The Department of Defense has taken steps to standardize the Exceptional Family Member policy, also known as EFMP, which had previously been administered individually by the military service branches. Under the revised policy, EFMP is standardized DoD-wide to provide consistent, reliable support for what the DoD terms “exceptional family members” with special medical needs or… Read more »
Update 4/17/2024 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of plaintiff James Rudisill in the case discussed below. Rusdill is a veteran who sue the federal government, arguing he was eligible for up to 48 months of education benefits under both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Rusdill signed up for each… Read more »
In February 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs was put on notice via Presidential executive order to address issues related to racial disparities in the VA benefits system. President Joe Biden’s executive order includes this justification for the order: “(M)embers of underserved communities — many of whom have endured generations of discrimination and disinvestment —… Read more »
Military spouse unemployment rates are as high as 20%. That’s a situation many in the Department of Defense are eager to fix, and now lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to expand the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) to include job protections for military spouses to get closer to what members of the… Read more »
UPDATE 11/30/23 At press time there has been no movement on this bill. It’s possible that it may not be considered at all in 2023. The face of some military retirement pay options could be changing thanks to legislation known as the Major Richard Star Act. “Military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation are two… Read more »
The Department of Defense has finally issued guidance on a new pet PCS policy; that guidance includes slashing the amount of the PCS benefit and delaying implementation until 2024. Pentagon Pet PCS Policy History In June 2023, we reported on a new DoD policy offering up to $4000 in reimbursement for costs associated with shipping… Read more »
UPDATED 11/30/23: The special enrollment period discussed below has ended. September 30 2023 was the last day to sign up. The Department of Veterans Affairs offered a special sign-up period for post-9/11 veterans who want to claim PACT Act benefits for toxic exposures in the line of duty. That offer ended on September 30, 2023…. Read more »
Last year, military members were promised a new benefit related to permanent change of station moves, up to $4000 per service member who must ship pets as part of PCS travel. This new military benefit related to transporting pets was approved by lawmakers in December 2022. But at press time, the proposed rules are gathering… Read more »
Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are military bases in Alaska. They aren’t the only U.S. military operations there, but it’s where many typically serve when given PCS orders to Alaska. Now, thanks to the 2023 Defense Authorization Act, troops stationed in Alaska can fly back to the “lower 48” and… Read more »
Some serve in the United States military, put in enough time to retire with a military pension, and leave the military for their home of record. Others may retire or separate and move to a completely different part of the country, but a third type of military retiree doesn’t return to the United States to… Read more »