Operation Morale, Welfare and Recreation is bringing music acts to military facilities through April 2027. The event kicked off on Aug. 8 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with Fitz and The Tantrums and Alana Springsteen.

“Quality of service is about ensuring our sailors and their families have the support, connections and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Installations Command. “Programs like Operation MWR help reduce stress, strengthen unit and family support networks, and sustain the personal resilience sailors need to meet demanding operational requirements.”

The concert series follows several MWR events, including an Oct. 16, 2025, performance by Jelly Roll and Gwen Stefani at Naval Station Norfolk.

While the Navy is still hammering out the details for upcoming shows, the list of upcoming concerts is as follows:

• Aug. 29, 2026 — Naval Station Norfolk: Teddy Swims with special guest Miranda Lambert and opening act DJ Vito

• Sept. 11, 2026 – Naval Weapons Station Crane: Preston James and Band

• Oct. 2, 2026 — Naval Support Activity Saratoga Springs: Michael Kent

• Oct. 10, 2026 — Naval Base San Diego: Artist announcement forthcoming

• Oct. 17, 2026 — Naval Station Great Lakes: DJ Diesel, also known as Shaquille O’Neal

• April 30, 2027 — Naval Air Station Panama City: Artist announcement forthcoming

Service members and their families are not required to register for concerts in advance, but admission may be first-come, first-served at some venues with limited space.

Anonymous allegations of misconduct that occur in the Navy or Marine Corps will not be processed as a complaint under the Military Equal Opportunity program, which seeks to address unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment, the service announced. Instead, service members are encouraged to use the confidential reporting system, though the anonymous system remains available.

“This does not prevent a commander from taking appropriate action in response to an anonymous report,” a Navy administrative message said.

The reform follows a September 2025 Pentagon memo that called for the anonymous reporting system to be replaced with a confidential complaint system in order to “foster a more effective support and resolution-based program.”

Through the confidential complaint system, sailors are asked to identify themselves and provide information regarding the harassment or discrimination complaint to Navy or Marine Corps personnel tasked with receiving those complaints.

The military branches will document the report and send the service members to support services without requiring them to upgrade it to an informal or formal complaint, though they have that option, the administrative message said.

Personally identifying information contained in the confidential report can be forfeited for revelation if aspects of the complaint involve serious bodily harm, death, or admission of intent to commit a crime.

The Navy said that it will still process anonymous allegations regarding harassment, hazing and bullying, pending further guidance.

Making false official statements during complaints may violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to the Navy.

If a service member makes an informal complaint, the Navy and Marine Corps will offer conflict resolution methods in an attempt to resolve the situation. But the service member can still begin the MEO complaint process if they want to decline that remediation strategy or if the conflict resolution process doesn’t work.

Formal MEO complaints can be dismissed if the complaint is made more than 60 calendar days after the most recent incident occurred for an active-duty service member or 120 calendar days for a reserve service member; if the complaint doesn’t fall within the jurisdiction of the MEO office; if the complaint doesn’t yield enough information to investigate; if the incident was resolved; if a false statement was made; or if the individual who filed the complaint doesn’t comply with Navy requests for information.

The U.S. Navy first introduced a confidential option for reporting sexual harassment in February 2024, adding another way to document allegations of misconduct besides the formal, informal and anonymous ones offered.

Several months later, the Department of Defense Inspector General chastised the service for providing inadequate training and documentation methods for military officials handling the sensitive cases.

The Navy has made other notable updates to guidance surrounding serious instances of reported wrongdoing.

The service recently announced a new policy for sailors being investigated for sexual assault after a high-profile murder was committed by a service member previously charged with sexual assault.

Military personnel who are being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct, sexual assault or stalking will now only be permitted for brief relocation to shore commands, whereas prior policy only stipulated that a service member be temporarily transferred from their parent command to another command.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner arrived at Naval Station Mayport along with almost 300 sailors after a nearly nine-month deployment to the U.S. 4th, 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

“Over the past almost nine months, this crew has demonstrated exceptional resilience and tactical proficiency across three different fleets,” said Cmdr. David Cook, commanding officer of the Hudner. “Their dedication is unmatched, and we are absolutely thrilled to be back in Mayport to reunite with the families and loved ones whose unwavering support made our success possible.”

Hudner departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment on Dec. 1, 2025, and made its way to the Caribbean Sea, where it provided support to Operation Southern Spear, a campaign the U.S. launched in September 2025 on the premise of reducing the flow of illegal drugs into the country.

As part of the efforts, the U.S. has launched 66 military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels, killing at least 196 people. The campaign has been divisive, with senators and legal experts questioning the legality of the strikes.

Hudner then transited to the 6th Fleet area of operations to support the readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Most recently, the ship participated in Operation Epic Fury, launching Tomahawk land attack missiles as the U.S. bombarded Iranian military targets, and helping establish maritime security in the region while the U.S. Navy enforced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Firestorm Labs manufactured more than 1,000 parts and 12 of its proprietary 3D-printable first-person view Squall drones aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex as it transited toward RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii, according to a release.

“Every part xCell printed on deck is one that doesn’t need to be flown or shipped across contested waters — cutting the fuel, aircraft hours, and personnel it takes to keep a ship operational,” a social media release said. “Repairs that once meant days or weeks waiting on a resupply run can now happen in hours, on station.”

Firestorm Labs created the xCell as a factory-in-a-box that can be deployed aboard U.S. Navy vessels to churn out unmanned aerial systems and spare parts for expeditionary warfare.

As waves as high as 12 feet crashed against the ship, service members assembled drones that were later flown as adversary aircraft during a counter-drone exercise at RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii.

The service members also helped print mechanical test components that assessed the efficacy of the 3D printer used for drone production and fabricated military repair parts that crew members of the USS Essex needed.

The Defense Department, and Navy in particular, is laser-focused on building out modular payload capabilities that can deliver mission-ready assets for the service.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle announced the “containerized capability campaign plan” in March at the McAleese Defense Programs conference.

Caudle outlined a vision in which transportable containers housing defense capabilities such as drones and weapons can be deployed to any region in the world.

In May, the Pentagon announced framework agreements with defense companies Anduril, CoAspire, Leidos and Zone 5 to acquire more than 10,000 containerized missiles over three years beginning in 2027.

The move signaled the launch of the “Low‑Cost Containerized Munitions (LCCM) program.”

The service changed the designation for 19 boats equipped with the Virginia Payload Module from “fast-attack submarines” to “guided missile submarines.”

“Reclassifying Virginia Payload Module-equipped submarines as SSGNs accurately reflects the extraordinary strike capacity, operational flexibility, and global reach these platforms bring to the fleet,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle. “These submarines will provide our nation with a powerful and persistent deterrent, expand options for our combatant commanders, and ensure the Navy remains ready to fight and win whenever and wherever called upon.”

The Virginia Payload Module will install four diameter payload tubes onboard each Virginia-class submarine, each of which can carry seven Tomahawk cruise missiles, totaling an extra 28 missiles for each submarine.

The first submarine to receive the added capabilities of the VPM is the second Block V Virginia-class submarine, USS Arizona, which is scheduled for delivery in fiscal year 2029.

The reclassification will apply to planned Block V and Block VI submarines, which are scheduled to be delivered through 2038.

The new categorization comes after the Navy announced on Wednesday that it is awarding $42.1 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding to build nine Virginia-class Block VI submarines.

In addition to these, 10 Block V Virginia-class submarines will incorporate the new VPM, according to the Navy.

There are currently 26 active Virginia-class submarines and 23 more Virginia-class submarines in total planned for construction.

The Navy separates the Virginia-class into blocks that delineate an upgrade in technology, munitions capabilities and design.

“The submarine force is defined by our ability to operate undetected and strike without warning,” said Vice Adm. Rick Seif, Commander, Submarine Forces. “By integrating high-volume precision strike capabilities into these stealth platforms, these SSGNs serve as the ultimate enabler for Distributed Maritime Operations, giving our warfighters the overwhelming, flexible firepower required to win decisively in any theater.”

Cmdr. Joseph Sammur was relieved due to a “loss of confidence in his ability to command” and was reassigned to Submarine Group 10. Sammur assumed command of the submarine on Aug. 14, 2025.

“The relief of the CO does not impact the ship’s mission or schedule,” the Navy said.

Submarine Squadron 20 Deputy for Training Cmdr. Luke Kelvington will take over as interim commanding officer.

The West Virginia is currently undergoing maintenance in port at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia.

The Navy did not specify the reasons or circumstances that led to the ousting, but the service generally uses “loss of confidence” as a blanket statement when dismissing senior leadership.

In June, the Navy fired three top officials at an overseas maintenance center after losing confidence in their ability to command.

And in February, the Navy relieved the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Mason for the same reason.

The Defense Department is granting a collective $76.6 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat for five Columbia-class submarines and to both General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding for nine Virginia-class submarines to be built in the coming years.

“This historic investment underscores the department’s continued commitment to undersea superiority and the recapitalization of our nuclear triad,” said Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, director of submarine programs. “By securing the continuous production of both the Columbia and Virginia classes, we ensure we will continue to deliver the world’s most lethal, survivable and resilient combat platform.”

The contract includes $29.5 billion for Columbia-class Build II submarines, $42.1 billion for Virginia-class Block VI submarines and $5 billion for investments in nuclear shipbuilding programs and shipbuilding infrastructure for both shipbuilders.

The Navy currently has seven Columbia-class submarines under contract, 26 active Virginia-class submarines and 23 more Virginia-class submarines in the pipeline for future construction, the service said.

The Navy has made its newest submarine class a top priority over the last several years.

The Columbia-class has big shoes to fill: the boats are being built to replace Ohio-class submarines as they phase out of service.

The latter continues to play a big part in underwater military operations. An Ohio-class submarine participated in military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, 2025.

The Columbia-class is expected to surpass the missile payload and stealth capabilities of the Ohio-class, as well as harness the Trident II D5 Strategic Weapons System and hypersonic missiles.

While construction began on the Columbia-class in 2020, the Virginia class has been around for some time, with the launch of its lead boat in 2003.

Virginia-class submarines, which were designed to replace Los Angeles-class submarines, can host special operation forces undergoing long deployments onboard in a reconfigurable torpedo room.

Despite Columbia-class fabrication beginning six years ago, the program has faced delays.

The lead submarine in its class was originally slated for a 2027 delivery but has since been pushed back to 2028 after delivery postponement involving steam turbines and the submarine’s bow and stern, according to USNI News.

Government watchdogs initially predicted a rocky construction timeline for the newest addition to the silent service.

A U.S. Government Accountability Office report from January 2023 expressed concern that the building process would encounter hiccups because the submarine’s contractor, General Dynamics Electric Boat, hadn’t conducted a “schedule risk analysis.”

The latter practice, which is recommended by the GAO and is part of the Defense Department’s guidelines for large acquisition programs, helps set expectations for a program’s completion.

The Navy’s fiscal 2027 budget request for $378 billion includes money for the purchase of one Columbia-class submarine and two Virginia-class submarines.

The ship, along with over 5,000 sailors, sailed from the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea last week, several days after a July 20 hostile incident between the China Coast Guard and Philippine Navy in which Chinese personnel aboard an inflatable boat struck a Philippine Navy service member with a wooden baton, injuring the individual.

Four days later, hostilities continued between the two nations when the China Coast Guard attacked Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels with water cannons in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal.

U.S. State Department officials have criticized the escalatory actions by China and reiterated U.S. support for its Pacific allies.

A spokesperson for the department called for China to “immediately cease its destabilizing conduct.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on July 23 during the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meetings in the Philippines that the U.S. was “not going to abandon [its] allies” after appearing to reference the July 20 incident between China and the Philippines.

The USS George Washington, meanwhile, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, was accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup and the embarked Carrier Air Wing 5 during its port call.

“While our ship represents the high-end capabilities of the U.S. Navy, our visit here to Vietnam supports a U.S.-Vietnam relationship that continues to grow stronger across an increasingly broad range of subjects, reflecting our shared interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer of the George Washington, said in a release.

Military personnel who are being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct, sexual assault or stalking, in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, will now only be permitted for brief relocation to shore commands.

Previous policy stipulated more broadly that service members under investigation for a crime could be temporarily transferred from their parent command to another command.

“This revision was taken as a result of reviews by the Navy in the wake of the murder of Petty Officer 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz by a fellow sailor,” said William Speaks, spokesperson for the Chief of Naval Personnel.

Petty Officer Jermiah Copeland was sentenced on June 9 to 44 years in prison for the murder of Resendiz, who he strangled to death in a barracks building after a disagreement.

Copeland, who enlisted in the Navy in 2023, was linked to several other sexual assaults at the time of the murder.

Copeland was charged with aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact and aggravated assault through strangulation for an alleged crime that transpired in the summer of 2024 on board the USS Harry S. Truman.

He was also charged with two counts of sexual assault for two other alleged incidents that reportedly occurred while he was assigned to the USS James E. Williams, one of which took place in November 2024 and the other in May 2025.

Copeland was assigned to the USS James E. Williams at the time of the murder, but the ship was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk.

According to the new policy, commanders are in charge of transferring a sailor to another command and must receive the approval of the new command and the advice of the servicing staff judge advocate and must be in dialogue with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service or whichever law enforcement agency is conducting the investigation.

Commanders must also regularly communicate with NCIS agents, sexual assault and response coordinators and the new command until the sailor is officially transferred out of their purview.

Service members previously known as information professionals will now be referred to as communications systems warfare officers.

“The title ‘information professional’ no longer captures the strategic reality of a community charged with stewarding our digital environment and delivering the maritime information advantage from seabed to space,” a Navy administrative message reads.

The career field, which has been around for 25 years, must adapt to the ever-evolving character of international conflict, and the title redesignation is a “direct warfighting imperative,” the service said.

Sailors serving in the position will continue to help secure network infrastructure, supervise the flow of critical data and “enable the kill.”

To be considered for a communications systems warfare officer commission, interested sailors must complete Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as several additional courses that prepare them to integrate into the information warfare community.

The service continues to focus on bolstering its technological depth with service members who can wield their unique expertise.

Professionals from the commercial sector who are adept at cybersecurity, offensive or defensive cyber operations and software engineering can now directly commission as an officer in the Navy Reserve in exchange for their talent, the Navy announced in June.

The focus on growing the service’s innovative sectors and wielding them to combat enemies goes back many years.

In 2022, the Navy created the Navy Innovation Center at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, devoting energy toward the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning as adversaries invested in the now-seminal fields.