Military Spouse Archives

Coast Guard Spouse Professional License Transfer Policy

Coast Guard members with permanent change of station (PCS) orders have to pack up their belongings, move to the new assignment, and continue to serve in the Coast Guard in the new location.

Married couples face an additional challenge–how does a Coast Guard spouse move their career across the country?

Licensure Reimbursement Policy for Coast Guard Spouses

Spouses with professional licenses for state-regulated occupations may have the option to transfer their licenses to the new state and be compensated by the DoD for doing so.

Federal laws passed in 2022 make it easier to perform these transfers thanks to legislation requiring the states to accept military spouse licenses from other states.

Some view this change in policy as a federal “enhancement” of existing state license reciprocity programs. Military spouses may have an easier time transferring a professional license but it is important to remember that these transfers may be reimbursed only during a permanent change of station move.

Licensure Reimbursement Policy

Spouses of service members “of any rank” may be eligible to apply, and typically such transfers qualify when they are for the same type of license or its equivalent.

The U.S. Coast Guard will reimburse the servicemember for expenses related to transferring the credentials, including “any required exam costs or registration fees set by the new state so the spouse can keep working in their current profession”.

Up to $1,000 in reimbursement is offered per move.

Documents You Need To Apply For A Spouse License Transfer

Copy of PCS orders or equivalent
Copy of spouse’s previous state occupational license or certification
Paid receipt showing the new state fees
Claim for Members for Expenditures on Official Business voucher

Apply for reimbursement after the new state license or certification arrives. Contact your command support staff or finance office to learn where to submit your application as it is typically submitted via e-mail.

>>Learn about Spouse and dependent military benefits

Costs Not Covered by the Coast Guard Spouse License Transfer Policy

U.S. Coast Guard policy for this program includes a list of expenses that cannot be repaid under this program. They include, but may not be limited to:

Costs not associated with PCS moves;
Expenses related to failed attempts to obtain relicensure;
License transfer costs associated with separation or retirement orders;
Reimbursement is not authorized for “moves upon accession” or the Career Intermission Program.

Things to Know About Transferring Licenses From State to State

This benefit is a reimbursement. It is not paid in advance. You should expect to pay for the transfer up front then file the paperwork to be reimbursed.

Your gaining or losing state may have different license transfer guidelines than others. The “gaining state” may require more credentialing for the same type of license, or it may not have as many requirements depending on circumstances.

>>Who offers the best military discounts? Start saving now!

12 Jan 2324 Feb 23

Air Force and Space Force Spouse Professional License Transfer Policy

Members of the Air Force and Space Force who get permanent change of station (PCS) orders have to pack up their professional and personal spaces, move to the new assignment, and start their life in the new location.

Married couples face an additional challenge–how does the military spouse pack up their career and move it across the country?

Air Force and Space Force spouses with professional licenses for state-regulated occupations may have the option to transfer their licenses to the new state and be compensated by the DoD for doing so.

Federal laws passed in 2022 make it easier to perform these transfers thanks to legislation requiring the states to accept military spouse licenses (all branches of the U.S. military) from other states.

This is, more or less, a federal enhancement of state reciprocity programs active prior to the new law; Air Force and Space Force spouses may have it easier when trying to transfer a professional license–but the transfer must be due to a permanent change of station move.

Air Force/Space Force Spouse Licensure Reimbursement Policy

Spouses of service members “of any rank” may be eligible to apply, and typically such transfers qualify when they are for the same type of license or its equivalent and the license travels across state lines.

Air Force and Space Force define their “qualified relicensing costs” as “any required exam costs or registration fees set by the new state so the spouse can keep working in their current profession”.

Up to $1,000 in reimbursement is offered per move.

Documents You Need To Apply For An Air Force or Space Force Spouse License Transfer

Copy of PCS orders or equivalent
Copy of spouse’s previous state occupational license or certification
Paid receipt showing the new state fees

Apply for reimbursement after the new state license or certification arrives.

How To Apply For An Air Force or Space Force Spouse License Transfer

Gather the documentation listed above and make an appointment with your gaining base’s Finance Office.

>>Learn about Spouse and dependent military benefits

Costs Not Covered by the Spouse Professional License Transfer Policy

Air Force policy for this program includes a list of expenses that cannot be repaid under this program They include, but may not be limited to:

Costs not associated with PCS moves;
Expenses related to failed attempts to obtain or transfer licensure;
License transfer costs associated with separation or retirement orders;
Reimbursement is not authorized for “moves upon accession” or the Career Intermission Program.

Things to Know About Transferring Licenses From State to State

There is a time limit. You generally have 24 months to apply for the reimbursement once you have been reassigned.

This benefit is a reimbursement. The government will not pay you or the appropriate agency in advance. You will be expected to pay for the transfer upfront and apply to be reimbursed.

Remember that your gaining or losing state may have different license transfer guidelines than others. The “gaining state” may require more credentialing for the same type of license, or it may not have as many requirements depending on circumstances.

10 Jan 2328 Feb 23

Navy Military Spouse License Transfer Policy

If you get permanent change of station (PCS) orders and must pack up your home and move across the country, there are many considerations to make for your move. And for a Navy spouse, that could mean packing up a career along with the pots and pans. And for those in careers that require state-level licenses or certification, moving presents a set of challenges. Will the new state accept the spouse’s credentials or will they have to apply for a new license or certificate?

Fortunately, Navy spouses with professional licenses for state-regulated occupations may have options to transfer their licenses to the new state and get reimbursed by the federal government.

Federal laws passed at the end of 2022 made it easier to perform these transfers thanks to legislation requiring the states to accept military spouse licenses from other states–a federally mandated expansion/enhancement of existing “reciprocity” programs between the states making it easier for military spouses to relocate.

Thanks to these and other changes in federal policy, the U.S. Navy may reimburse the expenses related to licensure and/or recertification directly related to PCS moves.

