May is Military Appreciation Month. Many companies offer special deals to the military and their families to celebrate the month. The marketing of these deals promotes how ‘military friendly’ the companies are. While considerate and sometimes helpful, it is also a PR move. It is a chance to pull in military families to use the discount, attract military supporters favoring companies that give back, and showcase corporate patriotism. But is a military discount enough?

Several military members and their spouses shared that while they appreciate the discount, they would prefer that the discounts are offered year-round versus only on a promotional basis. The promotional basis feels like a strict public relations move and not demonstrating the steadfast support of military members and their families around the globe. The National Parks, for instance, offer a free family pass to military and veterans for year-round access to National Parks. And home improvement stores Home Depot and Lowes offer a year-round discount.

One Marine Corps spouse stated, “We are too dependent on discounts as a form of appreciation, especially when it’s a marketing tactic to get our business. Show your appreciation by supporting nonprofits that support us in the community, host a dinner for deployed families, and match donations to local resources.” The unfortunate reality is that corporate discounts and other benefits are increasingly necessary to make ends meet, but should they be?

When military retirement has decreased from 2.5% to 2% of base pay per year of service and retiree healthcare is increasingly outsourced to understaffed private networks, military retirement is not as stand-alone as it once was; is a military discount enough to make up for that? In all fairness, retirement benefits do not apply to all active-duty military. Per the Army’s statistics, the average service length is typically 2-6 years.

In 2022, the total number of those serving on active duty, reserve, and guard was around 1.18 million. Of those on active duty, the Army had 482,416, the Navy 343,223, and the Air Force (Space Force included) had 328,888. The Marine Corps had 179,378 on active duty. Per the Council of Foreign Relations, this is less than 1 percent of the population of the United States. Per the Census Bureau, the number of veterans continued to decline; in 1980, veterans made up 18% of the population, while by 2018, only 7% of the population, which continues to decline.

This decrease in number corresponds to fewer representatives fighting for those who serve. Reflecting the community, it serves, only 17% of the legislators in the 117th Congress in 2021 were military veterans, whereas, in 1973, 81% of the Senate and 75% of the House had served in the military. The draft of World War II can explain this high percentage. Even in the late 1990s, this dropped to 37% in the Senate and 27% in the House 30 years after the end of the draft.

With such a low number of those serving, and those in Congress, a place of power to change the military culture, a similarly low percentage, what can be expected for thanks of military service?

The Right Now Benefits

For those serving for a few years, the benefits include the GI Bill, the military commissary, and healthcare benefits.  

The GI Bill is the most significant benefit. This benefit allows service members to utilize the GI Bill to pay for a four-year college. If they do not want to or cannot use it for themselves, they can gift it to their spouse or children. This is a financial benefit, especially as the cost of attending a 4-year university soars.

The military commissary is the grocery store on post specifically there to support those who serve. The commissary, supported by congressional funds, provided the most affordable way to shop. The Government Accountability Office has reviewed the commissaries appropriated funding and the business model for the commissary. Over the last ten years, the appropriation funding has dropped several hundred thousand dollars translating to less savings for shoppers as the commissary moves to a self-sustaining business model. For reference, all other grocery stores are self-sufficient, and the commissary is considered part of military pay for now.

One of the many things said during recruiting is that all healthcare will be free for the service member and any family members. While TRICARE Prime does offer free healthcare, is it accessible healthcare? Military Treatment Facilities, or MTFs, were established to care for military members and their families. Over the last decade, available services have dropped in several locations requiring that military families are seen off-post civilian facilities. The civilian medical community is already overwhelmed in many areas, and adding thousands more family members to the system has led to a backlog. The backlog means that family members cannot receive healthcare in a timely manner. That promised healthcare is no longer there. Many medical groups have dropped TRICARE as an accepted insurance due to the low payouts that TRICARE provides. Groups dropping military families also go for the dental coverage of United Concordia. While there was a brief period when MetLife provided dental coverage and did provide more coverage than United Concordia, it changed back several years ago. Like medical providers, many dental providers no longer take United Concordia due to the low payout. TRICARE has started requiring generic medications for all patients, servicemembers, and dependents as a cost savings measure. For medications like Synthroid, a medication for those with low thyroid hormone, the change to generic can negatively affect their health. Generic medications have the same ingredients as brand-name, but sometimes their additives differ enough, over 20% in some cases, to lead to absorption changes – thus affecting their health and wellbeing.

While military discounts are appreciated, does it compensate for the loss in benefits? Many new recruits may not know any better, and perhaps any medical or dental care is better than none. For those seasoned military families who have been in since 9/11, they have seen a real change in provisions – and a drastic one. A discount on Disney tickets is not the same as receiving timely visits with a new provider in a new town.

