Newsbytes February 13, 2026

In this issue:
Protect Coast Guard Pay 
Golden Dome Panel
Senior Enlisted QOL Hearing
VA Community Care Contracts
Marine Lost at Sea 
2026 Veterans Day Poster Contest

Protect Coast Guard Pay 
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) has joined a coalition of military advocacy groups in a letter to congressional leaders, urging immediate action to protect the pay of active-duty and retired Coast Guard personnel during government shutdowns. The letter was sent to leadership in both the House and Senate as concerns mount over potential funding lapses within the Department of Homeland Security.

The coalition highlighted that more than 56,000 active-duty Coast Guard members face the threat of delayed or missed paychecks if Congress fails to act. Memories of the 2018–2019 shutdown remain fresh; during that period, Coast Guard families went without pay for over a month, forcing many to rely on food banks and fall behind on basic bills. Retirees also saw a temporary suspension of their hard-earned pension payments. Despite these financial hardships, Coast Guard personnel continued to perform their life-saving missions without interruption.

In recent testimony, senior Coast Guard leaders warned that pay uncertainty severely damages readiness, morale, recruitment, and retention. Service members on high-risk missions abroad or protecting U.S. ports should not have to worry about their families' stability due to political gridlock. The FRA stresses that withholding pay from uniformed members undermines trust and harms the force. The coalition is calling for permanent legislation to guarantee uninterrupted pay for all Coast Guard members, past and present, during any future funding disputes.

Golden Dome Panel
The Congressional Hypersonics Caucus and the Golden Dome Caucus recently hosted a bipartisan panel discussion on advanced materials, industrial capacity, and implementation challenges tied to next-generation missile defense and hypersonic systems. FRA’s DLP Theo Lawson attended the session, which brought together lawmakers, industry leaders, and defense experts to examine how Congress and the Department of Defense can better align strategy, investment, and execution in response to evolving global threats. This alignment is crucial for maintaining a competitive military advantage.

Panelists emphasized the rapid pace of modernization by adversaries, particularly China, whose ground-testing capacity reportedly far exceeds that of the United States. The Golden Dome initiative was described as a necessary response to modern threats, but speakers stressed that scaling engineering talent, test infrastructure, and production capacity must occur quickly. Investments in engineers, builders, and government-owned test facilities were identified as overdue priorities that are now essential to maintaining technological superiority. Strengthening these areas is vital for the long-term defense of the nation.

Discussion also centered on strengthening the defense industrial base as a core element of national deterrence. Flexible supply chains, especially for specialized thermal protection materials, along with strategic capital tools and clear demand signals from the DoW, were highlighted as critical to accelerating innovation. Participants noted that significant increases in defense investment can provide industry with the certainty needed to expand production and assume calculated risk. A robust industrial base ensures that our sailors and Marines always have access to the best equipment.

DLP Lawson engaged some of the panelists on the importance of recruitment as Congress advances these high-technology systems. As advanced systems are fielded, lawmakers must consider the impact on personnel requirements, training pipelines, and force structure to ensure sailors and Marines are prepared. Dr. Thurgood observed that warfighters are highly creative, reinforcing the need to match technology with deliberate planning.

The panel concluded that maintaining a layered defense strategy, strengthening allied cooperation, and fostering long-term public-private collaboration are essential to delivering outcomes. FRA will continue monitoring legislative developments in advanced materials, hypersonics, and missile defense, recognizing their direct impact on naval readiness and the strength of the sea services. We are dedicated to ensuring that the shift toward high-tech warfare includes proper support for the personnel who will lead it. These advancements represent the future of maritime defense and global security.

Senior Enlisted QOL Hearing
The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing examining quality-of-life investments for service members and their families. Senior enlisted leaders from across the force provided ground-level perspectives on morale, readiness, and persistent challenges involving housing, childcare, and access to healthcare. Testimony from MCPON John J. Perryman IV and Sgt.Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlos A. Ruiz highlighted the direct connection between daily living conditions and operational effectiveness. These leaders advocated for the basic needs of their troops.

MCPON Perryman emphasized that quality of life is foundational to naval readiness, particularly for a forward-deployed force that spends extended time at sea. He described housing, barracks, childcare, and healthcare as readiness enablers rather than peripheral benefits. Delays in medical or mental health appointments, inadequate housing conditions, and lack of childcare availability shift focus away from mission execution. Perryman called for sustained investment in provider capacity, telehealth access, and housing accountability to reduce preventable stressors that affect retention and performance. These improvements are necessary for a healthy force.

Sergeant Major Ruiz framed quality of life as an ongoing commitment inseparable from readiness, professionalism, and lethality. He relayed that Marines consistently express pride in service but need improved facilities and resources to remain focused and prepared for demanding training and operational requirements. Ruiz highlighted recent barracks refurbishments benefiting thousands of Marines, noting that visible improvements strengthen morale and reinforce a sense of institutional commitment. He also pointed to recent pay raises for junior enlisted personnel as examples of how legislative action directly shapes force stability.

