Benefits

OCTOBER 21, 2026 – TRICARE Open Season begins Monday, Nov. 9. If you’re eligible for TRICARE, this is your chance to enroll in a health plan or change plans for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027. You can make eligible changes through Tuesday, Dec. 8. Keep reading for answers…

JULY 25, 2026 – As a veteran seeking dental care, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many programs and plans available for veterans that it’s hard to know which ones you’re eligible for, and where you can access them.  Knowing how important it is to take care…

JULY 22, 2024 – Beginning in 2026, the legacy Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card will no longer be accepted for access to benefits, privileges, or DoD bases. According to the DoD Common Access Card website, USID cards are issued to retired military and Reserve members, dependent family members of…

OCTOBER 27, 2023 – Veterans Day 2023 is Saturday, Nov. 11. This Veterans Day discounts list will continue to be updated as we learn of more nationally available Veterans Day discounts, meals or other ways businesses and organizations want to give back to Veterans. These Veterans Day and year-round…

MARCH 8, 2023 – The Defense Media Activity (DMA) and the American Forces Network (AFN) invites its overseas audiences to enjoy the military network’s live coverage of the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, starting on Tuesday, March 14, and the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament,…

JANUARY 19, 2023 – The Department of the Air Force Civilian Development program is a portfolio of educational, experiential and leadership development courses designed to develop members of the civilian workforce and equip them with the competencies required for the service to succeed in the future fight. With an…

JANUARY 19, 2022 – The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is a voluntary program which provides the survivors of participating retirees a monthly income that starts when the member dies and retired pay stops. Although some may not be aware of it, automatic SBP spouse coverage became effective Sept. 10,…

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 – If it’s time for you to renew your military ID card, you should consider renewing it now. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several military ID cardholders with expiring ID cards ran into challenges when it came time to renew. In response, the Department of Defense…

AUGUST 19, 2021 – U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL-03) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced legislation to provide federal benefits to veterans who served in or near the Panama Canal Zone and may have been exposed to deadly herbicide, also known as Agent Purple or Agent Orange, which was…

JULY 26, 2021 – Air Force and Space Force members performing active service, and Reserve and Guard Airmen on Title 10 or Title 32 orders, can now accrue up to 120 days of annual leave for fiscal year 2021 instead of the typical 60 days of leave. Members will…

APRIL 22, 2021 – Permanent Change of Station season is upon us and United States Army Europe-Africa customs inspectors remind personnel of the differences in what they can, and cannot, receive in their military postal box while overseas. According to a U.S. Customs pamphlet, German customs law prohibits the…

MARCH 18, 2021 – More than 1,300 students will get an opportunity to develop and hone their skills under the Department of the Air Force’s flagship summer-hire program. The 2021 Summer Hire Employment Program provides students in high school, college, trade school, vocational school and other qualifying educational programs…

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is bringing more chiropractic, dental and medical equipment services to military communities in 2021. The Exchange plans to open its first chiropractic offices in 2021, providing new and convenient healthcare services to the military community. The Exchange plans…

DECEMBER 4, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Labor approximates that 200,000 men and women transition to the civilian sector from the military each year. “The Transition Assistance Program provides information, tools, and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian…

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 – Department of the Air Force officials announced a $3,750 military tuition assistance cap per fiscal year that will go into effect for college courses beginning Oct. 1. Previously, military tuition assistance limits were $4,500 per fiscal year, but adjustments were required to ensure the program…

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 – Today, the Secretary of the Army announced the opening of the 60-day public comment period for the proposed changes to eligibility criteria for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. This is the next step in the federal rule making process required to gather public input to…

JULY 30, 2020 – Pregnant and postpartum members may now attend professional military education without an exception to policy, and are also exempt from the requirement to have a passing fitness assessment prior to attending. Previous policy prevented pregnant women and women within their one-year postpartum deferment period from…

OCTOBER 1, 2018 – The VMET (Verification of Military Experience and Training), or DD Form 2586, documents and verifies service member military experience and training. Therefore, it is useful when you are considering civilian occupations related to your military service, as well as in translating military terminology and training…