Military resources
Military Benefits site:
- Military Tax Center. A resource for figuring and navigating through the tax system with the military servicemember in mind.
- GI Bill information. Helpful for the servicemember who is interested in furthering his/her education.
- Civil Relief Act info. This helps servicemebers know what their rights are concerning their finacial obligations as they deploy and the relief they are entitled to as a serveicemember.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The name says it all, the site is pretty comprehensive. I have pulled out some of the critical links and explained them below or found sites that I thought were more user frendly, as I found it a bit daunting to navigate. I will use another time and place to gripe about how we are currently under-funding the Veterans Administration by the tune of about $11 Billion dollars so those coming home and our vets nationwide don't get all the care they need.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America: The only organization started by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans to support other Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. At their website, you can learn what important issues affecting the troops and veterans are being debated in Washington, and how you can help. You can also join their online Army by signing up, and be kept up to date on important initiatives that will tangibly support the troops. TroopNet is their online community of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. If you are a vet of those wars, you can join TroopNet. If you support the troops, you can browse their profiles and read their unedited stories.
Military One Source: This is a valued resource and relatively new including: Parenting and child care, Personal and Family Readiness, Education, Midlife and Retirement, Older Adults, Disability, Financial, Legal, Everday Issues, Work, Inernational, Managing People, Health, Emotional Well-Being, Addiction and Recovery
MyPay: Very Important: This is the site to get your W-2's, check your pay, and print out stubs, to name a few things. MyPay allows the servicemember to make changes to allotments, view changes and updates to VA benefits and provides numbers and other resources to answer any pay related issues. Very helpful.
Tips for Military Members: Here's info regarding job conflicts, talking to the boss, federal law (employment and reemployment rights for Reserve component members)
Drill Schedules. Annual Training Schedules. Extra training. Non-Training Active Duty. Emergency/contingency duty. Scheduling. Vacation. Vacation Accrual. Pay. Federal Employee Paid Military Leave. National Guard and Reserve Members that are Students. Reward the Boss for Supporting Your Service etc.
Legal Assistance Advisories: A clearinghouse of the latest tips to keep service-members in the know about current legal issues effecting them ranging from scams (a problem facing service-members) to changes in laws that may affect them if they are not on top of it.
Military Pay: This is good because the rates and benefits change regularly. There is also TSP here (military 401K) and Survivor benefits info.
TRICARE: Important - deals with medical service, numbers, for hospital visits for the members and their families. This is the military insurance HMO type deal. Don't get me started on the fact that reservist and guard do not have it when they are inactive and they should! Find the latest news on it and keep up to date.
Soldiers' Angels: I heard about this way to support our troops through a Citizen Hunter. The organization provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations. Our wounded heroes can operate their laptops by speaking into a microphone making it possible for them to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field.
Federal Voting Assistance Program: This is a big one. I know how busy you guys can get, this site will make it easy for you to make sure you vote!!!! From what I understand sometimes voting officers are so busy with their regular jobs (it's an additional billet) they don't have time to register folks. Here you can do it yourself. It is helpful for the absentee voters and it gives the info and forms you need to vote wherever you are.
National Military Families Association: A political lobby on behalf of military families which interacts with various government agencies, Tri-care, DEERs. It has a political and legislative agenda and helps service members' families get in contact with their representatives.
Survivors: VA has created a new Web site for the surviving spouses and dependents of servicemen and women who died on active duty or after leaving the military. You can learn about benefits for the surviving spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents. You can also get info about and link to other federal agencies and organizations that offer benefits and services to survivors and dependents.
Humana Military allows the individual to track and see pending or old medical referrals in the Tricare system. Sometimes medical referrals take weeks to get the letters to our men and women. This site allows immediate access to the provider being referred along with the authorization number.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans provides emergency housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance. Help end homelessness among veterans. Get active! You can find out where there is a shelter near you and volunteer to be a mentor, counselor, or legal aid. You can donate personal care items, clothing, and food, or make cash contributions. Another important initiative is one that ensures that homeless veterans receive proper burial with military honors.
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The most comprehensive site about PTSD, symptoms, treatment, and resources. There is an entire section dedicated to returning Iraq war veterans.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: Resource for spouses and families of Marines deployed in case of cash emergencies while the Marine is deployed. Also helps with employment and travel for medical emergencies in case of wounding or death.
Fallen Heroes Memorial: An online memorial for all of the fallen servicemembers of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, including photos and visitor-submitted messages.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart: The Purple Heart is combat decoration, and put simply it is given to those wounded in battle, or to the families of those who have been killed in battle. This is the only Vet organization composed strictly of "combat" veterans; it was formed to assist those who had received a Purple Heart.
Wives, mothers, and daughters of Purple Heart recipients can belong to the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, which also does great work in Veterans' Hospitals. This site is full of helpful resources.
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