Air Combat Command now has enough of the new earplugs developed by Air Force Research Lab and commercial companies for all its pilots, who praise the plugs because they not only block noise but also enable radio communication. Before the custom-molded Attenuating Custom Communications Earpiece System, USAF used foam sound-blocking plugs that unfortunately also hampered voices coming over the pilot’s headset. Working with Westone Labs, which also markets the earpieces to commercial customers, the Air Force now is getting the devices for less than $300 per set. (ACC report by A1C Kate Lozier)
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
