In 2026, active-duty, military family members, and retirees living in Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida, are going to have access to some 

. This is going to be effective at the beginning of 2026, and thanks to the award, that is making this possible, as they are running a three-year demonstration project to provide TRICARE Prime for 146,000 eligible beneficiaries in two cities.

If many of you don’t know, let’s first discuss what TRICARE Prime is. It is basically a health insurance plan for military members, retirees, and their families.

It’s a lot like a civilian HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), and it is where you get most of your care through a network of approved doctors and hospitals.

One thing, though, the biggest benefit of TRICARE Prime is that it offers low-cost or no-cost care when you use approved providers and follow the rules of the program.

So when you enroll in TRICARE Prime, you’ll pick a Primary Care Manager (PCM), and this can be a doctor at a military clinic or hospital, or it might be a civilian doctor who works with TRICARE, which also becomes your main doctor.

Now, let’s see what TRICARE Prime covers:

Preventive care, like annual checkups and screenings

Specialist referrals from your main doctor

However, there’s just one important thing to know: TRICARE Prime is available only in certain areas, usually close to military bases, and it is not available to retirees and family members ages 65 and older who use TRICARE For Life and Medicare.

Now let’s talk about TRICARE Prime Remote – it’s a version of TRICARE Prime that is perfectly designed for active duty service members and their families who live far away from military hospitals or clinics, at least 50 miles or one hour away.

The nice thing about TRICARE Prime Remote is that it provides the same kind of care and coverage as TRICARE Prime, but with more flexibility to use local doctors in rural or less-populated areas.

If you’re one who qualifies for TRICARE Prime Remote, you still get assigned a Primary Care Manager, but it will be a civilian doctor instead of someone at a military base, and that doctor becomes your main contact for your health care, just like with TRICARE Prime.

There are just a few things you need to know about TRICARE Prime Remote:

It's only available to active duty members and their families

You must live in a remote area to qualify

You’ll use civilian doctors instead of military hospitals

Retirees and their families are not eligible

Even though the doctors are civilians, the plan still covers almost everything in the same way TRICARE Prime does because you usually don’t pay anything out of pocket, as long as you go to authorized providers.

We know the differences between the TRICARE Prime options, and of course, it’s important to know how to enroll and what the cost is.

 You may choose a military or network provider as your PCM. If you don’t list a PCM on your enrollment form, they'll choose one for you.

Step 2: Complete the Enrollment Application:

 Enroll all family members on one enrollment form and send enrollment fees (if applicable) with your enrollment form.

 Your regional contractor will notify you when your enrollment is processed. Once enrolled, you can log in to milConnect to download your enrollment card and get your PCM’s name and phone number.

following are the costs for TRICARE Prime

Point-of-service fees if using the point-of-service option

Retired Service Members, Their Family Members, and Other Beneficiaries

There are no deductibles when you stay in the TRICARE Prime network. If you go outside the network without a referral, though, you may have to pay much more.

Until now, families and retirees in Atlanta and Tampa could not enroll in TRICARE Prime unless they lived on or near a military base, and now, the 2026 change adds these cities to the TRICARE Prime service area, which means there are more people who can now enroll in the low-cost, managed-care plan.

It’s actually a big win for retired military families who want better access to affordable care, as well as our active duty families who are tired of long drives to military clinics.

, understand the costs, and get ready for open enrollment when the new TRICARE Prime options become available.

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If some of you don’t know, the Army is one of the major branches of the United States Armed Forces, and also is one of the country's oldest parts of the government. It’s been around for almost 250 years and has always played an important role in protecting the country. It did change over the years, but their mission is still the same.

To give a highlight to the Army, let’s take a closer look at some U.S. Army 

facts that you've probably never heard before

Let’s start with a deep dive into history, as the Army’s roots go so deep that it was around before the country even existed. Yes, these U.S. Army facts show how wild the beginnings were.

1.  The Army is older than the United States.

Yes, you read it right. The Army was formed on June 14, 1755, which is a full year before the Declaration of Independence.

2. George Washington wasn’t excited to lead.

George Washington doubted his ability to command, and he thought we weren’t a great fit for the job, and it turns out he was wrong.

3. The first submarine used in war was Army-operated.

The first submarine used in war was Army-operated, and it was the Turtle, which was used for a mission in the Revolutionary War.

4. The Army’s dress colors were chosen by George Washington.

George Washington chose traditional blue uniforms, and over 200 years later, the Army returned and chose to have that same look.

