Elderly woman wearing floral shirt, earrings, and glasses smiles at the camera

Dec. 31, 2025

Have TRICARE For Life? Here's what to do if you move

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Are you planning to move soon? Whether you’re moving across town or overseas, TRICARE For Life moves with you.

Staff of Walter Reed’s Mother Infant Care Center celebrates the birth of the first baby of 2026 born at Walter Reed, Brook Crone, with her proud parents retired U.S. Marines Andrea and Caleb Crone on New Year’s Day.

Jan. 2, 2026

Walter Reed Welcomes First Baby of the New Year

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center proudly welcomed the first baby of the new year born at the hospital on Jan. 1, 2026.

Staff from the Mother Baby Unit at Tripler Army Medical Center, along with Col. William Bimson, commander of TAMC, presented a baby gift basket to U.S. Army Capt. Henry Zenger and Capt. Cecilia Zenger after the birth of their son, Gus Zenger, at TAMC in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Jan. 1, 2026. Gus, born at 5:16 a.m. on New Year’s Day, is TAMC’s first baby boy of 2026. (Defense Health Agency photo by Khinna Kaminske)

Jan. 2, 2026

Celebrating the Arrival of the First Babies of 2026 at Tripler Army Medical Center

Tripler Army Medical Center — Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) is excited to announce the arrival of the first babies of 2026, bringing joy to the facility and the local community. The births of these little ones mark a special moment for both sets of proud parents and the dedicated staff at TAMC. Col. William Bimson, commander of TAMC, along with department leadership, visited the parents to present baby gift baskets for the new arrivals, celebrating their milestones and offering support as they begin their journey of parenthood.

Staff serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point bid Fair Winds and Following Seas to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Kate Helmke during a ceremony held Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Helmke served aboard the clinic from February 2024 to January 2026, providing care for nearly 3,300 patients and leading two Command Training Days while assigned to the Patient Centered Medical Home and Staff Training and Education departments.

Jan. 5, 2026

Fair Winds and Following Seas to HM3 Helmke

MCAS Cherry Point — Staff serving aboard Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point bid Fair Winds and Following Seas to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Kate Helmke during a ceremony held Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) Brian Graziose, a fellow in Walter Reed’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and his wife Sarah welcomed their healthy daughter, Victoria, into the world on Oct. 30, 2025 following a challenging pregnancy.

Jan. 5, 2026

Walter Reed caregiver becomes Walter Reed care receiver

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — A Walter Reed doctor and his family recently became patients at the hospital where he serves, relying on the medical center’s presidential care during a life-threatening event.

This graphic was created to inform Military Health System beneficiaries about the Walter's Way feedback form at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The feedback form allows beneficiaries to communicate what is most important to them in the delivery of their care, highlight what the facility is doing well, and share ideas on how it can improve.

Jan. 6, 2026

Walter’s Way: Early Data and Feedback Show Positive Trends

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is seeing early gains from Walter’s Way, a new access-to-care model designed to make it easier for patients to get the right care at the right time. While the initiative is still being evaluated, early data and feedback suggest the changes are improving patient experience, appointment access, and clinic efficiency.

Join us as we bid farewell to CPT Luke Admire and welcome CPT Antonella Peterson as the new commander of the Irwin Army Community Hospital Medical Company. A change of command ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. on January 15th at the Fort Riley Soldier Recovery Unit Clamshell. The Fort Riley community is welcome and encouraged to attend. We thank CPT Admire for his dedicated leadership and are pleased to share that he will continue serving the Fort Riley community by providing nursing care at IACH's inpatient behavioral health unit. Please join us in also welcoming CPT Peterson to her new command. We look forward to seeing you there as we mark this important transition

Jan. 6, 2026

Medical Company Change of Command

FORT RILEY, Kansas — We bid farewell to CPT Luke Admire and welcome CPT Antonella Peterson as the new commander of the Irwin Army Community Hospital (IACH) Medical Company.

Personnel from the 59th Medical Wing and civilian observers examine in-flight medical equipment aboard a military aircraft during a demonstration at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland, Texas, on Jan. 6, 2026.

Jan. 6, 2026

Operational Truth and Technological Vision: DARPA and the 59th Medical Wing Shape the Future of Warfighter Care 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas — The 59th Medical Wing and the San Antonio Military Health System hosted DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office for a two day strategic offsite at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland, bringing together the Air Force’s oldest medical wing and one of the DoD’s most innovative research organizations. The visit connected DARPA’s biotechnology initiatives with the real operational demands of battlefield medicine through wargames, threat scenario exercises, and hands on exposure to Tactical Combat Casualty Care training. By pairing DARPA’s forward leaning research with the Wing’s deep operational expertise, the collaboration aims to develop rugged, intuitive, and lifesaving technologies for the first moments of combat. This engagement strengthened the longstanding relationship between DARPA and the Air Force and laid the groundwork for future advancements in warfighter medical care.

Man in orange shirt reads papers while he sits at a desk

Jan. 6, 2026

TRICARE-allowable charges and balance billing: What you need to know

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — You may have heard the terms “allowable charge” and “balance billing.” But what do these terms mean when you have TRICARE? This article explains the different types of TRICARE-authorized providers and what they’re allowed to charge you.

Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS!