The 0600.

Thursday, Nov 12, 2026

3 stories · 90-second read

Weekday intel for recruits and parents

BLUF · Bottom line up front

Kentucky's Air National Guard now has a full unit whose only job is recruiting.
Scouts can now earn a merit badge on military service and veterans.
The Navy is adding special needs child care coordinators at 26 bases.

01 · RECRUITING · AIR FORCE

Kentucky's Air National Guard stood up a unit whose only job is recruiting

The Kentucky Air National Guard turned its recruiters into a full unit, the Kentucky Air National Guard Recruiting Flight, instead of a small office inside headquarters. The ceremony was Sept. 27 at the 123rd Airlift Wing in Louisville, and the Guard announced it Nov. 8, saying the team is coming off two record years for new airmen and expects to sign about 130 a year.

Why it matters to you JUST THINKING

If the Guard is on your list, this is what a healthy recruiting shop looks like: more recruiters with more time for your questions. Guard recruiters work for one state, so start by learning how the Guard is different from active duty before you walk in.

What the National Guard is →

Source: National Guard Bureau, Nov 8, 2026 · Official source

Photo · U.S. Army National Guard

02 · RECRUITING · DOD

Scouts can now earn a merit badge on military service. It launched on Veterans Day

Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts, rolled out a Military Service and Veterans merit badge on Nov. 11. To earn it, Scouts study the history of a branch, learn what the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart mean, and sit down to interview someone who served.

Why it matters to you PARENTS

If your Scout is curious about the military, this badge is a low-pressure way to explore it with zero commitment. Eagle Scouts may also qualify for a higher starting rank in some branches, so keep that paperwork in a safe place.

Start here: the whole path, step by step →

Source: Military Times, Nov 11, 2026 · Single source

Photo · U.S. Navy

03 · BENEFITS · NAVY

The Navy is adding child care specialists for kids with special needs at 26 bases

After a two-year test at two bases, the Navy is putting special needs inclusion coordinators into its on-base child care centers. It has approved 34 coordinator jobs for this fiscal year across 26 installations, including Great Lakes, with the rollout running through 2029.

Why it matters to you BRANCH CHOSEN

Base child care is one of the benefits military families lean on most, and the Navy is putting people in place for kids who need extra support. If family life is part of how you are weighing branches, add questions like this to your list.

How to compare the branches →

Source: Stars and Stripes, Nov 10, 2026 · Confirmed: navy.mil

Today's drill

Guard, Reserve or active duty? Read how each one works, then write one sentence on which fits your life and why.

COMPARE MY OPTIONS →

Kentucky's Air National Guard stood up a unit whose only job is recruiting

Scouts can now earn a merit badge on military service. It launched on Veterans Day

The Navy is adding child care specialists for kids with special needs at 26 bases

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