5. Guerrilla warfare began with the Army.

The hit-and-run strategy was used in swamps to outsmart British troops. Crazy, right?

6. A Gay Prussian officer trained Washington’s troops.

Baron von Steuben was the one who trained Washington’s troops, and he fled persecution for being homosexual.

7. The Air Force and the Army were once one

Yes, the Air Force used to be a part of the Army until it split off to become its own branch.

We thought the Army was doing everything in the open, but these amazing U.S. Army facts show how sneaky a military strategy is, and sometimes, shocking!

8. Chemical agents were tested on U.S. cities.

Zinc cadmium sulfide was sprayed over places like St. Louis and San Francisco to test dispersal methods back in the 1950s and 1960s. Incredibly shocking.

9. Nerve agents were dumped into the ocean by the Army.

The Army disposed of 64 million pounds of toxic weapons off the coast, not knowing where they went.

10. Psychological warfare teams called enemies "cowardly dogs."

PSYOPS soldiers used loudspeakers to insult and bait enemy fighters into losing battles, which was kind of smart.

11. The Army fires depleted uranium bullets.

The rounds were so deadly that they could pierce armor and ignite on impact, and it is highly toxic, so there could be internal damage if they are inhaled.

12. They fired 1,400 rounds at a weather balloon.

In the Battle of Los Angeles, the soldiers fired into the sky, which turned out to be just harmless balloons, because they panicked.

13. An entire island was cleared for a U.S. base.

The Army was building a base that required the people of Diego Garcia to leave their homes.

The Lewis and Clark expedition was led by Army officers, and yes, they pretty much traveled America.

The Army’s pretty evolved now, but you might be surprised by the major contributions that shaped the present day.

Cool, right? The famous sunglasses were mostly created to help the Army reduce glare and motion sickness when they are in flight.

16. Coca-Cola created a military unit to serve soda.

“Technical Observers” were sent out to build bottling plants and give troops Coke for a nickel.

17. The Army had a “Red Team” of skeptics.

They were trained to question everything so they wouldn’t make a bad decision.

18. A swastika was once part of an Army insignia.

The 45th Infantry used the symbol as a Native American good luck sign before WWII, which they later replaced with a thunderbird.

Not the bath bombs that you use for relaxation, but literally bat bombs. Bats carrying explosives were almost used in WWII, we said almost.

20. The Army created its official song last.

Other branches had theirs, but the Army didn’t pick “The Army Goes Rolling Along” until 1956—181 years after it was founded.

21. The Army uses 400 pounds of batteries for a 3-day mission.

They carry these loads of tech, and all of these need battery power so they can use them in the field.

As we all know, the Army is the largest and one of the major branches. You might be surprised, but the Army is made up of people from all walks of life, and the numbers and facts that are included here are a testament to the fact that the Army’s reach is very wide.

22. There are over 1 million people in the Army.


That includes the Regular Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve combined.

23. The Army owns more land than some states.


Are they that rich? No, they just have 24,000 square miles under their control, and it would be the 42nd largest state in the U.S.

24. The Army has the most military bases worldwide.


Yes, they are the largest, so they have about 750 U.S. military bases in over 80 countries.

25. A third of the Union Army were immigrants.

Immigrants and Black soldiers made up a huge portion of the troops 

These 25 U.S. Army facts let us realize that we most likely have little knowledge about the 

, and it somehow reminds us that even the most serious branch can have a little crazy twist along the way.

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The U.S. Coast Guard is planning to make significant changes, cutting around a quarter of the 46 flag officer positions in 2025. The overhaul is part of a broader force redesign. It aims to streamline decision-making, enhance agility, and ultimately improve the branch's effectiveness. On May 15th, in a Coast Guard wide message, acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday released a statement detailing why the changes are happening, and what the intended outcome is.

Why Are Flag Officer Positions Being Cut?

According to Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has, “determined that there is redundant executive oversight," which "hinders efficient decision-making and service effectiveness."

The goal is to eliminate approximately a dozen of the Coast Guard's 46 flag officer positions by the end of 2025. 

 is hoping that by cutting positions, this will accelerate decision-making process, allowing for a faster response to potential threats.

Additionally, these cuts aim to help the Coast Guard more efficiently allocate their resources, creating a more responsive force.

Secretary Kristi Noem Calls for Coast Guard Flag Officer Reductions

The reduction in flag officer positions is a critical part of Secretary Kristi Noem's "Force Design 2028" initiative.

