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Military life and ceremonies are steeped in tradition and symbolism, and funerals are no exception. Although one of the more somber traditions for military members, understanding the symbolism behind different aspects of a funeral with military honors highlight the amount of pure respect the community has for their fallen members.
Take this opportunity to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of a military funeral. See More
According to the Department of Labor, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 was enacted to help “balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families.” Anyone who has attempted to juggle the demands of being a parent or spouse with being an employee knows how difficult this task can be.
The additional stress of being a parent or spouse in the military community can make finding and keeping a job even harder. For this reason, the military community has been a primary focus for FMLA legislation over the past 20 years. Recent changes to FMLA specifically address issues faced by the military community.
With Veterans Day just behind us, it is important to remember that honoring veterans and the military community is something we should extend well beyond one or two days a year. In an effort to increase public awareness of the sacrifices the military community makes every day, November was recently declared Military Family Month.
Sen. Patty Murray proposed a bill on June 19, which would expand fertility coverage for veterans and their spouses.
UPDATE: The bill referenced in this article passed the Senate on Wednesday, Dec. 12, but is not likely to pass as the House has no plans to contest the bill by the end of 2012.
The U.S. Senate is proposing a bill that would expand fertility coverage for military veterans, as well as their spouses and surrogates.
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not pay for in vitro fertilization (IVF), a process where fertilization of an egg occurs outside of the body. But for many veterans who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with critical injuries, IVF might be the only means by which they are able to start a family.
This post is part of a two part series on the Military Ball.
Part One: 4 Clues to Cracking the Military Ball Dress Code
The military ball is the annual event that every service member looks forward to. As a night full of honor, food, drinks, laughs and dancing, it is hard to see why any military member and their guest would want to miss out. However, for first-time attendees, the thought of attending such an event can seem a bit overwhelming. To help you prepare for the event, here is a list of things to expect to see at any military ball: See More
The age-old question: What should I wear?
The military ball is an event that’s looked forward to by military members and their dates alike. It’s a night where those who have so dutifully served are allowed to indulge in some longstanding traditions, great food and drink, and a whole lot of fun.
For those who will be first-time dates to this year’s military ball, here are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure that you look appropriate and stylish: See More
Facebook is a great tool for helping military families stay connected but requires sound judgment about what’s shared.
The hardest thing about being deployed is being separated from loved ones. In the last few years, social media has changed everything, allowing military families to stay in touch from halfway around the world. But with all that progress comes the need for restraint and responsibility.
Claire Shackleford’s recent post on OPSEC outlined the “Dos and Don’ts” for protecting critical information and helping to keep our troops safe at home and on the battlefield. But even information that might not be considered critical can still be harmful if not handled through the proper channels. Here’s a truly awful example. See More
Military members are preparing for large-scale troop cuts in the near future. Defense Department officials are planning to reduce the Army by 80,000 soldiers, from 570,000 to 490,000, by the end of 2017 to meet new budget restrictions.
While many older soldiers are concerned about being forced into early retirement, some younger soldiers are concerned over what cuts might occur between now and their own retirement.
Here is a breakdown of what to expect: See More
I decided to bust some of the more common military myths. While I think people are generally supportive of military families, the disconnect between civilian and military families is growing. For example, I was talking with a friend the other day about the chore of filing annual income taxes when she blurted out: ”Your husband doesn’t pay taxes, though!” I was taken aback by this person’s assumption that military service somehow gets veterans “off the hook” when it comes to paying their share.
This military-civilian disconnect can lead to some serious misunderstandings, so I want to set the record straight on the most common military myths I have heard regarding spouses and families.
Command sponsorship is a hot topic for spouses and dependents of service members hoping to accompany their loved one overseas. The most common command sponsorships are granted in European countries but are also used for many Asian countries as well as families moving to Hawaiian bases. See More
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