How to Hire Veterans

What are the best ways to hire veterans? Much depends on the nature of your business, whether you are seeking a certain type of status associated by veteran-operated businesses, and how many new hires you wish to bring on.

Hiring a veteran brings with it associated benefits in some cases. The IRS official site has a page dedicated to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which provides tax breaks for employers who hire from certain classes of the work force including those who draw SSI, long-term family assistance recipients, and veterans.

Hiring veterans also means the need for fully codified employer policies about how the company will manage an employee’s military duty commitments for Guard, Reserve, or even active duty hires.

Knowing Where To Look

There are many places you can look for veterans to hire as full-time, part-time, commission, or contractors; state and local agencies have job placement and career development programs you can partner with.

Employers should consider participating in job fairs near military bases, Guard and Reserve unit headquarters, or even at college campuses with a strong ROTC presence. But knowing where to look for suitable job candidates is only half the battle.

The best way to hire veterans includes making a fully informed choice when choosing to bring one on board; you should know what your rights and responsibilities are as an employer ahead of your hiring decision.

Fortunately, there is excellent advice from a number of government agencies that can help. The Department of Labor, and even the government’s hiring portal, USAJobs.gov all have helpful information for hiring managers and supervisors.

How To Hire A Veteran: The Department Of Labor (DOL)

The Department of Labor official site has a section dedicated to the hiring of veterans and associated programs and policies. DOL veteran programs include:

  • Military Spouses
  • Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program
  • Jobs for Veterans State Grants
  • Stand Down
  • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
  • Federal Contractor Reporting / VETS-4212
  • HIRE Vets Medallion Program
  • Veterans’ Preference
  • Women Veterans

These programs are aimed at employers, event organizers, licensing agencies, etc. They are not designed as placement options for individual job seekers, but as resources for those who hire, train, etc.

In many cases the programs above may target certain portions of the veteran population; employers who need resources to hire homeless veterans, those who need guidance or assistance with federal contracting procedures or in properly helping job seekers apply veteran preference, etc.

DOL also provides direct advice for those who want to hire veterans; there are employment representatives in each state and a general contact e-mail address for those who need to speak to a DOL rep about hiring vets.

Hiring Vets: Advice From The Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA has created a Veterans Employment Toolkit designed to help those who wish to employ vets. The toolkit includes information on government subsidies that can be used to offset the salary of a new hire, assistive and adaptive technology, how to interpret a veteran’s “non-pay work experience,” and information on VA incentives that may be offered to certain companies for hiring qualified veterans.

The VA toolkit also includes information about Department of Labor programs that incorporate online training and other resources for those who want to hire from America’s ever-growing pool of military members and vets.

The VA Veteran Employer Toolkit is featured prominently in the VA Vocational Rehab & Employment official site. There is another portion of the VA official site titled Veterans Opportunity to Work that features a section aimed specifically at employers.

The VA requests owners and supervisors who want to learn more about participating in the program to contact the VA directly at Call 1-800-827-1000 or the nearest VA regional office and ask for the VR&E Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor or Employment Coordinator. You can also visit the VA VR&E employer webpage .

Employer Support Of The Guard And Reserve (ESGR)

At the beginning of this article we mentioned employer obligations for members of the Guard and Reserve. ESGR is a government program designed to help employers understand and meet their legal commitment to employees who serve. Knowing your responsibilities to your Guard and Reserve employees is crucial to staying in legal compliance with federal law.

It is also key to maintaining a good-faith relationship with your Guard and Reserve hires. As with ADA law, not knowing your legal responsibilities in this area is a huge liability. State law may also play a role in your obligations to Guard and Reserve troops; know before you hire.

HireVets.Gov

Public Law 115-31, also known as the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017 (HIRE Vets Act), required the establishment of a program which “recognizes employer efforts to recruit, employ, and retain veterans.”

Those who meet certain criteria established by the Act, “will receive a “HIRE Vets Medallion Award.” That may not sound like much to an outsider, but veterans who apply for jobs at companies that have earned this award may feel more confident about their potential employer knowing the company has been evaluated and praised under the award program.

It’s not the same as a DoD stamp of approval, but those who hire with the medallion award certainly have an advantage when trying to make an impression about the quality of the workplace.

The HIRE Vets Act awards are aimed at three different categories of employer: large, medium, and small businesses. “For each award, the employer must satisfy a set of criteria. Verification of these criteria includes a self-attestation by the applicant and a check for violations of veteran-related DOL labor laws by the U.S. Department of Labor” according to the official site.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

EEOC publishes a fact sheet for veterans titled, Understanding Your Employment Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Veterans.

This fact sheet is aimed at the employee, but it is critical for all who hire vets to know these policies and understand what the new hire will expect from you, the employer, on a legal basis where ADA compliance and related issues are concerned.