Service members and families alike would give up discounts if it meant that legislation with real changes passed. If childcare was made more accessible and jobs for military spouses were a true priority, this would be genuine appreciation. The world of the military is no longer a one-income world – it is not sustainable. Inflation skyrockets, and the pay is not enough for many families to get by. However, remaining a two-income family comes with the family’s sacrifice when military members take unaccompanied orders so the spouse can remain on the job.

One military family with 10+ years of service stated, “I’d just like our benefits to be left alone. That would be true appreciation.”

While it may not be Y2K, the internet has done some crazy things. Including military record information disappearing from military databases.

TSP, the military retirement system, is managed online. The service member indicates what type of split of money they want in each funding type. The service member can also identify the beneficiary of the account if the service member passes before TSP is available. This and other information like a home address and email address were wiped from the TSP database without notification of its members. It did not go across the entire system, but many service members found that all the beneficiaries were wiped from their accounts.

The Army introduced a new human resources platform, the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army, or IPPS-A. The system rollout also had issues with glitches leading to data removal. The Army has asked that every soldier log in to check and verify their information. Any issues can be reported within the online program by adding a personnel action request. Any platform issues can be noted through a help ticket.

The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, DEERS, is a system utilized to track who has access to military bases and benefits, including the healthcare system TRICARE. DEERS had an update in January of 2023, and many service members were booted from the system, including their family members. Service members had to submit marriage certificates and birth certificates that were previously in the system to DEERS to have the family members added back in and their eligibility dates adjusted.

Within the Army, their system also removed award or promotion points from personnel records and also removed dependent information. The Army said they will have personnel records updated by February 20, 2023, and all dependent information corrected by March 1.

As a service member, it is vital to review and clarify your personnel record. It is important to review any retirement and DEERS information frequently to ensure it is correct. Print out copies of your dependent information, TSP beneficiaries, and DEERS list – this is handy if the system boots your information. Make sure to check your records monthly to catch any potential missing information or errors.

The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act was signed into law in January of 2023, which outlines protections for veterans and military spouses.

The bill provides a provision that veterans will not lose GI Bill benefits if schools close for emergencies like what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill also provides protection for military spouses who move around the world with their military service members within Section 19 of the bill. Section 19 specifically addresses the portability of professional licenses of members of the uniformed service and their spouses. It states that with a servicemember or spouse relocates due to military orders outside the area that a license covers, “such covered license shall be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied for in the jurisdiction of such new residency for the duration of such military orders.”

The reciprocity of such license only applies if military orders are provided, the license is valid and is in good standing, and “submits to the authority of the licensing authority in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards, practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing education requirements.”   The license has to have been actively utilized within the prior two years.

Some states and professions utilize interstate compacts, like teachers’ or nurses licenses, that agreement supersedes the new law.

This law is a movement forward for military spouse employment. It is challenging for military spouses to find portable careers that follow where the military sends them. Allowing military spouses to utilize their licenses in another state in conjunction with orders saves time and energy. Before this law was signed, military spouses had to apply for state licensures, wait for the process to be complete, and spend hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars.

The law does not apply to those licenses used to practice law.

Tax season comes just as quickly as the new year. With the change in season to spring comes tax time. It’s good to be prepared for what to do for tax time.

Change of Address

Did you know that you can file a change of address form with the IRS? If you file your return in April and then move that next month, you might miss your rebate check. File a change of address form here, so the IRS knows where to send your rebate check.

Find an accountant

If you are reading this, you are probably already behind on taxes. Okay, not really. But the time to get ahead for taxes is the year prior. Finding an account early can help. Oftentimes, looking for an accountant in January means many might not have availability to help before April. Preparing a tax return takes time, and if they don’t have the time to prepare your taxes before tax day, then you might be doing them on your own or finding a big group like H.R. Block to complete them for you.

Ask Questions

If you are utilizing an accountant, ask all the questions. You can’t just say you didn’t know if your accountant filled something out incorrectly; it’s your signature on the tax return (electronic or otherwise). If you have a question about what should be included, or excluded, ask.

File Early

Just like finding an accountant early, filing early is key. Whether you are submitting taxes on your own or through an accountant, try to get things done as early as possible. As W2 and 1099 forms come in from work and you receive bank statements on interests or mortgages, scan and send all documents to your accountant, if you have one, and save those documents to a folder on your computer and a real folder.

File for Free

If your taxes are straightforward and you want to file yourself, you can submit them for free through the guidance on the IRS website. Those whose annual gross income (AGI) of $73,000 qualify for a free federal tax return. Those who have an AGI over $73,000 can use free file-fillable forms.

