Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Veterans Annoyed with Office Depot’s Logo on New Veteran ID Card

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After waiting nearly three years from the time the government approved a veteran ID card, the ID cards are finally getting into the hands of veterans.

The new veteran ID card identifies veterans for the purpose of receiving military discounts.

Some companies require proof that a person is a veteran in order to receive a discount. For those that did not retire from the military, they do not have a way to prove they are veterans unless they carry their separation papers known as DD-214 discharge papers.

Who carries their DD-214 around with them? A veteran ID card is a much easier way to prove that you are a veteran at a restaurant.

Many people are happy that a veteran ID card is available, but they are not happy that the Office Depot logo is on the back. The reason their logo is on the back is because they are printing the cards.

While the government approved the production of a veteran ID card, the government did not provide funding to pay for the ID cards.

That’s when Office Depot stepped up.

It makes sense from a business standpoint to get some free advertising out of the huge cost. The company is not only paying to produce the veteran ID cards, but they are also covering the cost of mailing them. They have agreed to do so until the end of fiscal year 2020. That will add up to a huge investment for Office Depot.

Veterans Annoyed with Office Depot's Logo on New Veteran ID Card

Who carries their DD-214 around with them? A veteran ID card is a much easier way to prove that you are a veteran at a restaurant.

The veteran ID card is highly requested. When they initially launched the website to apply for the veteran ID card, the site crashed. After adjustments were made, Vets.gov was able to get the program started again.

As of mid May, nearly 99,000 applications for the veteran ID card had been received and over 26,000 had been approved. More than 10,000 people were mailed a veteran ID card before the end of the month.

A veteran ID card sounds great, but many veterans are annoyed about the Office Depot logo on the back. They feel like it cheapens the card and makes it look unprofessional.

The back of the card has the Veterans Crisis Line phone number, the Office Depot logo and a tagline that reads: “Saluting you today and every day. Thanks for taking care of business.”

The back of the new Veteran ID card includes the Office Depot company logo. Photo credit: Military.com

When I first saw the veteran ID card, I thought the Office Depot logo on the back made the card look unofficial. It’s nothing like a standard issued military ID. Perhaps that’s on purpose.

The veteran ID card is only to show proof that a person is a veteran in order to receive military discounts.

The veteran ID card cannot be used as an official government ID card.

You cannot use it to access a military base and it does not replace the VA’s ID card that veterans use to identify themselves at VA clinics.

You also cannot use it to get through security at an airport since it is not an official government ID card.

The veteran ID card is specifically to be used for public and some government situations in lieu of carrying the DD-214 paperwork when proof of service is required. It is only available to veterans that were discharged as honorable or general.

Veterans interested in obtaining a veteran ID card must prove that they are former service members to receive a physical card. You can find out more information and apply for a veteran ID card online at Vets.gov.

While some people might not like having the Office Depot logo on the back, I’m sure they like that the card is free. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

What do you think of having Office Depot’s logo on the back of the new veteran ID card?

Why You Should Consider Attending a Yellow Ribbon School

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Ahhhh, college. New experiences, exciting challenges, and mountains of student debt. A college education is becoming increasingly expensive. If there’s a chance to cut costs, you should jump on it!

All of this makes Yellow Ribbons schools a great choice for military-connected students.

The Yellow Ribbon program offers the opportunity to decrease your out-of-pocket costs for earning a college degree. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

Why You Should Consider Attending a Yellow Ribbon School

The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers outstanding educational opportunities to military-connected college students. For qualifying beneficiaries, GI Bill benefits provide funds to cover the resident tuition and fees at public colleges.

If you’re going to be attending a private college or enrolling as a nonresident at a public university, there might be a gap between the GI Bill and the bottom line. That could leave you footing the difference. An education at a private or out-of-state college is definitely not cheap!

This is where the Yellow Ribbon Program comes in.

At select schools, there is a fund-matching program available to help reduce the total tuition costs.

Yellow Ribbon 101

Students at private schools or attending as an out-of-state resident, are entitled to the lesser value of their school’s tuition and fees or the national maximum funding for an academic year.

To help GI Bill beneficiaries cover a difference between their entitlement and their tuition, schools may elect to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. This is a voluntary program that does not impact your GI Bill entitlement or funds.

Participating schools select how much of their tuition and fees they are willing to cover. Then the VA will match those funds, and send that payment directly to the school. Both sets of funds are then applied to the final bill.