During a meeting last week with Coast Guard flag officers and senior executive service members, 

said that Force Design 2028 is the, "biggest change since 1915" for the Coast Guard.

Included in Noem’s plans is the purchasing of new aircraft. Her plan includes a $50 million long-range command and control aircraft to replace what is currently being used by flag officers. However, in light of positions being cut, many are criticizing this plan. 

Dem. Rep. Lauren Underwood went on record to say that she was “horrified” to receive a “last-minute addition” to the service’s budget proposal for another jet.

She explained, “We should be investing in our national security and improving the lives of our Coasties—not wasting taxpayer dollars on luxury travel and political stunts.”

If the reduction does end up going through, there will be approximately one flag officer per every 1,300 members, which is a significant change from the prior ratio of one flag officer for every 950 service members.

 is directed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and is led by the Senior Advisor to the Secretary for the Coast Guard, Sean Plankey.

“Force Design 2028 is the way we will become a more agile, capable, and responsive fighting force to best serve the American people,” said Acting Commandant Lunday. He went on to say, “Force Design 2028 will ensure the Coast Guard remains Semper Paratus, Always Ready, to serve the American people.”

Force Design 2028 is focused on four key campaigns:

 This includes plans to improve training systems, boost medical care access, and modernize the Coast Guard Reserve and civilian management system.

 This directly addresses the Coast Guard's ability to adapt its organizational structure to create internal decision making processes, while highlighting the importance of remaining relevant, effective, and responsive.

 This aims to reform acquisitions to quickly deploy new capabilities. Additional improvements include:

increasing the speed of contracting and procurement 

providing transparency and accountability during the contracting process through the creation of contract tracking system

 This focuses on deploying cutting-edge technology to enhance  data sharing, situational awareness, and operational effectiveness.

How Many Flag Officers Are in the U.S. Military?

As it stands, there are approximately 500+ general offices in the military, with 44 of those being four-star generals or flag officers.

Congress has said that the max number of high-ranking general officers allowed in the services are the following:

's current ratio of one flag officer for every 950 service members stands in contrast to the Marine Corps, which has one general officer per nearly 3,000 Marines.

On the other hand, the Space Force has one general to 452 Guardians with about 9,500 members. 

The planned reduction will bring the Coast Guard's ratio closer to one flag officer per approximately 1,300 members.

Military Positions Continue to Be Impacted by Cuts

The Coast Guard's most recent initiative to cut flag officer positions continues to align with the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce senior military leadership positions.

cut of 20% of senior leadership positions

, and an additional 10% of general and flag officer positions across the military. Hegseth has cited that these orders are part of a larger strategy to "rebuild the U.S. military."

These ongoing cuts across the military, including those impacting flag officer positions, reflect a consistent effort by the current administration to reshape the military's leadership structure.

Coast Guard Plans to Cut Flag Officer Positions to Improve Branch Effectiveness

Peak PCS moving season is fast approaching. In light of the ongoing reports of military families facing significant issues and hurdles during the last PCS season, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Transportation Command to change how the Global Household Goods contract is being implemented, to help better serve military families. Keep reading to learn more about the change, and the action being taken.

Hegseth Addresses PCS Season Issues & Lays Out a Plan

Many military families have shared their PCS experiences and struggles, calling for much needed changes. On May 20th, Hegseth addressed families, noting that while the PCS process has, "never been a great system," recent changes have only made the process worse. 

He stated, "We know it's not working, and it's only getting worse. We've heard your concerns about contractor performance, quality, and accountability. We hear you loud and clear, and that's why we're taking decisive action immediately."

In his memo, Hegseth explained that during the 2025 PCS moving season, TRANSCOM should be prepared to fully leverage the new GHC program. 

"We're going to split this year's peak moving season between our new and legacy systems. There's a new system we've been trying - it's not working very well - and then there's a legacy system that wasn't perfect...those systems can talk to each other and work together, so we're going to use both in every way possible."

Hegseth has now directed TRANSCOM to develop and implement rates similar to the legacy ToS system to increase vendor capacity and ensure that there are enough companies that are willing to move military family household goods.

Problems Under the New Household Goods Shipment Have Been Ongoing

, a privatized company running the military household goods shipment in cooperation with the Department of Defense, military families have been experiencing a number of issues.

As of February, at least 1,000 of the 8,900 shipments initiated under HomeSafe Alliance had experienced problems, according to U.S. Transportation Command.

