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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?

7 Programs Working to Reduce Veteran Unemployment

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans in November 2016 grew to 4.8, up over a point from the same time last year. With all military services continuing to engage in troop reduction, the number of unemployed veterans may see an even bigger increase in the years to come. But no veteran needs to face the daunting search for employment alone.

Check out these 7 organizations working to help veterans find meaningful employment.

7 Programs Working to Reduce Veteran Unemployment

1. USO Transition 360 Alliance – Hire Heroes USA

In this program transition specialists work one-on-one with transitioning service members to set career goals and strengthen their resumes. The program also sponsors transition workshops to help improve networking and interviewing skills and creating job search plans. Registered users can also use the Hire Heroes job board to connect with employers interested in hiring transition service members, veterans and their spouses. Interested applicants can register on the USO website.

2. Corporate America Supports You (CASY)

Founded in 2010, CASY’s mission is to attract transitioning service members, veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves and provide the services and training necessary for job placement. Their Train2Hire Program provides opportunities for skills training. Their Recruiter Connect™ Program connects job candidates with corporate and small business recruiters. CASY’s services are provided at no cost to veteran applicants. Since its inception, CASY has helped more than 22,000 applicants find jobs. Interested veterans can get started right away by visiting the CASY website and registering for their services.

3. NS2 Serves

Established in 2013, NS2 Serves trains and employs veterans in high-tech careers. The program serves post-9/11 service members, reservists and Gold Star spouses who meet program requirements. The full-time paid training provides instruction in “world-class software solutions that support U.S. national security, leading to official SAP certifications.” Applicants are accepted on a semi-annual basis. Apply on the NS2 Serve website.

4. Helmets to Hard Hats

Veterans and service members interested in a career in the construction industry can register with Helmets to Hard Hats. In addition to job boards with veteran-only job postings, H2H offers federally approved apprentice programs at no cost to veterans, and because it is federally approved, GI Bill benefits can be used to supplement income during the apprenticeship process. Interested applicants can get more information and register by visiting the H2H website.

5. Wall Street War Fighters

Based in Philadelphia, Wall Street War Fighters offers a 6-month training program that provides class work, field work, exam preparation and testing, mentorship, apprenticeships and internships for veterans interesting in pursuing careers in the financial industry. The training program includes housing, food, transportation to and from training and job interviews, professional clothing and a small stipend at no cost to accepted participants. Veterans interesting in the program can learn more at the organization’s website.

6. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)

The largest post-9/11 veteran’s organization, IAVA uses research and in-person and online programming to help veterans connect with employers, industry experts, mentors and other employment resources. Participants in the VetsRising Career Bootcamps receive personalized assistance developing and reaching career goals. Joining is easy, just visit the IAVA website.

7. Startup Veterans

In the years since World War II, the number of veteran starting new businesses has tumbled from 49% to just 6%. Startup Veterans aims to change that. Designed to support veterans with a business idea, the program offers 16 weeks of entrepreneurial development training. The program has an online application, and selected applicants will be interviewed by phone before final acceptance. Find out more about the application process and requirements on the Startup Veterans website.

Have you utilized a program that works to reduce veteran unemployment? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Repay Your Enlistment Bonus? No Way!

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Enlistment bonuses are the pot of gold in military life. Not everyone gets them. If your solider is offered one, count yourself lucky and take it. Don’t ask any questions. Just take that money and use it to pay off your debts or buy a house.

That’s the opinion among many service members when it comes to an enlistment bonus. It’s free money. Take it or leave it. But it would be smarter to take the enlistment bonus.

Repay Your Enlistment Bonus? No Way!

Enlistment bonuses are the pot of gold. You are lucky if you find one.

That’s why when the Los Angeles Times reported that nearly 10,000 soldiers with the California Guard were ordered to repay their enlistment bonuses, many like myself were thinking “repay? no way.”

Here’s what happened.

During the no-end-in-sight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the mid-2000s, the Defense Department struggled to retain service members and meet recruiting numbers. To combat this shortfall, cash incentives, similar to a sign-on bonus in the civilian sector, were given to service members.

But not every service member. Only soldiers with certain assignments – for example, intelligence, civil affairs and some noncommissioned officer posts – were supposed to get bonuses, according to the Los Angeles Times’ article.

But an investigation, which was triggered by a whistleblower, found that California Guard officials mismanaged their enlistment bonus funds. They gave enlistment bonuses to soldiers who didn’t qualify for them.

