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Army Families Burdened by Backlogged Child Care

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Many Army families are facing huge debt from child care that they were expecting to be covered by the Army’s child care fee subsidy program.

Many Army families are facing huge debt from child care that they were expecting to be covered by the Army's child care fee subsidy program.

Have you been affected by the Army’s child care fee subsidy program backlog?

The Army fee assistance (AFA) is meant to cover the higher cost of off-post child care for eligible families. This program was designed to assist families when on-post child care is not available or when a family is too far away from the military daycare center. The coverage includes full-time or part-time care, before- or after-school care, respite care, as well as weekend and evening duty care. The AFA has not been doing this lately and families are struggling to pay for child care.

Many Army families are facing huge debt from child care that they were expecting to be covered by the Army's child care fee subsidy program.

A Fort Jackson Family Child Care provider plays with a 17-month-old boy. Source: Army.mil

The backlog started when the Army switched from the program being run by Child Care Aware, which continues to run the program for the Air Force, Navy and Marines successfully, to the General Services Administration (GSA). The reason for the transfer of services has not been made transparent at this time.

The information on how poorly GSA has managed the program however is clear.

The problem started as soon as GSA took over program management. GSA went from managing a case load of 200 families to a significant increase by 9,000 Army families. They weren’t prepared for the substantial change and failed to put into place a plan to carry the new load. So far each plan they have tried to gain control of the program has failed and the backlog continues to grow exponentially. Processing has become so slow that as of the end of July they are behind in paying 9,100 invoices.

Army families that depend on the subsidy have waited months to receive reimbursement or are still waiting.

There are many that report falling into debt so much that they have had to file bankruptcy or had a civilian spouse quit their job or stop going to school since they can’t afford child care. A huge frustration to the majority is the lack of communication.

Staff at GSA have admitted that they have deleted voice messages and purposefully not responded to emails because they didn’t have the “luxury” of time to devote to them as the backlog of other tasks is so high. This simply outrages many struggling military families searching for information.

GSA said that they have been tackling the long list of email queries and that the number of emails not receiving a reply has gone down from 4,000 to 621 since the end of July. That isn’t much comfort to the more than 600 people left in the dark and in debt.

GSA said its goal is to pay off all invoices by the end of this year by hiring more staff. Getting fingerprints and having background checks completed as well as being unable to find enough qualified candidates to apply for the positions has delayed the acquisition of more processors. As the days on the calendar quickly tick by, few people believe they will obtain this goal. GSA is meeting with Army officials to discuss the matter and if and how the program may be transferred to another management company.

In the meantime, Army families around the country will be waiting anxiously to find out if they will be receiving financial relief anytime soon.

The holidays are quickly approaching and this hardship that many families are enduring could put a damper on travel and gift giving. Hopefully, a solution will come soon and the season will be bright for all.

Have you been affected by the Army’s child care fee subsidy program backlog? What has your experience been like?

25 Reasons to Give Back This Holiday Season

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When my sister-in-law asks for my kids’ Christmas wish lists, I sigh. I look around our living room and I see piles of toys that were once loved, but have since been forgotten. The kids don’t want to pick up their toys and put them away. And they are always whining for the newest and greatest toy that the neighbor has and they want. Desperately.

My sisters and I love to buy each other gifts. But around the holidays, there’s a mad dash to find a thoughtful, useful and personal gift when I simply don’t have the desire or energy to shop. I would rather be with my sisters than shopping for my sisters.

This Christmas I am considering a different approach to gift giving. Instead of using our money to buy, buy, buy, we could use our money that we allocated for our holiday gifts by making a donation to our favorite charities through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC.

The CFC is the world’s largest annual workplace charity campaign and it is available to all federal employees, including service members. The CFC offers a convenient way to make a donation to your favorite charity through direct withdrawal from your paycheck. You can do a small amount every pay period or a one-time donation.

Haven’t heard about the CFC at your military installation?

You can connect with your CFC campaign here. The 2015 CFC solicitation period ends December 15.

Are you thinking about scaling down your Christmas budget this year? Are you considering a Christmas that is more about giving to others and less about giving gifts?

Here are 25 reasons why I’m considering making donations to my favorite charities through the CFC instead of buying gifts this holiday season.

