Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Increase in Mileage Reimbursement Coming for PCSing Military Families

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PCS Season is here. The permanent change of station means traveling from the base you are currently stationed at to the one you will be moving to.  This travel is often by car. Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few months, then you know that gas prices continue to increase. In California, some areas have prices over $9 a gallon. This large spike in gas cost is something that military families will have to absorb when they move. The government requires the move as part of military order, but they do not cover all the costs of moving.

For PCS required to travel in a Privately Owned Vehicle, the government provides reimbursement for mileage allowance has been $0.18 per mile, but as of July 1 2022, the mileage rate is now $0.22 per mile.

Military families will calculate the miles traveled from originating place of duty to the final duty station.

Entitlements for PCS Active Duty Military families can collect

  • Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) -aka mileage reimbursement
  • Plus (Per Diem)- members and dependents get different rates. If dependents are traveling with the service member, any dependent over the age of 12 gets 75% of the per diem and any dependent under 12 gets 50% of the member’s per diem rate. If dependents are traveling separately from the service member, one dependent over the age of 12 will get 100% per diem, 75% per diem for any other dependents over the age of 12, and 50% for any dependent under 12.
  • Temporary Lodging Expense – this amount is limited by the monetary amount and based on location PCSing to and from
  • Dislocation Allowance – reimbursement to cover expenses incurred in relocation

PCS Entitlements for Separating or Retiring Military Service Members

  • Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT) -aka mileage reimbursement
  • Plus (Per Diem) – same per diem rules apply as above

To understand all entitlements, check out the Defense Finance and Accounting Service here.

How Is the Commissary Responding to the Baby Formula Shortage?

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The viral video of a mother on Camp Pendleton sharing with the world about her difficulty in finding baby formula for her child for the rest of the week made the plight of mothers with young children visible and known. The baby formula shortage is affecting the Commissaries within the United States and its overseas stores. Per the commissary, the stock is about 50% of its typical stock, a little higher in overseas commissaries. They recognize the issue and are working to remedy it.

While the supply chain changes are affecting all stores, the Defense Commissary Agency, DeCA, recognizes that the supply chain uniquely affects its customers, especially overseas patrons. With the limited amount provided to stores, there is less to sell. This can lead to panic buying by those who do see it- but the commissary recommends not doing this as it will further limit the availability of the stock. Each commissary has placed a limit on the number of formula containers can be purchased, and it varies per commissary so make sure to check with your local commissary.

It is thought that the shortage will last about sixty days, the time-period it will take for the production to increase enough to provide the needed amount. Then it will depend on delivery schedules and ordering ability to get the items to the stores.

As per the Federal Drug Administration’s recommendations, it is advised that individuals should not make their own formula at home. It is also recommended to discuss any

If You Are In Europe

DeCA has an alternative resource for formula in Europe through local companies so there may be more options in the commissaries located on bases in Europe.

If You Are In the Pacific

DeCA is researching local options for formula for the commissaries located in the Pacific.

If you have a child who has a medical illness requiring certain formulas, you can request a prescription from your TRICARE provider but this applies only to certain conditions. Make sure to ask your child’s medical provider.

Commissary Expands Patron List

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The military commissary began in 1825 as a place to purchase goods at Army posts, paying at-cost pricing. Initially, the commissary was open only to active-duty military, and then in 1841, it opened to family members as well. The goal of the commissaries was to provide nutritious food no matter where the military was located – from near a city to the frontier away from the developed areas. A commissary was at every Army post, no matter the location. This included expanding to the Philippines and China in the early 1900s.

The Defense Department commissioned a study in 1989 that recommended the consolidation of the different military service branches’ commissary systems into one and in 1990 the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) was established. The commissaries of today continue to provide groceries and products to military families at a lower costs. Congress has mandated a 5-percent surcharge on the items to cover the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing and updating current ones.

When living in areas of a high cost of living, and in overseas locations where it may be difficult to get familiar groceries, the military commissaries have relied upon resources. The savings of groceries including no sales tax can save families lots of money. In a time when the cost of living is increasing all around the world, every little bit helps.

The patron list has historically included active-duty members and their families and expanded to include military retirees and their families in 1879.  Now that COVID-19 restrictions have lessened, the patron groups are open to disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and their certified primary caregivers.

