Finally, the 2010 BAH rates are now available.
http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/bah.html
Remember, if BAH amount goes down for your duty station, you will still receive the higher amount you originally received.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act Passed!!!
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act awaits the President’s approval
Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.
The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.
Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.
Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.
Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877 They shared their individual stories as they contacted Congressional representatives to ask for support. Initially, Army Spouse, Rebecca Poynter and Navy Spouse, Joanna Williamson, approached Congressman Carter with their request to petition. “It has been a grass roots effort by thousands of spouses across the country, who have campaigned to get this passed, by telling their stories,” explains Poynter.
“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”
In other words. I have a home state!
Washington, DC –Tuesday, November 3, 2009. A comprehensive military family legislation, the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (S 475 and HR 1182), which will legally recognize military spouses by providing them the option to claim the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, passed through the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support, and is now being brought before the President to become a law.
The bill was introduced by Congressman John Carter (R-TX), who represents Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the country. “This is fantastic news for our service families worldwide,” says Carter, who has been pushing the legislation for the last three years.
Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the companion bill into the Senate, which passed unanimously in August. The legislation will amend the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) of 1940 allowing military spouses to share a home state with their spouse, the service member.
Currently, military spouses experience impediments in voting and property ownership as well as deterrents in employment and education. The bill offers fair treatment of the military spouse and improves the quality of life for military families by allowing the stability of a single state of domicile to call home.
Over 8,000 military spouses, friends and family members united to support the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pa
“The support from Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans Service Organizations who testified in our support is greatly appreciated,” said Williamson, “and together we claim this victory for all military families.”
In other words. I have a home state!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Military Spouses Residency Relief Act
As many of you don't know, I have been working with a wonderful group of military spouses in an attempt to get The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) signed into law. This Bill would enable military spouses to declare and keep a home state of residence, just like our Active Duty Spouses are allowed to do. Currently, military spouses are required to change their residency with each and every move. This means reregistering to vote, countless hours spent at the DMV, and huge headaches with every tax season. The MSRRA would allow us the opportunity to share the same home state as our spouses. It would enable us to put our names on vehicle titles without having to reregister with every move. It would simplify our tax situations greatly.
The Senate has already passed the MSRRA, and in the House, it is now in the VA Committee. We now have 190 BI-PARTISAN co-sponsors and are optimistic that it will pass. However, our goal is to have 200 co-sponsors in order to strengthen the chances of passage.
My husband is a New York state resident and I have to change my residency with every move. This year alone I have already lived in two different states with plans to move again in October. And now the hassle of attempting to file taxes with my Husband having one State Residency and I have three different states of residencies; Turbo Tax doesn't exactly have an option for multiple filings in different states.
Changing my residency is an ordeal that is added on top of the stress of moving. Each state has different laws when it comes to Driver's License, registering vehicles (which need to be in both of our names because he is overseas every other year), and registering to vote. The hassle of changing my residency could interrupt my constitutional right to vote. I also lose any ongoing connection to a community to become politically involved.
If you believe that military spouses should be spared some of the hassles caused by frequent moves, I encourage you to call your representative and ask to speak to their MLA (Military Legislative Assistant). Share your stories and tell them why this would make your life so much easier.ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR HR 1182, The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act. If you have already called, thank you. Please CALL AGAIN!
Also, please help spread the word to ALL of your military spouse contacts, not just those on Facebook. We need to harness the power of the military spouse network in order to get this passed. For updates on the bill, please join our FB group at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Military-Spouses-Residency-Relief-Act/51457362877
Monday, October 12, 2009
2010 Defense Budget
Oh! I am so frustrated right now! No, strike that. I am furious, fuming, and all around angry. 34 weeks pregnant and this angry is not healthy for those that are the cause of my anger.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Army finances, the Fiscal Year is actually begins October 1st. This means the defense budget needs to be approved by Congress by September 30th each year. Congress decides our pay, our housing allowances, money for such programs as the Education Centers located on many major Military installations.
This year President Obama proposed a 2.9% raise, 6% increase in some BAH rates, and an increase in BAS rates. (2.9% is the lowest increase in base pay that can be proposed. Thanks for the lovely pay raise, Obama). Congress came back and propose a 3.4% raise in base pay. Then that was it. Nothing more.
It is October 11, 2009 and the 2010 defense budget has not been passed, or if it has it has not been released to the public. Remember that the Fiscal Year 2010 began October 1st? We are 11 days into the new year with no money. Many programs have had to stop running, many have lost their jobs that their families depended on for income.
So instead of maintaining our Military with appropriate funding, something they do every year, Congress continues to argue over Healthcare and President Obama flies to Copenhagen to discuss the Olympics. This sure does makes my husband and I feel super appreciated in our sacrifices to serve our country.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Army finances, the Fiscal Year is actually begins October 1st. This means the defense budget needs to be approved by Congress by September 30th each year. Congress decides our pay, our housing allowances, money for such programs as the Education Centers located on many major Military installations.
This year President Obama proposed a 2.9% raise, 6% increase in some BAH rates, and an increase in BAS rates. (2.9% is the lowest increase in base pay that can be proposed. Thanks for the lovely pay raise, Obama). Congress came back and propose a 3.4% raise in base pay. Then that was it. Nothing more.