Here are 25 reasons why I’m considering giving gifts that give back this holiday season.

  1. I don’t want the Black Friday craziness. The day after Thanksgiving I don’t want to be battling for an electronic device in a big box store. I want to be at home, listening to holiday music and spending time with my husband.
  2. Giving is a teaching opportunity. When we donate money to charities through the CFC, it’s a teaching opportunity for our children. We can talk to them about children who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical conditions and what a blessing their health is. We can watch videos on Make-A-Wish’s website so that the girls can see how their donation (instead of gifts) helps a child have their wish granted. Donating to charities, like Make-A-Wish is a teaching opportunity for gratitude and empathy.
  3. Giving back helps me put my life in perspective. I like to tell myself that my children are ungrateful and I am not. But if I really listen to what I complain about (I want a bigger house, a new purse and top-of-the-line tablet), I find that I’m losing perspective on what’s important in life. If I’m not careful I focus on things instead of people. Making the decision to give a donation instead of buying a gift helps me remember that things won’t lead to my happiness.
  4. Wrapping paper and I don’t get along. I really, really don’t like wrapping presents. It’s not my thing.
  5. Buying less leads to a greener Christmas. The majority of the toys we buy our children aren’t manufactured in the United States. By buying less and trying to buy a few locally made items, we can help reduce our carbon footprint this holiday season.
  6. This gift won’t break, tear or need batteries. Aren’t we all disappointed when a toy doesn’t last more than few months? When we give the gift of giving back through the CFC, we know that this gift won’t be tossed in the trash. This gift will be making a difference in someone’s life.
  7. We don’t need anything and others do. We have life’s necessities and more than a few luxuries. Instead of getting more stuff, we can give more to others who need it more than we do.
  8. Making donations through the CFC empower us when we feel powerless. When I watch the news, my heart breaks. I see children who need help. I see women who need help. And I feel powerless to help. I want to be right there in Nebraska after a tornado serving food to families who lost their homes. But I can’t; instead I make a donation to the American Red Cross. Supporting organizations that help people after natural disasters helps me not feel powerless.
  9. There are no shipping costs. I like to shop online so I spend a small fortune on shipping fees to get presents to my family during the holiday season. This year, when I make donation to the CFC instead, I won’t waste money on shipping fees.
  10. My donation is a thank you gift. Thank you USO for offering my family a place to relax and recharge when our flight was canceled.
  11. We can honor our family members who we miss this holiday season. Before he died, my grandfather, a Korean veteran, was able to take an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He was very grateful for this experience. This year, when I’m missing him and remembering the box of chocolates I used to give him every Christmas, I can instead make a donation to Honor Flight through the CFC.
  12. One donation gives back all year. When you make a donation to an organization like Serve Our Willing Warriors, you know that your donation is helping ill and injured service members and their families throughout the year. It’s a gift that goes beyond December 25.
  13. A donation is a one-size-fits-all gift. I don’t have to worry about sister-in-law returning this gift. I don’t have to worry about nephew already having this gift.
  14. My gift can help a community close to my heart – veterans.  Here are 21 military and veteran charities that I highly recommend.
  15. Less stuff means less stress at PCS time.We know we are going to move again. It’s part of being a military family. When the time comes to move, I can get pretty stressed out with all the stuff we have and trying to make it fit in the new house. With less stuff, my stress levels aren’t as high when I unpack after a PCS.
  16. Gifts that give back reduce my guilt. I would love to volunteer with a few organizations that I really love, but right now, I don’t have that time. (I’m looking forward to doing that when I retired.) Since I can’t give my time, I can give my money and stop feeling guilty about not volunteering.
  17. These gifts aren’t hard to find. When I was a child, I wanted a Cabbage Patch doll like every other 5-year-old in the early 80s. But unlike every other kid, I didn’t get one. They were sold out everywhere.
  18. Gifts that give are the perfect gifts for that person who has everything. You know that person (cough my husband, cough) who has everything and you still feel obligated to give them a gift. Skip the jelly of the month club membership and make a donation through the CFC instead.
  19. I could be done with my holiday shopping today. I’m always annoyed when I see a friend post on Facebook on October 15 “already done with my holiday shopping, now I can concentrate on what really matter this holiday season.” Meanwhile, I don’t even start thinking about the holidays until after Thanksgiving dinner. With a few clicks on the CFC website, I could be done with my holiday shopping. It’s so tempting.
  20. There’s not a temptation to overspend. Every year, I make a holiday gift budget and I vow to stick to it. Then I’m shopping and I get excited about everything I see. My budget goes out the window. When I pledge donations through the CFC, I stick to my budget.
  21. No more waiting in lines. Every December I waste a lot of time standing in line. Standing in line at the store. Standing in line to take a photo of my kids with Santa. Standing in line at the post office.
  22. Take the competition out of Christmas. Even when my husband and I pledge to not buy each other gifts, I get sucked into the holiday competitive spirit. I want to give him some amazing gift to show how much I love him when in reality his love is a gift to me.
  23. Gifts that give back help my military family. We know that for many military families this time of year isn’t the happiest time of year. Organizations like Trees for Troops help military families  by providing free fresh Christmas trees to service members and their families. Another option is Snowball Express. This charity provides “hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.”
  24. These gifts help us to never forget. Through the charity, Wreaths Across America, we placed wreaths at the tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery 3 years ago. This event was the perfect opportunity to talk our children about remembering and honoring those who came before us.
  25. I want to celebrate a meaningful Christmas filled with experiences, not gifts. When we talk about past Christmases, my kids never remember the toys they unwrapped. Here’s what they remember:
  • Putting out reindeer food on Christmas Eve
  • Going to the Nutcracker ballet with their cousins
  • Watching The Sound of Music while snuggled under blankets
  • Sledding with their friends at Lake Tahoe

