(January21,2026)-Maj.Gen.DevinR.Pepper,right,presentsachallengecoin
Norfolk’scommandingofficer,looksoninNorfolk,Va.,Jan.21,2026.Pepperthanked
(U.S.NAVYPHOTOSBYAVIATIONORDNANCEMAN3RDCLASSKAITLYNLANGE)
Maj. Gen. Pepper thanksNaval Station Norfolkfirefighters for lifesaving aid
ByJessicaNunes
NavalStation Norfolk Public Affairs
NORFOLK,Va. —Maj.Gen. Devin R Pepper thanked firefighters from Naval Station Norfolk’sFireand Emergency Servicesfortheirlifesavingintervention during amedical emergency in December Pepper,the deputy chief of staff for strategic plansand policy at Allied TransformationCommand presented challenge coins to the FireDepartment (FD-2)crewduring aceremonyonJan. 21.
On the nightofDec. 27,FD-2 responded after Pepper’s wife,Alicia, drovehim directlytothe firestation Pepper wassuffering from anaphylactic shock, and his wife determined the firestation wasmoreaccessiblethan the nearesthospital,approximately 30 minutesaway “I wasinand out of consciousness and neverexperiencedanallergic reaction before,soIhad no idea what was
happening,” Pepper said. “Mywife decidedtostopatthenearestfirestation onNAVSTANorfolkforimmediatehelp Iamsothankfulshedid.
Emergency medical technicians assisted Pepperintoanambulance and rushedhimtoPortsmouthNavalHospital.Duringtransport,theyadministered Benadryl, corticosteroids,anebulizer treatment,andanEpiPen
“Medical emergencies likethis are partofoureverydaymission,”saidCapt. AnthonyBalog,anassistant chief and paramedic at FD-2.“It’s our job to help andcareforpeopleintheirtimeofneed.”
Aftermaking afull recovery,Pepper expressedhis gratitudetothe FD-2 personnel for their decisiveactions, givingthem U.S. SpaceForce challengecoinsinadditiontohispersonally designedcoin.
“Theywereabsolutely fantastic, Pepper said. “I probably wouldnot be hereifitwasn’tfor my wife andthese first responders.Iamtruly thankful for them.”
ByPettyOfficer1stClassGeorgeBell Chief Of NavalPersonnel
ARLINGTON,Va.—Sailorscompetingfor advancement will see changes to howthe Navy manages promotions with the release ofBUPERSInstruction1430.16H,thenewly revised Advancement Manual for Enlisted Personnel of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Navy Reserve,publishedJan.21.
The instructionreplaces all previous versionsandinterimNAVADMINguidance, consolidatingenlistedadvancement policy into asingle,authoritativereference.The update affects all Activeand ReserveSailors,with severalchanges directly impact-
ingSailorsinpaygradesE-6andbelow.The revised manual standardizes advancement programs, clarifies eligibility requirements andexpandstheNavy’sshifttowardopportunity-basedandbillet-drivenadvancement. Automatic advancement updated forjuniorSailors
Oneofthemostimmediatechangesaffects automatic advancement to E-2through E-4.The manual replaces TimeinRate (TIR)withminimumTimeinService(TIS) as the eligibilityrequirement. The change simplifiesadvancementtimelines,increases
consistency across accession sourcesand provides Sailors with aclearerpath to their nextpaygrade Leadershipdevelopment required across paygrades
Theupdated instructionformally incorporates Navy Enlisted Leadership Development (ELD)course completion requirements for all enlistedpaygrades Leadership training is nowastandardized componentofadvancementeligibility,reinforcingtheNavy’semphasisonleaderdevelopmentearlyinaSailor’scareer
Performance calculations updatedfor E-6Sailors
ForSailorscompetingforadvancementto E-7, the manual updates howperformance is calculated by incorporating thereportingsenior’scumulativeaverage(RSCA)into performance mark average(PMA)calculations.The change places greater emphasisonsustainedperformanceovertimeand standardizeshow evaluations arefactored intoadvancementcompetitiveness
USSGonzalez integrateswithCarrier Strike Group TEN during Group Sail Exercise
ByPettyOfficer3rdClassMichaelBui
USSGonzalez (DDG 66)
NORFOLK,Va. —USS Gonzalez (DDG 66)andCarrierStrikeGroupTEN(CSG10) conductedintegratedunderwayoperations in support of Group Sail,demonstrating coordinated planning and execution across WarfareCommanders and tactical units in preparationfor Composite Training Unit Exercise(COMPTUEX).
The exercise brought together USS George H.W. Bush (CVN77), USSGonzalez (DDG 66), USSDonaldCook (DDG 75), USSMason(DDG 87), and USSRoss (DDG 71), providing the first opportunity for the Carrier StrikeGroup TENtoexecute taskingandfullyintegrateitsindividualunitsin acomplexmaritimetrainingenvironment.
Throughout the underway,the Carrier Strike Groupexecuteda seriesofintegratedmission sets designed to strengthen command-plannedmaneuversand test the tactical proficiency ofall units. One key evolution included an air-defense exercise conducted at the carrierstrikegroup level -synchronizing sensors, weaponssystems and communications across surface ships and air defense assets to counter simulated threats
Carrier StrikeGroup 10 also completed a coordinatedStraitTransit,requiringprecise navigation, maneuvering,and communicationsamongmultipleplatforms.Theevolution provided arealistic opportunityto exerciseStrikeGroupcommandandcontrol whileoperating in aconstrained maritime environment.Italsoofferednewlyreported
Billet-Based Advancement codified
BUPERSINST 1430.16H establishes Billet-Based Advancement (BBA)asthe primaryreference forbillet-driven promotions. As of 2026,nearly all active-duty E-6 ratingsareincludedinBBA,with14ratings fullyintegratedfromE-5throughE-9.Under
Boatswain’sMateThird ClassJadenNedd,left,and
Boatswain’sMateThirdClass Melissa Briones preparetoreceiveanMH-60RSeahawkaboard theArleighBurke-class guided-missile destroyerUSS Gonzalez(DDG 66)while underwayin theAtlantic Ocean,Dec.11,2025.The GeorgeH.W.Bush CarrierStrike Group is underwayforGroup Sail,its first integratedat-sea training phase.This event is designedtoincrease the StrikeGroup’s tactical proficiencyand lethalityacross all domains,meeting NavyandJointwarfighting requirements (U.S.NAVY PHOTOBYMASSCOMMUNICATIONSPECIALISTSEAMANMARKPEÑA)
Sailors with experienceand aglimpse of what to expect during their upcoming deployment In addition, the Carrier Strike Group conductedtwo coordinatedunderway replenishments with otherArleigh Burke-
BBA, Sailors competefor advancement by applying to specific billets, aligning experience,qualificationsandpaygradewithfleet requirementswhilegivingSailorsgreater visibilityandcontrolovertheircareerpaths Advancement programs consolidated
The manual fully rewrites and codifies policies for severaladvancementprograms previously governed by multiple NAVADMINs,including:
class guided-missiledestroyers (DDG), integrating logistics planning with tactical maneuvering to sustainoperations at sea. Thereplenishments reinforced thestrike group’sconfidenceand ability to maintain operationaltempo whileexecuting shiph-
Advancement-to-Position (A2P): Sailorscompete for aspecific billet and advanceuponreporting Command Advance-to-Position (CA2P):Sailorsadvanceintoavacantbillet withinthesamegeographicarea Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP): Remains aseparate program, with updated andstandardized policy guidance Currently,MAPisonlyavailabletoE-4. All programs arenow containedwithin theadvancementmanual,reducingreliance onoutdatedorfragmentedguidance.
andling evolutions in varying conditions, includingcomplexseastatesandhigh-stress environments
“This wasthe firstopportunity for the Carrier StrikeGroup to fully employand integrateallofitscomponents,fromsurface shipsand theair wing to embarked staffs,” saidCmdr.Schenk,thecommandingofficer of the Arleigh Burke-classguided-missile destroyer USSGonzalez (DDG 66). “Group Sail allowed us to exercise theplan, brief, execute, anddebriefprocess as an integratedteamduringunderway operations Therobusttrainingenvironment provided byCSG-4[CarrierStrikeGroupFOUR]has prepared the ships,aircraft, andpersonnel of CSG-10tomoveontothe next phase of CompositeTrainingUnitExercise.” Throughouttheunderway,Sailorsacross thestrikegroup worked extended hours to plan,brief,execute,anddebriefeachevolution,ensuringthesafeandeffectiveintegration of ships, aircraft, andembarked staffs atsea.
Group Sail marked acritical milestone in theCarrierStrikeGroup10’strainingcycle reinforcingcoordinatedcarrierstrikegroup integration from WarfareCommanders to thetacticallevel,aswellastheeffortsofSailors on the deckplates who worked relentlesslytoensurea successful upcoming deployment and gain valuable operational experience USSGonzalez (DDG 66) is homeported at NavalStation Norfolk andispart of DestroyerSquadron22underCarrierStrike Group 10,led by USSGeorge H.W. Bush (CVN77).
WhatSailors should do
Sailors areencouraged to review BUPERSINST 1430.16H in its entirety and consultwithcommandcareercounselorsto understand howthe changesapplytotheir ratingand career path. Sailors should not rely on previous versions of theinstruction or interim NAVADMINs. Thefull instruction andadditional resourcesare available throughtheMyNavyHRNavyAdvancement Center
Civilians are a Navy Medicine critical force enabler
ByBobbieCamp
U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
CivilianemployeesacrosstheNavyMedicineEnterprisejoinedin-personandvirtual town halls with the U.S. Navy Bureau of MedicineandSurgeryexecutivedirectoron strategic developments and new programs engagements to strengthen the community and the future direction of the Navy Medicine Civilian Corps at the Defense Health Headquarters,Jan.23andJan.26,2026
Led by Director of the Civilian Corps Dr Michael McGinnis, the event provided updates on news and information within Navy Medicine and the Military Health System, and how civilians support each of thethreepillarsfortheChiefofNavalOperations
“WearemorefocusedthaneverasaNavy Medicineteamonsupportingourwarfighters and the operational force,” said McGinnis during opening remarks “We are ready totakecareofwhatthenationneeds,should we be called to fight and win as a critical forceenabler.”
With a community of more than 2,000 Navy Medicine civilian employees in over 100 different occupations throughout the globe,theNavyMedicineCivilianCorpsplay a foundational role in helping the DepartmentoftheNavymeetitsmission.
“As a piece of the Navy workforce, we supportthewarfighterthroughthelensesof foundry fleetandfight,”continuedMcGinnis “Anyvulnerabilitiesorgapsthatimpacts themissionweneedtoensurethatisdefined in a quantifiable way to address with leadership on strategically resetting our workforce.”
In accordance with executive orders and Office of Personnel Management guidance, the Department of the Navy established a Strategic Hiring Committee to review and approve all civilian vacancies to ensure alignment with federal government staffingplans
“We now have some very clear guidance on the hiring process and how to fill positions,” explained Stephanie Wright, director, Civilian Human Resources and deputy director, Civilian Corps “There is more oversight desired at the higher headquarterslevelandhoweachofthelowerechelon commandsarerecruiting.”
Alongwithtopicsofresumepreparation, hiring and the onboarding process, addi-
tional discussions included educational program opportunities budgets internal communications, events, travel, and availabletoolsfortheworkforce
“It is important that we use the tools that are given to us,” stated Genevieve Landers, theprogramsupportspecialistfortheNavy Medicine Civilian Corps office “We will be communicating through web-based and collaborationplatformcapabilitiestoreach out and provide information to the civilian workforce.”
The event closed with a Q&A session,
where civilian leaders answered questions from the audience and participants online The discussion addressed current events, career progressions, performance elements,trainingopportunities,challenges andconcerns,aswellasprovidingadditional toolsandresources
“You are the backbone of the Navy; the civilian workforce is critical as a collective group,” concluded McGinnis “You are valued and appreciated; thank you all for whatyoudofortheNavy.”
Established on April 30, 2017, the Navy
MedicineCivilianCorpsfacilitatesjobskills leadership developmental opportunities and advocacy for all Navy Medicine civilianemployeestofurtheradvanceemployee knowledge,
ByDestinySibert
Commander, Navy Installations Command
WASHINGTON,D.C. FromJanuary26 toFebruary6,2026 Navyinstallationsacross the continental United States will participate in the annual Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain (CS-SC26) exercise Conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), this two-week exercise is a cornerstone of the Navy’s commitment to generating a combat-ready fleet prepared to defend the homeland and prevailinconflict.
“Force protection is everyone’s responsibility whether in competition or crisis, and CitadelShield-SolidCurtainisacriticaltest of our preparedness and responsiveness,” said Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. FleetForcesCommand.“Thisexercisetests more than just our security forces, and is a measureofourentireforcetosaysomething iftheyseesomething anopportunitytoflex our command and control structure, and
validates that our platforms and people are readytoresponddecisivelyagainstavariety ofthreats.”