It is October 11, 2009 and the 2010 defense budget has not been passed, or if it has it has not been released to the public. Remember that the Fiscal Year 2010 began October 1st? We are 11 days into the new year with no money. Many programs have had to stop running, many have lost their jobs that their families depended on for income.
So instead of maintaining our Military with appropriate funding, something they do every year, Congress continues to argue over Healthcare and President Obama flies to Copenhagen to discuss the Olympics. This sure does makes my husband and I feel super appreciated in our sacrifices to serve our country.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Things NOT to say to an Army wife
1. “Aren’t you afraid that he’ll be killed?”
(This one ranks in at number one on the “duh” list. Of course we’re afraid. We’re terrified. The thought always lingers at the backs of our minds —but thanks brilliant, you just brought it back to the front. Maybe next you can go ask someone with cancer if they’re scared of dying.)
2. “I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I could do it.”
(This is intended to be a compliment. Though, its just a little annoying. Here’s why: it’s not like all of us military wives have been dreaming since childhood of the day we’d get to be anxious single moms who carry cell phones with us to the bathroom and in the shower. We’re not made of some mysterious matter that makes us more capable, we just got asked to take on a challenging job. So we rose to the challenge and found the strength to make sacrifices.)
3. “At least he’s not in Iraq.”
(This is the number one most annoying comment for those whose husbands are in Afghanistan. What do they think is happening in Afghanistan? An international game of golf? Guys are fighting and dying over there.)
4. “Do you think he’ll get to come home for Christmas/anniversary/birthday/birth of a child/wedding/family reunion, etc?”
(Don’t you watch the news? No! They don’t get to come home for any of these things. Please don’t ask again.)
5. “What are you going to do to keep yourself busy while he’s gone?”
(Short answer: Try to keep my sanity. Maybe there’s a military wife out there who gets bored when her husband leaves, but I have yet to meet her. For the rest of us, those with and without children, we find ourselves having to be two people. That keeps us plenty busy. We do get lonely, but we don’t get bored, and drinking massive amounts of wine always helps keep me busy.)
6. “How much longer does he have until he can get out?”
(This one is annoying to many of us whether our husbands are deployed or not. Many of our husbands aren’t counting down the days until they “can” get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because they actually love what they do or they VOLUNTEER AGAIN and AGAIN to go back to Iraq b/c there is work that needs to be done.)
7. “This deployment shouldn’t be so bad, now that you’re used to it.”
(Sure, we do learn coping skills and its true the more deployments you’ve gone through, the easier dealing with it becomes. And we figure out ways to make life go smoother while the guys are gone. But it never gets “easy” and the bullets and bombs don’t skip over our guys just because they’ve been there before. The worry never goes away.)
8. “My husband had to go to Europe for business once for three weeks. I totally know what you’re going through.”
(This one is similar to number two. Do not equate your husband’s three week trip to London/Omaha/Tokyo/etc. with a 12-15 month or more deployment to a war zone. Aside from the obvious time difference, nobody shot at your husband or tried to blow him up with an I.E.D., your husband could call home pretty much any time he wanted to, he flew comfortably on a commercial plane, slept between crisp white sheets and ate well, paying for everything with an expense account. There is no comparison. We do not feel bonded to you in the slightest because of this comment and, if anything, we probably resent you a bit for it. Comparing a 12 month combat deployment to a few weeks business trip is like comparing a shitty ford taurus with mercedes convertible.)
9. “Wow you must miss him?”
(This one also gets antoher big “duh”. Of course we miss our men. There are some wives who do not and they’re now divorced.)
10. “Where is he exactly? Where is that?”
(I don’t expect non-military folks to be able to find Anbar Province on a map, but they should know by now that it’s in Iraq. Likewise, know that Kabul and Kandahar are in Afghanistan. Know that Muqtada al Sadr is the insurgent leader of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and that Sadr City is his home area. Know that Iran is a major threat to our country and that it is located between Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country has been at war in Afghanistan for seven years and at war in Iraq for five years. These basic facts are not secrets, they’re on the news every night and in the papers every day —and on maps everywhere.)
11. “Well, he signed up for it, so it’s his own fault whatever happens over there.
(Yes, ignorant, he did sign up. Each and every day he protects your right to make stupid comments like that. He didn’t sign up and ask to be hit by anything, he signed up to protect his country. Oh, and by the way, he asked me to tell you that “You’re welcome.” He’s still fighting for your freedom.)
12. “Don’t you miss sex! I couldn’t do it!”
(hmmm, no i don’t miss sex. i’m a robot. seriously…military spouses learn quickly that our relationships must be founded on something greater than sex. We learn to appreciate the important things, like simply hearing their voices, seeing their faces, being able to have dinner together every night. And the hard truth is, most relationships probably couldn’t withstand 12 months of sex deprivation.)
13. “Well in my opinion…..”