In order to qualify, students must meet specific criteria.

Only 100% GI Bill qualified veterans and/or their designated beneficiaries are eligible. Yellow Ribbon Program funds are not available to active duty service members or their spouses. However, the children of active duty service members may be eligible if their parent is qualified at the 100% level.

The percentage of eligibility is determined by the service member’s service record. To reach the 100% qualification level, and be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, troops must serve at least 36 months on active duty or have served for at least 30 consecutive days before being honorably discharged for a service-related disability.

Yellow Ribbon Fine Print

The Yellow Ribbon Program sounds ideal! Extra money straight from the school and matching funds from the VA. What could be better?

However, there are some caveats.

First, veterans and their designated beneficiaries must qualify for full GI Bill benefits, based on the veteran’s service record. Not all veterans will qualify for 100% GI Bill funding. This is required to be eligible for any Yellow Ribbon Program.

Next, your selected school has to opt-in to the Yellow Ribbon Program. This is a voluntary opportunity, and not all public or private schools elect to participate.

Each school decides their own level of funding and the number of awards available in an academic year. This means that even if your school is part of the program, all funds for this year might have been awarded. You will still be able to apply your GI Bill, but there will not be Yellow Ribbon funds from the school applied to your bill.

Each year, a list of participating schools is released by the VA. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Award amounts may vary based on enrollment status and level.

In order to qualify, you must first apply to a Yellow Ribbon school and identify that you are eligible per the GI Bill qualifications.

Receiving Yellow Ribbon funds this year does not guarantee that your school will participate in the future or that they will contribute funding at the same level. However, your school should notify you of changes or if they are leaving the program.

If you do qualify for and receive Yellow Ribbon funding, this is a good program to help make higher education more affordable

Did you participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program when you earned your college degree? What was your experience with this program?

Is Saying ‘Thank You for Your Service’ Enough for Our Veterans?

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It’s become almost a knee-jerk reaction: see a veteran, say “thank you.”

These brave men and women gave years of their lives to protect our nation. Many have suffered catastrophic injuries, both visible and invisible.

Is Saying 'Thank You for Your Service' Enough for Our Veterans?

Thank you doesn’t quite cover everything that our veterans have sacrificed for the greater good of our country.

As a nation, we owe our veterans a debt of gratitude for raising their hands to protect and defend. It’s not an easy job. It requires a willingness to write that proverbial blank check.

So we say thanks.

Thank you for your service, for protecting our collective national values and assisting other nations in need.

Thank you is not enough.

While troops are on active duty, they get many services provided for them. It’s all in the name of readiness. Our troops get medical and dental care provided so that they are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. They get a housing stipend or are allocated a room in the barracks to make sure there is a place to lay their heads. There are clothing allowances and life insurance policies and retirement savings plans. Service members have the opportunity to live or deploy around the globe.

All of this is great. You might say that these are the benefits of serving your country. Things are often taken care of or subsidized. It’s handled.

This looks almost glamorous from the outside in. It can seem pretty plush: housing, medical, dental and relocation to cool locations. To the civilian community, these are great, especially in an age of uncertain health care and rising housing costs.

It looks great until it isn’t anymore.

The thing that many non-military connected Americans don’t fully understand is what it takes to live that “plush” life. Troops agree to risk life and limb, in a very real sense. It’s a commitment, to say the very least.

Once military life is over, things change fast. There are, of course, stories of beautiful lives post-service. Veterans and their families who go on to successful non-military careers, they take international vacations and remain in good health.

In one way or another, military service marks troops for life. It’s not something you can ever truly walk away from. Troops from Camp Lejeune are feeling the lasting impact of polluted water. Troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are now dealing with health issues as a result of the waste burn pits. Vietnam veterans are still suffering from the results of Agent Orange.

In just the current conflicts, there are over 50,000 known/reported wounded service members. Their injuries range from missing limbs and scarred bodies to traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders. I say reported wounded troops because everyone came back a little bit different.

Thank you isn’t enough for those who have sacrificed almost everything.

Many veterans carry the baggage of their service forever, mentally and physically. Thousands of veterans are homeless, accounting for roughly 11% of the total U.S. homeless population. Other vets self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. They are attempting to battle back against their demons, to soothe their wounds, in any way they know how.

Once they leave active duty, veterans are shunted right back into the civilian world. Their VA health care only covers service-related conditions, and getting even those covered can be a fight. Too many veterans have died waiting to see a doctor. There are some safety nets in place to assist a veteran who may be struggling or in need of additional assistance, but again the wait could be long or the services provided are not the right fit.

