Force in Crisis: Top Enlisted Leaders GRILL Congress on Pay & Housing

Описание: Top Enlisted Leaders Testify on the Reality of Military Life in 2026. Today, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna faced the Senate Armed Services Committee. The topic? The real state of our military families.

Despite the 4.2% BAH increase in Jan 2026, troops are still battling moldy barracks, childcare shortages, and a spouse unemployment rate that refuses to drop below 20%.

In this video:
The "Triple Threat": Housing, Pay & Childcare.
CMSAF Wolfe on the Air Force retention struggle.

CMSSF Bentivegna: Why "Cognitive Dominance" requires financial stability.
The 2025 NDAA fallout: Is it enough?

#MilitaryNews #CMSAF #SpaceForce #MilitaryPay #SASC

Today, February 11, 2026, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna are appearing before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel.

This hearing is a critical "ground truth" session where senior enlisted leaders advocate for the needs of the rank-and-file. Following the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the testimony centers on the potential impact of recent pay raises and policy changes on military families.

Key Testimony Focus Areas
The leaders are anticipated to emphasize several critical issues that could significantly impact retention and readiness:

Housing & Infrastructure: Addressing the $137 billion backlog in deferred maintenance, specifically targeting the poor conditions of barracks and the continued need for oversight in privatized military housing.

Economic Security: Evaluating the impact of the 2025 pay raises on junior enlisted members and advocating for more accurate Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) calculations.

Family Support: Reducing the "triple threat" of military life: high spouse unemployment, lack of affordable childcare, and healthcare accessibility gaps within TRICARE.

The "Human Weapon System": CMSSF Bentivegna specifically points out the importance of cognitive dominance in the space domain, arguing that Guardians cannot focus on high-tech threats if they are distracted by "kitchen table" stressors.

The Witness List
Joining Wolfe and Bentivegna are their counterparts from across the Joint Force:
SEA David L. Isom, USN (Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman)
SMA Michael R. Weimer (Army)
MCPON John J. Perryman IV (Navy)
SMMC Carlos A. Ruiz (Marine Corps)

Note on Leadership: This marks one of the first major Congressional appearances for CMSAF David Wolfe, who was sworn in as the 21st Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force in December 2025, succeeding David Flosi.

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SASC-P hearing on quality of life
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe and Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna testify Feb. 11, 2026, alongside other senior enlisted leaders before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel regarding service member and family quality of life.


Film Credits: Department of War