Business

Pentagon Workers Put Escorts and Casino Bets on DOD Charge Cards

Over the course of a year, Defense Department employees put nearly $1 million spent at casinos on government charge cards, a pending investigation has revealed.

Policy

New Bill Would Boost Whistleblower Protections for Military Sexual Assault Victims

Sen. Barbara Boxer and her Democratic colleagues introduce a bill to strengthen protections for those who blow the whistle on military wrongdoing, waste, fraud and abuse — including sexual abuse.

Policy

House Panel Advances Military Retirement Reform Bill

The measure would expand perks for personnel who don't spend a significant portion of their career in the military.

Ideas

Make Manpower Matter

If the Pentagon wants good people, it needs to put good people in the top Personnel slot.

Business

The NSA's Fight To Keep Its Best Hackers

Even with flexible hiring authorities, the agency is losing its elite employees to deep-pocketed cyber-security firms.

Business

The Pentagon Says This Man Can Fix Its Personnel System

Army Under Secretary and former Congressman Brad Carson takes the reins in an office that has seen nine leaders since 2009.

Business

3 Takeaways from Ash Carter's 'Force of the Future'

With the Pentagon already struggling to cap rising personnel costs, are the defense secretary's new plans too ambitious to be sustainable?

Business

White House Teases Its Support for Military Compensation Reform

President Obama signaled his support for changes to military pay and benefits, but told Congress he won't make a decision on what reforms he'll endorse until late April.

Business

DOD's Commissary Cuts Would Start a 'Death Spiral,' Pentagon Union Warns

The Pentagon's largest employee union wants to stop Congress from enacting a DOD plan to cut subsidies for the Defense Commissaries Agency by more than $4 billion.

Business

Lawmakers Get Lost in the Math of Reforming Military Benefits

The business of reforming the military's compensation system got very confused very quickly during a Wednesday House Armed Services subcommittee hearing.

Ideas

What the Military Compensation Commission Must Do To Succeed

History shows that policymakers listen to blue ribbon defense commissions when they’re done right – like this one was.

Ideas

How Reforming Benefits Could Undermine the Pentagon's Future

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission's recommendations are appealing to reformers. But here's how they could actually end up doing irreversible harm to the all-volunteer force.

Threats

US Cyber Command Has Just Half the Staff It Needs

The Pentagon wants to fully staff its Cyber Command with 6,000 workers by the end of the year, but a highly competitive private market could mean it will have to wait.

Ideas

A New Diagnosis for Combat Nightmares

Soldiers returning from duty often experience vivid dreams, night sweats and other symptoms commonly classified as PTSD, but a new condition may be more accurate.

Business

White House Requests Modest Pay Increase for Troops and Civilians

The Obama administration's fiscal 2016 plan would give troops a slight increase in pay over last year's 1 percent bump while federal workers would receive their highest pay raise in six years.

Policy

Military Compensation Reform Commission Prompts a Divisive Debate

Thursday’s recommendations to overhaul military personnel system will set the stage for scrutiny on an outdated system.

Business

VA Announces Major Department Realignment

By June 30, the Veterans Affairs Department plans to streamline its fragmented bureaucracy into a single, five-region national framework. By Kellie Lunney

Business

The Pentagon Has No Idea How Many Employees It Needs

Defense headquarters offices were asked to reduce their budgets 20 percent by 2019. So far, the Pentagon cannot say how it will meet that goal. By Eric Katz

Business

Hagel: Budget Uncertainty Is the Biggest Challenge Facing the Military

In his last address to the troops, Hagel returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, where his military career began in 1967. By Marcus Weisgerber