This year, I hope that I can give my children a meaningful Christmas once again. I hope this Christmas will be a time of reflection about what we have instead of what we think we need.

Has your family stopped giving gifts for the holidays? How did you do it?

Pets Feel the Separation During the Deployment Too

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We’ve all heard (and most likely experienced) it before: “Deployments suck.” I might even sound like a broken record at this point.

There are so many different types of stress that can occur when a service member is on deployment or away. But, we often forget about the effect of separation between service members and their beloved pets.

Think about it this way, a deployment or separation is a difficult challenge for all family members. Don’t we all consider our furry, four-legged companions a part of the family?

It’s almost a given for dogs to be very attached to their human counterpart. Did you know that cats can suffer from separation anxiety too?

Felines express it differently, especially because a lot of cats are extremely independent already. Well, leave it to my cat to be the exception to the rule. She is very attached to both my husband and myself. We got her as a kitten when she was about 8 months old. My husband was actually the first of the two of us to hold her.

When Your Pet Feels Separation Anxiety During a Deployment

My husband and Xena.

Since I work from home, I see her a lot more. When 4 to 5 p.m. rolls around, she’s waiting by the door for my husband to arrive. It’s actually really cute.

But, when my husband has TDYs, she stays waiting at the door and it breaks my heart! I can only imagine how she would react during a deployment.

Most pets are sociable creatures and love companionship, whether they are a dog or cat. I believe they can miss and even care for you. Our cat Xena does so by “grooming” or snuggling with us, which can get a little weird at times. Everything said is why it’s important for us to consider our family pets as well as all the other humans in your household that go through a deployment. There are some relatively simple things that can help our furry family members cope with their service members’ absences.

When Your Pet Feels Separation Anxiety During a Deployment

Rewarding your pet is a good way to help their attitude during a deployment.

First, when we know he will be leaving for an extended amount of time, my husband makes sure he spends extra time with her. We call for her and pet her as much as possible.

Then when my husband is away, I mimic the same exact activities that my husband does with Xena. He’s pretty much the person that plays with her everyday with her favorite toy. When he’s away, I grab the toy and play with her until she starts panting and is tired. Keeping to routine is important.

Afterwards, I feed Xena her absolute favorite treats, which I’ve mentioned before, are Purina Whisker Lickin’s Crunchy Tuna Treats. Seriously, she absolutely loves them. My husband feeds her 3 nibblets following a play session. Rewarding your pet is a good way to help their attitude and as a result provide a positive environment for them.

It’s also a benefit to keep your pet distracted and socializing with others. If you have a pup (and if you’re brave with a cat), take them outside for plenty of walks and trips around town at places that are pet friendly.