Not all veterans have disabilities, but all who have them (military or not) are protected in the American workplace by ADA laws. As an employer, if you do not know your ADA responsibilities as well as employee rights, you set yourself up for major legal liability. Know before you hire.

Things To Ask Yourself When Hiring Veterans

Those who hire don’t always have military experience. When recruiting vets for your company, it’s important to remember that a military career requires skills far above and beyond the job title or even the job description. A new hire who held the rank of E4 or higher likely has been given management and leadership training, has functioned as a section head or an assistant department head, and may have other experience that is difficult to quantify on a resume but adds value to your company.

We all know the hiring process will involve interviews and a Q&A process of some kind, but what should an employer ask themselves before the interview?

  • Veterans often thrive on the same kind of structure they experienced in the military; they may not be used to the kind of ambiguity often experienced in the civilian hiring process. Have you established a way to help veterans understand the process of hiring once the resume has been submitted?
  • What are your most urgent needs for the company?
  • Are you asking about other job experience besides “direct experience” and the applicant’s education?
  • How will you make your veteran applicants more comfortable with your hiring/interviewing process? What would you do for someone if you knew you were the first civilian interviewer they had spoken with since leaving military service?
  • In your conversation with veterans, how will you try to understand and identify with their unique needs?

During the interview, it is very helpful for the interviewer to ask a veteran at the start to either avoid or explain military jargon that comes up in conversation. Don’t be too hard on a veteran for slipping back into acronym-speak; old habits are hard to break.

When your interviewee starts talking about “additional duties”, for example, that is a responsibility given to a military member that is not her main job, but is still expected as a member of the team.

An Army Public Affairs officer may be responsible for dealing with the press and for interacting with local leaders, but they are also tasked with conducting base tours for the public and escorting non-military VIP visitors to certain functions on post.

Was that the officer’s main duty? No, but it is significant enough to mention in an interview where relevant. That is the sort of nuance you can expect from your veteran resumes and interviews.

You can always ask for clarification in the interview. When it comes to additional duty (which is a subject that comes up frequently when a vet is asked what they did for a living while in uniform) always ask if the interviewee can quantify how much time was spent doing that duty (assuming it is relevant to the conversation).

You may be surprised at the breadth and depth of these extra tasks. A great example–the author of this article had an additional duty in his job as a reporter for Air Force Television News; he was the equipment inventory custodian for all the TV news cameras, microphones, and other broadcast gear.

The financial responsibility for this inventory? Valued at a million dollars, collectively. That is an additional duty worth mentioning in an interview if it’s relevant. Some additional duties are mundane, others require a great deal of attention.

A Hiring Guide for Military & Veterans

Many companies understand the value that veterans and military family members can bring to a workplace. Members of the military community have many qualities and skills that can benefit companies in a variety of industries.

What qualities can veterans and military family members bring to a company?

Companies that are interested in recruiting and hiring members of the military community can find employees in three categories:

  • Military spouses: spouses are often highly educated, but many need jobs that offer mobility and flexibility to allow them to continue their careers when their spouse’s job requires them to move.
  • Veterans: veterans have separated from the military and have education and/or professional experience and are seeking companies and organizations that can help them build on their existing training and skills.
  • Transitioning service members: service members who are transitioning are in the process of separating from the military and are looking to start their civilian career. These service members may be seeking assistance in their job search as they transition into the civilian workforce.

By hiring a member of the military community, a company can bring a great deal of value to their team. Some of the qualities these individuals contribute to a workplace include:

  • Ability to perform under pressure; veterans understand how to accomplish tasks on time and despite being under stress.
  • The ability to learn new concepts and skills, as well as transferable skills that have been proven in real-world situations.
  • Leadership skills, as well as skills in direction, motivation, inspiration, and delegation. Veterans understand leadership dynamics and how to lead many different types of people.
  • Teamwork and having a responsibility to coworkers, as well as the ability to be productive individually or as part of a team.
  • Diversity and inclusion; veterans can work alongside others regardless of their race, gender, ethnic background, economic status, or religion, and are able to cooperate with many different types of people.
  • Respecting procedures and having accountability.
  • Veterans are often knowledgeable about technical trends in business and industry and bring a global outlook and technological savvy to an employer.
  • Integrity, trustworthiness, and sincerity.
  • Resilience and the ability to overcome adversity.

Some additional qualities that veterans bring to an organization include:

  • An ability to learn new skills quickly
  • High rates of productivity
  • Higher retention rates after being hired
  • Loyalty to a company and to their coworkers

Veterans also offer a variety of “soft skills” that are valuable across many different industries.

These include:

  • Communication
  • Managerial skills
  • Problem solving

How can companies recruit veterans and military family members?