Is thank you enough for the 19-year-old kid who is now missing his legs? He will carry the scars of his service for the rest of his life. His blank check, his defense of our freedoms, required that he sacrifice his limbs.

What about the veteran who is working through debilitating mental health issues as a result of her service? Is sharing a reflexive “thanks” on Veterans Day enough recognition? She might struggle to maintain mental normalcy for the rest of her life, requiring ongoing therapy or medication.

Thank you doesn’t quite cover everything that our veterans have sacrificed for the greater good of our country.

But it’s a start.

Keep offering your thanks for their service, please. It starts a dialogue about military service and sacrifice.

Saying “thank you” or asking about a veteran’s time in the military can open the door to changing the way the VA is handled. We can all learn more about veteran-specific health care issues or employment concerns.

When we have these discussions, then we can start to work together to support those who have given so much of themselves in defense of our country.

Thank a veteran this month and start that conversation.

Now it’s your turn. What do you think? Is saying “thank you for your service” enough for for veterans?

 

What the New GI Bill Means for Military Families

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Brace yourselves. Changes are coming to the GI Bill as we know it.

President Donald Trump signed the Forever GI Bill into law in August 2017. With this new bill, changes are in the works, including transferring benefits, housing allowances and the deadline to access GI Bill funds.

What the New GI Bill Means for Military Families

Time Limit

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, beneficiaries had 15 years to use their earned education benefits. With the new GI Bill, there is no time limit to complete a degree, license or education program.

This is arguably the most important change to the bill since it extends the time that beneficiaries have to complete their education.

It allows for unexpected life events or changes along the way.

This is limited to veterans, troops and designated dependents who became eligible on or after January 1, 2013.

Housing Allowance

Under the current GI Bill, non-active duty students rate the Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) for an E-5 with dependents based on the location of their school. Additionally, students receive a portion of the total allowance based on how many credits they are taking. In order to qualify, students must be enrolled at greater than half-time.

Starting Jan. 1, 2018, the housing allowance will be calculated using the reduced BAH schedule.

Previously, the GI Bill has been exempted from the yearly 1% BAH reduction started in 2015 and ending in 2020. Students using the GI Bill before January 1, 2018, will continue to receive their current housing allowance rates.

Additionally, the location used to calculate housing allowances will be tied to the location where students physically attend classes. This could impact students who attend a satellite campus in a location with a lower BAH rate. This change goes into effect on Aug. 1, 2018. Students enrolled before this date will follow the current rules.

Housing for members of the reserve will be prorated by quarter, semester or term starting on Aug. 1, 2018.

Expanded Access

Currently, eligibility for GI Bill benefits is calculated based on time in service or discharge due to service-related injury. Under the Forever GI Bill, all Purple Heart recipients will be rated at the 100% funding level or with 100% of their tuition and fees of in-state tuition paid for.

Additionally, certain members of the Reserve will be eligible for benefits under certain conditions. If Reserve troops deployed to support a combatant command or within their state in response to a natural disaster, they may now be able to access GI Bill benefits. This includes Reservists who deployed in these capacities after 2009.

Reservists who used the Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP) will now be able to access the GI Bill under certain circumstances. Students who qualified before Nov. 25, 2015, but whose benefits have expired may choose to have that time in service credited toward the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This change applies to coursework started after Aug. 1, 2018.

Previously, students could be considered eligible for 40% of total GI Bill benefits (40% of in-state public college tuition and fees paid for) based on time in service. This category has now been eliminated.

Instead, the 60% level has been expanded to include more veterans. The minimum benefits level is now set at 50%, meaning that up to 50% of tuition and fees at an in-state public college would be paid by the VA.

Overall, more veterans and designated beneficiaries will be able to access higher education or career training with increased funding possible.

Transferring Benefits

Veterans can designate a dependent to receive GI Bill benefits. In the past, if that person passed away, the benefits disappeared.

Now, veterans are able to select another eligible dependent should their original designee die. Dependents who have received benefits are also able to pass on the GI Bill to another designee. This is only able to happen after the veteran who earned the benefits has passed away.

This now allows GI Bill benefits to continue on beyond the veteran or original designee in the event of death. This could prevent these valuable benefits from going unused.

Extra Protection

If your college closes before you earn a degree, the GI Bill now offers protections. Time spent at a college that has closed can now be partially or fully reinstated.

