The Army announced its partnership with the United Football League last month. This move is a step forward for the Army, which hopes to increase recruitment.

The United Football League, or UFL, formed from a merger of the United States Football League and the XFL. Separate from the National Football League, NFL, the UFL has eight teams in its inaugural season. As part of the partnership, the Army logo will be featured on jerseys and in stadium ads. By partnering with the UFL, the Army gains access to a platform that enables them to engage with a demographic that aligns closely with their target audience. Football games draw large crowds, both in-person and through televised broadcasts, providing the Army with significant visibility and exposure. This partnership allows the Army to reach potential recruits in a context where they are already passionate and engaged.

Through this partnership, the Army aims to leverage football’s influence to inspire young adults to consider a career in the military. There are parallels between the football world and the military community: commitment, physical fitness, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, strategy, preparation, and vision. The Army hopes to attract individuals who possess the qualities necessary to excel as soldiers.

The Army’s goal is to bring in 55,000 new recruits in 2024. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said in a congressional hearing “I think we feel that we have a good shot at making that goal this year.” Due to several factors, the military service branches have fallen short on recruitment in previous years. In addition to the UFL campaign, the Army has implemented soldier prep courses to help new recruits meet standards and focus on innovation. Time will tell if the shift in recruitment efforts impacts recruitment goals.

Overall, this partnership is strategic approach to recruiting that capitalizes on the widespread appeal of football to engage with potential recruits and promote the opportunities available through military service. It also aligns with the findings of the RAND study on the Army’s recruitment spending – most funding is in digital advertising, which makes sense since it reaches the largest group and can make the largest impact.  Will Gen Z want to join the Army? Will the recruitment efforts pay off? The goal of 55,000 is set.

In February, a significant cyberattack rattled health networks across various regions. The attack targeted healthcare organizations, exploiting vulnerabilities in their digital infrastructure and disrupting essential services. As a result, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities faced disruptions in their operations, including delays in patient care, cancellation of appointments, and difficulties in accessing medical records. The cyberattack was on the nation’s largest commercial prescription processor, Change Healthcare (CHC). Military pharmacies were included in this impact.

When the cyberattack occurred, CHC disconnected its systems as part of a safety mechanism. Affected pharmacies moved to other means to calculate dosage, track prescriptions, and ensure safe prescriptions were provided. As of April 2^nd, the system is back to full operational status and military pharmacies have returned to standard operations.

The incident underscored the importance of investing in cybersecurity infrastructure, implementing encryption technologies, and enhancing employee training to mitigate the risks of future cyberattacks, especially in the realm of healthcare where personal information is stored electronically. Electronic medical records allow for seamless access across healthcare networks, which is especially helpful for military members and their families seeking are at various Military Treatment Facilities, or MTFs, around the world. Prescriptions are electronic to allow for ease of filling. Some medications, like controlled substances, are required to be sent electronically, with exceptions made for outages like what happened with the cyberattack.

After the cyberattack, healthcare organizations faced the daunting task of restoring normal operations and rebuilding trust among patients and stakeholders. The process of returning to normalcy involved several key steps and challenges, each requiring careful planning, coordination, and execution.

Ultimately, the return to normal operations after a cyberattack required a comprehensive and coordinated effort involving all levels of the organization, from frontline staff to senior leadership. By implementing robust cybersecurity measures, enhancing incident response capabilities, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, healthcare organizations could mitigate the impact of future cyber threats and safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of patient data.

The repercussions of the cyberattack extended beyond immediate disruptions, reverberating throughout the healthcare industry and prompting calls for greater vigilance and preparedness. Healthcare providers were urged to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, collaborate with cybersecurity experts, and remain vigilant against emerging cyber threats. Additionally, policymakers and regulatory bodies were prompted to reevaluate cybersecurity standards and regulations to better protect healthcare systems and patient data from malicious cyber activity.

A return to normal operations is excellent, coupled with continuous monitoring and threat intelligence to aid in swift responses to potential security incidents and minimize the risk of further disruption.

Did you have to file a pharmacy claim? You can learn more about pharmacy claims. Or you can contact Express Scripts.
 
Do you have questions about filling your prescriptions? You can contact your local military pharmacy or TRICARE retail network pharmacy.
 
Want to learn more? You can visit TRICARE prescription drug coverage and pharmacy options.

