Military Basics for Family and Friends

The military is constantly recruiting new service members, even when the economy is tough. There are many types of jobs in the military, and with the abundance of training provided, your service member is almost certain to earn promotions and advance their military career. Even after the military, service members have their training to rely on to help them find a job.

The military offers complete coverage for its service members through TRICARE, the Defense Department’s comprehensive medical insurance program. TRICARE offers several health plans to fit the needs of your service member and their immediate family members.

The Blended Retirement System offers a 401(k)-like savings account to help your service member secure their finances for retirement. The BRS rivals retirement plans found in the private sector. Just like a 401(k) plan, service members can choose between a traditional or Roth account. Whether they decide to retire from the military or not, there are benefits for anyone who invests.

When your service member wants to pursue higher education, the Department of Veterans Affairs can cover the cost of education and training for active duty and veterans. In some cases, service members can transfer their education benefits to dependents. Depending on length of service, service members have the choice between the Post-9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill.

In the military, there is always the opportunity for professional growth. Your service member will be expected not only to excel at their job but to learn to lead others as they move up the ranks. With year-round training, service members will leave the military with some level of leadership skills.

Besides a retirement plan, service members get a range of money-related benefits, ranging from tax-free allowances and shopping at exchanges to free MilTax services and free financial counseling.

• The military offers tax-free allowances like Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, to service members for better quality living.
• Shopping on base at exchanges allows for service members to buy tax-free and discounted goods and services.
• MilTax provides a suite of free tax services that includes tax preparation and e-filing software and the ability to talk with MilTax consultants so that service members can confidently and easily prepare and file their taxes.
• Military OneSource offers free financial counseling services to coach your service member through several concerns, such as debt reduction and how to talk to creditors.

Service members are required to maintain a certain level of physical readiness and there are plenty of resources to help keep them on track through Military OneSource, including:

• Free consultations with health and wellness coaches help them be more successful in reaching their goals.
• Mobile resilience tools allow your loved one to get coaching, manage their mood, strengthen their partner relationship and help them become more mission-ready no matter where they are. They also have access to recommended wellness apps to assist in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Confidential counseling services, provided at no cost to service members, include Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling. The free, short-term, confidential counseling services can help with stress management, marital conflicts, grief, deployment adjustments and more.

Service members, their spouses and children have access to many of the same benefits and resources listed above, as well as lots of others, such as:

• The Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, which offers discounts, rest and relaxation opportunities on and off the installation, libraries and more
• The DOD’s quality and affordable child care programs
• Summer camps for military kids on bases and through private organizations

Members of the military get to see the world and areas of our own country they may not otherwise have a chance to visit. They’ll discover new places and cultures. Service members receive 2 1/2 days a month for leave or vacation time, not including all the federal holidays. When time allows, your service member can enjoy great vacations, especially with some of the perks that are offered to them, such as Space-A travel and discounts offered through American Forces Travel℠.

There is no higher honor than defending our nation and serving our country. Those who serve in the military are both warriors and guardians of the United States.

Your installation Military and Family Support Center is a good place to start, for anything from local parent classes, to an introduction to installation services, including spouse career and employment opportunities, personal financial management classes, deployment and more.

You can ease some of the stress of deployment by preparing for separations. These resources can teach you strategies to help your family adjust during deployment:

For spouses:

• These Boots: A Spouse’s Guide to Stepping Up and Standing Tall During Deployment is a transcript that offers spouses suggestions and strategies on how to cope before, during and after deployment.

Military families may move every two to three years. These resources can help you manage the move:

• Spouse Relocation and Transition Consultations can assist you with personalized support every step of the way — whether you’re PCSing or transitioning out of the military.
• The Moving & PCS topic center on Military OneSource is packed with information and resources to help you master your move.
• The Relocation Assistance Program can help you prepare for your PCS, connect you with resources at your new duty station and more.
• MilitaryINSTALLATIONS provides you with information about services and programs available to you on your new installation.
• Plan My Move is a web-based relocation tool that provides information, resources and checklists to help plan your move.
• HOMES.mil is a service designed to connect service members and their families with community housing rental listings located near U.S. military bases.
• Militarychildcare.com helps you explore different child care options and locate Defense Department-approved providers around the world.
• TRICARE can help you find options for care at your new location. Be sure to notify TRICARE of your move.
• The DOD provides allowances for certain moving expenses, including a dislocation allowance, and reimbursement for mileage, meals and lodging during CONUS moves and OCONUS moves.
• The Exceptional Family Member Program can help if you have a family member with special needs. EFMP Family Support can help make sure your family member’s needs are met during the move, especially if they will be transferring to a new school.
• The Military and Family Life Counseling Program and Military OneSource provide counseling if you need to talk with someone about managing the stress of moving.