Miltax is a free tax service from Military One Source that is available from mid-January through mid-October. Set up a free Military One Source account to utilize the software.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, are tax specialists who are trained specifically in the unique tax situations of military families. There are locations both within the United States and in overseas locations where military members serve. Check for a location near you here.

File Electronically

Paper filing takes much longer. If you want your return quicker or to make sure that you put everything in, you need to file electronically.

Keep a hard copy

The IRS can audit taxes returns filed within the last three years, and they may add additional years if there is a significant error.  While you may have saved everything to your computer three years ago, it died, and now you don’t have access to the documents on it. Keep a hard copy of tax returns and any accompanying documentation in a binder for that year or several years. Keep it in a safe place, and altogether, so you know where it is. If an audit happens, you will not be caught unawares. Save seven years of returns.

File An Extension if Serving in a Combat Zone

If the military service member is serving in a combat zone or contingency operation, you may be able to file an extension. The extension is for 180 days after leaving the combat zone or after the operation is no longer considered a contingency operation.

Overseas Rules

For those military service members and families living outside the United States, there is an automatic 2-month extension on the tax deadline. This is due to the fact that snail mail of statements may take longer to get to the service member or family member. Make sure to have everything ready as soon as you are able to file.

Reminder: If you are filing taxes with someone who is a pop-up, they may not be available if you have a tax audit. The H&R Block pop-up units on base typically have a manager or a contact with someone who will be present after-tax season to contact. Just make sure to get their card and information should you need it.

Buying a home can happen in just a few days for some, but for those utilizing the VA Loan process, it can feel like weeks – because it can take that long. A new law, HR 7735, passed in December of 2022 that will help speed up the appraisal process portion of the VA Loan.

The law, HR 775, also called Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit, became public law on December 27^th, 2022. The act requires updates by the Department of Veteran Affairs to the regulations, requirements and guidance for the loan process. In Section 2 of the bill, it specifically states that no more than 90 days from the passing of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs will submit recommendations for improving the delivery times of appraisals to the Senate and House of Representatives.

Within Section 3 of the bill, it specifies that no longer than 180 days, about 6 months, from the act becoming law, the Department of Veterans Affairs would update regulations and requirements for appraisal.  Suggestions on changes to the appraisal included certification requirements of appraisers, minimum property requirements, selection process, quality control processes, assisted appraisal processing program and other waivers were included in the bill.

The bill, in fact, does not change the appraisal process yet for those utilizing VA Loans through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The soonest changes would be potentially seen is about 6 months from the bill date, the end of June 2023.

The process for buying a home with the VA Loan requires several steps. First step is to find a VA-approved lender and then receive a certificate eligibility noting that you are able to use the VA Loan program. Pre-qualifying for a long can be done to determine the maximum budget spent on a home, but it is not advisable to purchase a home with that number. After house hunting and signing a purchase agreement, the loan process begins. A VA appraiser must complete the appraisal within the home to ensure it meets the minimum VA requirements. This process is supposed to be completed within 10 days, barring any extenuating circumstances. If the appraisal matches the value and meets the property requirements, the underwriter for the loan will give approval.

In seller’s markets, some people waive inspections on homes, but part of using the VA Loan means that a VA Loan appraiser has to review the home to ensure it meets the minimum VA property requirements, like having a operable kitchen. Using the VA Loan means you cannot waive the appraiser coming to the home for the inspection/appraisal. This may feel like a burden, but this process is there to protect those buying the home and lending the money.

In buyer’s markets, the VA Loan provides an extra protection with the VA appraiser ensuring that everything is in working order on the property.

There may be VA Loan limits, to learn the up-to-date VA home loan information, check out the housing assistance section on the VA website.

The Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot program was announced in January 2023 by the Defense Department. The program is a 12-week paid fellowship program for spouses of currently serving members of the branches of the military including the US Army, US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force and Space Forces in addition to National Guard components.

The pilot program will run for three years, with the first cohort beginning work through January 2023. After application, spouses are accepted into the program and placed with host companies to match with their location and work experience to provide a work opportunity and professional training and mentoring.  There is not a public list of host employers.

The goal of the program is to connect equipped spouses with companies who have partnered with the Hiring Our Heroes program. The 12-week fellowship program may lead to continued employment through a direct hire program, depending on the company. It does not guarantee continued employment.

Spouses can apply through the MySeco website. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications do require a DS Logon for identity verification. Not everyone is guaranteed a fellowship. For those who apply but are not matched with a fellowship, the resources on Hiring Our Heroes and SECO offer other fellowships or coaching.