This investigation lead to an audit of the enlistment bonuses given to California Guard soldiers. This audit lead to nearly 10,000 soldiers being notified that they needed to pay back their bonuses. They didn’t have a choice. They were ordered to pay back this money.

It wasn’t their fault that this money was mismanaged. They didn’t do anything wrong. Yet, they were ordered to pay back their enlistment bonuses.

Many did. They refinanced their homes or took a second job so that they could pay back the thousands that they now owed the federal government.

Many tried to fight the order to repay. They filed appeals and got nowhere until the Los Angeles Times’ article went viral.

Only then did something happened for these veterans.

Rep. Duncan Hunter called the repayment demand a “boneheaded” move. President Obama ordered the Defense Department to “speed up a review of its attempt to recoup enlistment bonuses from National Guard members and to ensure that the Pentagon doesn’t ‘nickel and dime‘ them,” according to the Washington Times.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter ordered the Pentagon to halt its attempts to reclaim these enlistment bonus. He also promised to resolve all the cases by July 1, 2017.

“While some soldiers knew or should have known they were ineligible for benefits they were claiming, many others did not,” Carter said in a statement.

What happens next?

More investigating.

More number-crunching.

More hand-wringing.

Do I believe that thousands of soldiers will be allowed to keep their enlistment bonuses that on paper they didn’t earn because of the fraudulent actions of a few?

Honestly I don’t.

Enlistment bonuses are the pot of gold. You are lucky if you find one.

What happens if you stumble upon one by mistake?

You don’t get to keep it.

Now it’s your turn: What do you think of this enlistment bonus scandal and repayment order to thousands of California Guard soldiers?

Millennials: the Next Generation Called to Serve

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As Veterans Day approaches, we will begin to pay tribute to those who have nobly served our country. We will recall the bravery of the men and women who answered the call to arms in previous generations and those who have recently departed from service. Included in those numbers, are a surprising number of millennial veterans.

4 Surprising Things About Millennials in the Military

This newest generation of service members, millennials, has a lot to offer the Armed Forces.

Born between 1985 and 2000, the millennial generation is now the largest segment of the American population. They also encompass the greatest number of those currently serving in our Armed Forces.

The millennial generation, who came into adulthood amidst iPhones, Harry Potter and social media, is often stereotyped as lazy, narcissistic and entitled.

But as a mother of 2 millennials, I beg to differ with these stereotypes. Here’s what this newest generation of service members has to offer the Armed Forces.

4 Surprising Things About Millennials in the Military

They Know the Importance of Service

Millennials are driven to do meaningful work and are unlikely to pursue a career they don’t feel drawn to. They are unlikely to pursue careers just because of salary or position. They want to go home at the end of the day knowing the work they’ve done meant something.

When the United States suffered the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, millennials answered the call to service in massive numbers. According to the 2014 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census, in 2014 there were 1.7 million veterans under age 35.

Six out of the 11 service members awarded the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan were millennials.

And with current millennial service member ranks totaling 2.5 million, the number of veterans from that generation will only continue to grow. If we let their service track record speak for them, dedicated should be added to the list of generational attributes.

They Thrive in Team Environments

Ask any service member to list key attributes of unit success and teamwork will be at the top of that list. Perhaps greater than any generation before them, millennials understand the importance of teamwork. Most tend to consider their co-workers as a second family. They look to each other, those in charge, and subordinate to them for ideas to solve complex problems.

Within this team environment, millennials are eager to lead if given the chance, but don’t assume they always know best. In fact, the majority of millennials understand the importance of drawing from the experience of leadership and place a high level of importance on mentorship.

That being said, the “it’s the way we’ve always done it” argument is often met with resistance. Millennials want to know that the way things are being done is the best and most efficient way to do it, even if that means changing a steadfast process.

They are “the Most” Generation

Modern military service has long touted the benefit of education and encouraged service members to pursue various degrees.

The millennial generation is the most educated generation in American history. In 2013, nearly half of those aged 25-35 possessed a bachelor’s degree and nearly 20% have a master’s degree or higher.

Hand in hand with their drive for education, this generation also faces the greatest amount of student debt. This is a factor that leads many to examine military service as an option for providing both a meaningful and a stable work environment.

Millennials are also the most ethnically and racially diverse generation of the modern era. They are also the most open to social change and are unlikely to see gender or sexual orientation as a barrier or hindrance to service.