CS-SC26 is designed to forge warfighters and ready our platforms for a complex security environment. The exercise begins with Citadel Shield, a field training exercise led by CNIC that focuses on the readinessandresponseofNavySecurityForces It is followed by Solid Curtain, a command post exercise spearheaded by USFFC that integratescommand-and-controlelements to synchronize the Fleet’s response to threats against shore-based infrastructure. Together these events test and validate the Navy’sabilitytodeterandrespondtothreats inreal-time
As in past exercises, the training will improve defenses against improvised explosive devices, small unmanned aerial systems,andactiveshooterthreatstoname afew Thisyear’sexercise,however,hasbeen enhancedtoprepareinstallationstodefend against modern and emerging threats Scenarios will emphasize operational
protection, surveillance detection, protection of critical infrastructure, and response to potential kinetic attacks, which aim to strengthen commanders’ understanding of riskstorespondtoreal-worldeventsquickly andeffectively
TheexercisewillalsoexecutetheAshore NavySecurityOperationsExerciseProgram (NSOXP),whichwillenhancethreatdetection from both land and sea. The NSOXP is a structured training system providing commanders with standardized force protectionscenariosandevaluationtoolsto assesswatchstandersandsmallunits,ensuringreadinessforreal-worldthreats
Theexercisescenariosaredesignedtobe both realistic and challenging, testing the seamless interoperability between Navy commands,othermilitaryservices,andour essentialmunicipalagencypartners
“Our forces must adapt faster than our adversaries,” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy Installations Command. “By realistically simulating complex threat environments weensureourNavysecurity
forcesandpartnersareforgedintoaunified, all-domain team. This training is critical to protecting our people, our infrastructure, andtheFleet’sabilitytoprojectpowerfrom asecurehomefront.”
CitadelShield-SolidCurtainisaregularly scheduled training event, not a response to any specific threat. Its purpose is to ensure theNavyisreadytofightandwin,anywhere, anytime While the exercise may lead to some increased traffic or minor delays in base access, every effort is made to minimize disruptionstolocalcommunities Residents nearinstallationsmayobserveorhearsecurity-relatedactivities.Locallawenforcement andfirstrespondershavebeencoordinated withtoensuresafetyandsmoothoperations throughouttheexercise
For more details on any potential local impacts, residents are encouraged to visit their respective Navy installation’s website andsocialmediachannels
FALLS CHURCH,Va (Jan.23,2026) Dr Michael B.McGinnis,executive
1976 Bicentennial celebrations featured military participation across the nation
ByDavidVergun Pentagon News
Once every 50 years the United States holds milestone Independence Day celebrations Thisyearmarksthenation’s250th birthday and fifth semicentennial celebration.
The bicentennial was celebrated nationwide, July 4, 1976. It was celebrated only a yearafterthelastU.S.troopsleftSouthVietnamduringthefallofSaigon,April30,1975 PresidentGeraldR.Ford’sadministration stressed the themes of healing and rebirth, aswellasnostalgiaforthenation’sfounding Ford was a World War II Navy officer serving in the Pacific aboard the aircraft carrier USSMonterey NewYorkCitycelebratedthebicentennial withaparadeofshipsthatincludeddozens ofhistoricandcurrentships OperationSail, as it was called, began in New York Harbor andmoveduptheHudsonRiver
One of the ships the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal carried Ford Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and State Secretary HenryKissinger
Theeventwasalsoattendedby70foreign ambassadorsandchiefsofnavaloperations from35countries
AstatueofKingGeorgeIIIwasbeheaded, reenacting when his statue was beheaded during the Revolutionary War and melted downtomakebullets
During the celebration in the city bands and ceremonial units from all of the military services marched down Constitution Avenue
InGreenfieldVillage,Michigan,members ofthemilitarydressedinRevolutionaryand CivilWarperioduniforms Militaryparades likethesetookplaceacrossthenation.
In1976,DonaldRumsfeldwasthedefense secretary;MartinRichardHoffmannwasthe Army secretary; Gen. Frederick C. Weyand wastheArmychiefofstaff,followedbyGen. Bernard W. Rogers in October of that year; J. William Middendorf II was the Navy secretary; Adm. James L. Holloway III was the chief of naval operations; Thomas C. Reed was the Air Force secretary; David C. Jones was the Air Force chief of staff; and Gen. Louis Wilson was the Marine Corps commandant.
The military wasn’t involved in any conflicts in 1976, the last being the Mayaguez incident in May 1975, in Kampuchea, nowcalledCambodia.
The U.S. was involved in the Cold War, whichlastedfrom1947untilthedissolution oftheSovietUnionin1991.
During this timeframe the U.S. military maintained a large presence in West Germany,JapanandSouthKorea.
At Panmunjom, South Korea, Aug. 18, 1976, two U.S. soldiers were killed by North Korean soldiers while trying to chop down part of a tree in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which had obscured their view of North Korea. Three days later, Operation PaulBunyantookplacewithashowofforce madeupofdozensofU.S.andSouthKorean troops whocompletedcuttingdowntherest ofthetree On Nov. 2, 1976, Jimmy Carter, a former navalofficerlikeFord,waselectedpresident.
The bicentennial logo commissioned bytheAmerican Revolution Bicentennial Commission appointed byPresident Gerald R.Ford forcelebratoryand event purposes,1975-1976.(CREDIT: BRUCEN.BLACKBURN)
TheAmerican Freedom Train passes through Naval AirStation Miramar Calif Jan.15,1976 Today,that base is called Marine Corps AirStation Miramar (PHOTO CREDIT:NAVY PETTYOFFICER 2NDCLASS MASNICA)
Apainting depicting people in NewYorkCityin 1776,trying to pull down a statue ofKing
President Gerald R.Ford right receives the prototype ofthe ceremonial Continental NavyJack from NavySecretaryJ.William MiddendorfII during a ceremonyinWashington,Oct.29 1975 Asmallerversion ofthe flagwas flown from everyNavyship in December1976 as part ofthe bicentennial celebration.(PHOTOCREDIT:NAVYCHIEFPETTYOFFICERRICHARDMONTGOMERY)
President Gerald R.Ford rings the ceremonial bell aboard the aircraft carrierUSS Forrestal during the international naval reviewand the nation’s bicentennial activities in NewYorkCity, July4,1976 (PHOTOCREDIT:DEPARTMENTOFNAVY)
Abicentennial stamp depicts the 1773 BostonTea Party,whichwas a protest oftheTeaAct by the Sons ofLiberty (PHOTOCREDIT:U.S.POSTALSERVICE)
ByNatashaWaldronAnthony Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington concluded its Junior Officer (JO) Leadership and Training Symposium at the U.S. Naval Observatory, December 2025 The four-day event brought together Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers for intensive professional development that focused on strengthening leadershipcapabilitiesandoperationalexcellence.
The symposium featured presentations on topics ranging from root cause analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) to Shore Command and Control (C2) implementation and professional development, equipping junior officers with tools to tackle evolving challenges in naval facilities engineering
“At the end of the day, you are going to be a problem solver,” said Capt. Daniel Schmitt, NAVFAC Washington commandingofficer “Incrementalimprovementistheway to get better The feedback I got and what I saw while here were lots of interactions—super motivated junior officers askingawesomequestions.”
Cmdr Kyle Schlais the resident officer in charge of construction(ROICC)PatuxentRiver,coordinatedtheevent with mentorship as a primary focus “I see my first job as a CECofficer,myprimaryjobrightnowasaROICCismentoringthejuniorofficersinmycharge,”Schlaissaid “Theroot
causeanalysisexercisereallygavetheJOsaprimeopportunity to dig into key problems we’re experiencing and come upwithAI-basedandotherinnovativetool-basedsolutions.”
Junior officers left the symposium with practical takeawaysfortheircommands.Lt j.g.JosephBeasley,assistant public works officer at Marine Corps Base Quantico, plans toleverageAItoolstoimproverequirementsprocesses Lt Sam Duffield, a construction manager at ROICC Annapolis,emphasizedpersonalaccountability:“You’vegottoearn yourrankeveryday,andchangecomesfromwithin.”
“I hope that they develop some networks from being around people that they don’t usually get to see every day,” saidCapt.ChristopherArcher NAVFACWashingtonexecutiveofficer “Wehadagreatslateofspeakersfromadiverse missionset—someexposuretothingsyou’renotusedtoand maybealittlebitoflearning.
NAVFACWashingtonOperationsOfficer,Cmdr ChristopherFairfieldemphasizedtheimportanceofself-awareness inleadershipdevelopment.“Knowingyourselfandseeking self-improvement is a leadership trait or skill or principle thatIwantallourJuniorOfficerstofocuson,”Fairfieldsaid “Wereallyhavetolookinthemirrorandknowwhataremy skills what are my abilities and what are the things that I needtoachieve.”
The symposium underscores NAVFAC Washington’s commitment to developing leaders who will provide criticalinfrastructuresupporttothefleetfordecadestocome
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NAVFACWashington
Hegseth establishes Personal Property Activity to ensure successful PCS moves
ByC.ToddLopez Pentagon News
The War Department’s Personal Property Activity will stand up this summer as a permanent fix of the myriad woes service members and their families have experienced during permanent change of station moves.
In a video released today, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who made PCS moves while serving as a soldier, explained how, in the past, the department’s solution to move household goods has failed service members
“A cabinet with its mirrors smashed, a dressermissingaleg,howaboutatreasured German-madeclockshatteredintopieces,a sofathatappearedasifitwasdraggeddown the street, or a used toilet brush tucked in withthefamily’sclothes,”Hegsethlistedas examples of how cherished family belongings were damaged or just ended up in disgusting situations as a result of PCS moves.
ByAnthonyCage
Europe Africa Central Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT) awarded a $11.25 millionmodificationtopreviously-awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, Jan. 27 2026 to Vectrus Systems LLC for Base Operations Support (BOS) services aboard Naval SupportFacility(NSF)Redzikowo,Poland.
The contract modification provides an additional12monthsofBOSservicesunder thebasiccontractandbringsthetotalcumulativefacevalueto$22,852,729
“BOS contracts are indispensable to the success of military operations,” said Juan Jimenez-Arocho NAVFAC EURAFCENT director of Public Works “These contracts providetheessentialservicesneededtokeep operationsrunningsmoothly,includingutility management, facility repairs, and transportationsupport.”
BOS provides the resources to operate the bases, installations, camps, posts, and stationsoftheMilitaryDepartmentsandthe Defense Health Program These resources sustainmissioncapability ensurequalityof life enhance workforce productivity and fundpersonnelandinfrastructuresupport
Facilities management is a crucial aspect of BOS. It involves the maintenance and upkeepofthephysicalinfrastructureofthe installation This includes everything from repairing buildings and roads to managing utilitiesandwastedisposal.
BOS services to be performed, but is not limited to all management and administration;fireandemergencyservices;materials andsupplyservices;galley;unaccompanied housing; facility management and investment; custodial; pest control; integrated solid waste management; grounds maintenanceandlandscaping;pavementclearance; utilitymanagement;transportationservices andenvironmentalservicestoprovidebase operationsupportservices
The base contract was awarded on Sept 26,2024,toVectrusSystemsLLC,asaresult
Lastyear,thedepartmentdidtwothingsto improvethemovementofhouseholdgoods for service members In May, it established aPCStaskforcetoinvestigatetheproblems servicemembersexperiencedduringmoves. And then in June the department canceled theexistingmechanismforconductingPCS moves.
“We established a task force to assess the problems of the permanent change of station, or PCS moves,” Hegseth said. “We listened to the concerns of our warriors. I fired the head of the failing program. All through the peak moving season and even throughthegovernmentshutdown ourtask forcewas,thankfully,asuccess.
Now, the PCS task force will transition intoaWarDepartmentspecialactivitycalled thePersonalPropertyActivity
“It will be a permanent solution for all servicememberswhomove,”Hegsethsaid. “Its mission is to guarantee high-quality, reliable and efficient household goods and vehicle shipment services to the more than 300,000 warfighters worldwide who move
somewhere every new year Baggage and other household effects need to arrive on time,andtheywill.”
ThePCStaskforcestoodupinMay2025 with Army Maj. Gen Lance G. Curtis at the helm. Curtis will now take over as head of thenewPersonalPropertyActivity
The success of the PCS task force will continue into the Personal Property Activity, Curtis said, and that success was based on listening to service members and their families
“Thishasbeenaproblemfordecades We listenedtotheforceandaretakingaction.If you have a problem, you can call us and we willfixit, Curtissaid.“Ournation’sgreatest asset is our warfighters, civilians and their family members. We remain committed to building a personal property program that accounts for their input, and we will proactively attack their concerns to improve the overallexperience.”
Householdgoodsmovement,Curtissaid, isn’t just a quality-of-life issue; it’s also a mission issue Household goods movement
affects family stability, and family stability directlyimpactsmissionreadiness
“Whenourwarfightersareworriedabout their household goods they aren’t focused on their mission,” Curtis said. “We are ending that distraction. Mission readiness is nonnegotiable Every minute a service memberspendsfightingahouseholdgoods issue is a minute they aren’t focused on the mission. Our job is to give them that time back.”
With the ongoing work of the PCS task force and its transition to the Personal Property Activity in May, Hegseth said service members and their families will get the predictability and quality service they deserve.
