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 »
The first draft of the national defense budget for 2024 includes a proposed 5.25% military pay raise for military members. Learn more.
A bipartisan Senate bill seeks to expand eligibility for military spouses to be compensated for expenses related to switching from active duty to service in the Reserve. The Military Spouse Career Support Act is the latest in a wave of bills seeking to improve veteran benefits, spouse employment options, and quality of life. Senator John… Read more »
President Joe Biden has issued an Executive Order to improve job opportunities for military spouses, according to a Department of Defense issued on Friday, June 9, 2023. The executive order also addresses employment opportunities for caregivers and surviving family members. What the Executive Order Does The order includes “a variety of actions to improve hiring… Read more »