Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a surprise visit to troops in Iraq this past weekend, thanking them for their service as he prepares to leave office. Hundreds of US forces lined up to take pictures with Rumsfeld, who told them, “For the past six years, I have had the opportunity and, I would say the privilege, to serve with the greatest military on the face of the Earth.” He continued, “For your service, your sacrifice, and for the professionalism and the dedication you demonstrate every day, you have my profound admiration and my deep and everlasting respect.”
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…