Students can also potentially earn GI Bill time back for courses that were not approved or for courses in which no credit was earned.

This is retroactive to programs, courses and colleges that were discontinued after Aug. 1, 2015. The change takes effect 90 days after the bill was signed.

Programs and Licenses

Students may begin using their benefits at accredited area career and technical schools that provide post-secondary education and/or vocational skills. This allows students to pursue a career path outside of traditional college level education.

Veterans at the 100% benefits level, with at least 60 credit hours of work and who will be reaching the end of their benefits before they complete an eligible degree in science, math, engineering, medicine or certain teacher training programs can apply for an extension.

This is a one-time 9-month benefit bonus. It cannot be transferred or be used in conjunction with the Yellow Ribbon Program. There is a $30,000 cap. This change begins on Aug. 1, 2019.

Entitlement charges for professional licensing and certification exams will be prorated based on the actual amount charged for the test.

Additional Benefits

Spouses and dependents who qualify for the Fry Scholarship may now also access the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship as well. This opens up new funding possibilities to supplement the GI Bill at private colleges or out-of-state schools. Purple Heart recipients will also be qualified for Yellow Ribbon Scholarships. These changes take effect on Aug. 1, 2018.

Beginning on Aug. 1, 2022, active duty troops using the GI Bill will be able to access the Yellow Ribbon Program. This will expand their ability to complete coursework at a larger number of institutes of higher learning while still serving their country.

Students who were eligible under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program now have 36 months of benefits instead of 45 months. This change applies to students who enroll after Aug. 1, 2018.

This same change increases the amount payable per month to $1,224 for full-time students, $967 for students enrolled at three-quarter time and $710 for half time enrollment. This increase is effective Oct. 1, 2018.

Will these changes to the GI Bill impact your family? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Should Service Members Be Required to Buy into Their Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit?

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House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe, R-Tenn., introduced the idea of changing the GI Bill to have service members buy into the benefit. This quickly became a debated topic with strong opinions on both sides.

Later, a meeting was scheduled to hear points from multiple interested parties, but that was quickly called off as well. Finally, last month 35 veterans groups were able to peacefully discuss changes to the GI Bill.

At the conclusion of that meeting, the groups were able to agree on 4 key changes to the GI Bill but could not agree on how to fund them.

Currently, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is a free benefit to service members that meet certain criteria. There is no fee to participate in the program. The GI Bill is estimated to cost the government about $100 billion over the next 10 years.

Should Service Members Be Required to Buy into Their Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefit?

New service members may be required to pay into the GI Bill if proposed changes occur. Four changes are being considered, but funding for them may come from service members directly.

The idea introduced is that new service members would have to buy into the GI Bill benefit if they wanted to have access to it. This fee would only apply to service members that enter the military after a set point, not current or former service members.

The GI Bill tax is proposed to be $100 a month for the first 2 years of service. While that might not sound like a lot of money to those in Washington, it is substantial to lower enlisted men and women. Once the $2,400 has been paid over that period of time, service members would be eligible to use the GI Bill. The government estimates that this buy-in fee would bring in $3.1 billion over 10 years.

The money taken in from this GI Bill tax would be used to finance adding other groups of service members and their families that do not, under the current GI Bill, qualify for the program. Adding these groups to the GI Bill benefit is what all parties can agree on, but funding it through this tax is not.

As it stands, the groups agreed on 4 changes to the GI Bill.

The first is permitting National Guard and Reservists who deployed under Title 10, Section 12304b and should of qualified for benefits, but didn’t, to be eligible for the GI Bill. Roughly 4,700 service members fall under this category.

The second thing they agreed on is to broaden the eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program to include surviving spouses as well as children of service members that were killed while serving their county. The Yellow Ribbon Program provides extra money to put toward education, which allows recipients to attend schools or take classes that would otherwise cost more than the GI Bill would cover.

The third thing all parties could agree on was to give full GI Bill benefits to every Purple Heart recipient. Sadly, every Purple Heart recipient does not currently qualify for these benefits. As it stands, the service member must be medically retired from the military if they don’t have 36 months of active duty. There are about 1,500 Purple Heart recipients who do not meet these qualifications.

Finally, those at the meeting agreed that there should be assistance for students when a school they are attending closes. Under the current GI Bill, if a school closes its doors before you graduate, you simply lose the money that the GI Bill benefit paid to the school. You don’t get to start over at a new school with new money.