(Stop right there. Yo, I didn’t ask for you your personal political opinions. Hey, I love a heated political debate, but not in the grocery store, not in Jamba Juice, not at Nordstrom, not in a restaurant when I’m out with my girls trying to forget the war, and CERTAINLY NOT AT WORK. We tell co-workers about deployments so when we have to spend lunch hours running our asses off doing errands and taking care of the house, dog, and kids, they have an understanding. We do not tell co-workers and colleagues because we are giving an invitation to ramble about politics or because we so eagerly want to hear how much they hate the President, esp. while we’re trying to heat up our lean cuisines in the crappy office microwaves.)
last but not least….
14. “OH, that’s horrible…I’m so sorry!”
(He’s doing his job and he’s tough. Don’t be sorry. Be appreciative and please take a moment out of your comfortable American lives to realize that our soldiers fight the wars abroad so those wars stay abroad.)
If you want to say anything, say thank you.
(This one ranks in at number one on the “duh” list. Of course we’re afraid. We’re terrified. The thought always lingers at the backs of our minds —but thanks brilliant, you just brought it back to the front. Maybe next you can go ask someone with cancer if they’re scared of dying.)
2. “I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I could do it.”
(This is intended to be a compliment. Though, its just a little annoying. Here’s why: it’s not like all of us military wives have been dreaming since childhood of the day we’d get to be anxious single moms who carry cell phones with us to the bathroom and in the shower. We’re not made of some mysterious matter that makes us more capable, we just got asked to take on a challenging job. So we rose to the challenge and found the strength to make sacrifices.)
3. “At least he’s not in Iraq.”
(This is the number one most annoying comment for those whose husbands are in Afghanistan. What do they think is happening in Afghanistan? An international game of golf? Guys are fighting and dying over there.)
4. “Do you think he’ll get to come home for Christmas/anniversary/birt
(Don’t you watch the news? No! They don’t get to come home for any of these things. Please don’t ask again.)
5. “What are you going to do to keep yourself busy while he’s gone?”
(Short answer: Try to keep my sanity. Maybe there’s a military wife out there who gets bored when her husband leaves, but I have yet to meet her. For the rest of us, those with and without children, we find ourselves having to be two people. That keeps us plenty busy. We do get lonely, but we don’t get bored, and drinking massive amounts of wine always helps keep me busy.)
6. “How much longer does he have until he can get out?”
(This one is annoying to many of us whether our husbands are deployed or not. Many of our husbands aren’t counting down the days until they “can” get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because they actually love what they do or they VOLUNTEER AGAIN and AGAIN to go back to Iraq b/c there is work that needs to be done.)
7. “This deployment shouldn’t be so bad, now that you’re used to it.”
(Sure, we do learn coping skills and its true the more deployments you’ve gone through, the easier dealing with it becomes. And we figure out ways to make life go smoother while the guys are gone. But it never gets “easy” and the bullets and bombs don’t skip over our guys just because they’ve been there before. The worry never goes away.)
8. “My husband had to go to Europe for business once for three weeks. I totally know what you’re going through.”
(This one is similar to number two. Do not equate your husband’s three week trip to London/Omaha/Tokyo/etc. with a 12-15 month or more deployment to a war zone. Aside from the obvious time difference, nobody shot at your husband or tried to blow him up with an I.E.D., your husband could call home pretty much any time he wanted to, he flew comfortably on a commercial plane, slept between crisp white sheets and ate well, paying for everything with an expense account. There is no comparison. We do not feel bonded to you in the slightest because of this comment and, if anything, we probably resent you a bit for it. Comparing a 12 month combat deployment to a few weeks business trip is like comparing a shitty ford taurus with mercedes convertible.)
9. “Wow you must miss him?”
(This one also gets antoher big “duh”. Of course we miss our men. There are some wives who do not and they’re now divorced.)
10. “Where is he exactly? Where is that?”
(I don’t expect non-military folks to be able to find Anbar Province on a map, but they should know by now that it’s in Iraq. Likewise, know that Kabul and Kandahar are in Afghanistan. Know that Muqtada al Sadr is the insurgent leader of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and that Sadr City is his home area. Know that Iran is a major threat to our country and that it is located between Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country has been at war in Afghanistan for seven years and at war in Iraq for five years. These basic facts are not secrets, they’re on the news every night and in the papers every day —and on maps everywhere.)
11. “Well, he signed up for it, so it’s his own fault whatever happens over there.
(Yes, ignorant, he did sign up. Each and every day he protects your right to make stupid comments like that. He didn’t sign up and ask to be hit by anything, he signed up to protect his country. Oh, and by the way, he asked me to tell you that “You’re welcome.” He’s still fighting for your freedom.)
12. “Don’t you miss sex! I couldn’t do it!”
(hmmm, no i don’t miss sex. i’m a robot. seriously…military spouses learn quickly that our relationships must be founded on something greater than sex. We learn to appreciate the important things, like simply hearing their voices, seeing their faces, being able to have dinner together every night. And the hard truth is, most relationships probably couldn’t withstand 12 months of sex deprivation.)
13. “Well in my opinion…..”
