Testifying before the House Budget Committee, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England asked Congress for help in the Pentagon effort to increase Tricare fees for military retirees. “We have a lot of laws enacted by the Congress that increase benefits,” said England, adding, “Not always do we ask for them.” He estimated that if the Pentagon can return fees to the 1996 original baseline levels, savings across the future years defense program (Fiscal 2007-2011) would net $11.2 billion. Without raising fees, asserted England, “frankly, there’s nothing else we’re going to be able to do, except come back to this committee and ask for more money every year.”
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.