Target Expands Military Discount to July 4th

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Veteran’s Day isn’t the only discount being offered to military families this year by the Target Corporation. Traditionally, on Veteran’s Day military members – active, reserve, and retired – were offered a military discount at Target. This past year, the offer was 10% off two purchases the week of Veteran’s Day. In May, Military Appreciation Month, Target made an announcement that it would support military members and their families. Part of this support included jobs, but also is expanded to a discount in July.

Military members and their families are now being offered 10% off during the week of July 4th- specifically from June 26 to July 4.

How To Verify for the Discount

To access this discount, the military service member and/or family member must verify their military status through the Target Circle app. Within the application on your mobile device, go to settings and select “Verify student, teacher or military service”. This will connect you to SheerID, the verification service. This service is used in other military discounts like SeaWorld’s Waves of Honor and companies that allow for military discounts with online purchases. Once the verification is complete, the option to verify will no longer be there. The military service member and one dependent are able to verify their identity to receive the discount.

When To Use the Discount

Once verified on the Target Circle app, the discount deal will show up on the Target Circle app on the dates of the deal – June 26 to July 4th. The discount can be used on up to 2 purchases, for online or in-store purchases. This can be combined with other offers from Target, for instance, their already discounted deals on furniture and televisions.

Attempts were made to contact Target Corporate to verify if the two purchases are per family or per verified member and told that this information was not available.

This discount is not limited by purchase amount like some Circle offers – you do not need to spend $100 to use the discount. It may be useful in purchasing that week’s groceries or perhaps buying things for your PCS or restocking your new home with furniture or buying that blow-up pool you have been eyeing.

If you will use the discount, what are you looking to purchase?

Military Struggles to Recruit and Train Troops

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The military services of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force are an all-volunteer force. These individuals have volunteered their time, energy, and abilities to serve and protect the American public. Being an all-volunteer force comes at a price – the inability to fill every job needed for the military services.

The job market outside of the military, the civilian job market as it were, has seen great changes in the last decade. The minimum wage rising to double digits is just the beginning. The pandemic showed that many civilian jobs could be done remotely effectively, leading many Americans to continue their work at home with the easier commute and improved work-life balance. While the military is no longer supporting Operation Enduring Freedom overseas, the operational tempo of preparedness has not slowed in all branches of the military.

In the spring of 2022, the Air Force announced that they would be offering bonuses upwards of $50,000 to recruits who were open to going to training quickly. According to a press release, qualified recruits were offered bonuses with they would leave within five days or less.

In January of 2022, the Army announced that for the first time ever they would be offering enlistment bonuses of $50,000 to highly skilled individuals committing to six years. Until January of this year, the maximum bonus was $40,000. That’s still a sizable amount.

The Navy has now offered a bonus of $25,000 for those who will commit to leaving in a matter of weeks after their commitment.

Other offerings of retention bonuses are being offered to keep the U.S. military up to snuff. Major General Ed Thomas, the Air Force Recruiting Service commander, shared in an interview with Military.com that the military recognizes its competition in the civilian job force. “If you can work at Buc-ee’s along I-35 in Texas you can do it for $25-an-hour starting salary. You can start at Target for $29 an hour with educational benefits. So you start looking at the competition: Starbucks, Google, Amazon. The battle for talent amidst this current labor shortage is intense.”

According to Lisa Lawrence, a Pentagon spokesperson, the Department of Defense saw about 200,000 transitioning military members. According to the Air Force Times, about half the number of airmen enlisted in 2021 as compared to the previous year. The Army reported that they did not meet the recruiting goals by several thousand. This means that the number of individuals transitioning out of service in a year are not matching the number that are entering. There are less military members overall.

What does this mean for the military? Recruiting and retention bonuses are at an all-time high. The Air Force is dedicated $31 million to recruiting bonuses this year which is about double the planned budget. The Army has increased their enlistment bonus to $50,000 and offering a first duty station of choice – a surprising move for any military family who knows you are the mercy of the military as to where you live. The Air Force is offering up to $100,000 in reenlistment bonuses and the Navy is offering jobs like network cryptologist incentives to make pay around $90-$100,000.

It isn’t just money or job potential that is threatening the all-volunteer force. It is also the health of the recruitable group – the 17 to 24 year olds. Per the CDC, about 40% of that population is obese – a metric that deems them unable to join the military services as they would not meet the physical fitness standards. In addition, the pandemic has led to a division- those who vaccinate and those who do not. The military requires vaccination for COVID to remain in the military service, and certainly requires it for recruits. According to Senator Thom Tillis of the Senate Armed Services Committee, only 8% of the American population has even considered military service. With such a small group even considering, and the job market providing ample opportunities, will the military fill their ranks?