Over the past two decades, the landscape of military service has undergone significant transformation. On the news, you see active service of serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, moldy barracks, and issues with on-base military housing. The military lifestyle doesn’t sound so glamorous. Serve in a desert? Live in a barrack room with mold? Risk life and limb for what pay? What is good about serving in 2024?

Serving in the military in 2024 offers many benefits and opportunities for individuals seeking a meaningful and rewarding career path. As the world continues evolving, so does the military’s role. The military is not just a presence for war but also to pursue technological developments. The world as we know it is changing. And while it doesn’t have the flying hoverboards that Back to the Future predicted, it has some pretty amazing technological advances. Drones are utilized not just for Amazon deliveries, but for intelligence gathering. Cyberskills are needed to rival that of Timothy McGee’s character on NCIS. While McGee is just a character, cyber and gaming skills are skills utilized in the military sphere.

The military provides opportunities for individual professional development and advancement. Through certificates, training, and specific schools through the years, the military offers a way to advance in their current field. Whether through on-the-job training, advanced education programs, or specialized certifications, military personnel have access to resources and opportunities for professional growth that can benefit them both during their time in service and beyond. The military offers tuition assistance, allowing military members to pursue higher education with cost assistance. On each installation, community colleges or universities offer classes and certificates for areas of interest. These allow for an expansion of learning and interests.

Service in the military provides individuals with a sense of purpose and belonging that is unparalleled in any other profession. Military service is not just a job; it is a commitment to something greater than oneself—defending the nation, upholding freedom and democracy, and protecting the rights and liberties of others. This sense of duty and honor instills a deep sense of pride and fulfillment in service members, who know that their contributions are making a difference in the world and leaving a legacy for future generations.

Military service provides networking opportunities. When pursuing their individual interests through shared experiences, the military members and their families build a network of individuals. This network is called upon throughout time in the military career, but also once out of the military field for either career opportunities or continued personal relationships.

Serving in the military provides opportunities for leadership and responsibility at every level. From leading small teams and units to commanding large-scale operations, military personnel are entrusted with significant responsibilities that test their leadership abilities and decision-making skills. These leadership experiences contribute to personal growth and development and prepare service members for leadership roles in civilian careers or future endeavors.

In conclusion, serving in the military in 2024 offers many advantages and opportunities for individuals seeking a rewarding and fulfilling career path. From professional development and educational opportunities, military service provides a unique combination of benefits that can enrich the lives of service members and their families. As the world continues to evolve, the military’s role remains as vital as ever, ensuring the safety, security, and prosperity of our nation and its citizens.

“The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate authority, the government will be safe.”  – Thomas Jefferson

Our forefathers, Thomas Jefferson included, saw a new world formed—a world where individuals would keep the government in check and prevent overzealous leaders from pushing their taxes and personal agendas on them. For this government to be successful, individuals need to participate. Our participation in government comes in many forms, but the main one is voting.

“This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” – Alexander Hamilton

Not all elections are presidential elections. While these are the most publicized and likely the most contentious, there are elections at every level. Within your voting residence, you are voting for local chairpersons, mayors, and congresspeople who represent the individuals of that district. To know who is on the ballot and what to expect for platforms, you need to be registered to vote.

Registration

Every vote counts, and collectively, they shape the direction of governance, impact social issues, and determine the allocation of resources. From the small allocation of local funds at the city level, to state to the nation, voting impacts where funding is spent. Voting protects the ability to vote in the future. Voting often decides where resources schools get, which roads are repaired and how many snow trucks to have at the ready. The first step to sharing your opinion on these topics is to register to vote.

Register to vote at vote.gov

For military voters, the Federal Voting Assistance Program, FVAP, provides the ability to vote absentee. Need help registering to vote? Look up your base here to contact the Installation Voter Assistance Office.

Absentee Ballots

Active-duty military and their dependents who live outside their voting residence can vote absentee. Submit a Federal Post Card Application. This form can be printed and sent in annually to ensure that your information is up to date and ready to be utilized for every election you are eligible to vote in.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to absentee voters at least 45 days before federal elections, so look out for your ballot around this time period before an expected election. Contact your local voting office if you haven’t received your absentee ballot and are expecting one. Find your voting residence here.

A few reminders for the military voter:

• Update Your Address: If you want your absentee ballot to arrive, you must have the correct address for the registrar to mail it to.
• Update Any Preferences: Don’t forget if you want to vote in certain party preliminaries, you must be registered to vote for that party.

