Newsbytes February 27, 2026

In this issue:
POTUS SOTU Speech
FRA NP Testifies
Coalition Win On VA Rule
Navy To Combat Burnout
Claims Backlog Decline
Shipmate Memories

POTUS SOTU Speech
During his February 24, 2026, State of the Union address, President Donald Trump placed significant emphasis on the men and women of the Armed Forces, veterans, and military families. The remarks highlighted improved recruiting across the services, proposed defense investments, and a series of personal tributes recognizing extraordinary service and sacrifice across generations. The President pointed to stronger recruiting trends and outlined plans to continue rebuilding the force, including support for a proposed $1 trillion defense budget. He also referenced a recent one-time “warrior dividend” payment of $1,776 to service members, describing it as both a financial benefit and a symbolic recognition tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. 

The evening’s highest honors were the presentation of the Medal of Honor to two service members from different eras. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover received the nation’s highest military decoration for his role as lead helicopter pilot during the January 3 raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Despite sustaining multiple gunshot wounds while maneuvering his Chinook helicopter under heavy fire, CWO5 Slover safely delivered troops and enabled mission success, then continued his recovery as lawmakers honored his actions. Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams, age 100, was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. 

The address also recognized members of the West Virginia Army National Guard who responded to a terrorist attack at the U.S. Capitol. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in action, received a posthumous Purple Heart presented to her family. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a life-threatening head wound and continues his recovery, was also awarded the Purple Heart. These moments of solemn recognition pointed to the inherent dangers faced by those in uniform, even within domestic borders. 

Additional recognition was given to Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a rescue swimmer credited with saving more than 160 people during severe flooding in Texas on July 4, 2025. Appearing alongside one of those he rescued, Ruskan was presented the Legion of Merit for his actions. However, the Fleet Reserve Association noted the stark contrast surrounding that recognition. While Petty Officer Ruskan was honored as a national hero, he and approximately 41,000 other Coast Guardsmen are currently serving without pay due to a Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. FRA identified this situation as a critical failure and is urging immediate passage of the Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 5401) and continues to advocate for permanently protecting Coast Guard pay from disruptions caused by funding lapses. While the speech highlighted national gratitude for military service and sacrifice, FRA emphasized that meaningful recognition must be matched by reliable pay and support for those currently serving, particularly members of the Coast Guard who remain vulnerable to funding gaps and political gridlock. 

Click Here To Support The Pay Our Troops Act: https://bit.ly/4pLwBtD

FRA NP Testifies
On March 3, 2026, National President Richard J. Fetro will testify before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. This pivotal testimony serves as the FRA’s formal platform to present its 2026 Legislative Goals to Congressional leadership. Drawing on over a century of service to the sea service community, President Fetro will highlight three critical pillars: the Major Richard Star Act, the modernization of VA health records, and the protection of disability compensation. 

A primary focus of the testimony is the urgent passage of the Major Richard Star Act. President Fetro will detail the legacy of Major Star, a combat veteran who died from toxic exposure-linked cancer, to illustrate the injustice faced by tens of thousands of combat-wounded retirees. Currently, these veterans are forced to offset their earned retired pay to receive VA disability compensation. The FRA’s position is clear: these retirees earned their pay through service and their compensation through sacrifice, and it is time for Congress to end this "unjust offset" once and for all. 

President Fetro will also address the critical need for VA Electronic Health Record Modernization. The FRA is advocating for the passage of H.R. 3455 to ensure that the VA’s digital infrastructure is capable of delivering timely and accurate care. Modernization is not merely a technical upgrade; it is a foundational requirement for automating presumptive claims. The FRA believes that when a veteran is diagnosed with a condition linked to their service, eligibility should be identified automatically, granting benefits without the current bureaucratic delays that often force veterans to learn of their eligibility only at the end of their lives. 

Finally, the testimony will tackle the ongoing need for disability compensation reform. The FRA is calling on Congress to pursue changes that prioritize transparency and logic over complex, often opaque, math. President Fetro will emphasize that any reform must ensure the timely delivery of benefits without reducing earned compensation. These three legislative actions are framed not just as policy shifts, but as essential steps toward maintaining national readiness and keeping faith with those who have given their flesh, their future, and their lives in service to the United States. 

Click Here To Watch: https://veterans.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=7864 

Coalition Win On VA Rule
In a massive win for the FRA and a coalition of over 40 Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), the VA has officially retreated on its controversial disability rating reform. The "Medication Penalty" rule, which sought to lower disability ratings based on medication effectiveness rather than underlying severity, will be formally rescinded on February 27, 2026. This victory marks the successful conclusion of a high-pressure advocacy campaign. 

The victory follows a "firestorm" of opposition including the FRA, which officially signed a Joint Statement for the Record. This coalition move signaled to Congressional leadership that VSOs stood united against the rule. The pressure was further intensified by a high-profile federal lawsuit, Ingram v. Collins, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on February 26, challenging the VA's use of emergency rulemaking authority to bypass public scrutiny. 

