Pentagon acquisition chief Ash Carter tasked the Defense Science Board with helping to “enhance adaptability” of the US military. In his April 12 tasking letter, Carter noted successful individual adaptation, like airmen on horseback calling in bomber strikes in the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, but he said such exploits “do not yet reflect widespread ability of US forces to deftly transition from one challenge to the next.” He continued, “While we should sustain and encourage such individual innovation, we need to examine what the DOD can do more broadly to enhance both the degree and the cycle time of adaptation.” Carter sees this as an “agenda-setting function” that could yield “actionable recommendations” in areas such as recruiting for emerging technologies, assessing new training techniques, adapting intelligence to meet changing mission needs, and tailoring acquisition processes to meet new challenges.
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…
