This afternoon, the House of Representatives made history. By an overwhelming margin, lawmakers passed the landmark new GI Bill which will make college affordable to the more than 1.6 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
When Sgt. Patrick Campbell returned to law school after serving a tour in Iraq, his student lender told him that he was defaulting on his payments. Due to his deployment to Iraq, he had used up all of his permissible grace period. Unlike his non-veteran classmates, the lender was going to require Patrick to start repaying his loans the day after graduation. Finally, after writing dozens of letters and spending hours on the phone, he was told that the only way to restore his pre-deployment status would be to rewrite the laws. So he did just that. Patrick spent his final year in law school writing the Veterans Education Tuition Support Act (VETS) to help returning student-soldiers.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2006 – The Department of Justice has launched a Web site to protect servicemembers’ rights, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzalez said yesterday.
Continue reading "Justice Department Presents Web Site to Explain Military Rights" »
Service members in uniform can now watch their favorite World Wrestling Entertainment superstars in action free of charge.
World Wrestling Entertainment is offering all U.S. military personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Reserves and National Guard a complimentary ticket to a live WWE event in their local area, provided they come dressed in uniform with a military ID.
ARLINGTON, Va. — Authorities have found the laptop containing personal data on 26.5 million veterans and current servicemembers that was stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee, the FBI announced Thursday.
An initial review of the computer equipment indicated that the personal data had not been accessed since the laptop was stolen, an FBI news release says.
Continue reading "Stolen laptop containing VA personnel information is found" »
Troops will pay more for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance starting July 1, Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced June 14.
At the same time, premiums under the separate SGLI program for family members will drop across the board, VA officials said.
A modified version of the “Troops to Teachers” program has been approved by the Senate.
This time, the wrinkle involves getting nurses who are leaving the military to consider jobs as nursing instructors in an effort to fill nationwide shortages in the profession.
Continue reading "Post-service training proposal clears Senate" »
A North Carolina congressman proposes boosting retired pay for special operations troops to encourage them to stay in service instead of accepting lucrative private-sector security jobs.
But Rep. Robin Hayes’ idea to allow special pays and bonuses to be included when calculating retirement pay is controversial. Even Hayes does not expect it to be acted upon this year.
Continue reading "New bill would boost spec ops retired pay" »
Family members and troops are a step closer to protections from unscrupulous insurance and financial product salespeople, courtesy of a bill approved by a key Senate committee.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs approved the Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act on June 14. The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Continue reading "Senate panel OKs financial protection bill" »
ARLINGTON, Va. — To get Marines to join the Reserves after active duty, the Marine Corps is promising not to deploy them for two years, the Marine Corps has announced.
Marines who wish to deploy sooner can still do so.
Continue reading "Marines joining Reserve after active-duty to get war reprieve" »
About 150 Marines from Battery I left this morning for training. The unit is reporting for duty with its parent command, the 3rd Battalion 14th Marines. For most of the Marines, it will be their first deployment.
(At the bottom of this article is information about PA's Military Family Relief)
Continue reading "A group of American Marine reservists based in Reading is headed to Iraq." »
Hundreds of soldiers wounded in battle in Iraq have found themselves fighting off bill collectors on the home front, according to a report to be released tomorrow. The draft report by the Government Accountability Office, which ABC News obtained, said that hundreds of wounded soldiers had military debts incurred through no fault of their own turned over to collection agencies.
EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (April 7, 2006) -- Famed lyricist, John Lennon, once wrote, “All you need is love.” For some couples with 2nd Marine Logistics Group, their love for one another brought them together to seek the never ending task of improvement.
Continue reading "Marriage enrichment class provides “bouquet” of knowledge" »
WHAT’S UP: To help wounded service members and their families deal with pressing financial issues and get their finances on track, volunteers from the nonprofit Financial Planning Association are giving presentations and providing financial counseling at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where the bulk of service members wounded in combat zones are treated. The effort, which kicked off Jan. 31, is being coordinated with Army Community Services.
Continue reading "Pay & Benefits, Money advice for the wounded" »
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2006 – Military life is full of ups and downs. But for it to be a more positive experience, military spouses have to know themselves, Amberlynde Graham said.