(Stop right there. Yo, I didn’t ask for you your personal political opinions. Hey, I love a heated political debate, but not in the grocery store, not in Jamba Juice, not at Nordstrom, not in a restaurant when I’m out with my girls trying to forget the war, and CERTAINLY NOT AT WORK. We tell co-workers about deployments so when we have to spend lunch hours running our asses off doing errands and taking care of the house, dog, and kids, they have an understanding. We do not tell co-workers and colleagues because we are giving an invitation to ramble about politics or because we so eagerly want to hear how much they hate the President, esp. while we’re trying to heat up our lean cuisines in the crappy office microwaves.)
last but not least….
14. “OH, that’s horrible…I’m so sorry!”
(He’s doing his job and he’s tough. Don’t be sorry. Be appreciative and please take a moment out of your comfortable American lives to realize that our soldiers fight the wars abroad so those wars stay abroad.)
If you want to say anything, say thank you.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Which TirCare to choose?
Choosing your medical plan is a huge decision that affects not only yourself, but your family as well. I hope this post helps you make an educated decision; Prime or Standard/Extra, it's your choice.
Friday, September 11, 2009
September 11, 2001- Army Wives, We Will Never Forget.
September 11, 2001 is a day we will all remember.
We all remember exactly where we were when the news came that a plane had hit the North Tower at 8:46am.
We remember at 9:02am when another plane hit the South Tower; we saw people jumping to escape the burning inferno, we saw men in suits covered with gray dust running from Trade Center Plaza. We saw Policemen and Firemen running into the burning buildings to save lives while sacrificing their own.
We remember at 9:37am when a plane hit the Pentagon.
We remember at 10:03am when brave Americans prevented more innocent casualties by over taking the terrorists and sacrificing their own lives in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our foreign allies came together to pray for our Nation. Outside of Buckingham Palace they place our national anthem. In Seoul, South Korea people gathered outside our embassy to pray for our nation.
Since that day we have taken down Saddam Hussein. We have forced Osama Bin Laden into hiding like a coward. We have taken down the Taliban. American Forces are still in the Middle East helping them rebuild their countries and their government.
In the words of a Great President, "This great nation will never tire, never falter, and never fail."
God Bless our Soldiers still fighting the Good Fight. God Bless their families who allow our Troops to fight over there. God Bless the families who gave the ultimate sacrifice. And most of all: God Bless the USA! HOOAH!
We all remember exactly where we were when the news came that a plane had hit the North Tower at 8:46am.
We remember at 9:02am when another plane hit the South Tower; we saw people jumping to escape the burning inferno, we saw men in suits covered with gray dust running from Trade Center Plaza. We saw Policemen and Firemen running into the burning buildings to save lives while sacrificing their own.
We remember at 9:37am when a plane hit the Pentagon.
We remember at 10:03am when brave Americans prevented more innocent casualties by over taking the terrorists and sacrificing their own lives in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our foreign allies came together to pray for our Nation. Outside of Buckingham Palace they place our national anthem. In Seoul, South Korea people gathered outside our embassy to pray for our nation.
Since that day we have taken down Saddam Hussein. We have forced Osama Bin Laden into hiding like a coward. We have taken down the Taliban. American Forces are still in the Middle East helping them rebuild their countries and their government.
In the words of a Great President, "This great nation will never tire, never falter, and never fail."
God Bless our Soldiers still fighting the Good Fight. God Bless their families who allow our Troops to fight over there. God Bless the families who gave the ultimate sacrifice. And most of all: God Bless the USA! HOOAH!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
4th Generation Service Brat!
My husband and I are expecting our first little child this Thanksgiving and it is going to be a boy!
We went to another ultrasound yesterday afternoon for my 28 week check up... Words cannot describe what it was like to see our son moving around in my womb, and he was an active little guy! He mooned us, then gave his Daddy his first Salute!
Luke is going to be the 4th generation Service Brat. My grandfather was a Navy Brat, My father was an Army Brat, and I was one... now that I married Dennis, who plans on staying in the Army for at least 14 more years, our children will all be Army Brats. I couldn't be more proud!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The wonder of Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney... or as all the Army says: POA. For those of you who have yet to take the journey down POA Lane there is not just one Power that will cover everything you need to do in your daily life, oh no! That would make life too easy for us Army Wives! There are DOZENs of different Powers of Attorney! During a deployment year you will need every single one, including the one that allows you to buy a boat in his name.
Why do we need so many? Why can't we just put everything in our name and transfer over later? Because the Government will give us discounts for him being in the Military (to compensate for the lack of pay) when it comes to buying a home, or registering a car... But the "Service Member" (the one in the Military) must be listed on the title or deed! There are numerous reasons why you would want both of your names on a home rental agreement or car loan; but in order to do so you must have a ... POA!!
I recommend to everyone that they get every possible Power of Attorney that exsists. A General covers very little... You need a Special POA for:
- Taxes (To file them in his name or if you file jointly, because you have to file taxes every year)
- To Register your Vehicle
- To get the JAG (in some states) form to get state tax exempt on your Vehicle.
- Your Bank or Credit Card might require something different
- To rent/buy a house
- To get a Military ID
- To get a loan in his name
If you have children you will also need to fill out a temporary POA to whomever is going to watch them should something happen to you.
