If you need to get around town, calling an Uber is a common way to get there. Yet, for military members living on base, this comes with complications. Of course, there are common sense reasons that not just anyone can or should be able to access a military base, but when it comes to rideshares, troops can use a bit of a change. Now, a collaboration between the U.S. Army, Uber, and Lyft is working on finding a solution.

Right now, getting an Uber or Lyft is difficult for military members who reside on base. Receiving access is complicated, if it’s even possible, depending on the location, making it difficult for some troops to navigate where they live.

Fortunately, the Army is testing a new program to help provide greater access to Uber and Lyft drivers who are vetted and approved by the military.

The Army’s New Ridesharing Pilot Program

A new pilot program will take place for two months in 2025, allowing greater access for ridesharing services to reach Soldiers.

Both Uber and Lyft are going to be able to access six bases during this period, providing over 600,000 people with more ridesharing options.

The military communities of Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Schofield Barracks; Fort Shafter; and Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii are all part of the program.

If successful, more Soldiers could have the option of using these popular rideshare services, as the plan is to expand the program to more than 20 bases.

“This pilot is our response to see if we can safely collaborate with the ride-share industry to simplify transportation options for everyone living on, working on, or even visiting our camps, posts, and installations,” said Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer.

“We heard you and agree, it shouldn't be so hard to coordinate transportation onto our installations, but also in and around some of our larger ones,” Weimer continued.

During the two-month ridesharing pilot program, drivers accepted after being vetted by the 

FBI’s National Crime Information Center and Terrorist Screening Database

 will be available for Soldiers, personnel, and their families.

Drivers who do pass the background check won’t have to get visitors’ passes each time they go to the base and will simply show that they’re hailing a client on their smartphones while also IDing who they’re picking up.

This credential can be digital or physical, and drivers will be able to pick up their passengers at the front gate, streamlining the experience for everyone.

“We are proud to partner with the Army to expand rideshare operations for service members and their families. This initiative underscores Uber’s commitment to reliable transportation access, and will help to strengthen connections with surrounding communities and boost the local economies around these bases,” said Uber’s CEO, 

In total, there are more than 800 rideshare drivers who will be a part of the program with hopes to expand in the future.

Having Uber and Lyft Access Military Bases Could Fill a Notable Gap

Making sure troops have access to ridesharing apps is not a new initiative, as proven by the steps taken at Fort Carson, Colorado, previously, despite not even being a part of the current program.

“Since June 2023, Fort Carson has partnered with local ride-sharing companies to provide transportation services to, from, and around post, as well as food delivery services for Soldiers and their Families,” said garrison spokesperson Dee McNutt.

The lack of consistent public transportation has been a problem for years on military bases; even with collaborations through local taxi services, improvements have been needed.

A number of factors, including isolated locations and a lack of vehicles for junior enlisted troops, can make it difficult.

“Through collaboration with the ride-share industry, we're able to provide our Soldiers and their families with safe, reliable and convenient transportation options that support their unique needs and enhance their overall quality of life,” said Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

So, while you can get an Uber or Lyft on base for now, it’s still not widespread. Still, there’s hope to expand the program, improving transportation for warfighters, essential personnel, and their families around the United States.

TRICARE Doesn’t Cover Military In Vitro Fertilization, Lawmakers Push to Expand Access

Live in the Western Region? TRICARE Has Extended the Payment Deadline Another Month

Lawmaker Proposes Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to Protect Troops from Squatters

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There is yet another TRICARE deadline extension for those in the West Region. A contract change that brought in TriWest to handle enrollees within the area has brought about confusion, delays, and plenty of frustration among the military community. Hopefully, this extension will help those still not set up get everything in line, but if recent history is any indication, keep an eye out for updates.

TRICARE Deadline Extended for TriWest Enrollees Throughout April

 to TriWest has not been smooth. Yet another TRICARE deadline is being extended as a result to help enrollees get their accounts in order.

There have been multiple extensions, with the original deadline being December 31, 2024. Now, the deadline of March 31, 2025, has been moved to April 30, 2025.

Patients continue to voice frustrations with moving contractors as well as the healthcare they are receiving, with this being the fourth deadline alteration so far.

By April 30, patients in the TRICARE West Region will need to update their payment information with TriWest.

The deadline for TRICARE Prime patients to receive specialty care, without prior TriWest approval, has also been extended to April 30 due to referral portal issues.

