They’re the free programs, services, and support resources available through the military community. From financial counseling and career support to child care assistance and crisis resources, these programs can help families navigate challenges, reduce stress, and avoid costly setbacks. Here are some of the resources every military family should know about.  

Military OneSource – If there’s one resource every military family should bookmark today, it’s Military OneSource. Military OneSource provides free support, expert consultations, and confidential assistance for a wide variety of military life challenges.

• Available services include:
  • Financial counseling and money management support
  • Budget planning assistance
  • Career coaching
  • Relationship resources
  • Parenting support
  • Elder care consultations
  • PCS and transition assistance
  • Confidential non-medical counseling
• Whether you’re creating a budget, preparing for a move, exploring a new career opportunity, or navigating a major life change, Military OneSource can connect you with trusted experts at no cost. 
• Phone: 800-342-9647
• Website: militaryonesource.mil
• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Financial Emergencies Happen – Even the most carefully planned budget can be impacted by unexpected expenses. A vehicle breaks down. Emergency travel becomes necessary. Housing costs increase unexpectedly. A family emergency arises. Military relief organizations exist to help eligible military families through these situations before financial hardship becomes overwhelming. 

• Army Emergency Relief (AER) – Army Emergency Relief provides financial assistance to eligible Soldiers and their families facing unexpected financial challenges.
  • Website: armyemergencyrelief.org 
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) – The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offers financial assistance and educational programs designed to help Sailors, Marines, and their families achieve financial stability.
  • Website: nmcrs.org 
• Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) – The Air Force Aid Society supports Airmen, Guardians, and their families through financial assistance and community support programs. 
  • Website: afas.org
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) – Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provides financial and educational support programs for Coast Guard members and their families.
  • Website: cgmahq.org 
• Depending on eligibility and circumstances, assistance may be available for: 
  • Emergency travel
  • Rent or housing expenses
  • Utility bills
  • Vehicle repairs
  • Essential living expenses
  • Disaster-related needs
  • Family emergencies
• Knowing these organizations exist before a crisis occurs can save both money and stress.  

Protect Your Financial Wellness by Supporting Your Mental Wellness – Financial stress rarely exists on its own.  Major life challenges, deployments, relationship challenges, caregiving responsibilities, and mental health concerns can all impact a family’s financial well-being. That’s why military families have access to several free support resources.  

• Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) – Military and Family Life Counselors provide free, confidential, non-medical counseling to help military families navigate everyday challenges. 
  • Support is available for: 
    • Stress management
    • Relationship concerns
    • Parenting challenges
    • Deployment-related stress
    • Grief and loss
    • Military transitions
  • Contact your installation’s Military and Family Support Center to learn about available services.
• Installation Behavioral Health Resources – Most military installations offer behavioral health and mental health services through military treatment facilities and support centers. Taking advantage of available resources early can help prevent challenges from becoming larger issues later. 

Career Resources for Military Families – Military families often face career disruptions to PCS moves, deployments, and changing duty assignments.  Fortunately, several military-focused programs exist to help spouses and service members build long-term career success. 

• Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) – The Military Spouse Employment Partnership connects military spouses with employer partners committed to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining military spouse talent.  These employers understand military life and unique challenges military spouses face. 
• SECO Career Center – The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program provides: 
  • Career coaching
  • Resume assistance
  • Interview preparation
  • Education guidance
  • Employment resources
  • Learn more through Military OneSource. 
• Investing in your career can create long-term financial stability for your family, and these resources are available at no cost. 

Child Care Support for Military Families – Child care is one of the largest expenses many families face.  Military families may be eligible for programs that help connect them with quality care and reduce out-of-pocket costs. 

• Child Care Aware® of America – Child Care Aware of America helps eligible military families access quality child care and fee assistance programs. 
  • Website: childcareaware.org
• MilitaryChildCare.com – MilitaryChildCare.com is the Department of War’s gateway for military-operated and military-subsidized child care programs worldwide. For many families, these programs can provide both financial savings and peace of mind. 
  • Website: militarychildcare.com 

Resources for Veterans – Veterans and their families have access to a wide range of benefits and services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

• Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The VA offers benefits and services that support Veterans throughout every stage of life, including: 
    • Health care services
    • Mental health care
    • PTSD treatment
    • Telehealth appointments
    • Women’s health services
    • Caregiver support
    • Housing resources
    • Benefits assistance 
  • Phone: 877-222-VETS (8387)
  • Website: va.gov
  • Many Veterans are eligible for programs and services they may not realize are available, making it worthwhile to explore available benefits regularly. 

Save These Numbers Before You Need Them – Some resources are important enough to keep readily available. 

• Veterans Crisis Line – Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and those who support them. 
  • Call: 988, then Press 1
  • Text: 838255
  • Website: veteranscrisisline.net
• Emergency Services – If someone is in immediate danger or at risk of harming themselves or others: 
  • Call: 911
  • Visit: Your nearest emergency room

A Different Kind of Savings

At My Military Savings, we’re passionate about helping military families save money, but some of the most valuable savings don’t come from coupons, discounts, or cashback offers. They come from knowing where to turn when life becomes challenging. 

The right resource at the right time can help prevent financial hardship, reduce stress, support a career transition, strengthen a family, or provide help during a crisis. Save this guide. Bookmark it. Share it with a fellow military family, because one of the smartest investments you can make isn’t something you buy. It’s knowing how to access the benefits, programs, and support you’ve earned through military service. 

