Senate NDAA Proposal Includes Smaller Pay Raise For Junior Enlisted Troops
The Senate has released a draft version of the 2025 NDAA which includes a smaller pay increase than the House version. Read more.
Military & Veteran Benefits
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.
VA Home Loan Policy Change Helps Veteran Homebuyers
In the first quarter of 2024, a class action lawsuit settlement affected how certain real estate fees were handled in real estate transactions. The National Association of Realtors settled a lawsuit over real estate broker fees, but the terms of that settlement can be confusing for borrowers and sellers alike. Many changes to real estate… Read more »
Lawmakers Call for More Commissary Options for Kosher, Halal Groceries
Some lawmakers are calling on the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to be more inclusive about the types of groceries it stocks at stateside and overseas bases. Two U.S. Representatives have called on DeCA to improve access to food that is acceptable to the approximately 15 thousand Jewish and Muslim troops in the United States military…. Read more »
What to Know About VA Intent to File and Fully Developed Claim Options
You could qualify for back pay for benefits from when you entered the VA system to when your claim was approved. For some purposes, your benefits are calculated from entering the VA system, not when your claim was approved. Learn more.
Where to Apply for VA Disabled Veteran Benefits
Do you know where to apply for important VA benefits including disability pay, healthcare, and related options? Do you know where to go to get VA healthcare? These are important questions, especially if you are new to VA benefits, Unfortunately, applying for and using VA benefits isn’t a one-stop shopping type application. Depending on your… Read more »
Military Voting: Residency Rules, Absentee Voting
It is important for everyone of voting age to have access to reliable information about their right to vote. This is especially true for military members who may have to vote while serving overseas or outside of their home state by absentee ballot. What is Absentee Voting? Absentee voting is a mechanism that allows registered… Read more »
Proposed Law Would Close GI Bill Loophole
Under the current rules of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, military members are permitted to transfer their unused GI Bill benefits to qualifying spouses and school-age children. However, the transfer requires the servicemember to commit to a new tour of duty, and the benefits can’t be transferred after leaving the military. That leaves out certain veterans… Read more »
Proposed Changes Could End Marijuana Testing For New Recruits
In 2025, the Federal Government could stop drug testing new recruits for marijuana, making it easier to join the military as a result. In the past, in addition to broad DoD regulations regarding pot, the various branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force, have used service-specific marijuana policy to… Read more »
2025 NDAA Draft Includes Major Pay Raise For Junior Troops
UPDATE: 12/19/2024: The House and Senate have both passed the 2025 NDAA. The act includes a 14.5 percent pay raise for most junior enlisted and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all service members. The act now goes to the President’s desk for signature or veto. We preserve the article below for historical purposes and… Read more »
DoD Reforms Military Medical Malpractice Guidelines
Once upon a time, when you joined the military in the United States, you were at the mercy of the military medical system as an active duty soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, etc. There was little to no recourse for those who suffered medical malpractice in the military healthcare system. But that has changed. In 2019,… Read more »