Military nurses have an unwavering commitment to advancing our health and wellness to ensure that every service member is fit to fight, that our medical teams are trained and ready, and that our families receive the care they deserve. This week, we honor the strength and dedication of the extraordinary professionals who serve both our country and warfighters with unwavering courage. Whether they are on the frontlines, in field hospitals or at military medical centers around the world, their commitment to care under the most challenging conditions inspires us all.

Do you live in the Atlanta, Georgia or Tampa, Florida metropolitan area? Your TRICARE health plan options are about to expand. Starting in January 2026, TRICARE Prime Atlanta and TRICARE Prime Tampa options, a Competitive Plans Demonstration, will bring more choices to eligible beneficiaries. These options are administered by CareSource Military & Veterans. Enrollees will get care from CSMV’s network of primary and specialty care providers.

Do you live in the West Region? Do you have TRICARE Prime? You should know that the Defense Health Agency has extended the West Region referral approval waiver through June 30. TRICARE-authorized specialty care providers don’t need to wait for TriWest Healthcare Alliance to approve referrals issued by your primary care manager before providing outpatient care.

Do you currently live in the TRICARE West Region? Do you pay for your TRICARE coverage using a bank electronic funds transfer, credit card, or debit card? If you haven’t done so already, you must securely provide your payment information to the West Region contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, by April 30. If you haven’t submitted payment to TriWest by April 30, you and your family members will be disenrolled from your TRICARE plan on May 1. This disenrollment is retroactive to your paid-through date.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kevin Renteria-Maldonado, a bioenvironmental technician, helps store medications at the 6th Medical Group Drive-Thru Pharmacy on MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 30, 2024. The pharmacy opened Sept. 26 to process prescriptions and prevent further delays in care after Hurricane Helene spurred base-wide closures. The team processed over 1.5K prescriptions in six hours.

A renewed spirit and avidity to resume the life she previously had consumed Senior Airman Matilyn Million as she closed her most difficult chapter. On Sept. 18, 2023, Million underwent her 12th and final chemotherapy treatment in Tampa, Florida.

Instructors assigned to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Maryland, taught 42 service members and civilians how to medically manage casualties through the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Dec. 6-8.

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen from the 6th Medical Group began redistributing doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on Sept. 9, 2021. This comes after the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum on Aug. 23, 2021, mandating all active duty personnel to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.