They Love Technology

Modern warfare is dramatically different from the open trenches and massive land invasions of the two World Wars. From logistics to weaponry, administration to communication, technology is the driving force in our military’s superiority.

Millennials were practically born with a mouse in their hands – their ability to adapt and accept new technology is the foundation of how they interact with the world.

By 2020, one in 3 American adults will be a part of the millennial generation. Their influence is growing and will continue to have an influence on our society. Their impact on everything from the economy and industry to the structure of the American family and American dream will be prevalent for the next 60 years.

And from where I’m sitting, they’ve more than proven they are ready to take on that responsibility. We just have to be willing to let them do things their way, even if means trying something new.

What would you add to this list of surprising things about millennial veterans?

15 Corporations Looking to Hire Veterans

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Veterans Day, November 11, is quickly approaching. Soon restaurants will begin advertising free meals, stores will offer discounts and people will be making more of a point to thank veterans for their service.

These gestures are nice, but there is more businesses can do for veterans.

They can hire veterans.

There are currently more than 20 million veterans. That’s a lot of people to thank. The unemployment rate for veterans overall last month was 4.3 percent. That number has been much higher in recent years, but the government has been doing a lot to encourage businesses to hire veterans. They have also introduced programs, such as Joining Forces, to motivate businesses to hire veterans like never before and the rate of veteran unemployment has dropped.

15 Corporations Looking to Hire Veterans

If you are an unemployed veteran, use this list as a tool for finding the right job for you.

There are many companies that are military friendly. These businesses hire a large number of veterans. They specifically target veterans with their recruiting efforts. Most of them have special programs specifically for veterans and help them make an easy transition into civilian jobs.

Military-friendly companies also help develop veterans into leadership roles.

The following is a list of military-friendly companies verified by Military.com and Military Times. The former keeps a running list of military friendly businesses and each year Military Times puts out a list of their best employers for veterans.

If you are an unemployed veteran, use this list as a tool for finding the right job for you or pass it along to someone you know who is looking for a new career.

15 Corporations Looking to Hire Veterans

Verizon was ranked No. 1 by Military Times as the top military-friendly employer. They advertise that 85% of military jobs translate to Verizon jobs.

Union Pacific Railroad employs more than 9,800 veterans. They believe military service members bring a unique set of skills to the job and recruit military heavily.

USAA provides insurance, investments and banking products to veterans, service members and their families. They also employ a great deal of them.

PwC is a consulting firm that has received the Seven Seals Award and has been listed on numerous top lists for military-friendly businesses. They are also highly rated for military spouse employment.

BAE Systems is in the defense and aerospace industry. They offer jobs that allow veterans to continue doing jobs that are mission-centered.

Booz Allen Hamilton is committed to hiring veterans and wounded service members. They offer mentoring programs to help transition from military life to civilian. They employ more than 7,400 veterans.

Intuitive Research and Technology Corp. is growing in the engineering services sector. Fortune lists them as the No. 1 workplace to retire from.

The Boeing Co. employs more than 22,200 veterans. They have excellent track record of working with veterans helping them transition into long-lasting jobs. They are heavily invested in supporting military families.

CACI International focuses on information technology and provides IT services and solutions for defense, intelligence and homeland security. They have veteran advocates that help veterans make the transition to civilian life.

Capital One has excellent benefits for activated reservists. They are number 10 on Military Times list of top military-friendly employers. They are also in the top 100 for best companies to work for in 2016 according to Fortune.

Amazon has worldwide operations and is actively recruiting veterans. They employ thousands of veterans and military spouses. In May, they pledged to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses over the next 5 years.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has more than 40,000 jobs in 20 different career areas. They employ over 4,000 veterans and continue to hire more daily.

BNSF Railway operates one of the largest freight rail transportation networks in America. They have been hiring veterans since the end of the civil war. BNSF Railway has hired more than 9,000 veterans since 2005 and have pledged to hire 5,000 more by 2018.

CSX Transportation is the largest eastern railroad and one of the top military-friendly employers. They are part of a group of more than 80 companies that have come together to collectively hire 100,000 veterans by 2020.

General Electric employs more than 10,000 veterans. Amazingly, one in 14 GE employees is a veteran. They have transition assistance programs, military employment programs and veterans networking.

Each of these companies has their own recruiting methods and veterans can apply to them directly.

