BY Kelli Brewer

Serving in America’s military is an honor and a patriotic sacrifice, but it comes at a cost. A great many of our veterans and service members bear the physical marks and mental scars of their service and carry them into private life. It’s a sad state of affairs that the government for which they served sometimes isn’t able to help meet their needs, and many suffer for it. Job loss, divorce, alcoholism, and dislocation are often the result. It’s up to members of a grateful public to give our veterans a helping hand. There are many ways to help without spending a lot of money or time.

By Whitney Delbridge Nichels
U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition

ARLINGTON, Va., July 25, 2018 Thanks to advances in modern medicine and the availability of sturdier prosthetics, soldiers who are able to redeploy after amputation have a number of possible options for continued military service.

Army Staff Sgt. Brian Beem lost his leg in 2006 to an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

By Navy Seaman Michael Prusiecki - USS Nimitz

NAVAL BASE KITSAP-BREMERTON, Wash., July 25, 2018 A Navy father and daughter here say they enjoy their service together aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz .

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Eric Alexander, a native of Stuttgart, Arkansas, enlisted in the Navy in 1996 as an aviation boatswains mate. He served at various commands and eventually reached the rank of chief petty officer before being commissioned through the limited duty officer program in 2007. Since February, he has been serving as the aircraft handling officer on the Nimitz.

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2018 The Defense Department issued a substantive change today to its policy on the transfer by service members in the uniformed services of Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits to eligible family member recipients.

Effective one year from the date of this change, eligibility to transfer those benefits will be limited to service members with less than 16 years of total active-duty or selected reserve service, as applicable.

By David McNally, ARL Public Affairs July 25, 2017

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- Army scientists and engineers recently made a groundbreaking discovery -- an aluminum nanomaterial of their design produces high amounts of energy when it comes in contact with water, or with any liquid containing water.

During routine materials experimentation at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, a team of researchers observed a bubbling reaction when adding water to a nano-galvanic aluminum-based powder.

By Lance Cpl. Jake McClung, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373 supported the Veterans Village of San Diego during their 30th Annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down July 21 to 23, at San Diego High School in San Diego.

The stand down offered homeless veterans shelter and provided services such as medical care, dental care, legal assistance, haircuts and food for three days.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

1. Am I eligible for the Veterans Choice Program?

To be eligible for the program, you must be enrolled in VA health care and must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlotte C. Oliver Defense Media Activity - Navy

CHARLESTOWN, Mass., July 24, 2017 — After a two-year restoration at historic Dry Dock 1 at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historical Park, America's oldest commissioned warship, the USS Constitution, was refloated July 23.

Since entering dry dock, May 18, 2015, ship restorers from the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston and teams of sailors have worked tirelessly side by side to bring Old Ironsides back to her glory.

The reality of paying for college is that many families find themselves struggling to cover the entire college bill, despite having already filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and receiving federal, state, and school-based financial aid and scholarships. If you find yourself in this position, here are some ideas to consider and places to look to help fill the gap between what your financial aid covers and what you owe your school.

TIP: The financial aid office at your school is an excellent resource. If you didn’t get enough financial aid, contact your school’s financial aid office. They can help you explore your options.

By: Tom Philpott July 13, 2017

Military Update: The Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to make permanent the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) set to expire next spring, and paid monthly to 63,000 survivors of service members who died on active duty or, more commonly, died of severe service-connected health conditions in retirement.

If the Senate initiative becomes law, the SSIA payments of $310 a month also would be adjusted annually, starting in 2018, by the same percentage cost-of-living adjustment used to keep military retirement from fading to inflation.

By Lance Cpl. Niles Lee | July 21, 2017

Sailors with 4th Marine Logistics Group and Expeditionary Medical Facility Camp Pendleton came together in support of Innovative Readiness Training Louisiana Care 2017, alongside members of the Air National Guard, to provide medical support to local communities in the Saint John the Baptist Parish, Tangipahoa Parish and Assumption Parish in Louisiana, July 10-24, 2017.

IRT Louisiana Care 2017 is providing Louisiana communities with medical, dental and optometry care at no cost to patients, while also providing service members the opportunity to work with other branches in a domestically deployed environment to prepare them for future deployments or mobilizations.

 By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval officers unable to pursue full-time graduate studies now have an additional education option with the FY-18 Graduate Education Voucher (GEV) program, announced July 11.

Detailed in Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 160-17, the GEV program offers eligible officers the opportunity to receive funded graduate education during off-duty hours. Through GEV, unrestricted line (URL) officers can apply to receive funding for Navy-relevant graduate education meeting the requirements of at least one sub-specialty code as specified by the Navy Sub-specialty System.

