As the 2025–2026 school year gets underway, Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital has reintroduced its school-based behavioral health program, placing an experienced clinical social worker inside Parkway Elementary School to provide direct care for military children. The initiative strengthens resilience and quality of life for Soldiers and Families—key components of Army readiness.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of vaccines in protecting individuals, strengthening unit readiness and safeguarding public health. Capt. Benjamin Tan, a pediatrician at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, said the value of vaccines starts with the most vulnerable members of the community.

Lt. Col. Shemica Ward, chief of the Labor, Delivery, Postpartum and Recovery ward at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, has earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Baylor University, capping more than 20 years of service in the Army Nurse Corps.

Two Soldiers from Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital became part of a small community of highly skilled Army medical professionals Aug. 11, earning the Expert Field Medical Badge during the Expert Infantry, Soldier and Field Medical Badge testing event hosted by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk.

TRICARE Open Season begins today, Nov. 10! Starting today, you have the opportunity to make changes to your TRICARE plan. This year’s open season lasts through Tuesday, Dec. 9. This is your annual chance to sign up for a health plan or change your coverage. Any changes you make will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

As 2025 comes to a close, now is the time to start thinking about your family’s health care options for next year. You should know that your TRICARE health plan costs will change starting Jan. 1, 2026. Depending on your plan, these costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments.

With children back in school and temperatures dropping, flu season is quickly approaching. Although most respiratory illnesses share common symptoms, the flu is more serious than the common cold. It can lead to hospitalization and even death in severe cases. Flu season generally runs through fall and winter, and one of the best things you can do to protect your health is get a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for all people aged 6 months and older (with rare exceptions).

Have you ever wondered about the differences between the various TRICARE plans? With TRICARE Open Season 2025 right around the corner, now is a perfect time to learn about TRICARE’s wide range of coverage options. Knowing the differences will ensure the right coverage for you and your family members.