Navy Spouse Licensure Reimbursement Policy

Military spouses who moved across state lines because of a PCS move on or after December 12, 2017 may qualify if they are listed on the sailor’s orders. The spouse must be “command sponsored” meaning the military has authorized the spouse to accompany the sailor to their new assignment.

The Navy will reimburse “qualified relicensing costs” associated with getting an identical or equivalent license in a new state. You may qualify for up to $1,000 per reimbursement which can include exam fees and registration fees.

Qualifying for the License Transfer Reimbursement

The sailor must be reassigned. This may be “either as a PCS or permanent change of assignment from a permanent duty station (PDS) in one state to a PDS in another state” according to the Navy.
The military spouse must be registered in DEERS and the sailor’s PCS or PCA orders must name the spouse.
The spouse was “employed in a profession requiring certification at the PDS in a previous state”.
The spouse must be required to obtain recertification in the new state.
To claim this benefit after returning from an overseas assignment, “the license from the PDS State held prior to overseas assignment may be used if the new PDS is in the United States but in a different State” according to Navy.mil.

How to Apply For Navy Military Spouse License Transfer Reimbursement

To request this benefit, complete a Spouse Licensure Reimbursement Request Memorandum and Optional Form 1164 Claim for Reimbursement for Expenditures on Official Business (voucher) which must be completed digitally. You are asked to submit a “reimbursement package” which according to Navy.mil must include:

Spouse Licensure Reimbursement Request Memorandum.
Signed Optional Form 1164 Voucher
Copy of current PCS orders
Copy of the license from the previous state
Copy of new license issued by the new state
Copy of the receipts for the amount claimed

Scan and email the complete package to:

MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) at ASKMNCC.FCT@NAVY.MIL.

Things to Know About Transferring Licenses From State to State

This benefit is offered as reimbursement. You must obtain the transfer and pay for it first, then apply. You will not be approved or paid in advance.

Some states may have more strict transfer guidelines than others, and some states may require more credentialing for the same type of license than others. You may be required to take additional training or continuing education in your new state that you weren’t obligated to attend elsewhere. The U.S. Navy does not guarantee that all licenses will transfer in all situations.

To learn more, contact your Detailer, Senior Chief, or orderly room.

24 Oct 2222 Feb 23

Military Benefits Guide: Spouses & Dependents

Spouses’ & Dependents’ Comprehensive Military Benefits Guide

Some military benefits for spouses and dependents are available regardless of the involvement or status of the service member. Others may require the participation of the service member (transferring GI Bill benefits, for example) or require troops to apply through the chain of command or other processes on behalf of the spouse or dependent.

In other cases, such as with medical care, you may only have to provide your current military spouse or dependent ID to get, use, or continue to use the benefit.

Education Benefits (including GI Bill transfer)
VA Home Loans
TRICARE
Career Assistance
Child Care

Education Benefits for Military Spouses and Dependents

There are a variety of educational benefits for military spouses. Some benefits are not provided by the military but by private enterprises, Veteran Service Organizations, or other non-government entities. This section features military education benefits for spouses provided by the federal government.

They include Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits which must be transferred from the servicemember’s name to the dependent or spouse. This can only be done while the servicemember is still under a military service commitment and a new service commitment must be made for the GI Bill benefits to be transferred.

Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) is a DoD-funded resource military spouses can use if they want to plan a return to academia. SECO features a variety of resources, including a scholarship finder and there is a MyCAA Scholarship worth up to $4,000 for qualifying spouses looking to return to school. You’ll find SECO at the MilitaryOneSource official site.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is offered to qualifying spouses and children who are survivors of one of the following circumstances:

Active-duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001;
Selected Reserve members who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001

Discuss the Fry Scholarship with a representative of your selected school or institution. Not all schools are approved for this program and you’ll need to determine if the opportunity is available before you discuss applying for the Fry Scholarship with your admissions counselor

>> Search scholarships for military spouses and dependents with the CollegeRecon Scholarship Finder!

The VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) is a federal program offering education and training to qualified dependents of vets who are either permanently disabled due to military service or who died on active duty as a result of military service.

Are permanently and totally disabled because of a service-related condition, or
Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition

Discuss VA DEA with a representative of your selected school as not all schools are approved for this program. It’s best to determine if DEA is an option option to you before you discuss applying for DEA with your admissions counselor

VA Home Loans for Military Spouses

The VA Loan program offers no-money-down, low-interest home loans to qualifying servicemembers. It also allows service members and spouses to apply for a VA mortgage together, treating the loan application differently than if a veteran and a non-veteran who is not a spouse were to apply together.

There is no VA home loan option for the spouse alone. There are exceptions in cases where the service member has died. In such cases, the qualifying criteria include at least one of the following:

The Veteran –

Is a prisoner of war (POW)
Is missing in action (MIA)
Died while in service or from a service-connected disability and you didn’t remarry, or
Died while serving, or from a service-connected disability. In such cases you must not have remarried before you were 57 years old or before December 16, 2003, or
Had been totally disabled and passed away

If you are claiming VA home loan benefits as a surviving spouse, you will need to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly if you assist with the application, VA Form 26-1817 Request for Determination of Loan Guaranty Eligibility—Unmarried Surviving Spouses.

>> Get your questions answered with a free VA Loan consultation!

TRICARE Benefits for Military Spouses and Dependents

Active duty service members are required to enroll in a TRICARE plan that is based on the location of their duty station. TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Remote are the stateside plans, and TRICARE Prime Overseas and TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas are the basic plans the servicemember can choose to enroll their spouse and/or dependents in.

Family members also have the option to select other TRICARE options based on the location they are in. Those options include, but may not be limited to:

TRICARE Select is described as a “self-managed preferred provider organization (PPO)” plan offered to those in the United States
US Family Health Plan is offered in select locations only. This is described on the TRICARE official site as “an additional TRICARE Prime option available through networks of community-based, not-for-profit health care systems”.
TRICARE For Life is described as “Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries who have Medicare Part A and B.”
TRICARE Select Overseas offers “comprehensive coverage” for those in overseas locations.

