Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said on Tuesday he hopes the Quadrennial Defense Review turns into a Defense Department plan for 2023, much like one underway right now for the Air Force. It’s important for the individual services to have the debates, but then DOD needs to fund the priorities and get going, said Welsh at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference. Maj. Gen. Steven Kwast, the Air Force’s QDR director, echoed that sentiment later in the day. However, Kwast said long-time followers of the QDR might be a disappointed this year. “It’s going to be something a little unexpected,” said Kwast. “In the past, it was deep and it covered every subject and was extensive. Then, it was turned into a nice glossy that was usually ignored by Congress,” he said. This year, though, with so much fiscal uncertainty, the review will be more focused. “We will not take a full year. The deep work will happen over the next few months,” said Kwast, who said the plan is to deliver the QDR to Congress by February.
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…