The issue soon became widespread. On February 28, 2025, a memo was given to pull back some Army shipments to the transportation offices by the Army Personal Property.

This action was done to stop the inefficient and dissatisfied work of private shipments for many years among the affected military families in their permanent change of station.

MyBaseGuide reached out to HomeSafe Alliance, and inquired about the changes that they have implemented to address complaints that military families have raised. 

A HomeSafe Alliance spokesperson provided the following statement:

HomeSafe Alliance is modernizing, digitizing, and transforming the relocation experience for military members and their families through the new Global Household Goods Contract (GHC). Military families and Congress demanded this historic transformation to address long-standing issues with the old military move system. The new GHC program brings innovative technology to streamline the move process, a 24/7 customer care center to support military families, and strict requirements to ensure accountability and high-quality move services.

In these early and developmental stages of the GHC, logistical challenges have caused delays for some moves. We apologize to every affected family. Over the last month, HomeSafe has made significant progress in strengthening our network, and we continue to pursue every available option for growing our capacity. We are working with U.S. Transportation Command to resolve issues and maintain a conditions-based phase-in of the new program.

HomeSafe is taking all the lessons learned and continually improving our systems and processes, including enhancing our customer care operations, updating our technology platform, reshaping our training program for service providers, and hiring additional employees.

Families Share Negative Shipment Experiences and Ill-Prepared Contractor Experiences

Many families have shared their poor moving experiences with HomeSafe, 

Other families have reported their items being late, and not receiving adequate assistance to locate their belongings.

Families have also gone on record to report moving companies not being secured in advance, deliveries not being scheduled as promised, waiting weeks for furniture delivery, and more.

MyBaseGuide followed up with HomeSafe regarding the negative shipment experiences that families have experienced. A HomeSafe Alliance spokesperson provided the following statement:

Regardless of how HomeSafe transports household goods, loads must always be properly secured. We hold ourselves and our service providers to the highest standards to protect the household goods of our service members and their families. 

In any case where a load was not secured, it does not meet our commitment to quality, and we take swift and appropriate action to address the issue and prevent recurrence.

MyBaseGuide reached out to HomeSafe, and requested their comment on how they are addressing the lack of preparation (ie. lack of supplies and scheduling issues) within the assigned contractors. 

Regarding our service providers, we grade them based on our Carrier Quality Index (CQI) score, with timeliness and service as primary factors.

For more information on this, please refer to our fact sheet on 

Additionally, we requested a comment on why moving company information is no longer being given to families prior to their move being scheduled. A HomeSafe Alliance spokesperson provided the following statement:

Families can view their assigned service provider through our technology platform HomeSafe Connect, where they can also access details about the moving crew, including photos of the team members who will be handling their move. This feature allows families to familiarize themselves with their moving team in advance.

 on HomeSafe Connect. This video is also available on our customers page on Homesafealliance.com.

New Memo Directs Transcom to Make Changes

Pete Hegseth is making significant changes to improve moving experiences for military families for the upcoming PCS season. "We're heading into peak season of moving - PCS moving - and that process, I know, has been a mess, and we are addressing it. We have...to take some aggressive action and fast," said Hegseth.

In a memo released on May 20th, 2025, Hegseth directed USTRANSCOM to take the following actions immediately to help support military families during the upcoming 2025 PCS season and beyond: 

In the memo, Hegseth called for the GHC and ToS programs to be held accountable for meeting their KPIs (key performance indicators). They are also required to provide weekly updates to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense and the Office of the USD for Personnel and Readiness. 

He also directed that both the GHC and legacy ToS program be leveraged in a way that ensures maximum coverage for moves during the 2025 PCS season. 

Hegseth directed that offramp non-serviced GHC customer shipments into the ToS program be based on capacity shortfalls. 

He called for the development and implementation of ToS rates to ensure vendor capacity.

Lastly, he called for TRANSCOM to review and implement Economic Price Adjustment provisions in the GHC contract, when appropriate.

In addition to the above directed changes, in the memo, Hegseth directed the formation of a PCS Task Force. 

This task force will be in charge of improving the quality of moving services provided to servicemembers and their families. Additionally, they will, "act decisively to improve, expand, terminate, or transfer GHC or ToS responsibilities as needed."

HomeSafe reached out to MyBaseGuide and provided the following statement in regards to Defense Secretary Hegseth's recent memo.

