Author: Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH

  • 5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging, & Proven Ways to Treat Insomnia

    5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging, & Proven Ways to Treat Insomnia

    What should you do if an older person complains of insomnia, or is not sleeping well at night?

    Experts do believe that “normal aging” brings on some changes to sleep. (See this post for more on how sleep changes with aging.) Basically, older adults tend to get sleepy earlier in the evening, and tend to sleep less deeply than when they were younger.

    So it’s probably not realistic to expect that as you get older, you’ll sleep as long or as soundly as when you were younger.

    That said, although aging by itself does change sleep, it’s also quite common for older adults to develop health problems that can cause sleep disturbances. So if you’re older and aren’t sleeping well, you’ll want to make sure you’ve been checked for these. Figuring out what’s going on is always the first step in being able to improve things.

    And remember, getting enough good quality sleep helps maintain brain health, physical health, and mood.

    In this article, I’ll cover the top causes of sleep problems in older adults. I’ll also tell you about what approaches have been proven to work, to help treat insomnia and sleep problems in older adults.

    Last but not least, if you (or your older relative) have experienced the very common combination of waking up to pee at night and difficulty sleeping, I highly recommend listening to this podcast episode, which features a geriatrician who is an expert on this: 092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging.

    5 Common Causes of Sleep Disturbances in Older Adults

    1. Sleep disturbances due to an underlying medical condition 

    Although older adults do often suffer from what’s called “primary” sleep disorders, many sleep problems they experience are “secondary” sleep problems, meaning they are secondary to an underlying medical condition whose main symptoms are not sleep related.

    Common health conditions that can disrupt sleep in older adults include:

    • Heart and lung conditions which affect breathing, such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease, which causes heartburn symptoms and can be affected by big meals late at night
    • Painful conditions, including osteoarthritis
    • Urinary problems that cause urination at night; this can be caused by an enlarged prostate or an overactive bladder
    • Mood problems such as depression and anxiety
    • Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
    • Medication side-effects

    If an older person is having difficulty sleeping, it’s important to make sure that one of these common conditions isn’t contributing to the problem. Treating an underlying problem — such as untreated pain at night — can often improve sleep. It can also help to talk to a pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, to make sure that these aren’t contributing to insomnia.

    Alzheimer’s and related dementias pose special considerations when it comes to sleep, which I write about in this post: How to Manage Sleep Problems in Dementia.

    2. Snoring, Sleep Apnea, and other forms of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

    Sleep-related breathing disorders (“SRBD”; it’s also sometimes called sleep-disordered breathing) is an umbrella term covering a spectrum of problems related to how people breathe while asleep.

    Sleep apnea is a common condition which is important to diagnose since it’s been associated with many other health problems (especially in middle-aged adults). In sleep apnea, a person has frequent pauses in their breathing during sleep. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which the breathing pauses are due to obstructions in the breathing passages. OSA is often associated with snoring. A less common form is central sleep apnea, in which the breathing pauses are related to changes in the brain.

    How common it is: The likelihood of having sleep-disordered breathing disorders goes up with age. It’s also more common in men, and in people who are overweight. In one study of 827 healthy older adults aged 68, 53% were found to have signs of SRBD, with 37% meeting criteria for significant sleep apnea. Interestingly, most participants did not complain of excess sleepiness.

    Why it’s a problem: Studies have found that untreated OSA is associated with poor health outcomes including increased mortality, stroke, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. However,  studies also suggest that these associations are strongest in people aged 40-70, and weaker in older adults. For older adults with symptomatic OSA, treatment can reduce daytime sleepiness and improve quality of life.

    What to do if you’re concerned: Helpguide.org’s page on sleep apnea has a useful list of common symptoms and risk factors for sleep apnea. You can also ask the doctor about further evaluation if you’ve noticed a lot of daytime sleepiness. To be diagnosed, you’ll need to pursue polysomnography (objective sleep testing) either in a sleep lab or with a home sleep testing kit.

    Whether or not you pursue an official diagnosis for SRBD, avoiding alcohol (and probably other sedatives) is likely to help.

    3. Restless leg syndrome (RLS) 

    This condition causes sensations of itching, crawling, or restlessness as a person is trying to fall asleep. The symptoms are unpleasant but not usually painful, and improve with movement. The exact biological underpinnings of this problem remain poorly understood, but it seems to be related to dopamine and iron levels in the brain. Most cases are not thought to be related to neurodegeneration. That said, RLS is associated with a small increased risk of eventually developing Parkinson’s disease. 

    How common it is: Studies suggest that 5-15% of the general population meet criteria for RLS, but only 2.5% of people are thought to have clinically severe symptoms. Poor health, older age, low iron levels, and being female are some risk factors. It also tends to run in families.

    Why it’s a problem: RLS has been associated with depression, anxiety, and sleep-onset insomnia. It can also get worse with certain types of medication.

    What to do if you’re concerned: Read up on RLS (Helpguide.org’s page seems very good) and then talk to a doctor. Generally, you don’t need polysomnography but you should probably be checked for low iron levels. You can read about the latest recommendations for RLS treatment here: Treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guideline (2025).

    4. Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS) 

    This condition is not easily treatable, but I’m listing it since I’ve discovered it’s much more common than I realized. PLMS causes intermittent movements while asleep, usually in the lower limbs. It can affect the toes, ankles, knees, or hips. The movements may or may not wake the person up; they can be annoying to a bed partner.

    How common it is: Studies estimate that 45% of older adults experience PLMS. Many such older adults are otherwise healthy. However, PLMS is also often associated with other sleep problems, such as restless legs and sleep apnea. Experts believe that it’s fairly rare for people to experience clinically significant sleep disturbances solely due to PLMS.

    Is it a problem? PLMS can be an issue mainly because it’s associated with other sleep problems. Most people who experience PLMS don’t notice it much, although some do find it bothersome. Only a few studies have attempted to treat isolated PLMS, and it’s not clear that there is a reliable way to treat this. 

    5. Insomnia 

    Insomnia means having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, despite the opportunity to do so (e.g. being in bed), and experiencing decreased daytime function because of this. I consider this the grand-daddy of all sleep problems, because it affects so many people in middle-age and older age.

    How common is it: Very common, and it becomes even more common with aging. One study found that 23-24% of older adults reported symptoms of insomnia.

