Military Life
5/15/2012
National Park Service offers servicemembers free annual passes
Saturday is Armed Forces Day, and in honor of the sacrifices they make, servicemembers and their families will have the opportunity to enter every national park in the country for free. read more »
5/14/2012
Air Force husband first man to earn Military Spouse of the Year
Since Military Spouse magazine first started honoring the families of servicemembers with the Military Spouse of the Year award in 2008, every winner has been a woman - until now. read more »
5/14/2012
Latest prosthetic technology aids wounded soldiers' recovery
The number of amputations among soldiers in Afghanistan rose sharply in 2010 and 2011, but despite the seemingly grim statistics, prosthetic technology has advanced so that many servicemembers return to the activities they enjoyed before their injury. read more »
5/11/2012
Michelle Obama welcomes military moms, children to White House
In an event that blended Military Appreciation Month and Mother's Day, Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden welcomed military mothers and wives to the White House on Thursday. read more »
5/11/2012
Economic issues top concerns among military families
Whether it be the struggle of raising a family alone or the stress of worrying about a loved one serving overseas, military families face a number of challenges. read more »
5/10/2012
Olympian leaves bobsled track for special operations
For years, John Napier has made bobsledding a huge part of his life. The 25-year-old competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he was the number two driver for the U.S. team. read more »
5/10/2012
Mobile app, Facebook initiative hope to ease servicemember transition
Many soldiers struggle to adjust to civilian life after returning from combat, but help may be closer than they thought. read more »
5/9/2012
Massachusetts passes landmark veterans bill
Last week, the Massachusetts Senate passed groundbreaking legislation aimed at providing greater benefits to veterans, active duty soldiers and military families. read more »
5/7/2012
Scammers target military families, veterans around Memorial Day
For most Americans, Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifice of the country's brave servicemen and women, but for some unscrupulous people, it's an opportunity to take advantage of veterans and their families. read more »
5/7/2012
Unemployment drops among Iraq and Afghanistan vets
The various initiatives aimed at helping veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan appear to be paying dividends. read more »
5/2/2012
Army to begin assessment of new roles for female soldiers
As part of its growing effort to open up more jobs to women, the Army will begin an assessment this month of certain exceptions to the Direct Ground Combat Assignment Rule for female soldiers. read more »
5/1/2012
Proposed bill aims to increase assistance to severely wounded troops
A bill introduced by California congressman Rep. Joe Baca hopes to lift a cap that he says limits the amount of care severely wounded soldiers receive. read more »
4/30/2012
World War II vet still an active volunteer at 102
Bea Abrams Cohen may have left military service decades ago, but the 102-year-old World War II veteran has not stopped supporting her fellow servicemembers. read more »
4/27/2012
Executive order aimed at helping veteran students
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provided some of the best education benefits for returning soldiers, but it also attracted the attention of unscrupulous colleges looking to take advantage of veterans. read more »
4/27/2012
George W. Bush hosts second annual wounded warrior bike ride
Former President George W. Bush has largely been out of the public eye since leaving office in 2009, but on Thursday he emerged in support of America's servicemembers. read more »
4/25/2012
Proposed law sees mixed reaction from vets groups
When Rep. Bill Owens introduced a bill that would automatically enroll war veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, he did so with the intention of reducing paperwork and easing the transition. read more »
4/25/2012
Military spouse launches valuable charity
When Randi Cairns' husband Ian first went to Afghanistan, she lent a hand by shipping donations from local charities overseas, but her charitable efforts did not only help those abroad. read more »
4/24/2012
White House says VA healthcare protected from budget cuts
For months, veterans have been worried whether the possible sweeping budget cuts would impact their healthcare, but the White House recently put many of those fears to rest. read more »
4/23/2012
Woman creates social network for military community
Facebook has helped connect hundreds of millions of people across the globe, but military families looking to find likeminded individuals may not have had resources specific to them. read more »
4/23/2012
Wounded soldiers report gaps in treatment, DoD study finds
A report from the Department of Defense (DoD) uncovered some alarming trends when it comes to the treatment of wounded soldiers. read more »
4/20/2012
VA to hire more staff to address mental health
Many people in the military community have called for an increased focus on the mental health of soldiers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has apparently been listening. read more »
4/20/2012
Operation Homefront, WSWF offer military wives scholarship opportunity
In an effort to provide more jobs for military wives, Operation Homefront and the Women's Self Worth Foundation recently announced a scholarship program. read more »
4/19/2012
Congress moves toward COLA for disability, survivor benefit
Although cost of living adjustments (COLAs) are automatic for Social Security and military retirement pay, such is not the case for disability and survivor benefits, and some beneficiaries were becoming concerned. read more »
4/19/2012
Posthumous Medal of Honor to be given to Vietnam vet
More than 42 years after his death, a Vietnam veteran is set to be given the highest award the military can bestow. read more »
4/17/2012
Military spouses survive decade of war