HomeSafe Alliance is grateful for Defense Secretary Hegseth’s attention to the Global Household Goods Contract and the directives he has issued, which will greatly improve moving experiences for military service members and their families. DoD raising our rates to account for significant inflation from the last four years would substantially benefit our ability to facilitate world-class moving services for our nation’s heroes. We look forward to working with the PCS Task Force to demonstrate how our program modernizes and digitizes the move process and resolves decades-long issues with military relocations. 

Many Are Applauding Hegseth for Taking Action

Despite there being much uncertainty around what will happen next, many movers and military families are applauding Hegseth for taking a leadership stance on this critical issue. 

One such individual is Dan Hilton, the executive director of the American Trucking Association's Moving and Storage Council. 

He released a statement staying, "As we have said from the beginning, the tender of service program worked in the past and continues to work well for service members, despite the challenging environment now created by the failures of the GHC contractor. We’ve continually seen shipments moved from the GHC contractor back into the tender program with minimal notice, reduced compensation, and already impacted service members,” he said. 

“It’s imperative that TRANSCOM better engage members of the industry with actual capacity to find solutions that best meet our service members’ needs. We look forward to mitigating any further decline in service provided to our nations valiant service members and working with the Secretary’s team to help right this ship on behalf of our men and women in uniform.”

Others have applauded Hegseth for holding contractors accountable for damaging or destroying household goods, and for standing up for service members. You can watch the 

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, also known as Commissioning Week, takes place in Annapolis, Maryland each year at the end of May. Commissioning Week is a truly special and unique time in Annapolis, marking the beginning of summer for local “Annapolitans,” but it is also the culmination of four years of hard work coming to a close as the latest class prepares to become newly commissioned Officers ready to join the fleet at duty stations around the world.

This year, May 19th marked the beginning of Commissioning Week, and so far, it is off to a strong start. Below, we are sharing the top highlights of the week, sharing everything you need to keep and eye out for, and catching you up on what you may have missed.

What Does Commissioning Week Look Like in Annapolis?

Commissioning Week in many ways feels like a week-long holiday each year in Annapolis. USNA families travel from all over the county each year to celebrate their graduating seniors, or “firsties.”

Local families rent their homes out to graduating families for a premium years in advance, schools close early for the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration(s), and the town as whole is bustling with excitement, lots of traffic, fanfare and the purest form of Naval pride.

 is robust and jam-packed with events, ceremonies and gatherings all over Maryland’s state capital. We’ve broken down the top highlights of the week here in this “Go-To” Guide.

The Top Commissioning Week Highlights and Events

Commissioning Week in Annapolis is full of events and shows for families. Below, we are sharing some of the top events that are happening this week. Be sure to mark your calendar.

come to town for an airshow, always taking place on the Wednesday at 2:00pm of Commissioning Week.

Equally as exciting, they also fly into town and practice the airshow in full the day before on Tuesday. Boats filled with families and friends flock from all over to the Severn River, the Naval Academy grounds, downtown Annapolis, and its surrounding areas to catch a front-row seat to the Sound of Freedom.

The Annual Herndon Monument Climb is also a highlight of the week. This year, it was held on May 14th. Each year, the freshman, or “plebe” class at USNA faces the challenge of climbing the Herndon Monument, which is a tall, concrete structure with a sharp point at the top, shaped almost identically to a missile.

The Herndon Monument is located centrally on the Yard of USNA, just across from the Naval Academy Chapel nestled in the middle of the beautiful gardens. The caveat? The Monument is covered in lard, which makes it incredibly slippery and therefore, very challenging to climb.

A midshipman’s hat, or “cover” is placed at the very top. The men and women of the plebe class must get creative, building human pyramids, using articles of clothing as bolsters for support to ascend to the top to retrieve the cover.

Once this mission is complete, it signifies the end of their plebe year as a class. “Plebes no more!” can be heard echoing throughout the Academy grounds and beyond on this day.

Last but not least, Commencement Ceremony for the graduating Class of Midshipmen takes place on the Friday of Commissioning Week, usually falling just before Memorial Day Weekend. This year, the commencement ceremony will take place on May 23rd at 10:00am in the 

The Commencement Ceremony takes place rain or shine in Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, nestled conveniently in the heart of Annapolis, walking distance from USNA.

Commencement speakers over the years have included distinguished guests such as Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels remain in town for this day, and perform a low-level F/A-18 flyover of the commencement ceremony.

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