    Why it’s a problem: Insomnia has been associated with anxiety, depression, fatigue, worse quality of life, cognitive decline, and a variety of other worse long-term health outcomes.

    What to do if you’re concerned: The main thing to do is assess the problem, by tracking sleep and using a sleep journal. And then seek help. For older adults, it is especially important to not simply rely on prescription or non-prescription (e.g. alcohol, over-the-counter pills) substances to help with sleep. That’s because all such substances worsen brain function and increase the risk of cognitive decline. (See “4 Types of Brain-Slowing Medication to Avoid if You’re Worried About Memory” for more details.)

    Proven Ways to Treat Insomnia in Older Adults

    Insomnia is a very common complaint among family caregivers and older adults. Fortunately, research has shown that it’s possible to treat insomnia effectively, although it does often take a little time and effort.

    Why Sleeping Pills Aren’t the Way to Go and Proven Ways to Taper Off Them

    Before I go into the recommended treatments, let me say it again: you should only use sedatives as a last resort. That’s because most medications that make people sleepy are bad for brain function, in both the short-term and long-term.

    Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam, alprazolam, diazepam, and temazepam (Ativan, Xanax, Valium, and Restoril) are also habit-forming. It can be a lot of work to wean people off these drugs, but research has proven it’s possible.

    For instance, in this randomized control study, many older adults who had been on benzodiazepines for sleep (mean duration of use was 19.3 years!) were able to taper off their sleeping pills. 63% were drug-free after 7 weeks. (Yeah!)

    Plus, in my own personal experience, it becomes extremely difficult once a person has started to develop a dementia such as Alzheimer’s, because then their behavior and thinking can get a lot worse if they are a little sleep-deprived or anxious. (In the short-term, almost everyone who tapers off of sedatives has to endure a little extra restlessness while the body adapts to being without the drug.) But letting them continue to use their benzodiazepine puts us in a pickle, because it also keeps them from having the best brain function possible, is associated with faster cognitive decline, AND increases fall risk.

    I hope you see what I’m getting at. If either you or someone you care for are taking benzodiazepines for sleep or anxiety, and you aren’t dealing with a dementia diagnosis, now is the time to do the work of trying to get off these drugs. (If you are dealing with a dementia diagnosis, you should still ask the doctors for help trying to reduce the use of these drugs, but it will all be harder. It’s still often possible to at least reduce the doses being used.)

    The key to successfully stopping sedatives for sleep is to very slowly taper the drug under medical supervision, plus add cognitive-behavioral therapy or other sleep-improving approaches if possible.

    For more on this topic, and for a handy (and research-proven) consumer handout that helps older adults stop benzodiazepines, see “How You Can Help Someone Stop Ativan.” This article also addresses the question of whether it’s ever okay for an older person to be on benzodiazepines.

    Now, let’s review some proven approaches to improving sleep in older adults.

    Proven ways to treat insomnia in older adults:

    • Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). This means special therapy that helps a person avoid negative thought patterns that promote insomnia, along with regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques, and other behavioral techniques that improve sleep. It has a good track record in research, as described in this NPR story. A new study also confirmed that CBT-I also benefits people who have insomnia combined with other medical or psychiatric conditions.
      • CBT-I can be done in person, and is also effective when done through online programs. Two online programs with proven clinical efficacy are Sleepio (see here for the study) and SHUTi.
      • CBT-I may incorporate several techniques such as stimulus control, and sleep restriction therapy. This Mayo Clinic page has a nice list of specific behavioral therapy components that might be included in CBT-I for insomnia.
    • Brief behavioral treatment of insomnia (BBTI). This is a shorter variant of CBT-I; it’s designed to be delivered in 4 weeks. It also has a good track record in research.
    • Mindfulness meditation. A randomized control trial published in April 2015 found that mindfulness meditation was more effective than “sleep hygiene,” to improve the sleep of older adults with a variety of sleep disturbances. Older adults assigned to mindfulness completed a weekly 2-hour, 6-session group-based course.
      • Local in-person courses to learn mindfulness are often available; search online to find one near you. They may also be available at certain senior centers.
      • An online version of the course used in the study is available here.
      • Several smartphone based apps propose to help people with mindfulness. They are reviewed in the scholarly literature here. I personally have used Headspace in the past and liked it.
    • Exercise. Exercise is often thought of as a treatment for insomnia, but the evidence seems weaker than for CBT-I. A review article published in 2012 concluded that the effect is modest. A more recent randomized trial comparing CBT-I to tai chi, for insomnia in older adults, found that CBT-I was more effective.
      • Although exercise is obviously very important to health, don’t rely on it as the primary way to try to solve sleep problems.
      • It’s also possible that exercise may help insomnia, but a fascinating small study suggested that in people with chronic insomnia, it can take a few months for exercise to have an effect on sleep.

    The above approaches should always be combined with good “sleep hygiene,” which includes:

    • Observing a consistent sleep schedule (e.g. consistent bedtime and wake up time)
    • Keeping the bedroom dark and cool
    • Limiting caffeine in the afternoon and evenings, limiting alcohol in the evening
    • Avoiding meals (especially large ones) late at night or close to bedtime
    • Avoiding TV, computers, and other forms of screentime at least an hour before bedtime

    Are there any medications or supplements that are safe and effective?

    Benzodiazepine drugs and sleeping medications such as zolpidem (brand name Ambien) are definitely risky for older adults, as they dampen brain function and worsen balance. If you or your loved one is depending on such medications to sleep, I recommend you get help tapering off, as described above. Most older adults can learn to sleep without these medications, although it can take a little effort to wean off the drug and learn to get to sleep without them.

    Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications that make people sleepy are also a problem, because most of them are “anticholinergic,” which means they interfere with a key neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. A very commonly used anticholinergic is diphenhydramine (brand name Benadryl), a sedating antihistamine that is included in most night-time analgesics, but many prescription medications are anticholinergic as well.

    Older adults should be very careful about using anticholinergics often for sleep, or really for anything. That’s because they worsen brain function, and in fact, chronic use of these medications has been associated with developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias. (For more on this, see 7 Common Brain-Slowing Anticholinergic Drugs Older Adults Should Use With Caution.)

    Virtually all sedatives are included in the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults.

    So those are the medications to avoid if possible.

