I encounter Veterans daily whether it’s in my neighborhood, at the grocery store, or working out at the gym on base. Whenever you start chatting with the veterans it seems like they always have stories. Their stories are vivid, sometimes comical, and often full of courage. Every single year we are losing more of our […]
Military News
Advantages Of On Post Housing
Author: Samantha Curtis One of the first decisions you have to make when changing duty stations (PCSing) is whether to live on post or off post. Since we’ve only had one duty station to date and are getting ready to PCS to our next, I wanted to share what I thought were the perks of […]
Military Wife Lessons
Author: Samantha Curtis When I stood by my husband as he took his oath before he left for Basic Training, I had no idea I was indirectly taking the oath as well. As I read book after book and stalked online forums, I had no idea what being a military wife meant. And as much […]
Veterans The NFL And PTSD
According to the National Center for Veterans’ Studies, every day, 18 military veterans attempt to commit suicide. This overwhelmingly large number can be attributed to many problems that veterans face after retiring from the military; however, one of the chief causes has been from the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on those suffering from […]
Reasons To Join The Military
Some people always find themselves pondering the idea of joining the military. While the military is not for everybody, it does contain a great deal of benefits to those who do decide to join. If you have been debating about whether or not to join the military, the following are just a few reasons you […]
How Dogs Are Used In The Military
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 […]
The 5 Most Lethal Snipers Of All Time
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 […]
Anatomy Of Military PCS Move
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 […]
The Gi Bill Consumer Awareness Act
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 […]
Military Base Housing What To Expect
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 […]
Civilian Life After Military
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 […]
Cost Of Military Spending
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how much it costs US taxpayers to equip, train and deploy the armed forces? How much do the uniforms, equipment, fuel and weapons cost and what else could it have bought? This infograph shows just what exactly what is costs to maintain and deploy the United States military. […]
DOD Schools Overseas
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 […]
How To Get Security Clearance
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 […]
Dental Care Military Personnel
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 Justice Judicial System
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 […]
Your Military Move
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 […]
5 Top Programs For Military Education
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 […]
Commissary And Post Exchange
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 […]
New Tricare Plan Pushes Prices
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 […]
Life On A Military Base
Living on a military base is more than a semi-permanent situation. It is semi in the respect that the soldier and the family will only be there for the next few years and it is permanent in that you know this is your home for those same next few years. Regardless of the size of […]
Why Personnel Lose Security Clearances
Security clearances are divided into three separate categories: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. Of these, Confidential security clearances are the easiest to acquire, while Top Secret is the most difficult. Military or civilian personnel are awarded security clearances based on the necessity of knowing certain information in order to do their job. The Department of […]
Military Medical Care
The main goal of military medical care is to maintain the physical condition of military personnel even during wartime. In doing so, they will be able to carry out their missions without delay. There are various systems imposed on different countries all over the world but it is with the health structure that the warriors […]
Tips For Transferring Overseas With A Pet
A large amount of military personnel get deployed out of the country. One of the decisions that they have to make is about the care of their pets. Transferring overseas with a pet should not be all that difficult even though you are called to duty abroad. It is just about following procedures and choosing […]
Military Spouses Separation
Although it is an inevitable part of military life, separation from your spouse is never easy. Rather for a few months or a year-long deployment, the time can crawl by during a separation, and your days are often filled with worries, fear and loneliness. However, there are things a military spouse can do to feel […]