Despite receiving a 9-year, $65 billion contract, TriWest has proven to fumble the beginning of the transfer, as displeasure has been voiced since December 2022 from many of the 4.5 million beneficiaries the company is now responsible for.

Reaching out for clarity has been a problem among enrollees, and even healthcare providers are finding the change difficult.

Reports have come in of primary care providers still being unaware of changes until the end of March, despite being almost four months into the transition.

The result? Patients have been left to apply to join TriWest's network, healthcare professionals are left in a difficult spot, and everyone suffers in confusion.

Because some healthcare providers were in Health Net’s network but haven’t enrolled with TriWest yet, patients stuck in limbo can use a point-of-service waiver so that they can see their doctor in the meantime.

However, if you do use the point-of-service waiver, copayments are still your responsibility, and it’s advised that anyone using this method asks non-network providers if they have authorization from TRICARE.

According to an official statement, “This means they're licensed by a state, accredited by a national organization, or meet other standards of the medical community (and) certified to provide benefits under TRICARE."

The TRICARE deadline extension may not require authorization from TriWest for those enrolled in Prime but referrals from primary care physicians are still a requirement.

TRICARE requires a referral dated between January 1 and April 30 and a waiver approval letter, which you can find by 

The specialty care waiver excludes inpatient care, autism services, lab-developed tests, and Extended Care Health Option services.

Premium-based plan enrollees, including TRICARE Young Adult, Reserve Select, and Retired Reserve, have until April 30 to update payment info with TriWest or face disenrollment retroactive to January 1. However, these requirements do not apply to TRICARE for Life.

Latest TRICARE Deadline Extension Casts Another Spotlight on Frustrations

The repeated TRICARE deadline extensions may be working to help the military community, but at the end of the day, they’re also highlighting the many blights brought about by the system.

Transferring millions of beneficiaries to TriWest was never going to be an easy task; however, it’s also clear that the military community deserves better.

The lack of communication for families is bad enough, but with newer reports of confusion from providers, it’s curious to see just how far the lack of transparency goes.

Regardless, if you haven’t already taken advantage of the previous efforts, the April 30 TRICARE deadline extension is available. Be sure to act soon so that you don’t lose access to your healthcare coverage.

The TRICARE Online Portal Is Shutting Down—Download Your Records by April 1

Marine Corps Cracks Down on Shaving Waivers for Those With Medical Conditions

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In a recent shift in policy, the Marine Corps has cracked down on shaving waivers for personnel with medical conditions. Marines diagnosed with pseudofolliculitis barbae — an inflammatory skin condition aggravated by shaving — must undergo medical reevaluation within 90 days to determine if they still require a shaving waiver. This is according to new Marine Corps guidance issued by the Trump administration. This policy change has sparked concerns among affected personnel, as they face new hurdles in balancing their health needs with the 

Trump Admin Release Statement Regarding Shaving Waivers

The Trump administration released an administrative message that outlines a phased treatment plan for Marines that have been affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae. The ultimate goal, as stated by the administration, is “returning service members to grooming standards and ensuring maximum warfighting readiness.”

“Ensuring the health, resilience, and discipline of our Marines and Sailors is essential to sustaining our warfighting capability and maintaining the high standards required to remain ready for any challenge,” the message said. “These standards ensure we remain the world’s premier fighting force, ready to fight and win with unwavering readiness, discipline and lethality.”

This new guidance comes from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who ordered a review of military

Shaving waivers have long been a necessary accommodation for Marines who suffer from medical conditions that prevent them from safely shaving. Common conditions that have warranted shaving waivers include:

For many years, these waivers allowed Marines to grow facial hair as a way to avoid irritation, pain, or exacerbation of their conditions. Under the new policy, however, personnel with shaving waivers are facing greater scrutiny.

Now, military medical officers can grant a medical waiver to Marines diagnosed with the medical condition. The waiver will need to be reviewed and signed by a commanding officer.

The New Guidance Outlines a 4-Phase Regimen

Under the updated policy, there is a four-phase plan that Marines will need to follow. The regimen allows military medical officers to instruct Marines to use clippers to modify the new standards if needed.

Marines will avoid shaving for 4 weeks, to see if razor bumps reside.

Marines with moderate to severe bumps will avoid shaving for 8 weeks (or another 4 weeks if they were following Phase 1). This phase also includes potential hair removal through depilatory treatment.