There are several steps that companies can take to recruit members of the military population:

  • Work to build the company’s brand in the military community as a military employer of choice.
  • Attend job fairs on military installations, or post job openings on military job boards.
  • Ask members of their existing workforce, especially those who have served in the military, if they have any contacts they could recommend for open positions within the company.
  • Utilize government initiatives such as FedsHireVets and USAJobs.gov to post job openings and recruit veteran applicants.
  • Use a skills translator to translate military job duties into civilian skills and ask veterans in your organization to help mentor new recruits.

How can hiring veterans help companies?

In addition to the qualities veterans bring as employees, companies can receive certain benefits as a result of hiring veterans. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program provides several incentives to companies that employ veterans. These include:

  • Salary reimbursement: under the Special Employer Incentive, employers may be eligible to receive incentives for hiring veterans facing obstacles to employment, which include reimbursement of up to half the veteran’s salary for as long as six months.
  • Subsidies for salaries: the VR&E provides on-the-job training and subsidizes salaries for veterans so employers pay an apprentice-level wage. As the veteran gains experience, the employer pays a higher portion of their salary until the training program is complete, and the employer pays the veteran’s full salary.
  • Assistive technology: VR&E can provide workplace modifications, specialized tools, and equipment to allow veterans to perform their job duties.
  • Federal tax credits: under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, employers who hire veterans may be eligible to receive tax credits.

What are the benefits of hiring military spouses?

Military spouses face many barriers to employment and building a career due to their military lifestyle. These can include having to change jobs often due to frequent moves, and difficulties obtaining childcare when spouses are deployed. The current unemployment rate for military spouses is 24%, higher than the national average. The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) was created to address these challenges and help spouses find employment. MSEP is part of the Department of Defense’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program, which helps connect military spouses and employers.

In addition to MSEP, SECO offers multiple resources to military spouses to help improve career and education opportunities, including:

  • Helping spouses identify their skills, interests, and goals through career exploration opportunities.
  • Training and education to help spouses identify licensing, credentialing, or academic requirements that will help them reach their career goals.
  • Employment networking and connections to help spouses find a rewarding career.
  • Employment readiness assistance to help spouses market their skills.

Military spouses have many valuable qualities that can help an organization, including:

  • The ability to handle pressure and stress: they must deal with spouse deployments, relocate often, learn about a new location, and develop new support networks frequently.
  • They are able to learn new skills quickly.
  • They take responsibility, are accountable, and are loyal employees.
  • They are patient, flexible, resilient, and able to adapt to new environments and cultures.
  • They have excellent communication skills, emotional intelligence, are able to handle logistics, and have many other abilities.

Military Benefits: Death Gratuity

The death gratuity program provides for a special tax free payment of $100,000 to eligible survivors of members of the Armed Forces, who die while on active duty or while serving in certain reserve statuses. The death gratuity is the same regardless of the cause of death.

The longstanding purpose of the death gratuity has been to provide immediate cash payment to assist survivors of deceased members of the Armed forces to meet their financial needs during the period immediately following a member’s death and before other survivor benefits, if any, become available.

The death gratuity is payable for death of members in a reserve status while performing authorized travel to or from active duty, while on inactive-duty training, or while performing authorized travel directly to or from active duty for training or inactive duty training, as well as, members of reserve officers’ training programs who die while performing annual training duty under orders for a period of more than 13 days or while performing authorized travel to or from that duty, to applicants for membership in reserve officers’ training corps who die while attending travelling to or from field training or a practice cruise and to persons travelling to from or while at a place of acceptance for entry upon active duty.

The death gratuity is also payable if an eligible member or former member dies within 120 days of release or discharge from active duty, or active duty for training when the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that the death resulted from injury or disease incurred or aggravated during such duty.

Eligible Survivor

Prior to May 25, 2007, the death gratuity was payable according to a specific hierarchy prescribed in law with limited opportunity for the member to designate a beneficiary.

Since July 1, 2008, a member may designate any person or persons to receive up to 100% of the death gratuity (in 10% increments) with any remaining undesignated amount payable according to a new prescribed hierarchy. The new beneficiary hierarchy for the amount of the death gratuity not covered by a designation shall be paid as follows:

  1. If there is none of the above, to other next of kin of the person entitled under the laws of domicile of the person at the time of the person’s death.
  2. To the surviving spouse of the person, if any.
  3. If there is no surviving spouse, to any surviving children (as prescribed in the note for item 2 of the pre-2008 hierarchy, above) of the person and the descendants of any deceased children by representation.
  4. If there is none of the above, to the surviving parents of the person or the survivor of them.
  5. If there is none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the person.

Notes:

Item (1), Surviving Spouse. If a person has a spouse, but designates a person other than the spouse to receive all or or a portion of the amount payable, the Secretary of the Military Department shall provide notice of the designation to the spouse.