For service members that need extra help during a deployment, there are organizations out there to assist when deployment orders get drawn and you have no one to watch your pet. Dogs on Deployment is a wonderful group that matches your pet with a loving home for them to board. The organization also considers cats too! Boarding your pet eases the stress of separation by giving them another home to live in the meantime. It also eases the stress for service members as they go through deployment and gives them peace of mind.

Don’t forget about the service member too! I send plenty of pictures of Xena to my husband when he’s away, so he can keep up with what’s going on at home. It’s a great way to keep them interacting with the family no matter where they are.

I can’t end this without sharing some of my favorite pet reunions! I’m a little particular to the unlikely one between a service member and his cat here.

But, you can never go wrong with dogs and their special service member companion here.

What are your tips to help pets feeling separation anxiety during a deployment?

Why the Breastfeeding Soldiers Photo Went Viral

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Military culture is changing a little bit every day. The military is no longer a man’s world. Military culture unites women and men, gay and straight under the same oath to serve the United States of America.

A recent photo that went viral on social media illustrates those changes in military culture. The photo, taken by former airman and military spouse, Tara Ruby, shows 10 female soldiers breastfeeding their babies in uniform at Fort Bliss, Texas. Ruby, who normally takes family portraits, said “her aim for the photo was to normalize breastfeeding in the military” and she planned to donate the photo to a new nursing room at Fort Bliss.

When she posted the breastfeeding soldiers photo on her Facebook page, she had no idea how popular it would become.

Ruby’s breastfeeding soldiers photo went viral when it rack up 2.5 million views on her Facebook page.

But why? Why did this photo go viral? Why did a photo of breastfeeding soldiers become a source of discussion on CNN and Fox News?

Here are the 3 reasons why I think that breastfeeding soldiers photo went viral:

3 Reasons Why the Breastfeeding Soldiers Photo Went Viral

Why do you think a breastfeeding soldiers photo went viral?

National Movement to Normalize Breastfeeding

There are many organizations working to normalize breastfeeding. These organizations encourage mothers to post photos of themselves breastfeeding their children with the hashtag #normalizebreastfeeding on social media. When Ruby posted her photo, she used that hashtag and I think that contributed to its popularity. Individuals who support breastfeeding are looking for that hashtag and ways to show their support on social media.

Movement to Normalize Female Service Members

While there’s a central and concentrated effort to normalize breastfeeding and support mothers who choose to breastfeed, there isn’t the same direct public relations campaign to showcase women in the military.

But it’s there.

There is a grassroots movement, especially among women like Ruby who are former active duty, to show that women can be soldiers, wives, and mothers all at the same time.

“Breastfeeding their babies doesn’t make them less of a soldier, I believe it makes them a better one. Juggling the tasks and expectations of a soldier, plus providing for their own in the best way they possibly can, makes (these) ladies even stronger for it,” Ruby told CNN.

Ruby said on Facebook that she thinks this is the first group photo to show support of active-duty military mommies nursing their babies.

One interesting aspect of this photo is the female service member’s eyes. They aren’t looking at the camera. They are looking into the eyes of their babies.

Civilians Are Intrigued with Military Life

As less and less people serve in the Armed Forces, more and more people know very little about military life. Their knowledge of the military comes from the media and let’s face, there aren’t any military movies showing a female soldier as the protagonist. Wait, correction. There’s one. G.I. Jane.

Therefore, when something like this photo hits Facebook, civilians are intrigued. They post comments on Facebook saying things like “soldiers can’t breastfeed in uniform!” when in fact they can or “oh boy, I bet the Army won’t like this” when the photographer worked with public affairs officer specifically for this photo shoot. Remember the Ruby’s intent was to donate this photo to hang in the nursing room at the Fort Bliss headquarters building.

Civilians don’t expect to see mothers as soldiers simply because they don’t see it in the movies.

In contrast, today’s service members aren’t surprised by this photo because they know that female soldiers pump breastmilk and deliver it to their babies at the child development centers. They know that female Marines return to work 6 weeks after giving birth. They know that female airman work with their supervisors to ensure that they are given an empty office in order to pump during working hours. They know mothers are soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen.