This phase included another 4 weeks of the same treatment if the condition does not improve.

If the skin condition does not improve in the previous weeks, Marines will be referred to a dermatologist for a potential laser treatment. Treatment is funded by the government.

Hegseth Calls for Tighter Military Standards

The Marine Corps' decision to tighten rules on shaving waivers for personnel with medical conditions marks a significant policy shift. While the Corps is focused on maintaining its grooming standards and preventing misuse of the waiver system, the impact on service members with genuine medical needs cannot be overlooked.

As these stricter rules are implemented, the challenge lies in maintaining a fair and effective process that accommodates both the health of service members and the Corps' high standards of appearance and discipline.

, Hegseth has called for the under secretary of defense to collect more information pertaining to the physical fitness, readiness, and body composition of service members.

When asked about the new standards Hegseth said,

“We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force. Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging.”

The Navy Is Diving Deep With a New Approach to Sea Mines

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What lurks below the ocean's surface has fascinated man virtually for as long as we’ve been around. While many throughout history have been concerned with various creatures and legends of the deep, in the modern world, another real threat lies below—sea mines. Although they’re not a new concept, how we detect and dispose of naval mines continues to evolve. Now, the U.S. Navy is improving its methods, and as a result, sea travel conditions for all.

Sea mines are a simple concept based on a much more complicated science. These underwater explosive ordinances detonate when triggered by passing ships in the hopes of taking out enemies before they ever reach their destination.

Some mines use contact while others use magnetic detection or pressure changes, but once triggered, enemy ships are incapacitated, making them effective in blocking shipping routes, protecting harbors, and more.

For hundreds of years, sea mines have been used, with most modern designs relying on sensors to detect ships. Once an enemy is detected, an internal detonation system creates a powerful underwater explosion.

This blast generates a shockwave and gas bubble, which can severely damage or sink vessels, and while these weapons can be set out as a trap, technology is allowing for much better, diverse applications.

Mines can be deployed from ships, submarines, or aircraft and positioned in various ways—anchored to the seabed, moored at specific depths, or left to drift.

From Medieval China to Modern Applications

Putting mines in the sea has a long and fascinating history, dating back to 14th-century China, when military experts designed floating explosives to defend against enemy ships.

By the 16th century, Chinese naval mines were deployed against Japanese pirates, and by the 17th century, they even had remote-detonated versions.

In the West, early sea mine designs were popping up by the late 1500s, but it wasn’t until the 

 that mines were successfully used in combat.

Over the next several centuries, the evolution of technology brought forth even more innovation for naval mines, which would see the weapons move from merely a defensive option to becoming a key weapon in warfare.

From the Crimean War to World Wars I and II, mines were used to protect coastlines, sink enemy ships, and even cut off supply routes.

By World War II, mines had become highly sophisticated, with magnetic and pressure-sensitive triggers that could sink ships without direct contact.

Their strategic importance has only grown, and even today, naval mines remain a crucial tool in maritime defense. However, their effectiveness and increase in use are also leading to concerns for civilian ships and infrastructure.

While the use of a sea mine may benefit naval defenses, there’s a lot of other traffic out there.

Oceans, seas, and various bodies of water around the world are home to fishermen, cruise ships, yachts, supply boats, research vessels, etc., that may not be engaging in warfare but could become victims, nonetheless.

Their presence can disrupt trade by forcing ships to reroute while their stealthy nature makes them difficult to detect.

To reduce harm to neutral vessels, international law requires nations to declare mined areas, but the risk remains a major concern for maritime safety.

The Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Response Crawler Could Disrupt Sea Mines

The U.S. Navy is developing a robotic crawler known as the 

 to help detect and neutralize the threat of sea mines.

Operating at depths of nearly 2,000 feet, using sensors and manipulator arms, the unmanned crawler crew would find and disable mines autonomously while keeping human operators at a safe distance.

While the Navy already has drones for this purpose, the seas are diverse, and you’re going to need to get creative when navigating different seabed conditions, which the Maritime Expeditionary Response Crawler will do.

Furthermore, the Navy’s new toy will remain stable in ocean currents and even transit on the surface before diving.

Protecting ships is important and a focal point of the project, but it’s also important to safeguard underwater infrastructure. This includes undersea cables and pipelines we rely on for things like oil production and the Internet.

With growing global threats, this technology aims to make underwater operations safer and more effective.

Sea mines may remain an active threat, but the military is pushing to make the open waters a bit less threatening through this innovative drone.

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Using TRICARE to cover healthcare expenses is an integral part of military life, but it’s falling short for many warfighters. Military in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment isn’t covered, but there are politicians working to change this for service members and their families.

Does the Military Pay for In Vitro Fertilization?

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) services

 like IUI, IVF, or cryopreservation. However, in 2024, a new Defense Department policy expanded fertility treatment eligibility to unmarried service members and those needing donor eggs or sperm.

Previously, these benefits were limited to certain married service members, with policies excluding same-sex couples.

Even though new measures have improved access, ART services still aren’t fully covered, so those seeking treatment may need to explore other options for financial support.

This is why there’s still a push to do more for service members seeking IVF treatments as a viable option for starting their families.

Democrats Pushing for IVF Coverage for Military Members

Congressional Democrats are pushing to expand IVF access for military service members by introducing legislation that would require TRICARE to cover the procedure.

Led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), the bill aims to match the fertility benefits available to Congress members and remove the requirement that infertility be directly linked to military service.

Supporters say that having the military cover in vitro fertilization could be life-changing, allowing service members to grow their families without sacrificing their careers.

“I think it will be huge. We know so many military families are struggling to make ends meet as it is and are facing really significant fertility challenges. It would be life-changing. We shouldn't make them choose between serving our country and building their families,” said Rep. Jacobs.

Sen. Duckworth understands the plight of warfighters and IVF treatments as an Iraq War Veteran. She has been open about the use of these healthcare options when conceiving her two children.

President Donald Trump spoke positively of IVF treatment while campaigning and the idea is that now there could be more support for a bipartisan approach.

“President Trump pledged to voters on the campaign trail that he would go even further by making IVF free if elected and has repeated the bold-faced lie that he is governing on the principle of ‘promises made, promises kept.’ Republicans can now help him partially fulfill his broken IVF promise by joining our commonsense legislation that would make sure those who answer the call to serve have access to the care they need to build their family,” said Duckworth through a statement.

The unfortunate reality is that while warfighters have a duty to our nation, they’re often forced to choose between defending our nation and starting a family.

Because of the difficulties involving IVF and getting TRICARE to pay for it, there are worries that operational readiness is being affected.

“For too many service members, the lack of TRICARE coverage of IVF has left them with only a few choices: beat the odds and prove that their infertility is directly related to their service, pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a chance at a family, forgo having children, or leave the military. This is wrong,” said Jacobs.

Besides just helping warfighters and their families by providing this benefit, proponents are also arguing the logical side of things, as Congress members are now allowed to have their infertility treatments covered.

“It makes no sense that members of Congress and the rest of the federal workforce will get this, but military families still won't,” said Jacobs.

This isn’t the first time the Democratic lawmakers have worked on this initiative.

In 2024, Sen. Duckworth and Rep. Jacobs worked together on an IVF proposal for military members that made it through the House Armed Services Committee but failed to make the final defense bill.

Duckworth herself has faced multiple blocks from the Republican Party while championing such initiatives.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding the addition of in vitro fertilization for military members should be no surprise—cost.

 to block a similar measure aiming to provide this healthcare to warfighters.

Now, the duo is trying again with a standalone bill, giving it a fresh chance for approval, but despite some hope of bipartisan support due to President Trump’s comments, military IVF coverage is still an uphill battle.

The Politics of TRICARE Covering In Vitro Fertilization for the Military

There may be strong supporters on the Democratic side of things but if a change to TRICARE is going to become a reality, the Republicans will need to get on board.

Unfortunately, as of this writing, there have been no Republicans who have cosponsored the bill brought up by Duckworth and Jacobs.

There’s still hope as Trump has called himself the “father of IVF,” stating that he “strongly support(s) the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby.”

“Fertilization. I'm still very proud of it, I don't care. I'll be known as the fertilization President, and that's OK. That's not bad. I've been called much worse. Actually, I like it, right?” said President Trump.

Regardless of which bill or method is successful, providing military members with TRICARE coverage for in vitro fertilization is an important initiative that could help the community overcome a sensitive matter with the dignity and resources they deserve.

Update: 3 U.S. Soldiers Found Dead, One Missing From Lithuania Training Mission

Unfortunately, the search for U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania has taken a turn for the worse. Despite reports coming way too early on the fate of warfighters training with NATO, it has now been confirmed that three of the Soldiers are dead, with another one still missing. This comes in the midst of an ongoing search that has spanned days and fought misinformation to the distress of families.