In conclusion, voting is not merely a right; it is a responsibility and a privilege that should be cherished and exercised by all eligible citizens. The outcomes of elections have far-reaching consequences that affect individuals, families, and communities for years to come. By casting your ballot, you can shape the future, advocate for your beliefs, and create positive change in society.  Voting is a cornerstone of democracy and every American citizen should commit to participating actively in the electoral process, ensuring that our voices are heard and our values upheld in the halls of power.

How do you overcome voter apathy in the United States? Since 1990, the nonpartisan non-profit Rock the Vote has encouraged young voters to get out and rock the vote. One area of young people especially affected by voter apathy is the military, and it isn’t necessarily for the reasons expected. The challenges of voting via absentee ballot are especially difficult for military members who frequently move or deploy and are unable to update with a current address in the timeframe that voter registration requires or the ballot is never received in the state. VotingWorks hopes to fill that gap.

According to the Federal Voting Assistance Program, 75% of eligible military members vote absentee due to being stationed away from their home precincts. If a service member is deployed, receiving the absentee ballot with enough time to complete and enough time for it to be received in a timely manner is challenging. In 2020, FVAP found that military voter turnout was 27 percentage points lower than civilian voters with similar characteristics. 

VotingWorks is working on technology that would specifically improve the military absentee statistic.  This is in answer to a research project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to address the challenges of service members voting in their home districts while stationed elsewhere. The project has specific goals, including casting the ballot and confirming that the vote was counted.

The current solution is a digitally encrypted ballot on a deployable terminal using the military common access card (CAC). In a time period when secure networks and computers can be utilized at home by service members, why can’t a CAC be utilized to authenticate and digitally complete and sign a voting ballot? The deployable terminal would then print a paper ballot with a mailing label and send it to the service member’s home state. The paper ballot ensures that there is a ballot available for the audit which typically occurs four weeks after the election.

There are logistical challenges to overcome – submarines, for instance, are not going to be able to transmit ballots. Working out the logistics will take time and effort, but any increase in voter turnout is a move in the right direction. Military service members train and are ready to lay down their life for their country, their vote should be counted and matter.

Esports, short for electronic sports, has emerged as a global phenomenon, captivating millions of enthusiasts across the world. Defined as competitive video gaming, esports goes above traditional notions of recreation, evolving into a multi-billion dollar industry with professional leagues, tournaments, and dedicated fan bases. It isn’t a surprise why – Esports combines the love of electronic gaming entertainment with competition. With the rise of live-streaming platforms and social media, there is wider access to esports, fostering vibrant communities and elevating talented players to celebrity status. As esports gain mainstream momentum, they shape the landscape of digital culture and redefine the notion of sports in the 21st century. The military service branches of the Navy, Army, and Air Force have developed competitive eSports teams.

The Navy Esports team is called Goats and Glory – a nod to the Goat mascot of the U.S. Naval College. The team comprises skilled sailors in all positions and jobs within the Navy, but have technical skills in the gaming world.

The Navy MWR plans to run a fitness challenge in the Spring of 2024 where sailors around the world can compete to win prizes like Xboxes, iPads, gift cards, jerseys, and more. Information is pending, but interested individuals can sign up for the Esports Newsletter here.

The Army eSports team is made of soldiers from active duty and reserves. The team is based out of Fort Knox and travels around the U.S. to compete in competitive gaming events. Travel to competitions is paid for by the Army, in addition to any expenses of certifications or other requirements. The team showcases the various skills and different backgrounds of soldiers, but all with a common interest in a strength in gaming, which may appeal to the younger generations, demonstrating their relatability to the Army.

The Air Force gaming and esports program is open to all Airmen and Guardians, without specificity of rank, age, or background. The gaming community is open to Active Duty, veterans, family, and associated groups within the Air Force. USAA sponsored the gaming league in 2023, with two sections of DAFGL Pro and DAFGL Casual. The DAFGL Pro is the pinnacle competitive team with prizes on offer. The DAFGL Pro team is open to active duty, Guard, Reserves, and DOD civilians with access to a military base. The DAFGL Casual team is open to all who are interested and enthusiastic about gaming. Those who meet the criteria and are interested in joining the gaming community can email contact@airforcegaming.com.

The addition of esports teams within the military branches represents a forward-thinking approach to harnessing technology, teamwork, and strategic thinking. These are skills important for and needed in the military context, and gaming brings them into modern times. By embracing esports, the military branches provide opportunities for skill development and camaraderie among service members and cultivate a deeper understanding of emerging technologies and digital landscapes. As these teams grow and evolve, they serve as a testament to the adaptability of the armed forces in the modern world.

