PCS

Disaster Readiness for Military Families

No matter where you live, you live with the possibility of some type of natural disaster – a blizzard, an earthquake, a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or a wildfire – or man-made disaster – a blackout, a nuclear or chemical plant incident, a pandemic, or a terrorist attack. These...
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3 Things You Should Know About the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act

The Military Spouse Residency Relief Act of 2009 (MSRRA) is now law. Unlike some laws (gravity, for instance), MSRRA is not necessarily very easy to understand. Hopefully most states have already gone through their “growing pains” in adapting to and adopting the MSRRA, but that does not mean there aren’t...
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Never Leave a Pet Behind, Either!

At our new station, I met a lady with two gorgeous and sweet-tempered German shepherds. Both were assistance dogs, and when she told me about their background, she mentioned that both had been abandoned and rescued. “Who would ever abandon such beautiful, affectionate dogs?” I asked. She told me that...
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Five Tax Tips for Military Families

It’s tax time again, and that means my phone will be ringing with friends who ostensibly want to say “hello” but in reality have a tax question. Sit for the CPA exam and see if you don’t get the same treatment! Being a military family offers some tax advantages, but...
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Putting the Right Spin on Employers’ Assumptions about Military Spouses

Military spouses face some serious challenges in the job market, especially compared to our civilian counterparts. A 2007 study by the RAND Institute found that military spouses consistently had higher unemployment rates, lower wages, and slimmer prospects for advancement than civilian spouses with the same education, experience, and demographic profile....
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Advance Pay: The Payday Loan That Isn’t

Your PCS orders have finally arrived! Look out! Here comes your “friend” to give you the inside track on how to make a little money at the government’s expense. “Advance pay, man! It’s an interest-free loan from Uncle Sam! Invest it, dude, or get that computer you’ve been looking for. ...
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Relocation Made Easier, Part 2: Moving Day Tips – Save Time, Energy and Your Sanity on Moving Day!

This is Part 2 in a four-part series covering nearly every aspect of a military PCS move. In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 here: What to Expect and Pre-Move Tips for Your Next PCS Following these tips will help you transition into your moving day with...
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All About Julie

I’m excited to be a new writer for Militaryfamily.com! I am Julie and married to a soldier in the US Army named Ben. We are both from California and met back in 2001. We have been married almost 10 years now. We have three little boys. Daniel is 7.5, Drew...
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Relocation Made Easier, Part 1: What to Expect and Pre-Move Tips for Your Next PCS

This is Part 1 in a four-part series covering nearly every aspect of a military PCS move. Click on the above image to enlarge. Introduction to Military Moving: Over 40 million people move each year, and about 18 percent of those are military moves. Considering an average American moves approximately...
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