There are more flexible options offered to spouses and dependents, likely because it’s understood that some may already have healthcare options through an employer or school; the additional healthcare options for spouses and dependents are designed to accommodate this depending on the plan and the nature of your coverage.

Career Assistance for Military Spouses

There are multiple types of career assistance for military spouses, starting with spouse hiring preference. The Department of Defense has a federal hiring preference program aimed at military spouses, but if you have not explored your options for this preference recently you may not be aware of certain changes to the program that benefit all applicants.

Before 2019, the DoD used the Priority Placement Program to register military spouses so they could claim their federal hiring preference. But that program entered the sunset phase in 2019 and no longer operates. Does that mean there is no longer a preference program? No.

The replacement option, known as Military Spouse Preference or MSP, is described by the Defense Department as a “special federal hiring authority that allows spouses to be noncompetitively considered” for federal positions. MSP does NOT require an in-person appointment to get started, unlike the previous PPP option.

Now, military spouses simply identify themselves as candidates for MSP when they apply for federal work using USAJobs.gov. This is an advantage for spouses who know they will be going overseas soon but don’t know what assignment yet.

MSP also eliminates a past requirement limiting applicants to a single “occupational series”. You can now choose any job that offers MSP, rather than being limited to a specific area of expertise.

This is not the only career assistance type benefit offered to military spouses. Other options include the USO Pathfinder Transition Program which offers professional development options for military spouses that can be used “throughout the duration of military service as well as in preparation for life post-military” according to the USO official site.

The U.S. Department of Labor offers TEAMS or Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses and Caregivers. This typically consists of employment workshops to help military spouses meet their career goals.

TEAMS workshops are instructor-led virtual training, provided as stand-alone training. modules. You can take all of the workshops or just a few and they can be taken in any order that fits your availability and schedule.

There are also options for military spouses who accompany active duty service members to overseas duty locations, including spouse hiring preference. To apply for preference at an overseas base, contact the Human Resources office at the base and explain that you need information on the spouse hiring preference policy for that installation.

>> Find companies that help place military spouses with CareerRecon!

Child Care

The Department of Defense offers affordable childcare access to military and DoD-affiliated families. These programs are offered at military bases around the world, and while not every single base has child care options (forward deployed, remote assignments, and hardship assignments for example) the majority of troops and their families may be able to take advantage of these DoD child care options.

Options include:

Child Development Centers
Family Childcare
“24/7 Centers”
School Age Care facilities
The “Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood” program

Who Is Eligible for Military Child Care?

Military affiliation is one of the requirements for military child care. Children enrolled in a DoD program must be the dependents of “eligible sponsors” including parents who are active duty military, DoD civilians, Guard/Reserve members who are on orders, Gold Star spouses, and many others.

Childcare costs are assigned based on household income, which makes this a benefit that can make a big financial difference for junior enlisted troops. Signing up for military child care means contacting the base Child Development Center where you are stationed or where you will be reassigned to.

You can use a DoD search tool at MilitaryChildCare.com to locate military child care options anywhere offered in the world, and you’ll want to do this as soon as you get PCS orders as demand for military child care is high and waiting lists typically apply.

The sooner you get your name on the waiting list the sooner you can get access to affordable military child care.

School Age Care facilities are offered on many military installations; these programs are for those in kindergarten through sixth grade. Care is available before and after school, and even for non-school days and summer vacations. Many of these programs are run from base youth centers or Child Development Centers, and all are certified and accredited.

Many military bases feature other after-school options and other programs for school-age children who are too old for Child Development Center care. These programs vary depending on the base but in general, you may find options including:

Installation youth center programs
4-H Military Partnerships
Defense Department summer camps
Military Kids Connect (a website designed to celebrate military youth and help them cope with military life)

Read More: Military Childcare Basics

19 Oct 2201 Mar 23

How to Add Dependents to Your Veteran Benefits

Changes in marital status, family size, and other factors are common, but when veterans need to add or remove someone from their VA benefits, there is a specific procedure that must be followed. Adding a new child, a new spouse or a parent who has come to depend on you financially to your military benefits is a process that requires an application and approval.

That’s why if you are a retired or separated military member with a spouse or dependents, you should know about VA Form 21-686c, the application used to add or remove dependents from your benefits.

You can use VA Form 21-686c to add those you financially support including unmarried dependent children under 18, adult children between 18 and 23 who are in school, and you can use it for a dependent parent as well as a spouse.

Why VA Form 21-686c Is Necessary

When you join the military you have the opportunity to add your dependents and spouse to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System or DEERS. Being listed in DEERS means your dependents and spouse are eligible for military benefits such as TRICARE, etc.

When you leave military service and file a claim with the VA for service-connected medical issues, you also have the ability to add your dependents to the claim–the Department of Veterans Affairs offers added consideration for veterans with dependents and a VA disability rating of 30% or higher.

But many people experience changes in family size along the way, and if you have a VA rating of 30% or more and you get married, divorced, had a child, or other factors you will need to complete and submit VA Form 21-686c to add or remove a dependent.

When to Use VA Form 21-686c

There are times when using this form is not appropriate. For example, you should not complete this form to add a dependent child who is older than 23, married, or not relying on you for financial support. You should not fill out this form for someone the VA does not consider a qualifying dependent or spouse. Who does the VA consider a qualified dependent?

Spouses
Unmarried children (biological or otherwise) under the age of 18 or who are 18 to 23 years old and attending school full-time.
A disabled adult child who experienced the disability before age 18.
Dependent parents who live with you and rely on you for support. Need-based guidelines may apply.

It is important to note that in typical cases, the VA does not make a distinction between a biological child, adopted child, foster child, etc. The same is true for biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, etc. The key is that the dependent relies on you financially for support.