There are many avenues veterans can use to seek help with preparing resumes, cover letters or with filling out applications such as the Veterans Employment and Training Service. Other groups include Feds Hire Vets, Hire Heroes USA, We Hire Heroes and the National Association of American Veterans.

Do you work for a company that is actively recruiting veterans as employees? Tell us about it 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?

 

Disabled Veterans May See Increase in Benefits

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Thanks to Congressman Ralph Abraham of Louisiana, disabled veterans may see an increase in benefits at the end of the year. Dr. Abraham’s HR 5588, the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016 was signed into law this summer and takes effect on December 1, 2016.

Disabled Veterans May See Increase in Benefits

What do you think of legislation aimed at increasing and expanding benefits for disabled veterans?

The bill quickly made its way through the House and Senate and was signed into law by the president in under a month. The bill itself is quite simple:

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2016, the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance [OASDI]) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.

In short, each year legislation has to be drafted to approve an increase in cost of living allowance (COLA) for disabled veterans. The increase will match that of social security. While social security automatically increases each year as the cost of living does, the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act does not have a stipulation for automatic adjustment.

To me, this seems to be an outdated way of doing things. If social security can automatically increase with the cost of living, then why doesn’t the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act?

Abraham looked at this process and introduced HR 677, the American Heroes COLA Act. This bill would enable the veterans’ COLA adjustments to be automatic each year freeing up the House to work on other bills and saving veterans and their families the frustration of waiting to see what will happen with their pay each year. The House quickly passed this bill, but the Senate has not done anything with it.

For now, disabled veterans can plan their finances for the short term knowing the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016 was signed into law.

They will have to wait for the politicians in Washington to decide if they will pass the American Heroes COLA Act and make it an automatic adjustment each year.

Note however, while the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016 has been signed into law, it does not mean that an increase in pay is guaranteed.

The amount that disabled veterans may see as an increase will be the same increase as social security. The last time social security did not increase was in 2000.

It won’t be until the end of the year that the exact amount of an increase will be known. It will only be increased if there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

The compensation programs for disabled veterans were originally put into place to help relieve the financial burden disabled veterans face by not being able to earn wages due to injuries sustained during military service. The amount of benefits disabled veterans receive is based on the degree of disability they qualify for.

Abraham, a veteran of the Army Reserves and National Guard, has been working to get disabled veterans better benefits. These 2 bills are not his only accomplishments in regards to veterans’ issues since being elected to office.

He has also chaired the VA Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. He has worked toward getting disabled veterans the help they need when they need it and at locations convenient to them through the Veterans’ Choice Program. This program would make it easier for veterans who live in remote areas to seek medical treatment from doctors near them, rather than wait for an appointment at a VA facility.

Last year Abraham also cosponsored HR 1994, the VA Accountability Act. This bill passed the House but the Senate has yet to consider it. If the VA Accountability Act were to become law, the VA would become accountable for its actions. They would finally be able to fire or demote employees that have failed to do their job.

Thanks to Abraham, disabled veterans might be getting better benefits in the future.

What do you think of legislation aimed at increasing and expanding benefits for disabled veterans?

Military Discounts for 17 Tech Products, Services

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Military families live in a high-tech world and I’ll be the first to admit, I love it! Getting my hands on the latest technology isn’t always in my budget, but with military discounts from some of the best tech companies out there, bringing the latest tech gear home is a little easier with a little discount.

Military Discounts for 15 Tech Products, Services

Have you used any of these military discounts? Tell us about your favorite military discounts in the comments section.

Here are 17 military discounts that military spouses and service members don’t want to miss when buying the latest tech products and services.

Military Discounts for 17 Tech Products, Services

Military Discounts on Computers

If you’re anything like me, you have a love/hate relationship with your computer. I’ve been known to completely wear out a laptop. By the time I’m done with it only half of the keys on the keyboard are even readable.

If you are in the market for a new computer (which for me, is pretty much all of the time), here’s where to go to score a great military discount on one.

