2025 National Defense Authorization Act Passes House, Excludes Transgender Care for Minors

One of the most thrilling rivalries in collegiate athletics is the 

, when tradition and intense competitiveness collide. These two teams compete annually in a match that transcends football and symbolizes the honor and commitment of their respective military branches.

The Army-Navy game 2024 uniforms will honor a legendary period of Navy history, making it even more remarkable. In remembrance of the great Jolly Rogers, Navy Athletics and Under Armour announced the 2024 Army-Navy game suit. 

Players and fans alike will remember this year's battle even more because of these outfits, which honor the squadron's heroic acts and tradition.

What the Army-Navy Game 2024 Uniforms Will Look Like

The Army and Navy unveiled the new uniforms for the Army-Navy Game this season. What needs to be highlighted, though, is what the new uniforms stood for. In remembrance of the 

, the Black Knights will wear black uniforms with white markings when the teams take the field on December 14th. As part of their commemoration of World War II, the Midshipmen will also pay tribute to the Jolly Rogers, the most deadly fighter unit in naval aviation history.

The Black Knights' Army-Navy Game uniforms feature a helmet bearing the words "Screaming Eagles," a reference to the unit's now-iconic shoulder patch. In addition, they have the coppered Athena shield, an actual 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle patch, and an invasion star on the right shoulder. They also added markings similar to the ones the paratroopers used to identify their units during operations.

The Navy's uniform also gives a nod to the establishment of aircraft Squadron 17 by the U.S. Navy in 1943, when it first flew the F4U-1 Corsair aircraft. Lt. Cmdr. John T. Blackburn, its first commanding officer, wanted his squadron to have a pirate theme, so his sailors created the skull and crossbones symbol and called themselves the Jolly Rogers.

The Midshipmen will be wearing a uniform that closely resembles the color of the Jolly Rogers aircraft and a neckline that features the color of the Jolly Rogers emblem. Its collar stripe is the same as the one on the VF-17's tail fin edge. In addition to the Jolly Rogers stripe on the uniform sleeve, the unit's nine aircraft are represented by the nine chevrons on the pants legs.

The Jolly Rogers Aviation Unit Throughout History

Being the most deadly fighter unit in naval aviation history is a big feat that deserves to be honored through the Army-Navy game 2024 uniforms. The Jolly Rogers were founded in 1943 and continue to represent the U.S. Navy's traditions and high standards of professionalism. Their callsign is Victory, and their tagline is, "Fear the bones."

Over the last sixty-three years, the Skull and Crossbones have flown nine distinct types of fighter aircraft, making them the most recognizable and feared emblem in the world. The Skull and Crossbones made their first flight in January 1943 on the F4U Corsairs belonging to the VF-17, a Navy fighter squadron of World War II. The original Jolly Rogers had killed more than 150 people in the skies over the Pacific by the end of the war.

The Jolly Rogers was deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for ten months to assist maritime security operations, continuing the tradition of greatness and setting records within the organization. The record for the longest carrier deployment in the post-Cold War era was set during this 295-day deployment.

The Jolly Rogers spent its whole tour in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa areas of operations, leaving Norfolk in August 2022 and returning in April 2023. The men and women of VFA-103 and other squadrons took part in several exercises involving other countries and combat operations. This happened during this historic deployment to strengthen 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO)

 capabilities and prevent regional aggression.

The Jolly Rogers of VFA-103 is still a prime example of the professionalism and competence that have long been associated with Naval Aviation. The memory of the bones will live on for many years to come, as the Jolly Rogers emblem is proudly displayed on the tails of the most historically significant fighter squadron in all of Naval Aviation.

The Navy football team is honoring Jolly Rogers for the second time. The first one was at Philadelphia's Municipal Stadium, where the Mids defeated the Cadets 34–14 in 1962, while sporting helmets were modeled after Jolly Rogers.

All the Military Mascots in the U.S. Armed Forces

Don’t Let TRICARE Changes in 2025 Disrupt Your Care: Here's How to Protect Your Coverage

Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) - Moving Entitlements When PCSing

Army Navy Game 2024 Uniforms Revealed: Honoring the Jolly Rogers

Army-Navy Game Traditions That Every Fan Should Know

Get Up to $4,000 When PCSing With New Military Pet Relocation Reimbursement

How to Make $50,000 as an Air Force Pilot by Sept. 15, 2023

Major Changes Coming in 2025 to the Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program

Malmstrom AFB Cancer Concerns Grow with New Information Released

Every year, you have the chance to examine and update your health insurance coverage to better meet your needs during the TRICARE open season. During this time, qualified military personnel can sign up for, transfer, or modify their TRICARE health coverage. Your current coverage will last throughout the following year if no changes are made during this period.

You can make the changes that you want for your health insurance coverage on or before December 10. If this window is missed, updates will have to wait until the following open season or until a qualifying life event occurs. For the sake of your family's health and well-being, take the time to know the 

Upcoming Updates for the TRICARE Open Season

TRICARE is very important because it is a global healthcare program for military personnel, retirees, and their families. The deadline is December 10th if you wish to change your plan, such as switching from TRICARE Prime to TRICARE Select or vice versa.