After NATO Training in Lithuania Goes Wrong

For days, four Soldiers training in Lithuania were missing, and now, it has been confirmed that at least three of them have passed away.

Forces from the host country as well as the United States continue to navigate difficult terrain in the hopes of rescuing any survivors; however, these prospects have been drastically hurt by the unfortunate fates most of these heroes have already faced.

Soldiers that were sent from Fort Stewart, GA, as a part of the 

, went into a swampy area of terrain on an M88 recovery vehicle, according to those who last saw them.

The vehicle was found deeply submerged in mud and water, and in order to reach them, specialized equipment is being used to drain the area so that recovery teams can approach.

Because of these harsh environments and the complicated process, which requires crews to construct berms to contain the area before training, the search and recovery efforts have spanned days.

“Due to the terrain, this is an incredibly complex engineering effort. The team on the ground is working to remove enough water and mud for rescue teams to safely reach, stabilize, and access the vehicle,” said Maj. Robin Bruce, a 1st Armored Division engineer, in a statement.

Six days after the Soldiers went missing in a bog, three Soldiers were found dead, and their armored vehicle had been removed from the difficult terrain.

Hundreds of tons of rocks and debris were removed using a variety of methods, including aerial approaches from Lithuanian military helicopters, other aircraft, unmanned aircraft, pumps on the ground, excavators, and more.

The fate of the final Soldier is still unknown as military and law enforcement continue their efforts in the area as of this writing.

Aggression from the Kremlin continues, as does the war in Europe. As a result, the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was deployed in January 2025 to help bolster defenses on NATO's eastern flank.

Lithuania is a major part of NATO’s joint exercises, which helps keep enemy superpowers at bay while preparing warfighters for potential conflicts.

The exercise the missing Soldiers were conducting was routine and took place near Pabradė, a small city very close to the border of Belarus, a key ally of the Kremlin.

Driving tactical vehicles, even in the capacity of training, always comes with risks, and unfortunately, the incident unfolding in Lithuania is yet another example. In many cases, other factors, such as sleep deprivation, often play a role.

Troop Deaths Previously Confirmed Too Early

While we now know the fate of three of those involved, misinformation was spread a bit too early by officials beforehand. This would lead to unnecessary added stress to military families who are connected to the incident and inspire officials to backtrack their statements.

 made it seem that the Soldiers everyone was still looking for had passed away—which at the time remained unclear.

Sadly, these premature notions made headlines and hit home for those involved. This would lead to NATO backtracking and releasing a statement on X, formally Twitter, stating, “The search is ongoing. We regret any confusion about remarks (Secretary General Mark Rutte) delivered on this today. He was referring to emerging news reports and was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown.”

Again, it’s going to take days to figure out everything, and even when new information is available, the Army typically withholds identities until next of kin are notified.

The incident in Lithuania follows a January accident where 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers Staff Sgt. Shelbe Butner, 28, and Spc. Jacob Mullen, 25, died after their vehicle overturned near Fort Stewart.

Families Involved With Lithuania Missing Soldiers Unhappy With Messaging

One of the biggest things brought about in the Internet era is the ability to communicate with anyone in the world at an astounding speed.

Unfortunately, misinformation can travel just as fast as information can travel.

The missing Soldiers in Lithuania are yet another example, considering the backtracking that many news sites have been forced to do after finding out that their information might not have been as accurate as they had thought.

No one is perfect, but it’s still an unfortunate situation as the families of those involved, whether they are worried about their loved ones or have loved ones looking for the missing Soldiers, are forced to bear the burden misinformation can bring.

Now that there is more clarity showing that the worse has become a reality, it’s more important than ever to provide the truth, empathy, and respect in honor of those lost and for the families involved.

The hunt for the final missing Soldier in Lithuania continues, and our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone involved.

An update has been provided by the 3rd Infantry Division as of March 30th at 10:00pm CET. It reads as follows:

"U.S. Navy divers from CFT-68 successfully attached a second line to a hoist point on the M88A2 Hercules. 

Now that the second line has been shackled, the Hercules can be anchored to prevent it from sinking any further into the bog. 

Engineers expect to start winching early this morning. The process is projected to take a significant amount of time and effort, as the terrain surrounding the peat bog remains challenging - but the rescue workers will not be deterred."

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