Find Out More with My Military Savings and Military Life & Family!

Over the years, the DoD has added more veterans to be able to utilize different programs/stores that are only on military installations. Back in 2020, more than 3+ million veterans were made eligible to shop at the Commissary and Exchanges and even able to utilize some of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreations (MWR) activities! This list included former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, and service-connected disabled veterans and their primary caregivers. This was all part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

In November of 2024, the DoD announced that they will be working to improve the installation access for those disabled veterans who don’t yet have a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). Those members will need to go to the installation’s visitor center with their REAL ID Act-compliant driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card to gain access to the installation.

Additionally, these members and their caregivers will still need their VA-issued letters (service-connected disability letter and/or caregiver patronage letter) OR their VA Health Eligibility Center Form H623A to show their eligibility to the Commissary, Exchange, or allowed MWR services since verification from ID scan isn’t available to verify their eligibility.

These veterans will be able to shop on base and even utilize the Click2Go program at the Commissary! This is wonderful news for our veterans! If you don’t yet have a Commissary Rewards Card, then make sure to get one so you can set up your account to save even more!

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com!

If you would like to get involved and honor those who served check with your local installation as they usually ask for volunteers to place flags on grave sites. 

An interesting fact that I learned is that if a coin is left on a headstone it informs the family that someone stopped by to pay their respect. A penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased trained at boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together. A quarter means that you were there when the veteran died.

You may find that some people get confused in differentiating Memorial Day and Veterans Day. If you ever heard someone say Happy Memorial Day, you may not have known how to respond, as there isn’t a lot of “happy” associated with the holiday. While both holidays honor the U.S. Military, they are different. Veterans Day honors all those who served, while Memorial Day specifically honors the deceased.

Find Out More with MyMilitarySavings.com and Holidays & More!

Sometimes you may get an eye-roll, or a thank you for your support response. Veterans do not serve for our gratitude. They serve because they love their country. Our household is a dual veteran house, and there are many veterans in our immediate and adopted families. If you ask a veteran why they joined, you will get a myriad of answers, but almost always you will hear “I wanted to serve my country,” regardless of whether it was peacetime or not. 

The History of Veterans Day

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” 

~President Woodrow Wilson~

Veteran’s Day actually started out as Armistice Day. The agreement to end World War I was final at 11 am, on November 11 1918. The War To End All Wars, World War I was thought to be the war that would end all others, with the hope that warfare would be done for all times. Sadly, we would see many more wars, and WWII was just going to be around the corner, signaling a new era for wars and conflicts. 

It was not until President Eisenhower, however, that Armistice Day became Veterans Day. With the large number of veterans from the second World War and Korea, there was more to think about than Armistice Day. In 1954, approval was given to make November 11 a National holiday, and on October 8, President Eisenhower issued a proclamation saying:

“In order to ensure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”

Today, we celebrate Veteran’s Day, and we remember and honor those who are serving and those who have served honorably in our nation’s military. We will never know them all, but we proudly support and honor them. 

To all our veterans, we thank you and honor you for your selfless service! 

The Ins and the Outs

First off, have you started your disability paperwork? No? Then, do that, like, today! You are going to need this! Patience is key, because it can take a little bit to work through the system. Do not get discouraged. After you receive your disability rating, you will get the VA identification card (as explained below). 

If you have already received your service-connected disability, then you should have a Veteran Health Identification card, or VHIC. This is one HUGE step in getting access to your commissary!  These cards will have designations such as POW, Service-Connected, Purple Heart, etc. on them. If you do not have one of these, please contact your local VA representative. Service-connected disabilities from 0-90% are eligible for commissary privileges. 

Please note – if you have received a Medal of Honor or have a 100% service-connected disability, then these privileges are already available to you. The expansion is helping to bring select veterans and their primary family members back to shopping at the commissaries. Caregivers are also eligible! There is some more information available here! 

Not long before I left for training, many, many years ago, I went to a running store and had them measure my feet. They watched me run, the way my feet moved while I was running, and of course measured the arch on the bottom of my foot. The very first shoe they recommended was a New Balance. I tried it on, ran around the store, and was amazed at the way that the shoe seemed to meld around my foot. I have always kept that in mind when I go shop for a new pair!

The entire time I was in the Army, I trusted my feet to New Balance. When you can find the perfect fit, comfort built in, and it doesn’t break the bank – you have a winner! New Balance shoes are perfect in every way! Great price, great fit, great look! New Balance shoes have always held up well, to every challenge that I might have decided to put myself, and my feet through. Now that I am out of the Army, I still rely on New Balance. I may not be doing PT first thing in the morning every day, but staying fit is still a priority.  The Exchange always has a nice selection of shoes to pick from, and if you are not finding exactly what you want in the store, you can check online!

You can imagine how excited I was when I found that New Balance had some great deals at the Exchange this month! Not only am I ready to jump back into running after having to take a few months off this year, but I was in need of a new pair of running shoes. New Balance already has pricing that is competitive, but right now at the Exchange, the deals are even sweeter! Head on over to your local exchange. Shop online here https://www.shopmyexchange.com/s?Dy=1&Nty=1&Ntt=new+balance  or in the store, and get ready to run in 2018!