“With this order, we’re streamlining the moving process end-to-end establishing a standard of accountability all across the entiretyoftheDepartmentofWar,”hesaid, adding,“Ourwarriorsdeservethebest,and that’swhatthisreformwilldeliver.”
offullandopencompetitionusingbest-value sourceselectionprocedures
This 12-month option period will be executed from Feb. 1, 2026, to Jan. 31, 2027 No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed at NSF Redzikowo The Department of War contract announcementcanbereadathttps://www
war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4391076/contracts-for-jan-27-2026/
War Department boards merge to form new Science, Technology and Innovation Board (STIB)
of the
a major
ing the merger of the Defense Innovation Board(DIB)andtheDefenseScienceBoard (DSB)intothenewScienceandTechnology Innovation Board (STIB), pending formal establishment by the Federal Register This move continues the transition of the Department away from the alphabet-soup era of indecisive overlapping groups that delay results to the American warfighter The STIB is built on speed and clarity for rapid resolution to complex national securityproblems As the Department reestablishes a warrior ethos, the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering continues
to assist in eliminating the bureaucratic blockersthatunderminethedecision-making velocity expected of a fighting force
The unification of two powerful advisory bodies into one will create one voice for innovationthatreplacescompetingrecommendations with fast, coherent guidance
The STIB brings together the DSB’s deep scientificandtechnicalrigorwiththeDIB’s private-sector agility and disruptive mindset. This merger results in one board with the authority, expertise and urgency to deliverrealanswers,notmoreprocesses
“Our warfighters can’t afford to wait. We are unifying our best scientific minds and our most innovative private-sector leaders into a single board built to provide clear answers,notmorebureaucracy Thecreation oftheSTIBensuresthatideasonthebleeding edge move quickly from concept to the field,directlymakingadifferencetothejoint
force,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary ofWarforResearchandEngineering Toensuretheboarddrivesoutcomes,the STIBwillmaintaintwopermanentsubcommittees:
SubcommitteeonStrategicOptions Chargedwithidentifyingconcepts capabilities,strategies,andcoursesofactionacross the S&T enterprise that rebalance cost and benefit, strengthen deterrence, and ensure U.S.operationaldominance.
Subcommittee on National Security Innovation Tasked with examining and advising on innovation pathways, emerginganddisruptivetechnologies commercial best practices in strategy and management, organizational design, human capital, decision-making,andscaling whileleveraging America’sbroaderinnovationecosystemfor nationalsecurity This merger transforms two respected
boardsintoaunifiedforcemultiplierforthe War Department. It reduces bureaucratic drag, eliminates redundant operations and ends the churn of siloed advisory groups that often hinders progress The STIB will attract top talent from science technology and commercial innovation hubs giving themasingle,powerfulvenuetoshapeboth disruptive advancement and foundational scientificpriorities The War Department is moving with renewedorderandpurpose TheSTIBnow stands as the forum where America’s leading scientists and industry experts provide grounded,mission-focusedcounseltosolve ourwarfighter’stoughestproblems View the new board appointments here: www.stib.cto.mil
uarterdeck
Naval Research Lab Space Station study reveals key challenges and opportunities for microbial biomanufacturing in space PageB4
Looking back at the military’s role in America’s 150th birthday celebration
ByDavidVergun
Pentagon News
Since 1826, the nation has marked its 50-year milestones with semicentennial celebrations on IndependenceDay.Thisyear,theUnitedStates 250thbirthday, willbeitsfifthsemicentennialjubilee. ThethirdsuchcelebrationtookplaceJuly4,1926 in Philadelphia, with a second exhibition, the first beingthe1876CentennialExposition,alsointhecity
The Sesquicentennial International Exposition lasted from June 1 to Nov. 30, 1926. There was a 300-acremilitaryencampment,wherevisitorscould seethelatestweaponry
TheUSSConstellation,thelastsail-onlywarship
catapult launch from a moving vessel Nov. 5, 1915, when he flew off the armored cruiser USS North CarolinainaCurtissModelAB-2airplane
Theairfield’sopeningwasconsideredasignificant event, attended by 1,500 visitors, including Assistant Navy Secretary Theodore Douglas Robinson, Army Brig Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Navy Rear Adm. William Moffett and Philadelphia Mayor W. FreelandKendrick.
During the ceremony, aircraft from the Army, NavyandMarineCorpsconductedaflyovertohonor Mustin. Also, the airship USS Los Angeles circled overhead.
In1963,theairfieldclosedandthelandwastransferredtothePhiladelphiaNavalShipyard
Thewarship USS Constellation is anchored in the Severn River seawall at the U.S.NavalAcademy,Md Oct.27 2004 The shipwas anchored in the Schuylkill Riverin 1926 as part ofthe Sesquicentennial International Exposition in Philadelphia. (PHOTOCREDIT:DONNAMILES,DOW)
built by the Navy in 1854, was anchored in the SchuylkillRiverineasternPennsylvania,whichran throughthecityfairgrounds.Today,thatvesselison displayinBaltimoreHarbor
JohnPhilipSousa,theformerMarineBanddirector wrote sheet music for his former band to play duringtheexposition Naval Air Facility Mustin Field in Philadelphia openedSept.17,1926 ItwasnamedinhonorofNavy Capt. Henry C. Mustin, who made the first aircraft
ByMichaelMorris
Naval
Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic awarded CAPE-APTIM JV1, LLC, a small-business joint venture based in Norcross, Georgia, a $95 million cost-plus-award-fee indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract to provide environmental remedial action services at sites prioritized for cleanup to sustain safe and compliant operations
The contract supports the Department of the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program and helps sustain the readiness of shore installations that enable the Navy and Marine Corps to train, maintain, deploy and operate worldwide The work advances cleanup and closure of legacy environmental conditions helping preserve safe and compliant operating environments, support long-term landuse planning and reduce environmental risk across installations
Across the country, former Civil War veterans from both the Union and the Confederacy held joint reunions in 1926. There were also Spanish-American War and World WarIreunions,thelatterthencalled theGreatWar.
Dwight F. Davis was secretary of war in 1926 The Army chief of staff was Maj. Gen John L. Hines until Nov. 20, followed by Gen Charles P. Summerall. The chief of naval operations was Adm. Edward W. Eberle, and Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune was theMarineCorpscommandant.
Among the services, the Marine Corpssawthemostcombatactionin 1926 They assisted the Nicaraguan governmentduringthatnation’scivil war,whichlasteduntil1927 Theyalso protected American lives and property
Also in 1926 President Calvin Coolidge ordered the Marine Corps to guard the nation’s mail system, including post offices, mail trucks and trains, after aseriesofviolentrobberies
In China, sailors and Marines protected foreign interestsalongtheYangtzeRiverduringcivilunrest.
Marines were the occupying force in Haiti from 1915to1934 In1926 MarineCorpsMasterSgt.FaustinWirkuswascrownedFaustinII,kingoftheisland of La Gonave by the natives who believed he was thereincarnationofEmperorFaustinI.Hereigned forthreeyearsbeforetheMarinesreassignedhim.
“A clean and healthy environment is essential to sustaining readiness and supporting operations,” said Zane D. Perry, remedial action contract representative. “Through the Navy’s Environmental Restoration Program, the Department of the Navy continues to make measurable progress addressing legacy environmental conditions and advancing site cleanup and closure in an efficient, effective and sustainable manner.”
Work will be performed at Navy and Marine Corps installations and other government facilities Sites may include thoseontheSuperfundNationalPriorities List, as well as non-NPL sites regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, along with underground storage tank regulations, state requirements and other regulatory authorities
The scope includes remedial action services from preliminary assessments through removal actions and site close-
A1926 posteradvertises the upcoming Sesquicentennial International Exposition in Philadelphia.(PHOTOCREDIT: LIBRARYOFCONGRESS)
outs Contaminantsaddressedmayinclude solvents; petroleum, oils and lubricants; inorganics; acids and bases; radiological materials; munitions constituents; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; polychlorinatedbiphenyls;perfluorinatedchemicals; pesticides; emerging contaminants; and other hazardous substances Contamination may be present in soils groundwater surface water marine or freshwater sediments air sludge man-made structures and other media. Work sites may include landfills, hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities, tanks, lagoons, firefighting training areas and other facilities requiring remedial action.
The contract includes a base year and four option years for a maximum performance period of 60 months with work expectedtobecompletedbyJanuary2031. The options are for time only and do not change the maximum contract amount.
The award was competitively procured through SAM.gov as a small business set-aside using Federal Acquisition Regu-
lation Part 15 best-value source selection procedures Three proposals were received and evaluated, and the selected contractor was determined to offer the best value to the government based on the stated criteria. Fiscal 2026 environmental restoration (Navy)fundsintheamountof$10,000will be obligated at time of award to satisfy the minimum guarantee and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year The first task order is being awarded with the contract in the amount of $10,000 to satisfy the minimum guarantee By enabling timely cleanup and closure activities at eligible sites, the $95 million remedial action contract supports safe, compliant installations that underpin training maintenance logistics and deployment—preserving operational flexibility and protecting the lands and waters that support Navy and Marine Corps readiness
The airship USS LosAngeles,moored to the tenderUSS Patoka participates in an exercise offthe coast ofPanama,Feb.2,1931 The LosAngeles circled overhead during the opening ofNavalAir FacilityMustin Field in Philadelphia,Sept 17 1926 (PHOTOCREDIT:U.S.NAVY)
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth spearheads “Stop the Bleed” training as a Level II Trauma Center
ByWilliamEpperson Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH, Va Uncontrolled bleedingistheleadingcauseofdeathresulting from injury. In the critical moments after a traumatic injury, any bystander can become a lifeline That is the core principle behind the “Stop the Bleed” training initiatives being provided by Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) trauma center personnel.
“StoptheBleedisareallyusefulskillsclass meantforyouraveragepersonwhocouldbe responding to an emergency before emergency services have time to get from their facilities to the site,” said Hospital Corpsman2ndClassMalachiGregory,acorpsman assignedtoCentralSterileSupplyatNMCP “Byteachingtheseverybasicstopthebleed skills we’reabletohelpadjustthatnumber.”
TheStoptheBleedcampaignisanational initiative that aims to empower individuals to act as immediate responders in a bleedingemergency.Themedicalcenter’strauma experts are reaching out to the Hampton Roads community, teaching civilians to be that person.
“We teach lay people who have no medical background students in high schools
people who work out in the community how to put pressure on a bleeding wound, packableedingwound,andputtourniquets onlimbs,”saidLt StephanieMartinez,Main OperatingRoomTraumaNurseCoordinator at NMCP “Here at the command [NMCP], we have about 74 instructors consisting of nurses, corpsmen, doctors, and residents providing the training.”
“We teach them how to use a Combat Application Tourniquet(CAT) tourniquet, andiftheydon’thaveatourniquet,weteach them to just utilize pressure and packing until help arrives,” said Martinez. When a neighbor,afriend,orsomeonenearbyisthe firstpersononscenewhensomeoneisshot, stabbed,orinjured,thistrainingcanmakea difference between life and death.
Stop the Bleed students are trained using hands on learning They are taught how to hold pressure the proper way, how to pack a wound the proper way, and how to place tourniquets the proper way. They are first taughtusingmannequins,butthenprogress toplacingtourniquetsoneachother,sothey are actually doing it on a person, and they can feel how tight it needs to be “Students learntofeelforapulsejusttomakesurethey have cut off the circulation to the bleeding,” said Martinez.
Since the end of 2023 the instructors have trained over 1300 people And town of the Portsmouth is planning to place Stop the Beed kits in all the automated external defibrillator (AED) packages around the city and wants all of their town employees trained to use them.
