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.
Update July 13, 2023: The Brandon Act is a federal law that “creates a self-initiated referral process for service members seeking a mental health evaluation,” according to the Department of Defense. The law was also created to reduce stigma by allowing troops to get mental health services on a confidential basis. President Joe Biden signed… Read more »
Moving Your Dog, Cat or Other Pets During PCS Permanent Change of Station moves can be hard on the whole family. Spouses have to relocate or find new employment, children have to change schools no matter the time of year and the whole family has to make new friends. And if the family has pets,… Read more »
Estimates indicate that a whopping 20% of veterans suffer from PTSD, which is one of the most common trauma-induced mental illnesses afflicting veterans today. Recently researchers found that walking with a dog from local shelters had a greater effect on psychological and physiological stress indicators in veterans when compared to walking with another human.
New TRICARE Select Fees For Retirees Begin January 1, 2021 On June 22nd, TRICARE announced in a press release that TRICARE Select Group A retired beneficiaries must pay for enrollment fees “in order to maintain their health coverage.” The new fees are set to take effect on January 1st, 2021, and this is the first… Read more »
Deployment Prep How-To Being deployed is pretty much inevitable for many military service members. For deployments lasting from a few weeks to a year, many obstacles can arise for the families and friends of service members to tackle. Having a checklist or even just an idea of what to do before getting deployed is crucial… Read more »
The DoD announced an updated process for child beneficiaries of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when verifying full-time student status. Learn more.
A bill, the Health Care for Military Families Act, (H.R. 475), has been introduced. If passed, it would allow young adults to stay on their parents’ TRICARE plan until the age of 26 without an increase in premiums.
To get veterans and their spouses back to work, top VA lawmakers introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill ––the Veterans Economic Recovery Act. Learn more.
Update 4/8/24: The DoD awarded a contract for privatized PCS moves to HomeSafe Alliance, which in 2024 began assuming responsibility for PCS moves for the military. The article below is preserved here for archival purposes. Contract Revoked for Privatizing PCS Moves There has been increasing pressure on defense officials to improve household goods moves for… Read more »
Taxes are due on April 15, 2021, though if you’re serving in a combat zone, you have additional time to file. Whether you have one month or several before your deadline, taking these steps can help you make sure you don’t overpay.