The VA’s notice of rescission acknowledged that the rule "could undermine confidence" in the benefits system, especially after generating more than 20,000 negative public comments from concerned veterans and advocates. Lawmakers and VSOs argued that the rule created a "perverse incentive" for veterans to skip necessary medical treatment to preserve their earned benefits. This formal withdrawal prevents a projected $23 billion reduction in veteran compensation over the next decade. 

The FRA views this as a landmark victory for due process and benefit security. While the rescission is a major win, the Association will continue to monitor the VA’s rulemaking authority to ensure no similar "poison pills" are introduced in future budget cycles. Our focus remains on ensuring that medical effectiveness is never used as a fiscal tool to balance the VA budget, and we thank the thousands of Shipmates who submitted comments to help defeat this proposal. 

Navy To Combat Burnout
The Navy is moving toward a strategic shift in its personnel flow by shortening second sea tours to address chronic fleet burnout and personnel shortages. This proposal, currently under review by Navy leadership, aims to improve mid-career retention by providing more stability for Sailors and their families. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that the current operational tempo is unsustainable for a long-term career force and must be adjusted to protect Sailor well-being. 

Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, Director of Military Personnel Plans and Policy, identified high operational tempo as the primary driver of attrition among experienced personnel. The new plan seeks to reduce sea tours from the current 60-month standard to a more manageable 36 to 48 months for intensive rates. The FRA strongly supports this initiative as a critical component of the "Quality of Service" pillar in our legislative agenda, noting that maintaining a ready fleet requires rested and resilient crews who are given adequate shore time. 

Burnout was one of the key issues highlighted in our 2026 legislative survey, and the Association is pleased that the Navy has prioritized this concern. Addressing operational stress and improving retention aligns directly with the feedback received from the fleet and the priorities the FRA has advocated for over several years. 

In addition to tour lengths, the Navy is responding to Sailor feedback on everyday quality of life. The unpopular Gold PT uniform will be phased out in favor of a new blue-on-blue moisture-wicking uniform by 2027, a change requested by the deckplate to improve comfort and utility. While these updates may seem minor, they represent a broader effort to modernize the Navy’s culture and respond to the actual needs of service members. The FRA believes these practical reforms will yield meaningful improvements in morale. 

Retention is a matter of national security. By shortening sea tours and improving daily life for Sailors, the Navy can protect its most valuable asset: its people.  

Claims Backlog Decline
On February 23, 2026, Secretary Collins announced that the VA disability claims backlog has fallen below 100,000 for the first time in six years. This represents a staggering 63% reduction since early 2025, signaling a period of record efficiency within the Veterans Benefits Administration. The achievement is a testament to the increased focus on automation and staffing dedicated to serving the nation's veterans who have waited too long for their claims to be processed. 

This milestone is attributed to increased staffing levels and the implementation of automated processing for certain presumptive conditions. While the backlog reduction is a positive development, the FRA remains focused on the quality of these adjudications. Efficiency must be balanced with accuracy to ensure that complex claims are not overlooked in the rush to clear the queue or meet internal performance metrics. 

As we move toward the FY27 budget cycle, the FRA will advocate for continued funding of the VA’s IT infrastructure and automated systems. However, we will also push for enhanced training for claims processors to handle the nuance of maritime service records. The goal is to maintain the backlog below the 100,000 mark while ensuring every Shipmate receives the full rating and compensation they have earned through their service to this nation. 

Shipmate Memories
The FRA’s 12-month partnership with PCI is officially live, capturing the personal legacies of our members for a commemorative 100th-anniversary oral history book. This project, "Shipmate Memories," follows the success of the 2023 Centennial project and aims to preserve the impact of the Sea Services on the lives of our members. Our collective history is the foundation of our advocacy, and these stories ensure our legacy lives on. 

The project is designed to collect remarkable experiences, from historic deployments to the lifelong friendships formed through FRA branches. Many stories from the initial 2023 launch, which collected over 5,000 oral histories, have already been printed in a commemorative volume. This new phase ensures that the stories of the next generation of Shipmates are also archived for the future, providing a complete picture of the Sea Service experience across the decades. 

This project also serves a vital administrative function by helping the FRA update branch contact information to ensure members remain connected. PCI staff are working to ensure that members who may have moved or lost touch with their branches are brought back into the fold. This is a "no-cost" project for the Association, funded entirely by members who choose to purchase the commemorative book or FRA-branded merchandise, keeping our core funds dedicated to legislative action. 

Shipmates are encouraged to look for the official FRA/PCI postcard in the mail to schedule their interview and share their story. The deadline for story collection is September 4, 2026, with the final book slated for distribution in late spring 2027. This is a "first of its kind" project to honor the experiences and voices that define the Fleet Reserve Association, and we urge every member to take a moment to contribute to this historic effort.