U.S. Military
There are more than 1.4 million active members of the U.S. military, according to Department of Defense statistics. Over 300 million people are affected by the military either through service, or as family of military personnel. This guide provides information on military life and history, the requisites for a military career, and the rights and benefits military members deserve. Use these resources to get informed and involved, or to make the most of your military life.
The U.S. military is made up of five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast ... read more »
Although regular news sources often cover military events and affairs, the details of what's ... read more »
Be All You Can Be. An Army of One. Accelerate Your Life. Most people have heard the slogans, but ... read more »
Like any specialized career, the military has developed its own set of terms and vocabulary. The ... read more »
Managing finances, dealing with legal matters, and choosing insurance can be confusing even if ... read more »
The unique difficulties of military life can put a tremendous strain on service members and their families. However, a number of organizations, both military and civilian, have set out to ease these strains by providing members with financial, professional, and educational support.
- Anheuser-Busch's "Here's to the Heroes" program entitles any active duty, activated or drilling reservists, or National Guardsman, and up to three of his/her dependents, free admission to Busch-owned theme parks. These include Sea World, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Sesame Place, and Adventure Island.
- The Fisher House Program provides the families of hospitalized military members with housing at military and VA medical centers across the country. By offering comfortable, familial housing for an average of $10 a day, the Fisher House seeks to provide a supportive environment for the loved ones of hospitalized military men and women.
For emergency/supplemental financial aid for families and service members ...
Army Emergency Relief
has dedicated itself to "Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own" by providing emergency financial relief to Army members and their families. AER provides assistance for a number of expenses including food, rent, medical expenses, undergraduate-level education, and many others.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
can provide interest-free loans or grants to members and their families in need. You can get aid in emergency transportation, funeral expenses, medical or dental bills, food, rent and utilities, and childcare expenses, to name a few. Unfortunately you can't apply for this particular aid online, but the site does have a map of all the NMCRS locations and a 24-hour emergency assistance phone number.
Air Force Aid Society
is the official charity of the Air Force. The AFAS gives interest-free loans and grants to members of the Air Force and their families in times of financial distress. You can print out the "Financial Assistance Form" directly from the Web site and return it to your nearest AFAS location.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
caters only to members of the Coast Guard and offers financial aid for a number of different circumstances. The aid application must be submitted in person to either a CGMA office or the office of one of its partner organizations.
For employment help for military spouses ...
MILSpouse.org
focus on how best to prepare for your job search makes it a fitting place to begin. Although the site focuses more on taking you to useful links than providing its own information, the links are well organized and straightforward and the site is a valuable place to research career options.
MILITARY SPOUSE CORPORATE CAREER NETWORK
is a job/résumé postings site made specifically for military spouses. The site boasts 80 new job postings a day and over 3,550 résumés posted. Boeing and Magellan are two charter members of this site.
MyArmyLifeToo.com
lists a number of companies that participate in the Army Spouse Employment Partnership. Corporations such as Dell, CVS, AT&T, and H&R Block have all committed to giving Army spouses special consideration during hiring proceedings. You'll find links for staff, family members, soldiers, civilians, and commanders alike.
For information about education and scholarships for military members and their families ...
Military Child Education Coalition
has created the Bernard Brown II NASA Space Camp scholarship for children of active duty service members. Applicants must be enrolled in grades 6-9 and submit their application (available online) by April 1. The program offers lots of workshops and events for parents and students alike that extend beyond the basics of the scholarship.
Military Officers Association of America
has its own educational assistance program that includes interest-free loans and grants for military families. The program covers up to five years of undergraduate studies, and takes advantage of a variety of scholarship opportunities. You can also use this site for legal information.
Scholarships for Military Children
is a program that provides the children of service members with scholarships of up to $1,500 for undergraduate studies. Applicants must be under 21 (23 if already enrolled as a full-time student), have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database. The application is available for download on the Web site.
Being part of a military family can be difficult. It's important to make connections with people ... read more »
Even if you're not in the military or in a military family, you may be looking for ways to show ... read more »
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