  • Dell offers a 10% military discount on selected computers and laptops. The discount can be redeemed through the AAFES Exchange website or by verifying your military affiliation through TroopID on the Dell website.(Bonus tip: Sign up for Dell Advantage rewards and you could earn 10% plus get free 2-day shipping!). Get the details here.
  • Apple. Their discount varies by product, but in general it ranges from 5% to 15%. Military discounts are primarily offered on computers, iPads and iPhones. There may be an additional discount offered on a protection plan. You can get the details on Apple’s military discounts here.
  • Lenovo offers up to 40% discounts on PCs, including ThinkPad.
  • Microsoft has a 5% discount on PCs, tablets and accessories, plus a 10% discount on software. Get the details here. Service members can also save 30% on Office365.
  • HP offers a 20% discount to service members as well as free shipping. Sign up here for more details.

Military Discounts on Cell Phone Services

I don’t go anywhere anymore without my cell phone. Do you even remember what life was like before we were connected 24/7?

Whatever you do, don’t pay full price for your cellular service.

Almost every major wireless provider offers a military discount.

Keep in mind that all cell phone service discounts require verification with a DD-214, military pay stub, and/or military ID card. Restrictions apply, so make sure you understand the fine print before agreeing to these military discounts.

  • T-Mobile offers up to 15% off to active duty and veterans. Visit a T-Mobile retail store near you for the details.
  • AT&T Service members and veterans get a 15% discount on qualified monthly services. A DD-214 or military ID card is required for verification. Get all the details here.
  • MetroPCS has promotions throughout the year that target military spouses, veterans and service members. Visit your local MetroPCS store for more information about its discounts.
  • Sprint Wireless. Service members and veterans receive a 15% discount on select rate plans. A verification form is required to qualify for this discount. Get the form here.
  • Cricket Wireless offers a 15% discount to eligible military members and retirees. The discount is only available by visiting your local Cricket Wireless store.
  • Verizon Wireless has a 15% off of monthly wireless service and a 25% discount on select accessories.

Military Discounts on Gadgets and Gizmos

What would technology be good for if we couldn’t occasionally use it to have fun or make our lives easier? Check out these military discounts from companies that fall into the categories of gadgets and gizmos.

  • Gotenna. Gotenna can turn your smartphone into a GPS or text device, even if you don’t have a signal. They offer a 15% military discount with service affiliation verification. Get the details on any product listing on their site.
  • iRobot. Thinking about getting a Roomba? Did you know iRobot offers a 15% military discount? Verification is required through ID.me. Get the details here.
  • BestBuy. The discount varies by amount and location. Ask your local store manager if they offer a military discount.
  • UnderArmor offers a 10% military discount on its fitness gadgets. Verification is required through ID.me. Get the details on their site.
  • Dish For My RV extends exclusive offers for military members. Get the details here.

Military Discounts on Home Security Services

Since service members spend a lot of time away for deployments, field trainings or TDYs, making the investment in a good home security system and service just makes sense. Make your home a little safer thanks to these great military discounts.

  • My Alarm Center offers a discount on the installation and reduced monthly monitoring fees for military service members. All the details are available on their site.
  • ADT Home Security. USAA members can take advantage of a 10% discount on installation and monthly monitoring costs. You can find out more about this discount by clicking here.

Are you looking for more military discounts? Visit our Military Discounts page.

5 Athletes We Are Cheering for at the Paralympics

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The 2016 Paralympic Games will take place in the same venues as the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The games run from September 7-18. There are 22 different sports featured during the games with para-canoe and paratriathlon each making their debut this year. It will be an exciting time with 160 nations sending more than 4,350 athletes to compete.

How much do you know about the Paralympics and who will you be cheering for? We’ve made it easy to get caught up so you will be ready in time for the opening ceremony.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) organizes the Paralympics with the goal

“To enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.”

Organizers hope that the courage and determination these athletes show will inspire others and bring equality to all athletes.

5 Athletes We Are Cheering for at the Paralympics

Did you know that there are more than 21 million Americans that have a physical disability?

The IPC has been running the Paralympics since 1989, however the United States Olympic Committee did not start the U.S. Paralympics until 2001. Through the U.S. Paralympics athletes with physical disabilities are able to train at sports facilities across the United States.

The U.S. Paralympics expanded to include the military in 2004. The Paralympic Military Program supports service members and veterans that have been wounded in service. These injuries include amputations, traumatic brain injuries and visual impairments.

Here are 5 veterans we will be cheering on during this year’s Paralympics.

Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder is a Naval Academy graduate and Naval Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician who became blind in 2011 after an improvised explosive device detonated.

Exactly one year after the explosion he competed in the 2012 London Paralympic Games and won a gold medal. He went on to win a total of 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal in swimming events at those games. This year will be an exciting time yet again to watch him compete in the pool.