Marines are known around the world for their “cleanest bodies..[and] highest morale,” as Eleanor Roosevelt stated. It is imperative to maintain the highest standards of discipline, cleanliness, and safety within our barracks facilities to reflect those standards and ideals. The Marine Corps is preparing to inspect every barracks around the world. By March 15^th, someone of Gunnery Sergeant or higher must examine each barracks room and each squad bay, and unlike the typical inspections after field day, these inspectors are outside of the chain of command for those areas.

The goal of the inspections is to ensure that the rooms and spaces are clean, safe, and healthy. They will also inspect the usability of furniture and appliances.  Per General Christopher Mahoney, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, the inspections are part of the Barracks 2030 initiative and will provide baseline information on “what condition these barracks are in.” There have been reports of mold, appliance issues, and faulty water heaters in the barracks. These inspections will bring to light what issues there are and what repairs are needed in each location.

The SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz, spoke to the Armed Forces Committee at a congressional hearing in regard to these inspections. “The quality of a Marines home is essential to their readiness,” he stated, and the Barracks 2030 project includes “deliberate investments to improve our barracks within the Corps.” He further stated during the testimony that planned repairs include fixing broken locks, replacing outdated furniture, and ensuring rapid maintenance responses. Long term, there will be further investments per General Mahoney as he desires to spend upwards of $1.5 billion on the barracks versus the $300 million currently spent on average.

Another part of the Barracks 2030 initiative, civilians will be placed in managerial positions at the barracks in the long term to ensure that the barracks will be maintained. The barracks maintenance and care are typically managed by military personnel as a secondary duty.

“Taking care of Marines is a warfighting function,” said Gen. Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps at the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) Installation Innovation Forum (IIF) in November of 2023. “Otherwise, they cannot focus on the mission at hand. Barracks, chow halls, and gyms are key to retaining Marines, and investments in quality-of-life initiatives are truly warfighting needs.”

There are no reports on how, where, or if the findings will be shared publicly, but with the promise of Marine Corps leaders, the Corps-wide inspections are a step in the direction to correct the barracks concerns.

Two letters from Soldiers, one a chaplain and one a company commander, have brought to light issues with BAS deductions despite meals not being eaten. BAS is provided to military personnel to assist in covering meals. This is deducted with meals eaten in the chow hall or during field exercises. However, the chaplain raised concerns that these meals may not follow some individuals’ religious guidelines. The DOD Comptroller guide does not have published guidance on BAS when meals aren’t eaten or for the concern of religious reasons when the chow hall cannot meet their needs in line with their faith traditions.

“We have had Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian [soldiers] request to reclaim their BAS due to the fact that the dining facility on the military installation cannot provide them meals in accordance with their faith tradition,” the chaplain per the letter shared by  Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

Charging for meals in light of the above creates double costs – once for the meal not eaten and second for the actual food purchased that does follow those guidelines. 

The company commander’s letter noted that while in the field, soldiers did not have the opportunity to eat certain meals, but the amount was still deducted.

These letters have garnered the attention of DC legislators, but any legislation would not be passed until the NDAA, which would not go into effect until 2025. The double costs and deductions are happening now and should be addressed sooner than next year. Army officials are looking into proposals to assist now, recognizing that the religious dietary restrictions may not be accommodated at every chow hall or exercise.

The BAS amounts shift with costs, and for 2023, they are $316.98 per month for officers and $460.24 per month for enlisted. With the cost of food in general rising, specialty foods like Hallal and Kosher items, for example, have also increased in cost. 

There are also periods of fasting where the individual may not be eating at all but still getting charged. The charges occur during field exercises when soldiers may not have the time to stop and get meals during the open chow hall hours. Every amount adds up over time, and with an annual salary of $28,530.00 for an E3 with less than two years’ experience, that monthly amount can be substantial. 

No word on what those accommodations will be have been publicly shared at the time of the publication of this piece.

Have you or someone you knew had BAS charged when unable to utilize the meals?