    Now here are a few medications that seem to be less risky, and are sometimes used:

    • Melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone involved in the sleep-wake cycle. Several studies, such as this one, have found that melatonin improves the sleep of older adults and does not seem to be associated with any withdrawal symptoms. A 2023 review found that melatonin has a “favorable safety profile” in older adults. However, in the U.S. melatonin is sold as a poorly-regulated supplement, and studies have found that commercially sold supplements are often of questionable quality and purity. So melatonin may work less reliably here than in Europe.
    • Ramelteon: Ramelteon is a synthetic drug that mimics the effect of melatonin. A 2009 study reported that ramelteon did not impair middle-of-the-night balance or memory in older adults. However, its efficacy has been questioned; a 2014 meta-analysis concluded that the clinical effect appeared to be “small.”
    • Trazodone: Trazodone is an older weak anti-depressant that is mildly sedating. It has long been used by geriatricians as a “sleeping pill” of choice, as it is not anticholinergic and seems to be less risky than the alternatives. A small 2014 study found that trazodone improved sleep in Alzheimer’s patients.

    People are also now asking me fairly regularly about CBD and other cannabis products. The short answer is that use of these substances has really taken off in recent years (due to legalization in many states), however, we still don’t have much high-quality research to guide us. A recent review suggests that CBD-only products don’t help with sleep but other cannabis formulations might. The effect on falls and cognition is not yet known, so I don’t currently recommend cannabis as a “safe” sleep aid.

    For a detailed and technical review of sleep medicines in older adults, this article is good: Review of Safety and Efficacy of Sleep Medicines in Older Adults.

    And again, if you or your older relative has been bothered by the need to urinate at night, I also want to recommend this BHWA podcast episode: 092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging.

    For information on evaluating and managing sleep problems in people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, see this article: How to Manage Sleep Problems in Dementia.

    This article was last updated by Dr. K in September 2026. 

    This post was originally published on this site.

  • Dozens more troops added to tally of wounded in Iran war amid new strikes

    Dozens more troops added to tally of wounded in Iran war amid new strikes

    This post was originally published on this site.

    After a resumption in fighting over the last week, the Pentagon added dozens of wounded troops to its online tally of casualties in the Iran conflict. As of Friday, Sept. 4, 794 troops have been wounded in action since the start of the Iran war.

    The update comes two weeks after the Pentagon confirmed that the number of service members wounded in the war had surpassed 750.

    The 794 troops wounded in the conflict is the full number reported since the U.S. began its extended bombing campaign in Iran, though the Pentagon has begun to report troops injured since early July separately from those wounded in the war’s initial months. Officials now classify early casualties under Operation Epic Fury, while counting those injured more recently as having occurred in “overseas operations.” 

    The update comes after several Iranian attacks on American bases in the Middle East in the last five days, including on sites in Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait. The Pentagon does not report where casualties occurred, but does segment them by the service. All of the new reported casualties this week are from the Army. Of the 377 wounded in action since July 7, 346 are soldiers, along with 21 sailors and 10 airmen.

    The database does not say when casualties occurred or where. Injuries are often not immediately logged. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, can be detected days or weeks after the combat that causes them. Additionally, a full accounting of injuries from a combat incident can take several days to reach Pentagon casualty logs. 

    The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command did not respond to questions about the nature or timing of these newly reported casualties.

    After days of back-and-forth attacks in July, including strikes that killed U.S. service members in Jordan, fighting paused for most of August. Hostilities resumed on Aug. 30, shortly after CENTCOM declared mines had been cleared from shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. On Sunday, the U.S. military struck Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was preparing to launch sea mines into the waterway. Iran in turn fired missiles and drones at American positions in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates the next day.

    Iran claimed those attacks damaged two bases, although both the U.S. and Jordanian army said that missiles were either intercepted or fell on remote areas. The UAE also claimed to have intercepted a drone.

    The post Dozens more troops added to tally of wounded in Iran war amid new strikes appeared first on Task & Purpose.

  • Blount Island Command marks 40 years, renames road for founding commander Len Loving

    Blount Island Command marks 40 years, renames road for founding commander Len Loving

    Blount Island Command marked its 40th anniversary Sept. 4 by renaming Channel View Boulevard, the main road at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, for Col. Francis “Len” Loving, its inaugural commanding officer.

    Members of Loving’s family and four former commanding officers joined service members, civilians and contractors from across the military installation to rededicate the command colors and unveil the Len Loving Boulevard sign.

    The observance came 40 years after Biennial Maintenance Command was established Sept. 1, 1986. Redesignated Blount Island Command on May 11, 1989, the organization has supported Marine Corps operations from Desert Storm to the present and now generates, sustains, modernizes and distributes ready-for-issue, service-managed equipment for rapid employment worldwide.

    The day began with a motivational run through maintenance areas and along the Marine Corps facility’s 1,000-foot slipway. Later that morning, personnel gathered inside Clamshell 4, an expeditionary structure, for the ceremony.

    U.S. Marine Corps Col. David Merles, commanding officer of Blount Island Command, described the command’s history as an inheritance passed from one generation of the workforce to the next. Facing Loving’s family, former commanding officers and today’s workforce, he spoke beside the Len Loving Boulevard sign, concealed beneath a black cloth and framed by state flags and camouflage netting.

    “Unlike a title, which is earned, an inheritance is given,” Merles said. “It is passed down to us by those who have gone before us.”

    Merles said each generation can grow that inheritance through its intellect, talent and effort, tracing it back to Loving and the original team he led.

    Commissioned in 1960, Loving served multiple tours in Vietnam during a nearly 30-year Marine Corps career and received the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V.” He also commanded 3rd Recruit Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, and served as executive officer of Marine Barracks Washington.

    The Marine Corps began leasing 262 acres on Blount Island July 1, 1986, for maritime prepositioning. Two months later, Loving took command of the newly established Biennial Maintenance Command and helped turn the concept into an operational capability.

    Loving brought his wife, Suzie, to Blount Island about a month after they married.

    “I thought, ‘He’s got to be out of his mind,’” she said. “There was nothing here except sand, lots of sand, this one little road and that big blue building. Now it’s a real base.”

    The model allowed Marines to deploy and integrate with equipment already positioned in theater rather than move every vehicle, weapon system and supply item from the United States.