Five Budget Friendly Meals to Try

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Grocery bills are increasing across the country. Individual items are increasing in price which makes creating affordable meals more challenging. Here are some of our favorite meals that typically cost around $5. The best part is these meals are not only frugal but also appeal to all ages in regard to taste and enjoyment.

Cincinnati Chili

The bonus with this meal is that the filler to the chili is spaghetti. At less than a dollar a box for spaghetti noodles, it adds a great backdrop for seasoning. The Cincinnati Chili is what it is because of the seasonings – chili powder, cumin, and cinnamon. In a crockpot combine, browned ground beef with 6-ounces of tomato paste, 4 cups of water, one can of tomato sauce, chopped onion, and minced garlic. The seasonings vary based on spice level, but a general rule of thumb is to increase or decrease cayenne pepper based on spice level desire. Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon cloves, ¼-1/2 teaspoon cayenne, and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt to the crockpot. Splash in Worcestershire sauce and apple cider vinegar and mix. Cook on low for 8 hours. If you want to really go crazy, add in shaved chocolate (or save for topping). When you are ready to eat, prep the spaghetti. Put a bed of spaghetti on the plate and top with a scoop of chili.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This is another crockpot gem and takes a few items. The ingredients include chicken breast, corn tortillas, cheese, enchilada sauce, and sliced olives. Put the chicken in the crockpot and pour enchilada sauce over it. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Once cooked, shred the chicken in the sauce and top with cut tortillas into strips. Top with shredded cheese and sliced olives. Cook for another 30-60 minutes. If you have tortilla chips, you can also use those instead of tortilla strips. Have leftover meat, use that. Rotisserie chicken makes a great quick fix for the casserole when you only have 30-60 to prep a meal.

Red Beans and Rice

This can be an easy and jazzed-up recipe. Combine a can of kidney beans or soaked dried kidney beans with spices like pepper, cayenne, salt, basil, sage, and a bay leaf into a pan and cover with water and chicken or vegetable bouillon. Cook the beans until soft and mix in a can of diced tomatoes. Cook rice separately and pour beans over rice. Add in leftover meat or veggies for added flavor. Don’t forget to remove the bay leaf before eating.

Hawaiian Fried Rice

This one is a great one to combine leftovers. Saute cooked rice in a saucepan with oil. Combine in vegetables and meat of choice. Spam or ham are good choices. Add in chopped pineapple and you have added the tropical flavor. Don’t forget to scramble an egg in the rice for the ultimate fried rice touch.

Homemade Pizza

Enjoy pizza at home with the personalization of any ingredient your family enjoys. Making a pizza crust with pizza yeast is not as difficult as making bread. Make the pizza crust based on the pizza yeast package. Add in Italian Seasonings for extra flavor to the crust. Top with pasta sauce, desired cheese, veggie and meat and bake! What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Topping ideas include:

-Roasted veggies like fennel, broccoli, tomatoes, red bell peppers, mushrooms, eggplant

-Roasted pineapple

-Roasted garlic

-Picked veggies like cucumbers, jalapeños, red onions

-Capers and olives

-Prosciutto, pepperoni, salami, sausage

-Cheese options like parmesan, mozzarella, gouda, cheddar

Do you have a favorite budget meal?

Transitioning from Military Service? Check Out These Opportunities

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Transitioning from military service? Hiring Our Heroes organization has several programs for those transitioning. Transitioning service members are those active duty service members who plan to transition out of the military within 180 days. The Fellowships through Hiring Our Heroes can be used for SkillBridge. There are four programs through Hiring Our Heroes.

  • Corporate Fellowship Program
  • Salesforce Fellowship Program
  • Career Forward Fellowship Program
  • Career Forward Training Track

Corporate Fellowship Program

This program offers professional development training and hands-on experience. Participating organizations have developed relationships with Hiring Our Heroes to provide their insight to participants in the program. Those enrolled in the program are matched with a host company that best fits the candidates’ needs and goals. Then on-the-job training provides knowledge as well as networking opportunities and classes. There are three cohorts a year, with rolling applications.

