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

  1. VA Disability Benefits – A Primer

    Everyone in the military, or in a military family, knows someone who got a disability rating when they got out of the service.  I know several – and not all of them are guys who have even deployed, much less seen combat. Working as a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine...
  2. America’s Homeless Heroes

    The most recent survey released by Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that over 136,000 homeless veterans spent at least one night in homeless shelters sometime during 2009; on any given night, over 75,000 veterans sleep in homeless shelters or on the streets.  Other sources...
  3. Stopping Military Sexual Assault is Men’s Work

    To the men out there who are reading Military Family, take a minute with me.  I want to talk with you. Imagine the woman in your life that is dearest to you – your wife, perhaps, or girlfriend. Maybe your mother or sister, or an old, dear friend. For only...
  4. Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 4: Cemetery Options

    You can read Part 1 of the Veterans Guide to Final Arrangements here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. National Cemeteries Any veteran who meets the eligibility criteria may be buried in a National Cemetery.  The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 131 National Cemeteries in thirty-nine states (and Puerto...
  5. Veterans Day Reflections

    One sunny Saturday many years ago, I had duty during a port visit to Liverpool, England. It was a “visit ship” day, and as part of Standing Naval Forces, Atlantic, we were obliged to take visit ship day very seriously. In my whites and my combination cover that I always...
  6. Veteran’s Guide to Final Arrangements, Part 2: Memorial Items

    In addition to burial allowances, grave markers, and veterans’ cemetery interments, the families of deceased veterans are also eligible for a couple of memorial keepsake items: a burial flag and a memorial certificate signed by the President of the United States. (Read part 1 of the Final Arrangements series here)...
  7. Military Retirement: A Blessing and a Curse

    I lost you, didn’t I? You said “this guy is completely insane! Half my pay for the rest of my life is a curse?” While I am prepared to concede your first point, gentle reader, allow me but a few paragraphs to elaborate on the second. Retirement from the military...
  8. Veteran Discounts

     If you are a veteran of the armed forces, you are entitled to a lot of discounts that are provided to you as a “thank you” for your service. You should reap the benefits of these discounts to save money, but first you need to know how to find them....
  9. Casualties of War

    Robert joined the Army at 18 years young, right after high school. He served in Vietnam and became successful, providing the destruction of war. He served nineteen-months in Vietnam, and did parts of his tour in various assignments: he was a rifleman, a 90MM Recoilless Rifle gunner, and a leader...
  10. Some Moms Wear Combat Boots

      It’s hard to imagine that not so long ago it was mandated that any women who served in the Armed Forces would be immediately discharged upon the confirmation of pregnancy.  In 1951, an Executive Order (EO 10240) signed by former president Harry S. Truman, clearly stated. “That any women...