What VA Form 21-686c Does

By filling out the form you are providing information to the Department of Veterans Affairs about the dependent you wish to add or remove from your VA benefits. In some cases, this is a grim task, as when reporting the death of a dependent or spouse. In others, it’s to claim benefits for a new addition to the family through birth, adoption, or other means. Sometimes it’s to add a parent or parents that have come to depend on you financially and live with you in your home.

This form is required in certain cases–the death of a dependent or spouse, after a dependent child reaches age 24 or gets married, basically any time the VA needs to stop paying a benefit because the recipient has died or no longer qualifies.

Failure to report such changes may result in being overpaid by the VA and the Department of Veterans Affairs will seek to recoup such payments once discovered. That’s something veterans should avoid by reporting the changes as soon as possible.

Completing Form 21-686c

You will need a variety of information depending on the circumstances of your application. It is best to review the application form, gather the information and documents you need, and submit it after filling out the form as completely as possible. Omitting information required on the form typically results in a slower process for that application.

You should always submit copies of your important documents, never originals. You may need copies of birth or death certificates, proof of military service, divorce decrees and other official documents.

In cases where you must add or remove a dependent child, the usual details are required including (but not limited to) the following:

Name
Social Security Number
Date and place of birth
Name and address of those the child lives with if not residing with you.

You may be required to fill this form out when a dependent child gets married since a married dependent no longer qualifies for certain VA benefits. Basically, you should consider Form 21-686c whenever you have a change in family status that could affect a VA benefit.

In cases where you wish to add a parent, you will also need information about the parent’s net worth, any assets or property, and any income where applicable. You will also need to list all in your household who depend on you financially.

Complete the form and mail it to the address listed at the bottom of page two, or complete it online and submit it electronically through the VA official site.

16 Aug 2201 Mar 23

Overseas Military Spouse Career Options

Military spouses can have a tougher time getting employment when they accompany an active duty service member to an overseas assignment. The job pool is obviously smaller and more competitive on an overseas military base and spouses don’t always have the luxury of the multitude of job openings that might be offered in the local area stateside. But there are career opportunities to consider at overseas bases.

When you arrive at an overseas duty location for the first time, it’s easy to notice that a military installation is basically a city in a microcosm. Overseas, you may have access to a Post Exchange and Commissary; you may find there are individual vendors on base offering clothing alterations and dry cleaning, electronics, and even a liquor store and convenience stores depending on the location of the base and other variables.

All of those enterprises need staff. But lest you think the only jobs on base are in retail or are retail-adjacent, remember that a military base depends greatly on a civilian workforce that helps process the massive volumes of documents and records generated there.

There are people who work in public affairs, those who work in the base hospital and dental clinic, and there is a massive demand for jobs involving finance, budgeting, planning, and contracting. What follows is a guide to the different types of work you may find at an overseas base. Not specific types of careers, but different classifications of work you may be qualified to apply for.

Find companies seeking to place military, veterans, and spouses!

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Overseas Military Spouse Career Options

There are several different types of employment you can find on a military base in general. They include:

Nonappropriated fund job
Civil Service positions
Defense contracting

Nonappropriated Fund Jobs

Non-appropriated fund jobs, also known as NAF jobs, are labeled as such because the funds used to pay employee salaries and benefits are not taxpayer dollars--the money is “self-generated”. These jobs are typically service jobs and may include opportunities at the Base Exchange, Commissary, fitness centers, and recreation centers.

Pro Tip: Not all NAF jobs are service-related but there are plenty of entry-level positions that some use as a stopgap while exploring other options.

Appropriated Fund Jobs/Civil Service Jobs

Appropriated fund jobs are paid for by taxpayer dollars and are more career-oriented. You may find Civil Service jobs at overseas bases that include opportunities in contracting, skilled labor, public affairs, office admin, and support staff.

Civil Service jobs are said to be more “portable” and you may find spouse hiring preference options with these positions in the form of points toward your Civil Service exam score. Such preference may not be available for all positions but where it is available, it’s a definite advantage for many applicants.

Pro Tip: Civil Service exams, depending on the subject, may have test prep documents. Check the job description to see if one exists for the jobs you want.

Defense contracting

Defense contractors may operate on or in cooperation with an overseas military base, and these enterprises need civilian employees. If an arrangement exists with a base and a contractor or group of contractors, job opportunities will be posted on that base’s official site in the appropriate place, but you can also make an appointment with a base employment readiness specialist where available.

Pro Tip: If you are interested in defense contracting jobs, get familiar with the official sites for known defense contractors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, etc. Pay close attention to the careers sections of these sites as the positions advertised may hit those sites first before they are sent out to military job sites and other job boards.

Virtual work

Virtual employment–being able to work from home with no need for office visits– may or may not be offered by the base you’re assigned to. But many stateside (and overseas) companies do allow telecommuting, virtual work, and variations of these practices. You may not need to apply for on-base employment or use spouse hiring preference if you can find work that you can do at home.

Pro Tip: Make sure you know your military installation’s rules about running a home business using internet services offered on base or on-post. You may discover some bases have rules about acceptable use of internet services provided on base; it may be necessary to pay for host nation internet service in order to run your business according to base regulations. That said, it’s important to ALSO know whether working from home constitutes a business or not where those rules are concerned. If you are an employee, but not a sole proprietor, that may make a difference depending on the base.

Work In The Local Community

There are options, depending on the host nation, to work in the local economy. Businesses close to overseas military bases may be more amenable to hiring Americans, especially if you have any grasp of the local language. Working in the local community can be challenging where tax laws and employment guidelines are concerned. You’ll want to discuss working off base with someone from the base legal office if you aren’t sure what your rights and responsibilities are with off-post employment.

What to Know About Applying for Military Spouse Jobs Overseas

There are options to claim military spouse hiring preference at an overseas base in a similar way you can apply for it stateside; military spouse preference policies at overseas bases let you claim preference on a one-time basis to land appropriated fund (Civil Service) jobs or non-appropriated fund jobs up to a certain pay grade.