    The approach proved its value during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, when the 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade used equipment already positioned in theater to establish defensive positions rapidly in Saudi Arabia, reducing demand on strategic lift.

    Blount Island Command’s official lineage later recorded participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve, along with crisis response and humanitarian assistance missions in the Philippines, Somalia, Haiti and elsewhere.

    The rededicated command colors carry streamers recognizing national defense, expeditionary service and campaigns in Southwest Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

    As prepositioning expanded, the Marine Corps acquired more than 1,100 acres on Blount Island in 2004 and established Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island Nov. 21, 2006. The installation provides the infrastructure, workforce and maritime access that support Blount Island Command’s mission.

    Today, the Marine Corps’ global positioning network links afloat and ashore prepositioning programs with sustainment nodes and distribution pathways. The command keeps service-managed equipment properly configured, accountable and ready for issue, helping position combat capability closer to potential operating areas while reducing reliance on strategic lift.

    Merles credited successive generations of the workforce with surging production for maritime prepositioning ships, expanding prepositioning in Norway, deploying personnel during combat operations and helping establish shore-based nodes in the Pacific.

    “Our Corps has put its prepositioning mission on the backs of Blount Island’s workforce,” Merles said. “Blount Island — always forward, always ready — has always punched above its weight class.”

    Loving continued serving veterans after retiring from the Marine Corps, spending nearly 15 years leading Jacksonville’s Five Star Veterans Center and helping veterans facing homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and addiction.

    He died June 9 at age 87.

    “He was a great Marine but a better person,” Suzie Loving said. “He cared about everybody that he came across.”

    Merles renamed the road from the military installation’s main gate to Blount Island Command headquarters Len Loving Boulevard during the Sept. 4 ceremony.

    Suzie Loving said her husband was modest and never sought recognition, but she believed the road would keep his name connected to the command he helped establish.

    “They’ll say, ‘I’m going to take Len Loving Boulevard’ or ‘You take Len Loving Boulevard,’” she said. “Everyone will remember Loving because it’s such an unusual name.”

    She encouraged today’s workforce to consider how work that appears modest now can grow into something much larger.

    “Remember, when he first came here, it was nothing,” she said. “Something that might seem small now, that you’re working on today, could be huge later on for Blount Island, for the Marines, for America.”

    This post was originally published on this site

  • America wants the hero, not the human

    America wants the hero, not the human

    “We support our troops”: Some call it patriotism. I call it a hollow slogan.

    It was introduced to make civilians feel comfortable with what the military asks of its service members, shifting focus from the human beings carrying the weight to the audience watching them carry it.

    America loves the perfect military family hanging in photos around the world: a service member reuniting with a supportive spouse and resilient kids — all smiles, happy tears and beautifully curated.

    America kills to see a happy homecoming. We watch from the safety of our couches as loved ones run to embrace their hero.

    I’ve lived that photo. I am that supportive wife who is proud of this life and its honorable purpose. My husband looks good in his flight suit, and my kids are strong as hell.

    The issue isn’t the photo; it’s what exists outside the frame. The reality lives in the go-bag in the closet, tearful goodbyes, moldy base housing, paychecks stretched thin, deteriorating mental health and the solo-parenting that spouses do every day.

    The photo op can’t hold it.

    The reality lives within the human beings inside those uniforms: the service member who is scared, exhausted or living with post-traumatic stress disorder; the children who don’t understand; and the spouse who is angry because she has skin in the game.

    We’ve decided the image of the hero is more important than the human wearing the uniform. The support is loud until they step out of the frame. The second they show exhaustion, fear or disagreement, support turns into silence, or worse, an accusation: “You signed up for this.”

    Yes, we did, and proudly. But nobody signed up to have their basic humanity stripped away to become America’s pretty patriotism prop.

    The second a service member says, “I am exhausted,” “My mental health is failing,” or “This policy is broken,” their limits become an inconvenience, and they are written off as a threat to morale. When a spouse speaks up about mold or destructive deployment schedules, she is framed as “ungrateful” and warned she’ll ruin her partner’s career. The institution offers performative “help” through commissions far removed from daily realities, while kids become collateral damage in a system that values silence over empathy.

    The proof is in the current events section of every government-run newspaper. It’s just not the story the institution wants you to hear.

    When asked if the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was getting too long, the response was, “Not nearly long enough.” When sailors and families raised legitimate alarms about mental health, leadership brushed it off, managed optics and expected everyone to endure. When independent press like Stars and Stripes exposes messy realities, they’re handled — shattering the illusion that service members are lethal war machines, rather than humans with limits.

    When active-duty officers like Major Jason Watson raise their voice on the Capitol steps, leadership doesn’t ask why; they immediately condemn. Challenging broken policy is treated as a personal insult to fragile leadership that cares more about rank and optics than humanity. By hyper-focusing on protocol, leadership hands itself a convenient shield: It’s easier to court-martial a man than answer the uncomfortable questions he brought with him.

    Which brings me back to the man in the flight suit.

    My loyalty belongs to my husband, not an institution that sees him as a disposable asset, nor a leadership pushing a toxic narrative over well-being. My loyalty is to the human who willingly puts on that suit and honors his oath.

    Loving my husband and being a proud military spouse does not mean silent compliance. It fuels the fire because my name sits next to his on our marriage certificate, and it’s the very reason I refuse to be quiet.

    I can honor his service and still look military leadership in the eye and ask, “What are you doing to him?”

    What happens to him directly impacts our family, and I refuse to let his humanity be a bargaining chip for a public relations campaign.

    If America and the Department of Defense truly want to “support our troops,” they must start taking responsibility for inconvenient consequences. Stop demanding the perfect military family and start acknowledging the human beings inside the uniform; their limits, fears, exhaustion and truth.

    Debunking the war machine and seeing soldiers as human beings is the absolute minimum. Human acknowledgment isn’t simply “the right thing to do”; it’s how a successful military culture is created. When a leader chooses humanity over optics, a foundation is built on genuine trust rather than quiet burnout.

    Maybe then service members and families would willingly choose 20 years instead of walking away. After all, you can only push someone to their limit before they jump ship.

    Alexa LeCureux is a military spouse and writer who explores the complexities of service, patriotism and family life in the armed forces. She has spent over a decade supporting her husband’s career, first as a loadmaster and more recently as an Air Force KC-135 pilot, while raising their children in military communities across the United States and overseas. Her writing reflects the lived experience of military families and the quiet weight of life behind the uniform.

