We have all seen the pictures of military dogs standing next to their soldiers. These dogs become just as respected as their human counterparts, and their dedication to their job is endearing. The use of war dogs dates back to the early Egyptians, and many countries have used them as a necessary weapon. The Romans were known to create war groups made entirely of dogs. In the Seven Years War, Frede...
Snipers are known the world over for their shooting abilities. Able to hit targets at great distance, snipers represent the pinnacle of accuracy. The five that follow are among the most deadly of all time. #5 Chris Kyle Kyle was born in Odessa, Texas. After a brief stint as a rodeo rider, which ended due to an arm injury, Kyle enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1999. He initially failed the SEALs’...
Career military members and their families accept the frequent re-locations that are common for those who choose to serve. Mostly positive, each move provides the opportunity to meet new people, see exciting places and taste different foods. Join me as I recount and dissect one of our Permanent Change of Station moves. Official Orders: It always starts with orders – of course. In this case, my h...
Helping Veterans Choose the Right College Every year, thousands of soldiers return from a tour of duty, often times from protecting a foreign land such as Iraq or Afghanistan. Bags in hand, these men and women of valor are left to fend for themselvesand cope with the culture shock of returning to a civilian lifestyle when they return. Although the Government Issue (GI) Bill provides college ed...
A lot of things go through the minds of a military family when the service member receives orders to transfer. Close to, if not at the top of the list, would be military housing and what to expect at the new base. In the days before internet there was no way to know much about the housing on the new base unless you knew someone at your new assignment, or talked to people who had been stationed the...
For a military member who has devoted the majority of adult life in uniformed service, the thought of retiring can be somewhat intimidating. But with a little preparation, the transition from a full time military environment to a full time civilian lifestyle can be achieved without any apprehension. A military retirement is doable anytime after 20 years of service with the majority of personnel re...
Military Spending Infographic Ever wonder what the military is spending taxpayer money on, how much each piece of equipment costs and what you could have bought with the same money, if it had been yours to spend? This graphic will show you exactly that. Equipping just one U.S. soldier costs the government $17,500. That doesn’t seem like much, but it could pay a family’s health insuranc...
As there are many military families living abroad, often in places where there are little to no appropriate schools for American children, the Department of Defense offers education for these military dependent children, as well as the children of Department of Defense civilian personnel. This provides military families a chance to stay together when the military spouse is stationed overseas, allo...
Obtaining Security Clearance Security clearance is what allows a person to work in a certain field and gives them the ability to view classified information. It is needed for certain United States government and military jobs and requires extensive research and background information on the applicant. In order to obtain security clearance there a quite a few steps one must go through. One of the f...
Military Dental Care Overview US Soldiers need high quality military dental care. A voluntary insurance program for oral healthcare was implemented in 2001 which was the TRICARE Dental Program or TDP. It is available to qualified Active Duty Service Members and their families, Select Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and eligible family members. Post military dental healthcare for retire...
Military justice has been around since the beginning of the military. The military judicial system is disciplinary based. The main reason for a military justice system is for the commander to have effective ways of handling discipline and control within the ranks of the services. In 1951, the United States Congress created the Uniform Code of Military Justice, also known as UCMJ. The UCMJ was crea...
So, you have received PCS orders and after the initial excitement of moving to a new location reality sets in. Where does one begin getting ready for that big move? If you plan ahead and create a checklist your move can be smooth and seamless. The first step in the long moving process is to make the decision whether you want to do a DIY move or have the military handle everything. You need to take...
One of the best benefits of joining the military is the access that military personnel and their families receive to education benefits. The many education programs run by the military provide its members with government funded money to pay for tuition as well other educational costs, making college degree programs affordable for many individuals who otherwise wouldn’t ever be able to afford it....
Commissary Over 250 commissaries worldwide are run by the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). DeCA is a separate agency of the Department of Defense headquartered in Virginia. The role of the commissary is to sell groceries at cost plus a surcharge to all active duty, retired, members of the Guard and Reserves and their eligible family members. Commissaries generally save the shopper 30 percent from...
New TRICARE Plan Pushes Prices For soldiers, families and retirees currently receiving TRICARE benefits, you could be seeing some changes this fall. Many of which could cost you. As part of the 2013 Defense Budget Request, the Department of Defense is proposing increases to enrollment fees, deductibles and co-pays. But perhaps that shouldn’t come as a big surprise. Take a look at the numbers. In...