Thousands of veterans were hit hard when ITT Tech closed last year. They weren’t able to recoup any of the money or even transfer credits.

These 4 changes to the GI Bill are great improvements. The only problem is how to fund them. The VFW strongly disagrees with charging service members for the GI Bill but other groups, particularly the Student Veterans of America, are for it.

What do you think of this proposal to have service members buy into their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits?

Military Exchange Online Shopping Opens to Veterans

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Nearly 20 million honorably discharged U.S. veterans will soon have the opportunity to shop online through the Army and Air Force Exchange service. This change in policy comes after years of pressure to open shopping to all those honorably discharged men and women.

As of Veterans Day, November 11, 2017, all honorably discharged U.S. veterans will be able to shop the exchange online.

This new privilege will only extend to online shopping however, not shopping in the physical exchange. Through the website, veterans will be able to purchase any items except for uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products.

The exchange estimates that this could bring in between $226 million and $1.13 billion in annual sales. An increase in sales also means an increase in funds for MWR programs.

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) receives the majority of its funding from exchange dividends. The more sales the exchange has, the more programs MWR can offer. MWR programs are in place to support the “readiness and resilience for Soldiers and Families.” Programs include child and youth services, libraries, entertainment, sports and fitness, automotive skills, crafts and more.

Recently, exchange dividends have been low and MWR has not had the funds to support their usual programs. The Army has had to use some of this money to improve its daycare centers since budgets have been cut so much. The low sales have been due to the decline in the active duty force and base closures as well as the ending of tobacco product discounts and smaller profits from cheaper gas being sold. Opening online sales to all honorably discharged veterans is expected to quickly solve this problem.

Veterans will enjoy saving on average 20 percent over commercial stores while those families with base access will be enjoying better MWR programs. It’s a win-win situation for all.

This has been a two-year effort to open online shopping up to honorably discharged veterans. In the fall of 2016 the Defense Department’s Executive Resale Board voted unanimously to open online shopping to veterans and the Deputy Defense Secretary approved it.

AAFES has been preparing for the expansion of shoppers by improving the website, call centers and warehouse and distribution systems. They are working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Defense Manpower Data Center to determine a way to verify that exchange shoppers are in fact honorably discharged veterans.

Shopping will only be available to veterans online and only for the exchange.

There are currently no plans to open shopping at the commissary up to honorably discharged veterans. This is because the commissary is run differently than AAFES. The Defense Commissary Agency receives a $1.4 billion operational subsidy annually that is funded by taxpayers. An increase in shoppers at the commissary would result in a higher cost for taxpayers in accordance to the current system. DECA therefore, is not considering adding veterans to the list of eligible shoppers.

Honorably discharged veterans however are excited to able to shop at the exchange online, even if they can’t also shop at the commissary. The Army and Air Force Exchange service has received outstanding support for this program and is anticipating a huge turnout of veteran online shoppers on Veterans Day.

You can keep up with announcements as the date for launch of this program approaches and learn how you can establish your identity as an honorably discharged veteran through their website.

What do you think of this policy change for the military exchange shopping privilege for veterans? Are you a veteran that will be shopping online this Veterans Day?

How to Know if Your College Is Military Friendly

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Perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our children is an advanced education.

My oldest is finishing up her first college semester and it has been an eye-opening experience for both of us. Luckily, her chosen school is extremely military friendly. A tour of the campus included the opportunity to meet with a military veteran turned school administrator and ask the litany of questions we had compiled.

If you are a service member, veteran, military spouse or military family member looking to further your education, make sure you take advantage of the benefits that military affiliation can bring.

If enrolling at a military-friendly college is on your list of things to do, here are 6 things to look for when considering an university:

Is This College a Yellow Ribbon School?

Established by the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help veterans and children of active duty service members to offset the cost of college tuition. Typically, GI Bill benefits will pay for tuition and fees at public institutions, but are limited to a nationally capped amount for private institutions (currently, just under $22,000 per academic year).

Universities and colleges participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program enter into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for additional funds. A Yellow Ribbon school will contribute a specified amount of money toward tuition and fees, an amount then matched by the VA.

Not all private universities participate in the program, so if the cost of getting a degree, even with GI Bill benefits, seems out of reach consider looking at a Yellow Ribbon school to help offset the costs.

You can find more information about the Yellow Ribbon program and a list of participating colleges on the VA website.

Does This College Have a Student Veteran Affairs Office or a Veteran Student Organization?