As NMCP operates as a Level II Trauma Center, the Stop the Bleed training it providesservesasapowerfulreminderthat the ability to save a life can be in anyone’s hands.Theskillslearnedinthistrainingare creating a force of responders ready to act at a moment’s notice, whether on the front lines,atthestore,orrightathome.NMCP,a nationally acclaimed, state-of-the-art militarytreatmentfacility,anditsBranchHealth and Community Branch Health Clinics providemedicalcareforveterans warfighters and their families Additionally NMCP isapremierreadinessandtrainingplatform that provides superior medical training for military medical service members at the U.S. military’s oldest, continuously operatingmilitaryhospital Itsupportspioneering research and teaching programs to prepare new doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and hospital corpsman for combat operations and public health crises
Project launched to recover rare World War II aircraft
ByStaffSgt.BryceHodges
Naval History and Heritage Command
WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, Washington,D.C. Amultidisciplinaryteamofmaritime and naval conservation organizations have announced the launch“The Devastator Project”, an effort to recover and preserve a rareWorldWarIItorpedobomber,theDouglasTBD-1Devastator
The project brings together the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation, Texas A&M University’s Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation, the Republic of the Marshall Islands Cultural and Historic Preservation Office,JaluitAtolllocalgovernmentofficials and traditional leaders, and Naval History and Heritage Command. The team aims to recoverBureauNumber1515,aTBD-1DevastatorthathasremainedsubmergedoffJaluit Atollformorethan80years
The Devastator Project partners plan to coordinatecloselywithstakeholders includingtheRepublicoftheMarshallIslands,and toconductrecoveryoperationsincompliance with all applicable laws and regulations. In keepingwiththeirpreservationmission,the partnersintendtoexhibitBuNo1515in“as-is” condition following cleaning and conservation treatment to stabilize the aircraft’s historicmaterials Theexhibitwillbelocated in the new National Museum of the United StatesNavy currentlyunderdevelopment
ASHF is a U.S.-based nonprofit organizationdedicatedtothestudy investigationand preservationofaviationandmaritimehistoric sites wrecks and artifacts The foundation conducts and supports original fieldwork andarchivalresearchworldwidetoadvance understanding of nautical and aeronautical history
Since 2003, ASHF leadership has conducted seven expeditions to Jaluit Atoll in coordination with the U.S. Navy, CMAC, the RMI Cultural and Historic Preservation Office JaluitAtolllocalgovernmentofficials andtraditionalleaderstoevaluateBuNo1515 asacandidateforrecovery CMAC, a research center at Texas A&M University focused on maritime and underwaterarchaeologyandartifactconservation, has also been involved documenting and studyingtheaircraftsince2006
The TBD-1 Devastator ranks among the most significant aircraft in U.S. naval aviation history It was the Navy’s first all-metal low-wing,semi-monocoqueplaneandplayed a critical role during the opening months of the Pacific campaign, including the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway Of the 129 TBD-1aircraftbuilt for service, none have beenpreservedinmuseumsorprivatecollections; all known examples rest on the ocean floor. BuNo 1515 launched from USS Yorktown(CV-5) and ditched in the Jaluit lagoon on Feb. 1, 1942 during the U.S. Navy’s first
offensive operation in the Pacific All three naval aviators survived the emergency landing and later endured captivity as Japanese prisonersofwaruntiltheirliberationin1945
For generations to come, the recovered Jaluit Devastator will help illustrate the early history of U.S. naval aviation and to serve as a lasting tribute to the service and sacrifice of U.S. Navy aviators during World War II, as well as to the Department of the Navy’s commitment to honoring its service members
For more information about the Devastator Project, visit: https://airseaheritage.org/ projects/devastator-rising/ NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage It provides the knowledgefoundationfortheNavybymaintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and deliveringprofessionalresearch,analysis,and interpretiveservices NHHCiscomposedof many activities including the Navy DepartmentLibrary,theNavyOperationalArchives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums,USSConstitutionrepairfacilityandthe historic ship Nautilus For more news from NHHC visithttp://www.history.navy.mil
ByNatashaWaldronAnthony
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington
Scott Kozenski brings more than two decades of construction management and facilities leadership experience to Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington as its new Public WorksDirector
Kozenski transitions to support critical NavyinfrastructureintheNationalCapital RegionfromNavalWeaponsStationYorktown, where he served as deputy public works officer supervising more than 130 employees across production, facilities management,environmentaldivisionsand constructionoperationssinceJuly2023
“My priority is to get around to all of the installations to find out what makes NAVFAC Washington unique and what I canimprove,”Kozenskisaidonhisfirstday. “ThebiggestdifferenceIseeimmediatelyis thatsomuchishighprofilewithhigh-level visibility, and there are some very unique facilitieshereinWashington.”
As cost engineering branch supervisor and technical discipline coordinator for NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, Kozenski served as the technical authority for all construction cost issues His NAVFAC experience includes an overseas tour with NAVFAC Europe Africa Central in Naples Italy wherehemanageddiverseprojectsacross Europe, Africa and Central Command areasofresponsibility
“I think it brings a higher awareness
of what we do at NAVFAC matters,” said Kozenski,aU.S.MarineCorpsveteranwho served during Operation Desert Storm. “I can see myself as a 20-year-old Marine living in barracks that I help build, or the training facilities The stuff we do here, I canpicturehowthattranslatestocombat, whether through better training or better equipment.”
Before joining NAVFAC Kozenski held project management roles with construction firms from Chicago to Baltimore, gaining hands-on experience in site work, concreterecycling,undergroundconstruction,andasphaltplantmanagement.
A registered professional engineer in Kentucky, Kozenski holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the UniversityofKentuckyandhascompleted multipleleadershipdevelopmentprograms including NAVFAC Applied Leadership Development and NAVFAC Leadership DevelopmentProgram1.
KozenskiresidesinGloucester,Virginia, with his wife Kimberly and their three daughters When not leading infrastructure operations he coaches youth softball andumpiresbaseball.
NAVFACWashington PublicWorks Director Scott Kozenski. (PHOTOBYNATASHA WALDRONANTHONY)
Naval Research Lab Space Station study reveals key challenges and opportunities for microbial biomanufacturing in space
ByJamesonCrabtree
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
ScientistsattheU.S.NavalResearchLaboratory (NRL) have completed a spaceflight biology investigation aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that reveals how microgravity fundamentally alters microbial metabolism limiting the efficiency of biological manufacturing processes critical to future long-duration space missions Thefindingswererecentlypublishedinthe journal https://www.nature.com/articles/ s41526-026-00560-w
The Melanized Microbes for Multiple UsesinSpaceProject(MELSP),launchedto theSpaceStationinNovember2023 examined how microgravity affects the ability of engineeredmicrobestoproducemelanin,a multifunctional biopolymer known for its radiation-shielding, antioxidant, and thermalstableproperties
Results from the completed mission show that while microbes remain capable ofproducingmelanininspace,microgravity significantlyinterfereswithsubstratetransport,cellularstressresponses andmetabolic balance ultimatelyreducingproductionefficiency
“Our findings show that microgravity doesn’t simply slow microbial growth, it rewires how cells move nutrients, manage stress, and allocate metabolic resources,” said Zheng Wang, principal investigator of MELSP and a research biologist at NRL’s Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering “These constraints must be addressed if microbes are to reliably manufacture materials, medicines, or life-support components during long-duration missions.”
Melaninwasselectedasamodelbiomanufacturing product because of its visible pigmentation and relevance to space applications including radiation protection In the study NRL scientists flew engineered Escherichiacolicapableofproducingmelanin via a tyrosinase enzyme and compared space-grown samples to identical ground controls
Despite producing an active enzyme, ISS-grown bacteria generated significantly lessmelaninthangroundsamples
“That was surprising,” Wang said. “The microbes did not produce as well as we expected.Thespaceenvironmentpresentsa lotofchallengesthataffectmicrobialgrowth andactivity,andthisstudyhelpedusidentify those challenges so we can begin thinking abouthowtoovercomethem.”
Follow-on biochemical, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses revealed that the limitation was not enzyme production, but impaired transport and utilization of tyrosine the molecular precursor required for melaninsynthesis
“Microgravity alters fluid behavior, leading to altered growth rates and phenotypes in the space environments,” said Tiffany Hennessa, Ph.D., NRL Research Biologist, Laboratory for Molecular Interfaces, co-principal investigator of MELSP “Our data indicate that under these conditions, cells struggle to efficiently import and process key substrates even when the biosyntheticmachineryitselfremainsintact. Themachineryinsidethecellwasthere,but the inputs weren’t getting to where they needed to be, and that directly impacted melaninproduction”
Proteomic analysis showed that ISS-grown microbes increased expression of stress-response proteins including pathways associated with oxidative stress respiration, and DNA repair Metabolomic profiling further revealed elevated stress markers,suchastrehalose,alongsidedepletionofglutathione,akeymoleculeinvolved inmaintainingcellularredoxbalance
“We saw increased production of stress-related proteins and chemicals associatedwithstressresponses,”Hennessasaid.
The
ByBobbieCamp
Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
U.S.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month a time dedicated to a series of conditions that cause irreversible damage to the optic nerve.Glaucomaisaleadingcauseofvision lossandblindnessintheU.S.,yetasmanyas half of those living with it don’t even know theyhaveit.
Iwasoneofthem,rightupuntilFebruary oflastyear
Itstartedduringaroutineafternoonwhile teleworking IwashomebecauseIwasfeeling under the weather and didn’t want to spreadgermsattheoffice.Suddenly during a meeting, a sudden flash of pain struck above my left eye. I couldn’t even finish the meeting because it had spiraled into an unmanageable sense of pain that I hadn’t everexperiencedbefore.
I told my husband I could feel a “massive pressure” building, but I dismissed it as a symptomofbeingsick.Itriedtosleepitoff pressing my hand against my temple for relief When I woke up the next morning theheadachehaddulled,butmyvisionwas replacedbyanincreasingly,terrifyingblur
The timing couldn’t have been worse; it was Valentine’s Day weekend, and we had
“Thattellsusthecellswereunderpressure in the space environment, and when that happens,survivalbecomesahigherpriority thanproducingextrabiomaterials.”
To validate the spaceflight results, NRL collaborated with Cheryl Nickerson, Ph.D., andherlaboratoryatArizonaStateUniversity Theteamreproducedkeyfindingsusing aRotatingWallVessel(RWV)bioreactoron Earththatsimulateslow-shearmicrogravity conditions These experiments confirmed reducedmelaninproduction,alteredmetabolism, and decreased microbial viability undermicrogravity-likeconditions
“This study provides a critical reality check for space biomanufacturing,” Wang said. “Engineering microbes for space isn’t just about genes and enzymes it’s about designing systems that account for transport, stress, and physical forces unique to thespaceenvironment.”
“Theseareessentiallylittlecellfactories,” Hennessa said “If we can figure out how to helpthemmanagestressandmovenutrients more efficiently, we can make biomanufacturinginspacefarmorereliable.”
The MELSP results provide actionable insight for future efforts to engineer resilient, high-yield microbial production systems for deep-space exploration Potentialstrategiesincluderedesigningtransport pathways,alleviatingmetabolicburden,and developingbioreactorsthatcompensatefor theabsenceofgravity-drivenmixing
The study contributes to a growing body of research informing NASA’s Artemis missions and broader Department of War efforts to enable sustainable human operationsbeyondlow-Earthorbit.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory: NRL is a scientific and engineering commanddedicatedtoresearchthatdrives innovation advances the for the U.S. Navy andMaineCorpsfromtheseafloortospace andintheinformationdomain.NRL,located inWashingtonD.C.withmajorfieldsitesin StennisSpaceCenter Mississippi;KeyWest Florida; Monterey, California, and employees approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineersandsupportpersonnel.
NRLoffersseveralmechanismsforcollaboratingwiththebroaderscientificcommunity, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs),LP-CRADAs EducationalPartnershipAgreements,agreementsunderthe authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at mailto:NRLPAO@us.navy.mil.
U.S.Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research biologist, and ZhengWang Ph.D NRLresearch biologist,analyze a microbial sample in Washington,D.C.,Jan. 9,2026 Scientists at NRLsent microbial samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate howmicrogravityaffects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production.(U.S.NAVY PHOTOBYSARAH PETERSON)
a trip planned to a spa resort. Instead of a romantic getaway, we headed to Urgent Care. Because my symptoms were so non-specific,findingananswerwasarollercoaster: Walk-in Medical Service: Ruled out a stroke and gave me a shot for the headache but couldn’t explain the redness and sensitivityinmyeye. TheER:Misdiagnosedmewithastyeand a corneal abrasion, sending me home with dropsthatdidnothing Two Weeks Later: To ensure safety on theroad,Ioptedtohitchridesintowork Thankfully I work at the headquarters of Navy Medicine My team there recognized the urgency and connected me with an optometrist at the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Because I was a beneficiary with emergent symptoms, I was seen immediately That was the moment my “stye” was revealed to be something much more serious My initial symptoms pointed to zoster iridocyclitis (eye shingles), likely triggered bymyrecentsickness,causingmyeyepressuretoskyrocketintothe60s(thenormalis typicallybetween10and21).
I was given an option for an emergency
procedure to drain fluid. Luckily, my vision wastooblurrytoseetheneedleenteringmy eye, but the thoughts were far scarier than the actual procedure! However, while the pressure dropped initially it wouldn’t stay down.
It was then that the doctors discovered therootcauseandtruediagnosis:Iwasborn with anatomically narrow angles checks notes verynarrow Coupledwithfarsightedness, my shorter and smaller eyes create a “crowded” drainage area. This ends up increasing eye pressure since the fluid has nowheretogo
Despite maximum therapy and a laser peripheral iridotomy to create a drainage hole in my iris, the hazy film” I was still experiencing didn’t lift after a couple of months Scansshowedthattheretinalnerve fiber layer was thinning, resulting in vision loss
The ophthalmologist at Fort Belvoir immediately referred me to a glaucoma specialist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland andIwasseenthatsameday.Thespecialist there determined that my next step was a surgicalimplant Inowlivewithatinydrainage shunt a mechanical bypass that keepsthepressureincheck.