Item (3), Treatment of Parents. Parents include fathers and mothers through adoption. However, only one father and one mother may be recognized in any case, and preference shall be given to those who exercised a parental relationship on the date, or most nearly before the date, on which the decedent entered military service.

If a person entitled to all or a portion of a death gratuity dies before the person recieves the death gratuity, it shall be paid to the living survivor next in the order prescribed.

Designation of Eligible Survivors

Members may designate eligible survivors, at any time, by updating their DD Form 93, Record of Emergency Data.

VA: Urgent Care Benefits

Thanks to the passage of the VA Mission Act of 2018, veterans who are eligible for VA health care benefits have expanded access to urgent care treatment as an option for minor medical issues. Updates to the program in 2019 allows veterans to access health services via “approved non-VA medical providers” according to the VA official site.

The Purpose Of The VA Mission Act

The VA Mission Act was signed into law in 2018 and provides for changes in the VA health care system including requirements that the VA “coordinate the furnishing of hospital care, medical services, and extended care services” to insure:

  • Scheduling of medical appointments in a timely manner.
  • Establishing a “mechanism to receive medical records from non-Department providers.”
  • Ensuring continuity of care and services.
  • Ensuring coordination “among regional networks if the covered veteran accesses care and services in a different network than the regional network in which the covered veteran resides.”
  • Establishing measures to prevent eligible veterans from having “a lapse in care resulting from errors or delays by the Department or its contractors or an unusual or excessive burden in accessing hospital care, medical services, or extended care services.”

The VA Mission Act, “subject to the availability of appropriations” must provide hospital care, medical services, and extended care services even if the VA itself “does not offer the care or services” a veteran needs under certain circumstances.

The availability of urgent care and walk-in care is one of the ways the Act has expanded the availability of care under the VA health care system.

Eligible Veterans can, thanks to the Act, receive care or treatment from an urgent care provider as long as that provider is a part of the VA network of authorized urgent care centers.

When The VA Will Pay For Urgent Care Services

Veterans who need urgent care may have that care paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs when the following applies:

  • The medical care provided is not on the list of excluded services such as preventive medicine or dental care.
  • The Veteran is eligible for the urgent care benefit.
  • The care provider is part of VA’s contracted network of community providers.

Veterans who choose to use an urgent care facility that is not in the VA network should assume they will be required to pay the entire cost of such services.

VA Payment For Prescriptions Issued During An Urgent Care Visit

The Department of Veterans Affairs agrees to cover the cost of or fill the prescriptions given during an urgent care visit to a provider in the network.

Routine care prescriptions must be filled by the VA, and when prescribed medication with a supply of 14 days or less, eligible veterans are allowed to have the script filled at “a contracted pharmacy in the VA network or the prescription can be filled at a non-contracted pharmacy.”

In cases where a non-contracted pharmacy is used, the veteran is required to pay out of pocket and submit a claim to be reimbursed with a local VA medical facility. Prescription medication may or may not require a copay.

The Department of Veterans Affairs official site advises that an annual medication copayment cap applies for veterans in VA Priority Groups 2 through 8 (see below). The co-pay cap is $700 per calendar year. Veterans in VA Priority Group 1 have no medication copayment required.

How To Check If You Are Eligible For Urgent Care Under The VA Mission Act

The VA official site directs veterans to check with their local VA medical facility to check eligibility for these services and VA payment for them. Veterans who are eligible may locate an authorized urgent care facility near them by checking the VA provider locator tool on its official site.

To find an available urgent care provider in VA’s contracted network of community providers, Veterans will be able to use VA’s provider locator on VA.gov.

There Is A Difference Between Urgent Care And Emergency Care

The Department of Veterans Affairs notes a marked difference between urgent care and emergency care. The services offered for urgent care under the VA Mission Act include, according to the VA, “…minor injuries or illnesses that are not life threatening.”

Emergency care, which is not part of the scope of the Urgent Care benefit, is defined by the VA as any medical service required without delay to avoid threats to life or limb.

Urgent Care Services Provided Under The VA Mission Act

Qualifying veterans may seek urgent care from an in-network provider for “non-emergent symptoms” for conditions including flu, minor injuries such as sprained ankles or wrists, bruises, skin irritation, injuries that require splints or casts, earache, painful urination or related issues. Care may be given in two basic types of care centers in the VA network; Urgent and Retail.

The VA defines these two locations as follows:

  • Urgent care facilities may include locations “whose purpose is to diagnose and treat illness or injury for unscheduled, ambulatory patients seeking immediate medical attention” that is non-emergency care. Care at these locations may include splints, casts or other attention that may be more advanced than the services required from a Retail outlet.
  • Retail may be a walk-in clinic, pharmacy, or independent clinic. These may be inside a retail outlet such as WalMart or Target. The mention of these two retail chains does not imply they are actually part of the VA network-you will need to check with the VA to find authorized, in-network locations near you. Do not assume that WalMart or Target are authorized VA urgent care providers.