    This post was originally published on this site.

  • America wants the hero, not the human

    America wants the hero, not the human

    “We support our troops”: Some call it patriotism. I call it a hollow slogan.

    It was introduced to make civilians feel comfortable with what the military asks of its service members, shifting focus from the human beings carrying the weight to the audience watching them carry it.

    America loves the perfect military family hanging in photos around the world: a service member reuniting with a supportive spouse and resilient kids — all smiles, happy tears and beautifully curated.

    America kills to see a happy homecoming. We watch from the safety of our couches as loved ones run to embrace their hero.

    I’ve lived that photo. I am that supportive wife who is proud of this life and its honorable purpose. My husband looks good in his flight suit, and my kids are strong as hell.

    The issue isn’t the photo; it’s what exists outside the frame. The reality lives in the go-bag in the closet, tearful goodbyes, moldy base housing, paychecks stretched thin, deteriorating mental health and the solo-parenting that spouses do every day.

    The photo op can’t hold it.

    The reality lives within the human beings inside those uniforms: the service member who is scared, exhausted or living with post-traumatic stress disorder; the children who don’t understand; and the spouse who is angry because she has skin in the game.

    We’ve decided the image of the hero is more important than the human wearing the uniform. The support is loud until they step out of the frame. The second they show exhaustion, fear or disagreement, support turns into silence, or worse, an accusation: “You signed up for this.”

    Yes, we did, and proudly. But nobody signed up to have their basic humanity stripped away to become America’s pretty patriotism prop.

    The second a service member says, “I am exhausted,” “My mental health is failing,” or “This policy is broken,” their limits become an inconvenience, and they are written off as a threat to morale. When a spouse speaks up about mold or destructive deployment schedules, she is framed as “ungrateful” and warned she’ll ruin her partner’s career. The institution offers performative “help” through commissions far removed from daily realities, while kids become collateral damage in a system that values silence over empathy.

    The proof is in the current events section of every government-run newspaper. It’s just not the story the institution wants you to hear.

    When asked if the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was getting too long, the response was, “Not nearly long enough.” When sailors and families raised legitimate alarms about mental health, leadership brushed it off, managed optics and expected everyone to endure. When independent press like Stars and Stripes exposes messy realities, they’re handled — shattering the illusion that service members are lethal war machines, rather than humans with limits.

    When active-duty officers like Major Jason Watson raise their voice on the Capitol steps, leadership doesn’t ask why; they immediately condemn. Challenging broken policy is treated as a personal insult to fragile leadership that cares more about rank and optics than humanity. By hyper-focusing on protocol, leadership hands itself a convenient shield: It’s easier to court-martial a man than answer the uncomfortable questions he brought with him.

    Which brings me back to the man in the flight suit.

    My loyalty belongs to my husband, not an institution that sees him as a disposable asset, nor a leadership pushing a toxic narrative over well-being. My loyalty is to the human who willingly puts on that suit and honors his oath.

    Loving my husband and being a proud military spouse does not mean silent compliance. It fuels the fire because my name sits next to his on our marriage certificate, and it’s the very reason I refuse to be quiet.

    I can honor his service and still look military leadership in the eye and ask, “What are you doing to him?”

    What happens to him directly impacts our family, and I refuse to let his humanity be a bargaining chip for a public relations campaign.

    If America and the Department of Defense truly want to “support our troops,” they must start taking responsibility for inconvenient consequences. Stop demanding the perfect military family and start acknowledging the human beings inside the uniform; their limits, fears, exhaustion and truth.

    Debunking the war machine and seeing soldiers as human beings is the absolute minimum. Human acknowledgment isn’t simply “the right thing to do”; it’s how a successful military culture is created. When a leader chooses humanity over optics, a foundation is built on genuine trust rather than quiet burnout.

    Maybe then service members and families would willingly choose 20 years instead of walking away. After all, you can only push someone to their limit before they jump ship.

    Alexa LeCureux is a military spouse and writer who explores the complexities of service, patriotism and family life in the armed forces. She has spent over a decade supporting her husband’s career, first as a loadmaster and more recently as an Air Force KC-135 pilot, while raising their children in military communities across the United States and overseas. Her writing reflects the lived experience of military families and the quiet weight of life behind the uniform.

    This post was originally published on this site.

  • America wants the hero, not the human

    America wants the hero, not the human

    “We support our troops”: Some call it patriotism. I call it a hollow slogan.

    It was introduced to make civilians feel comfortable with what the military asks of its service members, shifting focus from the human beings carrying the weight to the audience watching them carry it.

    America loves the perfect military family hanging in photos around the world: a service member reuniting with a supportive spouse and resilient kids — all smiles, happy tears and beautifully curated.

    America kills to see a happy homecoming. We watch from the safety of our couches as loved ones run to embrace their hero.

    I’ve lived that photo. I am that supportive wife who is proud of this life and its honorable purpose. My husband looks good in his flight suit, and my kids are strong as hell.

    The issue isn’t the photo; it’s what exists outside the frame. The reality lives in the go-bag in the closet, tearful goodbyes, moldy base housing, paychecks stretched thin, deteriorating mental health and the solo-parenting that spouses do every day.

    The photo op can’t hold it.

    The reality lives within the human beings inside those uniforms: the service member who is scared, exhausted or living with post-traumatic stress disorder; the children who don’t understand; and the spouse who is angry because she has skin in the game.

    We’ve decided the image of the hero is more important than the human wearing the uniform. The support is loud until they step out of the frame. The second they show exhaustion, fear or disagreement, support turns into silence, or worse, an accusation: “You signed up for this.”

    Yes, we did, and proudly. But nobody signed up to have their basic humanity stripped away to become America’s pretty patriotism prop.

    The second a service member says, “I am exhausted,” “My mental health is failing,” or “This policy is broken,” their limits become an inconvenience, and they are written off as a threat to morale. When a spouse speaks up about mold or destructive deployment schedules, she is framed as “ungrateful” and warned she’ll ruin her partner’s career. The institution offers performative “help” through commissions far removed from daily realities, while kids become collateral damage in a system that values silence over empathy.

    The proof is in the current events section of every government-run newspaper. It’s just not the story the institution wants you to hear.

