For many people, the holiday season brings expectations of joy. But for some, the holidays may be a time of stress, sadness, or isolation. Life events like the deployment of a spouse, the loss of a loved one, and complex family dynamics can affect how we feel during the holiday season.

TRICARE Open Season is here. Now through Dec. 12, most people enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select can make enrollment changes for next year. Open season doesn’t apply to everyone who uses TRICARE.

No matter where you live or travel, it’s important to have the prescription drugs you need. To help make this possible, your TRICARE pharmacy benefit is available worldwide. But overseas, your pharmacy options may vary.

Some TRICARE beneficiaries may be eligible for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, or FEDVIP. This program is managed by the Office of Personnel Management. If you're eligible, you can enroll in or change your dental and vision coverage during Federal Benefits Open Season.

In July 2023, a team of 32 members from the Air Force, Army, and Navy embarked on an Ophthalmology Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) to Regional Hospital Dr. Luis "Chicho" Fabrega in Santiago de Veraguas, Panama. The annual joint service exercise was led by U.S. Southern Command, aimed to enhance the skills and operational readiness of team members by immersing them in a range of prevalent chronic eye conditions in the region. Over three weeks, the team conducted rapid preliminary screenings for 300 patients within just three days. Following this, they accomplished a remarkable total of 291 surgeries over the subsequent eight days, leaving an impact through nearly 750 clinic appointments.

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, delivered humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 18.

Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras— A U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft from the 133rd Air National Guard in Minnesota transported a large donation of 44,180 pounds of humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, June 26, through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Denton Program

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras — Twenty members of the Honduran Air Force graduated from a Basic Aeromedical Evacuation training course provided by Joint Task Force- Bravo, June 19. The three-week academic training course included the participation of 13 nurses and seven doctors stationed at different Honduran Air Force bases, who connected with their JTF-Bravo counterpart from the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment through video chat.