To qualify for this preference, you must be the legal spouse of an active duty service member and you must be listed on the service member’s Permanent Change of Station orders. When applying, you are permitted to use military spouse preference until you are offered a permanent NAF or Civil Service job. You may accept or decline the position but you are not offered hiring preference a second time. You do not lose your preference when accepting or declining a temporary job.

To get started, contact the Human Resources office at your new assignment and ask how to start the application process.

If you decide to explore your job opportunities off base, remember that scams and con games are everywhere; trying to avoid them in a culture you aren’t familiar with can be tricky. Get the advice of people who have been assigned to the base for a while and ask them if there’s anything to beware of when looking for work in the local area.

Some establishments may have a reputation you don’t know about yet, there may be a local scam artist “everyone” knows about except new arrivals, and some employment opportunities aren’t always what they are advertised to be.

You’ll want to vet any potential employer as best you can before you decide whether or not to take a job somewhere. Beware any employer who asks you to surrender your passport or other official documents; report such requests to installation law enforcement immediately.

The same rules for finding stateside jobs can apply overseas; it is generally a bad idea to pay someone money for the “privilege” of working for them, you should not be required to invest any of your own money upfront to accept a job, and you should always consider bringing an escort with you when traveling to areas you aren’t familiar with in an overseas location.

Do not sign documents you don’t understand or cannot read and remember that some businesses or employers in the local area may be banned from doing business with the base if they have run afoul of certain laws or regulations. It’s never a good idea to accept work from a company in bad standing with the local command.

>> Find opportunities with job recruiters and staffing companies looking to assist veterans and military spouses. Get started today!

15 Aug 2201 Mar 23

TRICARE for Spouses and Dependents

TRICARE is the military health insurance plan for service members and their families. TRICARE automatically covers new troops when they ship out to basic training, but they must enroll themselves and their family members later. Servicemembers are automatically covered by TRICARE Prime during basic training and technical training and are required to enroll in Prime or other options depending on where their first duty station might be (stateside or in the United States).

Family members are typically enrolled in Prime or Prime Overseas but have other options–including those not offered to active duty service members.

TRICARE Options for Spouses and Dependents

Spouses and dependents of active duty service members have the following options under TRICARE:

TRICARE Select: a preferred provider organization plan, also known as a PPO, which offered to those in the United States
TRICARE Select Overseas: This plan provides comprehensive coverage for family members living at overseas duty locations.
US Family Health Plan: the TRICARE official site as “an additional TRICARE Prime option available through networks of community-based, not-for-profit health care systems”. This plan is not offered nationwide, but only in “designated US Family Health Plan” areas.
TRICARE For Life: The TRICARE official site describes this as Medicare-wraparound coverage for TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries. To qualify you must have Medicare Part A and B.

Who Is TRICARE Select for?

TRICARE Select is offered to the immediate families (spouses, children) of active duty service members, military retirees and family, spouses and children of qualifying Guard/Reserve members, survivors, and several others. You must enroll in this program and you must be registered in DEERS before doing so.

Using TRICARE Select

When you use TRICARE Select, you may make medical appointments with any TRICARE-authorized care provider. You have options to use in-network and out-of-network providers and referrals are not required for “most primary and specialty appointments.”

The TRICARE official site advises that you may need “pre-authorization from your regional contractor for some services”. TRICARE Select does not require you to carry a TRICARE insurance card. You use your military-issued ID as proof of your insurance coverage.

Paying For TRICARE Select

This health insurance features costs that may vary depending on the status of the service member. In general, you’ll pay an annual outpatient deductible, plus cost sharing for any TRICARE-covered services. There are enrollment fees for TRICARE Group A retirees, a practice that started in 2021.

Who Is TRICARE Select Good For?

TRICARE Select is not available to service members on active duty. That includes members of the National Guard and the Reserve. Spouses and family members may choose Select in cases where they live somewhere TRICARE Prime is not offered or available, or if you have other health insurance coverage. Select is also good when using a healthcare provider that is not in the TRICARE network and you do not want to change your provider.

What Is TRICARE Select Overseas?

TRICARE Select Overseas is a plan offered to spouses and dependents. Select Overseas offers “comprehensive coverage in all overseas areas” according to the TRICARE official site. You must enroll in TRICARE Select Overseas, and you are required to be registered in DEERS (and your record must show you as eligible to enroll in TRICARE) before you do so.

Who Is TRICARE Select Overseas for?

After active duty family members, other groups may be eligible for TRICARE Select Overseas. These include, but may not be limited to:

- Retired service members and their families
- Family members of those ordered to active duty service for more than 30 days in a row.
- Guard/Reserve members

- Qualifying non-activated Guard/Reserve members and their families under the Transitional Assistance Management Program
- Retired Guard/Reserve members (who are 60 or older) and their families*
- Survivors

Using TRICARE Select Overseas

You don’t need a referral to an overseas provider, and you can schedule an appointment with “any” overseas care provider as long as they are listed in the authorized directory. Pre-authorization may be required for some care or services. You do not need a TRICARE card, your military-issued ID card acts as your proof of insurance.

Paying for TRICARE Select Overseas

Overall costs may depend on the status of the service member, but in general expect to pay an annual outpatient deductible, cost sharing for services, plus any required enrollment fees. With TRICARE Select Overseas, you should expect to pay for your care upfront and out of pocket. You will file a claim to be reimbursed for your health care.

Who Is Right for TRICARE Select Overseas?

You are not required to use TRICARE Select Overseas; you can be enrolled in the service members’ TRICARE Prime Overseas instead. If you don’t want either option you may need to purchase other health insurance.

What Is the TRICARE US Family Health Plan?

