USS Chung-Hoon DDG 93 Ombudsman

♻️ Reuse. Save. Repeat.

Understanding your TRICARE coverage shouldn't feel overwhelming.

The new TRICARE Plans Overview Fact Sheet provides a simple, easy-to-read breakdown of available health plan options, how to access care, and key differences between plans—all in one place. Whether you're new to military life, preparing for a PCS, or just need a refresher, this resource can help you make informed healthcare decisions for your family.

Check it out here: https://buff.ly/wmY6lfZ

Have you ever found TRICARE confusing? What's one thing you wish someone had explained sooner?

Food insecurity should never be something our military and veteran families face alone. 💚

This Saturday, Courage to Call and Feeding San Diego are coming together to provide free food distribution for active duty military, veterans, guard, reservists, and their families.

📍 9465 Farnham St., San Diego, CA 92123
🗓 Saturday, May 23, 2026
⏰ Distribution begins at 9:45 AM
✔ Walk ups welcome
✔ First come, first served
✔ Military/Veteran ID required

If you or someone you know could benefit from additional support, we encourage you to stop by. Community starts with showing up for one another.

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/GNXBKMWKpN

Thank you to our partners at Feeding San Diego for helping us serve our military community. 💚

Happy Mother's Day from our Ohana to yours

For all mothers who serve, are mothers of those who serve, or mothers supporting those who serve, Happy Mother’s Day. Imua e na Koa Kai.

Tomorrow is THE BIG GAME LX WATCH PARTY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 | 2:30 PM | $20
WATERFRONT RECREATION CENTER, BLDG. 45

Watch the biggest game of the year on the big screen with great food, fun halftime games, and fellow fans. Cost includes appetizer sampler and fountain drink!

Check out Naval Base San Diego's February 2026 calendar. All events and activities are open to all ID holders, including family and guests (unless otherwise stated).

Please visit www.navylifesw.com/nbsdcr for more event and activity information.

If you’re military-connected and thinking “okay but what’s next?” - this one’s for you.

SDSU’s Military & Veteran Program + the Troops to Engineers Program are teaming up to bring military-connected students and job seekers face-to-face with employers across San Diego.

📍 SDSU MVP Career Expo
🗓 Feb 10 | 10am–2pm
📍 Montezuma Hall

🔗 https://vist.ly/4q93k

Hey there! We hope everyone is starting this new year with a great start. Here’s a great resource!

🎉 Join Us for Our Free Food Market! 🎉

Courage to Call, in partnership with Feeding San Diego, is hosting a Free Food Distribution for all Military Active Duty, Veterans, Guard, Reservists, and their Families.

📅 Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:45 AM
📍 Location: 9465 Farnham St., San Diego, CA 92123

✔ Walk-Up
✔ First Come, First Served
✔ Military/Veteran ID Required
✔ Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/wznbYxf5gG

Let’s start the year by supporting our military community! 💙
For questions, email: [email protected]

⚠️ Government Reopens: What Military Families Need to Know

After more than six long weeks, the federal government has officially reopened. The funding bill signed late last night ends the longest shutdown in U.S. history. This brings relief across the force and with that a new phase of recovery as operations, pay, and services come back online.

Here’s what we know so far:

💰 Pay & Back Pay
Military pay is being prioritized, but Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) for November are not yet available in myPay. Mid-month pay for service members will be issued, though some deposits may be delayed depending on how quickly the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) processes payroll across the services.

Pay for federal employees will be more agency specific. Reports vary, but some agencies anticipate the first deposits to begin this week as payroll systems restart but others are saying it could take more time. Last month, concerns were raised that some employees might not receive back pay. To prevent that, lawmakers included clear language in the new funding bill ensuring all federal employees will be paid for the shutdown period.

🏛️ Legislative Update
The House passed the continuing resolution on Wednesday evening, and the President signed it into law last night. The new measure funds some of the government through the end of next year, but only funds most of it - including the military - through January 30, 2026, setting up another potential showdown just after the holidays. Members of Congress have committed to negotiating a way forward, but recent history has shown us there is always the potential for another shutdown - so continue to plan accordingly.

🚚 PCS Moves & Travel
As Fiscal Year 2026 funds are released, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and official travel will begin resuming worldwide. However, this will not happen overnight. Civilian and military personnel offices face a backlog of orders and vouchers that accumulated during the shutdown. It may take several days to a few weeks for orders to be reissued and travel vouchers to be processed and paid. Families should stay in contact with their Transportation Office or Chain of Command for the latest updates.
Commercial travel is also expected to stabilize as Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration employees return to work. Airlines report that flight delays and cancellations should begin to decrease this week, particularly on domestic routes.

🪖 Readiness & Recovery
The shutdown has taken a measurable toll on military readiness. Training events, maintenance, and contracts were halted for more than a month, creating ripple effects that could take months to recover. According to defense analysts, rebuilding readiness will require additional funding, careful prioritization, and continued support for Guard and Reserve units that saw major disruptions to drill and training schedules.

Military families have also faced strain from the shutdown’s extended uncertainty. Missed paychecks, delayed orders, and suspended benefits have real impacts on morale and stability. MFAN continues working closely with partners, agencies, and advocates to ensure families receive the information and resources they need to move forward.

💙 A new chapter begins today.

The government may have reopened, but recovery takes time. Families across the force are still waiting for pay to process, orders to resume, and life to return to normal. MFAN will continue sharing verified updates, connecting families to trusted support, and telling the stories that remind our leaders what military life looks like behind the headlines.

We’re still here, but we need your story. The voices of military families matter most in moments like this. As the nation emerges from the longest government shutdown in history, leaders in Washington need to hear from real military families. When you share your experience and stories, it gives us the power to fight for better support and push for smarter solutions.

➡️ Share your story: milfam360.org

Honoring all who served past and present. "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them". 🌺