The Southeastern European Defense Ministerial met this week in Washington, D.C., agreeing to deploy forces to Afghanistan to participate in a six-month peacekeeping mission. NATO had requested SEDM to provide troops to assume the mission as the headquarters of the Kabul Multinational Brigade of the International Security Assistance Force in the country. All of the group’s defense ministers voted to support the upcoming mission, which will begin in February. Ukraine was also formally admitted to SEDM, joining Italy, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Croatia.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…

