On the Radar: 2026 BAH Rates, Defense Bill & Army-Navy Game

Here's what's on the radar this week in military life. The new 2026 BAH rates are here, increasing about 4.2% on average. The official numbers released Thursday were identical to the tables that were published and then removed from the DTMO website the day before. Here's what we noticed. Some big jumps in mid-sized markets and drops in places like Maui, the Florida Keys, and parts of the Sun Belt. But remember, if you're already stationed somewhere, your BAH will not go down thanks to rate protection. See what it means for you and your family at mybaseguide.com. Other big news coming out of Washington this week, the House has passed the $900 billion 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with bipartisan vote of 312 to 112. So what's in? A 3.8% pay raise, quality of life upgrades, and big moves on Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. What's out? Right to repair, expanded IVF coverage, DEI protections, and contractor price gouging safeguards. The bill now heads to the Senate where approval is expected next week with little debate. And of course, it's Beat Army Week. I mean, the Army-Navy game, America's game, kicks off on Saturday. In addition to bragging rights, the Commander-in-Chief's trophy is on the line. And no matter who you're cheering for, you are not going to want to miss our interview with West Point alum and current Philadelphia Eagle, a Super Bowl champ, Brett Toth on his experience. And we also chatted with Rylan Tui this week. You've probably seen his work, Nap Town Funk, We Give a Ship, We've Got Big Decks, among others. He is the Naval Academy grad who changed the game when it comes to Army-Navy spirit spots. So who will sing second? We will find out. That's your briefing. Follow my base guide and Veteran Life so you never miss what's on the radar.