Salesforce Fellowship Program

The Salesforce Fellowship Program is a partnership between Hiring Our Heroes and Salesforce providing their 12-week program of experience to allow for a transition to a Salesforce career. Like the other Fellowship Program, the host company is matched for the fellowship candidate based on skills and preferences. The Salesforce organization provides training, classes, and certification exams. There are three cohorts a year, with rolling applications.

Career Forward Fellowship Program and Training Track

The Career Forward program is a new program specifically made to train in Google Career Certificates. The certificate fields have in-demand jobs, making it ideal for those transitioning out of military service. Those enrolled in the Google Career Certificate program enroll in a certificate of choice. The certificates are in data analytics, IT support, project management, or user experience design. The programs are self-paced, and can usually be completed part-time in a period of three to six months. The program comes with the support of Hiring Our Heroes staff and others enrolled in the program. The network is invaluable, especially alongside the certificate program. At the end of the program, the Hiring Our Heroes program aids with resume writing, job searching, and interview preparation.  The entire program is virtual and can be completed when living overseas, if returning to the states within one year.

Life outside the military can feel foreign, especially for those who have had a career within the military spanning decades. Hiring Our Heroes recognizes this and has tools to provide a transition into a career of interest.

PCS Vacation Road Trip!

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Tis the season for PCSing – fa la la la la la la nope.

Ah, okay, so it is the season for PCSing, but it isn’t especially exciting or festive. PCSing often comes with a drive to the next location. When the time to move comes along, it can mean it’s time for a fun road trip. Don’t just take routes A to B, make it an adventure and make it a PCS Vacation Road Trip.

The first step is to ask off for leave in conjunction with the PCS. Each PCS move comes with a certain number of days off. Depending on the distance, anywhere from 7-9 days are allotted. Add in 10 days of leave and you have a good chunk of time off to see the country.

Take Your Time

The hard part about PCS is the stress. Sometimes you just want to get from point A to B to get it done. But taking time off in conjunction means you can take it slow. Drive only two hours and then stop at a park and play for several hours. Check out the list of museums offering free admission in the summer as part of the Blue Star Museums program. This program is a collaboration between the Blue Star Families program and the National Endowment for the Arts. Museums that participate offer free admission to the military members and their families from Armed Forces Day in May to Labor Day in September.  Check out National Parks along the way while utilizing the National Park Military Pass. The National Parks offers a free annual pass to military members and their dependents, and it can be renewed as long as valid ID can be shown at renewal. An epic road trip to be had! All those Pinterest boards and travel Instagram accounts you have followed may be inspiration, but you can live it.

Stop Along the Way

Perhaps you have taken the time off and planned your route but really only see three or four cities you want to explore, make the most of it. Drive those long hours and miles to get to the destination (safely) and then stay for a few days. Check out extended stay hotels with kitchens to make the most of the stay. Having longer stays means you can actually jump into the pool instead of just walking by it on the way in and out the door on your long legs. You can enjoy the local scenery and check out local cuisine.

Historic Routes

Across the country, the I-40 stretches and plays host in some areas to Route 66. Corduroy Road goes through the Carolinas on the east coast. Maybe you grew up on the Oregon Trail, well you can drive along with parts of the route from Illinois to Oregon. Want to take on the first road for cars? That’s the Lincoln Highway for you. There are so many amazing road trips to be had – just need the time to make it happen, and PCS time can be that opportunity.

Make It A Vacation

If you are like the many Americans, you have vacation days left to burn. According to Forbes, in 2019 there were 768 million unused vacation days. And in 2020, 55% of US workers did not use all of their paid time off. Do not be a statistic. Take the time. If the operation tempo at work led to the inability to take time off, this is your chance. Make the most of the PCS and take the vacation.

PCS time is a stressful time period- make the most of the known ability to take time off and make it a vacation to lessen the stress.

Disney Discounts for Your Summer Vacation

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Are you feeling the hankering for some enjoyment with the Mouse or Princesses? Or perhaps you are feeling the desire to head to Batuu. If this is your goal for the year, there are Military Salute tickets on offer. The tickets are valid through December 16, 2022.

Heading to the park for 5 days? There are several options. Park hopper means you can go from park to park. This means for Disney World you can move from Epcot to Hollywood Studios to the Magic Kingdom to the Animal Kingdom with ease throughout the day at the time you desire. This means Disneyland hopping from Disney California Adventure to Disneyland and back again to your heart’s content. Park Hopper Plus means all that plus the water parks. There are two water parks at Walt Disney World – Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.  There is not a plus option for Disneyland.

