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.
Expand All Guide SectionsUS Military and Military History
The U.S. military is made up of five branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. In this section of the guide you’ll learn about each branch of the military, gaining insight into its basic functions and history. Learn about the leaders who make each branch run and what their current mission and practices are.
Dulcinea's Insight
- All of the sites in the following section are official military or Department of Defense Web sites. As such, the information they offer stresses the positive aspects and advantages of military life.
- We've included a separate site for the National Guard, but it's not a separate branch of the military. The Guard's two components, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, are officially part of the Army and the Air Force, respectively.
- During a 24-hour period in October 2002, a team of photographers at 125 military locations around the world set out to capture "A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces". The project's Web site offers a gallery of the photos chosen for the project. This link will give you a clearer visual image of military life.
Dulcinea's Picks
For official sites of the U.S. armed forces ...
ARMY.MIL
, the official Web site of the Army, is the place to start if you want to learn about life in the military's largest branch. You'll find materials that not only cover recruitment and army life, but its history and institutional structure as well. The site also links to the two reserve components of the Army, the National Guard and the Army Reserves.
NAVY.mil
, the Navy's official Web site, showcases news in the form of headlines and online videos, also offering PDF versions of its official magazine "All Hands." The "Fact File" (found on the page's left-hand margin under the "About the Navy" section) contains information on the Navy's legendary SEALs and Blue Angels teams. This site covers everything you need to know about the Navy's history and current operations.
Air Force Link
is the Air Force's official site. Like the other branch Web sites, it dedicates much of its page to news stories and videos. However, the Air Force pays unique homage to its history, in the "Heritage" section at the top right of the homepage. You'll also find sections for careers, photos, videos, and letters by members.
MARINES
, the Marine Corp's official site, is the most sleekly designed of all the branch sites. Unfortunately this means it's not the easiest to use. If you don't want to wander through the site, click on "sitemap" at the top right of the page where you'll find links to all the necessary information.
United States Coast Guard
has a simple site that's intuitive and easy to browse. The site focuses on news about the country's smallest armed service, and offers a library of photographs, videos, logos, and downloadable paper models in its "Multimedia" section. You'll find links to careers, units and missions, although the site lacks a specific section on Coast Guard history.
National Guard
has an interactive timeline that offers a synopsis of the role of the National Guard in American life, from the first muster in 1636 through the Guard's Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts in 2005. You’ll also see a section called “Guard Facts,” which offers historical tidbits. Visit “Today in Guard History” to see how active the Guard has been every day since its inception.
Who knew?
Navy Times
reports that the Coast Guard celebrated its 217th birthday on August 4, officially documenting over 1 million lives saved. The Coast Guard traces its roots all the way back to 1790, when it was known as the Revenue Cutter Service charged with stopping smugglers and collecting tariffs. The modern incarnation of the Coast Guard was formed in 1915.
Military News
Although regular news sources often cover military events and affairs, the details of what's happening within each branch of the military are not consistently covered by basic news channels. If you want to know the details of military news even when major stories aren't breaking on civilian networks, have a look at these sites.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The Web sites in the previous section are a great resource for news-visit them to supplement these recommended sites, but keep in mind that each presents military-friendly views.
- Many of the sites that cover military news in general will have a bias in the favor of the U.S. armed forces. Remember this no matter where you browse.
Dulcinea's Picks
U.S. Department of Defense
covers high-level military politics on its official Web site. It offers press releases, speeches, reports, and news about the United States' military activities worldwide. The homepage details the most pressing current events, with videos and photos to supplement the coverage. Visit "Top Leaders" for bios and messages from important military figures.
Globalsecurity.org
aggregates military articles from all over the Web, which are then reviewed and scanned for reliability and relevance. You'll find "Hot Topics" on the homepage that cover the major military issues of the day, along with links to Education, Jobs, Travel and more.
MilitaryTimes
provides up-to-the-minute coverage on all branches of the military as well as photos, forums, and videos for interactive coverage. The site features elements relevant to military life like benefits, and money, and is geared specifically towards military members.
Joining the Military
Be All You Can Be. An Army of One. Accelerate Your Life. Most people have heard the slogans, but joining the military entails more than what you see in commercials. The following resources will help you determine what kind of military career you want, whether or not you qualify, and what to expect from your time in service.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Each branch of the military publishes its own handbooks that describe in detail its specific entrance requirements, training, and career opportunities. You can acquire these handbooks at recruiting stations, state employment offices, and public libraries.
- You'll also find essential information on the official recruitment sites of the military: Army; Navy; Air Force; Marines; and Coast Guard.
- If you're planning to translate the skills you learn in the military to a later civilian career, it's a good idea to check out the civilian job prospects before you decide on a military specialty. This may help you decide what area of the armed forces to go into. Visit career sites like Monster.com or Careerbuilder.com to see what these job markets are like for civilians.
Dulcinea's Picks
For basic information on career options in the military ...
Military.com
shows you how to enlist in any branch of the military: links to each service are provided. In addition, you'll learn about finance, education, careers news, and benefits of enlistment. You'll also find an explanation of the difference between becoming an enlistee or an officer.