    When asked if the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was getting too long, the response was, “Not nearly long enough.” When sailors and families raised legitimate alarms about mental health, leadership brushed it off, managed optics and expected everyone to endure. When independent press like Stars and Stripes exposes messy realities, they’re handled — shattering the illusion that service members are lethal war machines, rather than humans with limits.

    When active-duty officers like Major Jason Watson raise their voice on the Capitol steps, leadership doesn’t ask why; they immediately condemn. Challenging broken policy is treated as a personal insult to fragile leadership that cares more about rank and optics than humanity. By hyper-focusing on protocol, leadership hands itself a convenient shield: It’s easier to court-martial a man than answer the uncomfortable questions he brought with him.

    Which brings me back to the man in the flight suit.

    My loyalty belongs to my husband, not an institution that sees him as a disposable asset, nor a leadership pushing a toxic narrative over well-being. My loyalty is to the human who willingly puts on that suit and honors his oath.

    Loving my husband and being a proud military spouse does not mean silent compliance. It fuels the fire because my name sits next to his on our marriage certificate, and it’s the very reason I refuse to be quiet.

    I can honor his service and still look military leadership in the eye and ask, “What are you doing to him?”

    What happens to him directly impacts our family, and I refuse to let his humanity be a bargaining chip for a public relations campaign.

    If America and the Department of Defense truly want to “support our troops,” they must start taking responsibility for inconvenient consequences. Stop demanding the perfect military family and start acknowledging the human beings inside the uniform; their limits, fears, exhaustion and truth.

    Debunking the war machine and seeing soldiers as human beings is the absolute minimum. Human acknowledgment isn’t simply “the right thing to do”; it’s how a successful military culture is created. When a leader chooses humanity over optics, a foundation is built on genuine trust rather than quiet burnout.

    Maybe then service members and families would willingly choose 20 years instead of walking away. After all, you can only push someone to their limit before they jump ship.

    Alexa LeCureux is a military spouse and writer who explores the complexities of service, patriotism and family life in the armed forces. She has spent over a decade supporting her husband’s career, first as a loadmaster and more recently as an Air Force KC-135 pilot, while raising their children in military communities across the United States and overseas. Her writing reflects the lived experience of military families and the quiet weight of life behind the uniform.

    This post was originally published on this site

  • America wants the hero, not the human

    America wants the hero, not the human

    “We support our troops”: Some call it patriotism. I call it a hollow slogan.

    It was introduced to make civilians feel comfortable with what the military asks of its service members, shifting focus from the human beings carrying the weight to the audience watching them carry it.

    America loves the perfect military family hanging in photos around the world: a service member reuniting with a supportive spouse and resilient kids — all smiles, happy tears and beautifully curated.

    America kills to see a happy homecoming. We watch from the safety of our couches as loved ones run to embrace their hero.

    I’ve lived that photo. I am that supportive wife who is proud of this life and its honorable purpose. My husband looks good in his flight suit, and my kids are strong as hell.

    The issue isn’t the photo; it’s what exists outside the frame. The reality lives in the go-bag in the closet, tearful goodbyes, moldy base housing, paychecks stretched thin, deteriorating mental health and the solo-parenting that spouses do every day.

    The photo op can’t hold it.

    The reality lives within the human beings inside those uniforms: the service member who is scared, exhausted or living with post-traumatic stress disorder; the children who don’t understand; and the spouse who is angry because she has skin in the game.

    We’ve decided the image of the hero is more important than the human wearing the uniform. The support is loud until they step out of the frame. The second they show exhaustion, fear or disagreement, support turns into silence, or worse, an accusation: “You signed up for this.”

    Yes, we did, and proudly. But nobody signed up to have their basic humanity stripped away to become America’s pretty patriotism prop.

    The second a service member says, “I am exhausted,” “My mental health is failing,” or “This policy is broken,” their limits become an inconvenience, and they are written off as a threat to morale. When a spouse speaks up about mold or destructive deployment schedules, she is framed as “ungrateful” and warned she’ll ruin her partner’s career. The institution offers performative “help” through commissions far removed from daily realities, while kids become collateral damage in a system that values silence over empathy.

    The proof is in the current events section of every government-run newspaper. It’s just not the story the institution wants you to hear.

    When asked if the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln was getting too long, the response was, “Not nearly long enough.” When sailors and families raised legitimate alarms about mental health, leadership brushed it off, managed optics and expected everyone to endure. When independent press like Stars and Stripes exposes messy realities, they’re handled — shattering the illusion that service members are lethal war machines, rather than humans with limits.

    When active-duty officers like Major Jason Watson raise their voice on the Capitol steps, leadership doesn’t ask why; they immediately condemn. Challenging broken policy is treated as a personal insult to fragile leadership that cares more about rank and optics than humanity. By hyper-focusing on protocol, leadership hands itself a convenient shield: It’s easier to court-martial a man than answer the uncomfortable questions he brought with him.

    Which brings me back to the man in the flight suit.

    My loyalty belongs to my husband, not an institution that sees him as a disposable asset, nor a leadership pushing a toxic narrative over well-being. My loyalty is to the human who willingly puts on that suit and honors his oath.

    Loving my husband and being a proud military spouse does not mean silent compliance. It fuels the fire because my name sits next to his on our marriage certificate, and it’s the very reason I refuse to be quiet.

    I can honor his service and still look military leadership in the eye and ask, “What are you doing to him?”

    What happens to him directly impacts our family, and I refuse to let his humanity be a bargaining chip for a public relations campaign.

    If America and the Department of Defense truly want to “support our troops,” they must start taking responsibility for inconvenient consequences. Stop demanding the perfect military family and start acknowledging the human beings inside the uniform; their limits, fears, exhaustion and truth.

    Debunking the war machine and seeing soldiers as human beings is the absolute minimum. Human acknowledgment isn’t simply “the right thing to do”; it’s how a successful military culture is created. When a leader chooses humanity over optics, a foundation is built on genuine trust rather than quiet burnout.

    Maybe then service members and families would willingly choose 20 years instead of walking away. After all, you can only push someone to their limit before they jump ship.

    Alexa LeCureux is a military spouse and writer who explores the complexities of service, patriotism and family life in the armed forces. She has spent over a decade supporting her husband’s career, first as a loadmaster and more recently as an Air Force KC-135 pilot, while raising their children in military communities across the United States and overseas. Her writing reflects the lived experience of military families and the quiet weight of life behind the uniform.