Essentially, I would recommend getting every POA possible. It is better to have them and never use them than not have the one you need in a desperate situation.
**A reminder: Only the Soldier can fill out a Power of Attorney. Never the Spouse!**
Why do we need so many? Why can't we just put everything in our name and transfer over later? Because the Government will give us discounts for him being in the Military (to compensate for the lack of pay) when it comes to buying a home, or registering a car... But the "Service Member" (the one in the Military) must be listed on the title or deed! There are numerous reasons why you would want both of your names on a home rental agreement or car loan; but in order to do so you must have a ... POA!!
I recommend to everyone that they get every possible Power of Attorney that exsists. A General covers very little... You need a Special POA for:
- Taxes (To file them in his name or if you file jointly, because you have to file taxes every year)
- To Register your Vehicle
- To get the JAG (in some states) form to get state tax exempt on your Vehicle.
- Your Bank or Credit Card might require something different
- To rent/buy a house
- To get a Military ID
- To get a loan in his name
If you have children you will also need to fill out a temporary POA to whomever is going to watch them should something happen to you.
Essentially, I would recommend getting every POA possible. It is better to have them and never use them than not have the one you need in a desperate situation.
**A reminder: Only the Soldier can fill out a Power of Attorney. Never the Spouse!**
Deployments...
Oh, how I thought and hoped I would never have to think about this again... But I highly doubt any American can escape the reality of deployment. For those of us "married to the Military", any attempt to escape is futile. We are either on the brink of deployment, in the middle of deployment, or have just come home from deployment.
My personal experience is as a very young, frightened wife freshly married saying goodbye to my husband... then as a more mature wife, furious at the Army because they pulled our orders to move, saying goodbye again at 4am.
The homecomings are the happiest days of your life; topping everything else, including your wedding day. But is that day worth the worry, the fear, the separation? I have decided not ask myself this question. We cannot change the fact deployment occur on a yearly rotation, so we must accept, deal, and move on.
Every soldier, every spouse, and every family member is in my prayers nightly.
My personal experience is as a very young, frightened wife freshly married saying goodbye to my husband... then as a more mature wife, furious at the Army because they pulled our orders to move, saying goodbye again at 4am.
The homecomings are the happiest days of your life; topping everything else, including your wedding day. But is that day worth the worry, the fear, the separation? I have decided not ask myself this question. We cannot change the fact deployment occur on a yearly rotation, so we must accept, deal, and move on.
Every soldier, every spouse, and every family member is in my prayers nightly.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
When did photocoping IDs become so much drama?
For any wife who has been through a deployment they know how vital it is to have a Photocopy of your husband's Military ID on hand/ Departments of Motor Vehicles require the photocopy in every state I've ever been in. Your Doctor's Office makes a photocopy of your insurance card on your first visit. What are we to do? **Tricare did advise if you are worried about the repercussions of allowing the Doctor's Office or Hospital to photocopy your ID; advise them of the law, simply show them your ID, then advise them to call Tricare for your personal benefits.**
Title 18, US Code Part I, Chapter 33, Section 701
"Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge,
identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by
the head of any department or agency of the United States for use
by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation
thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or
executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the
likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia,
or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under
regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title
or imprisoned not more than six months, or both."
Notice the second to last line, "except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law" this would imply to me that we could continue to use copies for our personal use... but I have been told that I am wrong. We cannot.
I don't know the truth yet, but I am searching. And if it is true, we cannot make copies of our own Husband's Military IDs then I am starting a petition. I wonder if they did any panels or focus groups before making these Regulations. It seems to me that Spouses are the unheard majority of the Army and that must change. Everything we have been through, every deployment Our Voices Deserve to be Heard!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Pay Questions
A lot of wives ask about pay... when we get paid, how much will it be, etc. etc. I feel like I have said/typed this post a hundred times; but it is vital information! It is frightening not knowing about money... So here it is again!
About your pay questions:
1. It could take up to 30 days after your husband goes to Basic Training; but I know that is an issue the Army is working on to get the pay to family as soon as possible. Don't count on your pay until it is in your checking account.
2. You are paid on the 1st and the 15th. For the 1st you are paid for the second half of the previous month. In other words, you are paid for the work you have done, not the work you are about to do. (So if you are getting a raise for being in the Army for 4 years on June 19th, you will get a prorated amount in the July 1st pay.)
3. It is better to have a direct deposit program. Do you already have a bank? If he is going Active Duty I recommend USAA. It is a Bank/Insurance (Auto, Home, Renters, etc. etc.) that caters to the Military. It is FABULOUS!
- Make sure both names are on the account and you have Power of Attorney your bank requires.
4. Health Insurance: I am not sure exactly how it works with him going to Basic... You should be able get Tricare Prime if you live near a post/base and go on post/base for your Health Care. This is free with no deductibles. I personally prefer Tricare Standard where you go off post, but you do have Doctor co-pays with that (For Active Duty family members your deductible is $150 individual, $300 for family).
