January 27, 2009 • June Walbert
Q: I was told that there are many benefits to take advantage of as a military spouse, but where can I find exact information and how to utilize the benefits???? It would be nice to know insurance benefits, and educational resources...but every site I go to runs me in circles...any help?
--Lexa
A: It’s not easy to sort through life as a military spouse! Thank you for your service to our Nation. If you want to stick with official sources, I recommend you start your research with DoD-sponsored Military One Source. Your questions could be best answered by other military spouses who walk in your shoes every day. If you want to speak in an online discussion forum, try Homefrontonline.com, militaryspouse.com and CincHouse.com. For fun, lively and relevant radio shows, check out Army Wife Talk Radio with Tara Crooks; Navy On The Homefront with Beth Wilson and Navy Wife Radio with Wendy Poling. You can also log onto military.com for additional resources and information. Don’t miss out on the installation family support groups. I’ve heard great things about those hard working and caring women.
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My experience as a spouse is a f-ckin nightmare. We can never find a decent affordable home near his job or a base...so guess what I end up not using any of those so called bargain benefits. It has been many years since I have even had a check up at tricare prime due to the fact that my drive is an two hour trip there and back. grocery spoil before I can even get them home. PCS orders earned us four years of being stuck upside down in rural virginia. An hour from the nearest base and 30 min from the nearest city. Oh by the way, the county I live in doesn't even have a place to purchase a shirt. two foodlions and one middle and high school for the entire county.
I would have ratherd died then to have relocated her with my family. I can't even rent out my house due to the economy now.
Posted by: Kimberly | April 19, 2009 at 01:57 AM
I am a new Army Wife...only been a wife for about 7 month...but reading forums lead me to the book "The Homefront Club: The Hardheaded Woman's Guide To Raising A Military Family" by Jacey Eckhart at first I didn't think a book could help. But I recommend any new military wife read it. Not only does it include advice on where to go and what to do it also discusses the mixed feelings and fears of being a new wife. Good Luck to all! And Thank you to all who have provided forum advice you have no idea how many you help.
Posted by: Heather Peredo | February 20, 2009 at 08:05 AM
times have changed , its not only men in service .my wife is in the navy , and is deployed in the middle east now.i think it would be refreshing if along with programs like army wife talk radio and navy wife radio some one would come up with something for the male spouses whose wives are active . i know im not the only one out there.
Posted by: gregory anderson | February 11, 2009 at 02:24 PM
A good suggestion is your local VA Medical Center or Regional Office, there is a booklet printed yearly, its available now. Online: http://www.va.gov/benefits
Posted by: Patricia A Gibson | February 07, 2009 at 03:24 PM
Not sure what military base you are closest to, but each one should have a "Family Service Center". Your husband's supervisor or commanding officer at his command should also be able to direct him to the nearest office and/or resources.
Posted by: Sarah | February 06, 2009 at 12:17 PM
my husband died many years now and i have been trying too find out why i can get no money, as i was never told of change and he was in 20 years but all i get is a run around
Posted by: dorothy volff | February 05, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Or you can check with family readines group or your ombudsman . And it is not just women any more .I am a father who resigned his law enforcement job becacuse of my wife changing duty stations.So i take care of the house and do every thing a stay at home mother would do. And i am glad - what other dad can spend time at home and with kids like i do.
Posted by: Donny Reyes | February 04, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Try contacting your Family rediness group. They should be able to answer ALL your questions.
Posted by: R. SPRAGUE | February 04, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Every Active Duty base and many Reserve bases have a family center. Army calls them Army Community Service, Air Force has Airman and Family Readiness Centers, Navy calls theirs Fleet and Family Support Centers, and at Marine Corps bases they are Marine and Family Services. These centers are the best place a spouse can go to get the lowdown on military perks and benefits. The Air Force has a wonderful program called Heart Link that every Air Force spouse should attend.
Posted by: Judith Davis | February 04, 2009 at 06:42 AM
One of the greatest benefits we have as military spouses is use of the commissary. I save at least 30% on all I buy compared to a local grocery store. It's amazing. Also the medical and dental benefits can't be beat. Free. Those alone are worth jumping up and down for.
As a military spouse you are eligible to apply for many scholarships, but you have to do a little research to find them.
I'd talk to other military spouses to find out what they have learned. Just because one person doesn't know about them doesn't mean the next person you talk to won't.
Posted by: Mary Martindale | February 04, 2009 at 05:36 AM
Lexa,
The best place to get information is in person. The Tricare personnel in your local medical facility or the Tricare website can tell you what benefits you are eligible for. The education center will be able to tell you what benefits are available to you as a spouse.I will share with you that if your spouse is active duty, your medical care is totally covered unless you use outside facilities. If you use non-military facilities you may have to pay something first and possibly get reimbursed later. Dental care will be provided to you at a lower rate. Most likely you will have to use a non-military dentist and the dental insurance will come out of your spouses check. As far as education benefits, it depends on what service; if it's undergraduate or graduate; and your income. Being patient is the best tool to have as a military spouse.
Posted by: Raymona | February 03, 2009 at 11:33 PM
If you want to know the real 411, join a Spouses Club on the base or City you are located in. While all the sites listed above are very beneficial, it is good to be able to join a physical network and develop relationships with women who may have your similar experience.
Posted by: Chioma Adaku-Griffin | February 03, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Thanks to 'Lexa' for writing about just how hard it is for the wives left behind to try and sort through the jungle of so-called 'resources'!
And, special thanks to you June Walbert, for listening and recommending more options than 'One Source'!
I empathize completely with Lexa for I too am struggling with finding answers without going in time-consuming circles.
This process for spouses really shouldn't be this difficult considering we are the hearts of our American Soldiers. Yet, it feels we're the ones that are left behind to fight just to make sense of it all.
And that just ain't easy!
Signed, Another lost Army WIFE - CFH
Posted by: Christine Farrow-Hatcher | February 03, 2009 at 04:30 PM
we help military families in time of need. http://www.themurraygreyfoundation.org
Posted by: dave | February 03, 2009 at 04:22 PM
If you are a Navy Spouse there is a mentor program at several bases. More information is available at http://www.gocompass.org
I've taken the class and learned so much about benefits, reading the LES and moving. I think this should be required for all Navy spouses.
Posted by: Kate Marcus | February 03, 2009 at 04:18 PM