U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
outlines job opportunities in the armed forces. With employment prospects, earnings figures, enlistment standards, and unbiased insight into the enlistment process, this concise report offers some of the most vitally important information a prospective soldier can find on the Web. You'll also learn about the nature of the work, training, necessary qualifications, and advancement requirements.
Today's Military
, produced by the Defense Manpower Data Center, an agency of the Department of Defense, offers a straightforward guide to preparing for military enlistment. The site isn't affiliated with any specific branch of the armed services, so the descriptions it offers of military careers and benefits are helpful and broadly applicable. Links are geared towards parents, educators, and students separately.
For information on military pay ...
Defenselink.mil
offers an overview of the basic pay, allowances for subsistance, housing, and tax advantages afforded members of the armed forces. Use the "Calculator" function to determine what your taxes will be.
Defense Finance and Accounting Service
(DFAS) is the military's official payroll service. Their Web site offers complete military pay tables organized by rank and cumulative years of service. You'll get military pay tables, rates, and paydays on this site along with FAQs about military paychecks.
For information on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) ...
Military.com
offers practice tests of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). These practice tests will give you a good indication of whether you'll be able to get the position you want before talking to a recruiter, and what other special benefits your skills may afford you.
For information on being processed by the military ...
U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command
shows recruits what it's like during enlistment processing in an online video "A Day at the MEPS." (Military Entrance Processing Station). You'll also learn about processing stations, command groups, enlistment processes, wellness and readiness requirements.
For military and soldier blogs ...
MILblogging.com
is a daily roundup of military blogs from around the world. If you've never searched for military blogs before, this site is a good place to start. The site also has a complete directory of all the military blogs on the Web.
Boots in Baghdad
is the blog of Mark Partridge Miner, a National Guard Infantryman who conducted foot patrols in the streets of Iraq as a member of Task Force Baghdad.
A Soldier's Thoughts
is the compelling blog of former Sgt. Zachary Scott-Singley, an Arabic translator for the Army.
Military Jargon
Like any specialized career, the military has developed its own set of terms and vocabulary. The lingo even differs from branch to branch. Use these sites to familiarize yourself with a term or with the general military vernacular.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you're a civilian confused about some terms you've heard on network news regarding military affairs, visit MSNBC's article detailing basic military terms. It's not an extensive list, but it offers the most essential phrases to know.
Dulcinea's Picks
MiLTERMS
currently has more than 23,580 military terms in its archive. A search box makes finding a specific term easy, though you can also click on any letter of the alphabet to browse terms that begin with that letter. Sections like "Word of the Moment," and "Last Five Words Added," make this database especially relevant.
Federation of American Scientists
publishes this military lexicon. The site is divided into "Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations" and "Military Terminology" sections. The terms listed in this database are scientific and can be quite detailed.
Legal and Financial Information for Military Members
Managing finances, dealing with legal matters, and choosing insurance can be confusing even if you're not in the military. A life in the armed forces adds a whole slew of complexities: constant moving, deployment, and long absences can make it hard to keep up with bureaucratic details. Fortunately, the military publishes this necessary information online.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you can afford it, consider hiring a financial planner to help you manage your finances and expenses. Moving around constantly can make keeping track of your bills and financial goals difficult. If you are busy defending the country, someone else can be busy with your finances.
- While the sites in this guide are directed specifically towards financial matters for the military, you'll find a host of financial sites for civilians in the findingDulcinea Personal Finance Guide. Even as a member of the military, you may find tools that can help you manage your finances.
- Visit findingDulcinea's Support Our Military Family Web Guide for information on how to get help for both servicemembers and military families. Resources that help you reach out to the military as a civilian are also provided.
Dulcinea's Picks
For information on financial protection ...
Military Sentinel
, provided by the Department of Defense and the Federal Trade Commission, exists to protect military families from financial scams. With a focus on consumer protection issues specific to military members, this site allows military members and their families to enter complaints directly to a database accessible by over 500 law enforcement organizations both in the United States and abroad.
U.S. Coast Guard
has put together this straightforward page explaining the benefits of SCRA (the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act). This act is the best source of civil-law protections for military members and families, covering a number of areas domestic, financial, and professional.
For help managing your finances while in the military ...
MilitaryMoney.com
is the online complement to the print magazine of the same name, and is a partner of the Department of Defense's Financial Readiness Campaign. Intended to educate military members and their families on how to best manage their finances, the site features news, columns, and advice on a wide spectrum of financial matters.
Department of Defense's Per Diem
, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee helps you figure out if you're getting all the financial benefits to which you're entitled. Learn about rates, allowances, and travel regulations for service members. This site also discusses programs that seek to compensate members for housing and other living costs, such as the BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) program. Visit the links to these programs to determine your eligibility for such reimbursements.
myPay
, of the system of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), provides members of the military with an online pay management system. Learn how to manage your pay information, leave, and earning statements, and W2s. (If you're having trouble or can't find the answer to your question on this page, try their customer service section.)
For general information on legal issues ...
