Army Adjusts Tracker Policy and Flight Training Following January Collision with Passenger Jet

WASHINGTON — The Army has made changes to how its helicopters use a safety system that broadcasts aircraft location and has reduced the number of flights over Washington following a collision with a passenger jet that killed 67 people, the head of Army aviation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Investigators are still determining why […]
The Rise of Soldier-Influencers: Army Eyes Policy for Troops with Millions of Online Followers

For Capt. Michael Villahermosa, the Army made him the man he is. “I went from having no college education to being an officer,” Villahermosa, a company commander at the service’s bomb disposal school, told Military.com. “I have a wife, the kid, the two-car garage, picket fence. … The Army gave me all of that.” Now, […]
Prep Courses, Policy Tweaks Largely Drove the Military's Recruiting Success in 2024

After years of negative recruiting news and headlines, all the military branches managed to eke out wins this year and meet their recruiting goals — largely aided by new programs and policies that allowed them to sign up recruits who would have been disqualified in previous years. However, despite the wins this year, between ambitious […]
Soldiers Now Face Punishment for Sharing, Liking Extremist Content on Social Media Under New Army Policy

Soldiers can be more easily held accountable for liking and sharing what is considered extremist content on social media under a new policy revision unveiled by the Army on Wednesday. The new set of rules also allows disciplinary action — including being kicked out of the service — for knowingly displaying flags and symbols or […]
Overseas But Paying the Price: Army Ends Policy that Allowed Soldiers to Store Belongings While Deployed

The Army has ended a major program that allowed soldiers to store their home goods and vehicles at no cost while they are away from home for extended periods of time. Army Sustainment Command, which oversees logistics for the force, discontinued the use of funds across the service to store vehicles and other goods owned […]
Army Noncommissioned Officers May No Longer Get Promoted Before Required Schooling Under New Policy

The Army is dramatically scaling back a two-year-old policy that allowed noncommissioned officers to be promoted before they attended an academy required for their next rank, according to a policy memo recently issued to the force. In January, active-duty enlisted soldiers and their full-time counterparts in the Army Reserve will no longer be able to […]
After Delays, Army Secretary Signs ‘Brandon Act’ Policy on Self-Referrals for Mental Health Evaluations

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth signed new instructions for soldiers this week that are intended to improve access to mental health treatment by allowing them to request an immediate referral for an evaluation from a supervisor or commander. Following a months-long delay in implementing a Defense Department policy announced in May, Wormuth issued a memorandum to […]
All Alaska Troops Get a Free Round Trip Home Each Year Under New Policy

Troops in Alaska can now fly home once a year, and the military will pick up the tab. The Army’s 11th Airborne Division is pioneering a new policy aimed at helping soldiers get home to see family at least once annually. The policy, which compensates soldiers for the price of a ticket home, applies to […]