The newly created Military Spouse Commission has opened an online form to allow those with vested interests in the commission to submit comments. President Donald Trump created the commission on Monday via an executive order to support the lives and experiences of spouses of those enlisted in service. The commission will provide recommendations to address themes including housing, employment, health care and childcare. There are more than 1 million military spouses in the U.S. They are affected by numerous issues including disproportionate levels of unemployment, according to Stars & Stripes. The publication reported that 20% of military spouses are unemployed,…
I really get sick of the claim that mass killings with a firearm only happen in the United States. That’s what the phrase “uniquely American” means when describing the phenomenon. To be fair, we do have more than most people, even if you account for population, but we are also a very different country than most. Thailand, however, seems to also be having a bit of a problem. Despite acting to tighten gun restrictions after previous massacres, it doesn’t look like it did a whole lot of good.Not today, at least, as six people are…
Some military photographs make their importance obvious, while others look ordinary until you learn the story behind the image. Five brothers pose aboard a Navy cruiser. Women sort packages in a crowded warehouse. A pilot stands among children near an airfield. At first glance, photographs could be routine snapshots of military life, but once you learn the story that led up to or followed the camera click, you’ll realize they’re anything but. Each image carries a story of survival, loss, courage or deception that the photograph alone cannot explain. Once you know these stories, it becomes impossible to see the…
Widows of service members who died while serving our country are often faced with a difficult choice, years after their loss. By federal law, a financial benefit known as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or DIC, equating to about $1,700 per month, ends as soon as a surviving military spouse remarries, or stays in place as long as the spouse remains single through age 55. The organization known as the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has been urging lawmakers to protect the DIC benefit, rather than strip it away, no matter a surviving spouse’s marital status. “The compensation is intended…
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U.S. Navy veteran John Donovan is the newest national commander of the nearly 1 million-member DAV (Disabled American Veterans). The Arkansas native, who himself is disabled, was unanimously elected Aug. 5 during the organization’s 104th national convention, held in Orlando, Fla. He was previously elected as national senior vice commander at DAV’s 2025 national convention in Las Vegas, and most recently served as adjutant for the Department of Arkansas and vice chairperson of DAV’s national board of directors. He also previously served as a national executive committee member for District 21 from 2019 to 2021 and was on DAV’s national…
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National Purple Heart Day falls on Aug. 7 every year, honoring the men and women wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s an unofficial observance — businesses and government offices don’t close — but it’s marked widely in practice, with states and cities pausing in recognition and Major League Baseball teams routinely honoring local recipients during pregame ceremonies. The Nation’s Oldest Military Decoration On Aug. 7, 1782, Gen. George Washington personally ordered creation of the Badge of Military Merit, meant to recognize bravery in combat at a time when the Continental Army had almost no formal…
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As a young motoring enthusiast, I was drawn to interior images more than anything else. I remember being completely blown away by the 2001 BMW 7 Series’ interior and iDrive, even though the rest of the car was so ugly it made me want to vomit in the pages of the automotive magazine. As it turns out, iDrive was mildly annoying at first, but over the years BMW sorted it out. Now it feels like second nature, but that doesn’t mean the beloved German automaker is immune to dumb ideas. My personal pet peeve and one of the dumbest ideas…
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This article was originally published by Willow Tohi at Natural News. The EPA faces an emergency petition to require cancer warnings on pesticide labels after a Supreme Court ruling limited lawsuits from cancer sufferers. The EPA has approved over 200 active pesticide ingredients it links to cancer but has placed cancer warnings on only 1.4% of “likely” carcinogen products. A California federal judge recently ruled the EPA does not have to force disclosure of toxic “inert” pesticide ingredients, shielding health risks from the public. Environmental groups argue the EPA has “consistently failed” to warn consumers about known cancer risks for…
The price of fishing kayaks is completely out of hand. For example, last year at ICAST, I sat in one that totaled over $17,000 after electronics, trolling motors, etc. Even without the bells and whistles, you’re looking at spending at least 3 to 5 Gs on anything with a pedal drive or a trolling motor. I mean, at what point do you just buy a boat? So, when I was presented with the opportunity to head to Maine to fish out of some new boats from Old Town, I was fully expecting to be presented with yet another boat that…
Sailors whose medical conditions prevent daily shaving now have up to 12 months of treatment options before the Navy evaluates them for continued service and, in some cases, administrative separation. A safety argument has ensued around facial hair, with the service saying it can break the seal on the masks that keep a crew breathing through fire or gas. Behind this argument sits a study the Navy has kept close to the vest. NAVADMIN 162/26, released July 7 under the signature of Vice Adm. Jeffrey J. Czerewko, The order reverses the Navy’s 2022 policy, which prohibited separation solely because PFB…
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Mosquitos are the world’s deadliest animal. Experts estimate that mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and West Nile virus kill around 1 million people per year. Bug repellent is one of the best tools available to prevent those deaths, and researchers recently uncovered a new way to keep mosquitoes away: catnip. Scientific studies have shown that this herb — the same one that makes cats lose their minds — is just as effective as DEET. That theory has now been proven, according to a July 7 study from researchers working in Uganda. The researchers said they proved the efficacy of catnip as…
A woman has pleaded guilty to stealing $160,000 worth of veterans’ and social security benefits that were meant for a family member. Barbara Ferrell, a 63-year-old woman from Seth, W. Va., pleaded guilty this week to theft of government money, admitting she stole some $160,394.02 while serving as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointed fiduciary and Social Security Administration (SSA) representative for a family member. Ferrell acted in these roles from August 2021 to November 2024. The theft took place from April 13, 2022, to February 29, 2024, Ferrell admitted. She said that the VA benefits she stole, by…
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A federal judge appointed by President Joe Biden has turned down the Justice Department’s motion for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked California’s ban on Glocks and other striker-fired pistols from being enforced, arguing in part that the ban doesn’t amount to a total prohibition on purchasing the popular handguns. U.S. District Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani also seems skeptical about the DOJ’s rationale for filing suit against the ban, which she calls a “novel theory under Section 12601 that California is a governmental authority whose law enforcement officers are engaging in a pattern…
From PCS moves to vacations, military families don’t stay put for very long. That’s why they’re always on the lookout for places to stay that offer special deals and discounts while traveling. Here are some great deals for military families to find cheap lodging on the go: Installation Lodging Most military installations offer temporary, space-available lodging for low prices, such as Navy Lodges, Air Force Inns, Army Lodging, Inns of the Corps. These facilities are typically geared toward service members traveling on orders or families who are PCSing. Reservation policies vary between service branches and facilities so call ahead for…
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