Employers can apply to participate in the program on the Hiring Our Heroes website.

The program is a brand-new initiative, and since the first cohort just started, there is little information on the number of spouses within the program or how many fellowships lead to direct hiring. This program does not address one of the biggest barriers to military spouse employment – childcare. The program does not specifically note if positions are remote, but since the posting states that it provides “hands on professional training” to military spouses accepted in the program, positions could be in person or remote.

What the program does do is provide contacts to the professional world. It is a difficult step to “get a foot in the doorway” in some professions, so while it may not lead to continued employment with that company, perhaps the contacts made will lead to other meaningful work. Time will tell the success of this program.  If you or someone you know has been accepted into the program, please share the experience with others.

Childcare centers on the military installation will have increased rates in 2023, per a 2022 press release from the Defense Department. Military and DOD-affiliated parents utilize these child development centers and school-age care centers as a means to find reliable childcare at an affordable rate.

On-post childcare centers are an affordable option for childcare. With the cost of childcare increasing across the United States, with some people paying over $30/hour for a nanny or over $20/hour for a group setting care, on-base care may be the only place where the entire paycheck doesn’t seem to go missing.  On-base care prior to the cost raise was $7/hour and is now $8/hour.

The increase in cost to parents is in part, to cover the increase in costs of hiring qualified childcare providers. The DOD Child Development Program Fee policy states that a minimum of 50% of appropriated funds support the child care development programs, with revenue generated by parent fees for the other 50% of the operating budget.

The program Child Care Aware, a Community Provider Fee Assistance program, will continue. The prior cap of $1500/month per child will increase to $1700/month per child. The amount actually given for fee assistance depends on the service branch, location, and rank of the service member. If you are looking for off-base child care, look at Child Care Aware for fee assistance.

Prior to the rate raise, child development centers had several income categories to determine the cost of childcare. For instance, an E3 and an O1 would not pay the same amount. The childcare rate would be determined by income. These income categories continue with the pay increase, but there are now 14 categories instead of the previous 13. The categories vary by military branch and location, so check with the child development center or school-age care program on your military installation, or next one, to know what to expect for childcare costs on base.

Childcare is a concern for military families. Military members often work hours outside the typical 9-5, and finding safe, and quality childcare is a priority for military families. Affordable childcare is added bonus. The childcare centers on base often have hours of 6 am -6 pm, or even later, depending on the location of the center. Costs are typically flat rates, not specifically at the hourly rate, so it is one cost for utilizing all the centers’ hours or part of them. This helps when hours, or days, vary for the military member.

One of the positive things that came out of the COVID-19 Pandemic shutdown is the flexibility of working from home for many jobs. Many companies realized that positions could be maintained with work at home, freeing up their own workspace for other jobs. Some of these remote jobs are perfect for parents, especially military spouses. Childcare is a barrier for military spouses to find employment, especially considering that the active-duty military schedule is not always reliable.

Customer Service Representative

Many companies have these roles that can be completed at home and at varying hours. Administrative tasks or email responses can be made at any hour. These positions require an ability to have a quiet home office to answer phone calls and use and be familiar with software technology. Companies like Amazon, Target, and Disney often post positions. These entry-level jobs can be done remotely as long as there is an internet connection, a working computer, and a working phone.

Proofreader

For those who love reading, are strict grammar rule followers, and want to get paid for it – proofreading may be the perfect job. It can be done anywhere where an internet connection can reach. There is no re-writing involved, purely reading to ensure no errors, unlike a copy editor. Proofreaders sometimes have a bachelor’s degree in English, but if the proofreading being done is for a certain subject, a different degree or experience may be more useful. Before employment, a proofreading competency test is typically performed. Check out FlexJobs, Indeed, and LinkedIn for positions.

Website Designer

Those with knowledge in Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and, or HTML can build a website quickly and effectively. Get certificates to build and develop webpages through the local community college to network and improve your skills. Google offers courses for free. The amount of time to build each page depends on the skill level, so practice and time will decrease the time needed. Upwork and LinkedIn are great places to look for work.

Freelance Writer

A freelance writer is responsible for brainstorming topics, researching, writing compelling content, editing, and pitching the articles to varying online and print magazines. Each online or print media has a different style and voice, so the writer has to be able to write to that brand’s style. These positions do not always offer a great amount of money, but by writing with more companies, more can be earned. Writing can be done at any hour. Network your friends to find writing opportunities and check on websites like LinkedIn, SmartBlogger, FlexJobs, and Upwork.  