    This post was originally published on this site.

  • Official who oversees Corps of Engineers named acting Army Secretary

    Official who oversees Corps of Engineers named acting Army Secretary

    This post was originally published on this site.

    The top civilian who oversees the Army Corps of Engineers was named the Acting Secretary of the Army following the sudden resignation of Dan Driscoll’s from the top Army post Monday.

    President Donald Trump posted to social media Thursday that Adam Telle would be elevated to the position as the Army’s top leader until a permanent replacement is found. In naming Telle, whose position as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) is a relatively minor role in the Army hierarchy, Trump passed over Driscoll’s second-in-command, Under Secretary of the Army Michael Obadal.

    “I am pleased to announce that Adam Telle, the current Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, will become Acting Secretary of the Army, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

    Shake-up in Army leadership

    Driscoll, an Army veteran, has given no public reason for his departure. In a statement this week on X, Driscoll said that “it has been an honor of a lifetime to serve as the Secretary of the Army.” Multiple outlets have reported long-standing tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While serving as the secretary, Driscoll pushed for overhauling the service’s structure, including widespread adoption of drones.

    The Trump administration has not formally nominated a replacement for Driscoll, who Driscoll is the second service secretary to depart this year. John Phelan was fired as Secretary of the Navy in the spring.

    Driscoll’s resignation comes amid a wider shakeup of Army leadership. In April, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was asked to step down. Gen. David Hodne, head of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, as well as the Chief of Chaplains of the Army, Maj. Gen. William Green, were also relieved. In June, Gen. Christopher Donahue, who led the Army in Europe and Africa, also announced his departure. This week, several Army officers had their names removed from a list of promotions. Multiple officers had their promotions to one-star ranks blocked this summer, for ties to George and Donahue, according to The Hill.

    Telle took interest in the firing of an Army engineer colonel

    Before being appointed to his role at the Pentagon, Telle spent two decades working as a staffer for Republican members of Congress and with the White House Office of Legislative Affairs in the first Trump administration.

    His official biography does not list any military experience.

    Telle has served as the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) since August 2025, a position that focuses on civil works projects inside the U.S. that are owned or overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers, including dams, lakes, and public waterways. The role’s “responsibilities include commercial navigation, flood and storm damage reduction, and permitting of activities under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act,” according to his official biography.

    Telle’s name appeared in an unusual press release in January that announced the command relief of a Corps of Engineers district commander. Col. Patrick Caukin, who led the Little Rock District in Arkansas, was dismissed in January for what a Corps press release said was a “loss of confidence in his ability to command.”

    But the announcement of Caukin’s relief was, unusually, issued in both Telle’s name and that of Caukin’s commander, and included a quote from Telle declaring that Caukin had been “dealt with.”

    The Army release did not detail why Caukin had been fired, but two Republican members of Congress released their own statement, tying Caukin’s dismissal to ongoing property disputes between Corps officials and private owners of waterfront properties around Corps-managed Table Rock Lake, a popular recreation and vacation reservoir outside Branson, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. The statement said Trump officials had dismissed Caukin to “rein in Corps enforcement at Table Rock Lake.”

    The post Official who oversees Corps of Engineers named acting Army Secretary appeared first on Task & Purpose.

  • Missouri River system storage declining, Gavins point winter releases set at minimum rate

    Missouri River system storage declining, Gavins point winter releases set at minimum rate

    OMAHA, NE – August runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa was 1.0 million acre-feet (MAF), 73% of average. Runoff was well below normal in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches due to dry soil moisture conditions and areas of below-normal precipitation. Runoff was above normal for the Oahe, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point reaches, and near normal in the Sioux City reach, mostly due to above-normal precipitation during parts of August.

    “August runoff was higher than forecast in the lower reaches of the upper Missouri River Basin above Sioux City due to late summer rainfall. In addition, rainfall below Gavins Point allowed the System reservoirs to maintain lower release rates while meeting the reduced navigation flow targets at all downstream locations,” said John Remus, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Missouri River Basin Water Management Division.
    “Runoff in the Fort Peck and Fort Peck to Garrison reaches continue to be well-below average due to long-term precipitation deficits and dry soil conditions in the upper Basin. The levels of the three upper reservoirs, Fort Peck, Garrison, and Oahe dropped about 1 to 2 feet in August, and System storage will continue to decline this fall,” Remus added.

    The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that over 83% of the Missouri River Basin is abnormally dry or in drought conditions. Drought conditions are expected to improve in Colorado, southern Wyoming, and western Nebraska and Kansas by the end of November as El Nino conditions strengthen.

    September runoff in the upper Basin is forecast to be well-below average, especially in the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches. The updated 2026 calendar year forecast for the upper Basin is 15.4 MAF, 60% of average. Average annual runoff for the upper Basin is 25.7 MAF.

    As of Sept. 1, the total volume of water stored in the System was 47.2 MAF, down 1.3 MAF during August. The updated reservoir studies indicate that the System storage is expected to be 43.8 MAF, approximately 12.3 MAF below the base of flood control, at the start of the 2027 runoff season.

    The Fort Peck release will be maintained at 7,000 cfs during the fall months and into early winter. The Garrison release will be reduced from 17,000 cfs to 13,000 cfs starting on Sept. 14.

    Navigation
    Gavins Point Dam will provide navigation flow support at the minimum-service level through the end of the navigation season at all four target locations (Sioux City, Omaha, Nebraska City, and Kansas City). The flow support season length will be shortened, ending November 15 at the mouth of the Missouri River. Flow targets may be missed to conserve water if there is no commercial navigation in a given reach.

    Fall Release Rate
    Gavins Point releases can be reduced to water supply release rates during extended droughts when the navigation flow support season ends earlier than December 1 per the Master Manual. Gavins Point releases may be reduced to the water supply release of 9,000 cfs for approximately two weeks prior to the winter release rate beginning on December 1. Downstream tributary flows will be monitored during this period, and releases will be adjusted as necessary if there is not sufficient flow downstream of Gavins Point.