Recently married? Getting married soon? Congratulations! Weddings can require a lot of planning, and you probably already have a ton on your plate, but there is one item you may not have on your to-do list that I recommend you add—figuring out how getting married can impact your student loans.

Now that you’ve read the title, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Wait. Getting married impacts my student loans?” If you’re enrolled or interested in enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan, it sure can.

By Alan Zilberman on July 12, 2017

Do you follow any of your favorite brands on Instagram? Ever checked into a restaurant on Facebook? Tweeted at a company or government office about a customer service issue?

Social media is not only a tool for people to keep in touch; it has also become an important way for businesses, government and organizations to reach wider audiences. It provides a dynamic avenue beyond radio, television and other traditional forms of advertising to interact with clients or consumers directly.

By Shannon Collins
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md., July 31, 2015 - Military families face the challenges of deployments and frequent moves and the impact they have on their children's morale and education.

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David Mason, a security forces first sergeant here, his wife, Jennifer, and their four daughters spoke with DoD News about the impact his deployments have had on their family.

By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2015 - The award of the new modernization contract for electronic health records is a great opportunity to "save money, save time, and most importantly, save lives," Christopher A. Miller, the Defense Healthcare Management Systems program executive officer said today.

In a culmination of a more than two-year effort, the Defense Department today awarded a $4.3 billion contract to Leidos, Inc. Now begins the hard part: Putting the contract in place, Miller said.

By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2015 - The Defense Department wants to remind its health care beneficiaries who carry commercial health insurance to provide their policy information to their TRICARE providers, a Defense Health Agency official said recently.

Mark Ellis, a DHA senior health program analyst, said the issue is important to DoD because by law, commercial health care insurance companies pay first and TRICARE pays second on medical bills.

By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2015 - The Defense Department today closed loopholes to protect U.S. men and women in uniform from predatory lending practices, President Barack Obama said this morning at the 116th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The heightened level of financial and consumer-rights protection against unscrupulous practices, called the final rule of the Military Lending Act, covers all forms of payday loans, vehicle title loans, refund anticipation loans, deposit advance loans, installment loans, unsecured open-end lines of credit and credit cards, DoD officials explained.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Americans including all military members (active duty, retired, Selected Reserve, or Retired Reserve) and their eligible family members must have health care coverage that meets a minimum standard called minimum essential coverage or pay a fee. Your TRICARE coverage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement under the ACA.

"The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active service of a uniformed service for more than 30 consecutive days".

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

ATLANTA, July 31, 2014 - Officials at the Mail Recovery Center here hope to assist service members in recovering their lost items and offer tips to prevent misplacement or delays.

Lionel A. Snow, Mail Recovery Center manager, shared the mission of the U.S. Postal Service's only remaining mail recovery center. 

From a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau News Release

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2014 - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and 13 state attorneys general obtained about $92 million in debt relief from Colfax Capital Corp. and Culver Capital LLC, also collectively known as "Rome Finance," for about 17,000 U.S. service members and other consumers harmed by the company's predatory lending scheme.

"No one who serves our country in uniform -- especially during a time of war -- should ever fall victim to predatory financial practices," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement, "and today's announcement is an important step in righting this wrong." 

By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2014 - Service members and their families can be easy targets for scammers, and financial education is key to prevention, the deputy director of the Pentagon's office of family policy and children and youth.

In an interview with DoD News, Navy Cmdr. Peter Hoegel noted that today is Military Consumer Protection Day.

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, July 16, 2014 - The Defense Department has joined more than 35 other federal and state government agencies and nonprofit organizations to highlight free consumer protection resources for military members, the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said today.

Holly Petraeus noted in a blog post that today is Military Consumer Protection Day and that efforts are underway to assist in protecting service members.

I work for A Million Thanks (www.amillionthanks.org)

We are a registered 501c3 organization whose mission is to send thank you letters to active duty military around the world.  We have sent over 6 million letters to date and have an increase in mail coming in recently. 

Usually, we have military personnel who want to receive mail contact us directly but we have more mail than addresses currently.  Would you mind making some sort of post on your website asking those military personnel who want to receive mail, and military families who want their loved ones to receive mail, to contact me.  

by Staff Sgt. Ian Hoachlander
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

"JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas"* - Airmen projected to deploy or have recently returned from a deployment can participate in the PLAYpass Get out and Play Program and save $500 to $1,000 on installation programs.

The PLAYpass program is based upon discount cards which provide eligible Airmen and family members the opportunity to participate in force support squadron programs for free or at a reduced cost.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2013 - A soldier now serving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., will receive the Medal of Honor for valor in combat in Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama will present the nation's highest award for battlefield gallantry to Army Staff Sgt. Ty Michael Carter in a White House ceremony Aug. 26.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2013 - President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation marking July 27th as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.   The following is the text of the President's proclamation:

Today, America pauses to observe the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War -- a conflict that defined a generation and decided the fate of a nation. We remember the troops who hit the beaches when Communist forces were pressing south; who pushed back, and fought their way north through hard mountains and bitter cold. We remember ordinary men and women who showed extraordinary courage through 3 long years of war, fighting far from home to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.

