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  • MyBaseGuide

    Air Force tests AI to improve aerial refueling training

    The Air Force is experimenting with artificial intelligence systems designed to monitor refueling operations through cameras installed on tanker aircraft. The AI would automatically analyze video footage and deliver immediate feedback to tanker crews about their performance, replacing the traditional manual debriefing process that happens after missions conclude. This modernization effort aims to accelerate crew training while enhancing operational safety. By providing instant assessments rather than delayed reviews, the Air Force expects tanker personnel to learn more efficiently from each refueling evolution they conduct.

    Source: Military Times

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  • MyBaseGuide

    Debt won't automatically disqualify you from enlisting

    Prospective service members worried about their financial history can find guidance on how debt factors into military enlistment. Recruiters review your financial records during the process, and debt levels may affect eligibility and security clearance approval timelines. Understanding what matters to recruiters and whether you might need an enlistment waiver helps candidates prepare for conversations about their finances.

    Source: Military.com

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  • VeteranLife

    VA Approves 625K Upgrades to Highest Disability Rating

    The Veterans Affairs Department approved more than 625,000 upgrades to 100% disability ratings over the past three years, according to budget records. This surge has brought the total number of veterans holding the agency's highest rating to more than 2 million, representing a 122% increase since June 2021. Veterans receiving a 100% disability rating qualify for maximum monthly compensation of approximately $3,737 tax-free, comprehensive healthcare coverage, state income tax exemptions in most states, and enhanced survivor benefits. The significant rise in approvals may reflect improved VA processing or changing veteran demographics, though the exact factors driving the increase remain unclear from budget records alone.

    Source: Military.com

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  • MyBaseGuide

    Pentagon funds ketamine wafers for battlefield pain management

    The Pentagon awarded a contract to develop small, dissolvable ketamine wafers designed for use by combat medics in field situations. These wafers would provide an alternative to current intravenous pain medications, potentially making it easier to treat wounded soldiers in environments where standard delivery methods are impractical. This remains a research and development effort with no immediate changes to existing battlefield medical protocols. If approved for military use, the wafers would give medics another tool for managing pain and sedation when treating casualties during combat operations.

    Source: Military Times

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2026 reference

Pay & benefits

Review your LES, confirm your dependency information, and verify eligibility for each allowance.

Last reviewed October 9, 2026.

Basic payAnnual basic pay increase; individual pay depends on grade and years of service.Effective
Source: dfas.mil
+3.8%
Basic Allowance for HousingNational average increase; individual rates vary by location, grade and dependency status.Effective
Source: war.gov
+4.2%
Family Separation AllowanceFor qualifying involuntary separation; increased from $250 per month.Effective
Source: dfas.mil
$300/month
Dislocation AllowancePrimary and secondary rate increase; payment depends on grade, dependents and qualifying PCS orders.Effective
Source: travel.dod.mil
+3.8%
VA Disability CompensationCost-of-living increase; payment depends on disability rating and eligible dependents.Effective
Source: va.gov
+2.8%
Dependency and Indemnity CompensationCost-of-living increase for eligible surviving spouses and dependents.Effective
Source: va.gov
+2.8%

Counting down

Eight military mysteries that still puzzle historians

  1. Flight 19: lost in the Bermuda Triangle

    In 1945, five U.S. Navy training planes vanished after reporting faulty compasses and disorientation. A rescue plane sent after them disappeared too. No wreckage was ever found.

  2. The Dyatlov Pass incident

    Nine experienced hikers died under bizarre circumstances in 1959, with torn tents, severe injuries, and traces of radiation. Official reports blamed a “natural force.”

  3. Die Glocke: the Wunderwaffe legend

    Rumored to be a bell-shaped superweapon with deadly side effects, Die Glocke has no physical evidence behind it, and remains one of WWII’s most enduring secret-weapon legends.

  4. Tybee Island and the lost nuclear bomb

    On February 5, 1958, a B-47 collided with an F-86 during training. To prevent an explosion, the bomber jettisoned a Mark 15 nuclear bomb off Tybee Island. It was never recovered.

  5. Green fireballs and early UFO reports

    Between 1948 and the 1950s, glowing green fireballs were repeatedly spotted near U.S. nuclear facilities. Project Twinkle failed to identify their origin.

  6. The Ghost Army: WWII’s illusionists

    A secret U.S. Army unit used inflatable tanks, fake radio traffic, and sound effects to deceive German forces. Their operations stayed classified until the 1990s.

  7. Yamashita’s treasure

    Legend claims Japanese forces hid vast stolen riches across the Philippines before surrendering. Court cases and eyewitness accounts suggest some treasure existed; its location remains unknown.

  8. Broken Arrow: the Philippine Sea

    On December 5, 1965, an A-4E Skyhawk carrying a B-43 nuclear bomb rolled off the deck of the USS Ticonderoga and sank in over 16,000 feet of water. The pilot, aircraft, and weapon were never found.

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