
In February of 2011, President Obama released the "Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2012." President Obama's proposed 2012 budget recommends a 1.6 percent pay increase for members of the military and keeps federal civilian salaries frozen at current levels. Despite some recommendations to freeze military pay at 2011 rates, the Obama proposal to increase military pay by 1.6 percent remains on course.

The US Department of Defense has set a goal to provide 25% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
All military services are not created equally. Sure, everyone gets the same basic pay and allowances. But other factors, such as enlistment incentives, quality of barracks and base housing, assignment opportunities, job opportunities, deployment rates, and promotion rates vary widely between the branches.
There are many factors you should consider when deciding which branch of the U.S. Military to join. I've developed an online guide to help you with your decision making process!
Paper-based rating courses are out. So are “gotcha”-style questions on the rating exam. These are some of the changes coming as the Coast Guard overhauls how it trains and tests enlisted members, a rollout that will extend to 20 ratings by 2015. The changes apply to rating qualifications and tests, according to an Navy Times story.
Job-specific qualifications are getting more thorough and will be tracked on an online database. And tests, while still taken on paper for the time being, will be updated electronically. They’ll also be open book, allowing Coast Guardsmen to use the same reference materials they rely on while doing their jobs.
Military recruits who wear glasses no longer will have to endure the embarrassment of sporting BCGs — those beloved standard-issue specs, technically called S9s, which are universally known as “Birth Control Glasses” because they’re supposedly so unattractive, according to an Air Force Times story..
The Naval Medical Logistics Command has chosen a new design, which will be offered to all active-duty and Reserve personnel and will be the sole choice for service members at recruit depots.
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