This option is offered as “an additional TRICARE Prime option” offered via community-based, not-for-profit health care systems. There are six care centers in the United States offering care under this option. Those care centers are:

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Martin’s Point Health Care
Brighton Marine Health Center
St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers
CHRISTUS Health
Pacific Medical Centers

Not all regions have US Family Health Plan options. You may be eligible for the TRICARE US Family Health Plan if you live in one of the following areas:

Maine
New Hampshire
Vermont
Upstate and Western New York
Northern Tier of Pennsylvania
Maryland
Washington D.C.
Parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, New York City
Long Island
Southern Connecticut
New Jersey
Philadelphia and area suburbs
Southeast Texas
Southwest Louisiana
West Virginia
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Northern Connecticut
Western Washington state
Parts of eastern Washington state
Northern Idaho
Western Oregon

Who Qualifies for the TRICARE US Family Health Plan?

This TRICARE option is offered to active duty family members, military retirees, and their families, family members of Guard/Reserve members who are called to active duty for more than 30 days, plus the following:

- Qualifying non-activated National Guard/Reserve members and their families under the Transitional Assistance Management Program
- Retired National Guard/Reserve members (age 60 or older) and their families
- Survivors
- Medal of Honor recipients and their families
- Qualified former spouses

Using the TRICARE US Family Health Plan

All care under this plan is provided by an approved provider you pick from a list of private doctors affiliated with an approved not-for-profit health care option. If you need specialized care, the primary care provider is expected to help you get appointments for these services. No care at military hospitals or TRICARE providers in the area is possible with the TRICARE US Family Health Plan.

Paying for the US Family Health Plan

There are no enrollment fees for active duty family members. There are no out-of-pocket costs for care IF you are getting that care from your approved provider. All other care requires annual enrollment fees and copays.

Who Is Right for the TRICARE US Family Health Plan?

Those who live in one of the designated areas for this program should consider the option, even if they choose not to enroll. Making a fully informed choice about your healthcare–even TRICARE options–is crucial if you want to get the most out of your coverage.

What Is TRICARE For Life?

TRICARE For Life is offered to those who are eligible for TRICARE and who also carry Medicare Part A and B. Enrollment is NOT required, this coverage is automatic if you have Part A and B. You must pay Medicare Part B premiums, and in the United States, TRICARE is NOT the primary payer. TRICARE pays AFTER Medicare in the USA and U.S. territories. In overseas areas, TRICARE is the first payer.

Who Is Eligible for TRICARE For Life?

The eligibility requirements for this option are likely the most simple of all those listed here. To qualify you must simply be TRICARE-eligible AND carry Medicare Part A and Part B.

How TRICARE For Life Works

TRICARE For Life is available to use with any care provider who accepts Medicare. You WILL need a Medicare card, but you won’t need a TRICARE insurance card since your military-issued ID card serves as your proof of insurance. Treatment MAY be available at military hospitals or other facilities but this is provided on a space-available basis only.

Paying for TRICARE For Life

There are no enrollment fees for this TRICARE option but you are required to pay premiums for Medicare Part B. Those fees are established based on the applicant’s income. If you need to know which options are covered under this TRICARE program you can use a search tool provided on the official site to look up specific types.

Using TRICARE For Life

This program is offered worldwide; the TRICARE official site says you may use “any provider you want” but warns that higher costs may be possible when you “get care from Veteran’s Administration providers or providers who opt-out of Medicare because they’re not allowed to bill Medicare”.

21 Jun 2201 Mar 23

VA Health Benefits for Military Spouses & Dependents

Are you the spouse or child of a veteran? If so, you may already be familiar with some VA benefits, but did you know that children and legally married spouses of veterans may also be entitled to certain VA benefits?

You may not be required to have any military service to apply for some VA benefits. Some of these are related to the death of the service member, such as VA burial benefits and what the VA terms “survivor compensation.”

Other benefits may be offered to those providing care for a veteran. Some are offered to all qualifying spouses or children; others may be need-specific such as VA options for those formally acting as caregivers, whether related or not.

Military Spouses’ and Dependents’ VA Healthcare Options

Military spouses are likely already familiar with military benefits such as TRICARE, the military’s comprehensive health coverage program managed by the Department of Defense.

But did you know that you may qualify for TRICARE if you’re a family member of a retired or deceased service member, or a Medal of Honor awardee? The Department of Veterans Affairs encourages all who may be eligible to apply in addition to requesting any applicable benefits through the VA.

Not all dependents and spouses can qualify for TRICARE on their own. For example, if you are the spouse of a military member who has separated, but not retired from the military, you would not be eligible to apply. But if you are the spouse of a military member who qualified for and received a military pension, you may be eligible. Other restrictions may apply.

Dependent children of service members who have died on active duty or who have retired may qualify depending on circumstances. Age and marital status may be a factor in determining eligibility.

Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)

The spouse and children of veterans with VA-rated disabilities and those whose parent or spouse died in the line of duty may qualify for CHAMPVA. This cost-sharing program distributes the payment of your medical care between you and the Department of Veterans Affairs. If you do not qualify for TRICARE, consider this option as a dependent or spouse.

You may qualify for CHAMPVA if any of the following applies, starting with a requirement that you were not eligible for TRICARE:

The applicant is:

the spouse or child of a Veteran who’s been VA-rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability or;
a surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who died from a VA-rated service-connected disability, or;
a surviving spouse or child of a Veteran who was at the time of death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or;
a surviving spouse or child of a service member who died in the line of duty, and not due to misconduct.

If you qualify for CHAMPVA, you may also be eligible for certain pharmacy benefits including the VA Meds By Mail program. Program requirements are subject to change, contact the VCA directly to learn what the most current benefits and requirements are for these options.

It pays to start early, and if you are applying from an overseas location be sure to build in extra time for processing and other details. Not all VA healthcare benefits are available in all VA locations, check with a VA Regional Office to learn what you may need to travel for and what may be offered in your area.

The VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers

Spouses and children who need support and services while caring for an injured veteran family member should explore this program. You may be entitled to financial help, health insurance, counseling, training, and respite care. Eligibility depends on meeting all the requirements below:

The applicant

must be at least 18 years old
is a child, stepchild, extended family member, or spouse of a qualifying veteran
must live full-time with the veteran or must be willing to do so

The veteran must

have a VA disability rating of 70% or higher
have been caused on or after September 11, 2001, or on/before May 7, 1975
have a military discharge
must require a minimum of 6 months of continuous, in-person care services

“Care services” in this context means everyday health, personal needs, and safety. The caregiver and the veteran must apply for this benefit together.

When you are approved for this program, you may be eligible to receive caregiver training for qualifying primary and secondary care providers, mental health counseling, and even financial assistance for travel and lodging when providing care.

The veteran can name one primary caregiver and two secondary care providers. If you are approved as a care provider, you may be entitled to a monthly payment, access to care through CHAMPVA, and you may also qualify to get a month of respite care services.

The Camp Lejeune Family Member Program

If you lived at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune for 30 consecutive days or more between 1953 and 1987, you may qualify for the Camp Lejeune Family Member program. Why? You “may have had contact with contaminants in the drinking water there,” according to the VA official site. The contaminants you may have been exposed to are known to contribute to “certain diseases later on,” according to the VA.

If you have been diagnosed with any of the following, contact the VA immediately to learn how to apply for this vital program:

Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia
“Other” myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Parkinson’s disease
Breast cancer
Esophageal cancer
Female infertility
Miscarriage
Neurobehavioral effects
Renal toxicity
Scleroderma
Hepatic steatosis

When applying for this program, you will need to provide certain documentation, including:

A document proving your relationship to the veteran who served on active duty for at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune. This can be a marriage certificate, birth certificate for dependents, etc.)
A bill, tax record, lease agreement, or other paperwork proving you lived at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 days from August 1953 through December 1987.
Medical records that show you have a qualifying condition like those listed above.

You may need to file a VA claim for disability compensation in association with these conditions, and filing that claim will require evidence. You should count on needing to gather any military medical records plus any information you can get from civilian care, out-of-network care, etc. Any supporting documentation from family and friends, such as letters explaining how your condition has affected your ability to live, work, and enjoy your life.

The VA Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Benefits Program

Are you the biological child of a woman Vietnam War Veteran? If you have been diagnosed with certain birth defects, you may qualify for VA health care benefits that can help you pay for any services you need related to birth defects or “related medical conditions.” To qualify, VA rules say you must have been “conceived after the date the Veteran entered the Republic of Vietnam (period beginning Feb. 28, 1961, and ending May 7, 1975), and who have one of the covered birth defects as determined by the VBA”

To apply, mail a completed Application for Benefits For Certain Children of Vietnam Veterans With Disabilities, VA Form 21-0304, along with your supporting medical evidence (see above), to the address listed on the form. If you qualify, the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies the VA Office of Community Care, and your enrollment in the programs from there is “automatic,” according to the VA official site.

These are not the only benefits available. Contact the Department Of Veterans Affairs for more information on what you may be entitled to based on your qualifications.

To learn more about TRICARE and other benefits, healthcare, loans, and more. We recommend reviewing our comprehensive Spouse & Dependents’ Military Benefits Guide. You can find information about coverage, eligibility, and more in the guide.

09 Jun 2224 Feb 23

VA Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers education benefits for qualifying dependents and surviving spouses of military members who have died, are missing, or are prisoners of war. Known as the VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, it is also referred to as Chapter 35 benefits and is offered to those who meet VA criteria, which we’ll explore below.

What Benefits Come with VA DEA?

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers qualifying applicants a monthly payment that can help offset the cost of:

Undergraduate college degree programs
Graduate-level degree programs
Career-training certificates
Educational and career counseling
Apprenticeships
On-the-job training

These benefits are available to most who start using them today for up to 36 months. Those who started using VA DEA before August 1, 2018, had 45 months of benefits.

Benefits are paid according to the nature of your attendance; full-time, half-time, etc. The nature of your training or coursework may also determine your pay rates. For example, the full-time monthly rate in October 2021 for “institutional training” was listed at $1,298.00. Three-quarter -time attendance was paid at $1,026.00 in 2021, and half-time attendance was paid at $753.00.

For “Correspondence” training, there is a payment that is calculated at “55 percent of the established charge for the number of lessons completed” paid every quarter.

For apprenticeships and on-the-job training, VA DEA benefits in 2021 were paid out at $825.00 per month for the first six months of training. The second six months were paid monthly at a rate of $620.00, with lower rates paid for the remainder of the training period.

There are certain benefits paid for cooperative training that are not considered “farm cooperative” training. Those rates in 2021 were paid only for full-time training at just under $1300 a month. Farm Coop training was paid at a full-time rate of $908.00 a month.

All of the numbers you see here are listed as examples of past compensation only. Your experience may vary and VA compensation rates are subject to change at any time due to legislation, changes in the program, and other variables.

School Participation

Not all schools participate in VA DEA, and you will need to determine whether it makes sense to enter a program using your DEA benefits or if you should save them and use a state or local program instead. Some states may offer military spouses and dependents a similar set of benefits to DEA–compare them side-by-side to see which may be the best option for that school.

Changes in the law may also work in your favor; if it has been a year or two since you last explored your VA education benefit options, check again. Legislation in the past five to seven years has changed these benefits, significantly in some cases, and the answers you got about your options a few years ago may no longer apply.

Remember, recent legislation has paid more attention to dependents and spouses of military members and it may only be a matter of time before some features (such as who may use a VA education benefit and whether it may be transferred to a spouse or child) are reviewed periodically to see how they may be improved or streamlined.

You can always contact the Department of Veterans Affairs directly at 1-800-827-1000 to learn what your most current education benefits are and how they may have changed since the last time you explored your education options. Checking again could reveal a whole new set of options for you to consider.

Qualifying for the VA DEA Program

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits are offered to those with a military parent or spouse who meet the any one of the following conditions:

The parent or spouse (a veteran or service member) is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
They died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, or
They are missing in action or captured/forcibly detained in the line of duty, or
They are in the hospital or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and are likely to be discharged for that disability.