Remember, if you have a medical condition that is not well-understood or may be complicated to explain to a new care provider, it may be best to discuss treatment with your primary care provider first. Any situation that may be a threat to life or limb should not be dealt with using urgent care services; you may require emergency treatment instead depending on circumstances.

“Special Authority And Exposure”

In the above VA copayment rules for urgent care, there are certain exclusions (see above) for special authority and exposure cases. What does this mean? VA.gov defines “special authorities and exposure” as “those related to combat service and exposures.” This can include but may not be limited to:

  • Agent Orange
  • Military Sexual Trauma
  • Active duty at Camp Lejeune
  • Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense (SHAD/Project 112)
  • Southwest Asia Conditions)
  • Presumptions applicable to certain Veterans with psychosis and other mental illnesses
  • Exposure to ionizing radiation

VA Urgent Care Benefit Copayment Issues

You may be required to make a copayment for authorized VA urgent care services, and that co-pay may differ from other copayment requirements you have experienced under the VA health care system.

The nature and amount of the copayment you are responsible for depends on your VA priority group and the number of times you visit an in-network urgent care provider within the year.

  • Copayment Rules For VA Priority Groups 7-8: A modest copayment applies for each visit.
  • Copayment Rules For VA Priority Groups 1-5: No copayment for the first three visits during a calendar year. For all visits beyond the first three per year a modest copayment applies.
  • Copayment Rules For VA Priority Group 6: No copayment for the first three visits during a calendar year in cases where the visits are related to “special authority” or exposure. If the visit is not related to “special authority” or exposure, there is a modest copayment per any visit. For those who meet the “special authority” or exposure requirement, there is a modest co-pay for every visit after the third one.

For all VA priority groups, there is no copayment required for visits specifically for flu shots only. Furthermore, flu shot-only visits “do not count as a visit for the number of visits in a calendar year for eligible Veterans in priority groups 1-6” according to VA.gov.

 

Military Marriage Counseling

Military marriage counseling: what to expect and available resources for military members and their spouses.

It’s no secret that military marriages see higher rates of divorce than civilian marriages. From leaving your support system because of frequent moves to feeling isolated because of deployments to suspected or realized infidelity, one thing is for sure: Being married in the military can be a lonely and sometimes unrelenting journey.

All married couples face conflict and all couples go through low periods in their relationship. However, not all couples have to deal with those challenges while preparing for a last minute move across the country or for a spouse to deploy or be TDY overseas for an extended period of time. Rather than try to deal with problems on your own or give up because it seems like the issues never end, maybe couples counseling is the first step to getting your marriage back on track.

Counselors offer an unbiased, neutral perspective on your marriage and provide solutions and team exercises to work through them. Your best friend back home loves you, but she wants to support you and cannot offer your marriage an unobstructed opinion. Plus, when we try to work out couple’s problems by consulting friends, we typically cast ourselves in the best light by leaving out the bad and the ugly of what was said and done. Your counselor does not know you from Adam and can see the situation as objectively as possible.

If you’re considering couples counseling, it might be helpful to know what to expect:

  • Therapy is often short term, though there is nothing wrong with continuing with counseling for several months. The counselor is there to help you and your spouse understand your differences and work through them rationally. If you or your spouse are dealing with mental illness, substance abuse, or other issues, your therapist may suggest getting additional help through your health care provider to more effectively treat the root problem.
  • You’ll talk about the good and the bad parts of your relationship and work to understand the sources of your conflict. Keep in mind that it might be hard to talk through your problems at first. For the first few sessions, you and your spouse might not say anything at all or you could argue the entire time. Both are entirely okay; there is no “right” or “wrong” way to utilize counseling.
  • You might have couple’s homework. To learn how to better communicate, your therapist may suggest exercises to help you practically apply what you’ve learned during your sessions. For example, you may be asked to be present in your relationship by telling your partner throughout the day how much you appreciate them. This could be as simple as saying “thank you” when your spouse takes the trash out or puts away the dishes.

Military Marriage Resources

Seeking help is just one step away – here are a few resources to help you find the best service for you and your spouse:

Military OneSource offers free, confidential face-to-face counseling. After a screening call with a consultant, you’ll be authorized for up to 12 counseling sessions with a medical provider in your area. This service is available to active-duty, National Guard and reserve members of any activation service, their immediate family members, and survivors. Military OneSource also offers several free webinars for couples looking to build a stronger and healthier marriage.

Seek out help from a Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC) on base at your Family Support and Readiness Center. These licensed counselors can help you with training, resources, and information including deployment support, family life education, and relationship counseling among other services. Anything you tell the MFLC is completely confidential; they take no written records. Find a consultant through one of these centers on base:

Air Force – Airman & Family Readiness Center
Army – Army Community Service
National Guard – Joint Services Support Program
Marine Corps – Marine Corps Community Services
Navy – Fleet and Family Support Center

If you’re interested in more faith-based counseling, give your base chapel a call. All counseling sessions are confidential.