Now it’s your turn: Why do you think this breastfeeding soldiers photo went viral?

Author Donates His Book’s Proceeds to Veterans Organization

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The author of the new book Looking Through Water has pledged to donate the novel’s proceeds to a veterans organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled service members and veterans through fly fishing.

Looking Through Water Author Donates to Veterans Organization

Looking Through Water is Rich’s fifth book and first novel. He decided to donate the book’s proceeds to veterans in honor of his father’s memory.

Author Bob Rich Jr. said Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. was the natural choice for his book’s proceeds.

“A main theme in Looking Through Water is getting out into nature to confront challenges and ultimately see them as opportunities. For me, the open water has been very transformative so I thought it would be very fitting to partner with Project Healing Waters,” he said.

Since 2005 Project Healing Waters has been providing basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes, along with fishing trips to wounded service members and disabled veterans. Participants include people who have never fished before to those who are “adapting their skills to their new abilities.” Project Healing Waters provides all the fly fishing and tying equipment and fishing trips to participants at no cost.

Project Healing Waters is “much more than a one day fishing trip,” according to the organization’s website.

“For many participants, particularly disabled veterans, the socialization and camaraderie of the classes are just as important as the fishing outings, and provide them a new activity,” Project Healing Waters said.

Bonding while fishing is a theme in the novel Looking Through Water.

Looking Through Water is a multi-generational look at family relationships, told by a grandfather to his grandson during a fishing expedition.

“Fishing is frustration and heartbreak set amidst incredible beauty that for me is a fitting analogy for life and our closest relationships. The small numbers of people on a fishing boat —two or three at a time—naturally lends itself to more personal conversations. A lot of veneers are stripped, and you find yourself sharing information that you might not have on land,” Rich said.

The suspenseful novel starts on an Adirondacks lake and wends its way through Manhattan to the Florida Keys. Its main character, William McKay is neither a sinner nor a saint. He is just a man trying to make sense of his life, Rich said.

“He never set out to be a teacher, but was thrust into the role during which time he taught and learned as well. It’s an adventure story and a love story with a hopeful ending,” Rich said.

“The novel covers five generations in a very short time, and the reader will get drawn into the characters as they lose their way and ultimately find a path back to redemption. A grandson becomes a grandfather and reaches back into his past to share with his troubled grandson the events of a week that would forever change the man’s life,” Rich said.

Looking Through Water is Rich’s fifth book and first novel.

He decided to donate the book’s proceeds to veterans in honor of his father’s memory.

“In his role as Milk Administrator, Rich Sr., learned of successful research using the soybean to create a non-dairy milk alternative. That idea spurred his entrepreneurial vision that led to the ultimate founding of our company in 1945,” he said.

Rich served in the United States National Guard from 1963 to 1969 and was a member of the Army Reserve Officer School Staff. His family’s company, Rich Products, recently team up with Pizza 4 Patriots to get pizza delivered for troops serving abroad.

“We are so pleased to give back to our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrifice so much for all of us,” he said.

Looking Through Water is available for sale at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Purchase your copy today.

A Few Words from Serve Our Willing Warriors

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cfc jen

Dear Friends,

As a nation we are in general, grateful to our military members who serve to protect our freedom and democracy. Most of us however, are gravely unaware of the numerous issues many of them face upon returning home from duty. Some of them have sacrificed far more than we can imagine; visible wounds as in loss of limb, serious bodily injury, and also wounds we cannot see.

Consider these sobering facts:

  • There are more than 50,000 wounded to date from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  • There have been over 130,000 reported cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome since 2002.
  • Since 2000, there are more than 300,000 reported Traumatic Brain Injury incidents.
  • The average hospital stay is 300 days, with treatment regimens lasting as long as four years.
  • Most recovering soldiers are separated from family for long periods while in treatment.

Serve Our Willing Warriors (SOWW), is a Virginia, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created to support our country’s wounded warriors and their families. Our core mission has been to establish and maintain a respite for these families as a getaway during their recovery process. Sitting on a lush 37 acres in the foothills of the Bull Run Mountains, the Bull Run Warrior Retreat is located in Haymarket, Virginia, about 30 miles from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. The Retreat’s serene setting offers a warm, home-like environment where service members and their families can relax and enjoy quality time together away from a clinical setting. We also organize an array of local activities in the surrounding area for guests’ enjoyment and entertainment during their stay.