I am forever grateful to the Army, Navy, andAirForcedoctorswhocollectivelysaved my sight Today, I still live with light sensitivity,whichIwearglaucomasunglassesfor, andcontinuetosee“smudges”inmylefteye. Thesesmudgesremindmeeverydayofthe “scare from my acute closed-angle glaucoma attack a true medical emergency Thesedailyremindersdon’thindermyabilitytocontributeprofessionally;instead,they fuelmypassionforraisingawareness
Don’t Wait for the Flash of Pain If you experience sudden, intense eye pain, headaches orblurredvision don’t“waitandsee” acttoday:
1. Schedule an Eye Exam: A simple check of your optic nerve can save yoursight.
2. Know Your Anatomy: Ask your doctor if you have “narrow angles,” especiallyifyouarefarsighted.
3. Listen to Your Body: An intense migraine centered in the eye is often morethanjustheadache Earlydetectionistheonlywaytostopthe “silent thief.” I share my story so that your firstwarningsignisn’tyourlastdayofclear vision.
TiffanyHennessa (left),Ph.D. U.S.Naval Research Laboratory(NRL) research biologist,and ZhengWang Ph.D NRLresearch biologist,pose fora photo to recognize the completion of theirMelanized Microbes forMultiple Uses in Space experiment inWashington,D.C Jan. 9,2026 The experiment allowed NRLscientists to send samples aboard the International Space Station to investigate howmicrogravityaffects microbial metabolism and biomaterial production.(U.S.NAVYPHOTO/ILLUSTRATIONBYSARAH)
TiffanyHennessa (left),Ph.D
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Breakthroughs in testing solid-fuel ramjets advance research
ByJamesonCrabtree
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
ScientistsattheU.S.NavalResearchLaboratory are developing the next generation of solid-fuel ramjet (SFRJ) propulsion, addressingoneofthefield’smostpersistent challenges: understanding and predicting what happens inside an operating combustor NRL scientists have figured out how to “seeinside”oneofthemostextremeengines ever built, turning guesswork into knowledge and making future long-range, highspeed flight more achievable than ever before.
A solid-fuel ramjet is an air-breathing engine that uses solid fuel instead of liquid fuel, offering high energy density and mechanically simple propulsion by burning fuel with oxygen from the air to producethrust.Bydrawingoxygenfromthe atmosphere rather than carrying oxidizer onboard, SFRJs can carry more fuel in the same space and fly farther than traditional rocketsystems
“Ifyoureplacealltheoxidizerandinstead use oxygen from the air to burn your fuel, youcanincreaserangebyupto200to300% in the same form factor,” said Brian Bojko, Ph.D a combustion scientist at the U.S. NavalResearchLaboratory(NRL).
Despite that promise, widespread adoption has been slowed by the extreme internal environment of SFRJs, where high temperatures, soot, and rapidly evolving flow structures prevent traditional probes from accessing critical data. Unlike liquid or gaseous fuels solid fuels release energy through surface regression and often produce a complex mixture of fuel productsconsumedduringcombustion,making it far more difficult to control burning rates andpredictperformance Thisiswhyunderstandingandpredictingwhathappensinside anoperatingcombustorissoimportant
“In solid-fuel ramjets, you don’t have direct control over the mass flow rate like youdowithliquidsystems,”Bojkoexplained “The heat from combustion actually drives thegasificationofthesolidfuel,sopressure, temperature, and airflow all feed back into howtheenginebehaves.”
Withoutdetailedmeasurementsofflame temperature,fuelregression,andfuel-vapor transport,designershavehistoricallyrelied on trial-and-error approaches “A lot of the design has been kind of Edisonian,” Bojko said. “You take a guess test it and iterate But without seeing the physics inside the combustor,it’shardtoknowifyou’regetting therightanswerfortherightreason.”
At the same time, computational approaches such as Reynolds-Averaged Navier—Stokes(RANS)andDetachedEddy Simulation(DES)havebeenlimitedbyalack of high-quality experimental data for validation. RANS, DES and LES represent increasing levels of physical realism in turbulence simulation,wheremoreturbulentstructures are directly resolved rather than modeled. Moving from RANS to DES to LES brings simulations closer to the true flow physics, especiallyforunsteadyflows,butatasignificantly higher computational cost. RANS modelsmostturbulenceandiscomputationally efficient but less accurate for unsteady flows DES resolves large turbulent structures while modeling smaller ones, balancing accuracy and cost. LES resolves most turbulentmotiondirectly,offeringthehighest accuracy at the highest computational expense
“With only a few pressure or temperature points you can match a simulation to an experiment and still be wrong,” Bojko noted. “Optical access lets us validate the flame structure, recirculation zones, and combustionspeciesdirectly.
Seeing Flame Temperature in Real Time
To address these gaps, researchers employed optical diagnostics capable of operating in the harsh, particle-laden environment of an SFRJ combustor. Measuring flame temperature is especially important, Bojko said, because models often assume combustion efficiency rather than measure it.
“These diagnostics give us new data we simply didn’t have before,” said David Kessler Ph.D a senior computational scientistatNRL.“Theyallowustomeasure gas-phase species and temperatures in an environment where traditional probes just don’twork.”
The chemistry behind how solid fuels decompose and feed the flame is just as important as measuring the flame itself, according to researchers As heat from the flame feeds back into the fuel surface, the solid polymer undergoes phase change and chemical breakdown, releasing a complex mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons that sustaincombustion.
“You have this continuous feedback loop,”saidBrianFisher,Ph.D.,acombustion researchengineeratNRL.“Theflameheats thefuel,thefueldecomposesintogas-phase species andthosespeciesthenmixwiththe air and keep the flame going. It’s a coupled thermal, chemical, and fluid-dynamic process, and that’s what makes solid-fuel ramjets both powerful and challenging to predict.”
Mapping Fuel Regression and Validating Models
Understandinghowquicklythesolidfuel surfacerecedes knownasfuelregression,is criticalbecauseitdirectlygovernsthrustand performance The team combined experimentaldiagnosticswithhigh-fidelitysimulations to resolve heat feedback to the fuel
surface,akeydriverofregression.
“One of the biggest things you need to capture is the heat transfer back to the solid fuel,” Bojko said “RANS can give you an okay answer, but it doesn’t resolve the fundamental processes as well as DES or large-eddy simulation. Those higher-fidelity approaches cost more computationally but they give you a much better picture of what’shappening.”
Visualizing Fuel Vapor Before It Burns
For the first time, the researchers also visualized fuel vapor released from the solid surface before ignition, revealing how complex hydrocarbon species mix and evolve prior to combustion. Solid-fuel ramjetscommonlyusehydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), a long-chain polymer that breaks down into many different gaseousspecies “When HTPB decomposes, you don’t know what species are coming off the surface and those species dictate the combustionmechanism, Bojkosaid “They changewithtemperature,pressure,andheat flux, so being able to characterize them is critical to understanding the underlying mechanisms across different flight conditions.”
In parallel, NRL researchers are also investigating advanced composite fuels designed to increase how much energy can bestoredinthesamevolumeofsolidfuel.
“We’re interested in adding energetic additives, like metal particles, into polymer fuels to increase their energy density,” said ClaytonGeipel,Ph.D.,acombustionresearch engineer at NRL. “As the fuel burns, those
particles are released intotheflameandignite, giving you more energy fromthesamevolumeof fuel. That directly translates into greater potential range for future systems.”
“Youwanttojamasmuchenergycontent into that block of fuel as you can while still havingareasonablerateofcombustionthat’s the challenge,” said Albert Epshteyn, Ph.D., materialsscientistatNRL.
Although metals can have slightly lower energy per unit mass than hydrocarbons theirmuchhigherdensityallowsmoretotal energytobepackedintothesamevolume a critical advantage for compact, long-range systems
Reducing Risk and Accelerating
Together these diagnostics and simulations transform SFRJ combustion from a largely inferred process into a measurable predictable system. The validated models allow researchers to conduct design iterations computationally before moving to costlyexperiments
“Our main objective is to reduce risk,” Bojko said. “If we have validated computational models we can do design iterations much more efficiently in terms of cost and time and narrow down the physics before weevergotofull-scaletesting.”
Kessler emphasized the broader impact: “NRL is developing technologies that help accelerate the transition of solid-fuel ramjets, technology that can significantly increasetherangeofnext-generationhighspeedsystems.”
Building on that foundation, the team is now focused on bridging the gap between small-scalelaboratoryexperimentsandrealworldpropulsionsystems
“All of our work right now happens at small-scale facilities in idealized, optically accessible geometries,” Geipel said. “That’s
what allows us to make detailed measurements,buttherearestillimportantquestions abouthowthoseresultsapplytoafull-scale, enclosedramjet.”
While small-scale experiments reveal detailed physics scaling those results to full-size engines remains one of the central uncertainties in the field. The next phase of the research will focus on extending these validated tools and models to larger, more representative test configurations, an intermediatestepthatpreservesdiagnostic access while introducing greater geometric and physical realism. That progression isdesignedtoensurethephysicsandchemistryobservedinthelabtranslatereliablyto operationalpropulsionsystems. Byintegratingopticaldiagnostics,detailed chemistry,andvalidatedsimulationsacross multiple scales, the research provides the propulsioncommunitywithtoolstoreduce uncertainty,shortendevelopmenttimelines, and enable future high-speed air-breathing propulsiontechnologies.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory: NRL is a scientific and engineering commanddedicatedtoresearchthatdrives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and MarineCorpsfromtheseafloortospaceand in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in StennisSpaceCenter,Mississippi;KeyWest, Florida; Monterey California, and employs approximately3,000civilianscientists engineersandsupportpersonnel. NRLoffersseveralmechanismsforcollaboratingwiththebroaderscientificcommunity, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs),LP-CRADAs,EducationalPartnershipAgreements,agreementsunderthe authority of 10 USC 4892 licensing agreements FAR contracts and other applicable agreements For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at mailto:NRLPAO@us.navy.mil.
NAVSUP FLC Norfolk hosts training for future supply officers
ByThomasKreidel
NAVSUP FLC Norfolk
NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Norfolkhasbegunhostinggroupsofrecent Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduates headedtoNavalSupplySchoolBasicQualification(BQC)andBQCgraduatesawaiting orderstotheirships
According to Lt Brandon McNutt, who is helping with this project, the group of ensignsarehereformentorshipandtogain first hand supply knowledge as they await theirorders
“Wehavethemlearningdifferentaspects of supply from the different departments throughoutNAVSUPFLCNorfolk,”McNutt explained. “They’re learning what each departmentdoes receivingtrainingonareas they will deal with on their first tour the importance of the FLC and gaining points ofcontacttoreachouttoiftheyneedfurther assistance.”
This first group has seven ensigns in the program at the command. McNutt, along with Lt j.g. Andrew Van Buskirk worked withthecommandtosetuparotationwhere the group spends time with each department, being briefed on the different productsandserviceseachdepartmentprovides and experiencing hands-on training The program includes NAVSUP FLC Norfolk servicessuchasNavyCash,retailandsales, food service, HAZMAT, integrated logistics, aviation support, contracting, logistics supportandpostaloperations Whiledevelopingtheplan,thecommand focusedonwhatsubjectstheofficerswould learn about at BQC or experience during their first afloat tour once in the fleet. Emphasis was also put on starting to build theirnetworkofsupplyprofessionalstoturn tointhefuture.
“The knowledge and points of contact they gain from people who provide training and assistance to the waterfront gives them a better understanding of what they should expect as they embark on their first tours,” said McNutt. “It also ensures they knowwheretogoandwhotocontactifthey ever get to a point where they need outside assistance.”
For Commanding Officer, Capt. Kelly House, hosting this ensign rotation representsafull-circlemomentthatmirrors hisintroductiontotheSupplyCorps
“Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, I served for six months at Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (CNSL) prior to attending the Navy Supply Corps School BQC and the CNSL SUPPO, Capt. Tracy Larcher ensured that I spent each day on board at least one ship to learn the tactical specifics of supply operations, foodservice,andretailsales, saidHouse “In hindsight, the experience has always resonatedasapivotalopportunitythatenhanced my BQC learning and was key to understanding the afloat supply officer responsibilitiesasajuniorofficer.”
asparticularlyhelpfulinshowinghimsome oftheadministrativeresponsibilitieshewill haveasadivisionofficerinthefleet.
Ens BryanHogue,arecentOCSgraduate, says this mentorship program gave him the opportunity to visit a warship for the first time He thinks this program will give him alegupatbothBQCandwhenhearrivesat hisfirstship
The ensigns taking part in this program say it has already benefited them greatly Ens Kyle Vance a prior culinary specialist first class who is awaiting his class at BQC, citedhisvisittotheMilitaryPersonnelOffice
“The way NAVSUP organized this program has put us in a position to gain mentors totalktoalotofseniorofficersand togiveusalotofdifferentpipelinestolearn, it’sbeenagreatexperience,”saidHogue.
Thisgroupwillcontinuetheirrotationat NAVSUPFLCNorfolkthroughthespring NAVSUP FLC Norfolk is the largest of eight globally positioned fleet logistics centers that provide the full range of solutions for logistics, business and support services to our mission partners The more than 1300 Sailors, civilians and contractors thatmakeupNAVSUPFLCNorfolksupport operationsatmorethan30sitesacrossthree regionsand12states plusWashingtonD.C.
On iberty
InterviewByYiorgo
TheTonyAward®winningoriginalmusical comedy Shucked, that Reba McEntire loved so much when she saw it, that she became its spokesperson, is coming to Chrysler Hall February 3rd-February 8th. It features a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Award—winning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”), and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien(Hairspray)!