In order to address common military marriage challenges before counseling is needed, the U.S. Army also offers a Strong Bonds retreat for couples, which is a unit-based, chaplain-led program. A Strong Bonds retreat offers a safe and secure environment in which couples can take a better look at the personal impact of relocations, deployments, and military lifestyle stressors.

 

Travelling: Using Military Discount

If military families are experts on anything it’s traveling. Whether we are making a PCS move cross-country, taking a road trip to visit family, or sneaking away for a post-deployment vacation, we’re always on the go.

Traveling is even more fun when you find great discounts to help you out along the way. Military families also have access to benefits available to them for many of their travel needs.

There are lots of different ways to travel and lots of ways to use military discounts and benefits. What kind of traveler are you?

Travel by Sea

Sometimes the best way to travel is by boat. A really big boat.

Cruises are fun and relaxing family vacation options. And cruise lines like Carnival, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise Line all offer military discounts.

Travel by Air

One fun way to travel is to fly Space Available or Space A. Service members, retirees and their families can fill seats on DoD-owned or controlled aircraft that aren’t filled by space-required (duty) passengers and cargo.

While this is a great way to find discounted flights, it requires more flexibility and patience than flying on commercial airlines because schedules are subject to change and, as the name implies, seats aren’t always available on the flight you want.

Visit Air Mobility Command for more information on necessary documentation and terminals.

Want to stick with commercial airlines? Some airlines, like Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and JetBlue, offer deals to military personnel on airfare and/or baggage so make sure to ask about military discounts when booking your flight.

You can even use your military benefits to ease the hassle of layovers in between flights by relaxing at a USO center. The USO offers military families a place to kick back and watch TV, access the Internet, have a snack, let the kids run around in a play area, and even take a nap. Visit the USO website to locate a center. Don’t forget your military ID!

TSA also salutes the military by offering expedited screening. Eligible members on personal or official travel don’t need to travel in uniform to participate, and accompanying family members ages 12 and under can be processed through expedited screening as well. Learn more at the TSA website.

Travel by Land 

Not a fan of flying? You can find great military discounts when traveling by land as well.

Some families prefer to pack up the car and hit the road, but if you don’t want to put extra miles on your personal vehicle or travel requirements leave you longing for a larger vehicle, consider renting a car. You can find great military discounts at Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Penske and Sixt.

Have you always wanted to travel the open road with your family in an RV? No problem. Many MWR facilities rent campers (and you can find military campgrounds to park that camper as well). Find your local MWR office on our base guide for more details and pricing.

Want to leave the driving to someone else? Hop on a bus or train. Greyhound and Amtrak both offer 10% military discounts on rail fare. Amtrak also shows their appreciation for our troops by allowing uniformed service members to the head of the ticket line.

No matter what your travel method of choice is, you can always find military discounts as well as military benefits you already have. Safe travels!

Military Discounts: Father’s Day Gifts

While many merchants still report offering discounts during this ever-changing time of closures and alternate schedules some may not be available. Always check with the company for full details on their hours and offerings.

The third Sunday of every June is dedicated to the celebration of dads. Father’s Day is the perfect time to let the special dads in our lives know how much they’re loved and appreciated.

But what do fathers really want? Here are some ideas for the military dad in your family, along with some great deals so pampering him won’t break your bank.

1. Personal Interests

Does dad like to fish or hunt? Bass Pro Shops offers a military discount. Does he like steak? Omaha Steaks offers a 10% military discount. Would he enjoy a unique gift basket? Get a 10% discount at Man Crates. Does he enjoy amusement parks? Check out the military discounts offered by amusement parks all over the country.

2. Golf

It’s probably no coincidence that Father’s Day coincides with summertime, which is the prime season for one of dad’s favorite pastimes: golf.

Through Birdies for the Brave, the PGA TOUR offers free and discounted tickets to select PGA TOUR events for veterans, retirees, and active duty.

Most military installations have golf courses so visit your local base and pick up a gift card so he can play whenever he wants. Some bases also hold Father’s Day tournaments so go in and sign him up.

And many courses offer military discounts on golf rates, so make sure to call your local golf course to find out what they offer for the military.

3. Home Improvement

Has he been eyeing that fancy power drill? Did his favorite grill get broken in the last move? Does he need storage to help him organize all those tools in the garage? Both Home Depot and Lowes offer a year-round military discount to help you find whatever home improvement item is on his wish list.

4. Electronics and Gadgets

Computers. Cameras. Headphones. What dad couldn’t use more gadgets? The best place to start is on base at your local Exchange, but you can find military discounts at Apple as well. Don’t forget about the Exchange price match policy.