- Dental insurance, I go off post and it is $12.12 a month from our pay check. But we pay nothing extra when I go to the Dentist, not matter how many times a year I go and I always go off post. (Others have said they have paid deductibles for their dental; this shouldn't happen. When ever you recieve a bill call United Concordia and double check.)
5. They amount your Soldier will be paid can be found on this chart: http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bp/01_activeduty.html This is the most accurate you will find on the internet because it is actually released by the Military.
6. What is Deducted from your pay:
- Federal and State Taxes (We don't get out of paying those unless they are deployed)
- FICA Medicare and Social Security.
- SGLI/Army Life Insurance. We pay $27 a month for my husband's SGLI (Should something happen the Soldier, the Army has a $450,000 Life Insurance policy to every soldier)
- $5.50 for Family SGLI ($100,000 Life Insurance policy on the family member should something happen to the Family Member).
- We choose to deduct other amounts for our Roth IRA, Mutual Funds, and Savings accounts. These are to be set up by the soldier should he so choose.
7. You can view your Soldier's pay stub online through https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx He has to set you up to view it with your own separate Log On and Password. YOU MAY NOT USE HIS. It is actually against the UCMJ (Army Code of Law) to use his Log On and Passwords for any .mil websites.
Terms to know:
- BAH is a tax free allowance for housing if you live off post/base. You will not receive this should you live on post/base.
- BAS is another tax free allowance for Substance (Food)
- DEERs. This system allows you to have a dependent Military ID, access to the Commissary/PX, and access to Tricare Insurance. Your children will also be in this system. Every Military dependent (Wife/Husband/Child) is enrolled in DEERs.
FYI: We should be getting a 3.4% raise in January of 2010. New BAH/BAS rates have not been announced.
About your pay questions:
1. It could take up to 30 days after your husband goes to Basic Training; but I know that is an issue the Army is working on to get the pay to family as soon as possible. Don't count on your pay until it is in your checking account.
2. You are paid on the 1st and the 15th. For the 1st you are paid for the second half of the previous month. In other words, you are paid for the work you have done, not the work you are about to do. (So if you are getting a raise for being in the Army for 4 years on June 19th, you will get a prorated amount in the July 1st pay.)
3. It is better to have a direct deposit program. Do you already have a bank? If he is going Active Duty I recommend USAA. It is a Bank/Insurance (Auto, Home, Renters, etc. etc.) that caters to the Military. It is FABULOUS!
- Make sure both names are on the account and you have Power of Attorney your bank requires.
4. Health Insurance: I am not sure exactly how it works with him going to Basic... You should be able get Tricare Prime if you live near a post/base and go on post/base for your Health Care. This is free with no deductibles. I personally prefer Tricare Standard where you go off post, but you do have Doctor co-pays with that (For Active Duty family members your deductible is $150 individual, $300 for family).
- Dental insurance, I go off post and it is $12.12 a month from our pay check. But we pay nothing extra when I go to the Dentist, not matter how many times a year I go and I always go off post. (Others have said they have paid deductibles for their dental; this shouldn't happen. When ever you recieve a bill call United Concordia and double check.)
5. They amount your Soldier will be paid can be found on this chart: http://www.defenselink.mil
6. What is Deducted from your pay:
- Federal and State Taxes (We don't get out of paying those unless they are deployed)
- FICA Medicare and Social Security.
- SGLI/Army Life Insurance. We pay $27 a month for my husband's SGLI (Should something happen the Soldier, the Army has a $450,000 Life Insurance policy to every soldier)
- $5.50 for Family SGLI ($100,000 Life Insurance policy on the family member should something happen to the Family Member).
- We choose to deduct other amounts for our Roth IRA, Mutual Funds, and Savings accounts. These are to be set up by the soldier should he so choose.
7. You can view your Soldier's pay stub online through https://mypay.dfas.mil/myp
Terms to know:
- BAH is a tax free allowance for housing if you live off post/base. You will not receive this should you live on post/base.
- BAS is another tax free allowance for Substance (Food)
- DEERs. This system allows you to have a dependent Military ID, access to the Commissary/PX, and access to Tricare Insurance. Your children will also be in this system. Every Military dependent (Wife/Husband/Child) is enrolled in DEERs.
FYI: We should be getting a 3.4% raise in January of 2010. New BAH/BAS rates have not been announced.
Friday, August 21, 2009
PCS'ing... A daunting task!
So here is what I have learned from my recent PCS'ing experiences...
A door to door move is easiest. I recommend going a few weeks before your PCS date to locate a house. When your stuff is in storage is when theft and breaking tends to happen the most. The Army does give him 10 days free leave once you get to your new duty station to look for a house, but I prefer to have him home to hang all my decor and help with painting. Take advantage of any time that can be spent together, it will really help your marriage during deployments to have already had that quality time.
1. I recommend the Army moving you because it is so much easier than doing it yourself. They pack, load, and unload for you and you get to relax while they do all the work. Also the company is responsible if any thing breaks. Do-it-yourself moves you have potential to earn money, but it isn't enough to entice me to move our 9,000lbs of stuff ourselves.