Shawn Morelli, an Army engineer officer, was on a mission in Afghanistan in 2007 when an improvised explosive device detonated near her. She suffered neck and nerve damage, brain trauma and became blind in her left eye.

Retired now, she is a member of the United Health Care Pro Cycling team. She has qualified for 4 events including two on the velodrome and two road races.

She was also nominated for an ESPY award this year. Morelli recently broke the women’s C4 pursuit world record in Italy. She is the top-ranked female rider in the world in her classification.

Melissa Stockwell was an Army officer in 2004. She lost her left leg after a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad. She is a three-time Paratriathlon National and World Champion and swam in the 2008 Paralympics.

While she was unfortunately the first female American soldier in history to lose a limb while in active duty combat, she became the first Iraq War veteran to compete in the Paralympic Games as a swimmer in 2008 placing fourth in the 400-meter freestyle.

This year Stockwell will be part of Paralympic history as an athlete in the first paratriathlon.

Staff Sergeant Michael Lukow serves in the Army. He is now part of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program as a Paralympic archer.

He lost his right foot on a mission in Iraq. He became interested in archery during his rehabilitation. Lukow learned once again how to walk, this time with a prosthetics and braces, by retrieving arrows. His love for the sport was instant.

Sergeant Elizabeth Marks is a combat medic and Paralympic swimmer. She is also part of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. She will compete in the Paralympics in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke. She won 4 gold medals at the 2016 Invictus Games.

She suffered bilateral hip injuries in Iraq in 2010 and came close to death while recovering in the hospital from a respiratory infection.

All of these military veterans deserve our respect and our voice cheering for them in the 2016 Paralympics. Will you be watching and cheering for them?

You can learn more about the Paralympic Military Program by clicking here.

First of Its Kind Military Family Support Center Opens in Georgia

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It has been two and a half years in the making, but the Military Family Support Center in Cobb County, Ga., opened its doors last month.

This is the first public-private partnership like this in the United States. It is a combined effort created with the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce, the Defense Commissary Agency, the Georgia Department of Defense and Dobbins Air Reserve Base and its joint partners to bring commissary benefits to military families.

There are more than 50,000 veterans living in Cobb County. The Military Family Support Center will provide retired veterans, active duty and their families access to a military benefit that many who live close to a commissary take for granted.

Though this Military Family Support Center is not a commissary – it will act as a pop-up commissary.

Its doors will open 3 days a month providing roughly 1,000 items such as: fresh meat, fresh produce, chilled and frozen items along with dry goods.

There is a large population of National Guard and Reserve members for which this Military Family Support Center was designed for, but anyone who has commissary privileges may shop at there as long as they show a military ID card.

It is a long drive to the nearest commissary, so bringing a similar commissary benefit close to home for so many people is a welcome sight. The Military Family Support Center is located just outside of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga.

The commissary offers items at cost plus 5 percent, which can save a family on average 30 percent or more over shopping at a civilian grocery store.

For those living in Cobb County however, it isn’t convenient to make a full day trip to a commissary. The closest commissary is at Fort Benning, which is 130 miles from Marietta.

Though the Military Family Support Center will only be open 3 days a month, it is a benefit many will welcome.

This is the first Military Family Support Center served by the Defense Commissary Agency. The land it sits on is leased by the Cobb Chamber and its partners and the Guard/Reserve on-site sales are run by the commissary.

The groups have come together to bring back the commissary benefit to the greater Atlanta area. Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson did at one time have full commissaries, but both posts were closed as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

The Military Family Support Center will offer more than just great grocery savings one weekend a month. There will also be other services available at that time. While these services may change, the Military Support Center has scheduled things such as the WellStar physicians and their medical professionals to come out and perform health screenings and offer consultations. The Georgia Department of Driver Services will be available in their mobile unit for any Georgia license holders that need to renew or replace their ID. The Georgia Veterans Administration is also expected to be available to answer general VA questions. More services may be available in the future as well.

If you are in the area, mark your calendars for the following dates the Military Family Support Center will have on-site sales:

  • June 16-18
  • July 14-16
  • August 18-20
  • September 15-17
  • October 20-22
  • November 17-19
  • December 15-17

This off-base commissary’s operating hours are Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. once a month.

What do you think of this idea of a military family support center or pop-up commissary? Do you think DeCA should open similar centers in other parts of the United States?