Continue reading "Married to the Military: Spouses Need Own Identity" »
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 19, 2006) -- Service members who suffer traumatic injuries in combat will be eligible for financial compensation Dec. 1 thanks to a new program under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.
Continue reading "Servicemembers receive new benefits for severe combat injuries" »
A college degree may lead to better job opportunities and better pay. In fact, earning a bachelor's or graduate degree increases one's average hourly wage compared to those with only a high school diploma, according to a Rand Corp. survey.
Continue reading "Help for Military Spouses Going Back to School" »
The rise in military divorce rates raised a red flag in the armed services. In 2004, nearly 10,477 military couples divorced, according to a Department of Defense report. What's more, military couple divorces steadily increased from 2002 (7,000 divorces reported) to 2003 (more than 7,500 divorces). Army officials speculate that the reasons for the increase range from alcohol misuse to anger-management issues for troops returning from deployment, reports Stars and Stripes.
Affordable childcare is hard to find. For civilian families, the average cost of childcare tuition exceeds $3,300 per child and is over $5,000 per child in 20 states, according to a 2002 U.S. House Ways and Means committee report.
WASHINGTON — Officials at Anheuser-Busch have extended their offer of free theme park admission for active-duty servicemembers through 2006, allowing troops and up to three family members a free day of rest and roller coasters.
Continue reading "Free theme park tickets for servicemembers" »
SAN DIEGO -- There's controversy over how the military is transporting the bodies of service members killed overseas, San Diego TV station KGTV reported.
Continue reading "Family Upset After Soldier's Body Shipped As Freight" »
From the first day of boot camp, a Marine is part of a team, rarely serving or fighting alone. That ends when a Marine is severely injured in combat and rushed from the field for medical care. Those without family to care for them at home can find themselves alone with no place to go.
Continue reading "N.C. Marine Barracks Helps Wounded Troops" »
"They gave their life fighting for our Country...
now it is our turn to take care of their Children"
With the ongoing global war against terrorism and the continuing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the goal of the Vail Armed Forces Week, is to raise funds for Recognized Military Foundations, providing educational scholarships, for the children who have lost a parent or was seriously wounded while serving our country. For this years event 90% of the net proceeds from the weeks event will be equally distributed to the
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
and
Naval Special Warfare Foundation.
The balance of 10% to be donated to a Army Foundation still to be selected.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Dec. 8, 2005) -- Marines are trained to deploy: Married or single. This includes single parents.
Hundreds of soldiers and Marines based in North Carolina flocked to magistrates to be married in early 2003. Young and headed to Iraq, they were joining a romantic tradition as old as war and marriage.
Continue reading "Failed marriages can often follow wartime romances" »
Scores of military families are webcasting (via video and audio) special holiday greetings to loved ones serving overseas during the national tour of "Operation Best Wishes."
Some former and current U.S. Marine Corps personnel may be eligible for financial compensation through the newly established Traumatic Injury Insurance Program.
Continue reading "U.S. Marines Begin Offering Traumatic Injury Insurance Program" »
Spouses of ‘individual augments’ banding together at Camp Courtney
Continue reading "Wives of deployed Marines supporting each other" »
The Department of Defense announced today the implementation of traumatic injury protection insurance under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program as enacted by section 1032 of Public Law 109-13.
Continue reading "DoD Announces Implementation of Traumatic Injury Protection" »
Hundreds of soldiers and Marines based in North Carolina flocked to magistrates to be married in early 2003. Young and headed to Iraq, they were joining a romantic tradition as old as war and marriage.
Continue reading "War taking toll on N.C. military marriages" »
Sailors and Marines moving to the San Diego area will see changes in their basic allowance for housing (BAH) effective Jan. 1, 2006.
Continue reading "New San Diego Sailors, Marines to See BAH Changes" »
CLEVELAND -- University Hospitals is offering LASIK vision correction for free to area Marines.
