This generation of veterans and servicemembers has access to the best benefits of any era in history. From the VA Home Loan program to the GI Bill, you can save money, enhance your career opportunities, and even change your life. Don’t miss out on any of the military and veteran benefits you have earned.
TRICARE Open Season 2023 was the period of time when military families can change their TRICARE coverage without needing to justify a major life event like a birth or death in the family. Open Season has now closed. When Was TRICARE Open Season 2023? TRICARE Open Season is Nov. 13 through Dec. 12, 2023. Related:… Read more »
Update April 29, 2024: The Department of Veterans Affairs updated its policies for those applying for VA benefits without an Honorable, General, or Under Honorable Conditions discharge. Those who have certain discharges (especially those related to so-called “homosexual conduct” or under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) may qualify for VA benefits thanks to these revised policies…. Read more »
The United States Army has an ROTC program called the Green to Gold Active Duty Option, also known as G2GADO. Under this program, ROTC members could have their ROTC time in college counted as time in service, just as if the soldiers were deployed or at a permanent duty station. Time in service is an… Read more »
UPDATE: Jan 8 2024: The budget crisis was temporarily averted by a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the government in a two-part process with an initial deadline of January 19 and a second deadline on February 2, 2024. The House and Senate agreed to a basic framework for the federal budget over the weekend of… Read more »
When you prepare to retire or separate from the military, one of your out-processing appointments should typically be a VA benefits briefing where you learn about submitting a claim to the Department of Veterans Affairs for service-connected medical issues. Submitting a claim to the VA is time-consuming, but VA healthcare and disability compensation are very important parts of your post-military benefits. It’s well worth the time, even if the VA assigns you a 0% disability rating for your claimed medical issues.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is reviewing its PACT Act claims process due to a large number of 0% disability ratings related to those claims. A report published by Military.com notes that while the VA has approved most PACT Act claims submitted since the program began, more than 30% have received a 0% disability rating… Read more »
An increase in VA benefits scams aimed at those claiming new benefits or appealing VA decisions has prompted action from the federal government. The Department of Veterans Affairs has responded to increased VA benefits scams by launching an awareness campaign on its official site and in VA facilities. The VA added a page to VA.gov… Read more »
Under TRICARE, family members have the most flexibility. They can choose between TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, and other options available to them, depending on where they live and where the military member is assigned. Family members also have greater flexibility in dental care. Those serving on active duty don’t have the same options as family… Read more »
Update: The Pentagon has completed a review of military discharges under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The details of that review and subsuquent military discharge upgrades as a result of that reiew are found in this article. According to a Pentagon news release, more than “96% of those administratively separated” under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” who… Read more »
There’s good news and bad news. The good news (for the DoD) is that the United States Army met its retention goals for fiscal year 2023. The bad news? Meeting that goal means the Army has no incentive (for now) to continue offering reenlistment bonuses. It has temporarily paused the program. What is the U.S. Army… Read more »