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Tom Philpott
Tom Philpott has been breaking news for and about military people since 1977. After service in the Coast Guard, and 17 years as a reporter and senior editor with Army Times Publishing Company, Tom launched "Military Update," his syndicated weekly news column, in 1994. "Military Update" features timely news and analysis on issues affecting active duty members, reservists, retirees and their families. Tom also edits a reader reaction column, "Military Forum." The online "home" for both features is Military.com.
Tom's freelance articles have appeared in numerous magazines including The New Yorker, Reader's Digest, and Washingtonian. His critically-acclaimed book,Glory Denied, on the extraordinary ordeal and heroism of Col. Floyd "Jim" Thompson, the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, is available in hardcover and paperback.
House Panel Rejects Pay Cap, Most TRICARE Hikes
Tom Philpott | May 23, 2013
Even as defense budgets drop like a rock and the Joint Chiefs urge Congress to spread some of the fiscal pain across personnel accounts, the House armed services subcommittee on military personnel has said "No." On Wednesday, the panel unanimously rejected the Obama administration's call to cap the 2014 military pay raise at one percent versus ... more
DoD Has Yet to Recognize Same Sex Marriages
Tom Philpott | Nov 29, 2012
Married Gays, Lesbians Still Viewed as ‘Single' By Military With repeal last year of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law, many military people, including senior leaders, assumed that married gay and lesbian couples had gained not only job security but also equality in allowances, benefits and access to family support programs. That assumption is wron... more
Coburn, McCain Sway Senate to Bigger Rx Fees
Tom Philpott | Dec 06, 2012
Late-hour speeches by Republican Sens. Tom Coburn (Okla.) and John McCain (Ariz.) on runaway military health costs led the Senate Tuesday to shelve a defense bill amendment that would have spared family members and retirees more burdensome co-pays on drug prescriptions filled off base. The timing of their opposition, in the last hours of consid... more
Bigger Rx Fees, Free Vaccines, and the 'CRSC Fix'
Tom Philpott | Dec 13, 2012
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has urged House-Senate conferees negotiating final details of the 2013 defense authorization bill to support the Obama administration's "full proposal" for hiking drug co-pays on military family members and retirees. The higher fees, which would nearly triple out-of-pocket costs for brand-name prescriptions at TRI... more
Housing Allowance Stateside to Rise 3.8%
Tom Philpott | Dec 20, 2012
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) paid to about one million service members living off base in the United States will rise by an average of 3.8 percent Jan. 1, nearly double the average two percent hike of last year. How BAH recipients fare as individuals will vary by pay grade and assignment area. BAH rates are rising, or at least staying leve... more