It is through our volunteers and partners that SOWW became a reality. Over 92% of support donated to SOWW goes directly to the program to provide support and encouragement to our nation’s warriors and their families during their recovery process, and to maintain a peaceful retreat for them to escape to and rebuild their lives.

We hope you will prayerfully consider SOWWING SEEDS OF HAPPINESS for our Warriors and their Families.

For more information on how you can help support our efforts please visit www.willingwarriors.org.

Sincerely,

Shirley Dominick

President

Serve Our Willing Warriors

 

SOWW is a non-profit charitable organization as described undersection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Tax ID #: 46-0683036 ~ CFC# 90228

Food Shortages Are Not Standard

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Throughout the year, military families have been experiencing shortages at OCONUS commissaries. It started with a dispute with contracts as well as issues with shipment deliveries at the beginning of this year.

The discrepancies caused a back up and we, at MilitaryShoppers, shared DeCA’s response in April that the commissary shipments to OCONUS locations would still need several more months to catch up to normal levels.

In January, the overseas commissary stock on stores was at a terrible position. Shelves were empty for weeks and DeCA had to make emergency shipments to make sure military families were able to at least get the necessities. DeCA needed time to get the new commissary contract negotiation underway and after the agreement was established, the shipment process also needed time to smooth out.

At this point, the 3- to 4-month timeline that DeCA outlined has expired and OCONUS commissaries should be experiencing similar inventory as years previous.

It’s not common for commissaries overseas to have global shortages. In fact, commissaries are a very important go-to location for families stationed OCONUS.

With that said, it can still be a challenge to acquire certain American goods because of availability to ship and dealing with extensive shipping times. Military families miss the luxuries of what was once easy to buy when stateside. It’s almost an understanding that when a service member gets stationed at an OCONUS location that your family will have a limited supply of groceries.

Even before the major shortage of 2015, military families have been practicing tips and tricks for dealing with an overseas commissary because, let’s face it, we need to be a little understanding about the shipping woes.

Here are 3 suggestions to help you get through your OCONUS commissary inventory struggles.

  1. Try the Local Cuisine. Before my husband was stationed in Korea, he would have NEVER thought about eating Korean food. Well, I probably would have eventually presented it to him at some point, but he was such a picky eater! His assignment to Korea was the perfect way to “forcefully” introduce him to the food and he has since, opened his mind (i.e. taste buds) to different cuisines. Get yourself and your family out to the markets and pick up on the culture. You’ll be thankful for it later!
  2. Stock Up When You Can. When you see a particular food you like in stock that is sparse at times, pick up extras at the commissary and save it. If it’s something fresh, be mindful of the shelf life and use it before it goes bad. That could mean to double up on a favorite dish for 2 weeks in a row to get the most out of an ingredient that’s hard to come by. In addition, you can utilize the freezer to keep applicable foods preserved for awhile. I’m a fan of canned veggies for times that fresh ones might be hard to come by. It also makes for a quick dish when you’re tight on time with dinner too.
  3. Use This Time to Get Creative. Notice that an ingredient is not available at the commissary that is typically in your family’s favorite recipe? Think outside the box and substitute it for another ingredient that is available at your OCONUS commissary. Instead of being frustrated that something is missing, accept the challenge of modifying a recipe and you might be surprised by the taste. The worst thing that could happen is that you don’t like it. At least you tried and can cross that substitution off your list for any future meals.

Hopefully by now, the shortages that OCONUS military families have been dealing with at the beginning of this year has subsided and the commissary you’re familiar with from previous years is back on track.

Have you experienced a commissary food shortage while stationed overseas? How did you deal with it?

35 Military Discounts Save Veterans Money

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Veterans Day gives a lot of businesses from coast-to-coast a reason to offer wonderful military discounts to our service members, veterans and their families. I’ve seen a handful of commercials on TV that have been advertising deals to veterans, which is great! My husband and I have also utilized these special military discounts in the past.

This time of year, there will be a long list of military discounts for military families. But, most businesses will only offer the military discount on November 11. And then, some places might extend it out a day or so before and after Veterans Day.