2. Your Soldier will set up the dates the movers will come to your house through the Travel Office at his current post. Once he has orders that state a PCS move he will walk them over and go from there. My husband and I discussed what dates we wanted to pack, move, etc. before he went so he knew what dates to request.
3. Inventory everything and make them attach it to their packing list. For example the movers broke a pair of Gucci Sunglasses that they won't pay for because it wasn't listed on the inventory. I am making them inventory all of my purses, sunglasses, antiques, and furs in addition to our electronics. TAKE PHOTOS. We have an Italian Marble coffee table that does have a nick that I have thoroughly documented.
4. They will not pack and move:
- Candles
- Any liquids
- Any aerosol cans
- Perishables
- Any food what so ever
- Jewelry
5. Feed your movers! I am a bossy person. I also demand everything be done to my standards. So I make up for it by feeding them a decent meal. It can be pizza, sandwiches, or something easy like that. Remember to ask for food allergies. And have Soda and non-Soda drinks for them as well as deserts.
6. Clear out an obvious corner for what you are taking with you. Write in BIG BOLD letters: DO NOT PACK. Make sure wherever you hang out while they pack it is in your eye sight. The packers have been known to pack garbage. Be prepared.
What I recommend to bring:
- A skillet and pot with lids (You will have your food already with you)
- Your bathroom supplies (Including a shower curtain/rod for your next place)
- Textiles (bedsheets, towels, etc. etc.)
- Enough clothes to last two weeks, including a nice outfit to go out in when you get to your new duty station ahead of your things. Remember he isn't deployed. Enjoy every minute and get the most out of your down time.
7. Make them put EVERYTHING in boxes. The larger items can be mirror wrapped. Your couches and other furniture should be padded and shrink wrapped. Make them do that. Make them put ALL Screws in separate baggies and TAPE THEM to the piece of furniture.
8. Bring something for you to do while the workers work.
9. Unloading at your new home! What worked for my husband and I: He checked off boxes and items as they came off the truck and I stood/sat at then entrance (I was 7 weeks pregnant our last PCS) and pointed where I wanted everything. I also put post-it notes on each room labeling it; i.e. "Master Bed" "Guest Bed" "Office".
10. I do not recommend taking the TLE allowance up front. If you can afford to do so you should wait and get money at the end of the PCS. Most of the people who take the money up front seem to owe the Army back at the end of the move. You have to account for every penny used of the TLE. The DLA is yours no matter what. Take the DLA (I explain these more in depth in a different post).
11. Save all receipts for everything, hotels, gas, toilet paper, all food (including the twix bar at the gas station) to be reimbursed. My husband and I have the attitude that we take every single receipt for every little thing and have the Travel office tell us what we can and can't ask for. We were pleasantly surprised last PCS and have enough left over to buy me a Nikon DSLR.
A door to door move is easiest. I recommend going a few weeks before your PCS date to locate a house. When your stuff is in storage is when theft and breaking tends to happen the most. The Army does give him 10 days free leave once you get to your new duty station to look for a house, but I prefer to have him home to hang all my decor and help with painting. Take advantage of any time that can be spent together, it will really help your marriage during deployments to have already had that quality time.
1. I recommend the Army moving you because it is so much easier than doing it yourself. They pack, load, and unload for you and you get to relax while they do all the work. Also the company is responsible if any thing breaks. Do-it-yourself moves you have potential to earn money, but it isn't enough to entice me to move our 9,000lbs of stuff ourselves.
2. Your Soldier will set up the dates the movers will come to your house through the Travel Office at his current post. Once he has orders that state a PCS move he will walk them over and go from there. My husband and I discussed what dates we wanted to pack, move, etc. before he went so he knew what dates to request.
3. Inventory everything and make them attach it to their packing list. For example the movers broke a pair of Gucci Sunglasses that they won't pay for because it wasn't listed on the inventory. I am making them inventory all of my purses, sunglasses, antiques, and furs in addition to our electronics. TAKE PHOTOS. We have an Italian Marble coffee table that does have a nick that I have thoroughly documented.
4. They will not pack and move:
- Candles
- Any liquids
- Any aerosol cans
- Perishables
- Any food what so ever
- Jewelry
5. Feed your movers! I am a bossy person. I also demand everything be done to my standards. So I make up for it by feeding them a decent meal. It can be pizza, sandwiches, or something easy like that. Remember to ask for food allergies. And have Soda and non-Soda drinks for them as well as deserts.
6. Clear out an obvious corner for what you are taking with you. Write in BIG BOLD letters: DO NOT PACK. Make sure wherever you hang out while they pack it is in your eye sight. The packers have been known to pack garbage. Be prepared.
What I recommend to bring:
- A skillet and pot with lids (You will have your food already with you)
- Your bathroom supplies (Including a shower curtain/rod for your next place)
- Textiles (bedsheets, towels, etc. etc.)
- Enough clothes to last two weeks, including a nice outfit to go out in when you get to your new duty station ahead of your things. Remember he isn't deployed. Enjoy every minute and get the most out of your down time.
7. Make them put EVERYTHING in boxes. The larger items can be mirror wrapped. Your couches and other furniture should be padded and shrink wrapped. Make them do that. Make them put ALL Screws in separate baggies and TAPE THEM to the piece of furniture.