Transcriptionist

Transcribe recorded dictations as a transcriptionist. Fast typing, concentration skills, and good hearing are required.  Those individuals with medical knowledge have a leg up on working as medical transcriptionists.  This does require the ability to listen to the transcription and type quickly and accurately. Thanks to headphones, this job can be done early in the morning, late at night, and during nap times with young children at home. Check out UpWork and LinkedIn for positions.

Virtual Assistant

This position comes in all shapes and sizes – part-time, full-time, and everything in between. A virtual assistant manages the calendar and day-to-day for their client, manages social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok as well as reviewing email, maintaining records, and whatever the client requires. If the client is a blogger or writer, the job could include reviewing the website and editing pieces. The job can be done remotely and may allow for flexible hours as long as you have a high-speed internet connection. Check out LinkedIn and among military spouse groups, as there are several military spouses who run virtual assistant companies. Other companies that hire virtual assistants are VaVa Virtual Assistants, Profit Factory, and Boldly.

Online Teacher/Tutor

The burden of having to update teacher licensing for each state the military spouse moves to is time consuming. The teaching position does not continue remotely around the world. Online teaching and tutoring can be done remotely, from around the world. Tutor.com is a great spot to start. Teaching English to students worldwide with programs like VIPKID means teaching during the evening and early hours, but this also means no burden of childcare.

Health Coach

If health is your passion and fitness is a priority, being a health coach may be the right position. Provide workout classes in your neighborhood or area for a nominal fee, and smaller children can be involved or play at the nearby playground. Providing meal plans for a nominal fee allows for maintained health and nutrition at home, but also providing them to others and earning money as well.

Small Business Owner

This can be made to suit each person. Maybe you like to crochet or design stickers using your Cricut? Opening your own business and selling your product may be the right thing for you. It allows for the ultimate flexible job option as you are your own boss. Working at something you enjoy may not feel like work. It provides enjoyment and continued work. Once you have your shop up and running, consider adding it to the Spouse-ly Marketplace – a unique marketplace for goods and services for military and veteran-owned businesses.

These careers allow flexibility and mobility for military spouses, who provide consistency and support for their family while the military member is at work. The flexible and remote work market is increasing, with new job types and titles developing every day.

Do you have a remote job to share?

The largest pay raise in two decades is coming for military members in 2023. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House on December 8.2022, the Senate on December 15, 2022, and was signed by President Biden on December 23, 2022, just before the federal holiday. Within the NDAA, a pay raise is listed for active-duty troops, drilling Guard, reserve members, and civilian members within the Defense Department.

The NDAA included a 4.6 % raise for the 2023 fiscal year. For comparison, in the 2022 NDAA, a 2.7% pay raise was included. This could mean an increase of about $1,000 over the year for junior enlisted military members.

An increase in Basic Allowance for Subsistence rates was also included. The increase of 11% is provided to those military members who live outside of the barracks. The monthly BAS payment in 2023 will be $311.68 for officers and $452.56 for enlisted members.

The military pay increase does not match the current inflation rate. The inflation rate as of October 2022 was 7.7%. While a pay raise is typically included with the idea that it will offset inflation, it does not specifically address inflation. While this pay increase may be the largest in years, it will be covering basic necessities that have increased in cost with the highest inflation rate in years.

The pay changes will be reflected in the January 15^th check as that check covers the time period of January 1 to January 15.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers grants to disabled veterans to make their homes accessible. On October 1, 2022, this amount increased. The two grants offered through the VA are the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant and the Special Housing Adaption (SHA) Grant.

SAH

The Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) program assists disabled veterans with building, remodeling, or purchasing an adapted home. The service-connected injury must be due to loss or loss of use of both legs, blindness in both eyes, loss or loss of use of one leg and loss of use of one arm or residuals of organic disease, loss or loss of use of both arms at or above the elbows or severe burn injury.

SHA

The Special Housing Adaption (SHA) Grant assists disabled veterans and service members with anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands or arms below the elbow, severe burn injury, or certain respiratory or breathing injuries.

The difference between the grants is based on the disability severity.

For 2023, the maximum SAH grant is $109, 986 and the SHA grant will increase to $22,036. The increase is based on the Turner Building Cost Index. The index measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States. The index measured a yearly increase of 8.62%, which is reflected in the grant amounts.

Other programs to assist disabled veterans include

Temporary Residence Assistance Grant: The grant can be utilized for adapting a temporary living arrangement.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant: grant to assist with any home improvement for treatment or disability access for Veterans or Service Members. Those who have service-connected disabilities can receive up to $6800 in assistance and those with non-service-connected disabilities can receive up to $2000 in assistance.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Adaptation Assistance program provides home adaptations assistance to those who cannot work due to their service-connected injuries and need adaptations for a vocational goal.

Check out this information from the VA with links on how to apply in addition.