A quick tip-off that a school is military friendly is the availability of staff and personnel dedicated to veteran and military students. It’s always nice to talk to someone who has been there done that.

Student Veteran Affairs staff members can be tremendous sources of information when you are trying to figure out the intricacies of the GI Bill and campus life.

Some colleges even offer veteran-only study halls and sponsor veteran and military-family oriented social events.

Does This College Allow for In-State Tuition Rates for Military Personnel and Families?

Surprisingly, at least for me, not all schools offer in-state tuition rates for military dependents. Most schools will offer in-state tuition for active duty dependents with a copy of the sponsor’s orders.

Thanks to a new law, passed just last year, in-state tuition is now guaranteed for all veterans and their dependents for the 3 years following separation from the military.

However, outside of that time frame, availability for in-state tuition depends on the institution.

Are There Plenty of Options for Housing within GI Bill Housing Allowance?

In addition to paying tuition and fees, the Post-9/11 GI Bill also allows the children of active-duty service members, veterans and military dependents to receive a housing allowance to help offset room and board expenses. Typically, that amount is the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the ZIP code for your college or university.

Pro-tip: Make sure there are several options for housing within that range of pay. Military-friendly universities will sometimes also reserve a set number of on-campus housing options for military dependents and veterans, but you won’t know unless you ask.

Do They Offer Flexible Schedules?

For active-duty service members or working veterans and dependents, flexible scheduling options are a must. Many universities and colleges offer short-term course study or online class options.

Even some of the largest universities offer online courses, so don’t assume just because it isn’t local, it isn’t military friendly. Some also offer discounts to military service members and their dependents for online programs. Again, ask about a flexible schedule when meeting with university representatives.

Does This College Offer Credit for Military Experience?

For veterans and active duty service members, you can save a ton of time and expenses by using your on-the-job training as substitutes for some degree-required classes.

Many universities and colleges will evaluate your military training records and award you college credit for things you already know. You may earn credit for basic training.

There may be a small fee for transcript evaluation, but many military-friendly colleges will waive that fee for military-affiliated students.

As someone who only recently earned her bachelor’s degree, my hat is off to anyone who is willing to make that commitment.

No matter the university or college you chose, take the time to find out what opportunities and options they have for military students. The resources are out there, so take advantage of them.

Did you attend a military-friendly college? Tell us about your experience in the comments section.

What the Military Community Wants from Washington

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Dear Washington,

Election season has passed, and a new administration is getting ready to take office. That means it’s time for you to take stock of our military capabilities, troops and their families. Yes, the U.S. military is a huge organization and encompasses so much.

However, please take a minute to listen to us, to me, to find out what we want and need from you, right now and for the next 4 or so years.

First, take a hard look at the budget.

Actually look at it with a critical, non-partisan eye. Is there a place where we could trim a little bit of fat without reducing force readiness and family support?

We know that this department has become a huge and growing part of the annual budget. And we also know that something probably needs to change. Please try to do this judiciously, cutting or reducing funding for the (many) redundant portions of the budget while preserving those parts that serve a major purpose in our lives.

We don’t want military funding at the expense of other services we depend on, like education and other programs that serve the general population.

We use these, too. We want them funded and functional.

Next, we need more than lip service about your support.

It’s all well and good to “support the troops” in your speeches and press conferences, but will you actually follow through? A great first step is making sure that our equipment is funded for proper maintenance. With this, include money for adequate training on the equipment. If you want troops ready at a moment’s notice, then they need to be able to access perfectly running equipment AND know how to use it.

Cutting corners here can lead to deadly accidents.

Our fighting force is now a family. That means spouses and kids who depend on the military for both financial and lifestyle stability. If you cut programs that help support military families, you will quickly draw our ire and disdain. This includes medical care, employment programs, child care facilities, commissaries and family readiness programs.

If you want the troops to be ready to go, the whole family needs to be prepared and supported. When those on the homefront feel unstable, that deployed service member can’t do his or her job well.

Don’t forget the veterans, either.

For years now, we have watched the endless saga of corruption and mismanagement at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Hospitals and VA health care facilities have endless waits, leaving many in the lurch. These waits have added extra stress to those suffering from mental and physical health conditions.

Take this department to task and shape it up. Get rid of practices or personnel that are costing lives every day and streamline the process to receive care.

Veterans wrote a blank check to our nation and were willing to sacrifice their very lives to protect ours. The very least we owe them is top-notch medical and mental health care when they leave service.