For tickets, times, dates and info to the digital lottery go to https://wwwsevenvenues.com/events/detail/shucked
Yiorgo: With us today is Miki Abraham. Whyshouldpeoplecometotheshow?What willtheysee,hear,andexperience?
Miki Abraham: Shucked is a musical comedy that is completely and totally original. It took about 12 years from conception of idea to us opening on Broadway So it is something that a lot of love and a lot of efforthasgoneintoit.Ialwaystellpeople if there’s ever a show you don’t know, there’s ever something you don’t know about, take
a chance, see the show. No one has ever been grumpy for sitting in a two and a half hourmusicalcomedy,andIwillsaythat,my favorite part about doing this show in these differentcommunitiesisthatwealwaysget somebody every single person, to laugh, downtotheoneguythat’ssittinginthefront row,who’smad,hiswifemadehimcomesee thismusical.Bytheend,he’slaughingabout something,youknow?There’ssomethingin it for everyone Our creative team counted something like 175 laughs when we were onBroadway Sotakeachance,trustus,and goonthisgreatridewithuswhenwegetto Norfolk,Virginia Y:Withoutgivingtoomuchaway whatis theshowabout?
MA: This show, takes place in fictional, Cob County, where our livelihood is corn, andthenoneday,thecorndies,andwehave tofigureouthowtosaveit.Soourheroofthe story,actuallynamedMaizy,leavesoursmall town to go out into the big world and find someonetohelpus Andsheendsupbringing back a con man. And so along the way, we discovered that change isn’t as scary as wethinkitis andthatwehavemorecapacityforlovethanwegiveourselvescreditfor.
Y:YouplayLulu.Tellusaboutyourcharacter What is Lulu’s function or purpose in themusical?
MA:LuluisthecousinofMaizyandLulu iskindofthecharacterthatbringsherdown toearthalittlebit.IkindofthinkaboutLulu as the rock to the community She knows everything that’s going on with everyone, even if they don’t know that she does. She’s a bit of an immovable force throughout the showassomeonethat’sjustkindoflike,hey, now, don’t forget where you came from. Don’t let these city people, these outsiders change you and take away your small town learning,basically Andsoyougettokindof go on a journey with the character of Lulu that she’s, set in her ways and we all know someonelikethatandthenshekindofstarts to learn a bit about herself and a little bit more about how vulnerability isn’t a negative thing. I think it is something that she learnsalongtheway.
Y:DidyoubaseLuluonanyoneinparticular?
MA: I just kind of pull from all of the matriarchs in my family when I’m creating thisrole I’mfromKentuckyoriginally born and raised, and so there’s so many, strong
southernwomeninmyfamilythatIkindof get to pull from to create this character of Lulu.So,she’sdefinitelyanononsenselady, andyoujustkindofgettogoonthejourney of self discovery with her, which I think is reallyspecial.
Y: Then I have to ask, when your family members saw you in it did any of them recognizethemselves?Didtheysayanything toyouafterwards?
MA: You know, it’s funny. So my mom, when she saw me do the show, which I’ve been with for almost four years now. I was in the Broadway production as well as the pre-Broadway run. So I’ve been with the show for a long time but my mom saw me play this role for the first time when I was understudying it on Broadway And one of the first things she said was that she could see her mother in some of the things that I wassaying Shewouldbelike,“Oh,yousaid aline,andIwaslike,ohmygosh,that’sDoris (my grandmother).” But the funniest thing is that I had some friends come and see the show, and one of the first things one of my friends said was, that they saw my mom in
BySamSaunders
at 7:30 p.m. The NorfolkMasonicTempleislocatedat7001 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23505. The scheduledmaineventis“Mr.Xcellence”Brandon Scott vs Rex Lawless in a Virginia Heavyweight Championship match. Lawless and Scott have simultaneously built momentum over recent months Lawless most recently defeated former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash in his fourth Virginia Heavyweight Championship defense At the same event in December Scott pinned “Greek God” Papadon to become the No 1 contender to Lawless championship In November, Scottwonthesecond-annualDirtyMoney Cup, and Lawless retained his title against Chris Slade and Breaux Keller in a Three Way match. Lawless and Scott last met in a singles match in October 2024 In that match, Lawless took advantage of a seemingly-injured Scott to win. Lawless has expressed confidence in defeating Scott once again,
but “Mr. Xcellence” rejects this notion. Scott, a former Virginia Heavyweight Champion, has not held the title in four years WithLawless’confidenceandScott’s determination,theresultofthemainevent title match is difficult to predict InDecember,CommanderKingofficially surpassed one full year as VCW Liberty Champion. The last several months of his reign have involved LDJ, who has nearly captured the title on multiple occasions King has purposefully gotten himself disqualified to retain his title against LDJ, and in December LDJ pinned King in an impromptu tag team match. Due to this, a final VCW Liberty Championship match between Commander King and LDJ has beensanctioned,withanaddedstipulation: If King loses by count-out or disqualification, he will lose the VCW Liberty title In the final title match of the night Nice & Smooth will defend the VCW Tag Team Championship against South Philly’s Finest.LikeRexLawless,“TooNice”Trace Parker and “Smooth” Tom Mitchell have defended their titles four times Jimmy Konway and Luca Brazzi have previously demonstrated strong showings against Nice & Smooth in the Northeast, but they have yet to wrestle in VCW. South Philly’s Finestlookstomakeanimpactbycapturing
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Shucked theTonyAward®–winning musical comedyis coming to ChryslerHall February3rd-8th.(PHOTOCREDIT:SHUCKED)
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Jamestown Settlement to present Chinese Tea Talk & Chinese Seal Printing Workshop in conjunction with ‘Following the Dragon’ special exhibition
PressRelease
WILLIAMSBURG, Va Jamestown
Settlement, a museum of 17th-century Virginiahistoryandculture,willpresenttwo programs on February 7 and 14 in conjunction with the ongoing special exhibition, “Following the Dragon: Chinese Porcelain inEarlyJamestown.
Theprogramsinclude:
February7:“TragedyandRomance:TastingtheMingDynasty”Talk, 4 p.m.
Feather Chen, a master of the Chinese tea artswithexpertiseinteaetiquette,brewing techniquesandculturalinsights willexplore the spirit of the Ming dynasty through the lens of tea in daily life By tracing how tea drinking evolved during this period, the illustrated talk will reveal how changes in politics, aesthetics and philosophy shaped the way people lived, gathered and found meaning in everyday rituals Chen, with rootsinYunnanandbasedinCharlottesville, isaformerhostatYunnanProvincialTVand a certified Chinese tea evaluator and artist The talk is included with museum admission.
February14:ChineseSealPrintingWorkshop, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artist Mary Swezey invites museum guests to explore the ancient practice of fashioning a stamp used for personal identification. Following an overview about the significance of the Chinese seal (or chop), participants will translate their names into Chinese characters on paper The characters will be transferred to soft printmaking blocks(Safety-Kut)andcutoutusingcarving tools The carved blocks will then be inked and printed on blank greeting cards The workshop free with advance registration, islimitedto15participantsanddesignedforages13and up TheprogramisorganizedbytheVirginiaMuseumof FineArtsandisfundedinpartbythePaulMellonEndowmentandtheJeanStaffordCampMemorialFund. AbouttheSpecialExhibition:‘FollowingtheDragon: ChineseMingPorcelaininEarlyJamestown’
AChinese Seal PrintingWorkshopwill be held on February14 atJamestown Settlement (PHOTOCOURTESYJAMESTOWNYORKTOWNFOUNDATION)
Thespecialexhibition,presentedinpartnershipwith the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, reveals unexpected cultural connections that link colonial Virginia with imperial China, spanning continents and empires and features Ming porcelain uncovered during archaeological excavations of the 1607-1625 fort at Historic Jamestowne On display through July 12, the groundbreakingexhibitionisregardedbyscholarsandcollectors as“oneofthemostsignificant21st-centuryexhibitionsof ceramicsfromtheearlycolonialperiod.”
More than 100 Chinese Ming porcelain vessels have been discovered during archaeological excavations of the1607-1625fortatHistoricJamestowne Forthisexhibition, a total of 31 vessels recovered during Jamestown Rediscoveryexcavationsarepairedwithintactparallels fromEnglish,DutchandAmericanmuseums,aswellas privatecollectionsfromacrosstheglobe
Thespecialexhibition,acollaborationbetweenJamestown Settlement Senior Curator Beverly “Bly” Straube, Ph.D.,FSA,andJamestownRediscoverySeniorCurator MerryOutlaw,issupportedinpartbyJamesCityCounty James D. and Pamela J. Penny, Wilma and Marc Sharp, Ms.LydiaKayWilkinson,MarkA.andIrisCoblitz,Linda T.Baker,CarolynAbbitt,BruceH.andEleanorKnowles, LarkinandDannySchmidt,StephenandJeanLouie,and JerryE.Dalton. SpecialexhibitionmerchandisecuratedfortheJames-
town Settlement Museum Shop features a selection of teas,clothingandreproductions,includinglimitedquantitiesofareplicaofaMingporcelainbowldiscoveredby JamestownRediscoveryarchaeologistsdatingc.1607-25 at James Fort, Historic Jamestowne, and presented in a keepsakebox.“FollowingtheDragon:LateMingPorcelainfromJamesFort,Jamestown,Virginia,”abookwritten by Jamestown Rediscovery Senior Curator Merry Outlaw,alsoisavailable Themuseumshopisopen9a.m. to5p.m.daily Admission
The “Following the Dragon” special exhibition is included with daytime admission to Jamestown Settlement:$20.00foradults,$10.00foryouth,andchildren5 andunderarefree ResidentsofJamesCityCounty,York CountyandtheCityofWilliamsburg,includingWilliam & Mary students receive free admission with proof of residency Jamestown Settlement, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is locatedat2110JamestownRoad,Williamsburg,Va.,near the Colonial Parkway and adjacent to Historic Jamestowne Formoreinformation,call(757)253-4838orvisit jyfmuseums.org/following-the-dragon.
FeatherChen,a masterofthe Chinese tea arts will speak atJamestown Settlement on February7.(PHOTOCOURTESY JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION)
“Following the Dragon: Chinese Ming Porcelain in EarlyJamestown”special exhibition is on displaythroughJuly12
FOUNDATION)
someofmyscenes,soitwasreallyfunny.My momsawhermom.Myfriendswerelike,oh, I know that lady It’s definitely cool to pay homagetothosewomeninmylife.
Y:Asyousaid,youplayedLuluonBroadwayandnowinthenationaltour Whatwas it like working with that creative team and castandwhatisitlikeworkingwiththecast now?
MA: So on Broadway, I actually understudied Lulu. I didn’t play it full-time on Broadway, but I went on almost 60 times onBroadwayforthisrole Sogettingtotake over for the tour was really exciting to get toplayiteverynight.It’sfunnythatyouask this question because it’s something that I always point out. This creative team, our writers our director I think they’re really good at putting together a great company. And I think that is something that is a skill in and of itself That is a talent to be able to dothat,anditgoesdowneventothecasting directorsaswell.Wehavehadafewpeople that have stuck with the show the whole time There’s a character in the tour, in the showwhosenameisGordyJackson.Quinn VanAntwerp plays this role and he has also beenwiththeshowsincepre-Broadway So we are the only 2 in the tour that are part of the original Broadway company. We’ve kindofbeenwiththisthewholetime,which is really exciting But, I would say that the cast has changed very subtly from Utah, to Broadway, to the national tour, even with thenewpeoplecomingin.Whatissospecial aboutitisthatourcreativeteamallowedus to make our own characters every single time the show came back around So, the version of Shucked that happened in Salt Lake City, Utah, before we went to Broadway, is completely different from the versionthatyousawonBroadway,whichis completelydifferentfromtheversionyou’re gonna see on the national tour That’s not to say that necessarily that the content of the show has changed, it’s just the characters and the actors that are taking on these roles That’swhatmakesbeingaperformer sospecial,Ithink You’rebringingyourown personal experience to the role, and inevitably,thatisgoingtochangethecharacters Ourcompanyhasdonesowellwithputting togetherjustthemostlovelygroupofpeople, andeverydifferentcastthatI’vebeeninwith thisshow I’vegatheredatleasttwoorthree lifetime friends from it. I think that is really specialandsomethingthatwedon’talways geteverytimewedoashow.
Y: What is your favorite part or song of theshowthatyouarepersonallyinvolvedin and you get to do every night and you can’t waittodoit?
MA: My favorite part of the show that I am in is, when there is a beautiful quartet that happens in the middle of the show, midway through the 2nd act. This specific quartet is maybe one of the most standard musical theater type songs that, you know, youwouldhaveinamusical,andIthinkthat it stands out so beautifully, in juxtaposition toalloftheothergenresofsongswehavein theshow It’salsotheonlysongintheshow where you get to watch every single character that is on stage change their opinion aboutsomething Sothat’swhyIthinkit’sso special,becauseweallstartthequartet,feelingacertainwayaboutsomething,andthen throughtheentiresong,yougettowatchus learn new things So by the end of the song, we’re in a completely different place than we were when we started. And the harmonies are absolutely to die for. It’s one of my favorite numbers, and it’s just fun to get to comeonstageandsingwith3ofmyfriends harmonizewitheachotheranddothisthing thatwelovetodo So,yes,thequartetisdefinitelyoneofmyfavoritethings
Y: What’s your favorite part of the show thatyou’renotin,butyouenjoywatchingon thesideormaybesingingintheback?
