Mil Money

Lawmakers urge DoD to take action to curb rising commissary prices

Stop requiring commissaries to make a profit, lawmakers say.

2 days ago

Blue Star Museums again offering free admission to troops, families all summer

Participating museums are offering free admission to military families from May 21 through Sept. 5.

2 days ago

Pay & Benefits

Junior service members being hit hard by inflation, senior enlisted leaders say

From food to child care to housing, inflation is hitting junior service members especially hard.

Commissaries set limits on purchases of baby formula amid nationwide shortage

The supply of infant formula is running 40 percent to 50 percent below normal in commercial stores, but the most critical, specialized formulas have been even more depleted.

5 days ago

Pentagon’s top general pledges ‘a hard look’ at troops’ current housing allowance levels

Senior defense officials are paying attention to the adverse effects the high costs of housing are having on troops.

11 days ago

Military Space-A travel is back after 2-year COVID-19 pause

Masks will still required in Department of Defense terminals and on airplanes.

4 weeks ago

Charity event will bring free ball gowns to 600 military families. Sign up now.

Operation Deploy Your Dress will hold a 'pop-up' event April 30 with free dresses for about 600 military customers.

5 weeks ago

Doorstep deliveries starting June 1 for these 8 military commissaries

The delivery fee for commissary groceries will generally be less than $4, in addition to cost of groceries, plus 5% surcharge and any driver tip.

5 weeks ago

Beware of new fraudulent ‘fraud alerts’

Criminals are getting slicker about getting access to your hard-earned money.

5 weeks ago

How big could your military pay raise be in 2023?

Some lawmakers are saying a 4.6% raise is not enough.

6 weeks ago

DoD officially kills plan to merge commissaries, exchanges

Recent studies have shown that alternative approaches can realize the benefits of consolidation without the risks such a move would bring to the missions of the commissaries and exchanges.

7 weeks ago

Here are some experts’ suggestions for donating to Ukrainian relief

Interested in helping the Ukrainian people in their hour of need? Here are eight charities doing Ukrainian relief work, for starters.

7 weeks ago

New food insecurity stipend should help as many troops as possible, lawmakers argue

Military officials expect to start awarding the new Basic Needs Allowance in calendar 2023.

8 weeks ago

Troops would see a 4.6% pay raise next year under Biden’s fiscal 2023 budget plan

The pay raise would be the largest for service members since 2003.

8 weeks ago

There’s help for military discount-seeking Home Depot customers who aren’t tech savvy

Older non-tech-savvy veterans do have military retiree IDs in their pockets, but may not have a smartphone, a retiree says.

2 months ago

Military taxpayers: These new rules might bump up your refund

Service members and their families, especially younger troops, are eligible for new or expanded tax credits, perhaps putting more cash in their pockets.

3 months ago

Pilot program to help military families pay for in-home childcare is off to a slow start

Just five families are getting in-home childcare fee assistance since the program began last summer, but more are in the pipeline.

3 months ago

Military families’ at-home COVID tests should be covered, too, lawmakers say

Military families with youngsters in child care are among those paying out-of-pocket for frequent at-home tests.

3 months ago

Nearly a third of military spouses are jobless. What’s being done to help?

A recent report found 39% of military spouse respondents discussed wanting their service member to leave active-duty military service because of their own employment struggles.

3 months ago

Here are the military commissaries that will test doorstep deliveries

Doorstep deliveries will be made to customers within a 20-mile radius of the commissaries, according to preliminary documents.

4 months ago

Millions of military kids serve as caregivers. They need help too.

The specific impacts of caregiver duties will vary by child, but there is a potential for adverse effects on their mental and physical wellbeing.

4 months ago

Are military spouse employment programs working?

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by DoD, nonprofit organizations and employers, but spouse unemployment is still high, advocacy group says.

4 months ago

Utility bills for base housing are returning; few details offered

Defense officials intend to reestablish the Resident Energy Conservation Program, which would monetarily reward tenants who conserve energy and charge more to those who don't. But details are scant.

4 months ago

Another 16 million veterans can get Home Depot’s new military discount year-round

But be aware of the new rules for the military discount.

5 months ago

Here’s who gets the biggest military housing allowance bumps in 2022

The Basic Allowance for Housing is going up in 2022 for the vast majority — 86% — of Military Housing Areas across the 50 states.

5 months ago

Why are so few troops applying for the extra housing money approved to ease financial woes?

The military services have so far approved just 4,167 claims for the temporary increase in Basic Allowance for Housing, far fewer than were anticipated by defense officials.

5 months ago

Military charities step up to assist families affected by tainted water in Hawaii

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Army Emergency Relief and Air Force Aid Society are providing grants.

5 months ago

Money for Afghan refugees but not military pay boost in latest federal budget plan

The budget plan would avoid a partial government shutdown set for Friday night.

6 months ago

From managing your finances, to buying a new car or home, Mil Money provides advice to U.S. service members.

Stop requiring commissaries to make a profit, lawmakers say.

Participating museums are offering free admission to military families from May 21 through Sept. 5.

From food to child care to housing, inflation is hitting junior service members especially hard.

The supply of infant formula is running 40 percent to 50 percent below normal in commercial stores, but the most critical, specialized formulas have been even more depleted.

Senior defense officials are paying attention to the adverse effects the high costs of housing are having on troops.

Masks will still required in Department of Defense terminals and on airplanes.

Operation Deploy Your Dress will hold a 'pop-up' event April 30 with free dresses for about 600 military customers.

The delivery fee for commissary groceries will generally be less than $4, in addition to cost of groceries, plus 5% surcharge and any driver tip.

Criminals are getting slicker about getting access to your hard-earned money.

Some lawmakers are saying a 4.6% raise is not enough.

Recent studies have shown that alternative approaches can realize the benefits of consolidation without the risks such a move would bring to the missions of the commissaries and exchanges.

Interested in helping the Ukrainian people in their hour of need? Here are eight charities doing Ukrainian relief work, for starters.

Military officials expect to start awarding the new Basic Needs Allowance in calendar 2023.

The pay raise would be the largest for service members since 2003.

Older non-tech-savvy veterans do have military retiree IDs in their pockets, but may not have a smartphone, a retiree says.

Service members and their families, especially younger troops, are eligible for new or expanded tax credits, perhaps putting more cash in their pockets.

Just five families are getting in-home childcare fee assistance since the program began last summer, but more are in the pipeline.

Military families with youngsters in child care are among those paying out-of-pocket for frequent at-home tests.

A recent report found 39% of military spouse respondents discussed wanting their service member to leave active-duty military service because of their own employment struggles.

Doorstep deliveries will be made to customers within a 20-mile radius of the commissaries, according to preliminary documents.

The specific impacts of caregiver duties will vary by child, but there is a potential for adverse effects on their mental and physical wellbeing.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by DoD, nonprofit organizations and employers, but spouse unemployment is still high, advocacy group says.

Defense officials intend to reestablish the Resident Energy Conservation Program, which would monetarily reward tenants who conserve energy and charge more to those who don't. But details are scant.

But be aware of the new rules for the military discount.

The Basic Allowance for Housing is going up in 2022 for the vast majority — 86% — of Military Housing Areas across the 50 states.

The military services have so far approved just 4,167 claims for the temporary increase in Basic Allowance for Housing, far fewer than were anticipated by defense officials.

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Army Emergency Relief and Air Force Aid Society are providing grants.

The budget plan would avoid a partial government shutdown set for Friday night.