What about the other 364 days of the year?

To my surprise, there are a lot of businesses that offer year-round military discounts. From restaurants to retailers, the list is pretty extensive. A handful have special military discount days, while others may offer it at any point. Either way, your military family has other chances to use these deals.

Here are 35 military discounts that help veterans and their family members save money.

35 Military Discounts That Can Save Veterans Money

14 Retailers that Offer Military Discounts

  1. Calvin Klein, 15% off purchases
  2. Columbia Sportswear, 10% off purchases
  3. Dell, 10% off purchases
  4. Foot Locker, 20% off purchases
  5. Home Depot, 10% off purchases
  6. Joann Fabrics, 10% off purchases
  7. Lowe’s, 10% off purchases
  8. Michael’s, 10% off purchases
  9. New York and Company, 15% off purchases
  10. Nike, 10% off purchases
  11. Old Navy, Military Mondays 10% off purchases (A little birdie told me it’s everyday now, at least for my local Old Navy. Worth a shot to check out in your neck of the woods!)
  12. Payless Shoe Store, 10% off purchases
  13. Timberland, 20% off purchases
  14. Under Armour, 10% off purchases

11 Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts

  1. Applebee’s, 10% off military discount
  2. Boston Market, 20% off military discount
  3. Buffalo Wild Wings, 10% off military discount
  4. Denny’s, 10% off military discount
  5. Joe’s Crab Shack, 10% off military discount
  6. Longhorn Steakhouse, 10% off military discount
  7. Quiznos, 10% off military discount
  8. Red Lobster, 10% off military discount
  9. Sonic Drive-In, 10% off military discount
  10. Texas Roadhouse, 10% off military discount
  11. T.G.I. Fridays, 10% off military discount

8 Travel Military Discounts

  1. Amtrak, 10% off military discount
  2. Carnival, offers military fares
  3. Choice Hotels, offers military/government rate
  4. Marriott, offers military/government rate
  5. Hilton, offers military/government rate
  6. Ramada, offers military/government rate (My husband and I got a great deal when we visited family earlier this month.)
  7. Royal Caribbean, special rates on select cruises
  8. Wyndham Hotels, offers military/government rate (Last Thanksgiving, we stayed at the Wyndham in Gettysburg, Penn., and loved the deal we got!)

2 Special Websites Listing Military Discounts

  1. GovX. As a huge shopping hub open to Armed Forces personnel and their closest family members, GovX offers amazing deals! Whether it is technology or tactical gear and everything in between, the online destination has it all. My family uses it to buy sporting event tickets. They offer exclusive discounts to watch your favorite teams no matter the time of year!
  2. ID.me Shop. This is another website that offers special deals to military members. You can get special alerts sent to you, so you’re in the know of the places that are currently running discounts. Some of the places that I mention above offer a cash back bonus in addition to the military discount through ID.me like Under Armour and Dell Computers.

All locations that I mentioned are subject to change, so ask your local store employees if they offer a military discount.

Also, some businesses have limitations. For example, Lowe’s offers 10% up to $500. I shared a lot of businesses that my husband and myself use on a regular basis. In addition, I asked other military friends and families of their favorite places too.

Keep in mind that this list just touches on the available military discounts out there. There are a lot of wonderful local businesses that offer a military discount along with some bigger franchise out here. It doesn’t hurt to ask any business you patronize if they offer a military discount.

Which military discounts do you use the most when shopping or traveling?

Best Western ‘Wall of Honor’ Celebrates Veterans

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Best Western® created a ‘Wall of Honor’ to celebrate Veterans Day!

The ‘Wall of Honor’ is a special way to honor Veterans by sharing some of the most remarkable and unforgettable moments during their service to our nation.

Check out the photos that were uploaded to the ‘Wall of Honor’ here

*Giveaway has ended.*Now you can also be entered to win a $100 travel card courtesy of Best Western® if you upload a photo to the ‘Wall of Honor’ and email it to MilitaryShoppers.

(Giveaway ends 11/12/2015)

Sharing a photo is easy!

  1. Enter Your Name
  2. Upload a Photo
  3. Click Submit

Click here to upload your photo and email it to bschmalz@militarymedia.com to be entered into the $100 travel card giveaway!