What might have looked like an aging system not long ago now appears to be a workhorse that could be used for years to come. "What grocery store runs out of potatoes?" asked one military wife in South Korea. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of April 8, 2024. The Army will begin a directed-energy test campaign to find the sweet spot for laser weapons when it comes to lethality, reliability and cost. If Congress does not approve a federal appropriations plan by midnight, some military activities could be postponed or canceled over the weekend. Under the latest congressional budget plan, troops E-6 and below could start getting monthly bonuses from the Defense Department to offset low base pay. More troops and their families will be able to get groceries delivered directly to their doorsteps starting this summer. The latest aid comes as the U.S. military remains deeply overdrawn and needs at least $10 billion to replenish all the weapons it has pulled for Ukraine. The Pentagon is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars for mental health and suicide prevention programs, among others. As global operations heat up and personnel costs rise, the U.S. Army is grappling to modernize and take care of its people within a flat FY25 budget. Load More