Help us connect with the other 99%.

About 1% of our country serves in the military. That leaves most Americans without a connection to our troops and their families.

In years past, the entire country banded together to support our troops through war bonds, rations and taxes. Right now, it seems that most Americans just don’t understand what it means to serve our country. Help us to show everyone else what it means to live this life.

Highlight our sacrifices, beyond just the feel-good stories about homecomings and the devastating stories of loss. Help people understand that we have been at war for over 15 years. This war isn’t funding itself.

Pay us what we are worth.

Have you checked on the salaries for our service members from top to bottom lately? Without the “luxuries” of the commissary and military health care, many families wouldn’t be making it financially. Even with these benefits, there are too many military families who qualify for WIC, welfare programs and food stamps. That’s unacceptable.

In addition, due to operational tempo and frequent moves, many military families are trying to make it on just one salary.

Pay our troops what they are worth, based on the work that they do for our country. And pay them without factoring in the “benefits” we all count on just to make it from payday to payday.

These are just a few thoughts, Washington. If you need more ideas, just ask.

MilitaryShoppers readers, what do you want from Washington?

Is a Disabled Veteran Eligible to Shop on Base?

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A MilitaryShoppers reader recently asked if a disabled veteran was allowed to shop at the commissary. That’s a good question.

You would think the answer should be yes, a disabled veteran can shop at the commissary but it isn’t that simple.

There are a variety of categories of people who are allowed access to the commissary and unfortunately, being a disabled veteran does not automatically grant you shopping privileges.

The guidelines are clear — a disabled veteran must be 100% disabled to have those privileges. There are other categories the disabled veteran may fall under though that would allow him/her to use the commissary. We’ve gathered all the information below to help you determine who is eligible to shop on base.

Who is eligible to shop at the commissary?

Uniformed Personnel: this includes all military branches, the USPHS Commissioned Corps., the NOAA Commissioned Corps, members of the Reserve Components and cadets and midshipmen of the Military Service academies.

Retired Service Members: There are different categories of retired personnel that are entitled to commissary privileges:

All personnel carried on the official retired lists (Active and Reserve Components) of the uniformed services who are retired with pay, granted retirement pay for physical disability, or entitled to retirement pay whether or not such pay is waived or pending due to age requirement; or enlisted personnel transferred to the Fleet Reserve of the Navy and the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, after 20 or more years of active service.

Officers and crews of vessels, lighthouse keepers, and depot keepers of the former Lighthouse Service who retired.

Retired wage marine personnel, including retired noncommissioned ships officers, and crew members of vessels of NOAA and its predecessors (the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Environmental Science Services Administration).”

Medal of Honor Recipients:  All Medal of Honor recipients are granted commissary privileges.

100% Disabled Veterans: Honorably discharged veterans that have 100% service-connected disability or a 100% unemployability as classified by the Department of Veterans Affairs are able to shop at the commissary.

This unfortunately means if you are a 99% or less disabled veteran, you don’t qualify.

Authorized Family Members including dependent children, lawful spouse, former un-remarried spouse, surviving spouse, surviving family member and surviving spouses and dependents of veterans that were honorably discharged posthumously determined to have 100% service connected disability have shopping privileges.

DoD Civilian Employees Stationed Outside the United States and their families can use the commissary.

Official DoD and Military Services Organizations and Activities: Any official DoD organization can use the commissary.

Involuntarily Separated Uniformed Personnel: Any service member that is involuntarily separated from active duty, as long as it is not for adverse reasons, can shop at the commissary for 2 years from the time of separation. A Select Reserve that is involuntarily separated also has a 2-year grace period to use the commissary.

Service Members Who Receive Sole Survivorship Discharge are granted commissary privileges for 2 years after the date of separation or after 2 years from when they were notified they had that privilege.

Hospitalized Veterans: Honorably discharged veterans can use the commissary when they are hospitalized in a location that also has a commissary. Note that this does not include veterans getting outpatient treatment.

DeCA Employees: DeCA personnel can purchase items for personal consumption during working hours to be consumed during breaks.

DoD Presidentially Appointed, Senate-Confirmed (PAS) Officers.

American National Red Cross (ARC) Personnel: They may be granted shopping privileges by an installation commander.

United Service Organizations (USO): USO leaders and their families who are assigned to overseas can use the commissary.

