4MCA.com  /  Operation Reach Out: Suicide Prevention App

  1. Need Someone to Talk To? A Guide to Getting Help

    They used to call being married to a soldier “the toughest job in the Army.”  Now more than ever, it still is, and sometimes we need some support. As military family members, it is important to remember that although most of us do not deploy or face combat situations, we...
  2. Which Benefits Are Available to LGB Military Families?

    Gay soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been able to serve openly since September 20th, 2011, when the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was officially revoked. However, due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal government is barred from recognizing same sex marriages – even if a couple...
  3. Military Tax Benefit: Delayed Actions When In a Combat Zone

    Dealing with the IRS is stressful enough. It can become even more stressful if you or your spouse is in a combat zone. The Government realizes this and those serving in a combat zone have some special exemptions for taking action with the IRS. Taking action can include: filing your taxes,...
  4. Getting The Most Out Of Military OneSource

    The Department of Defense offers military families a comprehensive resource for all aspects of readiness, resilience, and even recreation. The program, called Military OneSouce, is meant as a virtual extension of on-base services. It offers one source of easily accessible information, resources, and services for military families. For example, Military...
  5. Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance May Help Some, But Not Many

    Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of the Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? You, gentle readers with your hands in your laps, are not alone. The program, outlined in Department of Defense (DOD) Instruction 1341.11, isn’t very well known. The website used to determine...
  6. Major Defense Budget Cuts A Possibility…or Are They?

    As you may be aware, the Congressional “Super Committee” recently failed to meet their deadline to come up with a plan to cut the Federal budget. Congress has until the end of December to come up with and pass the committee’s plan, otherwise $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts (“sequestration cuts”)...
  7. SBP Payments Don’t Go On Forever

    Military Family recently received a question from a reader about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).  The question involved the duration of SBP payments.  The reader wanted to know how long her husband, an Air Force Retiree, would pay SBP premiums.  Her husband is 78 years old and retired from the...
  8. More Free Veterans Day Opportunities!

    After three days of Googling, calling companies and emailing we were still able to find a few more special offers for Veterans Day. In total over 41,000 locations across the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are honoring veterans with more than 125 opportunities. Today, in Part 4, More Free...