
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee on April 6, 2022. It was the first Congressional testimony Shyu provided since being confirmed in her current position in July, 2021.
Military & Veterans News
Department of Defense (DoD) Announces Supplemental Grant Awards
The Department of Defense announced $3.6 million in Supplemental Support for Research Trainees (SSRT) awards to 34 early career researchers pursuing basic research across multiple scientific disciplines. These one-year funding add-ons to existing DoD grants will help offset the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the continued work of 25 PhD candidates and nine postdoctoral fellows at universities across the United States.
Military & Veterans News
DOD Establishes 5G and Future Generation Wireless Cross-Functional Team
The Department of Defense announced today the establishment of a 5G and FutureG cross-functional team that will accelerate the adoption of transformative 5G and future generation wireless networking technologies to ensure its forces can operate effectively anywhere, including in contested networks. Congress mandated the establishment of the CFT in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to enrich collaboration and integration across the DoD and with the private sector to accelerate the delivery of new capabilities to the warfighter.
Military & Veterans News
Department of Defense Technology Vision for an Era of Competition
The Department of Defense announced today a new technology vision established by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu.
Military & Veterans News
Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on COVID Status
Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III I tested positive this morning for COVID-19. I requested the test today after exhibiting symptoms while at home on leave.