MA: My favorite thing that I am not in is the boy number which is called Best Man Wins It is just spectacular almost every night it’s the biggest applause It’s one of the biggest, danciest numbers that we have in the show. It kind of feels like it’s paying homage to the Oak Ridge Boys a little bit. It’sbyfarmyabsolutefavorite Iloveit Our musical has so many different genres of music within it. The music was written by Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark. They arerenownedcountrymusicwriters,butnot every song necessarily sounds like it would be on the CMAs you know, some of it is, some of it is very country, and you can tell that it was written by country music writers,but,youknow,you’vegotmysong,Independently Owned, that I sing every night, kindof,ismoreof,agospelsoundingsong
Y:Whatwasyourauditionprocesslikefor boththeBroadwayandtheNationalTour?
MA: So I started this audition process actually in 2021. I auditioned for this untitled country musical that we didn’t really know what it was, and I auditioned for it, andIendedupgettingacallback,butatthe sametime,Igotacallback,Igotanofferfor another show, and we were just coming off of the pandemic, and I was like, I gotta get myinsuranceback Andso,Iactuallyturned down my final callback for the show and wentanddidadifferentshow.
In my head, I was like, if it’s meant to be for me to be in this musical, it will happen. Andaboutsevenmonthslater,Igotanother auditionforthenextiterationofthiscountry musical that was now called Shucked. And I auditioned for it, and I went through the callback process, and I remember leaving the audition and thinking, Now, I grew up singing country music, like, that has always been my thing I have sung country music since I was, like, 11 years old Growing up
in Kentucky like, that is my style of singing that I prefer Sure And I never thought I’d get to mix it with musical theater You know, I always thought that they needed to stay separate. And when I went to this call back, and I was singing the songs from the show and everything, I remember walking out of the space and saying, If I don’t book this show and I meant this so seriously, I think I might have to take a break, ‘cause at this point, I lived in New York for almost 10 years.Ihadn’tmademyBroadwaydebutyet. I was still working, but not where I wanted to be, you know? And so I was like, I don’t know,ifIdon’tgetthisshow,IthinkImight havetotakeabreak,becausethisshowfeels so perfect for me And I ended up getting it, and I was like, oh, my gosh, okay, it was meant to be And, through that process, I was offered the pre Broadway run and the Broadway run altogether I had no expectationsforwhatthenationaltourwouldbe, and who would be on the tour It wasn’t a guarantee that if you were in the Broadway production,youweregoingtobeofferedthe tour It was very, let us know if you’re interested, and then we’ll see if it works, when puttingtogetherthecompany.AndIremember that I thought that I had done my very last Lulu. It was our closing day on Broadway. We closed on our two show days I got todomymatineeperformanceasLulu,and then Alex Newell, who originated the role, camebackfortheeveningperformance And Irememberthinking,Wow,okay,thisisthe lasttimeI’mevergonnadothis AndIwasso sad, and little did I know, just a few months later, I was gonna get offered Lulu to play full time on the road, and now I’ve played thisrolealmost600times Iamverylocked inandwellversedinthecharacterofLulu.
Y:Well,andspeakingofthat,twodaysinto theBroadwayshow,youwereaskedtogoon as Lulu. Talk to us about that because that blewmeawaywhenIreadthataboutyou.
MA: Yes, yes, and that’s the thing Two days after we opened, I did have to make my Broadway principal debut as Lulu, and something about that was just, it was so honestly, I think, I proved a lot to myself andalso,tothecreativeteam.I’veneverhad a rehearsal. I had just been watching and taking notes and doing the work at home, andIwastalkingtomydadaboutthewhole thing,andhewaslike,“Youstayready,soyou don’thavetogetready.”AndIwaslike,Absolutely.Iwasabsolutelyhavingtotrustmyself andtheworkthatIhaddone andithelped A lotoftimespeoplethink,I’mgonnagraduate from college I’m gonna move to New York City,IwillmakemyBroadwaydebut,andit’s just gonna happen really fast. And for some people, that happens, and for some people, that’s really great for them. I think that it happened for me the way it was supposed to I didn’t make my Broadway debut until I was 31. And I think that because it didn’t happenuntilthen,Iwasmentallyprepared tohavetogoonforaleadsoquickly because
ABOVE: Shucked,theTonyAward®–winning musical comedyis coming to ChryslerHall February3rd-8th. LEFT: MikiAbraham plays Lulu in the musical.(PHOTOSCOURTESYOFSHUCKED)
I know how to teach myself things This is not my first rodeo, you know, like my first Broadway show,butbythatpoint,I’d done 2 national tours I’d worked off Broadway. I wasactivelyworking Ijust had never been on Broadway.SoIthinkthathelped a lot. Like my experience in building up my resume and approaching things as a 31 year old, is much different than if I was like 23,youknow?
Y: Of course with live theatre,anythingcouldgo wrong Is there an anecdote you would like to share?
MA: Oh, goodness, yeah, absolutely I don’t remember what city we were in, we might have beeninTexassomewhere, where there was a bat on stage and, we were just kind of doing our show, and it flew right above my head and I didn’t know what it was, you know, something flies fast above your head. You see it out of the corner of your eye. You don’t really know what to do, but, yes, there was abatonstageatonepoint,andI’mthankful every single day that I’m not the one who saw it. Because it was right above my head. So the person I was talking to on stage saw it happen, and then we got off stage and he was like, there was a bat right above your head. Like, you could have reached up and grabbedit.
Y: So let’s learn about you. Where in Kentucky were you born? What was life growingup?Andwhatorwhomadeyoufall inlovewithmusicaltheatre?
MA: I was born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky I ended up going to Northern Kentucky University for school. I stayed in KentuckyaslongasIcould.Ilovemyroots, the southernness of it. My father is a singer as well. When I was younger, I used to say that he reminded me of the High School Musical movie, because he was an athlete growingupandplayedfootballandrantrack andplayedbasketball.Withfootballhewas an All American, played in college but also wasinthechoir Igrewupwithhimrunning a serenading business where he would go and serenade people for Valentine’s Day or for their anniversary I dressed up in a little dressandhandedoutroses Igrewuphearing him sing and I have an older sister that also started doing theatre. She’s a nurse now. I decided I was gonna take theatre and run with it. She did it as a hobby, and thenwentandbecameanurse Iwasalways surroundedbytheartsinmyhousehold.My motherismoreofavisualartist,she’sareally great sketcher, and she crochets stuffed animals in a way that’s very impressive. I was homeschooled my entire life, so that providedalotoftimetoperfectalotofcrafts inthehomeandseealotofshowsthatwould come into town. I was in choir growing up
So it was a lot of art that I was just kind of born into I remember I was maybe seven years old, when I was in my first musical. I wasLittleOrphanAnnieinAnnie Itwasmy firstshowthatIeverauditionedforandthe momentIsteppedoutonthatstage,Iknew, oh,thisiswhatIwanttodo Iwasneverinto anythingotherthanbeingonstageandsingingandactinganddancing,andthatwasmy thing Anditneverstopped.WhenIgrewup, I didn’t really have a choice I was gonna be an artist in some way. with the family that I wasbornintoforsure.
Y: How about a pinch me, wow moment that you can’t believe you got to experience thankstothisbeautifulworkofours
MA: Oh goodness I would say that for a long time, I’ve done a lot of understudy and ensemble work, and this show Shucked, specifically is the first time that I have ever gotten to play a lead role professionally full time That’staughtmealotaboutmyselfand
alotaboutperseverance ofshowingupand singing,evenwhenyoudon’tfeelyourbest. I post a lot on social media and I’ve gotten a little bit of a social media following, from doingthisshowandpeoplestartingtoknow whoIam.Myentranceforthisshowiskind of grand. I’m rolled in, sitting on the porch with my whiskey When we were in Los Angeles California, about 20 people gave meentranceapplauseandIwas,like,what? YouguysknowwhoIam?Itwasoneofthose surreal moments where I was, like, oh, my goodness, there are people that are following me on social media, and it was kind of a moment of okay, I’m actually, doing this It felt like it was confirming all of the things I was feeling about myself and feeling about thesuccessthatI’vehad,andhowhardI’ve worked. It was, whoa, people know who I am,andthey’reapplaudingmeenteringthe stage So that was one of those things that I was like, Oh, this is a core memory, that I will remember forever. And now we got to getthatwholeaudiencetoknowwhoIam.
Y: International country mega star Reba McEntire was the official “Stalks-Person” (spokesperson) for Shucked. What was it likemeetingReba?
MA:Yes,ohmygoodness Okay soforme Igrewupsingingcountrymusic,doingalot of country singing competitions and things like that. From the time I was like 11 until I was18 AndIusedtosingReba’ssongFancy all the time growing up It’s like my go to karaoke song When Reba came to see the show for the very first time on Broadway, I was,like,losingmymind.Now,Iwasnoton stage that night when she came to see the show in New York City but I was like, okay Ihavetomeetthiswoman.AndsoImether, and she was just so, so lovely I’ve met a lot of famous people, and it was the first time thatIwasactually,fullystarstruck.Sheloved our show so much that she was like, Well, I have to be a part of this in some way. I’ll be your spokesperson for the show I think she also became one of our producers for a little bit. She just loved the show so much, she actually came back to see the show in Los Angeles She brought her entire TV company of her new show Happy’s Place, to see our show. I was so excited, especially because she was coming to see it, and I was now a Lulu. She remembered meeting me in New York City and she was just so sweet and so nice I’ve had a couple of people in different cities throughout the tour say, has anyone ever told you that some of the things that you sing sound like Reba? And I was like, yeah, so you have no idea how big of a compliment that is I grew up singing countrymusic.GrewupsingingReba.She’s so lovely She’s so sweet. And she was just givingeverysingleperson,individualtimeto meetandtalkto,andshespentsomuchtime with us when she came to Los Angeles to seethetour.So she’sdefinitelyoneofthose people that deserves all of the love that she hasgarneredalltheseyears Y:Tell us about your side business Castle in the Sky. What is it and how can people signupforit?
MA: Yeah, absolutely I run a self-esteem andcareercoachingbusinessforallkindsof artists visual, performing and I have a lot of different ways that I work with people It was born during the pandemic, when we hadnothingtodoandasartists,itwasreally hard Iwasstartingtonoticethatamongmy community, and even among myself, with myself,Iwasstartingtofeelalittlebitofmy selfworthwasgoingdown.SoIcreatedthis business, where I work one on one with a lotofclients Rightnow,I’mnottakingnew clients but once the tour ends in June I’m goingtostarttakingnewclients SoIwould say definitely follow me on Instagram. I postallofthethingsaboutmybusinessand everythingasit’scomingup
Yiorgo is a sports, entertainment and arts writer A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker writer storyteller and columnist.
Savory, satisfying meals for cold winter days
ByFamilyFeatures
Source: Success Rice
Whencoldandfluseasoncallsforsavory and satisfying meals, remember you don’t have to be sick to enjoy the best this time of year has to offer Skip the same old soups andstews,though,andlevelupyourcomfort foodcachewiththeflavorandversatilityof pearlcouscous
DistinguishedfromtraditionalMoroccan couscous by its slightly larger and rounder shape plusitslessdense firmerconsistency pearl couscous is thoroughly versatile and a perfect fit for cold weather classics With SuccessBoil-in-BagPearlCouscous,youget high-quality semolina wheat pearl couscous made just right. After the water boils, it’s ready in under 7 minutes and prepared similarlytopasta.
It features a slightly nutty flavor on its ownbutcanabsorbanyflavorsofsoupsand saladswhileretainingitsdensityandchewy texture Youcanuseitinyourfamily’smeals to complement a range of greens, veggies, fish, meats and stews, making it a pantry stapletokeeponhandthroughouttheyear
A hearty solution, this Italian Penicillin Soup is ideal for those feeling under the weather or simply craving a filling meal after a chilly day. It’s loaded with rotisserie chicken, tender veggies and pearl couscous simmeredinbroththenfinishedwithfresh lemon, Parmesan cheese and parsley for a mealthat’sassatisfyingasitisappetizing
Elegant in its simplicity, this Simple Lemon Butter Pearl Couscous is a perfect partnerforgrilledseafood,chickenorvegetables Easy to serve as a standalone dish or a savvy side that practically cooks itself you can add this highly versatile grain to your family’s menu any day of the week whether you’re cooking for a crew or just two andenjoysteamyleftoversforalight lunch.
One pot, endless flavor: Pastalaya turns jambalaya into a pasta lover’s dream with spicy sausage, vibrant veggies, and Cajun heatineveryforkful.