5. Cars

Thinking big this Father’s Day? Is it time for a new car? Many automakers, including Subaru and Honda, want to show their appreciation for military families by offering special pricing on their vehicles.

6. Fitness

Help dad stay in shape by using military discounts for his fitness needs. If he’s interested in a gym membership or coaching, look into the discounts offered by Gold’s Gym, 24 Hour Fitness and Beachbody.

There are also fitness options at home. Peloton, which streams live and on-demand workout classes, offers military members a free Essentials Package with the recent purchase of a bike or tread. Aaptiv, which provides access to thousands of workouts, offers a military discount on their annual subscription plan. And Barre3, which provides full-body, low-impact workouts, offers military discounts on monthly subscriptions to its online classes.

7. Family Photos

Give dad the gift of family photos. Dress the kids up and head over to JC Penney, where you can get military discounts at their portrait studio. (Don’t forget to print out the coupon before you go!)

8. Homemade Gifts

Dads can never have too many homemade gifts from the kids for Father’s Day. Whether they’re creating homemade cards, personalized signs or their own creative craft project, they’re going to need supplies. Michaels, A.C. Moore and Jo-Ann Fabrics can help you find everything you need for the perfect homemade gift from the heart.

9. Outdoor Fun

The weather is warm and summer is almost here, making Father’s Day the perfect time to head outside. Visit your local MWR on base to rent a variety of items for outdoor fun, such as kayaks, boats, bikes, fishing poles, camping gear and much more.

Happy Father’s Day!

How to Choose the Right Life Insurance

Choosing life insurance is a tough task. Here are a few tips to help you:

1. If an agent or company contacts you and wants you to cancel your current policy to buy a new one, contact your original agent or company before making any decisions. Canceling your policy to buy another could be very costly to you.

2. Take your time and make the right decision. Don’t rush into a decision.

3. When you purchase a policy, make your check payable to the insurance company — not to the agent. Be sure you are given a receipt.

4. Periodically review your life insurance plan, particularly when your financial responsibilities undergo a significant change.

5. After you have purchased an insurance policy, keep in mind that you may have a “free-look” period for 10 days after you receive the policy. You can change your mind during this period. If you decide not to keep the policy, the company will cancel the policy and give you an appropriate refund.

6. If you have a complaint about your insurance agent or company, contact the customer service division of your insurance company. If you still are dissatisfied, contact your state insurance department. Most departments have a consumer affairs division that can offer help.

7. Discuss the insurance plan with your spouse so that he or she understands which gaps the insurance proceeds are designed to fill.

8. Estimate your total insurance needs by examining the needs and various stages of your surviving spouse’s life. Buy insurance to cover those gaps.

9. Term policies will generally provide military families with the most coverage for the smallest premium and are especially appropriate for young families. (Term insurance protects the policyholder for a specified time period: one year, five years, twenty years, etc. It has no savings feature, and is therefore cheaper than other policy types.)

10. Bonus tip: Shop around. It can pay to compare rates from different companies.

What You May Not Know About VA Loans

Home ownership has long been part of the American dream. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs-guaranteed home loan provides a means to make that dream a reality.

Periodically, something will trigger me to revisit this valuable benefit of service. About three years ago, it was my own family weighing whether to use a VA loan for our new house (we did). This month, it was a conversation with a co-worker and military spouse who, because of a recent divorce, was disappointed that she is no longer eligible for a VA loan.

Even if you’re familiar with VA home loans, these four facts may surprise you:

1. These home loans are quick and competitive. Really. It’s common for veterans to be concerned about these two issues, but you need not worry. Today, the VA’s automated system facilitates the process from beginning to end. Typically, you can close your loan in just a few weeks. According to the loan processing firm Ellie Mae, VA purchase loans took four to five days longer than conventional loans during the early months of 2019. From an interest-rate standpoint, VA loans are typically lower than a conventional loan with the same terms.

2. A down payment may be required. The fact that there’s no requirement for a down payment and no private mortgage insurance or mortgage insurance premium is probably the VA loan’s biggest draw. In 2020, there is no set figure for which a lender will require a down payment.

3. You can use it more than once — and maybe more than once at a time. Yes, you can use a VA loan more than once. If you’ve paid off the previous loan, all of your entitlement is restored and you’re eligible to use another VA loan. One note: Subsequent use may require an increased VA funding fee. If you have a VA loan but decide to rent your home when you relocate to a new primary residence, you may be able to use another VA loan to buy your new residence and have two VA loans simultaneously. This can be a bit complex but, if the numbers work, it can be done.

4. VA home loans are attractive in a rising-rate environment. Your VA lender may allow a buyer to step in and assume your loan — a particularly nice feature if interest rates rise. The terms of the loan could be a lot more favorable for the buyer, and the cost of the transaction could be substantially less. There are liability and VA loan entitlement issues to be aware of, so you’ll want to research the ramifications with your lender.