Per the National Safety Council, over 100,000 people died in America from drug overdoses in 2021. Of these numbers, about 92,000 were listed as preventable.  A Rolling Stone report exposed a rising number of overdose deaths among the military, specifically at then-named Fort Bragg, North Carolina, now named Fort Liberty. When the report was released, Senator Edward Markey, John Cornyn, Elizabeth Warren, Lisa Murkowski, and Martin Heinrich sent a letter to Secretary Austin requesting specific information on the deaths and non-fatal overdoses occurring in the military. The Pentagon investigated these numbers and determined that the overdoses were increasing at the same velocity they had increased in the civilian population. As a result, the military will start compiling data in 2024 on overdoses among military members.

Per an article on Military.com, 330 service members have died of drug overdoses from 2017 to 2021, with 10% of those deaths occurring at Fort Liberty. In addition, 15,000 troops suffered non-fatal overdoses, with most being accidental. The annual defense bill requires the military to track the overdose locations, demographics, if the service member sought mental health treatment, and any prescriptions of opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants that are known to be addictive and increase the risk for overdose.

The DEA has recommended that any individual prescribed an opioid be prescribed naloxone. Naloxone, or Narcan, is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, which can quickly wake up a person who has taken too much opioid and returned to normal breathing patterns. It is a nasal spray that can easily be given to anyone with a possible overdose and by anyone without any medical training. As part of the NDAA, the military must make a plan to make Narcan available to all military troops. Some U.S. cities, like San Diego, have made Narcan available in publicly accessible vending machines for a much more affordable price than the pharmacies charge for the medication through patient’s insurance. Having Narcan available for any and all means that anyone can purchase the medication on hand if it is never needed in an emergency, even without a prescription or ever having been prescribed opioids.

Another method the DEA has begun to help lessen the availability of opioids for the public to consume potentially is to enact DEA National Take Back Day. On these official days, collection sites are set up to take back any unused opioids. The schedule and collection site locator can be found here. Many military pharmacies have take back prescription collection boxes daily, which any unused prescriptions can be turned in. Turning in unused prescriptions prevents children from finding and taking the medications or even an intentional overtaking by anyone with access to the medication.

Beyond prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, or stimulants, these drugs can be purchased illegally on the street. These illegal drugs, though, are typically mixed with fentanyl to increase the sensation of feeling “high.” Fentanyl is more potent, and for those who have never taken the drug before can easily lead to opioid overdose and death.  

Over the last two decades, the war on drugs has increased and changed. The D.A.R.E. generation is beyond “just say no,” as fentanyl was not widely available on the streets of America at the time the program first started. While the D.A.R.E. program continues in the schools, more education and availability of tools to combat the opioid crisis are needed, and the DOD tracking this information within the military may help prevent further deaths among their ranks.

In a historical first, a service member has won the Miss America Pageant. Social media is abuzz with news that Madison Marsh is the first service member to win the Miss America Pageant. Viewing videos appeared all over social media as other female service members watched the results live, sharing a live view of their excitement and joy for their fellow service member. A Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and recent graduate of the Air Force Academy, Madison Marsh represented Colorado for the Miss America Pageant. She was crowned Miss Academy in 2023, representing the Air Force Academy. This crown made her eligible to compete for the Miss Colorado title, which she also won in 2023.

Per an interview, she desired to participate in pageants when she saw her cousin compete, stating, “Along the way, I’ve learned all of the leadership opportunities and especially what I can do as Miss America.” She had competed for the Miss Colorado title three times.

The Lieutenant has been flying since age 15 and received her pilot license a year later. Her love of flight led to her joining the Air Force, which is a natural progression of that love in conjunction with a desire to serve her country.  She graduated with a degree in astrophysics from the academy in 2023.

She credits the Air Force with supporting her to compete in the pageant, noting that she learned certain skills at the academy and supporting her in attending Harvard while still on active duty.  Second Lieutenant Marsh is a graduate student at the Harvard Business School pursuing a Master of Public Policy, with a planned completion date in 2025.

In addition to a love of flying and pageantry, she founded the Whitney Marsh Foundation in honor of her mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer when 2nd Lt. Marsh was just 17 years old. The foundation raises funds for cancer research while raising awareness and prevention for pancreatic cancer.

She has said in several interviews that her goal is to break stereotypes – stereotypes for military members, for female military members in the roles, and for their goals. “As a young woman in the military, as I’ve said, I believe being the first military member breaks all these boundaries about allowing women to do both. Fifteen years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to receive the position I am in now as a military member receiving the position of pilot… I think those women stepping into that role broke it for me and … being able to be Miss America and a military member breaks all those stereotypes.” She stated further she wants young women to see “they can do anything that they want.”

You can follow her tour as Miss America on their official social media pages.