The 59th Medical Wing transitions from Air Education and Training Command to Air Force Medical Command on Sept. 9, 2025

Sept. 10, 2025

59th Medical Wing transitions to Air Force Medical Command

Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas — The 59th Medical Wing, the U.S. Air Force’s largest medical wing and a cornerstone of military medicine, officially transitioned from Air Education and Training Command (AETC) to the newly established Air Force Medical Command (AFMEDCOM) on Sept. 9, 2025.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael Orestes, director for Education, Training, and Research (DETR), poses for a photo at a research program award ceremony at Walter Reed, May 22, 2025. The annual event brings together top researchers across the Department of Defense to showcase advances in health care and military science.

Sept. 10, 2025

Walter Reed performs DOD’s first Transoral Robotic Laryngectomy

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — First-of-its-kind in the Department of Defense (DOD), a surgical team at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center successfully completed a Transoral Robotic Laryngectomy to remove a patient’s non-functioning larynx—a technique rarely performed worldwide.

U.S. Army Col. (Dr.) Paul Hwang, director for surgery at Walter Reed, stands next to the microsurgical system used at the medical center for perform a successful breast reconstruction. The system allowed surgeons to reconnect very small blood vessels, usually done by hand and a large microscope, making the vessel connection more accurate and lessening the chances for possible complications, including collapse and clotting. (Graphic image by Roan Smith)

Sept. 9, 2025

Walter Reed surgeons use microsurgical robot in successful breast reconstruction

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, BETHESDA, MD — Surgeons at Walter Reed continue to use innovative approaches to providing presidential-level care to beneficiaries of the Military Health System.

Newark (N.J.) Army Recruiting Company recruiters attended nutrition training during their August 29, 2025, Quarterly Training meeting. The training, provided by Lt. Col. Joetta Khan, PhD, MPH, a registered dietitian, focusing on nutrition strategies for healthy recruiters and resources for recruiters to support healthy recruits.

Sept. 9, 2025

Keller supports Newark Army Recruiting Company

NEWARK RECRUITING COMPANY, N.J. — Lt. Col. Joetta Khan, PhD, MPH, a registered dietitian assigned to Keller Army Community Hospital, provided training to more than 40 active-duty Army recruiters, from the Newark Recruiting Company, focusing on nutrition strategies for healthy recruiters and resources for recruiters to support healthy recruits.

Young woman sitting on couch speaking on cell phone

Sept. 9, 2025

Live in the West Region? Learn if You Need To Take Action on Your Referrals Before Oct. 1

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Are you a TRICARE Prime beneficiary living in the West Region? Are you currently using a referral to get specialty care? If you used the West Region referral approval waiver to see a specialist between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025 and need to continue seeing that specialist, you’ll need to get a new referral to a network specialist before Oct. 1, 2025. If you’re still using a valid referral issued by a previous contractor before Jan. 1, 2025, you also need to get a new referral for any care received starting Oct. 1.

Two uniformed service members stand in military pharmacy and funnel prescriptions into a bottle.

Sept. 8, 2025

Q&A: TRICARE For Life Coverage of Weight Loss Medications

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — The Defense Health Agency recently announced it will implement existing regulatory controls regarding TRICARE coverage of weight loss medications, including Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs, to ensure prescription processing aligns with federal coverage requirements.

From wellness exams and vaccines to sick-call diagnostics and international health certificates, the VTF delivers evidence-based care tailored to your pet’s needs. The team also performs anesthetic procedures, provides prescription refills, and offers microchipping for long-term safety.

Sept. 8, 2025

Happy. Healthy. Registered.

FORT RILEY, Kansas — From wellness exams and vaccines to sick-call diagnostics and international health certificates, the Fort Riley Veterinary Treatment Facility delivers evidence-based care tailored to your pet’s needs. The team also performs anesthetic procedures, provides prescription refills, and offers microchipping for long-term safety.

Sherilyn Long (front left), the 2026 Mana’olana Nurse of Hope Award recipient, is pictured with colleagues Abigail Troncoso, RN, Joshua Thompson, RN and Jennifer Peralta, RN, at Tripler Army Medical Center. Long was recognized for her dedication to patient care and compassionate approach to oncology nursing by the Oncology Nursing Society Hawaii chapter. (Defense Health Agency photo by Hugh Fleming)

Sept. 5, 2025

Tripler nurse named the 2026 Mana’olana Nurse of Hope Award recipient, driven by personal loss

Tripler Army Medical Center — Sherilyn Long, a registered nurse at Tripler Army Medical Center, has been named the 2026 Mana’olana Nurse of Hope Award recipient, recognizing her dedication to patient care and compassionate approach to oncology nursing. The award, presented by the Oncology Nursing Society Hawaii chapter, honors nurses who embody the spirit of hope and healing.

A woman in uniform sits against a tree trunk.

Sept. 4, 2025

Perpetual Silence

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. — Suicide can happen quietly and sometimes it’s the people closest to us who are struggling. A lesson painfully learned throughout my life and career: we are not meant to carry our struggles alone. Losing my brother reminded me that silence can be deadly, and seeking help is not just normal—it’s necessary.

Winn Army Community Hospital ER clinical nurse supervisor Melissa Hungerford accepts one of more than 100 Better Bears from Life Scout Reis Hill as Lt. Col. Brittany Kull, Winn’s chief of hospital education, looks on. Reis created the bears for her Eagle Scout project to help comfort children visiting the ER.

Sept. 4, 2025

Eagle Scout candidate’s project makes Winn ER visits bearable for children

FORT STEWART, Ga. — When her brother got sick as a child, only one thing offered him a small bit of comfort: a small stuffed animal that was there for him through his hospital stay. Today, Life Scout Reis Hill used that memory as the inspiration behind her Better Bears Eagle Scout project, donating more than 100 hand-made bears to Winn Army Community Hospital’s emergency department Sept. 2 to complete one of the final requirements to earn Scouting America’s highest award.

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