U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance
offers military members information on a broad range of legal issues dealing with finance, property, family, and other aspects of domestic life. Go to "Legal Assistance Topics" to see the broad range of issues at hand. The site also has a "Legal Services Locator" that can help you find an active duty law office near you.
American Bar Association
provides high-level military information. Although the gathered materials are geared toward lawyers and paralegals, this site's extensive coverage of the SCRA is worth reading as the organization works to protect the rights and benefits of servicemembers.
For official legal information from the different branches of the military ...
Legal Services
, the official Web site of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, has the most legal information of any of the branch sites. What it offers on various legal issues is not only comprehensive, but also accessible and often applicable to the whole military.
Judge Advocate General's Corps
provides information on JAG internal procedure for members of the Navy. The "Our Offices" section provides contact information for the Naval Legal Services Offices, who offer legal services to members, reservists, and retirees.
Judge Advocate General United States Air Force
provides a useful feature called the "Legal Assistance Locator," which searches legal offices for all the military's branches by state and zip code.
Staff Judge Advocate
, part of the Marine Corps' Web site, also contains information mostly used by law professionals. The "Research" link provides information on how to research legal issues.
U.S. Coast Guard Legal
, the Web site of the Judge Advocate General of the Coast Guard, provides a "Legal Assistance" section with straightforward legal help.
For insurance information ...
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
is an organization of state insurance regulators that work to protect the interests of consumers. The "Insurance Issues for Military Personnel" section of the NAIC's Web site, provides a window into the workings of and reasons for all major types of insurance.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
helps you sort out the unique life insurance needs of your family with its "Life Insurance Needs Calculator." The site also offers PDF attachments explaining some need-to-know insurance terms and plans.
For information about healthcare and health insurance ...
TRICARE
, the military's official health insurance program, is explained on this useful site. You'll learn how to keep your Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) information up to date. Other topics in this site include eligibility issues, enrollment, plans and special programs. You can research specific medical information as well.
Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System
(DEERS) provides this login page so that you can access your military benefits information.
Military Benefits
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.
Dulcinea's Insight
- 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.
Dulcinea's Picks
For emergency/supplemental financial aid for families and service members ...
The American Legion
offers a "Temporary Financial Assistance" program, which provides non-repayable cash grants to the family members of active duty service men and women. In general, the grants are awarded to help families meet the cost of shelter, utilities, food, and medical expenses.
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.
Military Family Support
Being part of a military family can be difficult. It's important to make connections with people who understand your circumstances and can relate to it on an immediate level. The Internet makes this easier than ever by offering a number of Web sites that specialize in the sort of information, guidance, and community that military families need most.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Online discussion forums are a useful place to start when researching specific topics. Military.com's "Military Life, Spouses and Community" forum features discussions on just about everything related to military life. Whether you participate in a discussion or just read posts, the sort of candor found in these forums can be refreshing.
- Most of the Web sites below feature discussion forums that may also serve as simple and straightforward sources of information.
Dulcinea's Picks
For Web sites with information specifically for military families ...
National Military Family Association
features a number of recent news stories that impact military families. This site focuses on providing families with information on topics such as healthcare, education, finances, and deployment.
Military Homefront
is the Department of Defense's official Web site for quality of life information. The site features news stories that impact military families, guidance on important topics like military legislation, and a number of useful military directories and glossaries.
For information specifically for military children ...
ynet
is a social networking site made for the sons and daughters of military families. The site is hosted by the Boys and Girls of America's YouthNet Web site, and requires guardian-sponsored registration to access. Once logged in, you'll have access to programs, games, digital arts, entertainment, and more.
MilitaryStudent.org
, the Department of Defense's Web site for military kids and teens, not only covers how best to deal with some of the unique emotional and social strains that military children experience, but does so in a way that's tailored to specific age groups. Visit "The Issues" for links to specific topics worth addressing.
Support the Military as a Civilian
Even if you're not in the military or in a military family, you may be looking for ways to show your support for the U.S. armed forces. There are a variety of ways you can give the military a boost. A few interesting opportunities to help out are featured below.
Dulcinea's Insight
- You can also get involved with programs on local level; your town may have groups devoted to sending care packages to soldiers or offering support to families.
- As always, use your judgment when sending money online. Make sure you've thoroughly inspected the "about us" page, and that if you're giving a credit card number, the site has a secure connection.
Dulcinea's Picks
THE ARMED FORCES RELIEF TRUST
is where to go if you'd like to make a donation to the U.S. military. This is the umbrella organization for all branches, and it will distribute your donation where it's most needed. If you'd like to donate to a specific branch, each has its own relief site. You'll find links at the bottom of this site's FAQ page.
The United Service Organization
runs centers around the world to improve quality of life for military members and their families. On this page, you'll learn about the ways you can help, whether you want to donate time, money, or corporate services.
Wounded Warrior Project
honors and aids veterans who are physically disabled as a result of service. The organization offers events and programs designed to foster recovery—including many upcoming gatherings for Veterans Day. You can also watch video clips of vets and their families as they discuss the experiences of being at war and of returning wounded. Get involved or make a donation using the links at the top of the page.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