Both leaders made clear that healthcare access, safe and well-maintained housing, and reliable childcare are not comfort issues but force multipliers. Senators questioned witnesses about mold remediation, maintenance delays, childcare waitlists, suicide prevention efforts, and the need for predictable funding to avoid disruptions. The testimony reinforced that taking care of service members and families is central to sustaining a ready and lethal force. Addressing these long-standing issues is the only way to ensure the military remains an attractive career path for the next generation.

FRA recognizes that quality-of-life investments are directly tied to recruitment, retention, and readiness within the sea services. Ensuring sailors and Marines have stable living conditions, accessible healthcare, and family support strengthens operational performance and long-term force resilience. The Association has incorporated the legislative priorities of the sea services in the 2026 FRA legislative priorities. FRA will continue to monitor legislative efforts aimed at improving these critical programs for enlisted personnel and their families. 

Watch the hearing here: Senate Armed Services Committee

VA Community Care Contracts
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing : Assessing the Next Generation of VA’s Community Care Network. Chairman Jerry Moran and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal led a bipartisan review of the VA’s Community Care Network Next Generation contracts, following a December 2025 request for proposals. This procurement, structured as a large-scale vehicle, could reach up to $1 trillion over ten years and represents one of the largest federal healthcare acquisitions to date.

VA Assistant Secretary Richard Topping described CCN NextGen as the first major modernization of the community care program since passage of the 2018 MISSION Act. In fiscal year 2025, more than 40 percent of VA appointments occurred in the community, underscoring the massive scale of the program. Topping outlined a shift to a multiple award structure that would allow national and regional health plans to compete. This provides flexibility to address diverse needs from rural Alaska to densely populated urban regions while maintaining national standards for all veterans.

The proposed contracts are built around five modernization pillars: quality measurement, value-based care models, stronger utilization management, enhanced program integrity, and contractor performance incentives. VA projects potential savings of 8 to 14 percent through better management of hospitalizations, high-cost services, and fraud prevention. Topping also emphasized that community care will operate as its own payer structure within the VHA to avoid conflicts and ensure balanced decision-making between direct and purchased care. This structure aims to make the system more efficient and accountable.

Representatives from the VA Office of Inspector General welcomed elements of the proposal but cautioned that oversight risks remain. Persistent concerns include delayed medical record returns, inconsistent billing practices, workforce gaps, and limited visibility into quality performance. The OIG urged clear enforcement mechanisms, stronger financial controls, and continued monitoring as implementation proceeds. Senators also raised concerns about the rapid growth in community care spending compared to direct VA care and whether the VA has sufficient staffing to manage contracts of this magnitude effectively.

The hearing reflected bipartisan support for improving veteran access and choice while reinforcing that community care must complement, not replace, VA’s direct health system. FRA will continue monitoring implementation of CCN NextGen to ensure cost control, quality oversight, and accountability remain central as VA modernizes care delivery. This affects retired and former sea service members who rely on both direct and community-based care.

Watch the hearing here: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

Marine Lost at Sea 
The Fleet Reserve Association offers its deepest condolences to the loved ones of Lance Corporal Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, who was declared deceased following an extensive search and rescue mission. LCpl Oforah fell overboard from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on February 7, 2026. His loss is a tragedy felt deeply by the entire Navy and Marine Corps family.

LCpl Oforah, 21, of Florida, was an infantry rifleman with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, based at Camp Lejeune. He was a 2024 graduate of Parris Island and was deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) at the time of the accident. After the "man overboard" report, five Navy ships and various aircraft from the Navy, Marines, and Air Force conducted a non-stop search of the Caribbean Sea.

After three days of exhaustive efforts, the search was suspended on February 10. The incident is currently under investigation. Col. Tom Trimble, Commanding Officer of the 22nd MEU, stated that the unit is grieving alongside the Oforah family and that the young Marine’s dedicated service will never be forgotten. This loss serves as a solemn reminder of the inherent risks our service members face every day, even when not in combat. The FRA’s thoughts and prayers remain with the Oforah family.

2026 Veterans Day Poster Contest
The Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting entries for the 2026 National Veterans Day Poster Contest. Artists from across the nation are invited to submit original work that honors those who served. The deadline for all submissions is 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2026.

This year’s theme is “Veterans Helping Veterans and Their Families.” The contest is open to both professionals and amateurs, providing a platform to highlight the enduring strength of the veteran community. The winning design will be distributed to VA facilities and military bases worldwide and will serve as the cover for the official Veterans Day program at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 2026.

Last year’s winner, “Unified by Service,” was created by Army Veteran Jeremy D. Carpenter. Artists are encouraged to keep their designs simple and visually powerful. Submissions must be electronic (JPG, JPEG, or PDF) and sent to vetsday@va.gov. The FRA encourages any members or supporters with artistic talent to participate in this meaningful national tribute to America’s veterans.