Continue reading "Local Hospital Offers Free LASIK Surgery To Marines" »
DOLLARDAYS JOINS FORCES WITH MILITARY FAMILY NETWORK TO HELP SOLDIERS’ FAMILIES, RETURNING VETS Small Retailers Join Operation DollarDays to Support U.S. Troops
Continue reading " Operation Dollar Days Supports Families with Free Flowers and Programs" »
The Department of Defense achieved a major milestone with the launch of AHLTA, its global electronic health record system, at a ceremony hosted by Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and attended by Michael O. Leavitt, secretary of health and human services, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda today.
Submitters note: Life in the military requires travel- here's a great article on traveling with children
Continue reading "How to Travel With Small; Children and Live to Tell About it" »
"Since my husband returned from Iraq, we seem to be fighting all the time about money. I don’t work because any money I would make would be offset by what we would have to pay for child care for our daughter....
More about Spouse Life insurance- pros/cons
Committee Marks Up Housing Bill granting programs to better accommodate our most severely injured veterans.
JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO.
CHASE/BANK ONE CARDS-ACCOUNTS
Continue reading " Bank Offers Hotline for Deployed Troops" »
Life in the military requires the ability to adapt constantly - to new places, new responsibilities and new challenges. It's no different when it comes to staying on top of your insurance coverage.
Continue reading "Take the Wheel and Save on Auto Insurance" »
Why Use A VA Home Loan?
Continue reading "Money: 14 Reasons For Using a VA Home Loan" »
Annoucing military scholarships.
Continue reading "America Supports You: Commissary, Fisher House Offer Scholarships" »
U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES, PACIFIC, CAMP H. M. SMITH, Hawaii (Oct. 24, 2005) -- In 2004, 2,235 enlisted Marines divorced, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center. This brought the divorce rate in the Marine Corps up to about 65 percent, 20 percent more than the average rate in the U.S., according to the DMDC.
Continue reading "Setting up for marital bliss or preparing for a divorce" »
DOD PRESS RELEASE
ARMED FORCES PRESS SERVICES
FORT LEE, Va., Oct. 21, 2005 – Commissary shoppers looking for a different kind of gift for friends or family at home or abroad can now shop online at the "Virtual Commissary."
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2005 – The Fisher House organization uses more than a million frequent flyer miles per week in distributing free round-trip airline tickets to families of war-wounded servicemembers being treated in military and Veterans Affairs medical facilities across the country.
Continue reading "America Supports You: Fisher House Distributes Airline Tickets" »
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2005) -- Housing, hospital and construction projects and lead updates were announced during a town hall meeting at the San Luis Rey Officer’s Club Oct. 13.
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan (Oct. 11, 2005) -- Last July, when the doctors diagnosed his wife with gastric cancer, all the other problems in Sgt. Devin Mitchell’s life no longer seemed to matter. His main concern immediately turned to the health of his wife, Hisano.
Continue reading "Marine gets ‘exceptional’ help from military program" »
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. (Oct. 6, 2005) -- It is said that the strongest of bonds between two people is marriage. Unfortunately, a marriage between a man and a woman can be broken, and domestic violence could be the sledgehammer that crushes it all.
Continue reading "Victim advocates help victims of domestic violence cope" »
SGLI raises to 400,000
PIERRE, S.D. --
The state of South Dakota is paying a veterans bonus of up to $500 to certain military personnel who were legal residents of the state for no less than six months immediately preceding entry into the Armed Forces, who are currently on active duty or were honorably discharged from the Armed Forces, and who served on active duty during one, or both of the following periods.
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(Sept. 29, 2005) -- Camp Pendleton-based Marines preparing to replace II Marine Expeditionary Force units in Iraq now have a more high-speed option to complete their military education.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC (Sept. 23, 2005) -- The Lowcountry Council of Governments is currently working to develop vanpool routes to help employees in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties get to and from work.
Continue reading "Lowcountry SmartVan Program offers commuters transportation alternative" »
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Sept. 22, 2005) -- With the ever-rising prices of gas, Marine Corps Community Services and Quantico officials have changed the existing gas-pumping and pay procedures at the base gas station to a prepay system.
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (Sept. 22, 2005) -- Marine Corps Community Services Military OneSource has added an additional feature to its already vast library of online resources to help assist service members and their families.