Wedding Military Discounts

Military discounts on wedding products and services are a great benefit that many businesses provide to active duty military and even veterans in some cases. Many businesses promote these discounts and much more so the best rule of thumb is to always ask if a military discount is available. Here is our list of wedding military discounts and how to find even more.

Engagement Rings with Military Discounts

  • Allurez
    5% military discount on engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants, earrings, and all other fine jewelry.
  • Arthur’s Jewelers
    10% military discounts to Active Duty members, Reserves, Veterans and Retirees of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard.
  • DreamStone
    Military members receive a discount on engagement rings by entering USTROOPS in the discount box upon check out.
  • Helzberg Diamonds
    10% discount to all active duty, retirees, disabled veterans, and dependents of active duty/retirees, on orders placed in-store, online, or at 1-800-HELZBERG. Once verified, those eligible will receive a one-time promotion code. Offer can’t be combined with any other promotion and is not applicable toward loose diamonds from Create Your Own Helzberg Diamond Ring™ or custom gemstone jewelry.
  • James Free Jewelers
    Currently serving military personnel and their immediate family receive 15% off every day. Please show valid ID to store associate or use .mil address when ordering online.
  • Larson Jewelers
    Active duty military members receive 5% off the purchase of wedding rings and bands.
  • Moissante Bridal
    Military members receive 5% off the purchase of an engagement ring.
  • Since1910.com
    Ready to pop the big question and put a ring on it? Get 5% off on an engagement ring of your choice (maximum price of $10,000) by simply providing your US military email address.
  • Tiffany
    10% off engagement rings and wedding bands for U.S. active duty, reservists and veterans plus fiancés, domestic partners, wives and husbands. U.S. only.

    Free Chapels

    • One of the best perks of being in the military when it comes to tying the knot is that the base chapel is typically free including chaplain performing the wedding ceremony with a variety choices including almost any religious denomination, non-religious, military, civilian and casual. Start with the Chaplain’s office to find out more.

    Free or Cheap Wedding Reception Venues

    • Military bases also offer a variety of options to host wedding receptions at significantly lower cost than non-military venues, hotels or resorts. Depending on where the military base is located and the venues available venues can range from the officer, enlisted or joint-rank clubs, chapel, meeting halls, beaches, lakes, mountains and much more.
    • Weddings for Warriors
      Weddings for Warriors provides free vow-renewals and weddings to active duty military couples. Everything is included from bridal gowns, photography, hair and makeup, the venue and food. This program started in Savannah, Georgia but is now done throughout the United States. Apply to Weddings for Warriors to participate.

    Wedding Dresses for Free or with Military Discount

    • Banana Republic – 15% discount for active duty, military veterans, and dependents. Valid in store only with valid ID.
    • Brides Across America Military Bride Wedding Gown Giveaway
      Multiple bridal retailers and wedding dress designers work with this organization to provide free wedding dresses to military brides. Special wedding dress events are held throughout the year where they giveaway wedding dresses. Check out their site for a listing of the next free wedding dress event in a city near you.
    • Dress Barn – Discount and participation varies by location. Have a military ID with you and ask.
    • Larenas, Somerset, PA
      Save 15% on a bridal gown at Larenas by presenting a valid military ID.
    • New York & Company – Receive a 15% discount at participating locations. 
    • Unique Vintage – Military members receive 10% off through ID.me.

    Local Wedding Venues & Services with Military Discounts

    • Battlefield Bed and Breakfast Inn, Gettysburg, PA
      Active duty military are offered 10% off any room or suite, all year round, at this 12-room bed and breakfast, located in a Historic 1809 Field Stone Farmhouse. Active Duty Military receive a 10% discount on all wedding and reception packages. This includes the small, medium, and large size wedding packages, and elopement packages. Reserve online or call (717) 334-8804.
    • Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, Solana Beach, CA
      Free ceremony site fee (a $1,500 value) for those who have served or continue to serve in the United States Military.
    • Los Verdes Golf Course, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
      A free ceremony site fee (a $2,800 value) is offered for those who have served or continue to serve in the U.S. military. Some restrictions may apply, and this offer is only valid for new event bookings.
    • Marcus Weddings, Milwaukee, WI
      25% discount on any Wedding package or reception for active U.S. Military personnel. Includes the following hotels in the Milwaukee area: Pfister Hotel, Hilton Milwaukee, Intercontinental Milwaukee and Grand Geneve Resort. Cancellation fees will be WAIVED for any wedding receptions that must be cancelled or rescheduled due to unanticipated deployment.
    • True Photography Wedding Photographer, San Diego, CA
      10% military discount on wedding photography to all who have served the U.S. Armed Forces including veterans and active duty personnel.