Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says The flu vaccine has been required annually for U.S. military personnel since the 1950s .

Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Secretary Hegseth says via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...

After three-year hiatus, VA to resume rollout of new electronic medical records system The department’s adoption of the Oracle Health’s FEHR was halted in 2023 following a year-long pause over safety and functionality concerns.

After three-year hiatus, @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social to resume rollout of new electronic medical records system (tomorrow) www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

13 US troops killed, more than 380 wounded in Operation Epic Fury In the 40 days since the start of the Iran War, 13 U.S. service members have been killed and 381 have been wounded, according to U.S. Central Command.

Latest update - 381 troops wounded in Operation Epic Fury. 344 have returned to duty. CENTCOM not providing details on injuries. via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...

Senate rejects proposal to overturn VA’s abortion ban Senators voted 50-48, quashing an effort to overturn the VA's near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling.

Senate rejects proposal to overturn VA’s abortion ban via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

House Republicans seek new strategy for passing VA policy bills Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., wants to develop a “must-pass” authorization bill process for the VA similar to the legislative procedure used to approve the NDAA.

House Republicans seek new strategy for passing VA policy bills via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Stars & Stripes is one of the best examples (if not the best) of a successful, publicly-funded, editorially independent newspaper. The model could be the future of journalism. Therefore, the Trump administration wants to kill it.

Lawmakers seek coverage for expedited fertility care under PACT Act New legislation would speed coverage for fertility treatments without requiring veterans to prove their infertility was directly tied to military service.

Lawmakers seek coverage for expedited fertility care under PACT Act via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Former VA secretary to head national hunger relief organization Denis McDonough’s appointment will follow the retirement of Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, who has served as Feeding America’s CEO since 2018.

Former VA secretary to head @feedingamerica.org via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...

Noem out, Republican senator in as new Homeland Security secretary President Donald Trump demoted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, naming Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to fill the post.

Noem out, Republican senator in as new @homelandgov.bsky.social secretary via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Coast Guard selects Alabama as site of second recruit training center The Coast Guard could start training new members at the site by the end of the year.

@uscg-official.bsky.social selects Alabama as site of second recruit training center via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...

For years on my old blog I published the names of servicemembers who died in Iraq & Afghanistan. No other outlets were.

These are the first 4 Americans to die in the Iran War.
Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35
Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39
Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20

Honor The Fallen - Home Page| Military Times Honoring those who fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn

An editor at Military Times posted them weekly. A former Stars and Stripes journalist and Army veteran, it was a labor of love. Eventually it became this database: thefallen.militarytimes.com

Six dead, 18 service members injured in Iran operation The number of American personnel killed and injured in Operation Epic Fury rose on Monday.

Six dead, 18 service members injured in Iran operation www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi... via @militarytimes.bsky.social

Airlines are being squeezed into this sliver of sky to avoid closed airspace Flightradar24 shows flights being funneled into narrow corridors north of Iran, or forced into longer detours over Saudi Arabia and other regions.

A flight path over Afghanistan is now the *safe* route

via @trainsonplanes.bsky.social

www.businessinsider.com/airlines-are...

Rescission of Interim Final Rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication VA is rescinding the interim final rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication, published on February 17, 2026, and restoring the prior regulatory text. This rescission is effective immediately upon...

As expected, @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social rule on considering the amelioration of medical treatment when assigning disability ratings was officially rescinded today www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

VA to formally rescind controversial disability ratings rule A policy requiring VA medical examiners to include effects of medication in assigning disability ratings is expected to be formally rescinded on Feb. 27.

BREAKING: @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social to formally rescind controversial disability ratings rule via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Army veteran detained by ICE in 2025 to attend State of the Union “I hope my presence represents that they just can’t lie and have it be okay,” George Retes told Military Times.

Army veteran detained by ICE in 2025 to attend State of the Union via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

when Gulf War 1 started I was at a water and sewer advisory board meeting in a military town. Wrote up the board meeting and helped out with the ‘we are at war’ story that night. The big and the small matter - esp. then at Camp Lejeune-the troops were in harms way from the water as well as the war

Veterans sue over Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, citing cemetery views The Vietnam War veterans, who later worked as U.S. diplomats, say that the arch would harm the experience of visiting nearby Arlington National Cemetery.

Three military veterans and a historic preservationist sued the Trump administration over President Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch, arguing that the structure would disrupt the experience of visiting Arlington National Cemetery.

VA halts implementation of controversial disability rating rule following backlash The VA will continue collecting public comment on the rule but it “will not be enforced at any time in the future," VA Secretary Doug Collins said.

@deptvetaffairs.bsky.social halts implementation of controversial disability rating rule following backlash www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Vietnam vet, law firms file suit over new VA ruling on disability rating exams A Vietnam veteran has filed suit over a VA rule that requires medical examiners to factor in a medication's effects when determining a disability rating.

Just in: Vietnam vet, law firms file suit over new VA ruling on disability rating exams via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

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VA to consider medical management of symptoms in determining disability ratings If a medication or treatment lowers a veteran's disability level, the rating will be based on the lower level, according to a new VA regulation.

@deptvetaffairs.bsky.social to consider medical management of symptoms in determining disability ratings www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

VA restores gun rights to some disabled veterans The VA announced it will immediately stop reporting veterans to the FBI’s national background check database if they need a fiduciary for their finances.

@deptvetaffairs.bsky.social no longer reporting names of vets who need a fiduciary to FBI's national firearms background check database via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

VA reorganization projected to cost at least $312 million The reforms, known as the RISE initiative, are expected to begin this year with an aim to reduce the VHA’s administrative overhead, improve clinical care.

@deptvetaffairs.bsky.social reorganization projected to cost at least $312 million via @militarytimes.bsky.social www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

Veteran suicide rate slightly increased, latest report finds While the overall number of suicides went down in 2023, due to the overall veteran population declining, the rate of veteran suicide increased.

44 fewer deaths in 2023 than 2022, suicide rate slightly increased, annual VA suicide prevention report finds www.militarytimes.com/news/your-mi...

Veterans health shake-up, reforms to get underway in coming months The reorganization of the VA health system should result in improvements to medical facilities, increased oversight and better access, officials said.

Veterans health shake-up, reforms to get underway in coming months www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

Week of action in honor of Alex Pretti, RN and all others killed by ice Join National Nurses United RN members in a week-long series of actions to honor Pretti and all who have been murdered by ICE, as well as demand that Congress vote to immediately abolish this violent,...

Veterans & @nationalnurses.bsky.social planning candlelight vigils at 15 civilian and @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social medical centers this week. Dates, locations and times here: www.nationalnursesunited.org/week-of-acti...

Veterans react to killing of VA nurse Alex Pretti by federal agent The killing of VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by U.S. Border Patrol personnel has drawn a strong response from veterans.

Veterans react to killing of VA nurse Alex Pretti by federal agent www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

VA Secretary Collins’s statement on the killing of a VA nurse by a federal agent :