The children of these servicemembers and veterans must meet the following requirements:

Must be between the ages of 18 and 26, (except in certain VA-defined circumstances) cases.
If the dependent joins the military they may not use this benefit while on active duty.
If an eligible dependent leaves the military and wants to use the VA DEA program they cannot have a Dishonorable discharge.
Dependents may have their eligibility extended due to military service, but that extension typically won’t last beyond the 31st birthday.

Spouses should know the following VA requirements when applying for VA DEA benefits:

DEA benefits start on the date the VA decides you qualify or on the date of the Veteran’s death. They will last for 10 years.
If the Veteran is VA-rated as permanently and totally disabled, “with an effective date that’s 3 years after discharge from active duty” a spouse may qualify for benefits for 20 years.
If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end “20 years from the date of death” according to the VA.

How to Apply for VA DEA Benefits

There are two basic scenarios you might need to know about when applying for DEA benefits. The first is when you’re looking for a school to attend and you want to apply for those benefits in conjunction with your commitment to a specific school you have not started attending yet.

In such cases, you’ll first need to verify that the school you have selected is approved for VA benefits and actively participates. Not all schools are approved, and not all choose to participate. Once you have determined you can use DEA benefits at your school, apply for VA education benefits for dependents using VA Form 22-5490. You can submit electronically or by regular mail.

The other scenario is that you are already attending classes at a school you want to use DEA benefits. In these cases, you’ll want to get a DEA application to your school or your employer if you are using VA benefits for on-the-job training or similar programs.

You’ll need the school or employer to fill out VA Form 22-1999, VA Enrollment Certification and you will need to have that submitted to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For Those Eligible for DEA Benefits and the Fry Scholarship

The Fry Scholarship is a VA education benefit offered to qualifying applicants. If you had a military spouse or parent who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or a spouse/parent who was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability, you may qualify.

In some cases, those who are eligible for DEA benefits may also qualify for the Fry Scholarship. If you are the dependent child of a service member who died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011, you can qualify for both DEA and Fry for a total of 81 months of education benefits. But you cannot use both programs at once. Using the Fry Scholarship you typically get up to 36 months of benefits including:

Full in-state tuition costs at public schools or;
Up to $22,805 per year for training at private or out-of-state schools
Funds for housing
Funds for books
Funds for supplies

Most are required to choose between Fry and DEA unless you meet the criteria mentioned above. Typically you can use one or the other, but not both. You will be asked to make your choice at application time and it pays to compare both benefits side-by-side to see which may be the better choice for you.

29 Apr 2228 Feb 23

New Army Directive Will Make Life Easier for Military Families

The Army’s New Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive

Last week the U.S. Army updated its Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive. This was a result of a grassroots effort by soldiers who knew that there needed to be changes made. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth signed the directive on April 19th.

This directive is aimed at improving opportunities for soldiers to advance their careers and also provide the time and flexibility that is needed to care for military families.

According to an Army.mil article, “We recruit Soldiers, but we retain Families,” said Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army. “Winning the war for talent means making sure our best and brightest people don’t have to choose between service and Family.”

This directive has 12 components, six are new, and six are updates. This will affect over 400,000 parents within the Army and includes 29,000 single fathers. This consolidated document will be used as a resource for leaders going forward so they can help military families.

From the memorandum, “This directive updates Army policy and executes Secretary of Defense priorities pursuant to reference 1f. It incorporates evidence-based health and wellness guidance to improve quality of life, promote flexibility, and enable all Soldiers to safely continue their duties, return to readiness, perform critical assignments, and advance in their careers while growing their Families. This directive is grounded in the Army People Strategy; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Annex; Holistic Health and Fitness practices; Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Policy; and medical guidance. It also serves as part of the broader Action Plan To Prioritize People and Teams.”

Who Does the Directive Apply To?

This directive will apply to:

Regular Army (RA)
Army National Guard (ARNG)
Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS)
U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)

Categories included in the Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive

Here are the different categories included in the Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive as well as some of the changes. You can view the rest of the details of the directive on the memorandum linked above.

Postpartum Body Composition Exemption
- The body composition exemption is increased from 180 days to 365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy.

Physical Fitness Testing
- Soldiers will be exempt from taking a record physical fitness test while pregnant and for a year after pregnancy.

Uniforms
- There will be exemptions for pregnancy and postpartum.
- Child Development Program facilities may be designated as “No-Hat, No-Salue” areas.

Operations and Training Deferment
- They want to ensure that at least one parent is home with their child so all birth parents (soldiers who physically give birth) are deferred or excused for 365 days after the birth of their child from deployments, mobilizations, field training, and other types of military assignments.

Professional Military Education (PME)
- A pregnancy profile will not disqualify a soldier from being selected as an honor graduate or commandant list selectee.

Location Accommodations
- Commands will need to provide lactation breaks and designated location areas for lactating soldiers.

Fertility Treatments
- Soldiers will be stabilized from a PCS or a deployment for up to 365 days from their first appointment while receiving fertility treatments.

Conclusion of Pregnancy
- Convalescent leave after a birth event, miscarriage, or stillbirth. This will apply to the soldier or the spouse of a soldier.

Family Care Plans (FCPs)
- Soldiers will be given at least three weeks’ notice for duty requirements outside of the normal duty hours as well as for significant changes to the soldier’s normal duty hours.

Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS)
- Pregnant soldiers will be eligible to apply and compete for ADOS tours despite their medical readiness classification 3 status.

Parental Leave in the Reserve Component
- Birthparents will be granted 12 paid UTAs (Unit Training Assemblies) within a year after giving birth. They will also be allowed 4 UTAs that will be unpaid but could be rescheduled.

Education of Leaders
- Pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting training will be incorporated throughout all pre-command courses.

The Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Directive will help the Army become more family-friendly which helps with retention. These changes will help to fix some of the issues soldiers have had while trying to raise a family along with a career in the military.