You do not need to do anything if you are currently enrolled in a TRICARE plan and do not wish to make any changes. However, you should continue to inquire about any changes to TRICARE rates that might have an impact on you.

Missing the deadline during the TRICARE open season means that you'll have to wait until the following open season or until a qualifying life event occurs, such as a child's birth or adoption, a marriage or divorce, or a change in health insurance. Beneficiaries will need to contact their local TRICARE contractor personally due to restrictions on online choices through December 31st to update or change their plan.

Beginning next year, the TRICARE contracts will also change. One notable adjustment is the transfer of the West Region contract to 

. Humana Military will remain the contractor for the East Region. Nevertheless, six states are moving to the West Region from the East Region.

In four states, a small number of ZIP codes have been carved out, meaning that recipients would live in a different area than the rest of their states. Beneficiaries should look at provider directories, their region, and other information to make the best decision.

Active-duty service members, TRICARE for Life, and premium-based plans are exempt from the TRICARE open season. You can buy these premium-based programs at any time of year. However, only open enrollment or a qualifying life event allows plan changes for TRICARE Young Adults enrolled in either the prime or select options.

All these changes in the TRICARE plan come at a cost, as military and retiree households are expected to pay more for TRICARE in 2025. TRICARE premiums will increase, with the majority of increases falling between 2% and 3%. In 2024, costs increased by almost the same amount.

. The annual enrollment fees and deductibles for many TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select members will rise, while copayments for medical services will only slightly increase. The monthly charges for TRICARE Young Adult and Retired Reserve members will also see some of the largest rises next year.

The rates for the TRICARE dental program have already been changed as of November 1 due to modifications to TRICARE's contract with its dental program provider, and they will remain the same through February 2025. According to the news, the TRICARE pharmacy program's current expenses will last until the end of 2025.

The TRICARE "group" a member belongs to, established by the date of the service member's initial enlistment, can also have an effect on the overall cost. Those who joined the military prior to January 1, 2018, are in Group A, and those who joined after that date are in Group B.

TRICARE Select will rise from $355.92 to $364.92 for family plans and from $177.96 to $181.92 for individual plans for Group A retirees. Individual TRICARE Prime plans will increase from $363 to $372 per year, while family plans will increase from $726 to $744.

TRICARE Select will go up from $1,131 to $1,158.96 for family plans and from $438.96 to $579 for individual plans for Group B retirees (those who joined after January 1, 2018). The individual plan for TRICARE Prime will go from $426 to $438.96, and the family plan will go from $879 to $900.96. These fee adjustments will take effect in 2025.

If You Have TRICARE, You May Need to Call the DEERS Contact Number

The Complete Guide To TRICARE Young Adult Coverage

TRICARE Policy Changes Could Cause You to Pay More in 2025

TRICARE Open Season Ends Today: Secure Your Health Coverage for 2025

131st Bomb Wing – Missouri ANG

1st MSC

63rd RSC

7th MSC

81st RSC

88th RSC

99th RSC

9th MSC

Aberdeen Proving Ground

Air Force Academy

Altus AFB

Andersen AFB

Anniston Army Depot

Arnold AFB

Barksdale AFB

Beale AFB

Brooke Army Medical Center

Buckley Space Force Base

Camp Allen

Camp H. M. Smith

Camp Lejeune

Cannon AFB

Carlisle Barracks

Coast Guard Academy

Columbus AFB

Davis-Monthan AFB

Detroit Arsenal

LATEST NEWS

10 things to know before obtaining a VA home loan

Aviation, Missile Center leadership engages local school superintendents

Welcome to NAS Meridian: What You Need to Know

ARTICLES

2025 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT PASSES HOUSE, EXCLUDES TRANSGENDER CARE FOR MINORS

By Buddy Blouin

ARMY NAVY GAME 2024 UNIFORMS REVEALED: HONORING THE JOLLY ROGERS

By Allison Kirschbaum

ARMY-NAVY GAME TRADITIONS THAT EVERY FAN SHOULD KNOW

By Buddy Blouin

GET UP TO $4,000 WHEN PCSING WITH NEW MILITARY PET RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT

By Buddy Blouin

HOW TO MAKE $50,000 AS AN AIR FORCE PILOT BY SEPT. 15, 2023

By Buddy Blouin

MAJOR CHANGES COMING IN 2025 TO THE ARMY CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE (CA) PROGRAM

By Buddy Blouin

MALMSTROM AFB CANCER CONCERNS GROW WITH NEW INFORMATION RELEASED

By Buddy Blouin

TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSE (TLE) - MOVING ENTITLEMENTS WHEN PCSING

By Buddy Blouin

TRICARE OPEN SEASON ENDS TODAY: SECURE YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE FOR 2025

By Allison Kirschbaum

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Email*

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER