As a member of your service member’s support network, you may have heard the good news that both active duty and reserve military personnel received a 3.1% military pay raise in 2020 – among the biggest in a decade. Beyond the salary bump, you’ll be glad to know that your loved one has several ways to be financially fit.

Breakups can be tough. With your support and the many resources available through the Defense Department, your service member does not have to go through it alone.

The military offers benefits that can help your service member pay for higher education while in the service and after transitioning to civilian life.

Getting in shape for basic training starts at home. Find out how you can help your new recruit start off with strength and stamina.

Taking care of a family member with special needs can be more than a full-time job. As a parent and/or caregiver, it’s natural to want to give your all to your loved one, but everyone needs a break, whether that’s to go to an appointment, run err...

Military families who adopt or foster provide loving homes to children who need them. Learning about adopting or fostering while in the military will help you support your loved ones as they go through the process.

On the last Monday in May, our nation honors the selfless heroes who gave their lives to defend the land we love and the freedoms we believe everyone deserves.

Taking care of your emotional well-being will help keep you strong for your service member and other loved ones. Learn ways to practice self-care when stress or grief build up.

Relocating to new parts of the country — or the world — is part of the adventure of military service. Learn how the DOD makes PCS moves easier for service members.

Military parents don’t always have it easy, but they never have to do it alone. Learn about the different types of support available to help your service member and their family thrive.

If your service member has recently entered the military, you may now lose the ability to claim them as a dependent. On top of that, this may be the first time your loved one has ever had to file a tax return.

From budgeting and car buying to building a good credit score or getting a handle on student loans, your service member has access to several free benefits and protections to help them gain firm financial footing.

Joining a community of military spouses gives you a place where you can ask questions, offer support and make life-long friends. Here are a few ideas on how to build your network of friends and fellow military spouses.

Your service member has just told you that they’ve received “orders to mobilize” – that means they’ll soon be deployed. This is the moment they have trained for since they entered basic training: preparing to serve a greater mission wherever and whenever they are needed.

It’s not unusual to have emotional ups and downs during a loved one’s deployment. Tend to your well-being and plan for your service member’s return with these suggestions

Morale, Welfare and Recreation offers many options for service members to relax and have fun during their free time.

The U.S. government extends certain immigration benefits to close family of service members. Learn about these provisions and whether you might qualify.

The deployment cycle is the period of time from the notification of a deployment, through pre-deployment training, through the deployment, and immediately after deployment. Every deployment cycle is different, but here are some general things to know.

Sometimes it feels like the military has a language all its own made entirely of acronyms and abbreviations. And while your service member is probably fluent in this strange tongue, you may need a little help to keep up.

A range of mental health services are available to service members through the Department of Defense.

The life of a military spouse is unique. Learn about the ways spouses contribute to the military community.

Whether your service member is near or far, you can mark the day together in ways that are particularly meaningful to you.

Your service member doesn’t have to face financial hardship alone. Free information, resources and counseling are available.

Since 2011, openly gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women have been permitted to serve in the military. Acceptance for LGBTQ in the military expanded with the lifting of the transgender ban in 2021.

Having a son or daughter in the military can bring about a host of emotions, from pride in their service to concern for their safety. It’s natural to want to connect with other parents like you.