Newsbytes October 17, 2025 
 

In this issue:
FRA Meets with International SOS During Shutdown
FRA Joins Pay Our Troops Act Press Conference
NED Reid Speaks at “Advocates in the Arena” Panel
Commissary Credit Card Relief During Shutdown
USS Arizona Memorial Reopens 

FRA Meets with International SOS During Shutdown
FRA, alongside other military and veteran service organizations (MSOs/VSOs) within The Military Coalition (TMC) Health Care Committee, recently met with the International SOS government affairs team to discuss ongoing operations and updates amid the current government shutdown. 

International SOS, which manages overseas health care contracts for both military and veteran beneficiaries, assured the committee that it continues to work closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure uninterrupted access to care. The organization’s goal is to maintain smooth operations for overseas providers and minimize any disruption to essential medical services. 

However, International SOS officials noted that overseas contracts differ significantly from domestic agreements, making them more vulnerable to operational and logistical challenges as the shutdown continues. These complications could have serious implications for service members, veterans, and their families stationed abroad. 

In light of these concerns, FRA is urging Congress to work together to fully reopen and fund the federal government to safeguard critical health care services for America’s military and veteran communities worldwide. 

FRA Joins Pay Our Troops Act Press Conference.
The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) joined Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and other leading veteran and military service organizations at a joint press conference at the Reserve Organization of America (ROA) headquarters to address the harmful effects of the ongoing government shutdown on service members, veterans, their families, and survivors. 

Participants emphasized the urgent need for Congress to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution or a full budget, as well as the Pay Our Troops Act, to ensure uninterrupted pay and essential services for those who serve. 

While the administration has provided temporary funding to cover the October 15 military paychecks, uncertainty remains about future pay periods and essential benefits if the shutdown continues. 

FRA is urging Congress to act immediately to reopen and fully fund the federal government. No service member, veteran, or family should face financial insecurity or uncertainty about their earned benefits due to partisan gridlock. Support The Pay Our Troops Act:
bit.ly/4pLwBtD

NED Reid Speaks at “Advocates in the Arena” Panel
National Executive Director (NED) Phillip Reid will be representing the Association as a panelist at the upcoming event, “Advocates in the Arena: Shaping the Total Force, Caring for Veterans, and Supporting Families.”

The session will take place on Saturday, October 18, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Reserve Organization of America (ROA) Headquarters on Capitol Hill.

This important discussion will bring together leading voices from across the military and veterans advocacy community to examine how legislation and policy continue to impact service members, veterans, and their families.

NED Reid will highlight the Association’s ongoing legislative efforts to strengthen benefits, protect pay and compensation, and ensure access to quality health care for sea service members, past, present and future. His participation highlights FRA’s continued leadership in advocating for policies that uphold the well-being and readiness of the total force and their families.

FRA encourages members and partners in the military community to follow this event as advocates unite to share insights and strategies that shape the future of military and veteran policy.

Commissary Credit Card Relief During Shutdown
As the government shutdown continues, service members and their families are receiving some much-needed financial relief through a new 90-day, zero-interest offer on the Military Star card when used at military commissaries. The initiative, announced on October 6, is designed to ease the financial strain many military households are facing during the funding lapse. 

According to Lee Kelley, principal director in the Office of Military Community and Family Policy, there has already been a sharp increase in the number of families using their Military Star cards at commissaries. Within just eight days of the announcement, commissary sales made with the card jumped by 13.9% compared to the same period last year, said Julie Mitchell, spokesperson for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which manages the program. 

How the Relief Program Works 

The zero-interest, no-payment offer applies to commissary purchases made between October 1–31, 2025. 

Both existing and new Military Star cardholders are eligible. 

No interest or payments are required for the first 90 days on those purchases. 

After 90 days, no back interest is applied, though standard rates will resume on any remaining balance. 

The current Military Star card interest rate is 14.24%, significantly lower than the 2025 retail average of 30.14%, according to Bankrate.com. 

Where the Card Can Be Used 

The Military Star card is accepted at: 

All military exchanges and their online stores 

Commissaries 

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities 

On-base retail locations and eateries 

Payments made on the card are first applied to balances with the highest interest rate, ensuring commissary purchases under this special offer remain interest-free for the 90-day period. 

Who’s Eligible 

Eligible Military Star cardholders include: 

Active-duty, Guard, and Reserve personnel 
Retirees and their families 
Survivors 
Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans 
Other qualified beneficiaries 

USS Arizona Memorial Reopens 
Shuttle boat service to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor has officially resumed, marking the completion of several months of vital preservation work. 

According to Pacific Historic Parks, shuttle boats are now operating every 15 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, providing visitors renewed access to one of America’s most solemn and historic sites. Free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Pacific Historic Parks Audio Tour Desk at the visitor center. 

The restoration project, led by Navy contractors in coordination with the National Park Service, focused on removing two deteriorating mooring platforms that had been attached to the battleship since World War II salvage operations. The platforms, once used to anchor ships during the recovery effort, had shifted over time and posed a threat to the Arizona’s hull. 

The reopening comes amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has caused widespread closures across the National Park System. To ensure continued public access, Pacific Historic Parks, together with the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, provided emergency funding to sustain operations at Pearl Harbor National Memorial. 

Originally dedicated in 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial honors the 1,177 crew members who lost their lives during the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The remains of more than 900 sailors and Marines still rest within the sunken battleship, serving as a powerful reminder of sacrifice and resilience. Nearly two million visitors pay their respects at the site each year. 

FRA commends the ongoing efforts to preserve this sacred memorial and ensure that future generations can continue to honor those who gave their lives in defense of the nation.