More than a decade of war has put a strain on military families, but studies have shown that marriages among serving men and women are surprisingly resilient. read more »
4/16/2012
Veteran suicide issue not getting the attention it deserves, some say
Suicide among veterans is one of the most serious issues that very few people talk about, but there are some who hope to bring the issue to the public's attention. read more »
4/13/2012
Troops can't take advantage of Roth option until fall
The Roth option, a new provision of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), is set to launch in May, but soldiers may not be able to take advantage of the benefits until much later this year, Department of Defense (DoD) officials say. read more »
4/12/2012
Job market for young vets improving
A lot has been said about how difficult it is for young veterans to find employment opportunities, but things have been improving in the early part of 2012. read more »
4/12/2012
After one year, Michelle Obama looks back at Joining Forces initiative
Michelle Obama launched her Joining Forces initiative around one year ago, and on Wednesday she began a four-state tour to view the strides she has made supporting military families. read more »
4/11/2012
Nurses to receive TBI training
Over the last decade, the importance of recognizing traumatic brain injuries (TBI) has become increasingly clear, and the White House recently unveiled a new effort to improve the treatment. read more »
4/10/2012
Jacque Francona highlights event aimed at military families
Though most people might know Jacque Francona as the wife of World Series champion manager Terry Francona, she also has a more important role - that of a military mother. read more »
4/10/2012
Missouri program helps veterans find jobs
Nationwide unemployment among veterans is a significant problem, but one state has had some success in lowering the figures. read more »
4/9/2012
Changes to benefits irk older military retirees
Suggested changes to military benefits, including an enrollment fee for TRICARE, have made many people unhappy, but few are as concerned as older veterans. read more »
4/9/2012
Homelessness among female vets becoming a growing problem
The number of female soldiers has risen over the last decade or so, causing a growing number of women to face issues that used to affect male veterans almost exclusively. read more »
4/6/2012
Army Profession Campaign finds soldiers want tighter standards
After a year of surveys and focus groups, Army officials are ready to make policy changes to reflect the shifting expectations of soldiers. read more »
4/5/2012
Transition services now a requirement for soldiers leaving active duty
Making the move from active duty to civilian life is difficult for many soldiers, and the Army recently instituted a new policy to help make the process a little smoother. read more »
4/5/2012
First lady announces military spouse jobs initiative
Michelle Obama has been committed to supporting military families, and the first lady recently took another step toward making life a bit easier for them. read more »
4/4/2012
Marine faces discharge after criticizing Obama on Facebook
A Marine who penned a Facebook post criticizing President Barack Obama could be facing a stiff penalty. read more »
4/3/2012
Utah convention hopes to ease reintegration for vets
Transitioning into civilian life can be difficult for many servicemembers, but Utah legislators hope their efforts can make it a little bit easier. read more »
4/3/2012
Vietnam vets get long overdue recognition
Although they risked their lives for their country, many Vietnam veterans felt they did not get the welcome home they deserved 40 years ago. read more »
4/2/2012
Massachusetts school children show appreciation for soldiers
Although many people appreciate the work that servicemen and women do overseas, it can sometimes be hard to show it. read more »
3/30/2012
PTSD may even affect vets who don't have it
For veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be difficult to overcome - even if they don't have it. read more »
3/29/2012
Senator launches investigation into PTSD diagnosis, treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become an important issue to veteran advocates, and one of the Senate's leading voices on veteran health is launching an investigation into how hospitals deal with PTSD. read more »
3/28/2012
IAVA supports new bill to help vets go to school
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides some of the greatest education benefits available to servicemembers, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), along with a trio of senators, recently unveiled legislation looking to improve it. read more »
3/26/2012
Some military families struggle financially
There are many burdens associated with being part of a military family. Long deployments and having to relocate at a moment's notice place a significant strain on relationships, but it turns out the lifestyle may also take its toll on a family's finances as well. read more »
3/23/2012
Many soldiers with PTSD return to combat
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most serious issues facing American soldiers, but recent statistics show that a PTSD diagnosis does not mean troops can't return to combat. read more »
3/23/2012
Iowa woman launches organization to help military families
Molly Gray knows the challenges of being a military spouse better than most. read more »
3/22/2012
Researchers still trying to determine soldiers' limits
As multiple deployments have become more common over the last decade of war, many scientists have tried to determine what effect it might have on their mental health. read more »
3/22/2012
IAVA unveils new benefits calculator
Soldiers who have served over the last 10 years have a lot of benefits available to them, but they may not know exactly what they are. read more »
3/22/2012
TBI patients use simulations to ready themselves for combat
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among members of the Armed Forces have come to the forefront over the last several years, and soldiers recovering from such wounds often face a long road to recovery. read more »