“Even in this age of e-mails, instant messages, and video chats, nothing provides the morale boost to a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine like regular packages or letters from home,” says Rep. Tom Davis, (R-Va.), chairman of the Government Reform Committee. Legislation approved by his committee would direct the Pentagon and Postal Service to run a one-year test for troops serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. The troops would receive, each month, a voucher they could send to family members, who would be able to mail one letter or parcel to the service member.
The Air Force ramped up operations and maintenance spending to keep its F-35A fighters flying over the past six years, but readiness continues to lag behind goals, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.