For young children:

• PCS moves and other realities of military life can sometimes lead to feelings of loneliness. Building Community With Sesame Street and Military OneSource Resources can help you and your young children navigate these and other challenges of military life.

For youth and teens:

• Making the Move Easier for Military Children offers children tips and advice on adapting to life on the move.

Family members may have to place their careers on hold or change careers completely when they relocate to a new area. These resources can help you manage career change challenges:

• The Spouse Education and Career Opportunity program provides expert education and career guidance to military spouses worldwide.
• The Defense-State Liaison Office, or DSLO, works with state legislators to modify licensure requirements for military spouses who want to maintain their licenses as they move from state to state.
• The Military Spouse Employment Partnership connects spouses with more than 700 employers who pledge to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers.

Bugle calls and the playing of the national anthem are common on military installations. Here’s what is helpful to know:

• The two most important calls are for “reveille” and “retreat,” when the American flag is raised and lowered daily.
• When a service member hears either of these calls, they will stop whatever they’re doing to stand or salute.
• As a civilian, you are also expected to pause and stand quietly until the bugle call is done.
• If you’re driving with a service member, see if you can safely stop or pull over so they can pay their respects to the flag.
• You may also hear the national anthem played everywhere on base, from elevators to commissaries.
• You can expect to stand respectfully whenever it plays, whether part of a ceremony, or even during opening movie trailers at base theaters.

You may hear your service member talk about their “chain of command” or a “commanding officer.” The chain of command is how each service branch can direct huge numbers of people for mission-critical work. This is done through commanding officers.

The chain of command is a hallowed tradition in the military. It involves more direct oversight and responsibility than most workplace supervisor structures. For example, commanding officers oversee many parts of their unit’s daily tasks and performance to ensure personnel can rapidly respond to new or changing orders to support their military mission.

The chain of command is reinforced by saluting higher-ranked officers. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Service members will salute officers in their chain of command. Enlisted members also salute warrant and commissioned officers, who will return the salute.
• Salutes are given with the right hand. So, you could try to stand on your service member’s left side so they can keep their right hand free to salute.
• As a civilian, you are not expected to salute. But, be prepared to acknowledge someone else’s greeting if they salute your service member.
• Military uniforms will show the rank of a service member you are interacting with or see in passing.

Service members are expected to behave in certain ways whenever they wear uniforms. Knowing the difference between military uniforms, when to wear them and how often they change can be confusing.

As a family member or friend, you can help them keep their uniform code:

• Do not expect or offer public displays of affection whenever a service member is in uniform. However, brief kisses and hugs are acceptable during deployments and homecomings.
• Eating, drinking, using a cellphone and smoking while walking is generally banned in uniform.
• Formal uniform hats, or “covers,” must be worn outside and carried indoors. Service members don’t salute while “uncovered” — with their hat off.
• Offer to hold black umbrellas if it’s raining. Not all branches allow service members to carry umbrellas while in uniform.

At some point during your service member’s career, you may be invited to a formal military event. Each branch has different customs and ceremonies, but there are some common expectations between the services.

• Military graduation: Your service member’s graduation ceremonies will usually include a guest speaker and invocation ceremony. Like high school or college graduations, military graduates are often recognized as they walk across the stage. If attending a graduation for noncommissioned officer training, you may hear a recital of the NCO Creed. Graduation from basic training is also your service member’s first occasion in formal dress uniform.
• Deployment homecomings: Ceremonies for service members returning from deployment can be relaxed or formal occasions before they’re released to family and friends. Each branch has their own homecoming traditions. For example, when a Navy ship returns to port, service members whose children were born while they were deployed traditionally disembark first. Ask your service member if there is something planned for their homecoming.
• Military balls: These are formal, black-tie affairs, with dress uniform required for attending service members. Guests or dates are expected to dress accordingly, wearing floor-length gowns or suits as appropriate. A sit-down dinner may be served, with speeches and presentations throughout, as well as dancing and conversation.