On the Radar: Guard Deployments Hit $600M, Base Access Slows & Ford Plumbing Fails

Here's what's on the radar this week in military life. National Guard deployments to U.S. cities are getting expensive. The Congressional Budget Office says taxpayers have already spent nearly $600 million sending Guard units into places like D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. And that price tag keeps growing, roughly $93 million a month if the missions continue. Now for military families, we're talking about longer activations, more time away from home, and real strain on jobs, childcare, and daily life with no clear end date in sight. Getting on base takes longer in 2026, and it's not just traffic. Real ID rules and tighter visitor vetting mean more stops at visitor control centers and more time-consuming ID checks at the gate. So if the lines feel slower, it's because base access is now even more of a process, not just a quick wave through. The world's largest warship has a not-so-glorious issue. The USS Gerald R. Ford is a 100,000-ton supercarrier packed with cutting-edge technology, but its plumbing keeps clogging. Fixing those backups can cost the Navy hundreds of thousands of dollars each time they need to be fixed, proof that even the most advanced ship afloat still has toilet troubles. And over on Veteran Life, are you looking for something to do this weekend? You might want to head to the theater and check out Sheepdog. It is a powerful new film about what happens after the uniform comes off. This is not a film about combat. It is about connection, purpose, and veterans finding each other again. Sheepdog is in theaters now, and it might be the most meaningful movie you see this year. That's your briefing. Be sure to follow my base guide and Veteran Life so you never miss what's on the radar.