There are a few more exceptions to overseas commissaries. You might be surprised that DeCA does not decide who can shop at the commissary. The government decides based on the compensation status the service member or their family receives.

You can stop by the Pass and ID office if you think you should be able to shop on base but did not find a category here that you fit under. They have information on military benefits and issue ID cards.

They can also supply a visitor’s pass for a guest to join you on base. If you have commissary privileges, you are allowed to bring a visitor to the commissary, but they are not able to make any purchases.

While this is a lot of information, to answer the reader’s question if a disabled veteran can shop on base, the answer is only if they are a 100% disabled veteran or if they fall under any other category.

How do you feel about the requirement that a disabled veteran be 100% disabled to shop at the commissary? Do you think a disabled veteran of any percent should be allowed to shop on base?

Do you have a question about the commissary? We’d love to answer it. Please post your question in the comments section.

Now Is the Right Time to Transfer Your GI Bill to Your Kids

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A benefit for military service members is the GI Bill. While many take advantage of the great opportunity to go to college with this financial support, others choose to pass it on to their spouse or children.

This option wasn’t always available and might not remain so, which makes now a great time to decide if transferring your GI Bill is the right move for your family.

Now Is the Right Time to Transfer Your GI Bill to Your Kids

Talk to your spouse and children to see if transferring your GI Bill benefits to one or all of them is the right decision for your family. Don’t wait until politicians change, take away, or make receiving these benefits harder.

What is the GI Bill?

The GI Bill is a government program that helps service members meet the financial needs of continuing their education once they leave the military. It was initially only available to the service members who met certain qualifications. Over the years the rules and benefits have changed.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the latest form of the bill. It provides money for approved educational programs for up to 36 months of school for service members, which must be used within 15 years after leaving active duty.

In 2009, a law was passed to allow service members to transfer these benefits to their spouses, children or both.

Who is eligible?

Any service member that completed 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, that is on active duty, or that was honorably discharged or discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days is eligible.

What is covered?

Monetary funds are available to cover up to 36 months of educational courses for approved programs that include higher education, vocational training and now flight school for example. Other financial support may be provided to cover a monthly housing allowance, annual books and supplies and one-time rural benefits.

Am I eligible to transfer my GI Bill?

In order to transfer your GI Bill, service members must meet certain requirements. Anyone on active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and also meets these requirements may transfer benefits:

  • Has at least 6 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval and agrees to serve 4 additional years in the Armed Forces from the date of election.
  • Has at least 10 years of service in the Armed Forces (active duty and/or Selected Reserve) on the date of approval, is precluded by either standard policy (by service branch or DoD) or statute from committing to 4 additional years, and agrees to serve for the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
  • Transfer requests are submitted and approved while the member is in the Armed Forces.

Why transfer your GI Bill now?

If you, as the service member, do not have any intention of using the entire 36 months of educational benefits, you might want to consider transferring some or all of the benefit to family members. The government started this program as a way of helping service members transition out of the military as well as an incentive to join the military. You have earned these benefits, so don’t let them go unused.

Last year Congress discussed changing the GI Bill benefit to make it more difficult to transfer to family members. They talked about increasing the number of years the service member must commit to in order to transfer the benefit. They also discussed limiting the scope of the benefit.

No legislation on this has been brought up, but the possibility is there. Why leave it to chance if you don’t have to?

How do I transfer my GI Bill?

Active duty service members may designate, modify and revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) request on the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) website.

After approval, there is one more form to turn in before a family member can use these benefits. Family members are required to apply to use the transferred benefits by submitting a VA Form 22-1990e with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Is there anything else I need to know about transferring the GI Bill to my spouse or children?

Family members enrolled in DEERS that are eligible for benefits at the time of transfer are able to use the benefits.

Spouses are able to use the benefits at the time of transfer, but children must wait until the service member has completed at least 10 years of service. The child or spouse can use it while their sponsor is actively serving or after they leave the military.

Military children cannot use the transferred GI Bill until they finish high school, or an equivalent, or turn 18 years old. The child is entitled to the monthly housing allowance even while their sponsor is on active duty, but the spouse is not. A spouse has 15 years to use the benefits once the service member separates from active duty, but the child does not have this restriction. They do however age out of eligibility at 26 years old.

Talk to your spouse and children to see if transferring your GI Bill benefits to one or all of them is the right decision for your family. Don’t wait until politicians change, take away, or make receiving these benefits harder.

Has your service member transferred his or her Post-9/11 GI Bill to you or your children?