From a Tricare News Release
7/24/2013  

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Effective October 1, 2013, all TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) beneficiaries will be required to pay their monthly premiums by an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or through military retired pay allotment.  The ability to pay premiums by check or through an online bill pay system will end in September.

Most TRDP enrollees will need to take no action; however, Delta Dental sent letters to all TRDP participants on July 19 with information on where to submit EFT authorization forms and how to submit an EFT authorization online at www.trdp.org.

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

MCLEAN, Va., July 24, 2013 - Two fallen Navy petty officers became the 18th and 19th recipients of the National Intelligence Medal for Valor in a July 22 ceremony at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence here. The families of Petty Officers 1st Class Jared W. Day and Michael J. Strange received the posthumous awards.

Calling Day and Strange "two young heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country," Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper presented the medals in front of a standing-room-only gathering of families, friends and shipmates.

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2013 - Several government agencies are working on initiatives to improve educational success rates for service members, veterans and their families, senior Department of Veterans Affairs and consumer protection officials told lawmakers today.

Curtis L. Coy, deputy undersecretary for economic opportunity for VA's Veterans Benefits Administration, testified with several other witnesses before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on educational outcomes for military members and veterans. Holly Petraeus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's assistant director for the Office of Servicemember Affairs, also testified.

By Claudette RouloAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 23, 2013 - No matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, the nation must continue to fulfill its sacred pledge to account for its missing warriors, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for prisoner of war and missing personnel affairs said today.

"We honor the sacrifices of our missing and the sacrifices of their families," W. Montague "Q" Winfield told attendees at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Louisville, Ky.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2013 - Opening his address today to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention with a tribute to Korean War veterans, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called on the nation's 22 million veterans to become partners in helping the Defense Department work through "historic transition and change."

Every major conflict in U.S. history has been followed by a period of "realignment and redefinition," with "enormous ramifications and consequences for our entire defense enterprise," the secretary noted.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 521-13
July 18, 2013

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and have been returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Sgt. Bernard J. Fisher of Wilkes Barre, Pa., was buried July 16, in Arlington National Cemetery.  In January 1951, Fisher and elements of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment (IR), 24th Infantry Division (ID), were deployed northeast of Seoul, South Korea, where they were attacked by enemy forces. During the 19th IR attempt to delay the enemy forces from advancing, Fisher and his unit moved towards a more defensible position, when the unit suffered heavy losses.  It was during this attack, that Fisher was reported missing.

 IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 522-13
July 18, 2013

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and have been returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael B. Judd of Cleveland was buried on July 15, in Arlington National Cemetery.  On June 30, 1967, Judd was aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was attempting to insert a U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance team into hostile territory in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam.  As the helicopter approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy fire from the surrounding tree line, causing the aircraft to catch fire.  The aircraft crashed landed.  Although most of the reconnaissance team to survived, Judd and four other crew members of the team, died in the crash.

By Karen ParrishAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2013 - Senior officials from the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs assured Congress today that they are closing in on solutions that will alleviate the backlog of veterans' health benefit claims and streamline processing of current and future claims.

Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, testified along with Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, and Jessica L. Wright, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and witnesses from the Department of Veterans Affairs before the House Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees.

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2013 - The Navy and Marine Corps spent the last decade moving away from their traditional supporting/supported roles, "and it's time to come back," Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval operations, said today at a forum on the future of maritime forces.

For the Navy, Greenert said, that means maintaining a day-to-day presence where it matters, "and we've got to be there when it matters."

From a Department of Veterans Affairs News Release

WASHINGTON, July 11, 2013 - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced the award of nearly $300 million in grants that will help approximately 120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

The grants have been awarded to 319 community agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

From a Defense Finance and Accounting Service News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, July 11, 2013 - Injured Army veteran Jeffrey Mittman and 29 other military veterans will be honored July 16 during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game held at Citi Field in Queens, home of the New York Mets.

Mittman and the other finalists were chosen by People magazine and MLB in their joint "Tribute for Heroes" campaign. Each finalist was selected after receiving the highest number of votes among other veterans representing their chosen MLB teams. Mittman will represent the Pittsburgh Pirates.

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 - Forty years ago today, an enormous fire erupted at the National Personnel Records Center in suburban St. Louis. Burning uncontrollably for almost 24 hours, it destroyed some 16 million to 18 million military personnel records including official documents veterans need to apply for the benefits they've earned.

"It's like a MASH [Mobile Army Surgical Hospital] unit," Marta O'Neill, who heads the National Personnel Records Center's Preservation Lab, said during a telephone interview. "There may be 15 different routes that a record could take so we can still preserve the information and get the benefits to the veteran."

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., July 9, 2013 - Getting educators and care providers to understand the particular needs of military children is crucial, a Defense Department official told the Military Child Education Coalition's 15th National Training Seminar here today.

Charles E. Milam, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy, emphasized the need to work with local communities near military bases where three-quarters of military families generally live.  As an ex-Air Force child and former military spouse, Milam spoke about the challenges of military children through his own experiences.

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2013 - While dodging financial scams seem to have become a part of life, Defense Department officials have measures to protect the military community from such circumstances, a senior Pentagon official said in a recent interview.

Scamming incidents in the military parallel those in the civilian community, Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's office of family policy, children and youth, told American Forces Press Service.

The Coalition to Save our Military Shopping Benefits will be cheering on Team USA at the Olympic Summer Games in London. And one lucky military commissary patron will win a Gold-Medal Shopping Spree worth potentially thousands of dollars in free groceries!

Every time the U.S. Olympic Team wins gold, the progressive Gold Medal Shopping Spree prize pool will grow by $50. If one of our military Olympians wins gold, the pool will grow by $100! Our randomly selected grand prize winner will receive the total value of all U.S. Gold Medal victories in $50 and $100 commissary gift cards.

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2012 - The Defense Department unveiled a new website today that honors service members' highest acts of valor.

The site -- at http://valor.defense.gov -- is designed to raise awareness of service members' heroism and to help deter those who falsely claim military honors, officials said.

Are you a young Military Mother aged 18-25 now raising your children as a single parent since the deployment of your husband?

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to balance motherhood and time for yourself?

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is awarding nearly $100 million in grants that will help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced.

The grants are going to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to a VA news release.

By Erin Wittkop
American Forces Press Service

CROWNSVILLE, Md., July 13, 2012 - Army Sgt. Jonathon Biddle never imagined that the challenge of learning to ride a horse would help him recover from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and severe anxiety. A program called Horses for Heroes, however, is helping the wounded warrior do just that.

Biddle joined the Horses for Heroes program in the fall of 2011, following a month-long hospital stay at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. It was Biddle's wife, Jackie, who encouraged him to try the program after he brought home a flyer from the Warriors in Transition Unit. The program, started in 2009 by Maryland Therapeutic Riding Inc., is designed to help wounded warriors relieve stress so they can focus on healing.

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2012 - Much has changed in the 20 years since the Defense Department ramped up its family support programs by providing policy and guidance from the Pentagon to installations.

And that support is continuing, with many more programs and a broader reach, DOD's senior official for family support said today.

I'm working on a new uplifting television program focused on bringing people & communities together.  "The Choir" documents a highly-recognized, award-winning Choirmaster as he attempts to create choirs in the most unlikely of settings.  He feels choirs allow people to come together and express themselves as a community, and although they're made of many voices, individuals often find unexpected personal rewards and growth through their choral experience.

"The Choir" is not another competition show about finding the next pop superstar or watching people sing off-key in front of judges for a humiliating audition segment.  This show is about building community spirit with neighbors, peers, co-workers, and others through the simple joy of singing.  It's open to all military wives!  Vocal talent is welcome, but not required because there are a variety of ways to contribute to the choir's success.  (Right now, we're focused solely on the wives of our military men, but if anyone else is interested, it could possibly open up to others as we progress.)

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2012 - Transitioning service members and veterans will be able to learn how to become entrepreneurs through a U.S. Small Business Administration-sponsored pilot program, SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills told reporters here yesterday.

Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is a pilot program designed to provide the training, tools and resources that transitioning service members and veterans will need to establish businesses, Mills said.

By: Ron Irwin

(Hollywood - July 4, 2012) America it seems is a warring nation and throughout American history in the twentieth and twenty first centuries Hollywood has always played a part through its movie power. In World War II major stars and producers contributed in many ways. Jimmy Stewart joined the Air Force and mega star John Wayne while not serving in the war did make movies with a positive spin to bring hope to the American people. Shortly after the end of the Korean War Hollywood gave it face with classics like “The Hunters” starring Robert Mitchum and “Pork Chop Hill” starring Gregory Peck. The super controversial Vietnam War that lasted far too long and claimed millions of lives including 58,000 American lives got Hollywood’s attention with the classics “Apocalypse Now” and “Platoon.” But the more than decade long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have received little attention from Hollywood and what has been produced has been almost exclusively anti war propaganda.

It is perfectly fine to be anti war, but as thousands of Americans, and others, die and are wounded in these struggles the American media in general and Hollywood in particular has simply turned a blind eye on the subject; that is until now.