8. Bring something for you to do while the workers work.
9. Unloading at your new home! What worked for my husband and I: He checked off boxes and items as they came off the truck and I stood/sat at then entrance (I was 7 weeks pregnant our last PCS) and pointed where I wanted everything. I also put post-it notes on each room labeling it; i.e. "Master Bed" "Guest Bed" "Office".
10. I do not recommend taking the TLE allowance up front. If you can afford to do so you should wait and get money at the end of the PCS. Most of the people who take the money up front seem to owe the Army back at the end of the move. You have to account for every penny used of the TLE. The DLA is yours no matter what. Take the DLA (I explain these more in depth in a different post).
11. Save all receipts for everything, hotels, gas, toilet paper, all food (including the twix bar at the gas station) to be reimbursed. My husband and I have the attitude that we take every single receipt for every little thing and have the Travel office tell us what we can and can't ask for. We were pleasantly surprised last PCS and have enough left over to buy me a Nikon DSLR.
Pregnancy and PCSing is Super Fun
This past March Dennis and I had some wonderful news: Not only were we finally PCSing to Fort Jackson the Career Course (something that we had planned on doing two years ago before the 2nd tour in Iraq) we also found out that I was expecting our first child! So exciting for my husband and I!
Two weeks after the positive blood test (I never fully trust at home pregnancy tests) we PCS'd to Fort Jackson. I also discovered that I am most definitely one of those women who suffers from morning sickness. Though the move as smoothly as a move can go (With our apartment complex giving us the much smaller floorplan than I requested, bait and switch anyone?, half our things not in boxes because I was too busy being sick to supervise properly, and our dresser being dropped from the truck onto the pavement) finding an OBGYN in Columbia, South Carolina has been far more difficult that I could have ever imagined.
As of August 21, 2009 I am 26 weeks along in my pregnancy and on my 3rd OB... and still not happy; but they will do for now because at the end of October, when I will be 36 weeks, we will be PCSing again to Chicago, Illinois. (Don't worry, I already have a Physician and a Hospital set up for the rest of my pregnancy and delivery in Chicago.)
The first Doctor's Office, I never met the Doctor. I went in for my first appointment to get all the major blood draws and tests done. I, of course, informed the nurse several times about my latex allergy and she still used latex gloves while doing my blood draw. Oh, and her inch long fingernail broke the end of the glove as well. The next Doctor's Office I never met the Doctor again; instead seeing a Physicians Assistant. The Office was poorly run and unorganized... so after they gave me difficulty about scheduling my 20 week ultrasound at a time my husband can come; I changed yet again. Third time is not the charm, though I am finally seeing a Physician. His Office Manager and staff are completely incompetent when it comes to Tricare Standard, but Tricare is wonderful when handling false claims and fixing everything for you. FYI: Don't ever let a Physician's Office tell you they cannot get you your medical records. They are required by Federal Law to give them to you.
Yes, I am a difficult patient. I expect professional and polite behavior from everyone... I expect my allergies and conditions to be taken into consideration at every step of my pregnancy. But, I have yet to find that in Columbia. Hopefully Chicago will be different! Great thing about the Army, if you don't like a place, don't worry. You will be somewhere else soon!
Oh, and We are having a BOY!!!
My family!
I am an Army brat of an Army brat. For those of you unfamiliar with the phrase "Army brat" it is a term to refer to children of Soldiers and the term "brat" is used in a loving manner.
Though many members of my family have served in the various branches of the Military, the most influential in my life have been my father and my grandfather. My father served for 18 years in the Army and my grandfather served for 4 years in the Navy during WW2 and for 30 in the Army. My husband has been in for 6 years (and counting) and we have been together for 5 years. Dennis and I have been through two Iraq deployments (those were fun), my father was in the Gulf 'Conflict' and did a tour in Haiti, and my Grandfather fought in World War 2 as well as serving during Korea and Vietnam.
Something I am oddly proud of is though my husband, my father, and my grandfather are/were all Officers, not a one went a Military Academy. They all have done ROTC at various Colleges and still succeed in the Army on their own merit. For those of you who think I am judging and condescending West Pointers, know that I am not.
As you can tell I am very proud of what my family has accomplished and I feel it has helped mold me into the woman I am today...
Though many members of my family have served in the various branches of the Military, the most influential in my life have been my father and my grandfather. My father served for 18 years in the Army and my grandfather served for 4 years in the Navy during WW2 and for 30 in the Army. My husband has been in for 6 years (and counting) and we have been together for 5 years. Dennis and I have been through two Iraq deployments (those were fun), my father was in the Gulf 'Conflict' and did a tour in Haiti, and my Grandfather fought in World War 2 as well as serving during Korea and Vietnam.
Something I am oddly proud of is though my husband, my father, and my grandfather are/were all Officers, not a one went a Military Academy. They all have done ROTC at various Colleges and still succeed in the Army on their own merit. For those of you who think I am judging and condescending West Pointers, know that I am not.
As you can tell I am very proud of what my family has accomplished and I feel it has helped mold me into the woman I am today...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)