Don’t let the cold sap your creativity in the kitchen; turning to versatile flavorful ingredients can make winter meals a cinch. Discover more pearl couscous-inspired dinnerideasbyvisitingSuccessRice.com.
Italian Penicillin Soup
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
2bagsSuccessPearlCouscous
4cupslow-sodiumchickenbroth
1cupcarrots,sliced
1cupcelery,sliced
2clovesgarlic,minced
1cuprotisseriechicken,shredded
1teaspoonItalianseasoning
1teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonpepper
4lemonwedges
shreddedParmesancheese,forgarnish
choppedfreshparsley,forgarnish
Preparepearlcouscousaccordingtopackagedirections
In large pot, bring broth to boil. Add carrots celery and garlic. Reduce heat to medium-lowandcook5minutesuntilvegetablesareslightlytender.
Add chicken and Italian seasoning; simmer 5 minutes Add pearl couscous and cook5minutes Seasonwithsaltandpepper Ladle soup into four bowls and squeeze freshlemonwedgeintoeachbowl.Garnish withParmesanandparsley
Simple Lemon Butter Pearl Couscous
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
1bagSuccessPearlCouscous
3lemons juiceonly plus1teaspoonzest
2tablespoonsbutter
1smallshallot,finelydiced
1tablespoonfreshparsley,finelychopped
Preparepearlcouscousaccordingtopackagedirections,addinglemonjuicetowater In small pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots and lemon zest. Cook 3 minutes Stirpearlcouscousintopan. Dividepearlcouscousintofourbowlsand topwithparsley
Pastalaya(PastaJambalaya)
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Servings: 4
1bagSuccess®PearlCouscous
1lbandouillesausage,sliced
1cupgreenbellpepper,chopped
1cuponion,chopped
2clovesgarlic,minced
2cupschickenbroth
1can(14.5oz)dicedtomatoes
1tspCajunseasoning
freshparsley chopped(forgarnish)
Preparepearlcouscousaccordingtopackagedirections In another pot, add the sausage and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until browned. Add the bell pepper, onion, and garlic;sautéforanadditional3minutesuntil thevegetablesaresoftened. Stir in the tomatoes with juices, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning Bring the mixturetoasimmer Add the pasta to the pot Stir well to combine and cook for another 2 minutes Garnishwithparsley
LEMON BUTTER PEARL COUSCOUS
Retirement changes your TRICARE coverage: Learn what to do if you’re retiring in 2026
ByTRICARECommunications
FALLS CHURCH, Va Are you getting ready to retire from active duty or the National Guard or Reserve? You should knowtherearesomestepstotaketoensure your TRICARE coverage continues as you makethetransitiontocivilianlife Thisarticle explains what you need to do to keep yourTRICAREbenefitinretirement.
“Your TRICARE coverage doesn’t automatically continue when you retire, said Zelly Zim, senior program analyst, TRICARE Health Plan Policy & Programs DivisionattheDefenseHealthAgency “You must take action to keep your TRICARE coverageforyourselfandanyeligiblefamily members.”
Why you need to act now
When you retire from active duty or the National Guard or Reserve, you experience a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event. A QLE gives you 90 days to enroll in a TRICARE health plan. You’ll still have access to TRICARE coverage Unlike during your military service in retirement you need to chooseyourplan.
Before you retire
Schedule your Separation History and Physical Examination between 90 and 180 daysbeforeyouretireorstartterminalleave TheDepartmentofVeteransAffairsusesthe SHPEasasingleseparationexaminationto captureyourcompletemedicalhistory Update DEERS
Your
first priority is updating your status in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. You have three ways to dothis:
LogintomilConnect.
Call800-538-9552
Visit a Uniformed Services ID card office nearyou.
Get new ID cards
Once your retirement paperwork processes,you’llneedtogetnewUniformed Services ID cards for yourself and your family members Find an ID card office at theRAPIDSIDCardOfficeOnline
Choose your health plan
ReviewyourTRICAREoptionsbasedon your situation. You’ll need to enroll yourself and eligible family members within 90 days of retirement to avoid a gap in coverage and claims processing Eligible family members don’t have to be in the same plan, asdescribedintheTRICARERetiringFrom Active Duty Brochure (online at https:// www.tricare.mil/Publications/Brochures/ retiring_active_duty)
If retiring from active duty before age 65 yourhealthplanoptionsare:
TRICARE Prime (if you live in a Prime ServiceArea)
TRICARESelect
US Family Health Plan (available in six U.S.locations)
TRICARE Prime Demo (available in Atlanta,Georgia andTampa,Floridaareas)
TRICAREForLifeifyouhaveMedicare PartAandPartB,regardlessofage If retiring from the National Guard or Reserve,yourhealthplanoptionsare:
Before age 60: TRICARE Retired
Reserve
Ages 60-64: Same options as retirees fromactiveduty
Age 60 and older: TRICARE For Life (once you have Medicare Part A and have MedicarePartB)
Enroll in your new plan
You must enroll within 90 days of your retirement date to avoid a gap in coverage
Youcanenroll:
OnlinethroughmilConnect
By phone with your TRICARE regional contractor
Bymailusinganenrollmentform
If you’re overseas: In person at a TRICAREAreaOffice
If you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you automatically have TRICARE for Life if you meet all other requirements for TRICAREcoverage
Set up payment
Most retiree plans require enrollment fees or premiums For TRICARE Select or TRICARE Prime, you’ll pay enrollment
fees.Youmustsetuppaymentstokeepyour coverageactive. Consider setting up an allotment from yourretirementpaytocoveryourTRICARE enrollment fees automatically This convenient payment option deducts the fees directlyfromyourretirementcheck,saving youtime Therearenoenrollmentformsor feesforTRICAREforLife
Consider dental and vision coverage
When you retire, your active duty dental andvisioncoveragewillend Youcanchoose toenrollin:
Dental coverage through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Vision coverage through FEDVIP if you enrollinaTRICAREhealthplan
Your pharmacy coverage
You’llhaveaccessto:
Militarypharmacies
TRICAREPharmacyHomeDelivery
Retailnetworkpharmacies
Non-networkpharmacies
You may need to fill maintenance medications through home delivery Contact Express Scripts to learn about prescription requirementsandcopayments
Going overseas?
If you plan to live overseas after retirement, your TRICARE options will differ Before you move contact International SOS, the TRICARE overseas contractor, to learnaboutavailableplansandcoveragein your newlocation.
Plan ahead for Medicare
If you’ll turn 65 after retirement, sign up for Medicare no later than two months before the month you turn 65, as described in the TRICARE and Medicare Turning 65 Brochure (online at https://www.tricare. mil/Publications/Brochures/medicare_ turning_65).
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance monthly benefits, you’ll become eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B in the25thmonthofreceivingSSDI.Youmust keep Medicare Part A and Part B to remain eligibleforTRICARE.
What if you miss the 90day window?
Ifyoumissthe90-dayenrollmentwindow and you’re not yet age 65, you can request retroactiveenrollmentupto12monthsfrom yourretirementdate Remember:
Claims can’t process until enrollment completes
Coverage starts from your retirement date
You must pay applicable enrollment fees backtoyourretirementdate
Untilyouenrollinaplan,youcanonlyget care at military hospitals and clinics. This is only true during your time between the 90-day enrollment window and when you signupforaplan.
Changes to your coverage
You no longer have access to certain TRICARE services after you retire. These includebutaren’tlimitedtothefollowing: The Extended Care Health Option for familymemberswithspecialneeds
Hearing aids and hearing aid services, although you may be able to get hearing aids through the VA or the Retiree-At-Cost HearingAidProgram
Chiropracticcarethroughmilitaryhospitalsorclinics
RoutineeyeexamsexceptwithTRICARE PrimeorenrollmentinFEDVIP
Stay connected
Want more information about your TRICARE options in retirement? Check out the TRICARE retirement brochures at TRICARE Publications (online at https:// www.tricare.mil/publications). If you have questions, reach out to your regional contractor Don’t wait until your last day of service ActnowtokeepyourTRICAREcoverage Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news andmore.
Prime Remote enrollees in the US beginning Feb. 28, 2026
ByTRICARECommunications
FALLSCHURCH,Va Areyouanactive duty family member enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote? Do you live in the U.S.? Effective Feb. 28 2026 you’ll no longer pay acopaymentwhenfillingcoveredprescriptions Thiscopaymentwavierappliestoboth retail network pharmacies and TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery (Note: Active duty service members, including those withTPR,don’tpaycopaymentsforcovered drugs.)
“Now, active duty family members living far from a military hospital or clinic and enrolled in TPR won’t pay copayments for covereddrugs,”explainedU.S.PublicHealth Service Cmdr Teisha Robertson, Chief, PharmacyIntegrationBranchattheDefense HealthAgency “Thischangewillhelpmilitaryfamilieswithoutaccesstomilitarypharmacieskeeptheirpharmacycostsdown.”
You don’t need to do anything for this change to take effect. You also won’t need to file your own claims for reimbursement StartingFeb.28 whenyoufillacovereddrug at a retail network pharmacy or through home delivery, your copayment will automaticallybe$0 Areyousearchingforaretail networkpharmacynearyou?Checkoutthe FindaPharmacyTool(onlineathttps://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/find-pharmacy). (Note: This copayment waiver doesn’t applyifyouliveoverseas Activedutyfamily members enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas will still pay the pharmacy copayment for the pharmacy option theyuse.)
All covered prescriptions are included in thiscopaymentwaiver Thisincludes: Genericdrugs Brand-namedrugs Non-formularydrugs Are you filling a non-formulary drug? You’ll need to get a medical necessity approval from Express Scripts. If you don’t get this medical necessity approval, you’ll need to fill the prescription at a retail phar-
Starting Feb.28 active dutyfamilymembers living farfrom a militaryhospital orclinic and enrolled inTRICARE Prime Remotewon’t pay copayments forcovered drugs filled at networkpharmacies orvia home delivery
macy You’ll be responsible for the full cost ofthedrug. Do you take certain maintenance drugs?
CheckoutTRICAREPharmacyProgramfor more information about pharmacy options andmanagingyourprescriptions Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news andmore. Pharmacy copayments waived for
You’re still required to refill them through home delivery. You can fill these prescriptions at a retail network pharmacy twice But the third time, you’ll be responsible for 100% of the drug’s cost, as detailed in the TRICARE Pharmacy Program Handbook
(online at https://tricare.mil/Publications/ Handbooks/pharmacy).
Note:Ifyoufillanon-covereddrug,you’re responsibleforthefullcost Otherpharmacy rules such as prior authorization requirementsandmedicalnecessityrequirements remaininplace
Want to learn more about covered drugs and your TRICARE pharmacy benefit?
game, Adrianna has the opportunity to leave an impression on the VCW audience in a strong showing
tag titles in their VCW debut, but Nice & Smoothareeagertoaddanothersuccessful defense to their VCW Tag Team Championship reign.
JoiyaBlakehadastandout2025inVCW, ending the year with a no-disqualification match win over Hyena Hera Blake’s first challenge in 2026 is “Big Daddy” Adrianna. Adrianna previously wrestled in the NorfolkMasonicTempleinamatchagainst Hyena Hera With Blake at the top of her
The Boar’s losing streak was questioned by Tim Loulies in December after he was pinned by Myron Malone in the Tidings of Destruction Derby. Prior to his loss in theDerby,Boarfoundhimselfonthelosing end of two Virginia Heavyweight Championship matches and the aforementioned Dirty Money Cup After the Derby, Loulies entered the ring and offered a proposal to Boar, asking him to join forces Loulies promised he was working on something “big,” and he asked Boar to be part of it
“Smooth”Tom Mitchell celebrateswith a fan aftera successfulVCWTagTeam Championship defensewith“Too Nice”Trace Parkeron Saturday,Dec.06,2025 at the NorfolkMasonicTemple in Norfolk,Va (PHOTOBYJONATHANMCLARTY/FREELANCE)
on Saturday,Dec.06,2025 at the NorfolkMasonicTemple in
When Boar did not answer, Loulies told
him to think about it, and he would anticipate a response on Feb. 7. Will Boar accept or reject Loulies’ offer?
“GreekGod”PapadonandMyronMalone have been at odds since the two men were thefinalparticipantsinthe20-manLiberty Lottery in July Papadon won the match, earning a VCW title match of his choosing that he is yet to utilize Papadon and Malone’s issues only grew when Papadon aligned with Mr Pantas and attacked Malone’s friend, Alex Divine Malone has found an ally in “The Hoss of All Hosses” Devantes, who previously
defeated Papadon to win the Virginia Heavyweight Championship in 2024 Simultaneously, Tiberius Asante has held agrudgewithMalonesinceOctober,when MalonedefeatedAsantebydisqualification. The interconnected conflict between the fourwrestlersleadstoatagteammatchon Feb. 7: Tiberius Asante and Papadon, with Mr Pantas, take on Myron Malone and Devantes Formoreinformation,visitvcwprowrestling.com
Virginia Heavyweight Champion RexLawless prepares Kid Kash in a title defense on Saturday, Dec.06,2025 at the NorfolkMasonicTemple in Norfolk,Va (PHOTOBYJONATHANMCLARTY/ FREELANCE)