    Winter Release Rate
    As per the criteria in the Master Manual, the winter release rate is determined based on the Sept. 1 System storage. Per Sept. 1 System storage, winter releases from Gavins Point Dam will be at least 12,000 cfs. In anticipation of the low winter releases, a letter will be sent in September to water users below Gavins Point Dam making them aware of the planned fall and winter releases and encouraging them to assess the risk to their facilities.

    Monthly Water Management Conference Calls for 2026:
    The September 2026 monthly conference call will be held Thursday, Sept. 10, to inform basin stakeholders of current weather and runoff forecasts and the planned operation of the reservoir system in the coming months. This will be the final scheduled call for 2026. Presentation materials will be available via webinar. The call is intended for Congressional delegations; Tribes; state, county and local government officials; and the media. It will be recorded in its entirety and made available to the public on our website at https://go.mil/mr-news. Slides accompanying the call will be available at:https://go.mil/mr-monthly-slides.

    Fall Public Meetings
    The Northwestern Division will host a series of public meetings during the last week of October. The dates and locations of the meetings are still being finalized.

    Reservoir Forecasts:

    Gavins Point Dam

    • Average releases past month – 26,400 cfs
    • Current release rate – 29,000 cfs (as of September 4)
    • Forecast release rate – 29,100 cfs (average September release)
    • End-of-August reservoir level – 1206.5 feet
    • Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 1207.5 feet
    • Notes: Releases will be adjusted as necessary to meet all downstream navigation targets.

    Fort Randall Dam

    • Average releases past month – 24,700 cfs
    • End-of-August reservoir level – 1355.6 feet
    • Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 1353.3 feet
    • Notes: Releases will be adjusted as necessary to maintain the desired reservoir elevation at Gavins Point.

    Big Bend Dam

    • Average releases past month – 25,500 cfs
    • Forecast average release rate – 24,300 cfs
    • Forecast reservoir level – 1420.6 feet

    Oahe Dam

    • Average releases past month – 25,900 cfs
    • Forecast average release rate – 24,500 cfs
    • End-of-August reservoir level – 1593.7 feet (down 2.3 feet since July 31)
    • Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 1591.3 feet

    Garrison Dam

    • Average releases past month – 17,300 cfs
    • Current release rate – 17,000 cfs
    • Forecast average release rate – reduce to 13,000 cfs by mid-September
    • End-of-August reservoir level – 1825.2 feet (down 2.2 feet since July 31)
    • Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 1823.8 feet

    Fort Peck Dam

    • Average releases past month – 6,900 cfs
    • Current release rate – 7,000 cfs
    • Forecast average release rate –7,000 cfs through the end of December
    • End-of-August reservoir level – 2223.0 feet (down 0.9 feet since July 31)
    • Forecast end-of-September reservoir level – 2221.8 feet

    The forecast reservoir releases and elevations discussed above are not definitive. Additional precipitation, lack of precipitation or other circumstances could cause adjustments to the reservoir release rates.

    Hydropower:
    The six mainstem power plants generated 762 million kWh of electricity in August. Typical energy generation for August is 1,000 million kWh. The power plants are projected to generate 7.1 billion kWh of electricity this year, compared to the long-term average of 9.3 billion kWh.
    To view the detailed three-week release forecast for the mainstem dams, go to https://go.mil/mr-3wk-fcast.

    This post was originally published on this site

  • Fort McCoy leaders hold September 2026 housing town hall; dozens attend

    Fort McCoy leaders hold September 2026 housing town hall; dozens attend

    More than 30 military family housing residents and community members attended a Fort McCoy Garrison Housing Town Hall Sept. 3 at the South Post Community Center to hear installation updates and share questions and concerns with Fort McCoy leaders.

    Attendees included Fort McCoy Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Kevin F. Meisler, commanding general of the 88th Readiness Division; Col. Sarah Fraticelli, commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Fort McCoy; Command Sgt. Maj. James Riddle, garrison command sergeant major; and other Fort McCoy housing, garrison and installation representatives.

    Housing town halls provide residents with a direct opportunity to engage with installation leaders and housing officials about matters affecting military families living on post. The events also provide Fort McCoy leaders an opportunity to hear directly from residents and provide updates about installation programs, services and upcoming changes.

    The September town hall continued a longstanding Fort McCoy effort to maintain open communication with housing residents. Fort McCoy has held housing town halls for years, with past meetings addressing housing maintenance and services, resident concerns, safety, community activities and installation changes.

    The format has evolved over time. In 2023, Fort McCoy held its first town hall following the transition to privatized housing, bringing together residents, garrison officials and representatives of Cadence Communities, Fort McCoy’s housing partner. In 2024, another resident town hall combined housing discussions with installation and winter-safety information. In 2025, Fort McCoy expanded its engagement approach by holding its first walking housing town hall, taking garrison and housing officials directly into the South Post neighborhood to speak with residents where they live.

    During the September 2026 meeting, Meisler highlighted several upcoming plans and changes affecting Fort McCoy and its housing community.

    Among the topics was the planned movement of 30 service members from Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to Fort McCoy. Meisler also discussed additional housing plans for the installation, training-related matters and efforts to improve cellular service on post.

    Other topics discussed during the town hall included school bus operations and local school district information, along with other issues of interest to military families living at Fort McCoy.
    Representatives from the Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR) also provided information about upcoming events and activities available to the Fort McCoy community.

    Housing town halls are an important part of Fort McCoy’s broader effort to maintain communication with military families and address issues affecting their quality of life. The meetings give residents a forum to ask questions directly, while allowing installation leaders to explain ongoing projects, upcoming changes and available services.

    The next Fort McCoy Garrison Housing Town Hall is planned for November 2026.

    The continued town hall schedule possibly reflects Fort McCoy’s commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with its housing residents as the installation continues to grow, adapt, and plan for the future.

    Fort McCoy’s motto beginning in 2026 is “Training the Total Force and Shaping the Future since 1909.” The installation’s mission: “Fort McCoy strengthens Total Force Readiness by serving as a training center, Mobilization Force Generation Installation, and Strategic Support Area enabling warfighter lethality to deploy, fight, and win our nation’s wars.”

    And Fort McCoy’s vision is, “To be the premier training center supporting the most capable, combat-ready, and lethal armed forces.”

    Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984.

    Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO. Also try downloading the My Army Post app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.

    Fort McCoy is also part of Army’s Installation Management Command where “We Are The Army’s Home.”

    This post was originally published on this site