Genie+ is now in place of Fast Pass or Max Pass. The Genie+ program is an add-on program allowing for purchase of Lightning Lane pass – aka a timed ticket to go to a ride allowing you to limit the ride wait.

The following ticket prices are for anyone age 3 and up. These are individual ticket prices.

Walt Disney World Military Salute Ticket Pricing

5 Day Military Salute Ticket

– With park Hopper option: $349 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Plus Option: $379 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Option and Genie+ service: $429 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Plus Option and Genie+ service: $454 plus tax

4 Day Military Salute Ticket

– With park Hopper option: $329 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Plus Option: $359 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Option and Genie+ service: $389 plus tax

– With Park Hopper Plus Option and Genie+ service: $419 plus tax

Walt Disneyland Military Salute Ticket Pricing

3 Day Military Salute Ticket

-With Park Hopper: $225

-With Park Hopper and Genie+: $285

4 Day Military Salute Ticket

-With Park Hopper: $260

-With Park Hopper and Genie+: $340

After purchasing your tickets, don’t forget to make park reservations via the Disney Park Pass system.

The only blackout dates at Disneyland tickets are for spring break, April 9-April 17, 2022 which have passed as of this writing.

There are no blackout dates for Disney World Salute tickets.

If you are looking to capture family photos, don’t forget Memory Maker at Walt Disney World. This package is specially priced at $98 for military. It includes all photos and videos from your vacation (for up to 30 days from the date of activation), including magic shots and rides that take souvenir photos. This

Don’t forget about the one base installation ticket office. These offices have the Military Salute tickets, and because they are sold on federal property are without tax. That saves a pretty penny or two.  Disneyland Military Salute tickets are only available through Military ticket offices on base and are not available for purchase at Disneyland.

Grocery Delivery from The Commissary Is Here

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The Defense Commissary Agency, DECA, has been planning for grocery delivery and it starts June 1 at 8 military bases.

In April, DECA awarded grocery delivery contracts to two veteran-owned companies. The pilot program will run through the summer, ending August 30th.  After the contract award, the delivery companies integrated and tested their technology with the commissary grocery ordering system. The plan for the same-day delivery is that grocery delivery within 3 hours for orders placed Monday through Friday.

The contract for the eastern commissaries is ChowCall based out of Chesapeake, Virginia.  The contract for the commissaries on the west coast is YouUp Delivery Inc, out of Roswell, Georgia.

East coast Commissaries participating in grocery delivery through ChowCall are:

– Fort Belvoir, Virginia

– Scott Air Force Base, Illinois

– Fort Bragg South Commissary, North Carolina

– MacDill Air Force Base, Florida

– Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia

West Coast Commissaries participating in grocery delivery through YouUp are:

-Fort Lewis, Washington

-Miramar Naval Air Station and San Diego Naval Station, California

The doorstep delivery cost is planned range between $3.80 and $4.15. This is much less than grocery delivery fees from big box stores. The plan is for delivery to be provided within a 20 miles driving distance from the commissaries. The hours of operation for delivery were not readily listed or available.

The co-founder of YouUp Delivery, Inc, Harold Earls is a retired captain from the Army. He remarked on his personal desire for convenience when it comes to grocery cost. He said he has specifically created his company with the goal to serve the military community, specifically through the commissary.

The CEO of ChowCall, Todd Waldemar, is a retired Marine. He currently works with restaurants on military bases and is excited about adding grocery delivery to their support.

The goal of both companies is to hire military spouses to work with the company to provide grocery delivery. Working for the delivery company will come with hourly wage plus tips. Per http://www.youup.us/hire, the hourly wage will be around $20 an hour. ChowCall is also hiring per their LinkedIn. That is quite a wage for grocery delivery, and much higher in comparison to other large companies that provide grocery and meal delivery around the U.S.

Like Click2Go, the commissary employees will still shop for the items that the military family desires from the store. Then the filled orders will be ready for pick up for the grocery delivery contractor. The application for grocery delivery will group the deliveries in the best and most efficient order.

The commissary provides about 20% cost savings in comparison to other grocery stores. Even with the few dollars grocery delivery fee, there will still be a grocery savings for military members.

The website for coordination of grocery delivery was not readily available at this writing. Will you use commissary grocery delivery?